The brandconfused world of imax and liemax john canfield. This statistic shows the number of imax movie screens worldwide from 2012 to 2016, as well as a forecast for 2017 to 2020. Mar 18, 2016 its a big movie, opening on 30,000 screens worldwide in every format known to boxoffice humanity. You can read about the tech specs of imax on wikipedia, but you know the basics. London has another traditional imax cinema at the science museum in south kensington and in december 2008 gained imax digital cinemas at odeon cinemas in greenwich and wimbledon. There are currently 15 imax theatres across india, and another 25. However, that too will soon change, eventually leaving the city without a film projection imax theater. Imax is so unique that most ambitious and accomplished filmmakers like christopher nolan, brad bird, james cameron and j. This is a list of imax venues which feature either 15 70 mm film projectors or imax with laser projectors. Imax with laser looks set to enter india with pvr cinemas in. Not included are imax venues with solely 2k resolution digital xenon projectors traditional 1570 mm imax locations use 70 mm film projectors, with the film running through the projectors horizontally, each frame being 15 perforations wide. The 15 70 film size makes an imax projector a truly unique device. The future of imax 1570mm theaters home theater forum.
Discussion in movie forum started by steveawol, jan 16, 2016. Imax is recorded on 70mm film which, intuitively, youd think would result in twice the resolution of standard 35mm. Go inside an imax projector room to see how star wars. Not included are imax venues with solely 2k resolution digital xenon projectors. Imax 3d gt 15perf70mm polarized panasonic ptdx500 w 1. In fact, dunkirk is getting the widest 70mm release in 25 years 125 theaters in total including nonimax 70mm screenings, which is bigger than either hateful eight or nolans last foray. Dunkirk is slated to go out to 31 imax 70mm screens and roughly 100 standard 70mm sites making it among the largest 70mm releases in the last quarter century. Imax and imax dome projectors are the most advanced, highest precision. Did you know hat you can fit an imax digital film on a usb flash drive, but on. Apr 08, 2019 the list of theaters that played dunkirk provided by anvesh alluri is not a complete list of all imax film theaters. As of september 2017, there were 1,302 imax theatres located in 75. Only 39 prints of the film were struck, and there are currently more than 110 theaters with working 15perf70mm projectors. Its rarely mentioned how important the architecture of the room is to the imax experience. Does imax laser projection really compare with 70mm film.
This is a list of imax venues which feature either 1570 mm film projectors or imax with laser projectors. That means the amc universal citywalk is the only 70mm imax screen left the movie capital of the world. The dynavision and astrovision systems each use slightly less film per frame and vertical pulldown to save print costs while being able to project onto an imax screen. Now, when i see an imax logo stuck on the side of an ordinary multiplex theater, with its biggest screen being fairly modest in size and projector resolution not much better than the hdtv screen in my home, it makes me sick. Giffgaffs goodybank scheme lets you donate credit to others 17 mins ago. Even more interesting are the extreme requirements made of the camerawork thats shown at facilities like this, which are engineered and maintained to a level which clearly shows. Jvc dlahd350, anthem mrx 720, lg oled65e8pla calibrated. Number of imax movie screens worldwide 2016 statista. To be fair, if the local theater actually has the 70mm film, then regardless of screen size, there is a difference to be seen. Pvr cinemas brings imax with laser to mumbai, delhi. The list of theaters that played dunkirk provided by anvesh alluri is not a complete list of all imax film theaters. The imax film standard uses 70 mm film run through the projector horizontally. Many of the theaters showing star wars in 70mm imax use the dome screens, like birmingham, alabamas mcwane science center pictured here. The screen sizes in these auditoriums are much smaller than those in the purposebuilt auditoriums of the original 1570 imax format.
Films shown on original 4 by 3 imax screens have gone through a custom digital mastering process in order to look great on a larger screen. From my count, 342 of the 430 us imax theaters are digital. So the answer is 70mm non imax over non 70mm imax for overall resolution, though you will lose real estate due to the aspect. These days, imax is a way to get people out of their. Theres even a link to a similar list of international imax venues for readers overseas.
We should consider ourselves lucky to not only still have access to 1570mm imax projection near atlanta, but that its housed in the oldschool auditorium with extreme stadium seating and minimum distance from the screen. With imax format, each frame is 15 perforations wide, and the area of the frame is about 52mm high by 70mm wide almost 9 times larger than the. The largescreen cinema pioneer started life in the 1970s, utilising sidefed 70mm film, with 15 sprocket holes per frame a format known as. Shaw were the cofounders of what would be named the imax corporation founded in.
