The digital IMAX debate rages
May 12, 2009 – 11:31 amActor Aziz Ansari has railed against digital IMAX screens since he viewed the IMAX version of Star Trek at his local digital IMAX theater. /film writes:
Digital IMAX is something I’ve been meaning to write about for a while now. I’ll be very clear about this — IMAX is watering down the name brand by licensing out their name and “technologies” to a series movie screens around the country which aren’t anywhere near the size of a traditional IMAX screen.
In the past, I’ve praised IMAX, specifically Christopher Nolan’s use of IMAX cameras in The Dark Knight. While I haven’t really been on board with the IMAX upconversions of Hollywood films, I’ve been a huge supporter of the format and the company. But digital IMAX is not something I can support.
Actor/comedian Aziz Ansari went to see Star Trek: The IMAX Experience at the AMC Theatre in Burbank over the weekend. He paid $5 more per ticket for the IMAX presentation, but was shocked to discover that the IMAX Digital screen was only slightly larger than a normal movie theater screen. You can read Aziz’s rant on the experience on his tumblr blog azizisbored.
UPDATE: Since Ansari posted his rant against digital IMAX screens, more people are taking notice of the smaller digital IMAX screens. Below are the latest articles on the web.
Also the original article comparing digital IMAX and film-based IMAX screens by LF Examiner’s James Hyder can be found here: Link >>
M&C: NBC ‘Parks and Recreation’ star Aziz Ansari wages IMAX jihad
Living in Cinema: IMAX? ISUX
New York Magazine: Aziz Ansari Uncovers Massive IMAX Fraud
Deadline Hollywood Daily: Is “IMAX Digital” Scamming Moviegoers?
The Consumerist: Does Your Local Cinema Have IMAX or Just IMAX Lite?
A.V. Club: Aziz Ansari vs. Fake IMAX
Movieline: Aziz Ansari Blows Lid Off the Great IMAX Swindle
Wallet Pop: Extra $5 for fake IMAX? Beam me up, Scotty
Gizmodo: Cineplexes Getting IMAX, But Is It IMAX or CONSPIRACY?
FirstShowing.net: Aziz Ansari Calls for IMAX Boycott Due to Screen Size Issue
Cinematical: Is IMAX Digital Ripping You Off with Smaller Screens?
MTV Movies Blog: Aziz Ansari Has Something To Tell You About IMAX
Film Drunk: ‘IMAX’ is like a box of chocolates
The Morning Mash Up: AMC & REGAL IMAX Theaters Are Frauds!!
Film Junk: IMAX Boycott Brewing: Beware the Smaller Screen Scam
Den of Geek!: The incredible shrinking IMAX screen
Pajiba: Aziz Ansari and the Digital IMAX Scam
WorstPreviews: How IMAX is Ripping You Off
TechDirt: AMC And IMAX Engaging In Deception? Calling Non-IMAX Films IMAX (And Charging More)
Orlando Sentinel: More IMAX bait-and-switch–Star Trek ain’t ‘to the max.’
Scene Stealers: Aziz Ansari causes IMAX furor: Read the facts here.
AgencySpy: IMAX’s Mis-Branded Theatres
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11 Responses to “The digital IMAX debate rages”
It’s funny only those who have been to a real IMAX venue know the difference. Someone who’s never been to an IMAX theater and goes to a digital venue wouldn’t know that they’re only getting a third of the screen size.
By wbailey on May 12, 2009
mulitplexes suck eggs. i only go to arclight or imax anyway. you get what you pay for mac.
By PLo on May 12, 2009
I like how that one article says “Aziz Ansari Uncovers Massive IMAX Fraud.” Yeah, he did some real digging by linking to the LF Examiner article that explains everything!
By admin on May 12, 2009
Caveat emptor.
By harrison on May 12, 2009
I don’t see what the big deal is. The films shown in these digital theaters were not filmed in IMAX anyway, they were just up-converted from 35mm film. So either way you’re not seeing a “true” IMAX film. Even The Dark Knight only had a few true IMAX moments, the rest of the film was digitally remastered. It’s really just a blown up image on a blown up screen.
By shudson on May 12, 2009
^ yes they may want a ‘fake’ imax movie on a real max screen, but that doesn’t excuse imax for calling these digital screens “imax” when they are nowhere near as big as the real IMAX venues.
By wbailey on May 13, 2009
i meant “real IMAX screen”
By wbailey on May 13, 2009