"The Odyssey": How important is it to see it in 70mm IMAX?

Cafe Society
1

I have a few choices for IMAX in Chicago but only one is 70mm IMAX and it is a long(ish) drive for me to get to (90 minutes give or take).

I have seen it written that, if possible, definitely see it in 70mm IMAX. However, much closer I have options for “regular” 70mm (not IMAX) or IMAX laser.

Any opinions on this? I’m not sure.

2

IMO if not IMAX 70mm the next best format is 70mm film. It’s at least still actual film.

3

I put my thoughts here in the one of the other threads:

As I indicated in that thread, after some switching around, I’m scheduled to see it in an “IMAX with Laser” showing next week (with a hopefully really good seat right in the center). It’s also being shown in 70mm IMAX about 1-1/2 hours from my house, but every showing there is sold out (other than a seat or two in the front row).

Since I posted this, I saw Toy Story 5 at the local theater, and then popped into the adjacent theater afterwards and saw the last act of The Odyssey on a regular movie screen as kind of a preview. (I figured I couldn’t spoil myself considering the story is 2700 years old.) It looked fine and not too cropped. I’ll let you know next week how much better the second-tier IMAX version is.

4

FWIW I asked my AI to rank the AMC offerings from best to worst. AI so grain of salt and this may be different at other theaters. The AMC nearest to me has four different kinds of theaters showing the movie (21 screens…big theater). I could not get into a 70mm showing so doing Dolby Cinema which seems a close second (could be better but in this case I think 70mm would have been better given the movie was made for it).

AI ANSWER —

  1. 70mm — Actual film projection, not digital. Highest resolution and a distinct organic look with real grain. Rare, only used for specific titles (Nolan, Tarantino, PTA). When available for a film shot on it, nothing beats it — but sound is usually good, not exceptional, and prints can show wear.
  2. Dolby Cinema at AMC — Dual 4K laser projectors with Dolby Vision HDR (true blacks, extreme contrast), Dolby Atmos object-based sound, black-out interior, recliners with bass transducers. The best overall engineered experience and the most consistent premium format AMC offers.
  3. PRIME at AMC — AMC’s in-house premium large format: larger screen, 4K laser projection, Dolby Atmos, upgraded seating. Essentially a step below Dolby Cinema — bigger screen than a standard house, but without Dolby Vision HDR or the fully light-controlled room.
  4. Laser at AMC — A standard auditorium upgraded to laser projection (brighter, more consistent than xenon lamp). Screen size and sound are normal-auditorium; the only premium element is the projector.

Caveats: 70mm depends heavily on whether the film was actually shot/finished in that format and on print condition. If it’s a digitally shot movie getting a 70mm blow-up, Dolby Cinema is the better pick. Dolby Cinema is also the safest default if you don’t want to think about it.

5

You might get a more useful result if you ask the AI to rank the configurations specifically “for The Odyssey.” This makes it consider aspect ratios. Also see the links I posted in the other thread I referenced in my last post.

6

I did as you suggested and here is its answer. The recommendation for what I have available at my local theater did not change though. I did have 70mm which would have been nice but there were no seats left for when I could go.

AI ANSWER —

Yes, significantly.

If the film was shot on IMAX 70mm cameras, the format hierarchy for it is:

  1. IMAX 70mm (1.43:1 film) — the native format. Only a handful of venues worldwide. If you can reach one, it’s not close.
  2. IMAX Laser (digital, 1.90:1) — next best; taller image than any non-IMAX screen.
  3. 70mm (standard, 5-perf, 2.20:1) — real film, but cropped from the IMAX frame. Still excellent and still film.
  4. Dolby Cinema — best digital presentation available at a typical AMC, but locked to a wider/shorter aspect ratio, so you lose the tall IMAX framing.

Of the four you listed, plain 70mm moves up to the clear pick, with Dolby Cinema second. PRIME and Laser drop further behind, since the whole point of this release is image capture quality and aspect ratio, which those don’t preserve.

One thing worth checking before you commit: I don’t have current information on The Odyssey’s release details — which formats were actually struck, and whether your AMC’s 70mm house is running the standard 5-perf print or something else. Theater listings usually specify. Want me to look it up?

7

I worked for 37 years in the IMAX business, and expressed my considered opinion in several posts in that other thread. Other people had different opinions.

8

If you have the ability to see the film in 70mm IMAX and can actually get a ticket, meaning they are not all sold out, no question see it in that format! Honestly a 90 min drive isn’t that bad considering how long people have traveled to see it at my local 70mm IMAX (Lincoln Square.)

For my second viewing I watched it in Dolby and it was incredible there too. I did not feel like I was missing anything, though it did feel more “epic” on the huge massive screen since you really get the giant scale for big wide shots.

9

There was a bunch of Fox people decrying the casting. One guy was mad that they were “rewriting history” :grinning_face:

10

[Moderating]
I don’t think that has anything to do with the aspect ratio, resolution, or any other aspect of the cinematography for which the projection format would be relevant. As such, it’d be off-topic for this thread, but would be fine in any broader thread about this movie (of which we have at least one).

11

I saw it in a regular theater and it looked great, but it was a bit loud.

12

Lincoln Square in Chicago???

13

The “local” 70mm IMAX is booked clear through – I can get a ticket if I want the front row at 8am on a Tuesday three weeks from now (not an exaggeration, I looked). As such, I’m seeing it in “regular” 1.90 ratio IMAX on Sunday and not worrying about what I can’t have.

14

I’ve looked at bookings for the only theater in the area showing it in 70mm. Between now and the last listing they have, in late August, there are only first or second row seats available.

Too bad. I would have loved to see it in the biggest forrmat.

15

Odysseus himself traveled for 10 years to see the whole thing.

16

The only option I have for 70mm IMAX film is 3 hours away and all the good seats seem to be booked. It’s likely off the table for me. I refuse to sit in the front row of any movie theater let alone a 70mm IMAX one I drove 3 hours to see.

Maybe they’ll replay it someday and that 2 million plus feet of film won’t be worn out by then and I’ll get to see it.

17

Lincoln Square in NYC. AKA the biggest IMAX screen in the country. Currently sold out every date through Aug 19, including 2am and 6am showtimes. People actually fly here just for the IMAX!

18

A ticket to an IMAX screening costs extra.

Fuck IMAX.