quote:

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October 24, 2011

Last week, the rumor appeared that Warner Bros. Pictures is planning on showing a six-minute prologue for The Dark Knight Rises with Paramount Pictures' early release of Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol in IMAX theaters on December 16 (the film has its general release on Dec. 21). Today, AMC Theatres has confirmed the rumor with the additional detail that the prologue will only screen at 70mm IMAX screens and not at digital IMAX locations.

The plan matches the screening situation in December 2007 where The Dark Knight attached its opening sequence to IMAX prints of I Am Legend.

The Dark Knight Rises opens in theaters on July 20, 2012. Check back soon for a full listing of when and where the prologue can be seen.

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quote: Michael Putlack

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I wonder why they don't include this at the digital IMAXes...

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Could be at the behest of Nolan... or just that digital LIEMAX sucks arse.

If this is a factual report, then it is to be congratulated.
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 10-25-2011, 10:25 PM:
 
What I've been told, the Prologue is going to be all IMAX native based. Thus taking up the entire screen just like the Dark Knight's was.
 

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Posted by Keegan O'Brien (Member # 6539) on 10-25-2011, 11:11 PM:
 
There was a bit of an outcry after this was announced, given how few 15/65 IMAX theaters are left. For a lot of fans, this would either force them to travel several hundred miles (slim to none would actually do), or resort to watching a crummy cam rip online the following morning after the midnight premiere. I was one of those fans.

Soon after this, AMC retracted their statement. Most theorize that it's WB just making a power play- wanting to be the one's to make an official studio announcement later on. But, that doesn't make a whole lot of sense to me, since theater chains telling the public is just as impact-full as the studio; a retraction seems pointless if that was the case. It's possible that IMAX, Paramount, and WB are trying to come to some kind of deal to show the prologue in D-IMAX as well, since, let's face it, fans would be happier and the studios would make more money.

In theory it sounds great; preserve the highest possible quality for the exclusive prologue. But, in reality, most fans will end up watching it from a terrible cam rip online, which would defeat the entire purpose. Releasing it in D-IMAX as well is the more financially beneficial, and fanboy pleasing route. I say that half because the closest film IMAX is 500 miles away, and half because it's the truth.
 

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Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 10-26-2011, 12:36 AM:
 
How about it's all still rumor to begin with?
 

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Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 10-26-2011, 01:37 AM:
 
And if it is true, it doesn't automatically mean that WB told them to remove it. Perhaps someone at AMC told the IT people to take it down? It would seem strange for them to purposely bring light to the fact that the thing would be playing at very few of their IMAX locations...
 

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Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 10-26-2011, 08:47 PM:
 
I would gladly travel several hundred miles to see it. In fact, I may do that anyway even if it IS available on the crappy digital projector that now calls King of Prussia it's home.

And then I'd brag about it to everyone else.


 

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Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 10-26-2011, 09:18 PM:
 
I'm close to both Chicago (Navy Pier) and Detroit (Henry Ford). I'm as sound as a pound.

AJG
 

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Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 10-27-2011, 10:55 AM:
 

quote: Aaron Garman

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I'm as sound as a pound

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I had to check out that meaning ...
 

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Posted by Geoff Jones (Member # 3668) on 10-27-2011, 08:04 PM:
 
I have just submitted this through the IMAX website. I'm curious to see if I will get a reply.

http://www.imax.com/corporate/contact-us/
http://www.imax.com/theatres/

quote:

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Hello,
I'm interested in seeing the new Mission Impossible film in IMAX, especially because sequences were shot using 65MM cameras.

But when I try to search for IMAX theatres on your website, I am limited to a range of 250 miles from my home (Denver). Unfortunately, there only seem to be low resolution "lieMax" theatres within this range.

Could you please send me a list of remaining 70MM IMAX theatres outside the 250 mile radius?

