Should I go see Star Wars in true 70mm IMAX? (Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville AL)

[JEDIYoda]

I will just wait and see it in my home theaters 70mm set up!

 

[CZroe]

Hm, I'm not sure what's the case, but I'll probably end up seeing it there anyway. I don't think I've seen anyone ever mention a dome theater having a separate flat screen though.



Since I wear prescription lenses, I went the passive 3D route at home. LG came out with a fairly ignored technology called Dual Play. (I believe Black Ops II used it on the console release.) The reason why I mention this is the entire point of Dual Play is that it just takes a split-screen (top-bottom) game, turns on 3D (top-bottom), and player 1 gets the left eye and player 2 gets the right eye. They sold glasses that work with it too, and there are third party ones like these. Long story short, you can just use those glasses instead. Frankly, I'd rather spend $12 for 4 pairs than $40 for 1 pair.

These should work just fine in the theater, because I use my clip-on 3D glasses when I see 3D movies. So, that means the polarization is the same. Also, making your own glasses would be difficult unless you get pre-cut polarization filters. If you just buy the film, you'll need any device that can emit at the right polarization, or else you won't know how to rotate the film prior to cutting it.

IIRC, Sony did this on their PS3 TV, though few games used it.

 

[SunnyD]

Have you been there before and, if so, how was the experience?

No I haven't, but that's what I'm told that the dome IMAX theaters do for the 70mm "normal" films that are shown. I seriously doubt that they mastered the film with the split aspect ratio, and if they show a fixed aspect on a curved dome most of the scene will end up completely out of focus. Doesn't make sense otherwise. See here (OMNIMAX).

I was pretty sure the Space & Rocket Center also had a fixed flat screen for events like this. Might want to call to find out how they do it.

 

[Sonikku]

I so wish I could see this in IMAX 70mm. Have to settle for a ghetto local theater.

 

[zinfamous]

I so wish I could see this in IMAX 70mm. Have to settle for a ghetto local theater.

based on the source material and from what I am seeing of the available IMAX presentations, it actually looks like a quality downgrade. Most of them seem to be 3D only, which would be horrible for this movie. You also aren't getting a whole lot of benefit from what was mostly shot on 35mm, anyway.

Yes, I suppose you can get a 4k digital transfer, but that really isn't worth the price premium, imo.

either way, I am sorry that you are not going to be willingly suckered out of valuable beer money.

 

[mnewsham]

which would be horrible for this movie

Speak for yourself, I enjoy well done 3D, sure there are plenty of movies that do it TERRIBLY, but the few that don't are actually pretty good. I don't understand how you can claim it will be horrible for a movie you've yet to watch.

Also, there are a a number of theaters that are doing 2D 70mm showings.

The following theatres will be playing Star Wars: The Force Awakens in IMAX 2D on IMAX 15/70mm film projection (please note this list is subject to change):

US/Canada

Alabama

McWane Center IMAX Dome Theatre – Birmingham

IMAX, U.S. Space & Rocket Center – Huntsville

California

Hackworth IMAX Dome, The Tech Museum – San Jose

Florida

Museum of Discovery & Science AutoNation IMAX – Ft. Lauderdale

IMAX Dome, Museum of Science & Industry – Tampa

Indiana

IMAX, Indiana State Museum - Indianapolis

Iowa

Blank IMAX Dome, Science Center of Iowa – Des Moines

Missouri

Branson’s IMAX, Entertainment Complex – Branson

St. Louis Science Center OMNIMAX Theatre – St. Louis

Pennsylvania

Tuttleman IMAX, The Franklin Institute– Philadelphia

Saskatchewan

Kramer IMAX, Saskatchewan Science Centre - Regina

Washington, DC

Lockheed Martin IMAX, National Air & Space Museum

Texas

Omni, Fort Worth Museum of Science & History – Fort Worth

International

LG IMAX, Darling Harbour – Sydney, Australia

The Science Museum - London, England

 

[zinfamous]

Speak for yourself, I enjoy well done 3D, sure there are plenty of movies that do it TERRIBLY, but the few that don't are actually pretty good. I don't understand how you can claim it will be horrible for a movie you've yet to watch.

It has to be shot with the intent of 3D presentation (like Avatar) to be be properly presented in 3D. This was not. it's a very simple metric to understand.

It's not a big deal for cartoons, but for live action, when you try to sample a 2D image and force it to 3D, you end up with jacked colors and detached appendages and other shenanigans.

