In fall of 2014, the world was captivated by Director/Writer Christopher Nolan’s spectacular sensation: “Interstellar.” On Dec. 6, 2024–a decade and nearly three quarters of a billion dollars later from box office sales alone–”Interstellar” returned to the big screen for its tenth Anniversary IMAX screening.
From its beautiful imagery to its stunning performances, its delicate dialogue and its instantly iconic score, “Interstellar” demonstrated the pure art that is film 10 years ago–and did so again 10 years later.
The film explores the riveting story of Joseph Cooper (Matthew McConaughey) and his team’s pursuit of a new home planet for mankind after a series of devastating crop blights spread throughout the world. Cooper, alongside a team of talented scientists, including the brilliant Dr. Brand (Anne Hathaway), uses his experience as a former NASA pilot to embark on a journey across the galaxy and spacetime for three planets that scientists had previously been sent to in order to determine if the planets were inhabitable. To undertake this adventure, Cooper must leave his family behind on Earth for the sake of all of mankind.
“Interstellar,” nominated for five Academy Awards and holding the winning title for one of them–Best Visual Effects–balances the intricate themes of love, family and bravery. While these can be perceived as simple themes, the film emphasizes and articulates the intense complexities of each.
IMAX theaters and movies utilize state-of-the-art screens, sounds, seating, projections, film and cameras which enhance not only the film, but the emotions of the audience. IMAX theaters create one of the greatest movie experiences viewers can witness, but “Interstellar’s” IMAX showing in particular was phenomenal.
The film’s incredible visuals were painted across the wide screen, with each and every detail being perfectly clear and pristine. The action, drama and suspense scenes evoked vast levels of fear, melancholy and tension (especially the Miller’s Planet scene).
The remarkable sound also played a massive part in contributing to the immersive experience. The sounds that surrounded the audience placed them into the film, surrounded by the vastness of space, the spirit of the characters and the moving music.
The second I found out “Interstellar” was being rereleased in its IMAX format in theaters, I knew I wanted to go. Although I had already seen the film, I felt that the IMAX version would offer a different, unique viewing of the film. Watching the film on a traditional television screen or device still provides an emotional experience but watching it in an IMAX theater doubled that intense, emotional response within the audience.
As the lights dimmed, the excitement spread; and nearly three hours later, as the lights brightened, the excitement still existed, but rather, a newly kindled form of it, crafted through the strong impact of the cinema’s grasp.
In the film, Dr. Brand said to Cooper: “Love is the one thing we’re capable of perceiving that transcends dimensions of time and space,” and while this may or may not be true, what is for certain is that love transcended through this extraordinary, one-of-a-kind movie experience.
