IMAX

HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: 50 IMAX Passes to ‘Michael Jordan to the MAX’ in Chicago

HollywoodChicago.com — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 00:13:51 -0600

CHICAGO – In our first IMAX edition of HollywoodChicago.com Hookup: IMAX, we have 50 admit-one passes up for grabs to the Chicago IMAX screening of “Michael Jordan to the MAX”. This will be the first film shown on the newly replaced 60-by-80-foot Chicago IMAX screen!

The documentary “Michael Jordan to the MAX” features Michael Jordan, Laurence Fishburne as the narrator, Bill Murray, Ken Griffey Jr., Spike Lee, Willie Mays, Stan Musial and Bob Costas.

To win your free pass to the “Michael Jordan to the MAX” screening in Chicago courtesy of HollywoodChicago.com, all you need to do is answer our trivia question below. That’s it! This screening will be held on Sept. 15, 2009 at 4:30 p.m. and then again at 6 p.m. in Chicago. Directions to enter this Hookup and immediately win can be found beneath the graphic below.

The movie poster for “Michael Jordan to the MAX”.
Image credit: Giant Screen Films

Here is “Michael Jordan to the MAX” plot description:

To celebrate both the brand-new Chicago IMAX screen and Michael Jordan’s induction into the NBA Hall of Fame this weekend, this extraordinary film captures the real-life story of Michael Jordan: the most spectacular athlete of the 20th century.

Audiences take a journey into the life of Michael Jordan and experience like never before the drama and excitement of his basketball career and an introspective view into Michael off the court.

Michael Jordan’s brilliant athletic career spanned almost two decades – a time over which he rewrote the record books and altered the standards by which future superstars will be measured.

Most famous for his gravity-defying acrobatics and athletic magnificence, what truly distinguished Jordan were his exceptional personal attributes including his unyielding work ethic, his fiery competitive spirit, his indomitable will to win and the class and dignity with which he carried himself both on and off the basketball court.

The “Michael Jordan to the MAX” movie trailer can be watched now below.

To secure your free ticket now, make sure you’re logged into your HollywoodChicago.com account. If you don’t yet have one, you can quickly register here. Having an account with a valid e-mail address is required. Then, simply add a new comment in the form below. In your comment, include an answer to this trivia question:

What’s the Michael Jordan body trademark as he’d fly through the air before a slam dunk?

Like all Hookups here, this HollywoodChicago.com Hookup is simple: Just submit your comment below and we will award 50 people randomly via e-mail. Winners needs to arrive early as seats are consumed on a first-come, first-served basis. Good luck!

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Chicago’s Navy Pier Announces 60-By-80-Foot IMAX Screen Replacement

PatrickMcD — Tue, 08 Sep 2009 19:15:46 -0600

CHICAGO – On Monday, Sept. 14 and Tuesday, Sept. 15, 2009, Chicago’s Navy Pier IMAX Theatre will replace its 60-by-80-foot foot IMAX screen. The previous screen, which opened in 1999, has hosted more than 4 million moviegoers since its inception.

Boasting the largest IMAX screen in Chicago, Navy Pier IMAX Theatre screen is larger than an NBA basketball court, weighs more than 600 lbs. and towers 6 stories over the 440-seat auditorium.

The new screen will be delivered in a large roll and will be hand-carried into the theatre by 14 people through an entry in the wall created specifically for this project. This screen has been painted with a proprietary IMAX-designed silver coating to meet the IMAX standard for light reflection technology.

Once the new screen is inside the theatre, the old screen will be cut down and disposed of while the frame will be cleaned and prepped for the new screen to be raised. On Tuesday, the screen will be spread out over the auditorium seats and rigged to be hoisted to the top of the frame and then tied in.

’Michael Jordan to the Max’ will be shown free as the first movie on Navy Pier’s new IMAX screen.
Photo credit: Giant Screen Films

On Tuesday, September 15, to celebrate both the brand-new screen and Michael Jordan’s induction into the National Basketball Association Hall of Fame this weekend, the Navy Pier IMAX Theatre will host TWO FREE screenings of the Giant Screen Films produced “Michael Jordan to the MAX.” Show times for these two free screenings are 4:30 p.m. and 6:00 p.m. and the free tickets must be picked up at the Navy Pier IMAX Theatre box office.

