Skyfall to screen in IMAX

Moore Than

Skyfall is the first Bond film to be released simultaneously in IMAX cinemas. Greg Foster, Chairman and President of IMAX Filmed Entertainment said "It is an honour and a privilege to be part of this legendary franchise whose iconic characters and electrifying action will only be amplified in the IMAX format".

The FULL article.
James Bond - Skyfall To Screen In Imax
http://www.contactmusic.com/news/skyfall-to-screen-in-imax_1296615

Sir Miles

Interesting news indeed...I haven't seen a movie in the IMAX format yet...looks like Skyfall will be my first

Mr Beech

IMAX can be fantastic. I might go for it with Skyfall...

Moore Than

I have come across a list of IMAX venues worldwide at Wikipedia. I cannot vouch for it's reliability but I hope it may be of some help to those of you who are thinking of watching Skyfall in IMAX.

List of IMAX venues.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_IMAX_venues

Napoleon Plural

Still don't get it... does that mean the screen will go really deep at times, then switch back to rectangle shape? MI4 did that and I didn't care for it much, plus you have to get a seat higher up the stalls as the experience is just too much at times.

I saw OHMSS at the Imax in Waterloo and it was terrific, tiered seating too which helps, but there was none of that 'let's go deep to show off the locale' thing, thankfully.

Number24

On one hand this shows the filmmakers trust in the movie and its visual qualiities. On the other hand I understand IMAX cameras are very large and cumbersome. This might limit how and how much they can move the cameras, much like the earliest colour film cameras. I hope I am wrong and that experienced and talented people like Mendes and Deakins knows what they are doing.

Thunderpussy

They used Imax cameras to film chase sequences in the last batman Movie, Sure they're big
But a good camera team can make it work ( even hold it steady ) )

Number24

True. IMAX makes filming harder, but hopefully the talented crew will work arounf thosee difficulties.

Number24

I would love to see a Bond movie directed in IMAX by Christopher Nolan, by the way.

Thunderpussy

So would I, Number24 -{

Mr Beech

Does that mean they are filming in IMAX? I thought standard films get shown in IMAX often too. I hope it doesn't do the switch back and forth thing. The Dark Knight had great IMAX scenes and it was sort of a downer when the green would go small again. It doesn't annoy me, its just that once you see the big IMAX scenes, all the other scenes have you wishing for more in that ratio.

HowardB

None of "Skyfall" (to my knowledge) is being actually filmed with an IMAX camera, so even for IMAX showings the film will most likely be projected in the 2.35 to 1 aspect ratio that it is being composed for with no ratio changes. Some scenes in MI4 were actually shot with IMAX cameras and during those scenes there was a switch to the taller IMAX ratio from the narrower "scope" ratio.
I originally was a real skeptic when it came to films being converted to IMAX (some of the first few 70mm IMAX conversions were edited since the IMAX film platters were too small to hold two hr plus films along with "scope" films being cropped on the sides to fit the taller IMAX screens which to me was a rip off and an abomination) but since then these problems have been corrected and I've become a big fan.
There are actually three types of IMAX theaters, the ones projecting 70mm film through a fisheye type lens onto a huge dome (usually part of museums and showing specialty documentaries produced by IMAX) and other two designed to show theatrical films which are configured more like larger, steeper, stadium theaters. Some of these feature 70mm film projection, while others use digital projection. I have only experienced theatrical films presented in Digital IMAX (which is actually projected through two projectors simultaneously) and found it to look and sound fantastic. So I'm very much looking forward to seeing "Skyfall" in IMAX.

HowardB

I just love the "news media" when it comes to getting stuff wrong. I googled "Skyfall in IMAX" and we already have media dopes and naysayers forewarning us not to expect an "MI4" spectacle since "MI4" was filmed in IMAX and "Skyfall" is just a conversion.
First of all, probably around 15-20 minutes tops of MI4 was actually shot in IMAX and when I saw it in IMAX it's not like only the scenes shot in IMAX looked good and the rest of the film looked meh...it all looked pretty spectacular. I'm not one for gimmicks (I despise 3D conversions which are dark, murky and make some scenes look like cardboard cut outs) but my experience with recent IMAX conversions has been very positive. Of course a bad film in IMAX is just a bigger,louder bad film, hopefully this won't be the case with "Skyfall".

