'Star Wars' The Force Awakens' starts month long rub at new 3-d laser Imax.FRIDAY
Disney’s recent announcement that “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” would be available for digital download and Blu-ray and DVD release in April was big news for movie fans.
But the Tennessee Aquarium arguably had even bigger news for area devotees of the biggest blockbuster in U.S. history. Aquarium officials announced last week that the movie will play on the Imax 3D Theater’s six-story screen beginning Friday, March 11.
The theater was recently enhanced with a new Imax With Laser projection system. The technology doubles the contrast of standard Imax 15/70mm film projection, adding to the realism perceived by the audience, and the 4K lasers are 50 percent brighter with a wider color gamut.
J.J. Abrams, the film’s director/producer, has said laser projection is the best way to view the film.
“As someone who really hasn’t been the most vocal advocate of 3-D, the strangest thing happened to me on this,” Abrams told Associated Press film writer Lindsey Bahr. “When I was watching the reels in 3-D, there were a number of shots — and I know this sounds insane — that I hadn’t understood in the three-dimensional space quite the way I did when I saw them in 3-D. I actually felt that there were things that were playing better in 3-D. I had never felt that before. And if people have access to a theater that has laser projection, it is shockingly better.”
In the interview, Abrams also referred to the greatly enhanced contrast ratios that laser projection provides. “You cannot compare a traditionally projected image with a laser image,” he said. “The blacks are true blacks. It’s almost as if you have to adjust to it.”
“The Force Awakens,” the seventh film in the Star Wars saga, shattered box-office records when it opened in December, bringing in more than $926 million in the U.S. and more than $2 billion worldwide. Digital downloads of the film will be available on Friday, April 1. The Blu-ray and DVD releases will follow on Tuesday, April 5.
In the meantime, “The Force Awakens” will run once daily at 7 p.m. through Thursday, April 7, with one exception. On Tuesday, March 22, National Geographic explorer Max Lowe will be at the Imax Theater for a special screening of “National Parks Adventure 3D.” It is one of three films that will be shown during the day during the nightly run of “The Force Awakens.” The others are “Born To Be Wild” and “Under the Sea.”
“The Force Awakens” is rated PG-13 for sci-fi action violence. Tickets are $15.95 for adults, $12.95 for children 3-12.
Imax Club pass holders can purchase tickets to “The Force Awakens” for $4 and save $2 on guest tickets. Pass holders also get free upgrades to the next larger size of soft drinks and popcorn at Imax concessions.
“IF PEOPLE HAVE ACCESS TO A THEATER THAT HAS LASER PROJECTION, IT IS SHOCKINGLY
BETTER.”
— J. J. ABRAMS