This extraordinary film captures the real-life story of Michael Jordan, the most spectacular athlete of the 20th century. Audiences take a journey into the life of Michael Jordan, experiencing like never before the drama and excitement of Jordan ‘s basketball career as well as an introspective view into Michael off the court.

As Chicago’s largest IMAX Theatre, Navy Pier IMAX is thrilled to be investing in this new screen which will provide even crisper, clearer 3D images than ever before, in time for a great slate of fall films including “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs in IMAX 3D” on September 18, “Where the Wild Things Are” on October 16; “A Christmas Carol: The IMAX 3D Experience” on November 6 and “Avatar: The IMAX 3D Experience” on December 18.

Navy Pier IMAX Theatre is located at 700 E. Grand Ave on Navy Pier in Chicago. For information on tickets and showtimes, please call 312-595-5MAX or visit the website.

By PATRICK McDONALD
Staff Writer
HollywoodChicago.com
pat@hollywoodchicago.com

‘Watchmen’ at Chicago’s Navy Pier IMAX Adds Morning Screening on March 6, 2009

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 00:22:30 -0700

CHICAGO – If you’re like many others who crave braving the opening-day crowds to see the highly anticipated new “Watchmen” film, HollywoodChicago.com has learned that Chicago’s Navy Pier IMAX theatre has just added one additional screening at 7 a.m. on Friday, March 6, 2009. Chicago moviegoers could even catch the flick and make it to work by 10 a.m.

“Watchmen,” which is a movie adaptation of one of the most celebrated graphic novels of our time, stars Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup, Matthew Goode, Jackie Earle Haley, Jeffrey Dean Morgan, Patrick Wilson, Carla Gugino, Matt Frewer, Laura Mennell, Stephen McHattie, Rob LaBelle, Gary Houston, James M. Connor and Mary Ann Burger from “300” director Zack Snyder.

Opening weekend will begin with a sold-out screening at midnight on Friday, March 6, 2009 (i.e. late Thursday night on March 5, 2009). IMAX tickets for opening weekend – including the newly added 7 a.m. screening – are now on sale. Tickets are $15 for adults, $14 for seniors and $13 for children. They are available at the Navy Pier IMAX theatre box office at 700 E. Grand Ave. or online here.

The “Watchmen” ensemble.
Image credit: Warner Bros.

“The film and story are so detailed,” said “Watchmen” director Zack Snyder in a Tuesday statement. “The minutiae of its setting and characters are integral to the film. Seeing the film presented in IMAX will allow audiences to be fully immersed in the world of ‘Watchmen’.”

Here is the “Watchmen” plot description (source):

In a gritty and alternate 1985, the glory days of costumed vigilantes have been brought to a close by a government crackdown. After one of the masked veterans is brutally murdered, though, an investigation into the killer is initiated.

The reunited heroes set out to prevent their own destruction, but in doing so, they discover a deeper and much more diabolical plot.

Before “Watchmen” opens, Chicagoans have one last chance to see “The Dark Knight” in IMAX. Featuring the Oscar-winning performance by the late Heath Ledger, “The Dark Knight” was originally released in July 2008. “The Dark Knight” will be screened for the final time in Chicago on Thursday, March 5, 2009. Tickets are now available now for the final days of “The Dark Knight”.

See our 26-image “Watchmen” slideshow of world-premiere arrivals.
See our 26-image “Watchmen” slideshow (part one).
See our 26-image “Watchmen” slideshow (part two).
Read more “Watchmen” coverage on HollywoodChicago.com.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

‘The Dark Knight’ Returns to IMAX Theaters on Jan. 23, 2009

BrianTT — Wed, 21 Jan 2009 14:13:48 -0700

CHICAGO – You can celebrate the very likely Oscar nominations for “The Dark Knight” or lament the film’s snubbing by the academy by revisiting Christopher Nolan’s masterpiece in all of its IMAX glory starting this Friday on Jan. 23, 2009.

