To IMAX and beyond. . . .

Large-format films take moviegoers around the world in a big way

Summary:

An IMAX-size venue costs from $3 million for one screen in a multiplex to $20 million for a stand-alone domed palace.

This is what family entertainment has come to — whirlwind, action-dense "motion-picture experiences," commonly known as IMAX films. "IMAX" has become the "Kleenex" brand-name term for a handful of large-format film companies with names such as MegaSystems and I-Werks. They make epics that hurtle above us on six-story-high screens, with stereo sound that whooshes around our bodies like Class IV river rapids.

Zion Canyon Giant Screen Theatre:

• 6 years old
• saw its millionth customer this spring, before the tourist season began
• "Treasure of the Gods" takes Zion National Park visitors "to parts of the canyon that they'd have to take a lot of time to hike into . . . most don't take time to explore the whole park." (Kathy LaFave, manager of the Zion Canyon theater)

Megaplex 17 at Jordan Commons:

• 150,000 patrons have seen films the SuperScreen
• North American Museum of Ancient Life:
• Utah's third large-format venue
• opened in July with "Alaska: Spirit of the Wild"
• 54,621 patrons in first eight weeks

 
Salt Lake Aquarium Center:

• a large-format screen might be part of the proposed Salt Lake aquarium center

 
Cinemark at Crossroads Plaza:

• Cinemark planning to build an IMAX-certified screenat Crossroads Plaza
• August or September 2001 opening
• theater was postponed because of the proliferation of multiplexes in the valley
• "We're hoping for an August or September 2001 opening." Construction of the IMAX-certified screen was postponed more than a year because of the proliferation of other multiplexes around the valley. "We wanted to let the dust settle.” (Dave Nielson, Crossroads general manager)