TYF Column: The IMAX Experience

Is it worth seeing in IMAX?

That is a question I, and several of my friends, have asked each other for the past few years now, as more and more films are releasing in this big, bold format. That question also requires several parts to its answer. Not only are we speaking of the price (An IMAX ticket can cost $17-$20), but if the movie itself is actually enhanced by the IMAX Experience. In addition, its worthiness is also based on your local IMAX Theater.

The thing that stops us at first is the price. Most of us young folks, with only summer jobs or unpaid internships, really can’t afford to be dropping twenty bucks on one movie. It’s especially hard for people like me who love to go to movies on a weekly (or sometimes biweekly) basis. My frequent attendance to the theater made me think about how much I would’ve spent this year if I saw every major feature film that released in IMAX theaters. Counting them all out (even the couple that aren’t coming out until next month), there were about 30 major releases I could’ve seen in IMAX. If I had seen each of those movies in IMAX, that would’ve cost me approximately $600. Frankly, that is a lot, which brings us to the question…

Is thirty IMAX Experiences worth $600?

The past weekend I went to see Skyfall, the new James Bond movie, at the Navy Pier IMAX in Chicago. Right off the bat, I can tell you that was more than worth the cost of the ticket. On its own, Skyfall is a great movie. It’s has a fantastic story and is artfully directed and performed. When something is already so good and there happens to be one thing that will enhance the experience of seeing it, why not go for it? Watching Skyfall in IMAX was incredible. The entire film was in 1.90:1 aspect ratio which meant it filled the entire IMAX screen, including vertically. From where I was sitting, it felt larger-than-life and all-consuming. Additionally, the sound system was excellent. Skyfall has such meticulous sound editing that the IMAX sound system captures every beat, thump, and shot. It was a very immersive movie-going experience and clearly worth a $17 ticket.

However, I can’t say that about all movies in IMAX. Earlier this year, I saw Dark Shadows and The Amazing Spider-Man in IMAX. Both movies I enjoyed. For Dark Shadows, IMAX didn’t enhance the experience much. It didn’t fill the entire screen, and while the sound was good, it still did not feel much different than seeing the movie in a regular theater. I could’ve said the same about The Amazing Spider-Man, but the movie’s brilliant climax was in 1.90:1 aspect ratio, making it a marvel to see on the screen. It goes to show how vital it is for a film to take advantage of every enhancement that IMAX can give. And when a movie is shot in IMAX, like The Dark Knight Rises, it is even more worth it because the audience is truly watching how the movie was intended to be seen and experienced.

More major films are now being filmed with IMAX cameras or digitally converted to take advantage of all of IMAX’s features. Therefore, when you have a film that is perfected for the IMAX Experience, you need a theater that can properly deliver that, which brings us to…

Is it worth seeing it at that IMAX Theater?

I’ve only been to two different IMAX theaters in my life. The one I most frequently go to is the Navy Pier IMAX in Chicago. The other was the Times Square AMC IMAX in New York City. The one in Times Square (which I only went to once) felt more like a regular theater with an extra-big screen. It wasn’t like the one at Navy Pier that always felt distinctly IMAX, from the way the screen looked to how the seating was arranged. Navy Pier’s IMAX Theater is one of the older ones, and at times, it shows age. During Skyfall, I did notice a few nicks on the screen. The seats are a little older, smaller, and lack enough leg room. It’s definitely not pristine, but I still prefer it because that’s how an IMAX auditorium should look, not like an extra-large regular theater. When I walk into the Navy Pier auditorium, I can instantly see that I’m in for a different movie-going experience, and that’s why I recommend that particular theater to everyone I know. It’s also why encourage people seek out the right IMAX theater for them, the one that completely delivers the experience you paid for and expect.

So…. is it really worth seeing movies in IMAX?

Short Answer: Yes.

Long Answer: With studios showing increasing interest in providing viable IMAX viewing options for many of their major films, it’s definitely worth a visit to an IMAX Theater to see your most-anticipated films. I see the quality of movies playing in IMAX improving. On top of that, IMAX is living up to that quality, presenting and enhancing the movie-going experience better than before. (Sure, there’s always room for improvement though.) Just a few days ago, it proved that to me with Skyfall, and I can’t wait for IMAX to prove it again when I see The Hobbit next month. And already knowing that these films are properly fitted for IMAX, I don’t doubt for a minute that it won’t be worth the high ticket price. “IMAX is Believing” is their motto, and it’s a pretty ambitious one. Yet, most importantly, it is true when it’s right film and theater.

Rating my Skyfall IMAX Experience: 8/10 stars

Pros: Specially formatted with 1.90:1 aspect ratio; Clear sound system

Cons: A couple nicks on the screen; Seats become uncomfortable after an hour

Visit: Official IMAX Website – IMAX Facebook – IMAX on Twitter

Everywhere, LLC provided me with compensation for this post. However, all thoughts and opinions expressed herein are my own.

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