Comments on: On IMAX and Hollywood

By: Fei

Fei — Sun, 24 Aug 2008 16:09:18 +0000

I just wanted to mention that IMAX’s digital future is only in projection, not also acquisition. I could find no articles saying that IMAX would begin employing digital cameras, only digital projectors.

I follow technology rather closely. So far, there is only one camera in existence (the Phantom65) that replicates 70mm film acquisition, via a 65mm-sized photo sensor. Its resolution is only 4K, which at best approximates the fidelity of a pristine first- or second-generation 35mm print. The only digital cinema camera in the world that captures at a higher resolution is the 5K RED EPIC, which is still in development. Digital technology won’t be a suitable replacement for filmed-based IMAX acquisition for a long time.

By: Stephen Rowley

Stephen Rowley — Sat, 26 Jul 2008 04:41:49 +0000

Fantastic article. I touched very briefly on this aspect of TDK in my review, but this is a much more comprehensive discussion. I would be interested to see a more detailed breakdown of frame grabs from each format to see how Nolan composed simultaneously for each – I wonder if we’ll ever have easy access to home format versions that allow us to compare the two. My instinct, having only seen it in Imax, was he had definitely kept good composition in the tall frame as a high priority.

By: Obi-Mon

Obi-Mon — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:13:19 +0000

I don’t think so. I don’t think Nolan adjusted his shots based on the IMAX. Meaning, he would’ve still wanted those same establishing shots, mediums and close-ups…but not seeing it on a proper IMAX screen does rob you of some of the tingles and vertigo. And if you weren’t a fan of this film–and with the exception of Maggie Gyllenhaal, I can’t imagine why not? (I never thought I’d say this, but I missed Katie Holmes)–then I don’t think seeing it on the IMAX will make you like it much more. Though as a film fan, you can’t help but like it a little more…

By: Benjamin Wright

Benjamin Wright — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:06:19 +0000

I don’t think your experience of the traditional 35mm print was dramatically different from the IMAX version. The IMAXed scenes would be simply cropped to fit the wider Panavision 2.40:1 screen.

However, I will say that the IMAXed sequences definitely expanded the action (and spectacle), thereby enhancing the whole immersive nature of the film.

But if you had problems with the tone, the script, or the acting, I doubt those things will be changed by viewing the IMAX version.

By: Adam Slight

Adam Slight — Thu, 24 Jul 2008 01:00:09 +0000

this explains a lot for me…there was a lot I wasn’t a fan of in this movie…so was the regular cinematic experience affected to support the imax experience (like full frame dvds/widescreen dvds)?