IMAX

[Richard]

I've not had time to post much lately, but would like to add a few thoughts 
to several recent threads. I also have a backlog of over 200 older posts 
which I have earmarked for replies, but don't know if I'll ever have the 
time if traffic continues at recent levels, but I'll try...

I'm not going to quote any specific posts before replying (there have been 
hundreds on the subject!), but regarding IMAX....

Considering some of the contributions, I seriously (and I mean *SERIOUSLY*) 
wonder what the technical quality of projection in the average American 
cinema is like, given that so many people have mentioned details they 
couldn't see or hear otherwise. I find this truly baffling, because nothing 
that's been pointed out was news to me, who's only seen it in my local 
multiplex.

I saw PoA in IMAX (with a bunch of other HPFGU people) when it was on 
(having seen it over a dozen times in the regular cinema; I'd seen IMAX 
movies before, but only those specifically mad for the format), and was 
expecting to be bowled over and to be able to see lots of clear details I'd 
not noticed before: frankly, I was underwhelmed and while the picture was 
*marginally* clearer than otherwise, it wasn't such a great improvement 
that I could see things I'd not noticed before.

Incidentally, in answer to Starjackson's question, to say that multiplexes 
having IMAX screens would be "expensive" is an understatement of massive 
proportions. The auditorium would have to be built especially, taking up 
the space of at least two large "standard" screens for roughly half the 
audience per screening, and the technical specs of the projection equipment 
are such that a specialist projectionist would need to be employed to 
service the IMAX screen alone. And then there's  the cost of the prints, 
which cost about three times the price of a standard print to produce 
(although theoretically these should last longer as the film doesn't get 
scratched as much).

In other words, it simply wouldn't make financial sense for a multiplex 
operator to provide IMAX screens in their multiplexes, and only absolutely 
sure-fire hits (of which, apart from HP or Star Wars, there are none) would 
warrant the extra expense in providing vastly expensive prints for a 
limited audience.

Judging by the comments elsewhere, my own view is that it seems that 
American cinemas would have much more to gain by providing decent technical 
facilities for their general audiences which would cost a fraction of the 
price.

--
Richard, who's sad that GoF has now disappeared from his local multiplex 
and saw it for what will probably be the last time in the cinema yesterday 
- in the company of three other people...