Is IMAX theater experience worth it, really?

by The 13th Warrior

Posted: 14 years ago 17 replies

OFF TOPIC

I was debating whether to go to a IMAX theater, but here are some negatives I ran across in others posts:

1) Its a Giant DVD/Blue Ray on screen

2) Stuff is just a blur because of screen size

3) Some say some films are not formatted for it

4) You have to sit in certain seats for a sweet spot

5) Are you going to enjoy turning your head back and forth at 90 degree angles to follow the film

6) Maybe only 25 minutes of a film is worth IMAX experience

7) Depending on where you sit, it is a distraction from the story

8) Most of the seats are not that good

For $40 a person ( admission plus popcorn, drinks, etc., ), if a person can get around about the same satisfaction on 2D screen, why spend the extra bucks?

Whats your experience, please....., NO IMAX affiliates, owners, workers, relatives, maintenance crew, future inheritors, shareholders, board of trustees, business affiliates, advertisers, marketing firm associates, partners, associates, employers, representatives, etc.,.... for christ sakes.

The 13th Warrior

seasoned

14 years ago

Originally Posted by The 13th Warrior

I was debating whether to go to a IMAX theater, but here are some negatives I ran across in others posts:

1) Its a Giant DVD/Blue Ray on screen

Maybe, in SOME cases, it SEEMS like that. IMAX PREDATES DVD or BLUE RAY!

2) Stuff is just a blur because of screen size

THAT'S BULL! The film is generally made FOR IMAX at the time.

3) Some say some films are not formatted for it

See #2

4) You have to sit in certain seats for a sweet spot

See #2

5) Are you going to enjoy turning your head back and forth at 90 degree angles to follow the film

It's been a while, but I didn't notice that!

6) Maybe only 25 minutes of a film is worth IMAX experience

It depends on the movie, and why you are there. Some movies may not really be noticeably better at all. It is about resolution, size, and maybe 3d quality.

7) Depending on where you sit, it is a distraction from the story

See #2

8) Most of the seats are not that good

Well, I only saw it in nice theaters, but Imax is about the FILM, and PROJECTOR, NOT about the seats.

For $40 a person ( admission plus popcorn, drinks, etc., ), if a person can get around about the same satisfaction on 2D screen, why spend the extra bucks?

Whats your experience, please....., NO IMAX affiliates, owners, workers, relatives, maintenance crew, future inheritors, shareholders, board of trustees, business affiliates, advertisers, marketing firm associates, partners, associates, employers, representatives, etc.,.... for christ sakes.

The 13th Warrior

Some films are ONLY available on IMAX. Frankly, those are the only I have looked at. I think I have seen 3 movies in 2 theaters. Frankly, in MOST cases being at a nice theater for 1/2 the price is often probably more worth it. But a LOT of the points above, that I contradicted, are biased, not relevant, or just WRONG!

Steve

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seasoned 14 years ago

BTW I would LOVE to see a nice 3D commercial film in IMAX. I saw 1 or 2 that were just for IMAX, and they looked nice. Otherwise, I tend to just watch at home. I mean how much can you expect from a movie? It was an attempt to push the old fashioned projector to the limit of abilities at that time. They steadied the film and projector, and use a FAR larger film. It is probably better quality to. But that provides for a LOT of detail which means the picture projected can be far larger and steadier and actually BETTER quality.

Of course, today, personal equipment that many have is probably about as good. I say probably about as good because I'm sure MOST realize that optical scales better, and can be clearer than digital. And IMAX IS optical and nearly 100% of personal cameras today are digital.

Steve
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iidesu 14 years ago

never been through an IMAX experience.
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- The 13th Warrior 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by iidesu
  
  never been through an IMAX experience.
  
  Your post count will not go up, no one is going to click your sig.
  
  Um, duh.
  
  Thanks
  
  1 reply
  
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  seasoned 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by The 13th Warrior
  
  Your post count will not go up, no one is going to click your sig.
  
  Um, duh.
  
  shhhh! She's hunting piggies!
  
  Thanks
  
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Rich Struck 14 years ago

$40 a person? No, I would never pay that. It's $10 or so here. You must eat a lot of popcorn.
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- sq201 14 years ago
  
  Originally Posted by Rich Struck
  
  $40 a person? No, I would never pay that. It's $10 or so here. You must eat a lot of popcorn.
  
  Yeah, last time I went to an IMAX it was about $10 or $11...
  
  Honestly, I never seen a 3D movie in IMAX so that may be worth the price, but I don't think it is worth it if the cost is going to be $40.
  
