8mm Forum: Shifting between IMAX and 2.20:1 ratio?

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Topic: Shifting between IMAX and 2.20:1 ratio?

Rob Young.
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1633
From: Cheshire, U.K.
Registered: Dec 2003

posted August 18, 2018 05:17 AM

Whilst I applaud Christopher Nolan for his use of IMAX, I find the presentation often really irritating when certain shots move from 2.20:1 to full IMAX.

I could understand whole action or spectacle sequences being IMAX and then moving back to 2.20:1, but this changing between certain individual shots in a scene I personally find bonkers.

This afternoon, my mate is bringing Dunkirk on Blu-ray to watch in my home cinema.

I just looked it up and sure enough it will be shifting from 2.20:1 to 1.78:1

Now this would be fine (although less than ideal at home as the only way to really present this is 2.20:1 with room above and below for the 1.78:1, although some picture will still spill into the top and bottom masking) if it is only for certain sequences.

If it is like Interstellar or the Dark Knight movies however, it will randomly shift formats within scenes...I don't get it.

Really irritating and I don't see the point.

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Larry Arpin
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 953
From: Sunland, CA, USA
Registered: Dec 2006

posted August 18, 2018 01:25 PM

I too find it odd to switch from one format to another. I wish he would just shoot his whole movie in 5 perf 70mm. WEST SIDE STORY & LAWRENCE OF ARABIA are spectacular in 70mm. There are some exceptions such as BROTHER BEAR would switch from 1:85 to widescreen and it was quite effective.

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Brian Fretwell
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1785
From: London, UK
Registered: Jun 2014

posted August 18, 2018 03:44 PM

At least there was a point in switching seize/ratio in the film Brainstorm (billed as "expanding screen 70mm") where scenes experienced via the "thought transmission" equipment were in a wider ration. I'm not sure of the point in these others.

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Daniel Macarone
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 224
From: Summit NJ, USA
Registered: Nov 2015

posted August 18, 2018 07:16 PM

Huge fan of his here, but I must say, I do wish Christopher Nolan's films were each in one ratio. Brainstorm and some other films had a cool reason for changing ratios. I believe Chris Nolan's reason would be that he loves IMAX, but simply can't shoot an entire movie on IMAX.
I have enjoyed seeing Interstellar and Dunkirk in 5 perf/70mm in theaters. In that presentation, the IMAX scenes are cropped, so it's only one ratio. I have always been plenty amazed by 5/70, but some people just gotta have the format that has THE biggest frame.

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Rob Young.
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1633
From: Cheshire, U.K.
Registered: Dec 2003

posted August 19, 2018 01:57 AM

Well, watched Dunkirk and great movie. The aspect changing wasn't so bad as this time most of the movie was in IMAX and the taller 2.20:1 minimised the shift.

I do get that it isn't always possible to use the IMAX camera for some shots as it is very large and noisy, but in that case I personally think that saving IMAX for big sequences would be more effective than chopping and changing within a scene.

Obviously one of Hollywood's top directors thinks otherwise, so what do I know?
[Confused]

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