The Dark Knight Rises Will Contain Approximately 50 Minutes of IMAX Footage!

Posted on 2011 under News

Source: /Film | Posted By: Dan Geer

For those of you not aware, much of Christopher Nolan’s The Dark Knight Rises was in fact shot in IMAX format. Not only that, but a 7-minute prologue of this footage will be shown in front of Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol in select 70mm IMAX theaters December 16th.

Last night, the prologue was screened in Hollywood and was met with extremely high praise from those in attendance. Apparently it was simply mind-blowing (would you expect any less from Christopher Nolan?). Nolan was present at the screening to introduce the prologue and to answer questions from those in attendance. Peter Sciretta from /Film got the opportunity to ask him just how much IMAX footage will end up in the finished film, to which Nolan replied there will probably be approximately 50 minutes worth! Read on for details!

The prologue from The Dark Knight Rises is a scene from the beginning of the film (one that includes Bane), plus a montage of other scenes from the film tacked on at the end. If you recall, a similar method of introducing The Dark Knight was put into play back in late 2007 by showing a 6-minute prologue in front of IMAX screenings of I Am Legend that showcased the Joker heist scene from the beginning of the film, along with a montage at the end. The only difference is that The Dark Knight Rises prologue is only being shown on 70mm IMAX screens (not digital IMAX).

Christopher Nolan feels very strongly that this is the only way to fully appreciate the scenes shot for IMAX. These theaters are really only located in major city areas, so you may have to travel a bit in order to see the prologue. From what I hear, it is COMPLETELY worth it, and that it really displays just how important it will be to catch the film on a 70mm IMAX screen when it finally hits theaters July 20th of next year, especially when you consider that there will be over twice the amount of IMAX footage this time around. This is a film that was specifically shot with the 70mm IMAX format in mind, and every effort should be made to see it that way if possible.

If bootleg footage shows up online of the prologue, it will not be featured here. The reason is similar to why I have not posted any amateur pictures or video from the set, as it is obvious they won’t do the film justice. Posting crappy material like that only takes things out of context and oftentimes creates negative, preconceived notions that just aren’t accurate to how the film will actual play out when people finally see it in theaters. The way to see and appreciate the prologue will be to catch it on a 70mm IMAX screen near you, and viewing bootleg footage on a tiny screen is simply a disservice to the film and those who were involved in making it.

Here’s a complete list of 70mm IMAX theaters showing The Dark Knight Rises prologue (via /Film):

Austin, TX || IMAX Theater Austin
Boston, MA || Jordan’s IMAX
Boston, MA || IMAX 3D Theatre in Reading
Calgary, AB || Scotiabank Theatre Chinook 16 + IMAX
Chantilly, VA || Washington, DC Udvar-Hazy Center IMAX
Chicago, IL || Navy Pier IMAX Theatre
Des Moines, IA || SCI IMAX Dome Theater Des
Detroit, MI || Henry Ford IMAX
Edmonton, AB || Scotiabank Theatre Edmonton + IMAX
Harrisburg, PA || The Whitaker Center for Science & the Arts IMAX
Houston, TX || Houston Marq*e Stadium 22 + IMAX
Indianapolis, IN || White River IMAX
Los Angeles, CA || Irvine Spectrum 20 + IMAX
Los Angeles, CA || RAVE 18 + IMAX
Los Angeles, CA || Ontario Palace Stadium 22 + IMAX
Los Angeles, CA || Citywalk Stadium 19 with IMAX
Madison, WI || Star 18 Fitchburg with IMAX
Miami, FL || AutoNation IMAX
Minneapolis, MN || Great Clips IMAX
Montreal, QC || Cinema Banque Scotia Montreal + IMAX
Nashville,TN || Opry Mills Stadium 20 + IMAX
New York, NY || Lincoln Square 13 with IMAX
New York, NY || Palisades IMAX
Omaha, NE || Star Cinema 16 with IMAX
Orlando, FL || Pointe Orlando Stadium 20 + IMAX
Ottawa, ON || Silvercity Gloucester + IMAX
Palm Springs, CA || Desert IMAX Theatre
Philadelphia, PA || IMAX & the Tropicana
Philadelphia, PA || Tuttleman IMAX – Franklin Institute
Phoenix, AZ || Arizona Mills 25 with IMAX
Providence, RI || Providence Place 16 with IMAX
Quebec City, QC || IMAX Le Theatre At Quebec
Sacramento, CA || Esquire IMAX
San Antonio, TX || IMAX at RiverCenter
San Francisco, CA || Metreon 16 with IMAX & ETX
Seattle, WA || Boeing IMAX – Pacific Science Center
Tampa, FL || Museum of Science and Industry (MOSI)
Toronto, ON || Coliseum 12 Mississauga + IMAX
Toronto, ON || Scotiabank Theatre Toronto + IMAX
Toronto, ON || Colossus 18 Woodbridge + IMAX
Vancouver, BC || Colossus Langley + IMAX
Vancouver, BC || Silvercity Riverport 18 + IMAX
UK || BFI London
UK || National Media Museum IMAX Bradford
UK || Glasgow Science Centre IMAX Cinema
UK || Odeon Manchester IMAX @ The Printworks