Help! Regular Imax vs. Dome Imax

[KingstonTrekker]

Help please!

Has anyone seen Trek 09 in a "dome" Imax theatre? I saw it on a "regular" flat screen Imax a couple of months ago. I am thinking of travelling to a nearby larger city to see it on a Dome Imax -- however, I have heard that it really does not show like a "Dome" movie. Any thoughts? Thanks!

 

[shapeshifter]

I never seen anything in 'dome' IMAX so I couldn't say for sure but, if I had a dome IMAX nearby I would certainty give it a try. I would then have enough information to make an informed decision over which I prefer.

Actually I do have a dome IMAX but it never plays feature films, only Science/Nature presentations.

 

[KingstonTrekker]

I never seen anything in 'dome' IMAX so I couldn't say for sure but, if I had a dome IMAX nearby I would certainty give it a try. I would then have enough information to make an informed decision over which I prefer.

Actually I do have a dome IMAX but it never plays feature films, only Science/Nature presentations.

Thanks. I am just trying to decide whether to spend the $$ (which would involve staying overnight at a hotel) to see it on the Dome. It will also mean dragging my partner to it yet again -- and I am hoping that if we go the Dome will be a superior experience to the regular Imax screen.

 

[Eric Cheung]

I used to work in a dome IMAX theatre, it's called OMNIMAX. Generally they don't show anything other than Omni movies on those screens because they're not really shot and composed for that type of screen; I know someone who saw Watchmen on an Omni screen and didn't like it. I think part of it is because seeing a closeup of a human on a dome screen distorts it a little bit. The point of a dome screen is to be immersed in an environment, and it's harder to do if it's not a nature or aerial film.

 

[KingstonTrekker]

Thanks Eric -- yep it is called Omnimax here too. It usually just shows Science-type movies which have been made for the Omnimax screen. Star Trek 09 is the only "Hollywood" film which is currently showing on the Omnimax here (it is playing until the end of August). Thanks for the info!

Any other thoughts?

 

[Borgminister]

Having seen one of the Harry Potter movies at the dome at the tech museum in San Jose, I would recommend against it. I found myself looking side to side trying to keep up with the characters and action, and there seemed to be some distortion owing to the dome.

Of course, maybe I didn't find the "sweet spot" in the theater, I don't know.

But I've never had that kind of problem at a regular flat screen IMAX screen.

 

[Jeri]

Yeah, they've got Harry Potter playing at the Museum of Science and Industry's Omnimax. The one and only time I tried to watch a movie there, it made me kinda green around the gills, and I had to leave after a few minutes.

I couldn't recommend it either. However, I did see the movie 15 times in our regular multiplex IMAX out here in exurbia. The picture and sound are very big, and it's better than a regular theater.

 

[Eric Cheung]

Having seen one of the Harry Potter movies at the dome at the tech museum in San Jose, I would recommend against it. I found myself looking side to side trying to keep up with the characters and action, and there seemed to be some distortion owing to the dome.

Of course, maybe I didn't find the "sweet spot" in the theater, I don't know.

But I've never had that kind of problem at a regular flat screen IMAX screen.

Generally, we instructed people to sit in the middle of the theatre. This was because there were doors on either side of it, that's where I've always thought the best view in any cinema was, but especially in Omnimax where you want to be most immersed in the environment.

But feature films projected in Omnimax wouldn't take into account the aspect ratio and composition the director originally intended, so the film is the poorer for it.

 

[EnsignRicky]

If a dome Imax is anything like a planetarium, it probably won't look too good.

 

[M'Sharak]

Having seen one of the Harry Potter movies at the dome at the tech museum in San Jose, I would recommend against it. I found myself looking side to side trying to keep up with the characters and action, and there seemed to be some distortion owing to the dome.

Of course, maybe I didn't find the "sweet spot" in the theater, I don't know.

But I've never had that kind of problem at a regular flat screen IMAX screen.

Generally, we instructed people to sit in the middle of the theatre. This was because there were doors on either side of it, that's where I've always thought the best view in any cinema was, but especially in Omnimax where you want to be most immersed in the environment.

But feature films projected in Omnimax wouldn't take into account the aspect ratio and composition the director originally intended, so the film is the poorer for it.

Several people in an earlier thread recommended the seats closest to the projector, especially those just above.

 

[M'rk son of Mogh]

I just stepped in the door almost literally form having seen it at the domed IMAX in Detroit (along with the accompanying Star Trek exhibit!).

Loved it, third time seeing it, first time on the IMAX. My whole family went, and 3 of them, brother and parents, hadn't seen the movie yet. They all liked it but we all had the same complaints, that being the way the action sequences were shot were basically impossible to tell what was going on.

But overall I thought it was worth it, especially the big space shots really make it seem like you're there. Incredibly, actually.

And you can tell there is minor distortion at the top and bottom (you can see the curved edges of the frame), but nothing distracting to me at all, as your whole field of vision is filled and it just seems so natural.

 

[KingstonTrekker]

Thanks for the information everyone -- much appreciated! I am going to skip going to the Dome and wait for the DVD in November to get my next Trek 09 fix!

 

[AdmiralGarak]

I saw Star Wars Ep 2 in an Omnimax way back when. It was a weird experience due the curve of the screen. Lightsabers would bend at 45 degree angles, you'd have action taking place above your head, and such. If you've seen Trek on a flatscreen Imax, I'd say you've already had a better experience. Don't go to a domed theater unless you want a bit of novelty and bit of neck pain.

 

[Borgminister]

And wallet pain.

 

[Alpha_Geek]

I saw Superman Returns on a planetarium dome Imax.

I will never willingly see another movie on such a screen.

If you sit anyplace other than near the projector, it's just... bad due to the curvature and parallax.

 

[Mrs_Whatsit]

My husband, my niece, and I saw it at the domed Detroit Science Center IMAX, and my niece and I both got motion sickness (which we're not normally prone to) and didn't feel well for about half an hour afterward. My neck still hurt the next day. I saw the movie 10 other times on regular screens, and never had that problem on any other viewing.

Although my husband didn't get sick, he didn't enjoy it on the domed screen; like M'rk, son of Mogh and his family, he felt because the camera moves around so much in the action sequences, it was too hard to follow what was happening.

 

[Darth_Pinche]

I have not seen Trek in the dome but other films I have seen in a Omnimax sucked in my opinion. Projecting IMAX onto a dome is just a cheap way for a planetarium to make money and distorts what the film is supposed to be. I will get off my soapbox now and leave you in peace. (I have aspect ratio issues)