IMAX London Exerience - Super Impressed

[ellisdj]

I went to see Hunger Games 2 at the Imax yesterday.

Normally I walk away from the Cinema feeling dissapointed - not this time.

If anyone is considering going - definately go - its expensive to see a film this way but its worth the money

The Screen is huge - I mean Huge and the fact its so big makes it feel much closer to you than it is. That creates the feeling of immersion in what your watching.

Image quality ranged throughout the film - some bits were better than others.

Some bits the huge screen was showing up the low res of High Def - that screen is crying out for much higher res content.

I also wasnt sure on the black levels throughout the film in parts - they did look grey but that could well be the look of the film, wont know until i see it at home

The sound was excellent as well - it sounds like PA granted - but its the best sound I have heard in a cinema and probably the best I have heard for film. It sounds different to at home, maybe lacking a touch of fidelity that a home system has - but the sheer scale of the sound makes up for that and again its completely engrossing and you are not pulled away from the film except when the design of the film is to give you a fright or whatever

We paid extra for the better seats and they were completey comfortable for 2.30 hours/mins or more we was in them.

Well worth going to - I will definately be going back.

 

[professorhat]

Yup - pretty much the only cinema I think is worthwhile going to nowadays...

 

[clarke359]

I totally agree I saw gravity in IMAX at Nottingham last week and it was awesome you're right about the sound is very loud and in-your-face but it does lack a little Fidelity felt most of the film in my chest ha ha but would love to go again mainly to see the hobbit in 3-D which did look good in the trailer

 

[davidvann]

hi ellisdj,just wondering have you got ur tv back from repair yet.cheers david

 

[Paul.]

Much like Dark Knight Rises, not all the film was shot in IMAX. 50 mins were shot on IMAX cameras, the rest shot on normal 4k cameras. The huge screen will be pretty unforgiving of the lower quality footge. Does the film switch between black bars and 16:9, or is the whole film in 16:9?

 

[ellisdj]

Hi David

No not back yet - I got an update just over a week ago that they had ordered a new panel for it - quite clearly the retention was as serious as I had said to them at the start. I am hoping to have it back soon - I will chase them up tomorrow to see where we are with it.

If they dont have the new panel in yet I might make more of a fuss for a new set as I can see it stretching out if 10 days is not enough to get it on..... fingers crossed this wont happen

 

[ellisdj]

Much like Dark Knight Rises, not all the film was shot in IMAX. 50 mins were shot on IMAX cameras, the rest shot on normal 4k cameras. The huge screen will be pretty unforgiving of the lower quality footge. Does the film switch between black bars and 16:9, or is the whole film in 16:9?

Thats exactly what it was - it switched for about an hour, I assumed it was filmed differently but wasnt sure - I didnt even notice I was engrossed, my mrs pointed it out to me. But that would account for it.

Even though its brutal on the normal content as I say its still impressive for the experience of it - even if not perfect

 

[mr malarky]

Yup - pretty much the only cinema I think is worthwhile going to nowadays...

The Odeon at Greenwich Pensinsula is pretty good, well worth paying the extra for 'Gallery' seats. Watched MI:4 and Prometheous there and both were excellent for both picture and sound. They have Imax screens there.

 

[buzz_lightclick]

Are you talking about the BFI Imax at Waterloo Ellisdj? I've not been there yet, but definitely plan to!

 

[ellisdj]

Thats is the one - well worth it !!

Hobbit 2 soon - I will be going to see that there. Should go and see Gravity really for thr big 3D experience but I dont think I will have the time

 

[mr malarky]

Ditto re gravity, am hoping its still on next Sunday or I'm going to miss it. There's a decent Christmas market along the south bank so that should keep the misses happy afterwards.

 

[raoulx]

totally agree with your post.

I have watched the film twice now, in a normal vue cinema and an IMAX. There is a massive difference. Some of the shots could of been crisper I found but its only going to be noticable once at home on a good quality source. I always find cinema screens defination awful :S

 

[vpacalypse]

Excellent. They updated the screen last year I think & fiited in new speakers.

I look foward to going again.

Suggestion: London empire cinema is very good too. Life of Pi was amazing in there.