I found out about this from Aziz Ansari's tweets: http://twitter.com/azizansari Here's an article that explains the Imax ripoff: http://www.lfexaminer.com/20081016.htm Yet this is the position in which Imax is now putting customers who pay $15 to see Eagle Eye: The IMAX Experience at New York City’s new AMC Empire 25 IMAX digital theater, with its 28x58-foot (8.5x18 meter) screen. They see the IMAX name on the theater and have no idea until after their ticket has been torn and they walk into the auditorium that that screen is about the same size as the one in the adjacent 35mm auditorium, and less than a quarter the size of the one in the AMC Lincoln Square IMAX 15/70 theater, 26 blocks away. The screen in the older film theater is 76x98 feet (23x30 meters). Here’s a graphic representation of the difference:
A letter to Roger Ebert's website from a little while back, with a similar complaint, but with the added observation excerpted: So not only are the new "IMAX" screens smaller, the quality of the digital projection is inferior to traditional IMAX film. In Houston, at least the IMAX screen at the Edwards on I-10 is the right size. Don't know if it's been converted to digital projection, however.
I've been to both types. The larger ones are obviously a neater experience, but I still enjoyed seeing one on the smaller screen. In some places the big screen isn't possible, such as a mall, etc.
AMC First Colony has a smaller one. I took the family to see Monsters vs Aliens there in 3D and it looked good. I had forgotten how big the true original Imax screens really are.
Thanks for the heads up, I've been thinking of using that as a back up for when something is sold out in advance at Edwards Marquee, now I know it's not the real IMAX.
Psh you wouldn't say that if you had seen Dark Knight in IMAX (Navy Pier, a real huge IMAX theater). The 4 sequences were breathtaking and the images was enormous.
From Aziz is Bored (link NSFW: language): That "update" is spot on. At least out of this horrible affair I've learned Ansari has a website / Twitter feed.
Edwards Marq*E IMAX is the real deal. AMC First Colony isn't. And yes, Dark Knight IMAX was awesome. I felt like I was gonna fall out of my chair in the opening scene with the helicopter shot going towards the buildings
So was Star Trek filmed with the 15/70 IMAX camera? Are there those majestic scenes like there were in Dark Knight? I saw Star Trek at a regular theater, and was debating whether or not to see it in IMAX (at Edwards Marq*e on I-10).
The entire intro of the bank robbery was in 70MM IMAX. Pure awesome. Man actually I want to go see that again on IMAX. Anyone know if it is still playing anywhere? After watching the special features stuff, I had an all new respect for the IMAX sequence.
No the live action was on 35mm and then transferred to digital to add the effects. End result is either digital or 35mm depending on the theater.
I posted it in your Parks and Recreation thread earlier today. Its funny how I used to see him host a weekly show at UCB Theatre in front of 25-30 people a few years ago. He has blown up since then. He has to thank the internet for his rise to fame other than him being insanely funny. <object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/B-DeWHIIXhY&hl=en&fs=1"></param><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"></param><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"></param><embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/B-DeWHIIXhY&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></embed></object>
http://azizisbored.tumblr.com/ AZIZ VS. IMAX ROUND 2: IMAX CEO Responds! And so do I. I challenge you to a televised debate sir! ON THIS SITE , IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond addresses my complaint. “The overwhelming majority of comments on that guy’s blog this morning, more than 90% of them, are vehemently disagreeing with him. And consumers are confirming this with their continued purchases of tickets.” WHAT A SURPRISE ANOTHER IMAX LIE. Who did those numbers? The same guy who measures your bull**** tiny IMAX screens??? Read the comments and you’ll find that’s not the case and its definitely not the case on Twitter responses either. Many, many, many people have agreed with me in that they paid $5 extra expecting the full 72 ft IMAX screens and instead saw this new BULL**** IMAX regular screen which your company says is the same because its an “experience.” Well I “experienced” a huge 72 ft screen that was awesome when I saw a film at Bridge Cinema and then when I went to AMC Burbank, I “experienced” a piece of **** ripoff. If you agree and have been duped or feel this is a ripoff, add it to the comments on the original post or on here. The chunk of comments backing IMAX and AMC are I believe a result of this Fark post that was titled - “Blogger gets his knickers in a twist over “fake” IMAX screens. Then uses the “do you know how many followers I have on Twitter?” threat to try and get a refund.” It kind of portrays the situation as I’m some idiot blogger who seriously goes around threatening people with Twitter, which is an absurd notion that I agree should be lambasted. However, I didn’t seriously do that, THAT WAS A JOKE. Also, to those commenters, yes I understand Darfur is a serious issue. The IMAX thing is ultimately a stupid issue, that’s my point. For those saying, “Dude you saw the movie! And then you want a refund!!! Why didn’t you leave??” First off, I just asked for the $5 IMAX surcharge on the principle that it wasn’t IMAX. I was fine paying the other $10 for seeing the movie. Second of all, I’ve been dying to see the movie and I finally had a window of time to see it. I was going to watch the movie. I didn’t want to deal with that hassle and not get to see it. Someone brought up a good analogy in the comments. If I bought a first class plane ticket and then got on the plane and saw all the seats were coach, I’d still get on the flight. I wouldn’t get off, miss my flight, and totally inconvenience myself. I would get on and then deal with the issue afterwards. Now, here’s what I want do. I’m publicly challenging IMAX CEO Richard Gelfond to go on television and debate this issue with me. If you really think I’m in the wrong, LET’S DEBATE.
