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Jan
07

WILD WILD PODCAST #34: (IMAX 3D Review Update!) – Finally the Force Awakens as we review Star Wars Episode VII & share our favorite Holiday TV Specials

7 months ago

 
Welcome to the WILD WILD PODCAST #34
The Force is strong (and long) in this episode as Geek Outlaw & co-host Spunky Destructor sink their teeth into the long awaited release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens. We also deliver some holiday cheer in the form of our favorite Holiday TV specials!
(NOTE: Our Star Wars coverage begins at approximately the 49 minute mark of our special 2-hour holiday extravaganza!)
(WARNING: Minor spoilers there are. Caution, you should use.)

LISTEN HERE! —>  Wild Wild Podcast #34
 
IMAX 3D REVIEW UPDATE:  As hinted at in the original post below, I took in my second viewing of Star Wars: The Force Awakens in one of the half-dozen available laser-projected IMAX 3D theaters. I was persuaded by the director himself, J.J. Abrams, as he confidentially declared it the best possible way to view the film, in his own unbiased opinion of course. I’m sure you could feel the sarcasm awaken on that last comment seeing as how IMAX 3D tickets fall within the higher echelon of the price bracket, right up there with booking a first-class flight on an upcoming Virgin Atlantic spaceliner.

Not that the extra-inflated prices of the IMAX screenings would have deterred the seventh chapter in the franchise from capturing the North American box-office throne, which it did yesterday in a mind-altering 20 days. As a comparison, the now runner-up, Avatar, took over 7 months and a re-release to hit $760 million.

 

 

Dollars and sense aside (see what I did there?), the grand questions are, was the IMAX 3D showing worth the price of admission, and did the second go-round change my overall enjoyment of the film itself.

Let’s start with the former, shall we (as this is going to be a very short summary). IMAX 3D does for The Force Awakens that Photoshop does for Kim Kardashian’s backside, it enhances the entire package to great effect. It should be noted I had the privilege (and luck of living within a droids’s throw) of the Universal Studios Citywalk theater that features one of the largest IMAX theaters in the known galaxy. When footage actually shot with an IMAX camera is being projected on the Citywalk screen, it all but forces audience members to crank their necks upwards in a 90 degree fashion in order to take in every inch of the massive display which is roughly the size of North Carolina. Sadly, there was only one approximately 10 minute portion of the movie that utilized the IMAX camera, but to say it was a sight to behold would be a vast understatement, particularly during the Millennium Falcon chase scene.

 

 

On the extra-dimensional side of things, the 3D element was probably one of the best implementations of the technology outside of Avatar (coincidence?) and a handful of all-CGI films. It was quite literally jaw-dropping to see one of the First Order cruisers seemingly float out of space and into the theater itself. Bottom-line, if you’ve got an IMAX 3D theater – be it laser-projected or not – use The Force to get yourself there posthaste.

As for my second helping in general, I was honestly a bit surprised when I walked out of the theater with a more favorable opinion of the movie compared to my initial outing. Dare I say, it didn’t have anything to do with the rose tinted 3D IMAX glasses I was sporting this time either. Oddly enough, I found myself connecting to the characters and the relationships more so during my repeat visit, which in turn made for a more emotionally satisfying experience overall.

 

 

Unfortunately, a psychology degree is not part of my repertoire yet, so telling you why this was the case is outside of my pay grade. If I had to guesstimate however, I’d most likely chalk up my not-as-awesome first sitting with the film to sensory overload. The excitement of seeing the first Star Wars sequel in over 32 years by the man who has delivered one of my favorite television se...

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