Kansas Citians' odyssey to see "The Odyssey"
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Kansas Citians are roughly 500 miles away from the closest movie theater that projects "The Odyssey" in IMAX 70mm.
Why it matters: Movie fans hoping to experience the film exactly as director Christopher Nolan intended might have to embark on an odyssey of their own.
Zoom out: Just 26 theaters in the U.S. have the technology.
- "Nearby" options include Cinemark Seven Bridges in Chicago and Regal Opry Mills in Nashville.
- Some of these theaters have added early morning and late night showtimes, which are still selling out.
- Thousands of theaters across the U.S. and Canada are showing the film in other formats, including IMAX digital and conventional 70mm.
Zoom in: Screenland Armour in North Kansas City is one of two KC theaters with 70mm film technology (the other being AMC Studio in Olathe), thanks to a recent $100,000 upgrade.
- Co-owner Adam Roberts tells Axios they anticipated "The Odyssey" release and also wanted to preserve celluloid — that plastic translucent film material prized for its grain, depth and warmth.
What they're saying: "This movie is absolutely beautiful on film," Roberts says. "It's stunning with more clarity and detail and how it reads colors is unique to film."
Yes, but: Both 70mm theaters in KC have a cropped, landscape aspect ratio, as opposed to the squarish IMAX format.
- Other area IMAX theaters do not use 70mm film.
The bottom line: Pick your epoch — film, IMAX, or a journey worthy of the king of Ithaca.