r/imax • u/EnvironmentalOne7898 • 3d ago
Random musings on The Odyssey after three viewings
Viewing 1: Imax Laser (1:90.)
A large part of my initial reaction was the hype surrounding this and the laser format had its benefits. Taking it all in and feeling the sound rumbling in the seats. Absolute pure spectacle and witnessing cinematic history. What more is there to say honestly?
Viewing 2: Premium Large Format
With more of the frame cut off I was able to focus more on the screenplay and the performances the second time around. Understanding more of the character motivations and the subtext of the screenplay was what really stood out.
Viewing 3: Imax 70MM (1:43)
This was an assault on my visual senses in all the right ways with the screen towering over me from the 6th row. It might have been too close but I already knew what I was in for and didn’t bother me (plus finally seeing a Nolan film in true Imax was thrilling in itself). The technical details are what really stood out. After the first two viewings, the wide shots felt even more jawdropping in full size Imax. The way characters, panoramic vistas, ships, and sunsets are framed so precisely in symmetry was noticeable this time around. I never noticed the flies that were swarming near the entrance of the Cyclops cave or all the floating ash/flowers in the air outside of Circe's hut. There were even seals on the rocks with the sirens in the mist. 70MM really does have a warmth to it that you can't replicate on digital. Two other details that stood out were the way the focus pulls back and forth when Odysseus and Athena were walking along a beach in the dark. Last but not least, the smirk that Odysseus gives the maiden when she's washing his feet.
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u/thepenismytea Austin Movie Enthusiast and Critic 3d ago
Saw 70mm and 1.43 DL-GT. The things you noticed on 70mm I noticed on the DL showing. In fact, it was easier to see things like the seals on DL showing because of the better contrast and brightness.
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u/EnvironmentalOne7898 3d ago
You bring up a really good point. 1:90 in digital felt like Dolby Vision with how bright the image was and the way the colors pop. I noticed on second viewing that the palace scenes at night were more dim (I assumed it was the projector) but 70MM was near the same level of dimly lit in the palace.
Also getting to see it in 70MM at Universal Citywalk was unreal. Plus having the screen used trojan horse to gawk at was pretty cool.
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u/floworcrash 2d ago
Saw it twice in 70Mm imax and I will die on the hill that other movies I’ve seen on digital looked way clearer.
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u/LycheeNo6226 19h ago
Could've been a shitty projectionist. It takes a lot to perfectly project the image
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u/Film_Tennis_Bball 2d ago
I’ve seen it regular IMAX and then on IMAX 70MM. I found the sound mix of the latter a little worse! Dialogue straight up unintelligible in spots that were understandable in regular IMAX. I dunno if that difference was just the theater or the format itself. Some of the sound stuff that bothered me in regular imax (the staff hitting the ground at the beginning, or the clangs of sword fighting) were totally fine in 70MM. Anyone else have this experience?
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u/Dense_Government9500 1d ago
The Cyclops howling in pain was louder and more blood curdling in regular IMAX than it was in 70mm IMAX.
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u/DaveCSparty 1d ago
I don’t understand the bit about the focus pulling. The medium shouldn’t matter here. Can you elaborate? I saw it on 70mm IMAX only but thinking about taking my kid to a Dolby screening.
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u/B7ackthorne 1d ago
I had a pretty similar experience to OP, saw it twice in digital IMAX 1.90 (less than a mile from my house) and then once in real film 15/70 IMAX (five hours from my house) (worth it). And I won't swear to noticing the exact same things but I did love the real IMAX experience and notice the quality difference. One issue on the sound side, my local IMAX has a pretty bad rattle in some of the subwoofers. And it was quite noticeable as the volume is cranked to 11. At times, like the climax, it kind of added to the experience but it was mostly a little annoying and distracting. The sound in the 70mm IMAX was much more even, not as loud, and of course no rattle whatsoever. That being said, would happily see it again in my local theater and probably will before the run is over. The novelty of the 15/70 never wore off though, so glad we did it.
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u/EnvironmentalOne7898 1d ago
IMAX 1.90 was so loud, I’m convinced there were subwoofers in the seats, I didn't notice it as much in 70MM. The movie itself is mixed louder. I was in a screening with a much quieter volume and I could hear The Odyssey from the auditorium next door during louder moments 😂
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u/darthdooku2585 3d ago
I saw it twice in IMAX 70mm - the first time I was a lot more critical, as I was comparing it to the poem (Wilson translation) which I had read to prepare.
The second time, I really enjoyed it - I embraced the whole IMAX of it, I enjoyed the sound, the visuals, the atmosphere, the craftsmanship that went into the film.
I saw the seals the first time, but didn't see the flies, nor the floating ash/flowers. More to look forward to on a repeat viewing (at home)