IMAX Adventures!

[susanbones2003]

Hi  Guys,
I just had to tell you all that I saw GOF on an IMAX screen last 
night and it was a super experience! Others have mentioned the 
detail you can see in a 50 ft. screen and I want to tell you, words 
can not fully explain just how much more you can catch with such a 
large screen. The opening WB came at me and pulled me in like being 
pulled into a pensieve! It was incredible! 

Of the many things I could see for the first time was that famed 
tombstone before Nagini gets to the Riddles stone. Still can't read 
it, you have some eyes there Richard! Richard also talked about 
visual signals that Newell uses and so many more were evident to me 
on the IMAX screen. I could see for the first time (sad to admit) 
that Fake Moody wore that same infamous black leather jacket he wore 
when meeting the Dark Lord and at the World Cup, another one of 
Richard's visual links (as in the tongue flicking tic).

I could also see his face better after he put up the dark mark. It 
was just barely visible as opposed to being a silhouette on smaller 
screens.  The dragon sequence was much more frightening IMAX-style. 
Even though I knew I was being made to watch an obligatory action 
bit, the huge screen combined with the enhanced audio  made it 
pretty hard to withstand in a detached manner. My knuckles were 
white. The falls from the various parts of the roof look heart-
stopping.

 The improved sound quality also adds tremendously to the feud 
between Harry and Ron. Much of the dialogue overlaps and with the 
better sound, you can catch little odd bits. During the Yule Ball 
run-up,  I finally  caught all the hilarious things Ron said off-
camera as he recounted his ill-fated attempt to invite Fleur to the 
ball. Also his face was visibly ashen, a fact I hadn't registered in 
smaller versions.  

Weirdly enough, Emma's performance seemed to fit better in a large 
format. She was certainly in "worried" mode most of the film and it 
seems to work really well writ large. During the first task, I saw 
her visibly shaking and I hadn't seen that earlier. I also loved her 
reaction to Harry's safe return from the lake. The solidly-planted 
maternal kiss on the top of his head was just better in this big 
format. Some have suggested she had an over-the-top performance and 
perhaps that works well the bigger you can see it. Does that make 
sense? 

The graveyard scene packs a much bigger punch in IMAX. I could see 
the Death Eaters surrounding LV and Harry and make out how they were 
hissing and laughing, esp. Lucius. The scene was much more intense, 
the torture more horrible. LV looked so much more menacing on the 
large screen. I saw the veins running close to the surface of his 
deathly-pale skull, and his eyes, so cold and evil. His eyes were 
mesmerizing and chilling as he tortured Harry. Ralph Fiennes brings 
a very controlled and almost courtly evil to this part. His LV is 
larger than life and perfect for IMAX. As for Harry, near the end of 
the duel I caught for the first time the look of longing that he 
gives his mother when she says "It's time, sweatheart. You're 
ready." The blood, the bruises and contusions were much more vivid 
as well. At the return scene, the camera's lingering on so many 
stunned faces was an agonizing time. Harry's sobs just seemed to 
echo for ages. 

You know I could go on but I will refrain. Please share your 
experiences if you care to. And if you haven't seen it in IMAX and 
have the opportunity, do so. It's well worth the price. I'm just 
going out to sell plasma so I can go again!
Jen