Thank you,
Geoff Jones

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quote: Keegan O'Brien

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travel several hundred miles (slim to none would actually do)

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quote: Mark J. Marshall

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I would gladly travel several hundred miles to see it.

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Posted by Geoff Jones (Member # 3668) on 10-28-2011, 10:02 PM:
 
Their reply:

quote:

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Thank you for contacting IMAX Corporation. Theatre locations are still being confirmed for Mission: Impossible - Ghost Protocol The IMAX Experience. Until theatres are confirmed, we cannot provide a full list of locations that will be showing this movie.

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quote:

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Can you please provide me with a list of the nearest theatres beyond the 250 mile range that still project 70MM IMAX film?

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quote: Jeremy Jorgenson

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It may be a low percentage, but certainly not "slim to none" ... I've driven hundreds of miles to a specific cinema for lesser reasons than the difference of quality between 15/70 and digital.

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The difference isn't relevant. The average fanboy isn't going to care whether they seen the first 6 minutes digitally or not, just as long as they see it. And, I doubt many people will travel hundreds of miles to see the first 6 minutes of anything. The actual film in July, I have no doubt many will, but I can't imagine more than a handful traveling just to see a prologue. But, who knows.
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 10-29-2011, 03:08 AM:
 
Geoff we're a non Science Center location in Tempe, AZ. If you want to make the trek down this way I'll be glad to give ya the old tour of the place
 

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Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 10-29-2011, 10:20 PM:
 

quote: Keegan O'Brien

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The difference isn't relevant.

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quote: Mark J. Marshall

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The difference IS relevant. The people who drive great distances to see a presentation in IMAX are NOT looking for a digital presentation. They're looking for a 15/70 presentation.

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quote: Kurt Zupin

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I get what your saying Keegan but even your Dark Knight fans, mind you not Batman fans are going to want to see this in REAL IMAX and not Digital, considering almost 70% of this movie is supposed to be shot in IMAX over 35mm/Digital.

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quote: Kurt Zupin

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I get what your saying Keegan but even your Dark Knight fans, mind you not Batman fans are going to want to see this in REAL IMAX and not Digital, considering almost 70% of this movie is supposed to be shot in IMAX over 35mm/Digital.

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I think you hit the nail right on the head. It's really a shame Nolan went to all this trouble to film most of the movie in IMAX and only very few places will actually get to see the movie in a 15/70mm presentation.
 

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Posted by Jonathan Althaus (Member # 5042) on 11-01-2011, 09:38 AM:
 
I have heard unconfirmed rumors (rumors only) from a site that has been converted to digital that once DKR comes out in July they will be re-installing the 70mm equipment due to a lifetime contract with IMAX about playing DK. If it gets re-released in 70mm by IMAX, they are required to play it.

All rumors (which i hope are true), but still a chance to see DK and maybe DKR in 70mm
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 11-01-2011, 01:32 PM:
 
I'm not going to hold my breath for that to happen. Once the 15/70 gear is removed from an IMAX theater chances are extremely likely the removal is permanent.

Regarding Batman fans and how they want to see the movie, if they don't care about the difference between 15/70mm projection and fake IMAX (digital) they probably also don't care about seeing the movie in a standard D-cinema theater versus paying several dollars to see it in a fake IMAX theater. A lot of them would probably bee happy to see some version of it streaming on the Internet, be it a camcorder grab or something more legit like a Quicktime file at Apple's web site.

Given the choice between seeing the movie in standard 2K and IMAX branded 2K, I'll save a few bucks and watch it in a regular theater. 15/70mm projection is the only format where I would be willing to spend any premium at all to see this movie.
 

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Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 11-02-2011, 11:49 AM:
 
Nolan wants the film to play in 15/70, and even sent reps out to IMAX digital theatres to see if they could install 15/70 equipment for this run. But even if there was enough space in the booths (because, remember, digital was the way to get IMAX out to locations that could not build an IMAX 15/70 house), no one is going to pay to have all that equipment installed for a four to six week run and then uninstalled. And that's being generous. Most IMAX theatres with Potter 7.2, be them 15/70 or digital, were dead after three weeks, and it's not likely this new Batman will equal the popularity of the previous one.
 

