Should You Watch The Odyssey in IMAX?
Christopher Nolan’s The Odyssey is, arguably, the director’s most ambitious project yet.
An adaptation of the Homer epic, it tells the classic Greek tale of Odysseus, the king of Ithaca, as he undertakes the long and arduous journey back home after the Trojan war (the one with the giant horse). As he tries to reach wife Penelope and son Telemachus, he must face a number of mythical creatures like Polyphemus the Cyclops and the Sirens, to name a few.
The beauty of modern filmmaking means that there are a number of ways to watch The Odyssey, but the real question is, should you go all out and watch the film on IMAX? We think so — but in case you’re not convinced, let us tell you why.
Should You Watch The Odyssey in IMAX?
Nolan has become notorious for his love of IMAX, but this project in particular is especially committed to the movie format. This is because it is the first movie ever to be shot entirely on IMAX cameras: achieving a dream Nolan has had since the 1980s.
In conversation with Pay or Wait on YouTube, the director said: "It's something I've really wanted to do since I was 16 and I first saw an IMAX film at the Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago. I was like, 'Well, why can't you make a dramatic feature, an action film, an adventure film this way, because the format is so incredible.'"
More specifically, the film was shot on 65mm with IMAX cameras. IMAX film differs from your more run-of-the-mill film because the camera runs it horizontally instead of vertically. This means you get a much more expansive view in each scene: utterly immersing you in the spectacle. The aspect ratio for the movie’s original format is 1.43:1, which, as What Hi-Fi points out, gives a taller, more square-like output.
This format is pretty unique. It means that if you want to see The Odyssey exactly the way Nolan intended, you will need to find a specific 70mm IMAX cinema. There are only three in the UK: the BFI IMAX, the Science Museum IMAX, and the Vue Manchester Printworks — but it would certainly be a hell of an experience.
What If You Can’t Watch It In 70mm IMAX?
If you aren’t able to access a 70mm IMAX cinema, don’t fret — The Odyssey will also be watchable in a more widely-available IMAX format that is shown in popular cinema brands like Cineworld. Comparatively, the film’s aspect ratio in this format is 1.90:1. This makes it a little more rectangular than the 70mm IMAX version.
On The Odyssey website, you’re able to view the trailer in all of the available formats, including 70mm IMAX, standard IMAX, 70mm, 35mm, Dolby Vision, and Premium Large Format. The main difference between the two IMAX formats is that IMAX slices off a bit of the top and the bottom to conform to a more rectangular shape. But, if you compare it to the other formats, it is arguably the one with the least amount of frame trimming.
So, if it’s authenticity you’re after, IMAX is probably your best bet, whether that be in 70mm or standard IMAX, if that is more accessible to you. That doesn’t mean the other formats are necessarily bad, but if you want the maximum bang for your buck, watching The Odyssey in IMAX is the obvious choice.
