The Shapes of Wonder.
“Not all viewings are created equal.” That’s according to a recent article in The Atlantic, in which staff writer Will Gottsegen considers how IMAX 70mm is being touted as “the way to see Nolan’s creation.”
Taking the bait, I attended a screening at the Regal UA near Philadelphia, one of only 25 theatres in the US equipped to show the film in its native format. I had a center seat, about halfway back. The perfect spot. So how good was it?
In a word: Amazing!
But is dead center in an IMAX 70 mm theatre the only way to go?
I intend to find out by seeing the film again in Laser projection, but for now I’m inclined to believe that Christoper Nolan’s latest is powerful enough to transcend format, a masterpiece capable of delivering on any movie screen.
Alternate Dimensions.
The screenshots above, taken from the film’s website, show five alternate formats for The Odyssey.
Although the images do not feature identical frames, I trust they are close enough to show how the film is being cropped for various screens.
Your mileage may vary, but all of the crops look good to me. Peripheral details may be lost along the top and bottom but gained along the sides. Nevertheless, the essential information remains in view, and although the 1.43:1 format created a powerful, immersive experience (augmented by an impressive 360-degree, 12-channel mix), the film will likely astound in any format.
[You can view The Odyssey’s trailer in all six formats here.]
Resolution.
According to the folks at IMAX, 70mm delivers up to 16k of resolution (compared to 4k for laser projection), with each 2.77 x 2.07 frame contributing to an 11-mile-long, 600-pound film reel, so massive that it takes a forklift to load it onto the projector.
Naturally, the increased resolution pays off in some incredible action scenes, most notably the confrontation with the 10-foot-tall Laestrygonians (see image above).
That said, it is in the actors’ faces that the extra resolution really pays off, with even the subtilist micro-expression conveying volumes of characterization. Thus, Nolan’s film–for all its larger-than-life set pieces– is a profoundly intimate film.
Whatever Format, See It in a Theatre.
Writing in the LA Times, culture critic Mary McNamara considers the notion that the only way to enjoy The Odyssey is in its native 70mm format. Her conclusion: “No matter the film or screen size, it’s a very good movie.”
I’m inclined to agree, although I doubt I’d want to watch it on my iPhone.
Bottom line, nothing beats sitting in a sold-out theatre with 300 strangers, all joining in a timeless adventure. Don’t wait for it to come to streaming. See it now.
What do you think?
As always, the comment section is open. If you’ve seen the movie, let me know your thoughts. Likewise, I’ll endeavor to post a follow-up after I’ve rejoined Odyssus in some additional formats.
For now, it’s back to writing the follow-up to Minute Men: Execute & Run and looking ahead to The Milford Readers and Writers Festival.
More on those soon.
Until then, scop on!
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