HAS anyone touched the tip of a flaming spear?
I tried doing that right inside a movie house. Was I successful?
How could there be a fiery weapon inside a cinema? Technological innovations can make you feel that exact physical activity. Thanks to 3D visions and moreso thanks to IMAX, a cutting edge technology in film production, projection and viewing.
It is a film format that is far above than the conventional film systems which translates to more vivid, crispier and livelier imagery on the screen.
IMAX is actually an abbreviation of Image MAXimum which was created by a Canadian company IMAX Corporation.
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In the Philippines, there are about eight IMAX theaters that could be found in big SM malls. One of them, fortunately is at SM City Clark. I think it is the only mall in the rest of Central and Northern Luzon after SM North to have this high resolution cinema.
This is where I tried to touch the tip of a spear that was flying in a certain scene in the movie Hercules with Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson as the title role.
The spear that was thrown, I felt, came out of the screen in a 3D imagery which to some people is like a trickery in their visions (including myself). It was as if the spear, in a slow motion travel pace from the moment it was thrown, came to a halt at some point in order to enable viewers inside the theater to touch its tip. Right at that moment when it appeared like its movement froze.
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Hercules, the story of the demigod in the Greek mythology, is Bratt Ratner’s production (who is known for X-Men The Last Stand, The Horrible Bosses, Prison Break TV series and many more).
The 90-minute movie starts with the recounting of 12 labors of Hercules. It then evolves to Hercules leading a small group of mercenerary-comrades who would sold their services to those with most golds.
They are enlisted by Lord Cotys, the Lord of Thrace to save their kingdom. In doing so, they would put up fierce battles which is less violent that 300 but is far from the sweetness of Disney’s version. Blood and gore did not fill the screen despite intense battles and man-to-man fights.
In between the battles is also the story of Hercules’ family whose deaths was to remain a mystery.
The Guardian’s Peter Bradshaw described it as “cheerfully ridiculous” while The Washington Post says it is “handsomely mythic in 3D, wittly written.”
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So, what else did I like in the movie, particularly at the way some scenes have been projected at SM City Clark IMAX?
Special Effects. The chirping and crowing of birds in some jungle scenes, coupled by the sound of animals cooing, hissing and moving. The sound imagery makes viewers feel they are right inside the actual scenery. The visuals come so crisp and vivid. Objects moving on screen whether horizontally, vertically, or other directions are also very clear. In ordinary theaters, they could be a pain in the eye.
Well Balanced Sound. At some points in the movie, there were scenes where BGM (background music) and SFX (sound effects) had to imperatively go together. In some theaters (even if they claimed to have digital sound like Dolby Digital or DTS systems), such sound projection could become loud, noisy and therefore annoying.
This is not the case at SM City Clark’s IMAX theater. BGMs and SFXs go hand in hand at pleasing levels that complement the particular portion of a movie scene. The sound of clanking swords, swooshing spears and arrows, neighing and galloping horses, rumbling chariots and soldiers could be easily distinguished alongside the musical scoring which was done by Fernando Velasquez (of The Impossible, Mama and The Orphanage).
Great Imaging. In order for a movie (and the moviehouse too) to be considered successful with its digital presentations – both in audio and video – it has got to be projected in a cinema that would faithfully decode all the digital applications used in the filming of a movie.
In the movie, there was a scene where Hercules was bothered by a recollection or a nightmare that brings to mind his children who were mysteriously killed. At that certain moment, there were sounds of children playing in low tones while the supporting visual was that of Hercules sleeping.
At that particular moment, the sound of children, we thought, were actually toddlers and small kids who were watching at other rows of the theater. But as we looked around, there were no children present in front or behind us. (There could never be because the movie I think has a PG 13 rating)
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For those who would still find it hard to understand just how different exactly is IMAX, let me help further by comparing.
If IMAX were a cell phone, it would be in the category of far advanced smartphones, a fully loaded luxury automobile if it were a car, an aromatic well roasted gourmet coffee or a rare tasteful wine if it were a beverage, a first class accommodation if on an airline seat, a summa cum laude if it were a graduate.
At SM City Clark’s IMAX theater, you could comfortably choose a seat in its 450 capacity. The theater has 12 x 21 feet concave screen in a very comfortable setting. It has digital audio systems, which is well balanced from the lowest bass for that extra oomph, all the way to high tweeting sounds. In between, is a mid range where vocals for dialogues could be heard in utmost clarity.
For August 1-12, it will show Guardians of The Galaxy which promises to be a good viewing for the family with all its special effects on visuals and sounds.
Showtimes for this movie on weekends are 11:20 a.m., 2 p.m., 4:40 p.m., 7:20 p.m. and 10:00 p.m. On weekdays 12:30 p.m., 3:30 p.m., 6:30 p.m., and 9:30 p.m.
Interested parties can call tel. (045) 499.0263 and 0942-846-4629.
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