IMAX Titles - What's the deal?

[Beowulf1970]

Hi All,

I've seen a lot of IMAX titles in various shops. I'm a bit puzzled though, I thought IMAX films were special in that they were shown on GIANT screens with BIG sound. So is the concept of IMAX DVD titles on a Home cinema set-up not a bit flawed? At home, is IMAX naught but pretty eye-candy?

Imagine attending the launch of the worlds biggest Ocean liner, only to find when you get there , they'd shrunk the boat to fit the average bathtub so that more people could enjoy the experience :confused: (ok, tha's a daft and somewhat surreal analogy but you get my drift?)

Are IMAX titles worth getting?

[Jowser]

Some are interesting documentaries, so yeah.

[Beowulf1970]

another question,

been looking at the IMAX selection available from DVDsoon. They all seem to be listed as Pan & Scan 1.33:1. Excuse me if I'm being dense (Which I probably am.. have never seen an IMAX movie at home nor at an IMAX theatre) but do they not do Widescreen IMAX??

Again, pleas epardon my ignorance if I'm asking stupid questions. :searchme:


EDIT

Oh yeah, and they're quite short too?

[Jowser]

I would guess that is how they were shot, being documentary in nature and not film based. Plus, as IMAX uses different film medium to cinemas, that might dictate the primary reason for 4:3 preference.

BTW, if this is so they wont be pan and scan.

[zorro]

Ooooo!!

Interesting - I bought 2 IMAX films in the last 10 days or so!

I watched one at the weekend;

EVEREST

Filmed during the 1996 disaster on Everest (recently did a trek to Everest Base camp, thus the interest in this :thumbs:

I know it was intended for massive screens, but I watched it on my 7 foot wide screen and have to say it was FANTASTIC!!!!

Having looked at the disk, the movie/documentary was only 45 minutes long, but actuall took up around 6GB (I think) - so I can only assume it uses some form of high definition????

Anyway, the picture quality was excellent and the sound was pretty good as well - 5.0 surround.

Quite a few extra documentaries which I have not watched as yet.

I actually got it from Amazon Marketplace (most places don't seem to sell this tilte) for £9.80 delivered and it was brand new - still sealed!

Definatley a title I would watch again - even my 11 year old son found it enjoyable (if enjoyable is the correct word for the events!!), but he found it intereting!

My only complaint was that the actual documanetary was only around 45 minutes - should have been longer.


Waiting on another coming from DVDSoon - KILIMANJARO - doing a trek to the summit of Kilimanjaro in January - so again, am interested to see it.


I can honestly say that on my screen if was very good, but would lose some impact on a TV.

Likewise, it must be astounding on an IMAX screen :eek:


PS - also states;

Presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1

[cm-9]

IMAX movies are all shot at (roughly) 1.33:1. People who have seen normal IMAX movies in IMAX cinemas are often quite surprised that they managed to show the two Matrix sequels properly in those same cinemas - but basically they letterboxed them so they only used about half of the huge vertical height of the IMAX screen, with stunning results.

In my experience the IMAX movies on DVD are generally disappointing. I have watched some of them on a high quality projector system and generally the transfer quality is not brilliant, with a lot of detail filtered out, washed out colours, and just not as good as other 4:3 disks. Having said that, they are better quality than documentaries which are made for TV like the BBC's 'The Blue Planet' (yes, the DVD is not very good technically, although the actual material is of course outstanding).

The DVDs are especially disappointing considering the incredible quality of the IMAX source materials available. The documentaries lose a lot of their impact seen in such a low definition format, although the audio is still good.

If you have a high-end PC system connected to a projector or a good display then it is worth getting the recent R1 versions of IMAX movies such as Coral Reef Adventure because they include a second disk with the same material on in WMV9 high definition format - and that really is stunning on a home cinema system.

If you want to see a superbly filmed wildlife documentary which has a good transfer to DVD, try the French-made Microcosmos - as a bonus, the UK version is narrated by Kristin Scott-Thomas.

[Beowulf1970]

Originally posted by cm-9
In my experience the IMAX movies on DVD are generally disappointing.

This is what I was thinking. A system who's very appeal is an all encompasing immersive visual experience can't really be downsized to your average TV screen.


If you have a high-end PC system connected to a projector or a good display then it is worth getting the recent R1 versions of IMAX movies

Ah, therin lies the rub! I don't have all the gubbins to do it justice. I have an 18" TV screen and a £70 DVD player. :gag: :(

I also feel it's not worth spending the money for a 40-50 min DVD.

[SimonI]

Heads up - there's a good selection of IMAX DVDs on offer at the moment - Choices Direct (http://www.choicesdirect.com) have them at £4.99 including delivery:
Blue Planet
Dream is Alive
Fires of Kuwait
Hail Columbia
Mission to Mir
T-Rex

[Beowulf1970]

Originally posted by SimonI
Heads up - there's a good selection of IMAX DVDs on offer at the moment - Choices Direct (http://www.choicesdirect.com) have them at £4.99 including delivery

Ok.. At that price I'll buy one, watch it and make an informed choice.

Will it leave me Numb and nonplussed or sitting awe struck? I think I know the answer in advance , but we'll see. :thinking:

[peacebreaker]

Originally posted by zorro
Ooooo!!

Interesting - I bought 2 IMAX films in the last 10 days or so!

I watched one at the weekend;

EVEREST

Filmed during the 1996 disaster on Everest (recently did a trek to Everest Base camp, thus the interest in this :thumbs:

I know it was intended for massive screens, but I watched it on my 7 foot wide screen and have to say it was FANTASTIC!!!!

Having looked at the disk, the movie/documentary was only 45 minutes long, but actuall took up around 6GB (I think) - so I can only assume it uses some form of high definition????

Anyway, the picture quality was excellent and the sound was pretty good as well - 5.0 surround.

Quite a few extra documentaries which I have not watched as yet.

I actually got it from Amazon Marketplace (most places don't seem to sell this tilte) for £9.80 delivered and it was brand new - still sealed!

Definatley a title I would watch again - even my 11 year old son found it enjoyable (if enjoyable is the correct word for the events!!), but he found it intereting!

My only complaint was that the actual documanetary was only around 45 minutes - should have been longer.


Waiting on another coming from DVDSoon - KILIMANJARO - doing a trek to the summit of Kilimanjaro in January - so again, am interested to see it.


I can honestly say that on my screen if was very good, but would lose some impact on a TV.

Likewise, it must be astounding on an IMAX screen :eek:


PS - also states;

Presented in its original theatrical aspect ratio of 1.33:1

i saw that everest one as well, it was very good. I've also asked for amazon to email me when the kilimanjaro dvd comes into stock. my dad also did a trek to the summit with 'trail' magazine, thoroughly enjoyed and he brought back loads of pictures.

thanks for telling me that they made a kilomanjaro edition
:thumbs:

[stantheman]

Would'nt mind seeing the incoming Nascar Imax film soon to be out.

[SimonI]

Top marks to Choices Direct for getting my copy of Dream is alive to me today. Had a watch - it's a DVD5 (but marked 2.9 GB on the label!); the pic quality is very good bar some aliasing on slanted white lines; the surround sound is excellent - they really make use of it to immerse you in the scene. The documentary itself is excellent and I'd happily recommend this to anyone interested in the subject (Space Shuttle), especially at the price :thumbs: