List of 15/70 IMAX Theaters Nationwide-- LieMax need not apply!

[Joe Taylor]

In premature-anticipation of next summer's release of The Dark Knight Returns and the well founded claims that that nearly 75% of DKR has been filmed in 15 perf IMAX, I'm wondering if anybody knows of some sort of registry that lists all of the 15/70mm IMAX theaters. From my understanding, many true 15/70 IMAX theaters have been shuttered (it's criminal that there is no longer a true-IMAX theater in Las Vegas) in adoption of cheaper Lie-Max venues. In a year there will be even fewer. IMAX suckered me once with Lie-Max. ONCE. Never again.

 

[Alex Kiritz]

Here you go.

It would make me so happy if Red went into competition with Imax. Red would obviously kill them. Even if Red started the process right now by the time they'd be done there would be enough movies being shot on the Epic 645 for Imax to be made a mere memory.

 

[David Mullen ASC]

Why is it necessary for IMAX to be "killed"? Why would that make you happy? You don't like the look of IMAX?

 

[Michael Olsen]

Here you go.

Unless I'm mistaken, that is just a long list of all the IMAX theatres, not just theatres screening 15/70 as Joe asked.

 

[Alex Kiritz]

Why is it necessary for IMAX to be "killed"? Why would that make you happy? You don't like the look of IMAX?

I loved what IMAX was doing 5 or 10 years ago. Now most of what they do is charge people extra money to watch movies on larger screens that had already been built. I feel that by telling people that 2K images are the best of what's available now they have moved the industry backwards. I don't want a company like that to exist.

Unless I'm mistaken, that is just a long list of all the IMAX theatres, not just theatres screening 15/70 as Joe asked.

I was under the impression that all of those were screening 15/70. On that page is a link to this list which I think does specify.

 

[Michael Olsen]

That's the stuff.

 

[Gavin Greenwalt]

Why is it necessary for IMAX to be "killed"? Why would that make you happy? You don't like the look of IMAX?

IMAX IMAX is great. But IMAX right now is occupying a niche of the projection industry under largely false advertising. I would like to see that niche filled by someone who actually delivers on the promise and doesn't poison the high end premium theater experience market so that a legitimate competitor can't enter. (See: bad 3D conversions for similar conundrums)

 

[Keegan O'Brien]

Joe, it's The Dark Knight RISES.

Alex, IMAX stock as a format is fantastic, the best. I of course wish RED the best and look forward to the day they compete with IMAX, but the fact is that the two systems aren't in the same league yet.

About this "LieMAX" debacle, it varies from location to location. Some are better than others and worth the surcharge, some aren't. Just depends on the size of the auditorium being converted. But, you have to remember that D-IMAX costs less than 65mm IMAX.

 

[Ketch Rossi]

Okay, IMAX, does not just project IMAX shot 70mm film, with their own crew and cameras as in the Dark NIght Raises and others in the past, but also showcases films shot in Digital,
see POTC4 shot on RED ONE 4.5k finished in 4k.

There is more coming that I can't discuss here, now, shot on EPIC 5k finished 4k, that when people say look s like 65mm they are not kidding, I love what TRUE IMAX is and what it stands for,
and for this I decided on "Rape of a Beauty" to be an IMAX 3D film, but discussions did not start well as IMAX Canada, retains this type if material not right for their showing, either way.
I will have other material form upcoming projects that out is sure right for IMAX and it will be shot with that final venue inn mind.

IMAX stands for giving its patrons a true cinematic experience, and not just lets go see a movie, unfortunately it seems that lately there has been a HUGE need for material,
and also some cinemas fake IMAX with what ever else they can, sad...

"True" IMAX is a fantastic format, even so I don't and never would use their cameras, I would use our EPIC cameras and their crew in a minute to make films to that format,
but also like 2:1 projected on the IMAX screen, have down a test and absolutely love it!!

In fact I love IMAX so much that finally moving to Florence Italy instead of Rome, was one of the reason of the newly opened Digital IMAX Cinema in Pioltello, near Milan,
much closer form Florence, about 300km closer, that is 600km + round trip...

 

[Keegan O'Brien]

Okay, IMAX, does not just project IMAX shot 70mm film, with their own crew and cameras as in the Dark NIght Raises and others in the past, but also showcases films shot in Digital,
see POTC4 shot on RED ONE 4.5k finished in 4k.

There is more coming that I can't discuss here, now, shot on EPIC 5k finished 4k, that when people say look s like 65mm they are not kidding, I love what TRUE IMAX is and what it stands for,
and for this I decided on "Rape of a Beauty" to be an IMAX 3D film, but discussions did not start well as IMAX Canada, retains this type if material not right for their showing, either way.
I will have other material form upcoming projects that out is sure right for IMAX and it will be shot with that final venue inn mind.

IMAX stands for giving its patrons a true cinematic experience, and not just lets go see a movie, unfortunately it seems that lately there has been a HUGE need for material,
and also some cinemas fake IMAX with what ever else they can, sad...

"True" IMAX is a fantastic format, even so I don't and never would use their cameras, I would use our EPIC cameras and their crew in a minute to make films to that format,
but also like 2:1 projected on the IMAX screen, have down a test and absolutely love it!!

In fact I love IMAX so much that finally moving to Florence Italy instead of Rome, was one of the reason of the newly opened Digital IMAX Cinema in Pioltello, near Milan,
much closer form Florence, about 300km closer, that is 600km + round trip...

I can understand not wanting to shoot with 15/65mm cameras... it's a pain from what I've gathered. Noise, size... not exactly swift workflow. But, when viewing a film on a true, 6 story+ IMAX screen on 65mm stock, there's nothing quite like the real deal. But that being said, it all looks good. F35 footage looks fantastic after a DMR blow up, EPIC will look even better of course.

