If one word were to sum up the MR experience it would be wow! Now, in comparison to my favourite local Showcase Cinema, IMAX for MR is jaw dropping. Everything is bigger, even the guy sitting next to me...
Audio
IMAX has its own custom sound system and boy, you feel it. Every channel on MR in full force and it sounds loud and clear. Music too was just awesome, I think I was one of the few actually rocking in time to the beats... Very impressive and certainly different from my local Showcase.
Video
This is where you notice the biggest difference. The resolution is incredible! It`s the finer details that you take note of, not just every skin pore and hair, but the texture of fabrics too. I could see the fine diagonal weave of Neo`s long overcoat with the small dark square pattern. I thought it was just black before.
On an IMAX screen since everything is amplified it makes a bigger impact too. All the action scenes were amazing to see again and I lapped it up. This is the way to see spectacle films and I know I`ll be booking tickets to see Revolutions later in the year.
Other bits
You may wonder what aspect ratio is was shown in. It was cropped, but not to 1.33:1 as I thought it might be. More like 1.66:1. Don`t dismiss this however, as it did not spoil the film. The frame was still wide enough to deliver the goods. The impact of the presentation is something to see. The only slight niggle were 2 scenes using medium shots where actors were to the extreme left or right of the frame talking to someone and you felt someone was cropped out. But like I said, this is minor and not an excuse to stay away from the IMAX experience.
It isn`t cheap though. bfi IMAX charged £11.50 for the privilege and it was a full house. It was also great that it was silent throughout the film with only some laughter in the usual places. I thoroughly enjoyed myself last night and would recommend it to anyone. I can`t stop grinning! Think of the best non-IMAX cinema experience you`ve had, and amplify that at least 10 times.... With the exception of the freeway action scene, I wasn`t overly impressed with the action in MR when it first came out, but seeing it all here just makes an impact on the senses you can`t ignore. Far better this way!
The Matrix Reloaded is playing at the bfi IMAX until August 3rd. But due to the sold out nature of bookings, it may be extended until September.
Matrix fans flock to bfi London IMAXMatrix Reloaded fans have flocked to the bfi London IMAX cinema to see the IMAX version of the film in its opening weekend.
The bfi London IMAX cinema enjoyed the most successful opening weekend worldwide of the digitally remastered IMAX version, The Matrix Reloaded: The IMAX Experience, of the spectacular Wachowski Brothers film, starring Keanu Reeves, Laurence Fishburne and Carrie-Ann Moss.
In its first three days, 4th - 6th July, the film grossed £38,682 ($63,051.66) at the cinema with a screen average of £3,516.59 ($5,732.04).
Commentating on the bumper figures, bfi Director Amanda Nevill said:
"We are delighted with these excellent results. We have had a strong spring season in IMAX, particularly with Ghosts of the Abyss 3D and Everest 2D, but The Matrix Reloaded: The IMAX Experience has had even wider appeal and the audience demand has exceeded our expectations.
"It`s a big film which in IMAX format is spectacular. It has a real wow factor for audiences as these figures show."
The Matrix Reloaded: The IMAX Experience is likely to run at the bfi London IMAX cinema until early September. The bfi London IMAX cinema is the only cinema in the UK to show the film in IMAX® DMR (Digital Re-mastering) technology.
bfi IMAX/MR websiteAnil
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My YMDB Top 20This item was edited on Saturday, 19th July 2003, 11:15
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