Keanu Reeves manages to look even cooler than normal in the IMAX format of The Matrix Reloaded. All photos courtesy of Warner Bros. Pictures.

The first thing Matrix Reloaded viewers will notice about the new IMAX version, opening June 6, 2003, in select theaters in North America and later on internationally, is the razor sharp imagery and greater color saturation — despite that funky green hue — not to mention Don Davis' more thumping score. In fact, with the preponderance of close-ups on the giant screen, you can almost count the pores on the actors' faces in the 15 perf/70mm large format. No matter what you think of the second installment of the mind-bending trilogy by the Wachowski Brothers, it's definitely a more intense experience in IMAX.

Mind you, this is no 35mm blow-up, but a full-blown IMAX conversion, courtesy of the company's DMR (Digital Re-Mastering) software. The process starts by scanning at the highest resolution each individual frame of the 35mm film and converting them into digital images; then the image enhancement tools prepares for printing onto 70mm film. DMR degrains, redistributes grain more naturally and sharpens and color corrects.

This IMAX version is no blow-up from 35mm, but a full conversion, giving viewers more detail, sharpness and color.

Matrix Reloaded marks the third DMR conversion for IMAX (Apollo 13 and Star Wars: Episode II — Attack of the Clones were the other two). On November 5, 2003, the final film in the trilogy, Matrix Revolutions, will launch in IMAX day-and-date with the conventional 35mm rollout — a first for IMAX, which is definitely attempting to mainstream its image with the help of studios and the CAA talent agency.

"IMAX is an ideal venue for the event Hollywood film," remarks Bruce Bonnick, sr vp technology. "Matrix [Revolutions] was a good fit. The bigger screen pulls you in more and there's increased color saturation, as DMR adjusts to both the IMAX screen and projections system, which pulls out substantially more light. And the soundtrack for the Matrix is powerful. I personally don't think 35mm systems have the head room to accommodate such soundtracks. IMAX is uncompressed and shows off the highs and lows."

Prior to Reloaded, the knock on IMAX's conversion has been the trimming of Apollo 13 and Attack of the Clones to accommodate a two-hour running time, and the altering of the original aspect ratio to conform to the box shape of IMAX screens. Both of these have been rectified. The platter system has been modified to handle up to 150 minutes and Reloaded's original 2.35:1 format has been retained at the request of the filmmakers, leaving a slight blank spot depending on the size of the particular IMAX screen.