Avatar was my 1st live action movie to see in stereoscopic 3D. Before seeing the film I asked around just about everywhere to find out which would be the best 3D format to see it it. Real D or The IMAX 3D Experience of which I prefer to call mini IMAX. Now if you aren't aware of the differences between the mini IMAX vs the Classic (giant screen) IMAX its that the mini IMAX is actually Digital whereas the Classic is not. Mini is widescreen and Classic is more square.
Now, in making my selection 2D was obviously out as I don't feel you can even claim to have seen the movie if you haven't seen it in 3D. Only exception are those with eyes that don't allow them. IMAX Classic was out because I had no interest in the square chopped representation of the film and it wasn't digital. So I went with Real D being my first choice as the glasses looked alot better, easier on the eyes, and I heard there was less ghosting. I watched Avatar 4 times in this format as I kept getting re-invited. It was such an amazing film and I'm a VFX junkie so why not!?! I must say, each of the 4 times the movie actually got better to me. I was completely satisfied and didn't bother to critique anything as it just didn't matter to me.
Then my wife and I decided that since we had seen it so many times in Real D that it was the perfect movie to go check out at the mini-IMAX to compare for future movies. Especially since stereoscopic is going to be the next big thing, we better prepare for the mass amounts of 3D films to follow. Only lame part is the world better embrace to see a whole lot of films that should have never made it to 3D!!!
Back to Avatar... WOW! What a difference! It was as if we had never seen Avatar before. It was a completely different experience! Here is a few reasons why:
Possible spoilers follow
First off, the difference of IMAX vs Real D 3D is that IMAX submerges you into the 3D experience while Real D kind of sinks back into the screen to create the 3D effect. It does submerge you some but nothing like the IMAX. Both are subtle enough to not be "cheesy" as if you were at Terminator 3D in Universal Studios with things popping at your face. I do appreciate that at theme parks but not for a full length movie! One thing that was really stupid to me when viewing in both formats was that there were adults reaching out to grab objects. Sure, I buy it as fun at the theme parks where these stereoscopic objects are practically touching your face but in feature film 3D... you just look like an idiot doing that! The objects don't appear that freaking close.
Now, the human scenes. In Real D the human (live action) scenes seemed a little uncomfortable. It didn't ruin the movie enough for me to critique in any way but it was a little bothersome as if those scenes just shouldn't have been 3D. Even the curved holographic displays seemed a little odd. In IMAX all those scenes felt alot more natural and un-noticable.
Skin, glass, & reflective objects in Real D really looked really silver and stood out oddly. I'm guessing this is due to the silver screen but I'm not sure. Either-way in IMAX it still had that silver look but was alot more tamed and didn't stand out.
Fast action scenes like the first time Jake was being chased by that crazy animal in the forest. On Real D it got a bit jittery and you couldn't see what was going on unless in a top rowed seat that was more centered. In IMAX it appeared smoother and from a seat that wasn't dead centered. The scene was lit better also.
Real D scenes were alot darker. Noticeably when Sergeant Slaughter gets into his mecha suite for the first time. In IMAX it wasn't.
Colors, FAR move vivid in IMAX.
Fire Flies, and all those other little glowing floating effects were better in IMAX.
One major thing to me was that in Real D and 2D Previews the matte paintings stand out as being totally flat paintings behind the 3D floating islands and such. In IMAX it submerges into the 3D so the mattes didn't stand out at all really. That made alot of difference when trying to stay submerged in the world of Pandora!
Sound. Sound. Sound. I didn't think the sound could possibly be that different. Boy was I wrong! The battle scene at the end alone was a reason to go see that movie at the IMAX just to hear the difference. With the mixture of IMAX's curved larger screen, stereoscopic submersion, and that completely redesigned heart thumping IMAX soundtrack... you can't beat it!
Titles. Real D they pop out at you completely as if they are always the focal point and floating in the first layer towards the audience. In IMAX they integrated more with the scenes. Personally I preferred them in Real D so I could read them better but I think alot of people would prefer the IMAX.
Blurred foremost objects. This is something that really stands out in the Real D. For instance when Jake is first sitting at his desk and asking if he's journaling correctly to his partner. There is an foremost object blurred on the bottom right corner I believe. If I remember correctly this wasn't bothersome in IMAX but I could be wrong. Either-way... those type of DOF's or whatever you want to call it just shouldn't be utilized in movies that will be shown in 3D. Find a work around so it doesn't bother anybody in either format.
Glasses. The Real D glasses look better, are stronger, handled alot more professionally, and sanitized. They get used and then sent out for cleaning and repackaging. Downfall is they tend to slide down your nose a little, get more noticeable debris, and the fat shinny black frames allow for a reflection to occur on the lens edge frame of the glasses. This seems to be caused from the screen reflections if sitting in the wrong place in the theater. This reflection can make the film blurry in one eye or both and drive you nuts! Only solution is to move, totally ignore it for 30 mins like you would if there is a window reflecting behind your couch while watching tv, or cupping your hands on the sides of the glasses forcing away the reflections. The IMAX glasses are stupid looking, less durable, and slightly uncomfortable to wear... but they don't seem to have the problems that plagued the Real D glasses.
IMAX is slightly harder on your eyes but tolerable. Ghosting really is a non-issue. Although it might happen once or twice, its not something that stood out or interfered with the experience. Typically your facing the giant screen anyways!
So bottom line, if you haven't seen Avatar in the Mini IMAX then I strongly suggest that you go check it out in comparison. So far anybody I've told this about and recommended to go see it again agreed that its an entirely different experience. If you don't have a mini IMAX then you'll live without it and the Real D is still mind blowing but if you do have the option... go with the IMAX! I think Real D was mainly created because it was simple for theaters to convert their existing systems to include 3D in cheap, quick way. It wasn't fully dedicated to making the "best" 3D experience and it shows. Basically a way for theaters to charge more $$$ without paying alot more themselves and re-constructing which is all understandable really. But if you want the best experience, its not the way to go.
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