I have just seen my first IMAX 3D movie.......

Posted by: Consciousmess on 05 January 2011

What can I say about it??

Well, I saw Tron and must admit that I found the computer animation before the film began (cartoons highlighting it is a 3D movie) absolutely fantastic. Like a little kid, I put my arms out and grabbed a ladder just 1m in front of me!!!

That was great, but.......

Tron didn't do the 3D effects much justice. You see, I found the glasses were like blinkers that a horse wears and I figured that if I went to IMAX I was giving the 3D experience justice. I WAS disappointed with the effect, however, but I won't disclose this to my partner as she treated me to the movie and it isn't her sort of thing!

So am I correct saying that cartoons are better for 3D effects?? Was it because Tron was a remake and they just enhanced the already existing movie??

I think they should make 3D glasses bigger so there is less 'blinkering' to obstruct vision.

Just my opinion, and please feel free to disagree!!!

Regards,

Jon

Posted on: 05 January 2011 by Gavin B

Hi Jon

I don't think the TRON at the B'ham IMAX is a remake - it's a sequel to the 80s original.

The IMAX experience, even if it's not 3D is something else. I found that the action could be too much, too fast, especially if it's close up, but of course the vastness can be so impressive.

Gavin

Posted on: 05 January 2011 by Naijeru

I love IMAX, but I'm no fan of 3D. 3D is just as lame now as it ever was. At least Tron does a decent job of 3D, there are no "comin' at ya!" gimmicks to startle viewers. That said, I couldn't tell which parts were 3D and which parts were 2D which leads me to believe it would have been just as well in 2D.

One has to be careful with IMAX these days, what was once the domain of nature documentaries in science museums is now merely a brand that is being applied to any and all somewhat big theater screens. A proper IMAX screen is MASSIVE at about 80' high but rarely do "IMAX" movies get shown on such screens. Even when they do, they only have a few scenes that actually use the whole screen.

Posted on: 06 January 2011 by David Scott

quote:
A proper IMAX screen is MASSIVE at about 80' high but rarely do "IMAX" movies get shown on such screens. Even when they do, they only have a few scenes that actually use the whole screen.

The trouble is that close ups, which are an standard part of most film's narrative technique look a bit disturbing when the actor's nostrils are about fifteen feet across! For a film to be shown on the full Imax screen all the way through you'd have to develop a new way of filming and shoot specially for Imax. There are hardly any Imax screens so that means two versions of the whole film. The current practice of just using the whole area for certain scenes that naturally work that way is a compromise.
As to showing Imax branded films on smaller screens, does this really happen? The Imax brand used to be really carefully controlled. Are you sure these are actually advertised as Imax screenings?

Posted on: 06 January 2011 by Naijeru

David I agree, I was never a fan of feature films in IMAX for that reason. Even if the movie is letterboxed as many are, they don't work in IMAX unless you are sitting at the very back of the theater. And yes, non-traditional IMAX screens are now branded as IMAX. I think the standards body has relaxed the requirements so that now big screens that were not initially IMAX now qualify.

Posted on: 06 January 2011 by David Scott

quote:
I think the standards body has relaxed the requirements so that now big screens that were not initially IMAX now qualify.

I suppose that makes sense as it wasn't catching on the way they needed it to. Pity to dilute it in a way though. The right footage can look great at that scale.

Posted on: 21 January 2011 by mudwolf

I enjoyed Tron as a regular 3D movie but then I was staying with my 89 yo old folks and had to get away for an afternoon. It was raining and nasty but so worth it. Came home and a techie friend had seen it on IMAX and gave me a rundown of differences. I didn't see the need for it. I have rented some IMAX dvds and can't say I really like their stuff, it's so lightweight compared to a good documentary that delves into the whole subject.

Posted on: 21 January 2011 by David Scott

Mudwolf,

Renting IMAX dvd's is utterly pointless, precisely because your criticism is valid. The whole point is to gawp at the sheer spectacle of the thing - and I wouldn't dismiss that. Mountains, for example are very big so a big picture of one arguably communicates a truth about them that a small one doesn't.