Imax Movie Theaters

From LoveToKnow Movies

If you want the absolute total movie experience then you must visit one of the hundred or so IMAX movie theaters worldwide. Keep in mind that these are nothing like your local AMC or Regal theater.

IMAX is the King of all Movies

What is IMAX

IMAX is a type of image format that stands for “Image Maximum” and was created by Canada’s IMAX Corporation. This format has the capacity to display images at very high resolution for the greatest impact on the senses. The standard IMAX screen is 72’ wide and 53’ tall but can be larger and IMAX is currently the technology of choice for large format special venue presentations. IMAX is intended to dramatically increase the resolution of the finished film by using special film stock that is ten times larger than that of standard film. The cameras used to film are also specially built.

There are several things that work in conjunction in order to make the IMAX experience work:

  • The size of the film makes the resolution much greater as seen in the IMAX film T-Rex: Back to the Cretaceous where the dinosaurs have five times the clarity as that seen in Stephen Spielberg’s Jurassic Park
  • There is a sound system that stands along with the film, unlike standard film where the soundtrack is integrated within the film strip itself. The sound system is a six-channel, digital system (Digital Theater Audio Control or DTAC) that uses IMAX’s own software package. The sound is a single stream of uncompressed data which is distributed evenly among the amplifiers, whereas Dolby Digital needs a decoder
  • The projection system is uniquely designed to specifically use the IMAX’s 70mm film stock as well as run it at a higher rate of speed of 24 frames a second. Showing of the IMAX films require a system that is totally different from that of standard film as well as more powerful lights
  • The theater is also much different than a standard theater, where the screen is actually slightly concave. In an IMAX theater, the screen is straight and the viewers watch the film directly as to take advantage of their field of vision.

What to Expect

When you first enter an IMAX theater, the first thing you will notice is how the theater is set up. The seats are in straight rows and not curved as you would expect. It is stadium seating because the screen is so immense you wouldn’t be able to take it all in otherwise. You will also usually notice what can only be described an orchestra pit where the screen goes straight down but there are no seats. Again, the screen is immense and sitting “front row” may prove daunting to some.

When you get to the seat you want (there is no bad seat as there are no blind spots or obstructed views) sit back and relax. If you are sensitive to sound then ear plugs may prove to be your friend. Once the lights go down and the opening sound sequence starts, you will feel blown away due to the speakers all coming online in sequence. The sound is loud and that is putting it mildly.

If you are susceptible to motion sickness then you may want to take something for it. Watching IMAX for the first time will leave you in awe of the quality of the film, the resolution and immense size. If you may have gotten ill during movies like The Blair Witch Project, Cloverfield or Quarantine then you may get the same type of feeling during an IMAX movie.

More on IMAX Movie Theaters

The IMAX movie theaters are grand spectacles to say the very least, and watching a feature-length Hollywood movie in one is a breathtaking experience. Beyond pure entertainment bliss, the theaters also possess a learning aspect because they are present in many natural history and science museums, showing films specifically made to educate the masses.

As of 2007, IMAX movie theaters were found in 38 countries with 60% of those being found in North America. About half of these theaters are commercial theaters where you can find newly released movies like Harry Potter or Spider-Man and the other half are educational in nature.

The IMAX DOME, originally billed as the OMNIMAX, is a variation of the standard IMAX theater and is designed for projection or tilted dome screens. Mumbai, India is home to the largest IMAX DOME theater in the world, with the area of the screen totaling 12,700 sq. ft.

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