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Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 11-02-2011, 12:19 PM:
 
I don't think IMAX would be happy with this. A special 15/70 preview goes against their claim that the IMAX EXPERIENCE is identical in both digital and 15/70. (We all know that they are NOT the same, but that has been the IMAX Corporate line for some time.)
 

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Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 11-02-2011, 01:42 PM:
 
I really hope with all this rumored and obvious interest Nolan has in 15/70 IMAX, that he will eventually figure out how to make an entire movie in the format.

Maybe even a period epic...

AJG
 

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Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 11-02-2011, 05:10 PM:
 
or gosh, say actual 65mm (since the typical response to shooting in IMAX is - "oh that camera is so bulky and noisey" - boohoo)

is that true Kurt 70% percent of the movie was shot in IMAX - wow, that's pretty impressive.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 11-03-2011, 09:26 AM:
 
I guess some of us will have to wait decades for 8K and 16K resolution TV sets and video playback formats to emerge in order to see all that native 15/65 photographed detail. And that's a big "IF" considering the real possibility film scanning systems could be all gone by then.

I just still can't get over the stupidity of IMAX executives ordering the whole digital conversion thing now. They knew well ahead of time the next Batman movie would have a great deal of native IMAX footage. The least they could have done was hold off on the digital push until after The Dark Knight Rises had its 15/65 run. But no. The suits had to do the conversion now to maximize profit from 2K 3D shows. This is what happens when you have business people whose vision is focused on the next quarterly report rather than anything long term.
 

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Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 11-03-2011, 10:24 AM:
 
Bobby, IMAX probably made the change to digital now because IMAX would have been bankrupt by now if they hadn't. New 15/70 installations were not happening in numbers enough to support the format, and older installations (such as the IMAX Pictorium theatre at Great America in the Bay Area where I first experienced IMAX as a teenager) were closing for a variety of reasons.

It's one of the great ironies of our business. Nolan and Bird and other filmmakers are able to shoot in 15/70 today because IMAX went digital to keep the brand name alive.
 

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Posted by Brian Guckian (Member # 1678) on 11-04-2011, 01:44 PM:
 
I wonder if Mr. Nolan could make 70mm reduction prints...although there might be contractual issues in doing so.
 

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Posted by Sean Weitzel (Member # 244) on 11-04-2011, 04:00 PM:
 
What's more likely? That reduction prints can be made or whether or not there are even enough remaining theaters with operable equipment that can play 70mm with DTS anymore. (since mag tracks would be out of the question)
 

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Posted by Matthew McBride (Member # 6598) on 11-04-2011, 06:15 PM:
 
It'll be interesting to see how many theaters will have the 15/70 equipment pulled before DKR comes out. Not only that but how fast the equipment gets pulled after DKR runs its course.
 

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Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 11-27-2011, 08:17 PM:
 
Just heard that Christian Bale called it quits as the "Caped Crusader" - making "Dark Knight Rises" his last Batman movie.
 

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Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 11-27-2011, 08:29 PM:
 
I thought I read that Nolan always planned this to be a Batman trilogy...
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 11-28-2011, 03:31 AM:
 
Sorry Monte but that's really been old news, Nolan and Bale have always stated it was three films and done. Whether it be Nolan in the directors chair or not was never certain but he was on board for the three.
 

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Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 11-28-2011, 11:01 PM:
 
Because "Every Journey Has an End" and "The Epic Conclusion to the Dark Knight Legend" from the trailer that's been playing for the last five months wasn't clue enough?
 

