Is Bigger Better
I went to the IMAX last night. My first time ever! I didn't really know what to expect. To me the IMAX was this mysterious place where people went to watch movies and change their lives during the movie-going process. Sort of the Mecca of movie watching. I went to see Dark Knight, I had already viewed it at Southpoint Cinemas but I figured it was worth a second watch and not only worth it but I was willing to throw my hat in and go to the IMAX for the first time to see this specific movie.
Let me describe the setting. You walk into a room with an entire wall for a movie screen. You make a mad rush for the best remaining seat as these shows always sell out. Once there you notice that as far as atmosphere and seating goes, this theater is probably subpar to a regular mall movie theater. For the price and the small viewing room, you sort of expect nice comfy seats and a little room to spread out. At least one official food stand and not a cart that looks like a hot dog vendor happened to find a good spot to park. Well how about the main event you might ask. Well the opening is a long detailed bragging competition on how bigger is better. Describing the size of the screen, the amount of power going into the speakers, the number of speakers and so on and so on. Tim the tool man taylor is grunting in the back of your mind as you feel like this is gonna rock. After all, every techno geek has taken a moment to wonder what it would be like to design a mega movie room. Then the movie starts. You think "oh this is gonna rock and it will be so worth the double movie ticket price".
Well I have to put it this way. What the theater promoted was absolutely correct. There is a giant screen and a lot of speakers. All of that is true. As for those people talking about a life changing movie "experience". Ummmmm not so much. That movie is awesome but honestly I enjoyed watching it at southpoint more. Maybe it was that my butt didn't hurt as much since the IMAX seats were like rocks or maybe it was that It feels more like a movie with everyone walking around with popcorn and giant oversized drinks. I bet it might have been that my neck didn't hurt from having to stare up 10 feet to look at the center of the screen. Who knows. All I know is that the movie "experience" at the IMAX sucks. What could you do to fix it now that is the best question. Easy, put in a concession stand then put in super nice seats(we are paying double after all), finally abide by the laws of setting up the ultimate home theater. You want your vision to focus dead center of the screen to get the most out of the picture. The only way I see this happening is once the movie starts you put the seats on lifters and raise them about 10 feet giving the sensation of starting a great "ride". People would still be tiered so you could walk down to use restrooms and buy more food from that new concession stand. I think if you did that, I'd return to the IMAX. Only then though. Otherwise, you can find me at Southpoint cinemas with the average joes watching the same movie for half the price and with twice the satisfaction.
Let me describe the setting. You walk into a room with an entire wall for a movie screen. You make a mad rush for the best remaining seat as these shows always sell out. Once there you notice that as far as atmosphere and seating goes, this theater is probably subpar to a regular mall movie theater. For the price and the small viewing room, you sort of expect nice comfy seats and a little room to spread out. At least one official food stand and not a cart that looks like a hot dog vendor happened to find a good spot to park. Well how about the main event you might ask. Well the opening is a long detailed bragging competition on how bigger is better. Describing the size of the screen, the amount of power going into the speakers, the number of speakers and so on and so on. Tim the tool man taylor is grunting in the back of your mind as you feel like this is gonna rock. After all, every techno geek has taken a moment to wonder what it would be like to design a mega movie room. Then the movie starts. You think "oh this is gonna rock and it will be so worth the double movie ticket price".
Well I have to put it this way. What the theater promoted was absolutely correct. There is a giant screen and a lot of speakers. All of that is true. As for those people talking about a life changing movie "experience". Ummmmm not so much. That movie is awesome but honestly I enjoyed watching it at southpoint more. Maybe it was that my butt didn't hurt as much since the IMAX seats were like rocks or maybe it was that It feels more like a movie with everyone walking around with popcorn and giant oversized drinks. I bet it might have been that my neck didn't hurt from having to stare up 10 feet to look at the center of the screen. Who knows. All I know is that the movie "experience" at the IMAX sucks. What could you do to fix it now that is the best question. Easy, put in a concession stand then put in super nice seats(we are paying double after all), finally abide by the laws of setting up the ultimate home theater. You want your vision to focus dead center of the screen to get the most out of the picture. The only way I see this happening is once the movie starts you put the seats on lifters and raise them about 10 feet giving the sensation of starting a great "ride". People would still be tiered so you could walk down to use restrooms and buy more food from that new concession stand. I think if you did that, I'd return to the IMAX. Only then though. Otherwise, you can find me at Southpoint cinemas with the average joes watching the same movie for half the price and with twice the satisfaction.
posted by Brian Hetzell at 10:07 AM
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