[Steve AWOL]

Originally Posted by ((((Dingo))))

I love IMAX but I would recommend that you sit towards the back, otherwise it's really overwhelming and in your face.

Agreed. I was sat in the front half of Waterloo IMAX for Superman Returns and it was a bit too in my face tbh I now always make sure to sit in the back few rows so that I can take it all in.

Should be a busy year for the IMAX cinemas what with Prometheus, The Dark Knight Rises and The Hobbit all getting IMAX releases

[ironjade]

A few feature films apart, most IMAX movies are staggeringly dull, sub-Disney documentaries; it's only the format which makes them bearable.

[Moony]

Saw StarTrek on IMAX - hated it. The fast action and fast panning shots were just one big blur.

[Paddy C]

I find the idea of a huge screen that covers my entire field of vision to be rather uncomfortable an idea and even thinking about it puts me off, no matter how good it's 'supposed' to look. I'll just stick with looking at a rectangle and some lovely red curtains thank you very much.

[-GONZO-]

I would love to go to an IMAX to see a blockbuster film, but there's no way I'm traveling around 70 miles just to get there then another 70 miles to get home again.

[Motthus]

I wish we had a IMAX screen in Cardiff.We have got a fake IMAX in the Odeon but it's not a proper one

[*MikeB*]

Originally Posted by Motthus

I wish we had a IMAX screen in Cardiff.We have got a fake IMAX in the Odeon but it's not a proper one

It either is an IMAX or it isn't.

The Odeon website says Cardiff has an IMAX screen.

[gds1972]

I saw Tron Legacy in my local Odeon IMAX.
Generally I found it okay unless I tilted my head even a small amount to one side, I the started to get ghosting.

[((((Dingo))))]

Originally Posted by Steve AWOL

Agreed. I was sat in the front half of Waterloo IMAX for Superman Returns and it was a bit too in my face tbh I now always make sure to sit in the back few rows so that I can take it all in.

Should be a busy year for the IMAX cinemas what with Prometheus, The Dark Knight Rises and The Hobbit all getting IMAX releases

The same happened to me when i saw the Dark Knight, I didn't know where to look at the beginning because i was so close, i got used to it as time went on, but the middle to back section is a must for Imax

[Steve AWOL]

Originally Posted by Motthus

I wish we had a IMAX screen in Cardiff.We have got a fake IMAX in the Odeon but it's not a proper one

I've yet to visit one of those Digital IMAX screens to see how they compare to the traditional versions but the screen at Cardiff is apparently 16.8 meters wide and 7.7m high which is barely a quarter the size of Waterloo' screen at 26m by 20m. Although I've heard that some cinema goers prefer the sharper picture of an IMAX DMR image on the smaller screen, so might be worth a look if it's not much further / costlier than regular cinema...

Originally Posted by Moony

Saw StarTrek on IMAX - hated it. The fast action and fast panning shots were just one big blur.

Originally Posted by gds1972

I saw Tron Legacy in my local Odeon IMAX.
Generally I found it okay unless I tilted my head even a small amount to one side, I the started to get ghosting.

Star Trek, Tron, Superman and Transformers were filmed on 35mm and upscaled using DMR with varying degrees of success, hence the ghosting/blurring - How Regular Movies Become "IMAX" Films: Gizmodo

At least the next Star Trek movie should have some proper IMAX footage: ‘Star Trek’ Sequel Is Being Shot Partially On IMAX | /Film

Originally Posted by ((((Dingo))))

The same happened to me when i saw the Dark Knight, I didn't know where to look at the beginning because i was so close, i got used to it as time went on, but the middle to back section is a must for Imax

It's a shame that more movies aren't actually filmed using proper IMAX cameras as those 40 minutes of IMAX footage during The Dark Knight were absolutely stunning to behold Going back to regular cinema after that is like going from HD back to SD so I am very much looking forward to seeing: An Hour Of IMAX In Dark Knight Rises? | Movie News | Empire

[Nick Soapdish]

Been to the Fake IMAX in Greenwich to see the Avatar preview in 2009. It was nothing compared to seeing it at the real Imax in Waterloo. I hate the Fake Imax screens, make a mockery of the whole format IMO

[Deserana 12]

Only ever been to a digital screen (closest proper one to me is in London) and I love the experience even though I'm sure we have the smallest screen

[Alt-F4]

Originally Posted by Steve AWOL

I see that Cineworld are rolling out 3 IMAX screens at Edinburgh, Crawley and Sheffield:

Cineworld Cinemas: News At Your Local Cineworld Cinema IMAX SCREENS COMING TO SHEFFIELD & CRAWLEY

Could this be the reason cineworld tickets have risen from £7 to £10?

