Disney+ Disney+ Streaming Service (Official Thread) (8 Viewers)

[Todd Erwin]

Disney+ will let you watch 'Shang-Chi' and 12 Marvel films in a large IMAX format | Engadget

Marvel's heroes are about to get a bit bigger on your TV..

www.engadget.com

This is likely a way for IMAX to broaden their home market, since FandangoNow was the exclusive service for purchasing movies in the IMAX-Enhanced format before it was shut down and merged with Vudu (who does not support the format at this time) and Sony apparently has lost interest in releasing 4K Blu-rays in that format. I'm a bit curious what audio format will be supported on launch date (this Friday, 11/12) for these titles, since the article states that DTS is "coming soon."

In other Disney+ Day news, now thru Friday, new and returning subscribers can get a 30-day trial for $1.99.

 

[Jake Lipson]

I'm not sure why Disney has to make a deal with IMAX to stream the films in expanded aspect ratio. Yes, IMAX cameras were used to make them, but Disney owns the films and can do with them whatever they like. I do not believe that the use of IMAX cameras gives IMAX cooperation any rights to the films themselves. If it did, the studios wouldn't be interested in doing that.

Christopher Nolan's films appear on Blu-ray in their expanded ratio format but Warner Bros. doesn't market those as the "IMAX Enhanced Editions." They're just the blu-rays.

 

[Stephen_J_H]

I'm not sure why Disney has to make a deal with IMAX to stream the films in expanded aspect ratio. Yes, IMAX cameras were used to make them, but Disney owns the films and can do with them whatever they like. I do not believe that the use of IMAX cameras gives IMAX cooperation any rights to the films themselves. If it did, the studios wouldn't be interested in doing that.

Christopher Nolan's films appear on Blu-ray in their expanded ratio format but Warner Bros. doesn't market those as the "IMAX Enhanced Editions." They're just the blu-rays.

What you don't know is the arrangement WB has for IMAX's proprietary technology. Think about this like you would audio tracks. Back when films were actually being shown on film, the majority of releases would have 4 audio tracks available: analogue optical, Dolby Digital [in one of its many flavours], DTS and SDDS. These technologies were licenced not only by the studios for use on prints, but by the exhibitors for the chosen format. When I worked in a multiplex, the prints would come in with DTS timecode and discs, as well as the other tracks striped on the prints. Our cinema had Dolby Digital processors, so we played Dolby Digital, downgrading to optical SR when the digital track had issues.

The same principle applies to IMAX on streaming. When a studio pays to rent IMAX equipment to make a film [or in the digital cinema age "IMAX-approved" digital cameras], part of that agreement includes arrangements to release the film on IMAX screens. Because the IMAX version is a different configuration of the film, while the disc-based version may include the IMAX version, streaming is a different presentation format, so the streaming service has to negotiate the use of that format of footage if it differs from a standard theatrical presentation.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I don’t think it’s a licensing issue, though I could be wrong.

The IMAX framing for these films gets used whenever they’re shown on commercial TV. For films that were entirely in that format, like Avengers Infinity War, it’s opened up straight through on TV. For films that switched back and forth like Thor Ragnorak, they crop the 2.40:1 footage that can’t be opened up to 16x9 and use the IMAX framing for the footage that can be.

I think it’s just marketing sizzle here rather than contractual posing. I think it’s about providing a perk to their customers, one they can offer there but not in other places, to help bolster subscriptions among those who care about such things.

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

In the meantime, Hulu's like, "Hey, we added 5.1 surround sound!*"






*on selected devices

 

[Josh Steinberg]

One wonders if, when Hulu becomes fully the property of Disney, if they’ll just roll out a different software platform that already includes those features, rather than trying to retrofit them to a platform that is behind the curve in user experience.

 

[Worth]

...I think it’s just marketing sizzle here rather than contractual posing...

Most people aren't aware of formats or aspect ratios, but they associate IMAX with something superior or premium.

 

[Todd Erwin]

One wonders if, when Hulu becomes fully the property of Disney, if they’ll just roll out a different software platform that already includes those features, rather than trying to retrofit them to a platform that is behind the curve in user experience.

And meanwhile, so much of Hulu's original programming is being mixed in Dolby Atmos, yet the best they can offer is Dolby 5.1, and that was just last year on most devices.

