• After 15+ years, we've made a big change: Android Forums is now Early Bird Club. Learn more here.

IMAX - what do you think?

  • Thread starter Thread starter Deleted User
  • Start date Start date
D

Deleted User

Guest
This weekend I took my eldest to see Rogue One at our local cinema. I don't know quite what I was expecting, but the whole IMAX experience seems to consist of a bigger screen, plus cranking the sound volume up to max. In fact it was so loud my daughter couldn't stand it (she's a sensitive type).
For me, the overall experience didn't justify the 2x ticket cost over the regular cinematic show.
It was also 3D, which from the trailers I saw, did look promising, but unfortunately we had to depart before I got a decent look. Must admit, I can take or leave the whole 3D thing.
Impressive screen size though.
 
I love IMAX, but there are movies filed with IMAX cameras and movies converted after the fact to IMAX. There is a difference. And there is with 3d and without. For the most part I don't care about 3D, but if I'm seeing IMAX might as well see it in 3D.

IMAX screens are curved to immerse you in the viewing experience. And the sound is not about being louder, its the sound equipment being much higher quality, which equates to being louder as well.

If you *really* want to get an IMAX experience, go to a real IMAX location. They usually show documentaries and not movies.
 
We're going to see Rogue One in IMAX tonight, will make a change over watching movies on a laptop. It's in English rather than dubbed Mandarin.

EDIT

Big IMAX theatre, was in 3D, we practically had the place to ourselves, and I read that apparently Rogue One isn't doing too well here.
 
Last edited:
What's the actual difference between an IMAX theatre at a museum that just shows documentaries, and say the local Wanda Cinema IMAX here, which is part of a multi-screen complex, that shows movies of course. Which has a massive curved screen and and the sound can be uncomfortably loud at times, too loud. I've never been to a museum IMAX.
 
mikedt said:
What's the actual difference between an IMAX theatre at a museum that just shows documentaries, and say the local Wanda Cinema IMAX here, which is part of a multi-screen complex, that shows movies of course. Which has a massive curved screen and and the sound can be uncomfortably loud at times, too loud. I've never been to a museum IMAX.
Click to expand...

I would also like to know that. Certainly the experience I had at our local multi-screen cinema wasn't ideal. As I say, my daughter is hyper-sensitive to loud sounds, and couldn't stand it.
I think there's a dedicated IMAX theatre at Bristol, I'd be interested to see what it's like.
I was expecting a more sophisticated, immersive experience, yes with a big screen, but also clever sound setup - not just volume cranked up to max. Which I must admit was quite uncomfortable.
 
I've never been to a big screen dedicated IMAX that was intentionally designed as part of a multplex. Looking at images of the Wanda complex it looks like that auditorium was designed with IMAX in mind when they built it. The IMAX theater in Downtown Boston at the Boston Commin is just a retrofitted regular auditorium
 
LV426 said:
I would also like to know that. Certainly the experience I had at our local multi-screen cinema wasn't ideal. As I say, my daughter is hyper-sensitive to loud sounds, and couldn't stand it.
I think there's a dedicated IMAX theatre at Bristol, I'd be interested to see what it's like.
I was expecting a more sophisticated, immersive experience, yes with a big screen, but also clever sound setup - not just volume cranked up to max. Which I must admit was quite uncomfortable.
Click to expand...

They closed the Bristol IMAX quite a few years ago, it was part of the @Bristol science centre. Not enough people paying money to see documentaries? I'm in Bristol in February anyway.
 
The actual IMAX by me is leaps and bounds better than converted theater ones. True wrap around screen, extending 180 degrees. You can literally look left and right and the screen extends all the way in your peripherals. And with the screen being 5 stories high, it completely sucks you in.
IMAX in movie theaters are just 'curved' and a bit taller, but they can't compare.
 
Is there a set standard or specification of what makes an IMAX theatre?I know IMAX is a company, that presumably licenses it to Wanda or Odeon or Showcase whatever other cinema company?

Is it like the best IMAXs are in the US, and what's IMO just a large curved screen with the sound too loud are to be found elsewhere, like China or the UK?

The IMAX Bristol one was purpose built as an IMAX, but it closed about 10 years ago now. I never actually went there, despite the fact I lived in Bristol at the time.
 
Last edited:
mikedt said:
Is there a set standard or specification of what makes an IMAX theatre?I know IMAX is a company, that presumably licenses it to Wanda or Odeon or Showcase whatever other cinema company?

Is it like the best IMAXs are in the US, and what's IMO just a large curved screen with the sound too loud are to be found elsewhere, like China or the UK?

The IMAX Bristol one was purpose built as an IMAX, but it closed about 10 years ago now. I never actually went there, despite the fact I lived in Bristol at the time.
Click to expand...

The standard requirements for IMAX in UK cinema appears to be installation of leather seats, bigger screen, ear-bleedingly loud sound, and 2x standard screen ticket price :)

Some information here, but whether it's all hype, or if it's possible to convert an existing theatre into a true IMAX experience, I'll leave you to decide that. I remain unconvinced about our local cinema's efforts.

http://www.imax.com/content/imax-difference
 
From that auditorium render I'd say they believe so but a higher angle to the seating pattern made tons of difference between MOS and Boston Common. I think that MOS screen had the curve at the top to plus New England native Leonard Nimoy always introduced the technology before a show.

I wonder what's playing there now?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom