IMAX experience comes to Tucson

By Conrad Pursley

It’s every Tucson movie-goer’s fantasy to visit an innovative, high-tech theater and remain within driving distance. On Sept. 3, those dreams will be realized when AMC opens its new IMAX theater at Foothills Mall.

As part of a joint-venture agreement between AMC and IMAX to install more than 100 IMAX digital projection systems throughout the United States, our cozy corner of the country was chosen by the powers-that-be.

Perks of the “IMAX experience” include a larger, slightly curved screen that is placed closer to the audience for optimized viewing and a digital projection system with custom lenses that create images with greater clarity, brightness and contrast.

And no movie is complete without concussive sound that makes you jump out of your seat and run for cover. IMAX’s sound system cuts down on distortion, while its acoustic paneling absorbs sound-eliminating echoes for a more immersive movie experience.

All IMAX needs to figure out now is what to do with the tweens who always sit behind you and scream their braces off at every scene.

Aztec Press will give away tickets for pre-screenings of “Star Trek” on Sept. 2 at 7 p.m. and “Monsters vs. Aliens” on Sept. 4 at 10 a.m. Visit the Aztec Press booth near the Northwest Campus bookstore beginning at 4 p.m. on Sept. 2 for first-come, first-served passes.

The IMAX will officially open Sept. 3 with “Inception,” and hold a grand opening celebration Sept. 10 with the new “Resident Evil: Afterlife” digitally re-mastered into IMAX 3-D format.

Other upcoming movies to be released in IMAX format include “Legends of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole” (Sept. 24), “MegaMind” (Nov. 5), “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 1” (Nov. 19) and “Tron: Legacy” (Dec. 17).