Christopher Nolan made “The Odyssey” with IMAX 70mm theaters in mind. But if you can’t score tickets, what format should you choose instead?
Director Christopher Nolan’s siren song is drawing audiences to theaters.
The Odyssey (now in theaters) has become an all-out cultural phenomenon, sparking a mainstream frenzy centered on Greek mythology and Robert Pattinson’s flawless dialogue. But this sword-and-sandal epic has sparked widespread debate about film vs. digital projection, with even the most casual moviegoer debating what is the best format to experience “The Odyssey.”
“I’m very excited because I’m very interested in film and how it’s projected,” says filmmaker and former projectionist Leah St. Marie. “No one notices the projectionist unless something goes wrong and someone else is to blame. If everything is perfect, it’s the invisible hand that makes your entertainment happen.”
As The Odyssey continues to earn boffo box office success across formats, we called up Saint-Marie and cinema engineer Justin Dennis to share their thoughts on how to get the best return in theaters this summer.
IMAX70mm. The Odyssey was the first Hollywood blockbuster to be shot exclusively using 65mm IMAX film cameras. Not only is this the highest resolution presentation, but the theater screen itself is large, curved, and slightly square in shape, allowing audiences to feel like they’re enveloped in the movie.
imax. This is the standard digital IMAX presentation found at most theater chains in the United States. The screen is still quite large, but it’s wider and more rectangular than a “true” IMAX theater, so the top and bottom of the original image are cropped. As a result, these screens became known as “LieMAX” by movie buffs and projectionists alike.
70mm and 35mm. As with standard IMAX presentations, we don’t get the full image Nolan intended. However, the image itself is much richer overall. In layman’s terms, 35mm is grittier and more textured, resembling the classic movie theater experience you probably had as a child. 70mm, on the other hand, provides sharper and brighter images.
Dolby Vision and 4DX. Dolby Vision uses laser projection to create vivid, high-contrast images, while 4DX equips the theater with rumbling seats and water splashes to fully immerse you in the film’s high-ocean drama.
What’s the next best option after “The Odyssey” in IMAX 70mm?
Countless IMAX 70mm screenings across the country will be sold out next month, meaning many movie fans will be looking for the next best way to see “The Odyssey.”
“Personally, I think I’ll wait until the crowds are a little less and then watch it in the best possible format,” says Dennis. “As long as the studio sells tickets like this, they’re not going to take it off the screen.”
But if he had to choose an IMAX 70mm alternative, “I would take the first available ticket for a 70mm presentation over any other ticket.”
Saint Marie would similarly vote for standard 70mm projection as a worthy alternative.
Compared to digital, “actual film has a breath of life,” says Saint-Marie. “You get more depth, you get better brightness. You get everything you want out of the experience. If you want something flat, stay home and watch TV. If you’re going to spend money on parking, food, babysitting, etc., watch the movie the way the director wanted you to see it.”
But hundreds of theaters outside major U.S. cities don’t offer the premium format, so your local theater may only offer a standard digital presentation. Both Dennis and Saint-Marie agree that this shouldn’t deter you from seeing The Odyssey at all.
“Accessibility is a big part of that,” Dennis said, noting that in the early 2000s most movie theaters moved to digital screening as a cost-cutting measure. “In terms of visual experience, digital cinema is by no means breathtaking, but its ability to tell a story is perfect.”
“I just want people to go to the theater and see the movie,” Saint-Marie added. “If you can go to the movies, go to the movies. But don’t let geographic limitations rule you out from what you want to experience. Just go see it.”
