The AMC Boston Common transformed their largest theater into a Digital IMAX showcase, and had their grand opening today with “Iron Man 2: The IMAX Experience”. Overall, I was impressed with both the movie, and Digital IMAX. I am a big fan of Robert Downing, Jr., and he did not disappoint. There are few actors in Hollywood today who could play the Tony Stark character as well as Robert Downey, Jr does in this movie, and in the original Iron Man. The special effects are superb, CGI top notch, and the Audi R8 Spyder V10 is quite the sweet ride. Of course, for a starting price over $100K base, and $150K for the V10, it better be a sweet ride. Love to have Tony Stark’s car collection, and gadget workroom. All the supporting characters were fine as well with special kudos to Don Cheadle, and Scarlett Johansson. You go to a movie like Iron Man 2 to be entertained, not for redeeming social value. Iron Man 2 does indeed entertain with an enjoyable story line, and all technical aspects are absolutely first class.
I was pleasantly surprised with the Digital IMAX. I am a big fan of IMAX, but all the previous IMAX theaters I attended use the thousand pound plus reels of film, not digital. Some reviews I had seen online dissed the digital IMAX format. I am not saying Digital IMAX is as impressive as the original IMAX, but it is indeed impressive in its own right, and a nice improvement over the regular theater presentations.
The AMC Boston Common transformed their largest theater, Theater 2 into the Digital IMAX showcase. Since I am an avid movie goer, I had been in Theater 2 a couple of hundred times. When I first walked in, I was taken by the floor to ceiling, and wall to wall screen that replaced what I had always thought was a large screen. I was surprised by how much bigger the screen was than the old screen it replaced particularly since this was a remodeled old theater, not a built for IMAX original. When I saw Hollywood blockbusters that were not filmed in IMAX before, they were letter-boxed, and did not extend floor to ceiling like native IMAX films do. There was a collective wow from the audience when the first preview came on – the picture was super sharp, super bright, extended floor to ceiling, and the accompanying sound fantastic. You were definitely immersed totally in the experience. I was surprised when Iron Man 2 started, and it also filled the entire screen from floor to ceiling, and wall to wall. What an impressive display, and definitely a much better experience than previous movies I had seen in Theater 2 before its transformation to IMAX. I am not saying the floor to ceiling height is as mammoth as a native IMAX theater is, but it is impressive.
My only negative comment concerns the sound. Although fantastic, the sound was a bit too loud during the end when all the fight scenes, and jet pack scenes are in full bloom. I know quality sound with high volume is also part of the IMAX experience, but there is loud, and there is too loud. For me, this presentation passed into the too loud category at times. I did mention it to the theater staff on the way out because, since this was opening day, the volume level may need a tweak to ensure customer hearing safety.
The AMC Boston Common charges a $4.00 premium for the IMAX. For me, the quality increase for Iron Man 2 was well worth the 40% premium over the standard senior rate. I do anticipate seeing most Hollywood blockbusters in the new IMAX theater at the Boston Common. Whether the premium is worth it for movies not so action / CGI oriented, only time will tell.
Update May 9, 2010
I usually do not see the same movie again only a few days later no matter how much I enjoyed the movie. I did attend Iron Man 2 at the Regal Fenway only two days after seeing it in Digital IMAX. I wanted to see how much better the Digital IMAX is versus a non-IMAX screening on a similar size screen. Since Theaters 12, and 13 at the Regal are approximately the same size as Theater 2 at the Boston Common, I waited for a performance in one of the big screen theaters.
The screen in Theater 13 extends almost floor to ceiling, and wall to wall so the Digital IMAX screen at the Common is not much larger than the non-IMAX screen in the Regal’s big theaters. Once the movie started (in fact it was obvious when the first preview started), it was immediately apparent that the Digital IMAX picture is substantially sharper, brighter, and clearer than a top notch regular projection on a similar size screen. The sound was also crisper, more robust in the Digital IMAX with the caveat I mention in the original post about the volume level.
Please don’t get the wrong idea, viewing a movie in one of the big theaters at the Regal Fenway is still definitely one of the best movie experiences in a non-IMAX theater. That being said, the Digital IMAX presentation is a step above, and worth the premium.