IMAX or 3D only? What is the Diff?
By nykel88
@nykel88 (999)
Philippines
December 25, 2010 6:23pm CST
I have been asking myself this for days now and couldn't get a clue what is the difference between Imax and 3D only cinemas. I have tried watching Imax yeah it was great and lively but what is the difference when you say 3D only? Is it the color? or the effects?
I also notice Imax movies here are costly than 3D movies about 4-5$ up. Probably just here In the Philippines.
2 people like this
7 responses
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
26 Dec 10
I have done both IMAX and 3D at the same time at the California Science Museum. I had a massive headache after it, and so did my boyfriend, and we could never do that again. IMAX is fine, but the 3D is too much. IMAX is a giant screen, and 3D you have to use these special glasses to see the screen.
@rogue13xmen13 (14402)
• United States
27 Dec 10
You do NOT have to wear glasses for IMAX. You DO have to wear glasses for 3D. Anything that is in 3D you have to wear glasses for. Now, the things with 3D is that it can cause headaches, seizures, blindness, and other kinds of problems regarding a person's head and neck. My boyfriend and I had headaches from watching the 3D movies that we saw. Not everyone has this problem. Some of the films have very good 3D graphics, but there are those that do not, and for those that do not, expect to have head and neck problems. If the 3D is done right, you might not have any problems. It all depends on the person.
@nykel88 (999)
• Philippines
28 Dec 10
Really? no glasses in IMAX there? Then why did give glasses during my movie The Guardians. It was rated IMAX then they gave me a black looking shades and said where on that to get the effect and well yeah it did and why tried to take it out it was all blurry. So you might be saying That wasn't I max I was watching?
@Qaeyious (2357)
• United States
26 Dec 10
The IMAX has the largest screen anywhere, and both 2D and 3D movies are shown. It is the screen size that is the only difference.
And I agree that the 3D is so much overdone, especially in live action and 3D animation. The most impressive 3D movies I experienced were hand-drawn animation, not computer generated. The effects really are in your face, where most of the others I saw were almost no better than 2D.
@Qaeyious (2357)
• United States
28 Dec 10
An IMAX theatre has a big screen, and a sophisticated sound system. That is it, and by itself it is impressive.
3d is an illusion where the special glasses are required so that your two different eyes receive two different sets of information. The glasses are required whether you are watching on a regular movie screen or an IMAX screen. If you are wearing the glasses, in any theater, you are watching 3d. If you don't have the glasses, you are watching 2d, whether you are in a regular theater, or an IMAX theater.
@nykel88 (999)
• Philippines
27 Dec 10
So what you mean is they show both 2D and 3D movies sync at the same time to get the effects on their special glasses? I didn't know that. What did you mean about the size of the screen? 3D movies have small size Screens? I haven't really gone to a 3D only movie house so I'm not familiar..
@silentwill (1685)
• Philippines
26 Dec 10
The difference is the size of the screen. Imax feels almost like you're in the movie because the images on the screen seem to be just right in front of you.
But personally I'd rather watch movies in normal cinema theaters watching movies in 3d makes me dizzy... 
@gunagohan (3414)
• India
26 Dec 10
we don't have 3D only movie theaters here, 'cause all 3D movies will be displayed in normal theaters with 3D glasses..
I guess, in IMax they display both 2D and 3 D movies while in 3D movies only, they might display only 3D movies ..
We have IMax here but 3D movies only are completely strange....
3D movies are common to any screens
@Jacobus1919 (1683)
• Philippines
27 Dec 10
Same stuff. Both are expensive. Just watch the regular cinemas same out come.
@dorannmwin (36392)
• United States
29 Dec 10
Given the choice, I would choose to see an IMAX movie over a 3D movie any day of the week. I've seen only a couple of movies in IMAX and only a couple in 3D, but the 3D movies have a tendency to make me feel sick to my stomach and the glasses are very ill fitting to me. IMAX makes you feel like you are a part of the action in a different way and I really like that. The problem is that there are no IMAX theaters around where I live.
