Merrick here...
The Wall Street Journal has an interesting article about the success of IMAX, specifically focusing on Hollywood's desire to get their mainstream cinematic product onto IMAX screens.
Buried within the article is an orgasmically compelling paragraph revealing roughly how much of Christopher Nolan's THE DARK KNIGHT RISES will be presented in native IMAX format (i.e. shot specifically for IMAX by IMAX cameras and presented in full IMAX) when the film hits theaters late July.
When Mr. Nolan's "The Dark Knight Rises" opens July 20, it will contain the most IMAX footage ever for a Hollywood feature, more than one hour's worth. There were 40 minutes of such footage in 2008's "The Dark Knight"—which set box-office records in its opening weekend. IMAX's summer slate also includes potential blockbusters "The Avengers," "The Amazing Spider-Man," "Men in Black 3," Tim Burton's gothic comedy "Dark Shadows," and Ridley Scott's 3-D "Prometheus." Mr. Nolan's film was the only one shot using IMAX cameras; the others were converted using IMAX's technology.
Fascinating.
Now, what I'm REALLY curious about is exactly what percentage of DARK KNIGHT RISES this "over a hour of IMAX footage"actually represents. There was recently industry scuttlebutt that early cuts of the film clocked in at well over three hours long. 'Tis inconceivable that Warners would issue a mega-sized DARK KNIGHT RISES...at least one that ginormous...isn't it? Or is it? Perhaps AVATAR's close-to-three hour running time and the indisputable success of that film might inspire them to at least be open to the notion?
In the end, I'm sure the running time will be what it was meant to/needs to be (paraphrasing Ridley Scott's recent comments bout PROMETHEUS' rating/length). Interesting food for thought, nonetheless...
More on IMAX, TDKR, and more HERE.
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