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Posted by Monte L Fullmer (Member # 2797) on 11-29-2011, 03:05 AM:
 
(Sorry, news popped on the bottom of the screen while watching CNN a few days ago.....so I didn't know....lol)
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 11-29-2011, 07:11 PM:
 
No worries, now that I reread what I posted I kinda sounded like a dick. Sorry about that Monte.
 

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Posted by Michael Riley (Member # 5693) on 11-29-2011, 10:03 PM:
 
So wait, the DKR footage is only playing on 70MM IMAX screens, but the only IMAX screens left are at museums that mostly just run the same worn out prints of some movie about fish, or planes, or birds or whatever. I know the closest place here that still runs 70MM IMAX is the Aquarium out in Fairfield, and they show science related films almost exclusively, and when they do run Hollywood pictures, it's usually weeks after their initial release, and only for one weekend for a couple of showings. So who the heck is even going to be running a 70MM IMAX print of Mission Impossible on opening weekend to begin with?
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 11-30-2011, 04:43 AM:
 
I'll be running one, just as I will be when The Dark Knight Rises comes out next year. And I'm not a science center theatre either.
 

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Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 11-30-2011, 05:31 PM:
 
Kurt, does your theater have any plan at all to downgrade?
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 12-01-2011, 06:40 PM:
 
We have no plans to take out the 15/70. We are the only True IMAX left in the state of Arizona that isn't the Science Center or the The Grand Canyon Visitors Center location. Everything else is Digital, and we are the only one of three that are showing Hollywood features.
 

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Posted by Michael Coate (Member # 757) on 12-01-2011, 11:40 PM:
 
'The Dark Knight Rises' Prologue Goes To 42 IMAX Screens On December 16th; See If It's Playing Near You

quote:

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'The Dark Knight Rises' Prologue Goes To 42 IMAX Screens On December 16th; See If It's Playing Near You

News by Kevin Jagernauth | December 1, 2011

Remember how last week it was reported that the much talked about "The Dark Knight Rises" prologue was hitting theaters on December 21st? Scratch that. As originally rumored, it will be landing on December 16th but if you want to experience it, you may need to cross state lines depending on where you live.

As expected, Christopher Nolan has some exacting standards in place for the IMAX presentation of his film, and as such it will only be playing on 42 IMAX screens in North America, attached to prints of "Mission: Impossible -- Ghost Protocol." These are the the theaters that can handle 70mm projection. And while it may be a bummer that it's not coming to your town, the director believes fans will want to make the trek. "Our experience on 'The Dark Knight' shooting and projecting IMAX 15 perf 65mm/70mm film was inspiring. The immersive quality of the image goes beyond any other filmmaking tool available, and in revisiting Gotham, we were determined to shoot even more of the movie in this unique format. Giving the fans an early look at an IMAX sequence is a great way to draw attention to what I believe will be an incredible way to experience our story when it comes out next summer," Nolan said in a statement.

As previously reported, audiences are expected to get the first six to seven minutes of the film with their ticket that will serve mostly as an introduction to Bane, played by Tom Hardy. And as Christian Bale recently told the Phillipine Daily Inquirier it will be unlike any previous incarnation (Bane previously appeared in Joel Schumacher's "Batman & Robin"). "He goes the whole hog. I know that Bane has been seen in movies before. But, in my eyes, Tom is essentially creating Bane for the first time so there’s great freedom for him to be able to do so,” he said.

So gas up your car, buy your tickets in advance and get ready to stand in line. The full list of U.S. and U.K. theaters below (for the latter, screenings start on December 21st). [BoxOfficeMojo/Nolan Fans]

