I am not a fan of IMAX. I don't think it does anything. It's just a bigger screen. In a damn box ratio. Blown up television. Give me Cinemascope any day of the week. Just make a big IMAX screen and add the sides. It's only a box because of the limitation of that antiquated film format running through a camera gate that can barely take the stress. Most of that stuff isnt even shot in IMAX but "FOR IMAX." Which is just digital cameras like Venice 2 or Alexa 65.
This fluctuating presentation format is also ridiculous. Do we believe that compositions matter? So you're telling me a filmnaker supposedly cares about every little detail about presentation but then doesn't care that vast majority of the movie will be played in theaters in some compromised cropping? I'd rather lock the image in a very specific format and make sure everyone sees it according to my intended compositions with edits calibrated to that eye tracking.
The irony is there's nothing more dismissive of cinema than the idea that fluctuating compositions due to format presentation don't matter, whether it's IMAX or iPhone.
Might be an unpopular take, but I think multiple formats are stupid.
Be an artist and pick an aspect ratio that suits the film and be done with it. For me, The Odyssey feels like it should be shot WIDE like the epics of old and even recent times. When you're strictly shooting in 2.39: 1 (or any ratio) you frame specifically for that format.
When you're shooting for 5 different sizes, now you have to factor that in for EVERY shot. How will this look in IMAX or 1.85:1. How outside the box or specific can you get with your camera work when everything has to work for multiple formats?
It's similar to the idea of shooting a film with a bunch of cameras and blender editing it. How about have ONE singular vision. In this case, for THE SHOT when it comes to framing.
Still a big Chris Nolan fan but the changes of aspect ratio watching Dunkirk was distracting and seeing there's FIVE different ones for the Odyssey, it's too much.
Just make 1 definitive version of your film.
#Nolan wants you to experience #TheOdyssey COMPLETELY FILLING your cinema screens for the whole ~3 hours, no black bars!
Scope Screens: Scope 2.39:1 DCP
Flat Screens: Flat 1.85:1 DCP
#IMAX: 1.90:1 DCP
In theaters July 17, 2026!
@WarnerBrosIndia@UniversalIND