We like BIG things in Australia. We have Coff's Harbour's Big Banana, the Big Pineapple at Nambour, Ballina's Big Prawn, even Gippsland's giant Earthworms. But our love affair with big things isn't confined to fruit, crustaceans and megadriles (big worms, in case you were wondering). Sydney is home to the world's biggest cinema screen so roll up for gargantuan film entertainment in 2012 at IMAX Sydney.
The IMAX Screen
The IMAX theatre has been closed since 6 February for installation of the enormous state-of-the-art screen. It was hauled into place on 9 February by a team of 31 riggers, which may seem like overkill but for the fact that it measures a staggering 29.5m X 35.7m and weighs in at a rather hefty 800kg. The white vinyl screen has tiny perforations all over it to allow sound through from the speakers behind it. Now that it's in place it has to be painted with 350kg of a special silver paint for screening of 3D films. All of this work takes time so the theatre will re-open on Saturday 18 February.
Currently Showing
Films currently on show at IMAX Sydney include David Attenborough's tribute to pterasaurs, Flying Monsters 3D, the heavy weather-chasing adventure, Tornado Alley 3D, and Morgan Freeman doing for orangutans and elephants what he once did for penguins in Born To Be Wild 3D. The beauty of IMAX is that you can also see new release films on the giant screen. At the moment you can check out an ageing but still adventurous Tom Cruise in Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol or tap along to the strains of Happy Feet Two 3D. Full details about current releases are available here.
Upcoming Films for 2012
Planned releases for nature lovers in 2012 include Sea Rex 3D from February 23, The Last Reef 3D from May 3, and To The Arctic 3D from August 9. Action lovers will enjoy John Carter 3D, based on the classic novel by Edgar Rice Burroughs, the man who introduced Tarzan to the world, from March 8, and the highly anticipated conclusion to Christopher Nolan's Batman vision, The Dark Knight Rises, will rise to a huge height on screen from July 19. Details of upcoming 2012 releases are available here.
Tickets
Of course all this extra size and advanced technology comes at a cost that exceeds your regular cinematic experience. Tickets for 45 minute IMAX films are $15.50 for children, $17.50 concessions and $20.50 for adults. Feature Films are $21 for children, $25.50 concessions and $29.50 for adults. Family passes at reduced prices are also available.