Austin, TX || IMAX Theater Austin
Boston, MA || Jordan’s IMAX
Boston, MA || IMAX 3D Theatre in Reading
Calgary, AB || Scotiabank Theatre Chinook 16 + IMAX
Chantilly, VA || Washington, DC Udvar-Hazy Center IMAX
Chicago, IL || Navy Pier IMAX Theatre
Des Moines, IA || SCI IMAX Dome Theater Des
Detroit, MI || Henry Ford IMAX
Edmonton, AB || Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton + IMAX
Harrisburg, PA || The Whitaker Center for Science & the Arts IMAX
Houston, TX || Houston Marq*e Stadium 22 + IMAX
Indianapolis, IN || White River IMAX
Los Angeles, CA || Irvine Spectrum 20 + IMAX
Los Angeles, CA || RAVE 18 + IMAX
Los Angeles, CA || Ontario Palace Stadium 22 + IMAX
Los Angeles, CA || Citywalk Stadium 19 with IMAX
Madison, WI || Star 18 Fitchburg with IMAX
Miami, FL || AutoNation IMAX
Minneapolis, MN || Great Clips IMAX
Montreal, QC || Cinema Banque Scotia Montreal + IMAX
Nashville,TN || Opry Mills Stadium 20 + IMAX
New York, NY || Lincoln Square 13 with IMAX
New York, NY || Palisades IMAX
Omaha, NE || Star Cinema 16 with IMAX
Orlando, FL || Pointe Orlando Stadium 20 + IMAX
Ottawa, ON || Silvercity Gloucester + IMAX
Palm Springs, CA || Desert IMAX Theatre
Philadelphia, PA || IMAX & the Tropicana
Philadelphia, PA || Tuttleman IMAX – Franklin Institute
Phoenix, AZ || Arizona Mills 25 with IMAX
Providence, RI || Providence Place 16 with IMAX
Quebec City, QC || IMAX Le Theatre At Quebec
Sacramento, CA || Esquire IMAX
San Antonio, TX || IMAX at RiverCenter
San Francisco, CA || Metreon 16 with IMAX & ETX
Seattle, WA || Boeing IMAX – Pacific Science Center
Tampa, FL || Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)
Toronto, ON || Coliseum 12 Mississauga + IMAX
Toronto, ON || Scotiabank Theatre Toronto + IMAX
Toronto, ON || Colossus 18 Woodbridge + IMAX
Vancouver, BC || Colossus Langley + IMAX
Vancouver, BC || Silvercity Riverport 18 + IMAX
UK || BFI London
UK || National Media Museum IMAX Bradford
UK || Glasgow Science Centre IMAX Cinema
UK || Odeon Manchester IMAX @ The Printworks

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quote: Mark J. Marshall

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And what, no DC location? That blows.

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quote: Michael Coate

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IMAX 3D Theater at Jordan’s Furniture

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quote: Mark J. Marshall

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I have a great idea. Everyone start calling every IMAX theater around that is NOT on this list that's playing Ghost Protocol and ask them if they're going to be showing it. When they say "no", let them know you'll be going somewhere else.

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quote: Edward Havens

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Yes, Mark, let's all me total dicks

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quote: Me

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When they say "no", let them know you'll be going somewhere else.

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quote: Bobby Henderson

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Yep. It's a furniture store with an IMAX theater next door. Actually they have two of these oddities.

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quote:

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On December 16th, Mission Impossible - Ghost Protocol will open five days earlier than its scheduled release in IMAX theaters only. With it (in select IMAX theaters) will be a 7-to-8-minute prologue for The Dark Knight Rises, which, as director Christopher Nolan has previously noted, will come from the beginning of the film and set up the Bane character. Naturally, you're probably going to want to see this new Batman footage, but not everyone will have that chance since it's only screening in certain IMAX screens across the country (the ones that are able to project at true 70mm).

From Christopher Nolan: "Our experience on 'The Dark Knight' shooting and projecting IMAX 15 perf 65mm/70mm film was inspiring. The immersive quality of the image goes beyond any other filmmaking tool available, and in revisiting Gotham, we were determined to shoot even more of the movie in this unique format. Giving the fans an early look at an IMAX sequence is a great way to draw attention to what I believe will be an incredible way to experience our story when it comes out next summer."

