Imax

I've never quite understood the cinematic obsession with IMAX.

Sure, it has a huge screen covered in a special paint. Which would be awesome if you could actually sit far enough away from it to be able to view all of it.

Yeah, it's really clear. But beyond that it's just really, really expensive.

This IMAX was taken over by Cineworld a couple of years ago and had an extensive refurb - so if you have an unlimited card, you'll get your ticket half price.

Overall, I've never been massively overawed by IMAX, but it's something to definitely try out.

I've been a huge fan of the IMAX film format since the mid-80s when I saw an OMNIMAX film in Singapore Science Centre (OMNIMAX screens have a 270 deg. domed screen and are truly immersive). There, the building doubles as a planetarium and both cinema and planetarium projectors are in the middle of the auditorium; so the IMAX film reels are kept in the basement and from the foyer you could see the film strip moving to and from the projector head inside a glass tube. My inner geek was instantly hooked!

At that time, the only IMAX in the UK was in the National Museum of Film & TV in Bradford and I only managed to visit that once. But on my travels abroad, whenever there was an IMAX within reach, I'd make the effort to visit. The Grand Canyon IMAX experience was one to remember, as was the 'Back to the Future' ride at Universal Studios, where you watched an OMNIMAX film whilst sitting in a motion-platform DeLorean (I went on this twice!).

I even went as far as writing to Glasgow City Council suggesting that an IMAX cinema would be a great addition to Glasgow's tourist cachet - not that I'm suggesting that it was my idea that finally brought one to the city, mind you. So needless to say, I was delighted when they constructed the Science Centre and adjacent IMAX cinema, and the then relatively new use of titanium cladding provided Glasgow with a pair of very striking buildings that spearheaded the redevelopment of this stretch of the river. I also did the lighting of the building for its opening ceremony, so it holds a special place in my heart.

A trip to the GSC IMAX is not like a normal cinema visit; it does feel like you're making a special effort to get there, and maybe in some way this actually enhances the experience. It's not in an easy location to get to without a car, and the introduction of crippling parking charges has not helped business either. I find that the best way to get there is to get a train to Exhibition Centre and walk past the SECC and across the Millennium Bridge. That way you also get to experience some of Glasgow's most contemporary architecture en route.

IMAX has always been best as a niche educational format and struggled to compete in mainstream cinema until directors like Chris Nolan, J. J. Abrams and James Cameron started shooting scenes in IMAX, which led to increased interest in the media, particularly as the larger screen size makes it ideal for 3D movies. However showing a full-length feature film in 3D IMAX is not without technical challenges - I think they said that the extended edition of 'Avatar' used something like 2 miles of film, and even then they had to cut off the end credits as they couldn't physically squeeze any more film on the platters.

The advent of DLP digital projectors and the construction of pseudo-IMAX (or 'LieMAX') screens by the large cinema chains has brought a wider appreciation of larger screen formats, whilst at the same time sounding the death knell for movies on film. Although this means more audiences, it also sadly marks the demise of 'true' IMAX, as the number of movies available on film simply can't compete with those available digitally. Most people won't notice the difference, and of course there are many advantages to digital, but true film aficionados like myself mourn the loss of colour depth and richness that you get from proper film stock.

Since Cineworld took over the GSC IMAX, they have removed the original film projector and have replaced it with a DLP one, so we shall never again see a true film IMAX here. The digital films are a slightly smaller format than true IMAX, which you will notice here as they don't quite fill the screen to the top and bottom. Better lens technology and the advent of laser digital projectors (expected within a couple of years) will eliminate this discrepancy, and I'll give it five stars when that happens; but for now I still shed a quiet tear for the loss of the old film projector.

I should also mention that the sound system at the IMAX is stupendous! Having seen 'Desolation of Smaug' both in the city centre Cineworld and at the IMAX, I was blown away at how much more detail in the soundtrack was audible here, and the spacial 3D sound was much better.

Ok, we went to see Civil War and after queueing up we got to the cinema door with out ticket holder brandishing her phone, only to be told the electronic ticket checker wasn't working and she would have to go downstairs and get a printed version. So off she trotted, once there she was told she needed her cineworld card as well as the electronic ticket (booked and paid for, authorised as a card holder ticket) meaning she had to come back upstairs, get them and head back down to get a printed ticket!

The guy at the cinema door was clearly a manager, put there to catch the flak from customers. I pointed out that there was no on downstairs giving out information to which he replied "I can only apologise". I had to remonstrate against what was clearly a line designed to move me along and said that he could do more, he could ensure there was information at the earliest point so that ticket holders were not messed about with. He came back with "There should be someone down there and I can only apologise" as he completely ignored that I was telling him there actually wasn't.

