How often do you see a documentary on volcanoes that's also a romantic love story? Katia and Maurice Krafft – a very happily married couple – spent their lives studying the dangerous powers that occasionally break through the earth's crust. But I didn't watch it the way I should have seen it. I first saw … Continue reading Fire of Love on the very big screen
Category: Large Formats
2001: Not like 1968
Like a lot of people, I'm looking forward to the new 70mm presentation of Stanley Kubrick's 2001: A Space Odyssey. I was not quite 14 when I fell in love with this epic science fiction extravaganza in its original release. For at least a decade, it was my all-time favorite film. It was the first … Continue reading 2001: Not like 1968
Lawrence of Arabia and the Third Coming of 70mm
I've seen two new blockbusters this summer, and both were projected from 70mm film. Fifty years ago, that wouldn't have been surprising. Thirty years ago, that would have been normal. Ten years ago, it was unthinkable. Today, it's back, five years after theatres were supposed to stop projecting physical film of any size. From Edison's … Continue reading Lawrence of Arabia and the Third Coming of 70mm
Catching The Hateful Eight in 70mm
I'm not one of those cinephiles who sees the digital transition as the end of cinema. Far from it. I respect the practical and even the aesthetic advantages of shooting digitally. And as a general rule (there are exceptions), I rather see a movie projected off a DCP than a 35mm print--and that includes classics … Continue reading Catching The Hateful Eight in 70mm
The Hateful Eight and the Return of Ultra Panavision 70
I really don't know what to do about Quentin Tarantino's upcoming film, The Hateful Eight. On one hand, I'm a total geek over historic film formats, so I can't help but be excited about the first film shot in Ultra Panavision 70 in nearly 50 years. On the other hand, it's a film by Quentin … Continue reading The Hateful Eight and the Return of Ultra Panavision 70
Big, roadshow musical movies coming to the Bay Area
A particular kind of movie musical will soon get a lot of exposure in the Bay Area--the large-format roadshow musicals of the 1950s and '60s. These were almost always close adaptations of popular Broadway stage musicals. They were often shot and projected in large, high-definition, film formats such as Todd-AO or Super Panavision 70. And … Continue reading Big, roadshow musical movies coming to the Bay Area
Cinema’s past and cinema’s future: Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
Yesterday was a very strange day for me at the San Francisco International Film Festival. I didn’t see a single, complete film. But it was still worthwhile. Mel Novikoff Award: Lenny Borger The Novikoff Award goes to someone who who "has enhanced the film-going public’s appreciation of world cinema." Sometimes it goes to someone famous, … Continue reading Cinema’s past and cinema’s future: Sunday at the San Francisco International Film Festival
Watching Interstellar in 70mm
On director Christopher Nolan's orders, Paramount released Interstellar on film as well as digitally. I believe this is the first new movie released that way in over a year. And not just 35mm. it's also being released in conventional 70mm and 70mm Imax, along with various digital formats. I've already posted my review of the … Continue reading Watching Interstellar in 70mm
Physical Film Coming Back with Interstellar
I love digital projection. After a long period of skepticism, I embraced the new technology enthusiastically years ago. To my eyes, a well-transferred DCP looks better than any projected film format except Imax. And yet, I'm excited about Christopher Nolan's Interstellar coming out on real, to-goodness film. This is despite the fact that I have … Continue reading Physical Film Coming Back with Interstellar
The Castro now has 4K projection
Top technology has been an important part of the Castro's appeal for a long time. The theater was, I believe, the first rep house to get Dolby stereo, digital sound, and DCP-compatible digital projection. I believe it's the only local rep house that can project 70mm film, and one of only two that can handle … Continue reading The Castro now has 4K projection
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