Check out the list of IMAX theaters the prologue will be available in below.

Austin, TX || IMAX Theater Austin
Boston, MA || Jordan’s IMAX
Boston, MA || IMAX 3D Theatre in Reading
Calgary, AB || Scotiabank Theatre Chinook 16 + IMAX
Chantilly, VA || Washington, DC Udvar-Hazy Center IMAX
Chicago, IL || Navy Pier IMAX Theatre
Des Moines, IA || SCI IMAX Dome Theater Des
Detroit, MI || Henry Ford IMAX
Edmonton, AB || Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton + IMAX
Harrisburg, PA || The Whitaker Center for Science & the Arts IMAX
Houston, TX || Houston Marq*e Stadium 22 + IMAX
Indianapolis, IN || White River IMAX
Los Angeles, CA || Irvine Spectrum 20 + IMAX
Los Angeles, CA || RAVE 18 + IMAX
Los Angeles, CA || Ontario Palace Stadium 22 + IMAX
Los Angeles, CA || Citywalk Stadium 19 with IMAX
Madison, WI || Star 18 Fitchburg with IMAX
Miami, FL || AutoNation IMAX
Minneapolis, MN || Great Clips IMAX
Montreal, QC || Cinema Banque Scotia Montreal + IMAX
Nashville,TN || Opry Mills Stadium 20 + IMAX
New York, NY || Lincoln Square 13 with IMAX
New York, NY || Palisades IMAX
Omaha, NE || Star Cinema 16 with IMAX
Orlando, FL || Pointe Orlando Stadium 20 + IMAX
Ottawa, ON || Silvercity Gloucester + IMAX
Palm Springs, CA || Desert IMAX Theatre
Philadelphia, PA || IMAX & the Tropicana
Philadelphia, PA || Tuttleman IMAX – Franklin Institute
Phoenix, AZ || Arizona Mills 25 with IMAX
Providence, RI || Providence Place 16 with IMAX
Quebec City, QC || IMAX Le Theatre At Quebec
Sacramento, CA || Esquire IMAX
San Antonio, TX || IMAX at RiverCenter
San Francisco, CA || Metreon 16 with IMAX & ETX
Seattle, WA || Boeing IMAX – Pacific Science Center
Tampa, FL || Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)
Toronto, ON || Coliseum 12 Mississauga + IMAX
Toronto, ON || Scotiabank Theatre Toronto + IMAX
Toronto, ON || Colossus 18 Woodbridge + IMAX
Vancouver, BC || Colossus Langley + IMAX
Vancouver, BC || Silvercity Riverport 18 + IMAX
UK || BFI London
UK || National Media Museum IMAX Bradford
UK || Glasgow Science Centre IMAX Cinema
UK || Odeon Manchester IMAX @ The Printworks

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 12-05-2011, 01:14 PM:
 
Thanks for posting this, but its already been posted then reposted by another member.
 

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Posted by Keegan O'Brien (Member # 6539) on 12-05-2011, 06:46 PM:
 
Are any of the projectionists here seeing the first six minutes on the 8th?
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 12-06-2011, 12:02 AM:
 
The screening for the press on the 8th is in LA and from what I've been told the projectionist is someone from the DKP office.

We'll have our print on the 9th or 10th at the latest.
 

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Posted by Tyler Potts (Member # 4952) on 12-12-2011, 12:00 PM:
 
So who all is going where? I'm heading up to the Charlotte NC Observer Imax tomorrow night.
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 12-13-2011, 03:45 AM:
 
I'll be seeing it again tomorrow night. Didn't get Operation Early Bird tickets however. I'll be running the event
 

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Posted by Geoff Jones (Member # 3668) on 12-13-2011, 05:23 PM:
 
Here is an interesting tidbit -

I just called the Colorado Blvd Imax theatre to ask if they would be showing Mission Impossible on film. (Wishful thinking, I know) He said no, and tried to convince me that their digital presentation looks better. I told him I wasn't interested in paying more for less resolution.