  If you sit at the front of the theater then your neck may hurt from having to tilt it to see the screen, but other than that it's not really a problem.
  
  In my opinion, the large screen, the speakers, ect. make seeing a movie in a theater more fun but not by much. I'm fine with the normal theaters and that's when I only have to pay about $10 for the IMAX. However, like I said before a 3D movie may make it worth it...
  
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ScottyM2 14 years ago

Saw Star Trek then later, Avatar on Imax 3D and was blown away by the detail and awesome effects.

About a week later, went to see Avatar again on a "regular" screen. Was NOT the same. Some movies are mediocre with or without the 3D enhancements. Avatar rules.

My 2 cents -- maybe it depends on the movie and what it is designed for. I also enjoyed the noticeably smaller audience at Imax -- probably due to the pricing.

My experience with the regular screens is usually more inconsiderate viewers flashing their blinding cellphones, crying babies, and lots of people who feel they must discuss everything that is happening on screen.

I'll pay the extra for Imax any time.
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Bofu2U 14 years ago

IMAX for me depends on the movie.

For example:

Avatar in IMAX, yes.
Mission Impossible in IMAX, yes.
A random comedy in IMAX, no.

If anything looks like it could be epic with a lot of detailed scenes, (for me at least) fight scenes/battles/war etc - worth thinking about IMAX.

For me it's all about the content. If IMAX will improve the quality of the movie due to detail, or "depth" then yes. Otherwise, waste of money.
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biggcapp 14 years ago

I saw Mission Impossible: ghost Protocol in IMAX - dude it was worth every penny. In fact I will probably see it again. I almost never see anything twice.

It was that good. Mainly because they went into shooting scenes specifically for IMAX like Avatar. Every movie isn't IMAX worthy but MI4 is for sure. In fact watching it any other way would be a crime.

-Capp
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- QuickSurf 14 years ago
  
  Certain movies are good, some not so much. Last two times we went to an Imax theater, saw Alice in Wonderland 3D last year, and Ultimate Wave Tahiti 3D this year. Films are formatted for Imax so movies arne't blurry or anything like that.
  
  However a good home theater > any movie theater screen , theaters actaully have more resolution but it's stretched over a large screen so picture isn't as smooth/sharp as it is at home. Avatar 3D kicks ass at home.
  
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Sunfyre7896

14 years ago

Here in Texas, 3D films and IMAX are around $12 to $15 depending on the area. A regular fim is like $6 during the day and $8 at night for comparison gauging.

As to the experience, I enjoyed the couple of times I've gone and didn't see any issues arise. I see this too with 3D, as some people hate it, have headaches, etc. For me it's been great on both accounts and I like to see top action, adventure, sci-fi/fantasy movies in 3D or IMAX if possible. This is just my experience of course and is not intended to diagnose or determine other people's experiences.

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seasoned

14 years ago

Originally Posted by Sunfyre7896

Here in Texas, 3D films and IMAX are around $12 to $15 depending on the area. A regular fim is like $6 during the day and $8 at night for comparison gauging.

If seen documentaries on IMAX. Comparing Imax and normal projectors is like comparing grand pianos to huge pipe organs. The projector impact and installation complexity is about identical. And the film is a LOT larger.

So we KNOW the basic costs are higher. And I have seen NORMAL movies in a NORMAL theater for over $10 with NO concessions, and the concessions STILL cost a fortune. They can easily cost over $5 just for candy and a coke. And that was a while ago. I haven't been to a movie in about 15 years.

Steve

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JustinDupre 14 years ago

If the movie playing is a big-budget production with lot's of cool effects such as Avatar then it's definitely worth watching it in IMAX.
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Kurt 14 years ago

>>Is IMAX theater experience worth it, really?

Yes....Especially if Cheetah is in the movie.
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CBlite 14 years ago

I don't recall any of the issues you mentioned, but I remember the leg room always being an issues. It's really tight between the rows. It's better if the scenes in the movies actually use the larger film format so that you actually feel immersed in the movie as your're watching it. Not all movies that are shown in the IMAX use the film so that's probably where you hear about the formatting complaints.

The screen is definitely the biggest of the three. You have your normal theatre, Ultra AVX, and then IMAX. A general IMAX ticket around here is about $20. I know I've had four other friends come to shows with me and I don't remember them complaining about anything.
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paintingsgalore22 14 years ago

Sometimes.. It really depends on the film your watching!
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Is IMAX theater experience worth it, really?

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