The Dark Knight: The IMAX Experience features six sequences filmed with IMAX(R) cameras. This marks the first time ever that a major feature film has been even partially shot using IMAX cameras, marking a revolutionary integration of the two film formats. The follow-up to the action hit Batman Begins, The Dark Knight reunites director Christopher Nolan and star Christian Bale, who reprises the role of Batman/Bruce Wayne. In the new film, Batman raises the stakes in his war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon and District Attorney Harvey Dent, Batman sets out to dismantle the remaining criminal organizations that plague the city streets.
Today is Christopher Nolan’s birthday and we’ll never grow old
of our appreciation for the incredible cinematic experiences he
creates through his screenwriting, production, and direction.
The best way to celebrate his birthday is to celebrate his work.
There are countless reasons to value the sheer existence of
Christopher Nolan, and we looked back on his impressive filmmaking
history to highlight a few.
1. In 2008,
The Dark Knight, directed by Nolan, became the first major
Hollywood film to feature scenes shot with IMAX® cameras. The
Batman Beginssequel introduced Heath Ledger as The Joker,
one of the most iconic performances in Batman history.
In
a tribute to Ledgerafter his death, Nolan noted that on set,
Ledger was fascinated with all the intricacies of filmmaking beyond
his acting. The two had a mutual respect and trust that shined on
screen.
In 2012, Nolan one-upped himself by filming nearly half of
The Dark Knight Riseswith IMAX cameras - 72 of the 165
minutes of the film lead to a stunning visual masterpiece revered
as arguably the best of the trilogy.
The Dark Knight Rises’fifth birthday was just over a week
ago, too. So much celebration is in order!
2.
Mementois a classic name drop in every Psychology 101
class on the topic of anterograde amnesia. The film has a
complicated timeline as it begins where it ends and vice versa.
It’s as complex as it is phenomenal, and by drawing out the film’s
structure, Nolan proves he truly is a creative visionary.
3. Just when you thought Nolan
couldn’t make a film more meta than
Memento, Inceptionwas another mind-boggling masterpiece.
Nolan’s ability to construct a functional world of shared dreams
and levels of consciousness was incredible. He didn’t stop the meta
at
Inceptioneither.
Interstellarleft everyone who watched wanting to explore a
black hole to see their lives in more than just three dimensions.
The grandiose plots of
Inceptionand
Interstellarwere amplified in the grandiosity of the IMAX
presentations of the films – like in the following from
Interstellar.
4. In an
interview with the Director’s Guild of America, Nolan revealed
his practices on set that tailor to the needs of each individual
actor with whom he works. He trusts the instinct of an actor
needing just one more take and he allows them to explore different
angles to scenes, sometimes ignoring the interest of time.
“What I try to do is give them whatever process they need. It
may not be what they think they need, and indeed it may be counter
to that, but I really try to be different [and adapt] for every
actor, I try to make them comfortable, I try to get the best out of
them.”
He also knows that the audience deserves the best possible
quality in a movie, which is why he believes in the preservation of
capturing on film, commonly done with the use of our IMAX film
camera.
5. Dunkirkis Nolan’s latest (
and some are saying greatest) film to date. Released last week,
Dunkirkis, per Nolan, his
most experimental film since Memento. He used our gigantic IMAX
cameras in compact spaces, making the WWII thriller as enormous as
it is intimate. You can still catch it in theatres, and glimpse
behind-the-scenes in our video below.
BONUS: Needless to say, we’re big Nolan fans at IMAX. We
received the thrill of a lifetime when he surprised us at our Los
Angeles Headquarters to dedicate our David Keighley Theatre, named
for our Chief Quality Offer and long-time Nolan collaborator.
While there are more films to praise and plenty more words to
say about Christopher Nolan’s masterful direction in every project
he takes on, it would be near impossible to create a conclusive
list. Nolan is an expert of his craft and we wish him a very happy
birthday!
