I have had a very strict policy when it comes to seeing movies in theaters, either IMAX or not. I went to see Top Gun: Maverick in a standard theater, ignoring the policy, and I regret it now.
I'm aware that an IMAX-only policy sounds snobbery. It's pragmatic. I have a nice 65-inch TV and a decent sound system in my house. I have come to the conclusion that the only movies I will see in a theater are Hollywood blockbusters. The kind of movies that need to be seen in a theater. Top Gun: Maverick is one of the ones I am referring to.
I don't go to the theaters as much now because of this policy. I get the very best sound and vision experience when I go. If you can, I urge you to see this movie in an IMAX theater because it's a reminder of why that matters.
There is a truth to how we view things. The more we see an image, the more realistic it becomes. In an ideal movie viewing scenario, the screen fills up your field of view to the point where you can't see anything else. To see anything but the screen, you have to look away.
IMAX theaters fill your field of view better than any other kind of cinema due to the fact that the screens are bigger and the seating areas are more stacked relative to the screens.
When I tell you that the flight sequence is the main reason to see Top Gun: Maverick, I won't reveal any other details. They were shot in the cockpit of real F-18 fighter jets. Tom Cruise has said that he wants everyone in the audience to feel like they are in the cockpit.
IMAX is a 10 and normal theaters are lucky if they are a 7.
Let's discuss the audio According to George Lucas, sound is 50% of the movie experience. That was much more than just talking. The gold standard for cinematic sound was created by him and he invested a lot of his money in that belief.
IMAX theaters are just as good for movie sound as they are for projected images. If you have ever seen an IMAX movie, you know the sound has a life of its own. Dune was a particularly recent experience that I left IMAX screenings in awe of.
The ability to get from your seat in the theater to your seat in an F-18 depends on how good your theater's sound system is, and it doesn't
Sound effects need punch and clarity as well. The dialog was soft and at times unintelligible, even during scenes that didn't take place in the heat of battle, but I don't know what was going on with the theater I went to. Leaning over to your seatmate and whispering, "What did he say?" are some of the things that distract you while watching a film.
Top Gun won't get any awards for its writing. You need a better ability to hear what the characters are saying because of the amount of key dialogue they speak. I have never had a problem hearing dialogue in IMAX theaters.
I broke my longstanding rule about IMAX for a movie. I wasn't going to turn down the chance to see it with my friend who was in the seat next to me when I saw Top Gun for the first time. You remain with your wingman.
I have a plan for my next film mission. I will be going to see Top Gun again, but this time, I will be in an IMAX theater.
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