IMAX
IMAX, or Image Maximum, is a film format and theater technology that offers an enhanced cinematic experience through larger screens, higher resolution, and advanced audio systems. Initially developed by the IMAX Corporation in Canada in 1968, IMAX films were primarily shown in museums and science centers, focusing on educational content until the late 1990s. The breakthrough came with the release of Disney's "Fantasia 2000," which showcased the potential of IMAX in mainstream cinema. IMAX theaters typically feature massive screens, often measuring around 16 meters high and 22 meters wide, with some utilizing dome-shaped projections. Over the years, various IMAX technologies have emerged, including IMAX 3-D and digital cameras, which have been adopted by major film productions. By 2014, more than 800 IMAX theaters had been established across over 50 countries. This technology has significantly influenced the film industry, enabling directors to create more immersive experiences and expand the narrative scope of their works. IMAX continues to evolve, pushing the boundaries of what is achievable in film presentation and production.
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IMAX
A motion picture format larger than traditional cinema projection that became popular as an alternative format for feature films and movie theaters in the twenty-first century
Although IMAX films could initially be found strictly in museums and science centers—where mostly educational and specialty films were shown—the large format has since been embraced by the motion picture industry. The technology, which utilizes a higher resolution rate via a larger film size, was developed by the IMAX Corporation, founded in Canada in 1968. Several major films are released in the IMAX format every year.
IMAX films could at first be seen exclusively in science centers and museums in the United States. These largely documentary films were much shorter than feature films, and it was not until Walt Disney Studio’s Fantasia 2000 (1999) that the potential for IMAX technology in the motion picture industry was realized. Various branches of IMAX technology have been developed, including IMAX 3-D and the IMAX digital camera, which has become widely used in major motion picture productions.
More than one hundred IMAX films were produced in the 2000s. These films covered a range of educational topics such as dinosaurs and ocean life. By 2014, more than eight hundred IMAX theaters had been built in more than fifty countries. IMAX theaters feature a large rectangular screen that is commonly sixteen meters high by twenty-two meters wide (approximately fifty-three feet high by seventy-two feet wide).
Some IMAX theaters are built inside a dome, commonly thirty meters (ninety-eight feet) in diameter, that project films on a hemispherical screen. Before high-definition IMAX cameras were introduced, IMAX films were shot on 70mm film, which required the use of large platters rather than standard film reels and required a special projector to run the film through horizontally rather than vertically. IMAX digital projectors and IMAX screens were introduced in several movie theater chains, including AMC Theatres.
After releasing Fantasia 2000, Disney rereleased Beauty and the Beast (1991) and The Lion King (1994) in IMAX with new high-resolution negatives. In 2002 Disney released Treasure Planet in both IMAX and regular theaters, making it the first film to be released simultaneously in both formats. In 2002, IMAX introduced their Digital Media Remastering technology, which converted film to the IMAX format. Warner Bros. Pictures followed suit in 2003 and released two sequels to The Matrix (1999) in IMAX theaters. Several filmmakers have partially shot their feature films using IMAX cameras. The 2008 film The Dark Knight features six sequences shot in IMAX, for example. Due to several technical difficulties such as heavy cameras and short film loads, no feature-length film has yet to be shot entirely in IMAX.
Impact
IMAX technology helped create a more immersive experience for moviegoers. The IMAX Corporation advanced film technology in a variety of ways, including audio and high-definition visuals. IMAX films shown at museums and science centers have increased the attendance at these institutions, and its use in feature films has expanded the scope a director can work with. As the technology further develops, IMAX will continue to increase what is possible with film.
Bibliography
Fuchs, Andreas. “IMAXimum Impact: Studio Movies Go Big with Large-Format Reader.” Film Journal International. Film Journal International, 15 May 2012. Web. 5 Aug. 2012.
Griffiths, Alison. Shivers Down Your Sping: Cinema, Museums, and the Immersive View. New York: Columbia UP, 2012. Print.
Jannarone, John. “IMAX’s Headroom for Growth Should Lure Movie Investors.” Wall Street Journal 9 Jan. 2012: C8. Print.
"Just the Ticket." Economist 7 Feb. 2015: 61–62. Print.
Parker, Ben. "IMAX and Its Doubles." Film Quarterly 67.1 (2013): 22–26. Print.