OppenhIMAX - Aspect Ratios and Directors Intent.

[@lo_fye]

I did see it on an actual IMAX in the greater Toronto area. The image and sound were hugely impactful, but as in all true IMAX theatres, the stadium seating was absolutely atrocious; especially for 3 hours. If you want to see Oppenheimer in actual IMAX size and aspect ratio at home, it would be theoretically possible on an Apple Vision Pro or Meta Quest 3, BUT the audio will be simulated surround (aka Spatial Audio) with weak bass at best.

[@TerminatorJuice]

So I've had a scope screen for a year now, and the way I handle 1.85:1 content is to zoom in so that the top and bottom of the image is at the outside edge of the thick velvet frame on my screen... which gives me a nice size image with minimal gray bars on the sides, and I can still kind of see the image spill in the velvet. For IMAX enhanced movies, I zoom in so the scope ratio scenes fill the width of the screen, and then I adjust the masking in my projector to stop at the top and bottom edge of the velvet frame, so I don't really notice the switch to the IMAX scenes, and I'm not completely cutting off the top and bottom of the image, because again I can still kind of see what's going on in the velvet. Is it ideal? No! But it's a good compromise IMO, and I'm going to keep using this method until the day I decide to go back to a 16x9 screen... Which I have the height for, so I wish that I had done it to begin with, and then used masking panels for scope aspect movies... Anyway, cheers mates!

[@TerminatorJuice]

I couldn't believe it when I found out that there is an IMAX theater 40 minutes from my house, that has 1 of the 30 70mm IMAX film projectors in the world! It's in a smaller city called Grand Rapids Michigan, so I don't know how they got one, when many larger cities didn't. Needless to say that booked a ticket for Aug 7th to see it in it's intended format! : )

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Well I am jealous :-)

[@TerminatorJuice]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering Unfortunately on Wednesday the reel came off the tray during the movie and about 40ft got damaged, so they're working to try to get it fixed as soon as possible. Hopefully it's fixed, and it won't happen again before my Showtime on the 7th.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

@@TerminatorJuice If my maths is right that is hopefully only around 7 secs of film… Hope they get it sorted. I have a crazy story to tell about my days in cinema and how I nearly destroyed Indiana Jones many years ago… not sure if I have the guts to tell it. Its pretty embarrassing but I was young and pretty stupid!!!!!

[@TerminatorJuice]

@@HomeTheatreEngineering They said it was 15 seconds, so maybe I did my math wrong on calculating the length of the film stock... And also, you should definitely tell that Indiana Jones story! Lol

[@chevron916]

Maybe Imax Melb will still have screenings of Oppenheimer when you are in Melb for the SteroNET HiFi show later this year. At present imax sessions are sold out until Sept.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Lets hope so

[@davidissko9796]

Almost sold out for 1570 screenings including up to 10th September. Only seats available are either 1st & 2nd row or off to the sides. IMax have an alternate 4k option.

[@TerminatorJuice]

So yesterday I seen Oppenheimer in a true 70mm IMAX film projection theater, and the image was mind-blowing! Unfortunately the audio had zero bass, and was turned up really loud to the point it almost hurt my ears, so that kind of tarnished the overall experience... Anyway, here is a Vlog I made of it, if you're interested! kzbin.info/www/bejne/aqLMiHp6m6lmf5o

[@raywatts7689]

I think ‘what the director intended’ was for you to watch the movie in a packed full size theatre. Strange situation now that many IMAX theatres are closing just as more movies are being made in that format, and with the success of Nolan’s movies more are bound to follow. But it must surely be the case that as the movie is being shot in that huge format a moneyed eye would be kept on a 2.35 to 1 aspect ratio in the viewfinder knowing probably most of the money will come from that aspect ratio. Love your work.

[@HomeTheatreEngineering]

Thanks for joining the conversation. Much appreciated. Yes I would hope as you say that awareness of these issues lives in the minds of the creators.

[@davidissko9796]

461 seats available at Max Melbourne, where the movie can be viewed in 1570 format. I would say 400 seats are positioned favourably. As of today, there are 41 or 42 days booked. 2 sessions per day 800 people in the best viewing positions. From today till 10th September, 33,600 people will view the movie 'as the director intended' in an iMax cinema. Interested to compare it to those who have seen it and will see it on a regular cinema.

[@roobear78]

directors are the same as actors,they speak bout style and format for the cameras AFTER they have pocketed the millions of doallrs in fess and in nolans case PRODUCTION ROYALTIES so if he truely wanted it be seen in imax he would have done a limited release! He didnt and its released global for the most important thing comercial reasons and makeing money! gotta realise that nolan in the person who owns the movie,not the studio that distributed it so he gotta thrw in some artistic bullshit ever now and then