 

[Ryan Lalonde]

What exactly do you mean by Lie-Max? 35mm prints show on a imax size screen?

 

[Tim Hole]

Liemax is basically 'The IMAX Experience' which is essentially 2x2K resolution DLP projectors (2x 6K lamps) calibrated together, onto a smaller screen than is usual for IMAX. They use an inhouse uprez process called DMR. The benefit of IMAX Experience over usual single projection is the increased brightness and contrast projected onto a slightly curved screen. The argument is that due to the fact the audience can sit closer to the screen with digital projection, the screen does not need to as big. A big benefit is that there is no masking around the screen - it is floor to ceiling - wall to wall. Its not true IMAX but its still better than standard projection. If I had to pay I might be annoyed at the price difference

 

[Alexander Ibrahim]

I loved what IMAX was doing 5 or 10 years ago. Now most of what they do is charge people extra money to watch movies on larger screens that had already been built. I feel that by telling people that 2K images are the best of what's available now they have moved the industry backwards. I don't want a company like that to exist.

The "LieMAX" theaters are not really a bad product, but its confusing branding.

There are three things under discussion ... IMAX motion picture imaging and display, IMAX 3D display technology and IMAX theater certification.

WHen you head over to the multiplex, odds are you are looking at IMAX certified screens.

IMAX certification is for digital projection what THX is for theatrical sound ... actually IMAX certification also includes sound and 3D certification, but its a quality standard not a projection standard.

The reason theaters have gone in for so many "LieMAX" screens is that they are required to be IMAX certified to show IMAX 3D films.

None of that is in itself a bad thing.

Now the sucky thing is that IMAX certification is INTENTIONALLY confusing to the consumer, and I can't applaud that. Sadly however, the consumer is partly to blame. People want to think they are seeing an IMAX film in IMAX, and that its convenient. (Can't say cheap ... it costs roughly the same as "real" IMAX theaters in my area.)

So, if you care that much and really want to "kill" "LieMAX" theaters, then buy a share of their stock and complain at the next shareholders meeting, complain that its confusing to the FTC your local and states attorneys and most importantly don't spend money there.

The most you can hope to achieve however is that they'd change the name from "IMAX" to some other branding that makes it clear that a consumer isn't buying a ticket to a multistory 15/70 IMAX projection ... a net effect you can achieve by educating yourself and your circle of moviegoing acquaintances.

 

[Keegan O'Brien]

The "LieMAX" theaters are not really a bad product, but its confusing branding.

There are three things under discussion ... IMAX motion picture imaging and display, IMAX 3D display technology and IMAX theater certification.

WHen you head over to the multiplex, odds are you are looking at IMAX certified screens.

IMAX certification is for digital projection what THX is for theatrical sound ... actually IMAX certification also includes sound and 3D certification, but its a quality standard not a projection standard.

The reason theaters have gone in for so many "LieMAX" screens is that they are required to be IMAX certified to show IMAX 3D films.

None of that is in itself a bad thing.

Now the sucky thing is that IMAX certification is INTENTIONALLY confusing to the consumer, and I can't applaud that. Sadly however, the consumer is partly to blame. People want to think they are seeing an IMAX film in IMAX, and that its convenient. (Can't say cheap ... it costs roughly the same as "real" IMAX theaters in my area.)

So, if you care that much and really want to "kill" "LieMAX" theaters, then buy a share of their stock and complain at the next shareholders meeting, complain that its confusing to the FTC your local and states attorneys and most importantly don't spend money there.

The most you can hope to achieve however is that they'd change the name from "IMAX" to some other branding that makes it clear that a consumer isn't buying a ticket to a multistory 15/70 IMAX projection ... a net effect you can achieve by educating yourself and your circle of moviegoing acquaintances.

It's not really a certification... you can't just build a theater and try to get it certified... IMAX oversees a cinema conversion from the beginning and uses it's own software, sound technology (QSC and JBL speakers and their own laser aligning systems), projectors, and theater designs. On top of that IMAX corp can monitor every one of their theaters from their headquarters for quality control. "IMAX" isn't just a stamp of approval.

 

[Stephen Gentle]

Here you go.

Unless I'm mistaken, that is just a long list of all the IMAX theatres, not just theatres screening 15/70 as Joe asked.

Well, it's wrong for at least one of them - the Brisbane, Australia theatre used to be an IMAX but it was sold off eight or nine years ago and now just show regular films in 2K projection (I think) in the big theatre. They also have three or four regular sized theatres.

 

[Tom Lowe]

In my opinion, the IMAX Corp has purposefully left things vague as to which theaters are 70mm and which are LieMax. In this way, they dilute themselves. Not good.

Of course, right now, IMAX finds themselves right in the very middle of an important transition from chemical film to digital. I have many, many friends right now who have IMAX films in development, and they are caught in this strange period where IMAX will not allow them to shoot all digital, but are insisting that some percentage of the film be shot on 65mm 15 perf, in order to preserve that format (which is not preservable). The result of this is that all of the 65/15 sequences that IMAX is requiring will cost something like 15 times what the digital sequences will cost. It's not tenable.

In two years from now, all IMAX films will be all digital, but the board of directors at IMAX has not made that transition yet, so everyone with IMAX films in development right now is having to set aside 75% of their entire budget just for a handful of 65/15 3D shots.

Or you can do what I probably will = just shoot the IMAX film digitally, on spec.

 

[Keegan O'Brien]

In two years from now, all IMAX films will be all digital

You think in two years IMAX will come up with a digital camera with at least 12-18K resolution and all the latitude and color perks of 15/65mm stock? Isn't their new digital camera "only" supposed to be 8K? And knowing IMAX that'll take them forever to actually finish...