“The Dark Knight” will reopen at four theaters in the Chicagoland area: the Navy Pier IMAX in downtown Chicago, the Seven Bridges IMAX in Woodridge, Ill.; the Lincolnshire 20 in Lincolnshire, Ill.; and the Randall IMAX 15 in Batavia, Ill.

True Heath Ledger fans and “The Dark Knight” junkies may feel the need to see the film on opening night at Navy Pier because they will also be admitted to a special screening of “Batman Begins” at midnight for no additional cost. Yes, the 9 p.m. show of “The Dark Knight” at Navy Pier IMAX scores you tickets for this one-time event. Tickets are $15 for adults and $13 for children and can be bought at the Navy Pier IMAX Web site.

Christian Bale stars as Bruce Wayne in Warner Bros. Pictures’ and Legendary Pictures’ action drama “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: Stephen Vaughan

All across the country, Warner Bros. is bringing back the IMAX presentation of “The Dark Knight” to give audiences one more chance to see the film on the big screen.

Dan Fellman (president of domestic distribution for Warner Bros. Pictures) said in a statement: “‘The Dark Knight’ is a crowning achievement in every sense of the word. We wanted to provide one more opportunity for moviegoers to experience it on the big screen as it was meant to be seen.”

Christopher Nolan has already received a Directors Guild of America (DGA) nomination and producers Nolan, Charles Roven and Emma Thomas have garnered a Producers Guild Award nomination. A Writers Guild of America (WGA) award nomination for best adapted screenplay has gone to Chris Nolan, Jonathan Nolan and David S. Goyer.

Cast member Heath Ledger received a Screen Actors Guild award nomination and has also won a Golden Globe, Critics’ Choice Award and numerous other critics groups’ awards for best supporting actor.

“The Dark Knight” also won the Critics’ Choice Award for best action film and swept the People’s Choice Awards in five categories including favorite movie and favorite cast. It will very likely score a number of Oscar nominations when they are announced on Jan. 22, 2009. Heath Ledger’s searing performance is a front runner for best supporting actor.

“The Dark Knight” is being rereleased by Warner Brothers Pictures and stars Christian Bale, Heath Ledger, Aaron Eckhart, Maggie Gyllenhaal, Gary Oldman, Michael Caine and Morgan Freeman. It was written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan and directed by Christopher Nolan. It will be rereleased in IMAX theaters on Jan. 23, 2009.

By BRIAN TALLERICO
Content Director
HollywoodChicago.com
brian@hollywoodchicago.com

Chicago’s Navy Pier to Feature ‘72 Hours of Batman’ For ‘The Dark Knight’ IMAX Premiere

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 11 Jun 2008 15:08:17 -0600

CHICAGO – “The Dark Knight,” which for hordes of moviegoers across the U.S. is 2008’s most anticipated film, won’t just open on July 18, 2008 in Chicago to everyday fanfare. It was announced on Wednesday that the film will have “72 hours of Batman” that weekend at Chicago’s Navy Pier for its IMAX version.

Beginning with the first public showing at midnight on Friday, July 18 (late Thursday night), the film will show consecutively all weekend until late Sunday, July 20 (the midnight show). As well, various Batman-themed games, contests and prizes will add to the buzz throughout the weekend.

A scene from “The Dark Knight”.
Photo credit: The New York Times on March 9, 2008

Just in time for Father’s Day, tickets for every show that weekend go on sale this Thursday, June 12. Because it’s IMAX, the price is jacked up a bit to $15 for adults or $13 for children. Tickets can be obtained at http://www.imax.com/chicago. This is the film’s description:

“The Dark Knight” reunites director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale, who reprises the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne. Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of lieutenant Jim Gordon and district attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets.

The partnership proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a reign of chaos unleashed by a rising criminal mastermind known to the terrified citizens of Gotham as The Joker.

