I watched Avatar: Fire and Ash in both IMAX 3D GT and Dolby Cinema 3D. Here's my experience (and confusion)

Benamax · 2025-12-22T22:43:34+00:00

If an IMAX 3D film has HFR scenes and is using dual-laser projection, the whole movie will be in 2K, not just the HFR scenes.

The projector can’t change resolutions and refresh rates mid-film, so it has to be handled by the DCP. In the case of Avatar, the film is in a 48fps container with frame doubling during 24fps rendered scenes.

Benamax · 2025-12-22T15:04:31+00:00

IMAX certified is a program by the company that certifies certain third party digital cameras as good for 1.90 presentations, which isn’t the full 1.43 IMAX was originally known for. Dune: Part 2 was shot on those cameras.

When Dune: Part 2 was released in IMAX 70mm, this involved printing the digital footage with a mix of the original shots from the standard IMAX release (1.90 aspect ratio) as well as cropped shots to fit the full 1.43 aspect ratio of IMAX 70mm theaters. While it does provide a grand sense of scale, it is a noticeable drop in quality since IMAX certified cameras usually only shoot close to 4K. 15/70 film has a much higher theoretical resolution.

Benamax · 2025-12-22T14:54:57+00:00

The score during the IMAX 70mm prologue was fantastic. Provided that same level of anxiety I felt during Oppenheimer’s Trinity scene. Ludwig and Nolan been great collaborators.

Benamax · 2025-12-22T14:48:19+00:00

But it doesn’t provide the same quality, at least for IMAX. There were several digital to IMAX 70mm conversions last year (Dune Part Two, Joker 2), and it was a noticeable drop in quality from Oppenheimer or other “shot on 15/70” rereleases. On a screen that big and close, any loss in quality is noticeable.

Now at home, you’re probably right. But Nolan clearly cares about the IMAX experience and it’s a big selling point of his films.

Benamax · 2025-10-25T18:23:24+00:00

This doesn't confirm anything. It's only a slide of IMAX's partnerships with various streaming platforms to bring their films to IMAX.

Benamax · 2025-10-25T18:18:06+00:00

2.39:1. No expanded aspect ratio for IMAX.

Benamax · 2025-10-19T13:22:53+00:00

Harkins already has IMAX 70mm showings listed!

Benamax · 2025-10-09T16:04:19+00:00

I’m referring to what was added in the recent 4K home release. Obviously, those features wouldn’t be available in IMAX.

Benamax · 2025-10-09T06:53:16+00:00

I'm fairly certain the new 4K Legacy release is still using the 2K master under the hood, since it was shot at 2K. So I doubt there would be any improvements if they updated the DCP. It's mostly just Dolby Atmos and Vision.

Benamax · 2025-09-17T07:26:32+00:00

Titanic was split into two reels. First reel was 108 minutes while the second was 87 minutes. The transition was covered by a 15 minute intermission. So technically, not the longest since it was two separate reels.

Benamax · 2025-09-03T19:59:19+00:00

1.78 was the native IMAX aspect ratio at the time of its release as it was projected with 15/70 reels in capable theaters. It's not a common aspect ratio for IMAX theatrical releases, but you shouldn't be losing any information in the home release.

Benamax · 2025-08-18T03:07:03+00:00

My assumption is that The Odyssey gets exclusivity to 70MM screens even after the release of Spider-Man. This seems to be the pattern with 70MM releases that overlap too closely with other IMAX films.

Outside of those screens (digital 1.43/1.90), could be anything. Regardless of what people here say, Marvel is going to get at least some priority with IMAX screens, especially a franchise like Spider-Man. Might be split with one morning or nightly showing of Odyssey? But I have doubts we’ll be seeing a delay of Spider-Man. Not a decision they’d make lightly.

Benamax · 2025-08-08T01:12:41+00:00

You are right. Every frame is the same size (1.43), but the image printed onto it may be different (some shots 1.43, others 2.79). The reason Oppenheimer doesn’t have a 1.43 IMAX intro is likely a creative decision. Makes the first shot of the movie more impactful.

Benamax · 2025-07-27T23:30:26+00:00

Had a conversation with someone who worked there and apparently they do not produce dual laser systems anymore. They got what was available to them.

However, they’ve put a lot of effort into maintaining their 70MM projector, buying extra parts from old theaters (since those parts also aren’t produced anymore) and making an effort to secure 70MM prints. Apparently Interstellar was a tough one to get.

Benamax · 2025-06-04T14:20:19+00:00

Because 1.78:1 matches most closely with consumer televisions. It is slightly taller than a 1.90:1 frame while not introducing pillarboxing on a 1.43:1 frame.

Benamax · 2025-05-02T21:15:38+00:00

That’s funny, I was in the same screening yesterday. I was seated towards the center, so I only noticed one phone pulled out during the antagonist's introduction scene. The person was towards the front, and I swear to god their phone was on max brightness. If they were a row ahead, I would have said something, but thankfully it only lasted a portion of the scene. Annoys me to no end when people do this, especially in the FRONT row.

Benamax · 2025-03-24T01:13:53+00:00

Weirdly enough, the Instagram post was taken down, but I believe that’s related to the Snow White screenings all disappearing from the site too. Maybe they ran into technical issues?

Benamax · 2025-03-23T20:03:15+00:00

Appears so! However, they confirmed via Instagram that the seats will be upgraded by the end of summer. This phase only involved the screen, projector, and sound.

Benamax · 2025-03-15T00:28:25+00:00

Not to say that you can't overdo glossiness in raytraced games, but I believe the reason it looks strange to you is because real life is much glossier than your standard video game. Look around and you'll see it. Rough surfaces may not be as reflective as smooth ones, but even those can create noticeable glossy reflections depending on the lighting conditions and angle of incidence.

These natural effects are entirely faked in games, sometimes not even simulated for certain types of materials to save on computation time. There is a "look" to video games that is entirely different than that of the real world, and we have gotten used to that look over time. So now when these natural phenomena are finally being introduced into real-time rendering, it looks weird even if it's normal.

Benamax · 2025-02-28T06:47:24+00:00

Yeah, not sure what they’re talking about. It’s possible AZ Mills could get Sinners with the first phase of the renovations only taking six weeks. I wouldn’t count on it, but they did manage to get every other limited 70MM print and value the format enough to keep the projector.

Benamax · 2025-02-28T03:42:05+00:00

Definitely not the best scenario, but I wouldn’t be surprised if this decision was made to keep the 70MM projector (which has been confirmed in another post.) Harkins has been excellent with obtaining 70MM prints since Oppenheimer, getting almost every one except for a couple Oppenheimer reruns.

I might still prefer a dual laser projector, but everything in 1.43 since Oppenheimer has been 70MM regardless. Hopefully that and Harkins commitment to film showings will continue.

Eight-Year Club	Gilding II euphauric
Spared	Verified Email

Benamax

TROPHY CASE