However, he did say that they still have their 70MM equipment in place. He said that it wouldn't be used again, except for one film next summer. I asked if it was The Dark Knight, and he said he couldn't answer that... but I'm assuming that has to be it.
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 12-14-2011, 04:44 AM:
 
I wouldn't be surprised if that is true. Even just seeing 6+ minutes of IMAX footage, this movie is going to be so big next year its not even going to be close for any other film.
 

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Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 01-06-2012, 11:20 AM:
 
Quite frankly, I would not want a true IMAX format for an entire movie. I prefer the widescreen ratio. IMAX is great for skyscraper scenes. When I saw TDK's skyscraper scene in IMAX, that was cool. But the car chases? Give me a high res large format widescreen version and I prefer that.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 01-06-2012, 12:31 PM:
 
Fundamentally, Hollywood style feature films are not really appropriate for a true 15/70mm IMAX presentation. There's two big problems: 1. image composition, 2. editorial pace.

IMAX movies need loose composition with lots of head room. The main focus of attention needs to be directly ahead. Camera pans need to happen more slowly. A huge screen will exaggerate the speed of any camera pans and make stuff like shaky cam footage very difficult to watch.

Likewise, IMAX movies require fewer editing cuts. Fades and dissolves are better. Hard cuts are more jarring on a giant sized screen. If you have music video style rapid-fire cuts it will make the imagery very disorienting and hard to follow. It takes a viewer a little bit of time to focus on where the action and interest is taking place on a giant screen. A bunch of 1/3 second cuts on a giant screen will leave the viewer not being able to figure out what is happening.

With IMAX Digital blown up to a giant size the rapid fire cuts and tight image composition will be worsened with the blur of lower resolution.
 

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Posted by Victor Liorentas (Member # 5272) on 01-06-2012, 12:42 PM:
 
With that said and I do agree,Chris Nolan makes very good use of the strengths Imax 15/70 can bring to a film.
After watching the prologue in 15/70 I am completely sure of this.

Angry with myself for missing The Dark Knight in 15/70.
In other news Paul Thomas Anderson is shooting his new film in 65mm!The whole movie!
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 01-06-2012, 01:26 PM:
 
I think the IMAX footage in The Dark Knight was mostly well done. While the footage was edited with hard cuts many of the camera shots were held on screen for at least a few seconds.

It's pretty cool that Paul Thomas Anderson is shooting The Master in 65mm. However, it will be interesting to see which theaters will show it in 70mm. The folks who made Baraka shot their new art film Samsara using Panavision's 65mm camera system. Yet no 70mm release prints are being made. Instead it was scanned at 8K and then mastered for 4K digital cinema release.
 

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Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 01-14-2012, 12:19 PM:
 

quote: Bobby Henderson

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The folks who made Baraka shot their new art film Samsara using Panavision's 65mm camera system. Yet no 70mm release prints are being made.

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quote: Bobby Henderson

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The folks who made Baraka shot their new art film Samsara using Panavision's 65mm camera system. Yet no 70mm release prints are being made. Instead it was scanned at 8K and then mastered for 4K digital cinema release.

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I installed the original film systems for the filmmaker's home screening room, and have seen parts of Samsara on his DLP system there (sadly, it's a four-letter S-word) but it does look fantastic!!

I have the BR of Baraka and it too is incredible.

He removed his 70mm projectors a few years ago.
 

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Posted by Jim Henk (Member # 3628) on 01-16-2012, 09:04 PM:
 
Saw the Dark Knight footage before MI last night in Irvine. Had a good time. Sorry to find out that they've got kids threading that thing now, and no dedicated projectionist, Not a lot of showmanship with the presentation either, but it looked good on the screen. Their manager said that Regal doesn't want to move the big IMAX theatres to digital until they make a better projector. He said he thought about a year. Well, that's what he said, anyway.
 

