Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Demo DVD Info Needed

I know that this is a strange request, but my kids were fascinated the other day when we were at, of all places, CompUSA. They were playing some demo DVD or something that had, at least the part that they saw, a 1st person perspective ride on a roller coaster. They use it to show off their HDTV displays, so maybe it isn't even a DVD.

Anyone know anything about what I am talking about? It would be cool to get something like that for my home theater...

Thanks!

Sounds like the intro to the DVE calibration disc...

I agree Nick, that would be cool on my 10ft wide screen I wish the IMAX DVD's on netflix were in Wide Screen format, I've never understood why they are in full screen. If you find out let me know...Randy

IMAX film has a 1.33:1 aspect ratio. They are not shot in a widescreen format.

Yeah, it's not that IMAX isn't wide, it's just also tall.

to bad, it would be way cool if it was in cinemascope.

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to bad, it would be way cool if it was in cinemascope

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Have you been to an IMAX theatre? I think all who have would agree, it doesn't get any cooler than IMAX. If you are watching an original IMAX production, it'll be full screen 4:3, and blow you away. If you're watching one of our DMR (Hollywood production reformated films, i.e. Harry Potter 4) the show will be in it's original aspect ratio. (In HP4's case, 2.35:1) Still a huge image, but the screen is not filled at the top an bottom. In a darkened theatre you'll not notice.

If we were to "letterbox" our DVD's it'd be like releasing a 'widescreen' version of Casablanca. It simply wasn't shot to be viewed that way.

SirQ, perhaps you are not aware that Craig works at IMAX on the movies. So be nice.

Yep Des Moines has an IMAX, so far I've been to the NASCAR show, pretty awesome...

IMAX should start using an anamorphic lens and scalers so you can watch 2.35 material as it was intended to be viewed, without blackbars

Hey Craig,

I was checking out Netflix, and they have TONS of Imax DVD's, can you give me some good recommendations. I know watching them at home is not an IMAX theater, but it is pretty cool, I still get a 51" x 68" screen with my setup for 1.33 material, which is 85" diagonal...

Not sure you're understanding.

The screen is physically 4:3. No matter how you cut it...if you project a 2:35:1 film on a screen that is 4:3, you're not going to fill the screen top and bottom.

Is it me?

Lemme see what they've got...

Yes Craig, I totally understand Aspect Ratio's. Any wider ratio's above 1.33 will show black bars on the top and bottom. As you progress from 1.78 to 2.35 and beyond those bars will be larger. The nice thing about a Constant Height setup, is that the height always stays the same for all material. Any AR's under 2.35 will have black bars on the sides, this is easy to mask with curtains, just like they do in the Theaters.

Hmm...give these a shot.

Africa: The Serengeti
Blue Planet
Dolphins
Everest
The Living Sea (great soundtrack)
NASCAR
Space Station

You may see my name in the credits of NASCAR and Space Station.

For that to work, you have to start with at 2.35 (or 2.40) screen though. Our screens are so tall that to have them as tall as they are AND 2.35:1 wide, you'd never be able to see the full image! Your field of view simply isn't that wide. As they are, at 4:3, we already cover your entire field of view.

Thanks man, that is awesome.... So what do you do for IMAX, are you involved in the production of the movies? Sounds like a great place to work, beats the hell out of sitting at a desk all day providing technical support

That's the thing with IMAX. It overwhelms your field of vision and all you see is the screen. There's no room for curtains or black masking of any sort. Widescreen is overrated.

My major focus is on film recording. (taking the digital data and shooting it on 65mm negative)

I also get to play around with simple f/x on occasion, as well as titles and end credits some times. I'll also digitally "fix" some stuff. Sometimes a shot is unstable, and I'll stabilize it. I'll remove helicopter blades from some aerials, etc. Not very exciting stuff.

Overrated? NOT

I used to think the same thing and live with black bars. 50%+ of my movies are 2.35. Once you can experience that in your home, you never go to the movies again.

you did see my wink, didn't you?

Oh, and you don't need a wide screen to keep you out of the theaters. My Axioms do the trick for me -- though it's been a reeeeeeaaaally long time since I've been able to crank a movie up to 'proper' levels.

Oh yeah, I forgot my winky

My family really enjoy out theater, sure saves a lot of green.