[cunningham1471]

Originally Posted by Paddy C

I find the idea of a huge screen that covers my entire field of vision to be rather uncomfortable an idea and even thinking about it puts me off, no matter how good it's 'supposed' to look. I'll just stick with looking at a rectangle and some lovely red curtains thank you very much.

Wow that takes me back I miss the curtains and the old Pearl and Dean trailer. Especially the curtains though. It gave the whole film a sense of occasion. The curtains close to say that's the end of the trailers. Then the curtains opened, sometimes to cheers from people to say now it's time for the main event.

Those red curtains certainly made going to the cinema more of an experience.

[NorfolkBoy1]

I've always been really impressed with the IMAX screenings I've been to at my local Odeon, and it's not the full IMAX, what's impressed me most was the sound.

For those in the know, what makes IMAX-lite such an inferior experience to the real thing?

[Steve AWOL]

Originally Posted by NorfolkBoy1

I've always been really impressed with the IMAX screenings I've been to at my local Odeon, and it's not the full IMAX, what's impressed me most was the sound.

For those in the know, what makes IMAX-lite such an inferior experience to the real thing?

Might be of interest to you...

Q&A: How Do I Know If My IMAX Theatre is Real 70mm IMAX or lieMAX (Digital IMAX)? | /Film

[Dick Darlington]

There's a worrying trend starting of films only being available in Imax digital rather than the traditional 70mm imax screens. The first one I was aware of was Tintin, which I can kind of understand, but both The Hunger Games and Avengers are only available in Imax Digital and not at proper Imax screens. Luckily Prometheus and Dark Knight Rises definitely will be.

[Steve AWOL]

Cineworld are to roll out some more IMAX screens at their multiplexes, hopefully they'll install one in Buckinghamshire so that I can check out DMR features locally...

IMAX, Cineworld partner for more UK screens | News | Screen

[Steve AWOL]

As one IMAX screen is demolished another might be opened...

BBC News - Design for Bournemouth Imax cinema site

Ipswich: Town heading for cinema boost with IMax possibly on the way to Cineworld in response to Vue - Business - East Anglian Daily Times

[Ads]

The Imax in Waterloo is a terrific place to watch movies and has a well behaved, appreciative audience as well. Am lucky that its only a couple of miles from where I live, but feel for those who have no IMAX cinemas anywhere near them.

[Voynich]

The Glasgow Science Museum was a wonderful experience. The Odeon in the Xscape not . They treated us to 28 minutes of adverts .Being subjected to 'Go compare' and 'wonga wonga' and other cheap 30 second ads on a screen that size for 28 minutes without a break was a horrible experience. I paid £15 for that! Never again!

[dcb1986]

I guess it all depends on positioning in the theatre. I saw Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen at Birmingham IMAX and only managed to get seats on the 2nd/3rd row. After 2 1/2 hours I had stiff neck ache and the movie was out of focus. Saw other movies (Potter 6, Tron, Transformers 3) closer to the back of the theatre and was by far a better movie going experience then popping to the local Vue.

Now I've relocated north, I travel over to Manchester for the IMAX, if I Prebook the VIP seats I can actually guarantee a decent seat.

[CJClarke]

Originally Posted by Ads

The Imax in Waterloo is a terrific place to watch movies and has a well behaved, appreciative audience as well.

I've noticed this at the Sheffield one too, you tend to find that the people who pay the extra for the IMAX are people who actually want to enjoy the movie. I've seen quite a few films on the IMAX now and i've not had a problem with obnoxious people ruining it at all. Comparatively, i saw The Expendables 2 last week in a regular screen at the same cinema and it was full of loud mouth tossers that wanted to chat or play with their phones all the way through the movie.

[FlAsHFlOoD]

So, original imax is too big, and new digital imax is too small. Does anywhere do goldilocks imax?!

[Steve AWOL]

I see that Ipswich and Milton Keynes could soon be having IMAX screens...

Ipswich: Town heading for cinema boost with IMax possibly on the way to Cineworld in response to Vue - Business - East Anglian Daily Times

Planning permission sought for cinema at stadium:mk complex - Local - Milton Keynes Citizen

I suppose the cinema chains have seen seen quite how much money there is to be made from IMAX releases and want to cash in. Hopefully it doesn't turn out to be a passing fad like 3D as I find IMAX much more immersive than 3D and don't mind paying a bit extra for the privilege.