The film also stars Academy Award winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules”) as Alfred; Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger (“Brokeback Mountain”) as arch villain The Joker; Gary Oldman as lieutenant Jim Gordon; Aaron Eckhart as district attorney Harvey Dent; Maggie Gyllenhaal as Rachel Dawes; and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) as Lucius Fox.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

‘Wild Ocean 3-D’ in IMAX Offers Breathtaking Cinematography, Profound Message

HollywoodChicago.com — Mon, 17 Mar 2008 22:15:19 -0600

CHICAGO – “Wild Ocean 3-D” – an unforgettable nature documentary playing now in IMAX at Chicago’s Navy Pier – dives to the depths of the ocean and through the vastness of the sea with breathtaking 3-D cinematography and a profound message for all mankind.

From plankton to sardines, dolphins, seals, whales, sharks, gannets and man, Mother Nature’s greatest example of the food chain has been captured off the Wild Coast of South Africa and preserved on film in this educational documentary.

The film takes place along the spectacular South African coast where the Zulu and the Western worlds meet at Kwazulu Natal, which is where tropical meets the sea on the Wild Coast.

Click here to read Allison Pitaccio’s full review
of “Wild Ocean 3-D” in our reviews section!

Click here for our full “Wild Ocean 3-D” image gallery!

An African penguin stands tall atop a rock on Bird Island, Eastern Cape in the IMAX film “Wild Ocean 3-D”.
Photo credit: Steve McNicholas

Breaking surf sprays behind a fisherman on Sezela Beach, KwaZulu-Natal in the IMAX film “Wild Ocean 3-D”.
Photo credit: Steve McNicholas

History-Making ‘U2 3D’ Feature-Length Film Redefines Concert Experience

HollywoodChicago.com — Tue, 22 Jan 2008 14:40:04 -0700

CHICAGO – Shot with more digital 3D cameras than any other film project, the feature-length “U2 3D” film production revolutionizes the concert experience on the big screen.

Directors Catherine Owens and Mark Pellington bring together incredible cinematography and surround sound to create this intimate musical experience in a 360-degree landscape. Even more, “U2 3D” etches itself into history as the first-ever, live-action, three-dimensional concert film.

The U2 “Vertigo” tour was filmed throughout seven shows in Argentina in one of the largest stadiums in South America. The most amazing feature of this film is the contagious energy it releases.

Click here to read Allison Pitaccio’s full review
of “U2 3D” in our reviews section!

Click here for our full “U2 3D” image gallery!

‘The Dark Knight’ IMAX Prologue Leaks Online; Inspiration Drawn From ‘Heat’

HollywoodChicago.com — Sun, 16 Dec 2007 15:37:00 -0700

CHICAGO – A bootlegged recording of “The Dark Knight” IMAX prologue, which is showing in theaters before “I Am Legend,” is now on YouTube. My review of the prologue is here.

Jeffrey Wells at Hollywood Elsewhere makes these comparisons:

It was clearly shot with impressions of the legendary bank-heist sequence from Michael Mann’s “Heat” in mind.

I love how William Fichtner’s reading of the line “do you have any idea who you’re stealing from?” (which refers to the fact that the bank has lots of mafia money in its vaults) is very similar to Warren Beatty’s yelling during the “bark like a dog” sequence in “Bugsy”.

JoBlo has also picked this up and noticed the inspiration from “Heat”. This is also on /Film and AICN.

4:59 p.m. update: Another WhySoSerious.com poster has emerged. These are from RopeofSilicon.com. They have also been picked up on Film School Rejects and /Film.

The second WhySoSerious.com poster above I already posted on Dec. 14, 2007. I’m posting it again because this version is better quality. A high-resolution version of the first poster is here.

5:42 p.m. update: In the few minutes this post has been live with the posters, I have received several e-mails all saying the following:

The first poster with the Joker’s palm pressed against the window is a fan-made [manipulation].

It was created by Barney at the Superhero Hype! forums. He also created the Batman poster holding a Joker card that was widely believed to be real.

