The Shanghai International Film Festival has always been highly sensitive to the latest film technologies that are developing with each passing day. From "IMAX" to "4K restoration", it has witnessed and demonstrated the step-by-step development and progress of these film technologies. The IMAX unit was first opened by the Shanghai International Film Festival in 2013 based on innovative technology and experience. Every year, some classics and the latest masterpieces of film history are screened with IMAX audio-visual standards, bringing the audience an immersive and excellent viewing experience. This year's IMAX unit is still full of dazzling and exciting films. Here is an introduction to the specific film list:
2001: A Space Odyssey (1968)
2001: A Space Odyssey
Stanley Kubrick
Highlights:
The greatest space journey ever to appear on screen
A landmark masterpiece in the pantheon of science fiction movies. Watching it again today, I am still shocked by its unparalleled simplicity and depth. Kubrick presents the vastness and unknown of space with unprecedented elegance, while exploring the deepest anxiety and fear of the human soul. The most gripping part of the film is undoubtedly the loss of control of the artificial intelligence HAL9000. When HAL begins to go against human cognition and clear obstacles in an orderly manner, a cold breath permeates the quiet spacecraft. In front of the magnificent spacecraft and the meticulous AI, humans appear small and fragile, and the spatial and psychological oppression is suffocating. There is no doubt that "2001: A Space Odyssey" is the most suitable movie for watching on the giant screen. The IMAX version screened this time will allow movie fans to once again immerse themselves in this unforgettable journey into the depths of space and the human soul with an extraordinary audio-visual experience.
Don't Be Serious (1984)
Stop Making Sense
Jonathan Demme
Highlights:
Recreate the peak concert of the band
The American new wave rock band Talking Heads was unique in the 1980s with its high artistry and avant-garde style. Its music was complex and diverse. The band's soul David Byrne created many strange and profound lyrics. He was also one of the composers of the original music for the epic masterpiece "The Last Emperor". This film is a concert film directed by Jonathan Demme, who won the Best Director Award at the Berlin Film Festival and the Oscar for "The Silence of the Lambs". It perfectly presents the grand occasion of the Talking Heads' tour in 1983 to promote the album "Speaking in Tongues". The band showed extraordinary talent, David Byrne contributed a performance show with a pantomime temperament, and the exquisite scenery, unique light and shadow, the charm of music and images complement each other. This film was re-screened in the United States last year in the new IMAX conversion format, and the Shanghai International Film Festival will also present this perfect version to the audience. The original English version will be screened at this festival without Chinese subtitles.
Seven Deadly Sins (1995)
Se7en
David Fincher
Highlights:
David Fincher's famous crime classic
In a rainy sin city, a retiring detective and a newly transferred partner try to solve a series of brutal murders corresponding to the "Seven Deadly Sins" in "The Divine Comedy". David Fincher, the master of black thriller, has paired veteran actor Morgan Freeman with male god Brad Pitt, and stars such as Kevin Spacey and Gwyneth Paltrow to create this gloomy and chaotic classic crime film. After seven days, the crime has not decreased. The inherent sense of fate of sin runs through the whole film. The evil soul has the upper hand, highlighting the irony and despair of modern society, allowing the audience to rethink morality and human nature. After the release of this film, the word of mouth exploded, making David Fincher famous in one battle, and won numerous awards including the Oscar nomination for Best Editing. IMAX will magnify every micro-expression of the veteran actors, vividly presenting the game of human nature, allowing movie fans to relive the classic masterpiece.
Mad Max: Fury Road (2015)
Mad Max: Fury Road
George Miller
Highlights:
IMAX Enjoy the exciting chase scenes
The Mad Max series of films created by legendary Australian director George Miller set off a cultural whirlwind in the 1970s and 1980s, becoming an important representative work of wasteland science fiction. His sequel 30 years later has really blown up the storm again. The film is still set in a desolate future world, telling the story of the protagonist Max and a group of women on the road to escape. Miller, who is in his seventies, bursts out with powerful energy that is not inferior to that of young people. In this star-studded and crazy blockbuster, he freely swayed the aesthetics of violence. The consecutive chase battles made people's blood boil and they called it addictive. In the end, he won six awards including the Oscar for Best Editing and Best Art Direction, becoming a cult masterpiece of the new era. The Shanghai International Film Festival screened the precious black and white limited edition of this film in 2019, and this year it will be presented on the IMAX big screen, offering a top audio-visual feast for movie fans.
