Here’s something from my inbox:

Hi Mary,

I am a long time listener and fan from WFDD. I have a question which I feel certain you have probably considered before. It’s the whole IMAX/IMAX Experience/3D/48FPS thing. Yesterday I saw Skyfall with my sister in Knoxville (super flick) on the IMAX there. Having been to the IMAX here in Winston, I was surprised by the smaller screen and theater size there.  Has there been a shift in marketing of films whereby IMAX is now just a term for real big screens?  Years ago I saw Everest at the IMAX in Charlotte’s planetarium. That was the real deal. Has it become too complex for the tech to be used in features?  I have learned, thanks to your blog, that there is another new thing….48FPS!  Now I’m beginning to think I may not be smart enough to even go to the movies these days!  Perhaps you can tease out my actual question out of all this? Your thoughts would be appreciated.

Best wishes, Ellen

I’m not the most tech-savvy person in the Triad, let alone the larger planet, but I did respond to Ellen.

Hi, Ellen.

Now IMAX has a different meaning that it used to have.  It used to mean “image maximum” and had the gigantic screens with 70mm film that ran sideways to create the big image in the specialty theaters (like the planetarium – I think I saw my first IMAX film on flight at the Smithsonian Air and Space Museum).

The IMAX Experience has two digital projectors so viewers see more light on the screen, which makes it a nice image, but it isn’t like it used to be.  I think a totally new name for The IMAX Experience would have helped matters.  This really is confusing!

Good question, and I hope I’ve been helpful!  Appreciate the email.

Mary