Mr Beech

I saw Lord of The Rings: The Return of the King in IMAX. I thought it was fantastic, despite not being shot in it. Without a doubt, the increase in size alone can be enough to make standard films more spectacular.

toutbrun

IMAX is fun.. but it also means that the image will be SERIOUSLY cropped, won't it..?

jasper_lamar_crabb

Yes, it's not being shot with IMAX cameras at all. Parts of The Dark Knight and Ghost Protocol were shot with IMAX cameras, so Skyfall will not offer the same experience. It won't be necessary to see it in the format at all, in fact.

Napoleon Plural

Just to make my point again, it might be necessary in that Odeon Leicester Square isn't really tiered seating, so a tall so-and-so in front of you can wreck what you've been waiting years to see. Less chance of that at, say, London Waterloo Imax, as it is designed like an ampitheatre.

But yes, otherwise not necessary, which I'm glad about, I don't like that 'what format are you going to see it in?' dilemma. I never got round to seeing Tintin cos of that.

HowardB

IMAX is fun.. but it also means that the image will be SERIOUSLY cropped, won't it..

My experience with IMAX has only been with Digital IMAX at the big multiplex in my home area. The aspect ratio of the IMAX screen there is 1.90 to 1 and 70 feet wide. Every film I have seen there that was composed for the "scope" 2.40 to 1 aspect ratio has been shown that way, with slight black "banding" at the top and bottom of the screen. As discussed before, only films like "MI4" and "The Dark Knight" switched from 2.40 to 1 to 1.90 to 1 for the footage actually shot with IMAX cameras. According to what I have read, it is up to the producers, etc of the film itself at what ratio the conversion is made and projected. The aforementioned "black banding" is sort of like a mild letterboxing and is literally undetectable once the lights go down. I can't speak to theatrical films shown at IMAX theaters with the super tall 1.70 to 1 aspect ratio screens as I've never been to one. There apparently is a big disagreement among IMAX geeks and regular film geeks. Some IMAX geeks only believe that the super tall 1.70 to 1 70mm presentations are "true IMAX" (and I would concur w/ that if a film was shot "in IMAX") while the real film geeks (I would count myself as one) consider a 2.40 to 1 film blown up and cropped to 1.70 to 1 an abomination. Not to continue to bore the crap out of anyone anymore, my best guess is that "Skyfall" will be shown in IMAX in its 2.40 to 1 aspect ratio....and of course if you don't want to shell out the extra $$$ or deal with IMAX at all for whatever reason just see it in a regular cinema.

Napoleon Plural

HowardB wrote:

IMAX is fun.. but it also means that the image will be SERIOUSLY cropped, won't it..

My experience with IMAX has only been with Digital IMAX at the big multiplex in my home area. The aspect ratio of the IMAX screen there is 1.90 to 1 and 70 feet wide. Every film I have seen there that was composed for the "scope" 2.40 to 1 aspect ratio has been shown that way, with slight black "banding" at the top and bottom of the screen. As discussed before, only films like "MI4" and "The Dark Knight" switched from 2.40 to 1 to 1.90 to 1 for the footage actually shot with IMAX cameras.

According to what I have read, it is up to the producers, etc of the film itself at what ratio the conversion is made and projected. The aforementioned "black banding" is sort of like a mild letterboxing and is literally undetectable once the lights go down. I can't speak to theatrical films shown at IMAX theaters with the super tall 1.70 to 1 aspect ratio screens as I've never been to one.

There apparently is a big disagreement among IMAX geeks and regular film geeks. Some IMAX geeks only believe that the super tall 1.70 to 1 70mm presentations are "true IMAX" (and I would concur w/ that if a film was shot "in IMAX") while the real film geeks (I would count myself as one) consider a 2.40 to 1 film blown up and cropped to 1.70 to 1 an abomination.

Not to continue to bore the crap out of anyone anymore, my best guess is that "Skyfall" will be shown in IMAX in its 2.40 to 1 aspect ratio....and of course if you don't want to shell out the extra $$$ or deal with IMAX at all for whatever reason just see it in a regular cinema.

