At The Max

Since it first surfaced in the 1980s, the IMAX system has redefined the potential for theatrical film. With the average movie now shown on small multiplex screens, and video improving to high definition, one could easily fear that soon no one will have a reason to go out to the movies. But IMAX could save everything. It's basically a very large film (70mm stock shot sideways, creating a picture ten times as large as normal 35mm film) shown on an enormous 50 foot by 70 foot screen, with 6-track surround sound. The effect is incredibly precise and realistic.

So far, films presented in the IMAX format have been short documentaries and nature films with a beauty an...