'Dark Knight' Opens in Larger-Than-Life IMAX!
'The Dark Knight: The IMAX Experience' to launch on July 18, 2008 at Megaplex Theatres Cricket IMAX
Press Release
Megaplex Theatres, 16 July 2008
Sandy, Ut July 16, 2008 – Moviegoers will be lining up around the block to get the hottest ticket in town when The Dark Knight opens nationwide on July 18 - but not in Utah. Megaplex Theatres offers reserved seating and advance ticket purchasing so there are NO LINES to see the new blockbuster! The follow-up to the action hit Batman Begins, The Dark Knight reunites director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale, who reprises the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne in his continuing war on crime. The film will debut in commercial 35mm and digital format at all Megaplex Theatres locations and on the Megaplex Theatres Cricket IMAX screen at Jordan Commons for midnight shows on July 17. Beginning with the July 18 9:15 a.m. show time, the first 100 fanatics in costume as their favorite Batman character to see Dark Knight in IMAX will receive a FREE POPCORN!
The Dark Knight: The IMAX Experience will feature six sequences filmed with IMAX® cameras (including the opening six minutes). This marks the first time ever that a major feature film has been even partially shot using IMAX cameras, marking a revolutionary integration of the two film formats.
Sequences shot in traditional 35mm will be digitally re-mastered into The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® technology. The two formats will be seamlessly integrated and morph between full IMAX and IMAX DMR. In other words, scenes shot in 35mm will appear in IMAX DMR (letterbox), while scenes shot with IMAX’s cameras on 15/70mm film will expand vertically to fill the entire IMAX screen, which can be up to eight stories tall, for an all-encompassing IMAX Experience.
IMAX® theatres will allow audiences to experience The Dark Knight on some of the world's largest screens, surrounded by state-of-the-art digital surround sound. The unique theatre geometry of an IMAX theatre combined with crystal clear, larger than life images and amazing digital surround sound, creates an immersive environment that puts the audience right in the movie!
“In continuing the story of such a great icon I’m thrilled to be able to expand the scope of the film, not just in terms of its story, but in giving Batman and the Joker the largest possible canvas on which to face off. No existing technology compares with the IMAX format in terms of its ability to throw the audience into the action, and we’re very proud and excited to use this technology in a way that no one has before,” said director Christopher Nolan.
With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker, who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces the Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante.
Academy Award nominee Heath Ledger (“Brokeback Mountain”) stars as arch-villain The Joker, and Aaron Eckhart plays District Attorney Harvey Dent. Maggie Gyllenhaal joins the cast in the role of Rachel Dawes. Returning from “Batman Begins” are Gary Oldman as Lieutenant Jim Gordon; Oscar winner Michael Caine (“The Cider House Rules”) as Alfred; and Oscar winner Morgan Freeman (“Million Dollar Baby”) as Lucius Fox.
Warner Bros. Pictures presents, in association with Legendary Pictures, a Syncopy Production, a Christopher Nolan film, The Dark Knight. Nolan is directing the film from a screenplay written by Jonathan Nolan and Christopher Nolan, story by David S. Goyer & Christopher Nolan. Charles Roven, Emma Thomas and Christopher Nolan are producing the film, with Kevin De La Noy, Benjamin Melniker and Michael Uslan serving as executive producers. The Dark Knight is based upon characters appearing in comic books published by DC Comics. Batman was created by Bob Kane. The behind-the-scenes creative team includes two-time Oscar-nominated director of photography Wally Pfister (“The Prestige,” “Batman Begins”), Oscar-nominated production designer Nathan Crowley (“The Prestige”), Oscar-nominated editor Lee Smith (“Master and Commander: The Far Side of the World”) and Oscar-winning costume designer Lindy Hemming (“Topsy-Turvy”).
The Dark Knight will be distributed by Warner Bros. Pictures. This film has been rated PG-13 for “intense sequences of violence and some menace.”
Megaplex Theatres Cricket IMAX screen is located at 9400 South State St. at Jordan Commons in Sandy, Utah. For information on tickets and show times, please call 801.304.INFO or visit the website at www.megaplextheatres.com.
About Megaplex Theatres
The Megaplex Theatres at Jordan Commons, The Gateway, Thanksgiving Point, The Junction and The District are among the most popular theaters in Utah. Owned by local businessman Larry H. Miller, the theatres represent a large portion of the Salt Lake and Utah County movie industry market and are among the top grossing movie theatres in the nation. In addition, the Megaplex Theatres feature regular and large format movie screens, the MOMs Club—Movies on Monday, the 21 Club – Friday and Saturday evenings for movie-goers 21 and older, MegaPass – dinner and a movie gift options, conference and auditorium rental and the industry-leading guest services team. Megaplex Theaters show times and other group information can be found on the web at www.megaplextheatres.com or by calling (801) 304-INFO (4636).
About IMAX Corporation
IMAX Corporation is one of the world’s leading digital entertainment and technology companies. The worldwide IMAX network is among the most important and successful theatrical distribution platforms for major event Hollywood films around the globe, with IMAX theatres delivering the world’s best cinematic presentations using proprietary IMAX, IMAX® 3D, and IMAX DMR® technology. IMAX DMR is the Company’s groundbreaking digital remastering technology that allows it to digitally transform virtually any conventional motion picture into the unparalleled image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience®. IMAX’s renowned projectors and new digital systems display crystal-clear images on the world’s biggest screens. The digital system being developed by IMAX is configured for an IMAX MPX-style auditorium, which is designed specifically to enable multiplex operators to more cost effectively enter into the IMAX theatre business. The IMAX brand is recognized throughout the world for extraordinary and immersive entertainment experiences for consumers. As of September 30, 2007, there were 296 IMAX theatres operating in 40 countries.
IMAX®, IMAX® 3D, IMAX DMR®, IMAX MPX®, and The IMAX Experience® are trademarks of IMAX Corporation. More information on the Company can be found at www.imax.com.