The Odyssey is now showing in cinemas, and if you’d like to see it the way Christopher Nolan intended, on IMAX 70mm Film, the only way you can do that is to go to IMAX Melbourne. Located in Carlton, this is the only cinema in the Southern Hemisphere that is capable of projecting this format. The first round of tickets were released nearly 12 months ago, selling out within hours. Last week, more tickets were released, peaking at about 100 tickets sold per minute. At the moment, screenings of The Odyssey in IMAX 70mm are sold out until the end of August. And, due to the huge demand, IMAX Melbourne have released more tickets today (Monday, July 20). Tickets are currently on sale from August 27 to September 6.
The Odyssey at IMAX Melbourne
The Odyssey is the first movie to be show entirely with IMAX Film cameras. Every frame will fill up IMAX Melbourne’s gigantic, seven-storey screen, in 1.43:1 screen, delivering 40 per cent more image than regular cinemas. To see the difference, you can play around with the different formats here. The screen itself is 32 metres wide, and 23 metres tall.
IMAX Melbourne is one of only 41 cinemas in the world that can project the movie on 1570 film, the highest resolution film format in the world. The film frame has 15 small perforations, or holes, along the edge, which allows it to be pulled through the projector, and has a 70mm height. This bigger frame allows for a larger projected image, and a superior image quality. As you are seeing it on film, you get to experience it in a tangible way, film grains and all.
If all the sessions are sold out, you can still visit IMAX Melbourne to see it in their 4K Laser Presentation. This way, you’ll still get to enjoy the movie on a massive, screen and although you won’t be seeing it on film, you will be seeing it on their powerful, dual 4K Laser projection system.
Meanwhile, the IMAX at Melbourne Central, Chadstone and Fountain Gate uses laser projection, which delivers crisp images, but do not use the film print.
Other places showing The Odyssey in 70mm
If film is what you’re after, and you’re not too fussed about aspect ratios or screen sizes, there are a few places around Melbourne showing The Odyssey in 70mm. While the frame is smaller than 1570, with five perforations instead of 15, it’s still a tangible experience. See it in 70mm at:
- The Sun Theatre in Yarraville
- The Astor Theatre in St Kilda
- The Rivoli in Hawthorn East
