'MATRIX REVOLUTIONS' TO HAVE 'BIG' PREMIERE: ON IMAX.Byline: Greg Hernandez Staff Writer ``The Matrix Revolutions'' is expected to open big today, with fans eager to see the conclusion of the sci-fi trilogy A company founded in 1979 by Gene Amdahl to commercialize wafer scale integration and build supercomputers. It raised a quarter of a billion dollars, the largest startup funding in history, but could not create its 2.5" superchip. . But in 60 locations in the U.S. and abroad, the film is opening big in another way: on screens eight stories high and 120 feet wide. The Warner Bros BROS Brothers BROS Benefits and Retirement Operations Section (King County, Washington) BROS Barnes and Richmond Operatic Society (London, UK) . release makes movie industry history by becoming the first live-action feature film to be opening on IMAX IMAX Noun a film projection process that produces an image ten times larger than standard screens and in conventional theaters on the same day. The unprecedented move should help gauge whether even die-hard fans are willing to pay the extra $3 or so that it costs to see a new release on the giant IMAX screen with its 12,000 watts of surround sound An audio recording and playback system that uses five or more channels plus a subwoofer channel. See 5.1 channel and 3D audio. on the same opening day as the regular film. ``This is our chance to really step up to the plate,'' said Richard L. Gelfond, IMAX co-chairman and chief executive. ``The evidence seems quite compelling that a day and date opening with a Hollywood film will generate strong box office and also have significant legs.'' Even without the IMAX screens, the third ``Matrix'' is having one of the widest releases ever. The film bows in 3,502 theaters in North America North America, third largest continent (1990 est. pop. 365,000,000), c.9,400,000 sq mi (24,346,000 sq km), the northern of the two continents of the Western Hemisphere. , adding up to more than 8,000 screens. It is also making its global debut at the same time with more than 10,000 international prints also in release. IMAX has reason to be optimistic op·ti·mist n. 1. One who usually expects a favorable outcome. 2. A believer in philosophical optimism. op . The middle film in the trilogy, ``The Matrix Reloaded,'' was a giant screen hit when it debuted in IMAX format last summer during the fourth week of the film's release. At that point, ``Reloaded'' had already earned more than 90 percent of its $281.5 million domestic gross. ``In the early weeks of (IMAX) 'Reloaded,' about 70 percent of people said it was their second time seeing it,'' Gelfond said. ``But the longer it ran, we had a higher percentage of first-time visitors. The IMAX version generated its own word of mouth.'' So far, the IMAX version of ``Reloaded'' has grossed more than $13 million on its own. IMAX research revealed a 90 percent satisfaction level for patrons of the giant screen version, Gelfond said. ``IMAX proved to be a great boon to the grosses of the last film,'' said Paul Dergarabedian, president of the box office tracking form Exhibitor Relations Co. ``When 'Matrix Reloaded' in regular theaters was kind of slowing down, it was still doing big numbers in IMAX. The audience that goes to see 'The Matrix' loves technology.'' With well-received giant screen versions of ``Star Wars: Episode II - Attack of the Clones'' and ``Apollo 13'' leading the way, the IMAX Corp. in 2002 reported its first profitable year since 1999 as the Toronto-based company began to retrofit ret·ro·fit v. ret·ro·fit·ted or ret·ro·fit, ret·ro·fit·ting, ret·ro·fits v.tr. 1. To provide (a jet, automobile, computer, or factory, for example) with parts, devices, or equipment not in more major studio films to play in its big screen venues. ``IMAX has always been the best cinematic experience, and we were looking for Looking for In the context of general equities, this describing a buy interest in which a dealer is asked to offer stock, often involving a capital commitment. Antithesis of in touch with. ways to bring more commercial audiences in to appreciate the technology,'' Gelfond said. ``The reaction has been fantastic.'' The films are relaunched as an IMAX offering after being converted by the company's DMR (Digital Media Receiver) See digital media hub. process, which allows for a movie to be enlarged for an IMAX screen without compromising picture quality. The economics for these films are becoming more and more attractive for studios and exhibitors, since the cost of converting a film to the IMAX format is $2 million to $4 million. Gelfond said the company, which has 235 theaters in 34 countries, is now negotiating with three major studios for another day and date release for next spring and summer but declined to say which studios or films are in the running. Theater chains with IMAX theaters are pleased with the move toward more commercial giant screen fare, and that includes Regal Entertainment, operator of the Edwards chain in Southern California Southern California, also colloquially known as SoCal, is the southern portion of the U.S. state of California. Centered on the cities of Los Angeles and San Diego, Southern California is home to nearly 24 million people and is the nation's second most populated region, . ``We're extremely excited to be able to offer 'Matrix' in IMAX simultaneous to the opening of the traditional 35mm presentation,'' said Regal spokesman Dick Westerling. ``From our company's point of view, the more people we can get to the IMAX theaters the better.'' Greg Hernandez, (818) 713-3758 greg.hernandez(at)dailynews.com CAPTION(S): photo Photo: (color) Keanu Reeves, left, and Hugo Weaving weaving, the art of forming a fabric by interlacing at right angles two or more sets of yarn or other material. It is one of the most ancient fundamental arts, as indicated by archaeological evidence. battle it out in the final chapter of the saga, ``The Matrix Revolutions,'' premiering on IMAX screens. |
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