Is Digital 3D really the future (and savior) of movie theaters and moviegoing? Or is it, like theatrical releases in general, merely a preview of what's to come out soon on home video? As much as I have championed the new technology -- with some exception -- and touted it as a sort of new hope for the exhibition industry, I have had some minor doubts that I've been trying to hide away and ignore. But it may finally be the time to acknowledge and address the facts: Digital 3D is not here to save cinemas and it isn't exclusively the future of movie going. It's the future of movie watching as a whole. And since we're already prone to choosing our living rooms to auditoriums, it's mostly the future of home viewing.

There have been 3D processors available for your home theater for years, courtesy of Sensio, which I actually wrote about way back in 2006. However, the expenses required to equip your home with the technology were enough that it didn't seem too threatening. And such products aren't exactly that well known, probably for that reason that they aren't reasonable for the masses. Meanwhile, the new 3D technology for cinemas has since been given a whole lot of exposure, mainly because they are available or are becoming available all over the globe. 3D movies are also more expensive than regular movies, but they're still relatively affordable to just about anyone. So, obviously in the last two years, it has been easy to forget about Sensio and go on being excited about Real D and the other companies making Digital 3D equipment for movie theaters.

Just in case you thought a "big" screen might not fit all of the wonder of the upcoming Speed Racer movie, which is set to hit theaters on May 9, it looks like they're going to get big-big screens as well. First Showing's Alex Billington was talking to his local theater manager, who said that the upcoming race flick was one of the big movies that would be popping up on IMAX.

It makes perfect sense. Have you seen the trailer? I'm not so sure about the storyline bits that pop up, but this film is going to be one sweet, color-infused, comic-like race fest, and IMAX is the natural place to throw it up.

That being said, I'm slowly growing weary of the whole IMAX and IMAX 3D trend. These screenings are great if you have a good seat, but man, get something less-than ideal, and the experience plummets. (And this is coming from someone who will sit anywhere as long as it's not those ridiculous ground-floor seats 2 inches from the screen.) What they need to do is a get a theater like the Terminator one at Universal Studios Florida, where every seat feels like the center, and then I think it would all be smooth sailing.

Nevertheless, get ready for some huge, funky eye candy -- we've only got a few months left to wait.

Most people have a favorite place to sit when going to the movies. Some people like the back row; some people like the centermost spot (middle seat, middle row); some people like to sit near the front so that they can stare up at the screen and let the picture fill the limits of their peripheral vision.

I figure that last preference made more sense fifty years ago, when Cinerama and CinemaScope presented vast, expansively shot epics and westerns that were made to surround our senses and engulf our whole eye-span. Nowadays, most movies are too fast-cut and often the camerawork is too shaky to really work for close viewing. Have you ever been forced to sit in the first few rows when a movie is sold out? Wasn't it hard to tell what was going on most of the time?

Personally, I like watching movies close up, when it's appropriate. Unfortunately, it rarely is. But movie theaters can't just start removing those front rows because they aren't good for the moviegoer's eyes. No, that would mean a lot fewer tickets sold, a lot fewer popcorns sold, and a lot less money going to both the theater owners and the movie distributors. So, moviemakers should go back to making movies that are more accommodating to the theatrical audience, right? Yeah, that's not going to happen.

UPDATE: The Dark Knight full-length, crystal clear trailer is now online and available right here. Check it out! Looks nice.

In crappy, YouTube boot-legged video! First came The Dark Knight trailer, and now someone has cleverly put that six-minute IMAX clip online as well. Ya know, part of me understands why Warner Bros. didn't release the two clips online the same day they were in theaters with I Am Legend, and I'm sure those folks who watched the pirated copies are still going to watch the new, HD versions when they're finally released to the online world, but it still sucks to see it for the first time in this kind of quality. Of course, you can argue that I or we shouldn't watch it. Valid point. But how can you not watch it? It's like asking a little kid if he'd rather open up his Christmas gifts now or later. What do you think he'd answer?

I have to say, though, unlike Ryan I really liked both the trailer and the IMAX footage. They're calling this a Joker prologue, but we don't see him actually becoming the Joker -- this is more of a setup to show you how badass the guy is. Before everyone in Gotham City knows his name. And William Fichtner's cameo as the bank's boss is awesome. Love Fichtner! Love the tone. Love the idiotic baddies. And the Joker's entrance is pretty damn cool. If this is the way The Dark Knight begins, then I'm sure we're in store for one helluva sequel. Cannot wait. The Dark Knight arrives in theaters on July 18, the full-length trailer will most likely arrive via this link later on today, and you can see the six-minute IMAX clip after the jump (though I'm sure it will be taken down soon). Let us know what you think.