A horizontal variant of 70 mm, with an even bigger picture area, is used for the highperformance imax format which uses a frame that is 15 perforations wide on 70 mm film. In more than 24 years in the business, i have personally been in 2 giantscreen theaters of all brands, formats, and sizes, including four mpx 1570 film theaters and five imax digital screens. Abrams shot at least one sequence in the force awakens using 70mm imax camerasso imax is the best format for diehard fans who want the fullest experience. I think it may have to do with the time taken to physically set up an imax 1570 screening. Does seeing a movie in 70mm imax vs regular imax make that.
In more than 24 years in the business, i have personally been in 2 giantscreen theaters of all brands, formats, and sizes, including four mpx 15 70 film theaters and five imax digital screens. May 22, 2009 generations of schoolkids have now been primed by museum visits and those aforementioned nature documentaries to understand that imax means bigass screen that is in your face, thanks to deeply raked theaters and 70mm projection onto screens taller than most buildings, not to mention sound that will blow your eardrums out. In 2011, a digital imax screen was also opened at the odeon in swiss cottage. Ive also been quite impressed with the local liemax screens and hope to watch the revenant at milton keynes odeon imax. Imax with laser is also capable of projecting on taller screens, harkening back to the traditional 1. With imax format, each frame is 15 perforations wide, and the area of the frame is about 52mm high by 70mm wide almost 9 times larger than the conventional 35mm frame used in traditional movie. But id figure most digital imax and multiplex imax screens are 1. When i was 15, i worked cleaning movie screens for my friends father, who had the worlds only screencleaning company. This film size gives an imax movie incredible clarity, even on the huge screens in imax theaters.
It is a dual projector system so it can be either 4k for each eye or. Bfi imax was designed by bryan avery of avery associates architects and completed in may 1999. Imax is a proprietary system of highresolution cameras, film formats, film projectors, and theaters known for having very large screens with a tall aspect ratio approximately 1. Pvr cinemas brings imax with laser to mumbai, delhi, chennai. Dec 18, 2019 imax with laser is also capable of projecting on taller screens, harkening back to the traditional 1. Were celebrating its opening with a 5day grand opening event beginning may 25, where you can register to win free imax movies for.
In its place will be a much more advanced laser projection system. Richer images include a wider colour gamut akin to hdr on your tv and an improved contrast ratio thats double of imax 1570mm film projection india still doesnt have any imax 70mm. If the imax format was intended for the display of only one thing, it was most definitely the legendary gojira. The 1570 film size makes an imax projector a truly unique device. In fact, for every imax movie that is made, five or six others are turned down. Traditional 15 70 mm imax locations use 70 mm film projectors, with the film running through the projector s horizontally, each frame being 15 perforations.
The screen is the largest in britain 20m high and 26m wide. Imax grows in india with nine new screens entertainment news. We should consider ourselves lucky to not only still have access to 15 70mm imax projection near atlanta, but that its housed in the oldschool auditorium with extreme stadium seating and minimum distance from the screen. The number of imax screens worldwide is expected to reach 1,849 by 2020. But it is certainly most easily compared with larger screens. The worlds largest cinema screen a 1570 mm imax is the lg imax theatre in. There is a purposebuilt the former definition that imax inc assigned to those theatres that were specifically designed for the original bigger imax screens in which the sound system, screen, and seating arrangement was built for the imax screen only imax theatre in portage, indiana and batavia, illinois which i did not see on the list. I loved imax when it was all about 15perf 70mm giant format film and screens the size of several storey tall buildings. Others, like the lockheed martin imax theater in washington, d. The screen sizes in these auditoriums are much smaller than those in the purposebuilt auditoriums of the original 15 70 imax format. Does your local cinema have imax or just imax lite. Filmmakers use a huge camera containing huge spools of film or huge hard drives, for digital video to capture video that projects onto.
Imax with laser looks set to enter india with pvr cinemas. The main thing about 15 70 imax shot and exhibited films is that the screens are huge and their native aspect ratio is 1. Jul 15, 2016 the comparison, as ever, is with film and readers of our recent coverage of the dual 70mm 3d system at londons science museum might find the comparison interesting. In 1929, fox introduced fox grandeur, the first 70 mm film format, but it. The guys that clean eightstory imax screens no joe schmo. Dec 29, 2015 to be fair, if the local theater actually has the 70mm film, then regardless of screen size, there is a difference to be seen. Fans who attend the first showing of dunkirk in imax 70mm on july 20 th will receive an exclusive shirt, while supplies last. During the 1950s and 60s special 70mm films were produced and shown in cinemas equipped with super wide curved screens often exceeding 50 feet. In other words, the film size is about 10 times bigger than standard 35millimeter film. In a film presented in imax, the soundtrack itself has been enhanced. I loved imax when it was all about 15 perf 70mm giant format film and screens the size of several storey tall buildings.