The Batman (2022)
The Batman
Matt Reeves
Highlights:
The wandering and struggling Batman before becoming a hero
The muddy Gotham is full of realism. Batman, who just debuted, constantly experiences the shock and collapse of faith. He has no high-tech equipment and even no suitable cape. Compared with previous Batmans, Robert Pattinson's Batman looks pale and thin, struggling between perseverance and giving up. His inability in the flesh and the struggle as a "mortal" are the most moving parts of the film. The supporting roles in this film are also quite brilliant. Zoe Kravitz brilliantly interprets the dangerous and charming dual temperament of Catwoman, and Paul Dano's neurotic Riddler is comparable to Joaquin Phoenix's Joker. The Shanghai International Film Festival will screen the IMAX version of this film. Go to the theater to enjoy the unique dark tone and shocking audio-visual impact.
The Equalizer 3 (2023)
The Equalizer 3
Antoine Fuqua
Highlights:
Retired agent still in good form to fight against the Mafia
The classic action series "The Equalizer" has reached its final chapter. This time, retired agent Robert McCall will face off against the Italian Mafia in order to protect his friends and restore peace to the town. Directed by Antoine Fuqua, this series is adapted from the 1980s TV series of the same name. Popular actress Dakota Fanning has joined the film, and Oscar and Berlin Film Festival winner, nearly 70-year-old veteran superstar Denzel Washington is still in his prime. He plays the peerless master McCall, who is restrained, confident, and calm. He intimidates his opponents with his sharp eyes and instantly bursts out extraordinary fighting power to finish off the enemy. In addition to the swift action scenes and fascinating psychological confrontations, this farewell work is also infused with the pure spirit of a hermit.
Deep Space (2023)
Deep Sky
Nathaniel Kahn
Highlights:
An interstellar journey into the vast universe
Nathaniel Kahn, a documentary director who has been nominated for two Oscars, tracks NASA's newest space telescope, the James Webb Space Telescope (JWST), presenting a breathtaking view of the vast universe. This IMAX original documentary is narrated by Golden Globe Best Actress Michelle Williams, guiding the audience to immerse themselves in an unprecedented interstellar journey. In addition to the rare and moving images of the universe, the film also attempts to answer philosophical questions that have been asked countless times: Where do we come from? Are we alone? How did the universe begin? Spanning billions of years, the audience will experience the ultimate shock of the universe and the starry sky on the IMAX screen.
Queen Live in Montreal (2024)
Queen Rock Montreal
Saul Swimmer
Highlights:
IMAX shockingly reproduces the legendary concert
In November 1981, Queen, one of the greatest rock bands in history, came to Montreal, Canada, where they performed two passionate performances, all of which were recorded in full by 35mm cameras. This Queen concert film has been re-released many times, and this time, it will be presented in a new form of IMAX, a perfect sound and picture format. Under the powerful audio-visual bombardment of IMAX's top standards, fans will be able to travel back to the concert scene as if they were there, witnessing Freddie Mercury and his partners singing immortal songs such as "We Will Rock You", "Bohemian Rhapsody" and "We Are the Champions" on stage, and feel the unprecedented shocking charm. What are you waiting for? Hurry up and get your tickets to the theater! The film festival will screen the original English version without Chinese subtitles.
Tickets for this year's film festival will go on sale on the Tao Piaopiao platform at 12 noon on June 7. Screenings outside Shanghai (Nanjing, Suzhou, Hangzhou, Ningbo, and Hefei) will go on sale online at 12 noon on June 8.
Note: If the film list changes, please refer to the actual schedule.