I absolutely love this new still photo from The Dark Knight (seen above, courtesy of Comics2Film). Doesn't look like a shot from the film, but look closer and check out the mask in that guy's hand. From what I know about the film, I assume that's Heath Ledger in the picture either before or after he robs a bank in Gotham City as The Joker. And I assume that shot is part of a scene which is also part of the new IMAX footage (which will screen before IMAX prints of I Am Legend). Of course I'm not positive because I skipped an invite to attend a screening of the new IMAX footage last week. As part of the insane Dark Knight promotional nonsense, I was sent a Fed Ex package with a Gotham Times newspaper, a Gotham Times press pass and a note with instructions to show up at a certain IMAX theater in NYC. Since my fat ass was too lazy to travel all the way into the city for seven minutes of footage, I bailed on the invite. Sorry folks.

But when I was trolling around online, I saw that I had received the abbreviated press package. Perez Hilton (of all people) was actually sent a cake -- a real cake -- and was asked to call a phone number. When he did, a phone inside the actual cake started ringing. And so he had to dig through the cake, uncovering a package buried deep in the middle. That package contained an actual cell phone (I swear, I'm not kidding about this sh*t), and he was asked to call yet another number which gave him instructions on a place to go. I believe that place was a location in Los Angeles where they were also screening the IMAX footage. A f**king cake with a cell phone inside it! I'm still laughing about this. And if you can somehow suffer through Hilton's awful shtick, you can watch video of the entire thing over here.

Additionally, a couple more photos from the film were just released. After the jump, you can check out a pic of Batman riding his BatPod (via Slashfilm), as well as a pic of Batman on the cover of Cinelive magazine.

Here's some great news for all those who felt left out of the Beowulf IMAX 3D experience: 100 new IMAX screens will be installed in cinemas throughout the U.S. over the next three years. According to the Hollywood Reporter, IMAX made a deal with AMC Entertainment to put its digital projection systems in 33 of the theater chain's locations. The first 50 will begin installation next July, with 25 more installed in 2009 and a final 25 installed in 2010. Apparently this will double the amount of IMAX 3D screens in the country. Had this happened prior to the release of Beowulf, the movie could have been twice as popular -- and twice as big a hit (currently it is just barely a success).

This is a big deal, considering I always just imagined IMAX screens were a luxury. Now more people will be able to see the IMAX 3D versions of Monsters vs.Aliens and Avatar if they are available in the format (I don't see why they wouldn't be). I didn't even really like my recent experience with IMAX 3D, yet I did promise to give it another shot. Unfortunately, it seems IMAX is more interested in broadening its reach rather than concentrating on my own satisfaction. Yeah, I'd be pretty stupid if I thought they'd spend money on fixing the problems I alone have with the format, but I will optimistically imagine the company will at least try to make the new locations as close to perfect as possible. Since AMC will be in charge of reconstructing its existing auditoriums, I hope that they fix the usual seating arrangement so all viewers have the same optimal experience.

Well, I did it. I saw Beowulf in IMAX 3D. It cost me $17.50, which included the Fandango service charge (I knew it would sell out, even for a 1:45 showtime on a Monday afternoon). And guess what? I don't think the price was worth the experience. Maybe it would have been worth a regular ticket price ($11), but I'm not even sure about that.

Now, here is not the place for me to discuss the actual movie. Both Scott Weinberg and James Rocchi have already delivered you their reviews, and I think their thoughts were sufficient. This is also not the place for me to discuss the box office -- which was relatively disappointing considering its budget, yet relatively successful in terms of the per screen average of its 3D screens (I may comment on the 3D box office later).

Instead, this is the place for me to comment on the experience of Beowulf's exhibition in the IMAX 3D format. First, I'd like to apologize for not being able to afford the money or the time to see the regular 2D version, or even the non-IMAX 3D presentation, either via Real D or Dolby Digital's technology. I can just barely compare this to my prior experience with Real D 3D, which I've raved about and have honestly championed as a possible future for the success of cinemas. Fortunately it's the non-IMAX technologies that will end up in most theaters, since not every screen in the world can be an IMAX.

Before I get to the meat of this week's column, I have a little appetizer of an issue to discuss. The other day, I went to see American Gangster at a Regal theater and once again participated in the Guest Response System. But unlike my first experience, I actually had to use the thing this time. While pressing the "Other Disturbance" button over and over and over because of a loud toddler, then finally after too long a time receiving responses in the forms of, first, a security guard and, second, a crew of ushers, I eventually realized that there is no way to communicate what exactly is the disturbance you're alerting the staff about. I don't want to say the parents of the toddler were covering the kid's mouth each time a Regal employee scoped out the auditorium, but coincidentally there was no disturbance whenever someone was monitoring the audience. And so, despite my having the little complainer pager, I put up with two-and-a-half hours of a sporadically loud child who should have never been brought to American Gangster in the first place.

