Is IMAX really worth it?

[ICThawk]

7,000 people in Wichita think so. What says the Wheat?

Almost 7,000 patrons spent a little more than $90,000 last weekend at Bill Warren's west Wichita IMAX theater, making it the top performing IMAX in North America.

[filmfanatic24]

Re: Is IMAX really worth it?

[quote author=ICThawk link=topic=3283.msg37479#msg37479 date=1295544398]
7,000 people in Wichita think so. What says the Wheat?

Almost 7,000 patrons spent a little more than $90,000 last weekend at Bill Warren's west Wichita IMAX theater, making it the top performing IMAX in North America.

[/quote]


What else is there to do in Wichita?

Are they still playing Tron?

[Oobers]

Re: Is IMAX really worth it?

Quick answer is usually not.

Especially for the new IMAX's they are putting in the AMCs. They are basically no more than two standard projectors on a slightly bigger screen with an upgraded sound system.

I could go into a big rant about how IMAX is polluting their brand and how picture quality is mediocre at best blah blah blah.

[RandytheHelpfulPineapple]

Re: Is IMAX really worth it?

It depends on the film, too. If it was shot for IMAX, it may be worth it. Otherwise, it is just a minor upgrade.

[WolfShirtSophomore]

Re: Is IMAX really worth it?

Sometimes, depends on the movie.

Dark Knight, YES

Clash of the Titans, NO

[Hawker007]

Re: Is IMAX really worth it?

The one in Wichita is the largest in the world. IMAX had to specially make it. It's not your standard deal, so I think this one would be hard to compare to the others. I heard Bill Warren speak about 6 months ago, and at the time he said they had ordered it but IMAX still wasn't quite sure how they were going to make it because they hadn't ever done one so large.

[Oobers]

Re: Is IMAX really worth it?

[quote author=Hawker007 link=topic=3283.msg37506#msg37506 date=1295552394]
The one in Wichita is the largest in the world.
[/quote]
I don't think it is. I believe theres one in Sydney thats supposed to be the largest.

[Oobers]

Re: Is IMAX really worth it?

Ah, now I see where you got that.
Warren is describing the theater as the largest commercial digital IMAX in the world.

Theres your problem.

[filmfanatic24]

Re: Is IMAX really worth it?

Yeah, that particular IMAX screen is definitely worth it. Hell, the theatre alone is worth it regardless of if the movie is any good.

Here are a few pics I took of it at the opening.

[img width=600 height=448]http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6168/photo6bf.jpg[/img]
[img width=600 height=448]http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/1829/photo7gg.jpg[/img]


And they aren't making non-digital IMAX theatres these days. I think almost all have been converted to digital.

[Oobers]

Re: Is IMAX really worth it?

The new ones are digital. But I think you're right in that they aren't making more film based ones, which is a pity. The digital ones just don't compare.

[filmfanatic24]

Re: Is IMAX really worth it?

[quote author=Oobers link=topic=3283.msg37510#msg37510 date=1295553105]
The new ones are digital. But I think you're right in that they aren't making more film based ones, which is a pity. The digital ones just don't compare.
[/quote]

I agree, for the most part. But I have seen some pretty poor IMAX film presentations. Plus, it just too expensive to produce and handle that film.

[Oobers]

Re: Is IMAX really worth it?

Sure, which is why they mostly stick to documentaries, as they should. Only certain movies should have the effort put into making an actual IMAX film (ie Dark Knight). Now you have movies like Green Hornet which have no business being in an IMAX movie.

Plus, if theaters were smart, they'd stop buying into the IMAX scheme. IMAX charges ridiculous royalties for a mediocre product. Sony recently released projectors with a higher resolution than the digital IMAXs. Theaters could actually make their own IMAX knockoff, and some have.

[filmfanatic24]

Re: Is IMAX really worth it?

They will, but the name IMAX still means something to people. Back 2 decades ago THX meant something but very few people could tell you what it is these days.

[Oobers]

Re: Is IMAX really worth it?

Agreed. Until people stop going, they will just keep building more. They got a little of bad publicity when Aziz Ansari had that blog post, but really no one else is objecting. Its just kinda sad.