Still More Harry Potter

[grrgoyl]

Rebecca and I went last night to Order of the Phoenix in IMAX 3D. Oh my god. If you have an IMAX theater near you, run, don't walk, to see this version. Only the last 20 minutes are 3D (basically from the thestral ride through the battle at the Ministry), but these scenes that were merely dazzling on a normal screen become an out-of-body experience in 3D. The thestral's head stretches out to rest in your lap. Lucius Malfoy's wand goes right up your nose. And there's a scene with glass shattering in slow motion where each individual shard hangs in front of you in stark relief.

Unfortunately the technology isn't advanced enough to eliminate the need for dorky glasses. Some mooks kept theirs on for the entire film. One guy sat through 118 minutes of 2D and left to use the bathroom at the exact second the 3D kicked in (a little glasses symbol flashes at the bottom of the screen). If you can't hold it for longer than 2 hours, it may be time for a Stadium Pal™.

Upon leaving the theater Rebecca and I both had the same question: would the DVD have a home 3D option? She thought it possible, based on the fact that her little sister owns a 3D Barbie DVD.

It turns out metatronis was 100% correct. I did enjoy the movie much more the second time. Whether it was because I knew what to expect so I could relax properly, or because I'd already experienced all the disappointment, I'm not sure. But this time around I really got into the atmospheric music, the maturity of the acting and the smaller details I missed the first time, like the closeup shot in the foreground of the troll leg umbrella stand, or Parvati and Lavender being the only ones crying when Trelawney is sacked. Now it's just a matter of waiting the endless months until DVD release.

Comments

[metatronis.livejournal.com]

Oooh, I never even thought about seeing it in IMAX. I think I'll check that out when I get back from my adventure. :D

[grrgoyl.livejournal.com]

Not just IMAX (althought that's pretty awesome too) but 3D. I hope I hope I hope I hope I hope the DVD has the option, though I'm sure it will pale in comparison to the IMAX version.

[lizzieloudotcom.livejournal.com]

Was the movie filmed especial to be in 3D? (things jutting out, etc.)If so I didn't notice whilst watching on a regular screen. And if one were to take 3D glasses to a regular theater and don them for the movie, would that person also have a 3D experience or is there something about the projection that makes it only appear in certain theaters?

Because, I'm thinkin' maybe I could watch a LOT of movies in 3D. Maybe I can read LiveJournal posts IN 3D if all it takes is glasses.

Why, it would be like being right there on the hammock with You and Tery and KittenMitten. Joy!

[grrgoyl.livejournal.com]

Well I'm glad you asked...

I just read a whole article on it. No of course not, silly, it takes more than the glasses. They go back in post production and, frame by frame, create a second print, picking out the elements they want to give the 3D depth to. Both prints are then projected simultaneously onto the screen and the glasses are polarized to resolve the image for your optic nerve. Hella cool, no?

LJ in 3D could be the future of the blogosphere. Get your patent now!