This was a shift manager making noises and doing nothing to actually help customers. A real service fail and as it was my first visit an experience not likely to inspire a return trip.

Get it sorted, it's not hard to give out essential information!

Screen was amazing, sound great, technically fab, lousy customer service.

I love big screens and I cannot lie. You other viewers can't deny. When a cinema has an itty bitty space and surrounding screen in your face I get immersed. Wanna put out your square because you notice that space was stuffed. Deep in the screen is blaring. I'm sat down and I can't stop staring. Oh baby, I wanna sit in it and watch some (moving) pictures. The higher price may try to warn me but that screen IMAX's got makes me so... happy to see exciting action, adventure, sci-fi, or fantasy films that benefit from such a large screen.

The IMAX is a relatively new addition to Cineworld film showing but has been around for long enough to it have been my watching location for several Marvel marathons and many other films. It's not my usual watching location because it's more money but it's so much nicer for films that benefit from it. The seats are more easily set up so everyone gets a view of the screen and never of the person in front of them. The seats are comfortable and they provide the 3d glasses (which even fit over regular glasses without being uncomfortable). A bonus for me is they have a Starbucks (10% discount for unlimited members), which was especially nice on nights with movie marathons.

The screen is just immersive and impressive. It curves a little, which makes all angles feel a bit more in the centre. The speakers impress me but I know they underwhelm some. Overall a great film experience.

There is an upcharge for even those with Premium Unlimited cards but it's a nice treat for those need to see epic films.

I came to see "The Dark Knight" here on it's original release, and was actually pretty surprised at just how much watching the film on an absolutely massive screen added to the cinema experience. Seriously, it's huge, and for films where lots of things get blown up, I can heartily recommend it.

With only 1 screen the selection of films on offer is obviously less than at you local multiplex, usually limited to a couple of blockbusters. They also show shorter, IMAX exclusive films designed specifically with the massive screen in mind, featuring dinosaurs and the like.

Ticket prices aren't much more than a normal cinema, and you can get all your usual over-priced popcorn and hotdogs to gorge on during the film. I can't imagine it making much difference to a romcom, but if you like your films with aliens, guns, or zombies then you'll love it.

If you love film and revel in the cinematic experience then you could do no worse than to go see a film on the true big screen.
Beware the edge seats though, middle middle seating is the best and gives the full unadulterated experience, it's simply stunning almost cocooning you in both visual and aural bliss.
The new Star Wars wasn't half bad either!

The best way to watch a movie

Pros : staff are helpfull and friendly
Place relativly clean & tidy hotdogs are actually tasty!! Premier club is usefull and does come in handy

Cons: main critisism is the screen sizes are shocking and not consistant screen to screen
Also the sound isnt consistant either
Went to see riddick and the sound was awfull way too quiet
Too much emthasis in shitty one direction than catering for actual adult who want to watch a decent film!

The fact i'm asked if its child friendly doesn't concern me as i dont go to watch kids films
But would say yes it does cater for kids
And theres eating places near by!

One of the best things about Glasgow - the architecture in this area is stunning, including the IMAX, and it's a nice and easy walk from Kelvingrove. The only problem is the lack of life in this area - there needs to be more things around here...

Their fantastic 3D films are worth the extra expense, though I would like to see more classic IMAX films about space and science on the schedule rather than filling out the kids' summer holidays with nothing but Harry Potter screenings.

The Imax is well out of the way from the city centre: most youngsters experience it as part of an outing to the science centre, and it is still the best place to catch those educational films about Egypt or the ocean. It often goes 3-D, making the fishes and Pharaohs close enough to touch.

The lack of anything else in the area, apart from the admittedly interesting BBC building makes this a bad place to start a night out: this size of screen might not be the best romantic evening in any case, and it doesn't always get all of the films that are distributed for Imax. It is part of a good family day out though, a nice way to round off an educational afternoon of science, but it does require a car to reach it.

My boyfriend I and I received free passes for the IMAX cinema yet it took us almost 12 months to go, and even then we made the effort only because the vouchers were about to expire.

There are a couple of reasons why it took us so long to organise ourselves-

1. The IMAX is in the never-never land of the south bank of the clyde, and unless you're spending the day at the BBC studios or the Science centre, you're unlikely to pop in and see what's on.
2. There is only one screen at the IMAX and so the choice is very limited- it took us a while to find a film we were both happy to watch on a night we were both free.

In the end we opted for the new Star Trek film. It wasn't exactly my first choice but hey, the tickets were free and the main lead happened to be a looker. To my surprise, the film was great, and the IMAX experience even better. The screen is so massive, it was perfect for an action film. I'll definitely go back to the IMAX again- it's well worth the extra cost and the trek to get there. Have a look online and see what's coming up.