There are rumors going around right now that Sony is going to make a play for IMAX. Since IMAX is a major (so to speak) venue for 3D films, it makes some sense, and the sale would put Sony in control of a large amount of high-profile theaters around the country. How does that sound to you? Not so good? Yeah, same here.

Actually, I doubt it would make too much difference; it’s not like Sony theaters would fail to show movies you wanted to see. The deal would be a good one for IMAX, with the offer rumored to be $ 40/share and the company currently valued at around $ 26/share. It’s all unconfirmed, but it would make some sense. Sony likes to put itself in positions of power in the distribution structure, and the “last mile” of having control over IMAX would be a coup for them.

[via Electronista]

CrunchGear

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IIMAX, the company that makes really big movie screens and projectors to match, is winning the movie wars. The company hit earnings of $115 million this quarter, up 37% since last year. Avatar gave them a huge boost last quarter but grosses are still up especially with 3D movies like Toy Story 3 and Iron Man 2 bringing in the audiences.

Writes Forbes:

nclude the two-part “Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows,” “Batman 3” and “The Hobbit.” On June 23, Disney agreed to three additional 3D films with IMAX in 2011. “The IMAX Experience adds another level of impact and excitement to a movie,” said Chuck Viane, president of distribution, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures. The planned Disney titles include sequels to “Cars” and “Pirates of the Caribbean.”

Considering the only IMAX movies I ever watched before the resent spate of films was probably something about deep sea diving or the Arctic, those are amazing numbers for the company.

Props to CrunchGear

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1. Will my kids like it?

Yes! There are a few peril-fraught moments which caused my seven-year-old daughter to hug my arm tightly, but the film is rated G, so as you’d expect nothing too terrible happens. The humor is balanced well, with plenty for all ages to enjoy: my kids laughed and grinned throughout most of the movie.

2. Will I like it?

Yes! This may be the best of the three Toy Story films, which is saying an awful lot. The Ken doll (voiced by Michael Keaton) by himself is funny enough that the other humor is almost a bonus. There are at least a dozen references to other movies, including ones (like Star Wars and My Neighbor Totoro) that geek kids are likely to get. And there’s serious poignancy — if your eyes are dry during the last major scene of the film, either you’ve had your tear ducts blocked by plastic surgery or you need your heart thawed out. My sixty-something mother saw the movie with my kids, my wife and me, and she loved it just as much as we did, so I can safely say it crosses generations.

3. When’s the best time for a bathroom break?

The story moves pretty quickly, so there aren’t any particularly great times. If someone really can’t wait till the end, though (the film is 103 minutes long, so that could well happen), I’d recommend going right when the toys are first dropped off at the day-care center — any plot points you miss you’ll pick up easily when you return.

4. Is it worth paying more for 3D? How about IMAX?

I’m not the biggest fan of the 3D trend, but I have to say that yes, it really is worth it for this one. The fact that the whole film was made on computers makes the 3D look utterly seamless, and the fact that it’s a Pixar film means the filmmakers kept it from becoming a distraction. If it’s convenient for you to see it in IMAX 3D, you absolutely should, because it is just absolutely gorgeous. Plus there’s a preview of Hubble 3D that you’ll only see with the IMAX 3D version, which is pretty awesome even if the movie’s been out for several months already.

5. Any good previews?

Yes, though not 100%. My family saw previews for Despicable Me, Tron: Legacy, MegaMind, and Cats & Dogs: The Revenge of Kitty Galore. Of those: the first two look great (and the Tron trailer is particularly excellent); MegaMind has potential (including great voice talent) but is from DreamWorks so could still be lousy; the less said about the Cats & Dogs movie the better.

6. Do I need to sit through the credits for a bonus scene at the end?

You will want to stay seated to watch some very funny short scenes shown next to the first half (or so) of the credits. Once those are over, though, there’s nothing else to see but scrolling text.

7. Will I want to see it again?

If you’re remotely like me, yes! This is a seriously excellent film which, if there is any justice in the world, will be nominated for the Best Picture Oscar as Up was. As of this writing, I left the theater less than four hours ago, and I’d gladly go see it again right now if I had the time and money. I know I missed some Easter eggs here and there, because Pixar films are always rich with them, and it’d be fun to look for them, too.

8. Is it loud or scary?

There are a few loud moments, but nothing worse than your average movie these days. As for scary, there is one scene not too far from the end where the toys seem to be about to be consumed in a giant incinerator (this is the scene that caused the aforementioned arm-hugging). Small kids will probably be scared by the scene, but it doesn’t last quite long enough that it’s likely to cause too much trauma.

9. How’s the animation of the human characters?

This is where you can really see just how far Pixar has come in the fifteen years since the first Toy Story came out. At that time the kids were in uncanny valley territory, but not at all now, as you’d expect after the quality of Up. Once the new film is out on DVD, I’m going to have to sit down and watch the three movies back-to-back-to-back to really see the evolution of the animation. But the human characters are easily the most realistic animated ones I’ve ever seen.

10. Is the ending satisfying?

At the risk of sounding like a broken record, yes! It’s the perfect ending not only for the movie but for the Toy Story trilogy. You’ll cry because it’s sad and you’ll cry because it’s beautiful, and then you’ll grin because they nailed it so perfectly.

See the original post here:
10 Things Parents Should Know About Toy Story 3

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