#releasetheIMAXcut

Update: Infinity War will be cropped to 2.39:1 for all formats (except for the UK 3D version possibly). This campaign is far from over it seems.

TLDR: IMAX sequences on the home releases of Marvel Studios movies (and Disney films in general) are being cropped to 2.39:1 on all formats except for Blu-ray 3D which is getting harder to come by. It would be prefered to have the option between aspect ratios.

Who does this affect: Videophiles, average consumers.

Why should you care: You are not even getting close to the full picture of what was originally intended. When scenes are presented in their original aspect ratio or one close to the original as possible, you get more picture and also have a more authentic feeling when watching films at home.

Big Description:

In the past handful of years, many of the Marvel Studio's films have been filmed at Aspect Ratios (the ratio of height versus width) that are exclusive to IMAX screenings. But the home releases do not have the aspect ratios preserved and are instead severely cropped to a much tighter aspect ratio to conform with the entirety of the film.

Such films include (but are not limited to):

Guardians of the Galaxy (2014), Captain America: Civil War (2016), Doctor Strange (2016), Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2 (2017), Thor: Ragnarok (2017), and Black Panther (2018).

To help you understand, please watch these videos;

Avengers: Infinity War IMAX® Screen vs. Standard Screen

IMAX | The Directors of Avengers Infinity War

IMAX | Avengers: Infnity War - Behind the Frame - Ep 1

Here's the rundown of what format gets what Aspect Ratio...

UHD Blu-ray: 2.39:1

HD/Blu-ray: 2.39:1

Blu-ray 3D: 2.39:1 and 1.78 - 1.90:1 for IMAX sequences

SD/DVD: 2.39:1

For a time, it was accaptable for them to only put the IMAX sequences on the 3D version as the format wasn't entirely barren but most didn't own a 4K tv and those of us who like Blu-ray 3D did still have 3D sets. However, a lot of people own 4K sets now and most don't have 3D compatibility.

ANOTHER ISSUE is that now Disney no longer distributes 3D Blu-rays in the United States and I had to import Thor: Ragnarok 3D from the UK. Meaning that it is getting more and more difficult to get the films at home with IMAX sequences in full frame.

AVENGERS: INFINITY WAR was ENTIRELY shot with IMAX cameras. My fear is that there won't be a home release with the film in full frame. Which would be a shame to crop all of that footage.

Other films have this issue such as Mission Impossible Ghost Protocol where a lot of amazing sequences were shot in IMAX, like the Berj Khalifa climbing scene that gave me vertigo in theaters but it is cropped on the home release. It took a special release and a fan petition to get the IMAX sequences restored to the home release master for Star Trek: Into Darkness (which thankfully the UHD Blu-ray release preserves as well).

I feel this fan petition will be necessary to confirm that at least Avengers: Infinity War gets a home release with IMAX sequences.

Please sign this petition and help make sure IMAX footage is no longer thrown away by Disney/Marvel Studios when it comes time for home releases.

Thank you.

To Marvel, Kevin Feige, and the filmakers,

We (politely) ask that IMAX sequences be restored to the home releases of all applicable Marvel Studios films as an option to at least the UHD Blu-ray releases, however it would be prefered if all current formats HD and higher get the restoration. A significant portion of the image is being cropped and lost to never be seen again unless a film is re-screened in an IMAX theater.

Thank you for making captivating films, and thank you for your time if you do indeed take a look at this petition.

#ReleaseTheIMAXCut

-Hashtag courtesy of @SamParkerMetal

A new petition against Disney has begun. This time for their awful implementation of Dynamic EQ and Compression of the audio tracks on their recent home releases. This is important because it can definitely disappoint those with decent sub-woofers (https://www.change.org/p/walt-disney-improve-audio-dynamic-eq-lfe-bass-levels-in-disney-home-video-releases

------------------------------------------------------------------------

Some clarifications are in order as I have seen some people out on reddit and other sites who are not fully aware of some of the details (which is 100% understandable).

Digital IMAX Cameras capture footage in an aspect ratio of 1.90:1, IMAX film cameras capture footage at 1.43:1. Digital/DLP IMAX Theaters have 1.90:1 Screens while currently IMAX Laser and Film Theaters have 1.43:1 Screens (IMAX is trying to push out new laser projectors for the Digital/DLP IMAX Theaters for the 1.90:1 Screens).

Infinity War was filmed digitally on the custom Arri Alexa 65 IMAX cameras at an AR of 1.90:1. Films like the Dark Knight and Star Trek Into Darkness were filmed with IMAX film Cameras at an AR of 1.43:1

If you have any questions please feel free to ask them in the comments and I will be happy to answer them or point you in the right direction.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------