Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: 2001: A Space Odyssey (Presented in 70MM)

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Community » Film Handlers' Movie Reviews » 2001: A Space Odyssey (Presented in 70MM) (Page 1)

This topic comprises 6 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6

Author

Topic: 2001: A Space Odyssey (Presented in 70MM)

Tom Petrov
Five Guys Lover

Posts: 1121
From: El Paso, TX
Registered: Jan 2003

posted 12-21-2010 12:38 AM

****
Just what I thought, the screen size is not the difference

I remember an projectionist friend of my saying "70mm has less to do with the screen size, and more to do with what is inside the frame", that was 14 years ago.

I have not seen a 70mm presenation since a blow up of Lethal Weapon 3 way back in the day. I had a chance to see 2001: A Space Odyssey this evening in 70MM film at the Bell Lightbox in Toronto. Let, me just say that tonight's film going experience will go down as one of the great experiences in a movie theatre that I have ever had. This not just a credit to 70mm, as it also has to do with the sound, crowd, theatre design and overall experience of seeing a great film on the big screen. I will not forget this evening.

2001 on the big screen is a whole difference experience compared to one at home. The flow of the film seems to be better when viewed inside a movie theatre with great picture, sound and a crowd with you.

Right at the beginning with the opening "MGM" logo, you know how extrodinary the night will be. The colour, contrast and steadiness of 70mm is felt right away. The opening scenes of the Dawn of Man are outstanding. You know you are watching film of high quality.

The scope of the film and dramatic impact are astonishing. Filming it Super Panavision 70 adds to the experience. Many of the scenes are like looking at a painting. The great thing about 2001 is that the meaning to the film is open to intreptation to anyone who watches, all 150 people in the theatre will have their own feelings and meanings from the film.

2001 at the Bell Lightbox is presented with an opening oveture, cutains hiding the screen, a 5 minute intermission and reel-to-reel with a projectionsist changing the reels every 12 minutes (I would assume). Not sure how long a 70mm reel lasts. There was a brief announcement before the film started.

I am not sure if this film is presented in magnetic or DTS, and truthfully I really don't want to know as that would taint my perception. Let's just say that the sound is incredible. The opening music, the scenes with astronaut breathing is just outstanding. I have not heard a movie sound this good. The front screen channel seperation is evident all throughout the film. During the silent scenes, you could hear a faint hiss coming from the speakers.

Credit must be given to the design of Cinema #1. This is a well designed theatre. Every row is curved and pointed towards the centre of the screen. There is a balcony and stadium seating and a lower bowl. There is pretty much three sections to the cinema. The walls are acoustically padded from top to bottom, every part of the side walls are padded. The balcony roof above the stadium seating section is padded as well. The walls inside the hallways are padded and you hear the voice die out as you entered the hallways.

This was an event I will never forget. I took the train into Toronto, I ate dinner and drank from an old fashioned Coke (made with cane sugar) bottle before the show, met my friends and enjoyed a great film presented in a great way.

I know there is some great discussion about film vs digital and 70mm being dead etc. I am not going to go into this, however there were some things that stood on this evening.

1. The social aspect of watching 2001 in 70mm was differnent than watching a film in 35mm. The crowd was about 150 in attendance and all for some reason sat very close to one another. It was like we all wanted to be close together to share this experience. There were people sitting so close to me whereas at a 35mm movie, we would be sitting farther apart. There were over 500 seats in this theatre, all 150 of us took the front 15 rows.

2. The crowd chatted with one another before the show about film and technology. The audience cleary knew we all were in this together and watching something special. There was not a sound from the audience during the show and the entire crowd stayed for the credits until the "The End" part of the credit came on screen. The entire credits were shown in the dark with no house lights until "The End" came on screen.

3. Having a projectionist change the reels every 15 minutes or so added to the experience. This was film presentation of the highest quality.

The only thing I was not happy with on the evening is that there was no buzz or marketing of the evening. Nowhere on the building, marquee, ticket counter did it say 70mm. Even on my ticket it did not say "presented in 70mm"

I was hoping for something like the attached picture Glendale 2001 which would of made even more special. The Glendale played 2001 for two years during the intial engagement just so you know.

In closing, my experience tonight of watching 2001: A Space Odyssey is something I will never forget. It was an experience that I have not been able to get at any other theatre I have been in the last little while. I don't believe that 70mm is the be all-end all of film making and film presentation (it clearly has its place), perhaps certain films should be given the 70mm treatment. I think that what is most important is that of the social experience and watching a film in a great venue with the highest quality possible is of most importance 70mm provides that medium for those people to come together.

70mm, a great film, great sound, a great audience, and showmanship by a projectionist. I will not forget this special evening.