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Harry Potter IMAX Update - Only 3 Theaters on July 15th

by Alex Billington
June 29, 2009
Source: Collider

Earlier this month it was discovered that the IMAX debut of Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince, with roughly 12 minutes of 3D footage, was going to be delayed two weeks due to Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen's contractual 4 week IMAX run. However, IMAX did promise that it would open in three of their theaters starting on Wednesday, July 15th, the same day it hits regular theaters. Which three theaters? Collider has confirmed that these theaters are: AMC Century City 15 (in Los Angeles), Henry Crown OMNIMAX (in Chicago), and AMC Loews Lincoln Square (in New York). Click any of those to buy tickets.

Starting on July 29th, all remaining IMAX screens will start showing Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince. Collider says that the opening 12 minutes were converted to IMAX 3D, which seems a bit odd, as it was the final battle in the last movie that was in 3D. Though as a warning, most AMC theaters (specifically the Los Angeles one above, but not NY) do not contain "real" IMAX screens - according to Aziz Ansari. I chose not to see Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix in IMAX when it came out in 2007 and I don't expect to see this in IMAX either. If you're not in NY, Chicago, or LA, you'll have to wait until the 29th.

Explore tags: Hype, Movie News, Opinions

Ken Masters

No need to see this in IMAX 3D if the other 5 movies weren't. Just a way to milk money outta you. But I call out GDTs and PJs The Hobbit will be filmed in IMAX 3D. I wouldnt be surprised if at all that it wll be all in 3D. Acutally, Ill call it here now. Yes you heard it from me. "The Hobbit will be in 3D entirely!" Trust me. Save this post and either praise me for my prediction skills or bash me later
http://www.skonmovies.com Sean Kelly

IMAX screenings are so pricey for me ($17.50 CND here in Toronto), I'm more than willing to skip seeing Harry Potter in IMAX (though I did enjoy the 3D climax from Order of the Phoenix -- don't get why they are only doing the opening here).
Vic

There's an OMNIMAX in Chicago? Didn't know that. Will they show the movie in the actual OMNIMAX Dome theater where the image covers your entire field of vision? I thought OMNIMAX was just for documentaries and such.
Vic

Actually the IMAX at AMC Lincoln Square in New York is a real IMAX, not the new fake digital LieMAX. AMC only recently started deploying the fake ones, and the one at Lincoln has been there for a long time and it's actually one of the biggest ones in the US.
J.J.

^^^^^ agree with Vic. was just about to make that point, it's the only real imax in the city. been seeing all my imax movies only there since its the only imax in nyc built way before those digital imaxes that started being built lately. transformers 2 was massive on it, might i add. not only that, but aziz ansari himself compared that very imax screen in lincoln square to the new small imax screens to show the difference. you're wrong again, alex.
http://www.skonmovies.com Sean Kelly

I'm glad I'm spared of the confusion. AMC opens fake IMAX theatres in Canada and calls them "Enhanced Theater Experience" (or ETX)
Jen

Problem is, the tickets for the Lincoln Square theater in NYC with the legit sized IMAX screen don't indicate that they are for the 3D Imax which leads me to believe it's another faux Imax situation.
HP

AMC Century City is LieMAX. The only real IMAX cinema for features in L.A. County is at The Bridge at the Hughes Center.
Elizabeth A Rapp

Is this going to be at the Milwaukee Imax Theater in Milwaukee, WI? E-Mail bttybp0812@yahoo.com
Tim

Universal Citywalk also has a real Imax.
Chrissie

i dont get it...i would go to IMAX and only watch the first 20 minutes of the movie in 3D while the rest will be 2D? How come the whole movie isnt in 3D please reply if i sound stupid i want to understand this!!!
Tim Tringle

Guys, You call it LieMAX but unless a movie is SHOT using IMAX processes it's all a remaster anyway. Even features like Star Trek and Transformers when displayed at "Real" IMAX theaters are basically just run through a digital remastering process to take advantage of what is basically a digital remaster to 77mm class presentations. These new theaters that are opening up may not be able to show the full IMAX presentation format but at least it's a step in the right direction. Lets just hope that they don't put paper thin walls in between these new theaters otherwise whats the point? Hopefully what it means besides just a name is a series of Rules etc. along the lines of THX which while popular for a while has kind of petered out. Probably due to some unrealistic requirements from Lucas LTD. Either way these are at least steps towards better presentations and full Digital capability in more theaters so enjoy what you can, if you want only the full IMAX then by all means, but if I can get the same presentation on these higher profile movies that are not shot in full IMAX then I'm all for it. I would love to get back to being able to just go pick up a ticket "night of" and walking in instead of having to wait 45 minutes in a line to be seated after buying the tickets weeks in advance But thats just my two bits.