It's something that the consumers really need to inform themselves about. They are willingly throwing cash in the trash to experience an inferior product.

and yeah--when I looked up the Smithsonian IMAX this morning, it didn't mention 3D, which is great. I could swear that it said IMAX 3D on all listings a week ago.

That is probably where I will end up, or not. Might do an easy local theater instead.

 

[mnewsham]

It has to be shot with the intent of 3D presentation (like Avatar) to be be properly presented in 3D. This was not. it's a very simple metric to understand.

I know the force awakens wasn't shot in 3D, and I personally dont have high expectations for the 3D showing. HOWEVER, it doesn't change the fact that you have yet to actually see any footage in 2D or 3D, so it's a bit early to be saying for sure how it will/wont be.

By all means, I expect it to not be fantastic 3D because it was shot with 2D cameras. But, I could be surprised. I am going to actually see the movie before panning the 3D.



also just to add, there have been several 2D to 3D conversions that HAVE been pretty fucking good, Guardians of the galaxy, Jurassic Park, and Titanic are the big ones I know of that did a VERY good job being converted from 2D to 3D. If starwars is of the same level, I will likely enjoy the 3D at least somewhat.

 

[zinfamous]

well, the other thing is that 3D is just garbage in general. This is the third attempt in about 7 decades (nearly 12 if you count the early work with stereo images) to try and convert the public's favorite image-based diversions into a format that can only ever be a middling transfer of the original, and it will fail again.

I see the world in 3D. We don't go to movies because we want a crappy emulation of the world.

 

[blankslate]

Why wouldn't you watch the greatest movie ever in IMAX?


.....Heretic!

_________________

 

[Eug]

I just saw it in 3D IMAX laser, which I believe is the highest end 3D digital IMAX available.

Pros:
These DLP projectors are very bright. No problem with 3D dimness.
The desert scene is in full IMAX goodness.
There was no screen door effect that I could see. This was a problem with older IMAX theatres in 3D.
Reserved seating.

Cons:
It is totally unnecessary to see this movie in 3D.
While it was nice to see the full use of their IMAX screen for the desert scene, 3D was of little benefit.
Theg IMAX version costs a lot. In downtown Toronto, which is probably the venue in Ontario to see this, it is CAD$20.

Overall I'd say that the best reason to see this in an IMAX theatre is for the reserved seating, strange as that may sound. Otherwise when I see this again with the wife, I may just recommend the 2D version unless tickets are a problem.

 

[Sonikku]

I hear the Imax Dome is the place to watch. Their 3D is apparently superior even to the China Hollywood theater.

 

[Eug]

I hear the Imax Dome is the place to watch. Their 3D is apparently superior even to the China Hollywood theater.

Based on what? (Asking, not criticizing.)

The China Hollywood IMAX is the same 3D IMAX with laser that I watched at the Scotiabank Theatre in Toronto, although the China Hollywood IMAX is apparently bigger.

But as mentioned, 3D is totally unnecessary for Star Wars VII IMO. The one full IMAX scene was nice, but nothing special compared to the IMAX used in The Dark Knight, which was projected from film. So, so far, the best IMAX I have ever seen has been The Dark Knight. I'm jealous of those few people who got to see Star Wars on 70 mm IMAX film in 2D.

Star Wars VII is a 2D movie. It should just have been shown in 2D.

 

[blankslate]

See it in regular 2-D first so you have an idea what part of the large Imax screen you want to pay attention to later since you can't really look at everything at once compared to non-Imax.

just my 2 cents.


_______________

 

[Eug]

See it in regular 2-D first so you have an idea what part of the large Imax screen you want to pay attention to later since you can't really look at everything at once compared to non-Imax.

just my 2 cents.

The IMAX portion of Dark Knight was very immersive, and more so than the rest of the movie. But then again it was easier to tell which was IMAX and which wasn't even without looking at the screen size, since the detail was noticeably sharper in the IMAX scenes.

I didn't get that impression for Star Wars 3D IMAX. The great big Star Wars desert scene was nice, but didn't seem THAT much more detailed. But then again, perhaps it was due to the 3D, or perhaps because most of the screen was sky or sand.

 

[Captante]

Saw it in IMAX 3-D simply because all the rest of the times I see it will be in 2-D.

A few parts were annoying but it wasn't overdone too badly IMO.

 

[Imported]

I want to see it in 2D IMAX 70mm.. but the only one around is a dome. Not a huge fan of the domes.