Okay, now that I've got that off my plate, it's time to address the main topic of the week:

Beowulf.

On Friday, Robert Zemeckis' new performance-capture "animated" film hits 2,800 screens across the U.S. More than 700 of those screens will show the film in digital 3-D, via IMAX, Real D or Dolby systems (yes, there's three different 3-D systems). It's apparently the largest rollout of a 3-D release ever, and it could mean big things for both Hollywood and the exhibition industry. Or it could be just another 3-D movie, no more an event than when Disney's Chicken Little came out a couple years ago touted as the first digital 3-D release to hit regular cinemas.

I'm such a bastard sometimes, because I know exactly what you're thinking: "Seven minutes of The Dark Knight! Online! And I can watch it now!" Unfortunately, no, but the good news is you'll be able to watch it very soon. According to a report over on Collider (via a Portuguese website who just attended a Dark Knight set visit in London), six or seven minutes of next summer's Batman follow-up will screen before the IMAX version of I Am Legend. This won't be an extended trailer of sorts; from what we know, this will be an entire scene -- they're calling it a prologue about the Joker. That's all we have to go on now, but if you planned on seeing I Am Legend when it hits theaters on December 14, you might as well skip over to the local IMAX and check it out there. No word on whether a new Dark Knight trailer will come attached to Legend in conventional theaters, but I've heard there may indeed be something.

We already know Christopher Nolan shot a certain amount of scenes in IMAX, one of which was a bank heist scene, but this sounds like it might be different. Additionally, and also coming from the same set visit, Collider reports that Gotham City will go through a "white night," though there's no explanation as to what that is. They say "Two Faces will be in the film" -- not sure if that was a typo, meant to read 'Two Face,' but it appears that way. And, also, Batman will be traveling outside Gotham City for the first time to Hong Kong (which we already knew). I haven't been to an IMAX film in a long time (too friggin' big for this old man), but I may just have to suck it up and catch I Am Legend for the Batman footage. How about you? Would you rather wait until the film comes out, or are you eager to soak up any and all things Batman-related right now? The Dark Knight hits theaters on July 18.

If you thought Transformers looked awesome on the big screen, imagine how the giant robots will look on a giant IMAX screen. ComingSoon.net is reporting that Michael Bay's summer blockbuster will be released to IMAX theaters on September 21. With those special effects practically in your face, you might not even notice the difficulties that Cinematical reviewers encountered, like the acting that's "as stiff and inhuman as the robots" (James Rocchi) or the story that was "written poorly and edited together in a worse fashion" (Scott Weinberg).

The IMAX version will be different from the original theatrical release, however -- more footage is promised. No details are available yet, although it's easy to guess that the added scenes are likely to be flashy special effects that will look fabulous on IMAX, as opposed to more backstory or dialogue. After all, no one is going to rush to see Transformers at IMAX so they can hear the conversations more clearly. In July, Erik Davis told us about an interview with Mark Ryan, the voice of the Bumblebee robot, in which the actor mentioned DVD material of a prequel that would set up a potential second film. An IMAX version would be a great way to present that footage. As soon as we find out more about what's in this extended IMAX version, we'll keep you posted.

The Joker is a larger than life character -- and he's about to get even bigger. The Dark Knight will be the first feature film partly shot in the 70mm IMAX format. Christopher Nolan is shooting four action sequences on IMAX, including the introduction of Heath Ledger as The Joker. "You can't do this on any home theater," Nolan says. "Batman has some of the most extraordinary characters in pop culture. We wanted the Joker to have the grandest entrance possible." And this won't be like when you go see Kickin' It Old Skool: The IMAX Experience, and it's just a larger, more stretched out image. These scenes are actually being shot on IMAX film. "There's simply nothing like seeing a movie that way," Nolan tells USA Today. "It's more immersive for the audience. I wish I could shoot the entire thing this way."

So why can't he? Well, for starters, there are only 280 IMAX theaters operating worldwide, and less than 100 show feature films. In addition, IMAX film is 10 times the size of standard, it's much more expensive, and it has to be shot using large, cumbersome cameras. Oh, and "they're loud," says Nolan. "We had to figure a way to eliminate sound so we could shoot dialogue." If you can't get to an IMAX theater, you'll still experience a hike in picture quality. In traditional movie houses, the scenes will appear more vivid, as though they were shot in hi-definition.

Below you'll find two official, newly released shots from The Dark Knight. The first is an IMAX shot of what appears to be a bank robbery gone awry. And the second shot is the first fully confirmed photo of The Joker in full hair and makeup. Pretty cool, huh? What do you think of the look?

