While I’ve enjoyed many a 40-minute documentary in IMAX, I still haven’t checked out a feature-length fiction film shown in IMAX but not initially shot in the format (e.g. Harry Potter and Spider-Man flicks). But here’s what my friend had to say about the whole experience:

“After seeing The Dark Knight at IMAX Saturday night, I am positive that NEVER seeing a feature-length movie at IMAX is the way to go. What a nightmare. The sound was so distorted, that you could not (for example) understand anything Gary Oldman was saying in the final two minutes of the film. And the all-encompassing IMAX picture is nausea-inducing --- you are constantly whipping your head back and forth, desperately trying to grasp all the images (especially the images that are blurring out of sight along each side of the screen).

This is decidedly NOT the way to watch (or enjoy) a movie. I feel as if I have still not seen The Dark Knight.

Worst of all, as soon as the film ended --- before the end credits and music began, I mean --- the lights in the theater completely shot on, with an enormous loudspeaker voice telling the audience how to "properly exit" the theater. I am disgusted. And [my wife] stumbled out of the theater sick to her head and stomach. What a horrible experience!

Feature-length movies in IMAX are a rip-off!!! You should really do an article for CL exposing this sham...”

As I said, I love the IMAX format for nonfiction flicks, but if anyone has any thoughts on watching long movies like The Dark Knight on such a gigantic screen, feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me at matt.brunson@cln.com.