 

[Eug]

I want to see it in 2D IMAX 70mm.. but the only one around is a dome. Not a huge fan of the domes.

I don't like the domes either, but could they be using a screen? Or no?

 

[Ns1]

Wait a second - only ONE scene was filmed w/ IMAX cameras for Star Wars?

O_O

 

[Eug]

Wait a second - only ONE scene was filmed w/ IMAX cameras for Star Wars?

Only one sequence of scenes. A good one though.

 

[Aikouka]

I saw it at the Space and Rocket Center this past weekend, and there's one very important thing to keep in mind if you do go: GET THERE EARLY! The biggest drawback of a dome theater for a normal movie is that most of the seats aren't very good. You want to sit up as high as possible and as close to the center as possible. I was about 40% up and all the way on the left, and essentially, anything on the left side of the screen was very difficult to see. Also, the further down you go, the more you have to spend the entire time looking up. Now, I say to get there early, because when my movie got out, the line for the next showing was LONG. There were at least 100 people already lined up for the next showing.

Now, if that dissuades you from going to see the movie at the Space and Rocket Center, but you still want to see it in Huntsville, consider this theater instead: http://www.fandango.com/touchstarcinemasmadisonsquare12_aauwn/theaterpage . That theater was recently renovated to have leather, electric reclining seats. I haven't been there, but I've been in similar theaters elsewhere, and it's quite nice compared to the normal airline-esque theater seats.

 

[EvilYoda]

I've been tempted to drive down to Indianapolis as it's the closest city to Detroit that has SW in either 70mm or IMAX laser projection (according to this list...but I doubt it's going to happen.

At least a few local theaters are participating in the Hateful 8 "roadhouse" 70mm projection production. 10PM tomorrow night!

 

[Eug]

I saw it at the Space and Rocket Center this past weekend, and there's one very important thing to keep in mind if you do go: GET THERE EARLY! The biggest drawback of a dome theater for a normal movie is that most of the seats aren't very good. You want to sit up as high as possible and as close to the center as possible. I was about 40% up and all the way on the left, and essentially, anything on the left side of the screen was very difficult to see. Also, the further down you go, the more you have to spend the entire time looking up. Now, I say to get there early, because when my movie got out, the line for the next showing was LONG. There were at least 100 people already lined up for the next showing.

Now, if that dissuades you from going to see the movie at the Space and Rocket Center, but you still want to see it in Huntsville, consider this theater instead: http://www.fandango.com/touchstarcinemasmadisonsquare12_aauwn/theaterpage . That theater was recently renovated to have leather, electric reclining seats. I haven't been there, but I've been in similar theaters elsewhere, and it's quite nice compared to the normal airline-esque theater seats.

Hmmm... No reserved seating? That sucks.

I've been tempted to drive down to Indianapolis as it's the closest city to Detroit that has SW in either 70mm or IMAX laser projection (according to this list...but I doubt it's going to happen.

In your shoes I'd just watch it in 2D at a 4K digital theatre.

 

[Ns1]

At least a few local theaters are participating in the Hateful 8 "roadhouse" 70mm projection production. 10PM tomorrow night!

3.5 hours D:

 

[SphinxnihpS]

70mm is ~9.3K resolution, so it is the highest resolution you will be able to see the new movie in. There are also several scenes shot specifically in 70mm so you wont see these shots in any other theater. If this is important to you, then you know what to do.


I personally plan on seeing it in IMAX w/ laser which uses 2x 4K projectors, which provides an 8K resolution, so slightly lower res than the 70mm IMAX, however the contrast ratio on IMAX w/ laser is far superior to 70mm IMAX.

This is not true. The individual 4k images are overlapped on a sub-pixel level to essentially provide anti-aliasing. This trick however, combined with the better-than-15/70mm brightness and contrast provides an overall experience in which pixelation, even on an ultrascreen, is nearly undetectable. Still not 8k though.

That is for 2D.

For 3D, each projector shows half the composite image producing the 3D effect. Anti-aliasing is probably not as important in this format, but could potentially be detected.

Those who have reviewed this 3D format do say that the laser tech mostly if not completely eliminates the problems with brightness and contrast inherent with the IMAX Digital 3D format, but obviously, the image will be even better in the same 2D format.

If available, I would gather that IMAX with laser in 2D is the way to see a movie now.

One caveat however is that the audio, even the new 12 channel format, is still inferior to Dolby Atmos.