Several other people on various forums have confirmed this, too.

By ADAM FENDELMAN
Editor-in-Chief
HollywoodChicago.com
adam@hollywoodchicago.com

Report: ‘The Dark Knight’ Trailer Expected to Surface Online Early Next Week

HollywoodChicago.com — Thu, 13 Dec 2007 15:15:58 -0700

I’ve been hearing similiar rumblings and Superhero Hype! has now gone on record about it. Moments ago, the credible site reported that “The Dark Knight” trailer will surface online early next week at its official Web site. The Superhero Hype! report is after the graphic.

As you may know, the new trailer for “The Dark Knight” debuts in standard theaters with “I Am Legend” on Friday and the prologue will be shown with IMAX showings of the Will Smith film.

But when will the trailer officially be online? Early next week at the official Web site, we have been told.

‘The Dark Knight’ Delivers Sensory Orgasm in IMAX Prologue Before ‘I Am Legend’

HollywoodChicago.com — Wed, 12 Dec 2007 22:23:29 -0700

I went to screen “I Am Legend” on Wednesday to experience “The Dark Knight”.

That statement doesn’t speak grimly about my feelings for Will Smith. I was looking forward to learning his legend and I’m glad I did. The night at Chicago’s Navy Pier IMAX, though, went to its first six minutes with the Joker as the star.

A production still from “The Dark Knight” prologue.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.
Before I skipped the capacity crowd awaiting entrance into the theater, I stopped to listen to people’s pre-conceived motivations for spending a chilly Wednesday evening at the movies.

People weren’t there because it was free. More important, many people weren’t talking about “I Am Legend”. The buzz king went to Nolan & Co. A few people even went so far as to say they’d consume “The Dark Knight” prologue and skip out immediately thereafter.

I spoke to the publicist running the screening moments before heading in. He was in a panic.

He just got off the phone from New York because “the prologue wasn’t going to show,” he said. At the mere quiet mention of the notion, the few critics who heard it threw their hands in the air in disgust.

I’m paraphrasing, but the publicist immediately retorted: “Don’t worry. It’ll be there now. I made sure of it.” Their nerves were calmed and I now felt vindicated after having to miss last week’s sneak peak of the prologue following yet another “The Dark Knight” viral game.

We were first treated to a trailer for “The Spiderwick Chronicles”.

The next trailer – for a film documenting a rock star – was relatively unimpressive and forgettable. Then a sweeping shot of downtown Gotham ushered in “The Dark Knight” prologue and the theater erupted in applause.

You immediately felt the difference between a typical trailer preceding the big event as this prologue is a short film in its own right. Its design is to introduce the Joker as the crazed fiend he is. He’s indeed feared, he’s indeed demented and he indeed delivers on the frenetic hype.

The story leading up to his unmasking deliberately makes his revelation deliciously climatic. You love to hate Heath and feel no remorse loving him all the while.

For this Chicagoan who has been covering the ins and outs of the film as it has taken over our Windy City, the prologue feels much like home. I’d be watching and instantly recall reporting on that courthouse and stepping foot on those very floors when I was beckoned there for jury duty.

A cameo by William Fichtner (“Go,” “Armageddon,” “Contact”) as a Gotham National Bank manager proves even in just a glimpse the power of this cast from roles as big as Heath Ledger as the Joker and Christian Bale as Batman all the way down to this small bank manager who dominates a memorable scene.

William Fichtner in “The Perfect Storm”.
Photo credit: Warner Bros.
Director Chris Nolan will be remembered as an innovator who made the premeditated choice to work with director of photography Wally Pfister and IMAX technicians to mark the first time in Hollywood history the larger and heavier IMAX cameras were used to film select sequences.

Rather than succumbing to the quality degradation inherent in converting traditional 35-millimeter film to the largesse of IMAX, Nolan filmed directly using the 60-millimeter, sensually orgasmic format. The wait was worth the remuneration and serves as yet another telltale sign that “The Dark Knight” will be the film of 2008.