Para breaks, just to make it easier.

zaphod

Number24 wrote:

I would love to see a Bond movie directed in IMAX by Christopher Nolan, by the way.

I think we would all probably like to see that.Inception had some Bondian elements which worked very well, and he's a known fan. He would be a great choice, particularly when it becomes necessary to introduce a new Bond. Although Martin Campbell would probably get that gig.

PPK 7.65mm

I would not mind seeing Skyfall in IMAX if possbile come November. I am an IMAX fan and anytime I see films in this format it adds to the experience for me.

PS: Martin Campbell already said after Casino Royale he is not really interested in coming back for more, so I doubt we see him direct again. I am fine with Nolan coming on board as I was pretty impressed with his work on Batman Begins, The Dark Knight and Inception.

Thunderbird 2

I am usually very (blows raspberry) about cinematic style fads, I grew up with normal cinema, and the only tech development that gets me tingling is high quality surround sound.

I saw Avatar in 2D and 3D, and I found the 2D version better. I could actually make it out for a start! I am debating the re,re,re (thinks) re! -Release of Star Wars. Titanic? (blows RASPBERRY!!) Not a chance.

However - I saw Batman Begins at the Bristol IMAX and it was brilliant! I have seen it several times on the telly since then, and found the IMAX experience did make it stand out and more exciting as a cinema experience. Having said that, if Skyfall has tight "zoetrope action editing" like QoS, there will be a lot of seizures out there.

HowardB

OK....let me now tell EON, MGM amd Sony how to spend their money: (Forgive me if I now blaspheme) how about Bond #24 being a remake of OHMSS directed by Christopher Nolan and with key action scenes filmed in IMAX. Nolan would be perfect to direct an "epic" Bond film and DC IMO would really do OHMSS justice. Maybe I even let Nolan stick around and wrap up DC's tenure as Bond with one or two more after. -{

jasper_lamar_crabb

Number24 wrote:

I would love to see a Bond movie directed in IMAX by Christopher Nolan, by the way.

Nolan isn't great at directing action, especially fight scenes.

Thunderpussy

I remember several members of the audience leaving "Batman;the dark knight" stating that the bad directing
of the fight scenes was simply too much, it really spoiled the movie for them. )
I suppose thats why it did so badly at the boxoffice, only bringing in a little over,
( lifts little finger to mouth ) A Billion Dollars.

HowardB

I remember several members of the audience leaving "Batman;the dark knight" stating that the bad directing
of the fight scenes was simply too much, it really spoiled the movie for them.
I suppose thats why it did so badly at the boxoffice, only bringing in a little over,
( lifts little finger to mouth ) A Billion Dollars.

Say what you will about Craig as Bond and CR and QOS, the hand to hand fight scenes have been excellent (other than some questionable editing in QOS). I think EON's stunt coordinator's could help Mr. Nolan get over the hump on that one.

toutbrun

Anyway, we'll all probably see the movie 4 or 5 times while in cinemas, so we can spare one IMAX trip.

This time I really have to watch it several times because when Casino Royale came out, I didn't like Daniel Craig and I thought Pierce was better. Turns out I was wrong. Sometimes our first impressions are wrong.

HowardB

Should be no worries with the IMAX version of "Skyfall".

I saw "The Avengers" yesterday in Digital IMAX (actually IMAX 3D) and it looked fantastic.

I say this because "Avengers" was shot digitally with the same ARRI camera that is being used to shoot "Skyfall".
Razor sharp picture quality with no pixelation. I dislike 3D, but even the 3D conversion was excellent (no 3D for Bond thank goodness)...nice and bright w/o the usual murkiness.

Lady Rose

Not a fan of IMAX. The only film I've seen there that totally blew me away was 'Polar Express 3D' (seriously amazing).

I'm not a fan of cinema fads and the latest 3D thing is driving me crazy.

I shall be watching 'Skyfall' in my local cinema in good old fashioned 2D with a big tub of popcorn

HowardB

No 3D for "Skyfall"......just IMAX.

jasper_lamar_crabb

None of it has been shot with IMAX cameras either, so there's really not much of a point.