The wait was over and I finally managed to watch The Dark Knight on IMAX screen. Positive reviews from the media and my friends increased my desire to watch Batman on the biggest screen. But somehow the movie alluded me all these days. On Saturday I declared that I was going alone to Prasadz when my friends and my brother, who initially refused to accompany me to the 11 pm show, agreed to join me.

Though it was my third visit to IMAX, I was as excited as a small child who is waiting for his toy cover to be opened. The Warner Bros signature video appeared (get me the right word), but occupied only three-fourth of the screen. I was disappointed and thought the whole movie would be shown in the same format. But before I turned to my friend to express my disappointment, a full screen visual of a city from a building top appeared, taking all of us by surprise. Oh!, Ah! and Ne Yamma! were a few exclamations I could hear. The next few minutes featured the entry of the Joker and a high voltage bank robbery, in the IMAX format.

Director Christopher Nolan diligently used an IMAX camera to film a few sequences, especially action episodes and some quiet scenes. The shift from a normal mode to IMAX format during action sequences created greater visual impact. The long shots over high rise buildings and the Batman flying over Gotham city and Hong Kong looked amazing in the larger format. I could feel the intensity of the movie and the IMAX format made me feel a part of the action sequences. The following are my top scenes:

1. The Joker’s entrance shot from the back (awesome in the IMAX format)
2. Batman abducting Lau in Hong Kong
3. Huge truck overturning
4. Joker burning his share of money
5. Joker blasting the hospital

While Christian Bale was impressive as Batman and Bruce Wayne, late Heath Ledger as the Joker walks away with the accolades.

Image taken at Prasadz, Hyderabad.