Steven Spielberg and Paramount Home Media Distribution with IMAX Corporation announced they will be bringing Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark back to the big screen, this time in IMAX.
Raiders of the Lost Ark is released for an exclusive one-week engagement in select IMAX® theatres beginning September 7, 2012. The film has undergone a complete restoration for the IMAX exclusive one-week release and subsequent debut on Blu-ray. Tickets and a list of participating theatres are available starting today at IMAX.com.
“When I saw the stunning quality of the picture and heard the enhanced sound in an IMAX theatre, I was quite literally blown away and hope that audiences will enjoy the experience as much as I did,” said Spielberg.
“We are honored to present all the excitement of Indiana Jones in a way it’s never been experienced before – IMAX,” said Greg Foster, Chairman & President, IMAX Filmed Entertainment. “We look forward to celebrating this iconic film with longtime fans as well as a new generation of moviegoers.”
The IMAX release of Raiders of the Lost Ark will be digitally re-mastered into the image and sound quality of The IMAX Experience® with proprietary IMAX DMR® (Digital Re-mastering) technology. The crystal-clear images coupled with IMAX’s customized theatre geometry and powerful digital audio create a unique environment that will make audiences feel as if they are in the movie.
Under the supervision of Spielberg and renowned sound designer Ben Burtt, Raiders of the Lost Ark has been meticulously restored with careful attention to preserving the original look, sound and feel of the iconic film for its highly-anticipated release on Blu-ray as part of INDIANA JONES: The Complete Adventures. Every extraordinary exploit of world-renowned, globetrotting hero Indiana Jones finally comes home in sparkling high definition on September 18, 2012 from Lucasfilm Ltd. and Paramount Home Media Distribution. In addition to all of the thrilling adventures, the set features seven hours of fascinating bonus material, including a brand new two-part documentary entitled “On Set with Raiders of the Lost Ark – From Jungle to Desert and From Adventure to Legend.” Featuring nearly an hour of rarely seen footage from the set of the film and archival interviews with Steven Spielberg, George Lucas and Harrison Ford, this captivating piece transports fans back to where the legend began.
You can search for tickets in your area at IMAX.com. AMC Theatres is also having an event to celebrate the release of Indiana Jones: The Complete Adventures on blu-ray with a four movie one day marathon on September 15th. Tickets are $25. You get to see all four films (not in IMAX) and receive a limited edition poster (seen at the top of this post) and a lanyard. You can also leave anytime you want after the third film, with no extra charge. I kid, of course.
Paramount has released a trailer for the re-release of Indiana Jones on IMAX, which you can see below.
Spielberg is currently working with his long time Director of Photography Janusz Kaminski on the 3D conversion of Jurassic Park, which has a release date of April 5, 2013. Spielberg has mentioned in the past that he is leery of the post conversion process. Things must be going well with the conversion because the original release date was July 2013. From a personal stand point, the Star Wars post conversion left much to be desired when I saw it in the theater. There were select pieces that worked well but most of it felt flat and not very 3D at all. Spielberg did say that he would need to work closely with a Director of Photography in order to make the conversion its best. After the elimination of the guns for walkie talkies in E.T., and the battle with George Lucas over elements in Indy 4, I think Spielberg has become more cautious and involved in the process of the digital world. My hope is that Spielberg can bring us something to make our jaws drop versus a Universal cash grab.
On a side note, has anyone played the Jurassic Park Park Builder game on the iPhone? No? Just me? Well it’s extremely addictive and fun, if you’re into the “Tycoon” style game play from the early 21st century. Don’t take my word for it. Go download it and then come back and tell me how it has engulfed your life.
Are you heading back to the theater for Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark? What are your thoughts on the 3D conversion of Jurassic Park?
