Every frame of Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey was shot in Imax. However, choosing which theater to watch the movie can be a bit complicated, as this blockbuster film will be released theatrically in several formats.
With tickets going on sale Thursday, the “Odyssey” website is offering a guide to how the film will be screened, from 70mm Imax to premium large formats. Each guide features the cast walking through the format, with a trailer showing framing and composition.
Explaining the film’s Imax 70mm format, star Matt Damon said in a video: “Each frame of the film has 15 perforations that pass horizontally through the projector, making it the largest format available. Every frame is shot in Imax, and when you’re in the theater you can feel the full impact of how it was shot.”
Anne Hathaway explains, “This movie was shot and designed to be experienced on the biggest screen possible, and IMAX delivers just that. Filling your entire field of view and completely immersing you in the ultimate movie experience.”
As previously announced, director Nolan is making film history with the first narrative feature to be shot entirely with IMAX cameras.
“The Odyssey” was shot by Nolan’s go-to cinematographer, Hoyte Van Hoytema, who worked with Nolan on “Interstellar,” “Dunkirk,” “Tenet,” and “Oppenheimer.”
Last year, Van Hoytema told Empire magazine that he shot IMAX test footage of a child reading the lyrics to David Bowie’s “Sound and Vision” to prove whether IMAX film cameras were advanced enough to record conversations.
“I showed Chris a very large close-up of a child on an Imax screen while reading David Bowie’s ‘Sound and Vision’ from a piece of paper. It was very moving. That level of intimacy in both visuals and sound was fused and translated into the theater.”
Nolan was blown away and finally convinced he could make an entire movie shot entirely on IMAX cameras. He said, “I would never have gotten a shot like that before.”
Based on Homer’s legendary tales, The Odyssey tells the story of the Greek hero Odysseus, played by Damon, who takes a long and winding journey back to his homeland after the Trojan War. Damon will co-star with Hathaway, Zendaya, Tom Holland, Lupita Nyong’o, Charlize Theron, Mia Goth, Benny Safdie, Jon Bernthal and John Leguizamo. In addition to directing, Nolan also wrote and produced the screenplay with his wife Emma Thomas.
Here’s how to watch “The Odyssey.”
imax 70mm
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The site says that with Imax 70mm, “films are shown in Imax’s 1.43:1 extended aspect ratio. Each frame of film has 15 holes that pass horizontally through the projector. It is the largest and highest resolution format available, and the image fills Imax’s signature floor-to-ceiling screen for an unparalleled immersion.”
Imax 1.90:1
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According to the site, “The film will be shown in an Imax 1.90:1 extended aspect ratio, and in some Imax and laser locations it will be shown in an Imax 1.43:1 extended aspect ratio. The film will fill the entire field of view of the floor-to-ceiling screen.”
70mm film
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70mm film is a large format film that projects light through celluloid to provide bright, crisp images and rich analog color with up to three times the resolution of standard digital projection formats. Displayed in 2.20:1 aspect ratio.
Lupita Nyong’o, who plays Helen of Troy and her sister Clytemnestra, explained, “The 70mm film has five perforations that pass vertically through the projector, allowing you to experience this special, immersive film format.”
35mm film
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35mm is the classic theatrical film format. It has four holes that pass vertically through the projector and is displayed in a 2.39:1 aspect ratio. Projects light through the entire 35mm frame, delivering clear, high-resolution images with rich analog color.
dolby vision
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The Dolby Vision high dynamic range laser projection system displays film with a 1,000,000:1 contrast ratio, and its brightness and accurate color rendition allow audiences to be fully immersed. Dolby Vision allows viewers to experience every detail and nuance captured by Nolan’s large-format film cameras. The local Dolby Cinema offers two aspect ratios based on the auditorium’s native screen: 2.39:1 CinemaScope or 1.85:1 flat, allowing audiences to see the largest possible image on the screen.
Zendaya, who plays the goddess Athena, explains, “Dolby Cinema is a special experience in and of itself. You know how important it is. See it on the biggest screen possible. Dolby’s brightness and dynamic range of color draws you in and gives you a vivid visual experience. And what Christopher Nolan captures is rendered with impact. You’ll be amazed.”
premium large format
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Premium large format theaters are designed to provide a superior, more immersive movie experience. It features a larger wall-to-wall screen and superior projection technology, including laser projection. Movies are displayed in a 2.39:1 or 1.85:1 aspect ratio depending on the screen size.
Tom Holland, who plays Odysseus’ son Telemachus, says, “Exhibitors are designing these theaters to provide a more complete experience. They have wall-to-wall screens and superior projection technology, which makes it more immersive. If you want to feel the movie, go to RX or D-Box. Watch “The Odyssey.” The seats don’t just sit there. When we move, you move too. It’s going to be a great time.
Check out Damon’s teaser below.