To be honest, I have yet to be truly wowed by an IMAX experience. Lately the trend seems to be to format high profile films, and I am all for that, but made-for-IMAX content has always seemed a little lacking. The one genre that still seems to work well on the "really big screen," though, is the nature documentary. The Hollywood Reporter has announced that Warner Bros. has joined with longtime partner IMAX to produce a sequel to the 2006 film Deep Sea 3D, titled Deep Sea-quel. This will be the second 3D feature for the filmmaking trio of Howard Hall, Toni Myers and IMAX co-founder Graeme Ferguson, and the film will capture the "life aquatic" of New Guinea and Southern Australia. The film is set for release in 2009, but there has been no mention of whether Johnny Depp and Kate Winslet will be returning to provide narration this time around.

IMAX and WB have worked together before on 3D productions; unfortunately one of which was NASCAR 3D: The IMAX Experience, which played more like a corporate video than a heart-stopping thrill ride -- and let me tell you, a filing cabinet 52-feet high and in 3D is still just a filing cabinet. Luckily, the ocean is a far more exciting locale than a NASCAR boardroom, so there is still hope for me yet -- I might just be wowed this time around. Here's a question for ya: In your opinion, what looks better on the IMAX screen: The latest summer blockbuster or a beautiful nature documentary? And, which do you prefer seeing?

If you've seen any of the recent blockbusters in IMAX, you know that the experience is tantamount to wrapping yourself up in a big, cinematic blanket. (Well, as long as you don't sit too close. I saw Lord of the Rings in the first row of IMAX once. It wasn't fun.) When you add 3D to the mix, well, then you're practically breathing in the action. The IMAX Corporation has just announced that their version of Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix will screen the last 20 minutes of the film in 3D. I can't say that I'm surprised, since the last installment shattered IMAX's 2D records. I went to the midnight IMAX release last time, and the place was absolutely packed.

The company will use its conversion technology to transform the end of the film and pull it out of 2D. Even better yet -- the IMAX version will be released on the same day, so you can choose whether you want to see Harry, Hermione and Ron battle evil on the screen, or in the air in front of your face. However, since it is the final 20 minutes, I hope that the action isn't wrapped up by then. As cool as 3D can be, it would be pretty pointless to go to all that effort just to show the final, post-fight moments. That being said, since the film has so much to cover, I'd imagine that the action will fly very close to the end. Me, I'll be there the moment it opens, feeding my urge to see Sirius Black in 3D.

To say I'm just slightly stoked to see 300 up on the big screen would be an understatement, and now that it will be playing the Berlin International Film Festival -- making it so I will be able to sneak the pic almost a month before it comes out here in the States -- does nothing but add a ton of fuel to my fanboy fire. That's right, as I previously told you, I will be in Berlin covering the fest for Cinematical -- an experience I am very much looking forward to. Ah, there's nothing better than stuffing your face full of foreign fare, German beer, Schnitzel and a whole ton of Zack Snyder coolness.

For those of you who totally dig the whole IMAX experience, I'm happy to report that 300 will be the first major feature film to debut both in conventional theaters and on IMAX screens this year. According to the official press release, 300 will enjoy a simultaneous domestic release on both the big screen and the bigger screen this March 9 -- and, if there's ever a film that's meant to be scarfed down in true IMAX fashion, 300 is it. Have you checked out the trailers? Sure, the thing appears to be overdosing on special effects ... but heck, it still looks absolutely insane and is sure to make for one helluva moviegoing experience. (Of course, as I write this, my fingers and toes are crossed.)

If this whole 3-D thing really takes off (and I mean really takes off), it won't be too long before every other film tests out the format. While I have yet to try out the whole IMAX 3-D experience (except for one of those 25-minute Discover Mars films) myself, it seems to be gaining in popularity big time. Personally, after a half-hour in that theater, my head hurt and I was consistently nauseous (I'm a big silly wimp, I know), so the chances aren't very good that I'll slide into an IMAX theater to see one of the following two films (who, might I add, have just announced that they're going IMAX).

Beowulf marks Robert Zemeckis' third film to go the 3-D route, as the digitally enhanced live-action flick is set to bow in 1000 conventional theaters and an assortment of 3-D theaters (an official deal with IMAX has not been reached yet, but is expected) on November 16. Beowulf follows in the footsteps of previous Zemeckis-related films Monster House and The Polar Express. Pic, which was written by Neil Gaiman and Roger Avary, revolves around the epic poem and stars Angelina Jolie, Ray Winstone, Crispin Glover and Anthony Hopkins.

While it won't be shown in 3-D, the upcoming Night at the Museum will also bow in conventional and IMAX theaters on December 22, taking advantage of the assortment of IMAX theaters located within museums. Ya know, so this way you can see a movie that takes place in a museum, well, in a museum. Trust us, people will think you're cool for doing this. I sure will! Museum stars Ben Stiller as an unlucky night watchman at the Museum of Natural History who unfortunately has to deal with the fact that the entire place comes to life as soon as the doors close for the night. Ugh, that's a drag.