 

[Clinton McClure]

Let’s just hope they do this properly and don’t use it as a gateway to a weird form of pan and scan.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

I don’t see what would be improper - these masters already exist, they’re simply now adding an option to allow their subscribers to view them.

 

[Clinton McClure]

I don’t see what would be improper - these masters already exist, they’re simply now adding an option to allow their subscribers to view them.

I mean using this tech to try to make non-IMAX movies look like IMAX and hosing up the framing and aspect ratios.

 

[Mike Frezon]

How much time do those of us who signed-up for that special three year inaugural rate have left on our Disney+ subscriptions?

A lazy-ass question, I know. Just wondering if someone had a quick answer.

 

[Josh Steinberg]

About a year. I think the service premiered 11/12/19, plus or minus a few days.

 

[Jake Lipson]

@Josh Steinberg is absolutely right.

The reason that Disney selected November 12 as "Disney+ Day" with all the promotions this week is because it is the anniversary of the service's launch in 2019. The third year begins on Friday.

In regards to the IMAX framing, the 2017 live-action version of Beauty and the Beast also screened in 1.90:1 in IMAX locations for the entirety of its running time. As far as I know, that framing has not been available since the first two weeks of its theatrical run. So I'm a bit surprised to see that they're offering the expanded aspect ratio for the MCU titles but not for that as well. Maybe they'll add it later.

And on the Star Wars side of things, The Force Awakens also had one sequence in IMAX aspect ratio when Rey and Finn find the Millennium Falcon on Jakku.

 

[TravisR]

@Josh Steinberg is absolutely right.

The reason that Disney selected November 12 as "Disney+ Day" with all the promotions this week is because it is the anniversary of the service's launch in 2019. The third year begins on Friday.

In regards to the IMAX framing, the 2017 live-action version of Beauty and the Beast also screened in 1.90:1 in IMAX locations for the entirety of its running time. As far as I know, that framing has not been available since the first two weeks of its theatrical run. So I'm a bit surprised to see that they're offering the expanded aspect ratio for the MCU titles but not for that as well. Maybe they'll add it later.

And on the Star Wars side of things, The Force Awakens also had one sequence in IMAX aspect ratio when Rey and Finn find the Millennium Falcon on Jakku.

You'd have to think that if they're posting the Marvel movies, they must have plans to put up the other IMAX versions of their movies too. I assume it's a matter of wanting to spread things out. Beauty And The Beast actually sounds pretty significant but, as much as I want to see it again, The Force Awakens is basically +/- 5 minutes of footage. I wonder if/when The Force Awakens IMAX is put out if it will have its original end credits and music. RELEASE THE ORIGINAL CUT, DISNEY!

 

[Randy Korstick]

Interesting aspect ratio for Imax if the article is correct stating 1.90:1. Interesting that they wouldn't just use 1.85:1 or 1.78:1. But any of these ratios will definitely look better and more cinematic than the Justice League directors cut in 1.37:1

 

[Stephen_J_H]

Interesting aspect ratio for Imax if the article is correct stating 1.90:1. Interesting that they wouldn't just use 1.85:1 or 1.78:1. But any of these ratios will definitely look better and more cinematic than the Justice League directors cut in 1.37:1

1.90:1 is the specified ratio for digital IMAX, as opposed to 1.43:1 for 15/70 IMAX. Zack Snyder did his version of Justice League in 1.37:1 because he wanted to and the studio let him; nothing deeper than that.

 

[ManW_TheUncool]

Kinda sucks they didn't open up for the 4K disc releases, but only doing it for D+ now... but maybe this might mean they'll eventually (re)release 4K discs w/ the IMAX sequences opened up? One could only hope... though looks like the upcoming Shang-Chi 4K disc also won't get that...

_Man_

 

[Neil S. Bulk]

I wonder if/when The Force Awakens IMAX is put out if it will have its original end credits and music. RELEASE THE ORIGINAL CUT, DISNEY!

I'm glad you mentioned this! I thought I was crazy watching it on video. It seemed different to me!

 

[Stephen_J_H]

I'm glad you mentioned this! I thought I was crazy watching it on video. It seemed different to me!

WDSHE has been maddeningly inconsistent on this. The 3D versions where segments were opened to IMAX would sometimes include the changing AR, but for some reason only on Marvel titles.