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Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 02-18-2012, 12:41 PM:
 
so I finally saw MI:GP and the prologue in 15/70 last night, I thought the prologue was pretty mediocre, but MI4... oh my god, wow, the whole Dubai skyscraper scenes had me gripping the armrests - I hate heights.
 

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Posted by Geoff Jones (Member # 3668) on 06-11-2012, 07:59 PM:
 
FYI to Colorado folks:
I called the Colorado Blvd IMax today and asked if The Dark Knight Rises was going to be in 70MM IMax or LieMax. The manager said it was going to be in 70MM. I thanked her and said I would make the trip to see it there.

(They installed 2k digital last year and discontinued the use of their 70MM projector, but are dusting it off at the insistence of Mr. Nolan and Mr. Pfister.)

Question: When should I go see it?
A) A week or so after it opens, so they have time to properly figure out how to use the equipment again.
B) Opening weekend, before they destroy the print and replace it with a 2k show.
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 06-12-2012, 10:31 AM:
 
Haven't most of these IMAX theater conversions from 15/70 film projection to HDTV resolution digital involved removing the real IMAX projectors?

At this point my plan is to make a road trip to Austin to see The Dark Knight Rises there since the Bob Bullock IMAX theater still has 15/70 equipment. None of the IMAX branded theaters in Oklahoma or North Texas have 15/70 projectors anymore to the best of my knowledge.
 

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Posted by Jonathan Althaus (Member # 5042) on 06-12-2012, 10:35 AM:
 
Bobby

The Cinemark in Dallas will show it in 70mm
 

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Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 06-12-2012, 02:57 PM:
 
it must be a first, a major Hollywood film opening on all three Smithsonian IMAX screens (and in 15/70 to boot!)
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 06-12-2012, 05:50 PM:
 
Will other Cinemark IMAX theaters that previously showed true 15/70mm IMAX show The Dark Knight Rises in 15/70? I've been to the Dallas location off LBJ Freeway. I wonder about the one at Carefree Circle in Colorado Springs or the Cinemark IMAX location in Tulsa.
 

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Posted by Jonathan Althaus (Member # 5042) on 06-13-2012, 12:54 AM:
 
I don't know about those 2. I know the one in Pittsburgh will, and that there will be 8 Cinemark locations nationwide putting the equipment back in
 

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Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 06-13-2012, 02:58 PM:
 
There are also alot of locations that are dual equipped, however the 15/70 stuff has just been sitting under "plastic" for the most part. Being kept for The Dark Knight Rises and now I guess for Star Trek 2 and the Hunger Games:Catching Fire next year.

Edit to add:

Here is a link to a list of all theatres showing Dark Knight Rises in 15/70 as well as what ones are dual equipped.
The Dark Knight Rises 15/70 list
 

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Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 06-13-2012, 04:04 PM:
 
Is the fact that "digital converts" are reverting to 15/70 for this one film an admission on IMAX's part that their Lie-MAX does in fact suck?

AJG
 

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Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 06-14-2012, 10:54 AM:
 
I didn't know some of the "former" 15/70 IMAX theaters still had the film projection equipment left intact. That makes me feel a little better. However, there is a tremendously huge question that remains: will IMAX and Warner Bros. bother letting the public know truthfully and accurately which theaters will be showing The Dark Knight Rises on 15/70mm film as opposed to HDTV resolution digital?

I sure as hell do not want to drive 200 miles to Dallas or Tulsa to see what turns out to be a mere HDTV resolution digital show. I can see 2K digital right here in Lawton. No need to drive any considerable distance for that. 15/70mm (projected right) of 15/65mm sourced material does more to justify a road trip.
 

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Posted by Ron Funderburg (Member # 4561) on 06-14-2012, 12:26 PM:
 
Bobby my guess is they won't tell you squat about the actual format it will just be IMAX or is it 3D? No just IMAX right.
 

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