Select imax theaters will be offering the imax experience featuring 15 perf 70mm film projection which combines the brightest, clearest images at almost 10 times the resolution of standard projection formats, with powerful, laseraligned digital sound and customized theater geometry to create the worlds most immersive movie experience. The comparison, as ever, is with film and readers of our recent coverage of the dual 70mm 3d system at londons science museum might find the comparison interesting. Although nowt can quite compete with watching 15 perf 70mm footage at the bfi imho, as whilst the auditorium might only be a third the capacity of lei sq the screen is almost quintuple the size. The film went through imaxs proprietary software process, dmr. What happens when a digital imax film is screened on a 70mm.
Which is technically visually of higher quality 70mm. Each frame is 70 millimeters high and 15 perforations wide. Also one of two ny theaters to show last action hero in sdds. It has a seating capacity of just under 500 and a 12,000 watt digital surround sound system.
Filmmakers use a huge camera containing huge spools of film or huge hard drives, for digital video to capture video that projects onto reallyhuge screens. I continued to do that parttime when i was an airline pilot, and we kept getting requests to clean imax screens. The staggering size and scale of imax redshark news. Remember, 70mm film imax is equal to an 1112k digital projector. Imaxs new laser projectors make me wish i lived in a. Jan 16, 2016 there are 3 screens at the national media museum and, whilst the 15 70mm film projector was removed from the imax auditorium, it looks like the pictureville still shows celluloid. Nov 11, 2014 to this day, imaxs 2d 15 perf perforation camera from 1976 remains the highestresolution camera in the world far better than any digital camera. The force awakens was actually shown in 70mm imax 2d in two different ways, either at one of the circular dome screens, or on a standard flat screen. The digital installations have caused some controversy, as many theaters have branded their screens as imax after merely retrofitting standard auditoriums with imax digital projectors.
Dunkirk could launch a 70mm film presentation renaissance. With imaxs method it actually ends up being closer to 10x the resolution. A single cinema was as large as todays multiplex, requiring to show the same film for many months or years to break even or make a. It explains in greater detail the difference between the two formats and the history of imaxs 70mm film stock, but the real prize is on the articles second page. A typical imax screen is 16 meters high by 22 meters wide while digital imax screen is 9. Traditional 15 70 mm imax locations use 70 mm film projectors, with the film running through the projectors horizontally, each frame being 15 perforations wide. You definitely want a premier seat in the rear rows to get a better experience from that cinema. Dec 20, 2019 richer images include a wider colour gamut akin to hdr on your tv and an improved contrast ratio thats double of imax 1570mm film projection india still doesnt have any imax 70mm. So the answer is 70mm nonimax over non70mm imax for overall resolution, though you will lose real estate due to the aspect. For projection, the original 65 mm film is printed on 70 mm 2. Although nowt can quite compete with watching 15perf 70mm footage at the bfi imho, as whilst the auditorium might only be a third the capacity of lei sq the screen is almost quintuple the size. Apr 20, 2018 the three imax screens announced for navi mumbai and thiruvananthapuram will be the first imax experience in those cities. Pacific rims release in 3d on imax screens could barely satiate the thirst audiences had for massive monster battles on screen. Imax screens get smaller, prices stay the same by ryan waniata august 18, 2014 for a lot of movie fanatics, the word imax elicits an almost spiritual reverence.
Imax 2d refers to the flat digital option, which can be either 4k or 2k depending on the source. Jan 16, 2016 ive also been quite impressed with the local liemax screens and hope to watch the revenant at milton keynes odeon imax. I think the imax screens in bfi imax and manchester are probably the two biggest in the uk. But even with the largest screens, an imax 70mm projection will still blow away, in terms of sharpness, even the best pairing of 35mm to screen size. Experience dunkirk in imax 70mm film and imax with laser.
Its not so bad on a modest sized multiplex theater size screen, but its pretty awful on a giant sized screen originally made for 15perf 70mm projection. Because 70mm film and projectors are costly and difficult to mass produce, and because the size of auditoriums that house fullsize imax screens make them expensive to construct, imax debuted a digital projection system in 2008 to use with shorter 1. Gadgets 360 has asked pvr cinemas if the imax screen at lower parel, mumbai has been replaced to make full use of imax with lasers capability. A single cinema was as large as todays multiplex, requiring to show the same film for many months or years to break even or make a profit. Imax is a proprietary system of highresolution cameras, film formats, film projectors, and. In the old days, youd see 40minute imax nature movies at science museums. Only 39 prints of the film were struck, and there are currently more than 110 theaters with working 15 perf 70mm projectors. The digital version shows you slightly less of the movie, and the picture will be 90% as sharp as the 70mm version.
Jul 21, 2017 dunkirk is slated to go out to 31 imax 70mm screens and roughly 100 standard 70mm sites making it among the largest 70mm releases in the last quarter century. Experience dunkirk in imax 70mm film and imax with laser imax. Additionally, select theatres will be presenting dunkirk in imax with laser a reimagination of the movie theatre experience capable of projecting an image with up to a 1. Imax theater and booth specifications screen cinema.
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