The Walk: A Review of an IMAX experience

I've been watching IMAX since I started reviewing movies for local distributors. Although it is fun to watch a movie on IMAX, there are only few movies that are best seen for IMAX format.

Photo courtesy of Warner Bros.

The Walk is based on a true story about the French tightrope walker Philippe Petit(played by Joseph Gordon-Levitt)  who walked between the two towers of the World Trade Center in the 70's. I heard stories about this incredible act but I never got to see any footage of this.

I'm a fan of director Robert Zemeckis since Back To The Future trilogy. Since Flight, I've noticed that he gave a different direction to his movies. From an almost-wholesome to a darker or mature themed movie.

What I didn't realize that not only that Zemeckis brought back a 70's New York environment, he also brought us back to the World Trade Center. I have no doubts that Zemeckis is a good storyteller but this is the first time he broke the fourth wall. By making Phillipe narrates his story to the audience is something that he never did before.

This is probably the best performance of Gordon-Levitt ever. I've seen his movies in his younger years but this is probably his best performance that may give him a nomination or better yet an award. I've seen actors acted French but it was Gordon-Levitt's performance that will make you convinced that he is French. His diction and manner of speaking the language is flawless.

As for the 3D, it is very fluid. The production didn't waste any scene especially the climactic tightrope scenes. As for the IMAX, it is the best movie format to watch it. Watching it in regular 2D won't compliment the movie.

It gives you the feeling that you are walking the tightrope with Phillipe as he crosses between the two towers. When we watched it on IMAX cinema at SM Megamall, we were really tensed watching that scene. If you have acrophobia or fear of heights, you better braced yourselves. You may grab hold your armrest tightly as I did.

Despite my fear of heights, I still think this is the best movie that will open this week. I guarantee this is a must-see. For more quality movie reviews, follow this blog and like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook. The Walk opens on October 14 in IMAX 3D, Digital 3D, and 2D cinemas across the Philippines. Rated PG by MTRCB.

HIGH-WIRE THRILLER “THE WALK” LAUNCHES NEW TRAILER

Press release

Columbia Pictures has just launched the new trailer for “The Walk,” a true story based on French high-wire artist Philippe Petit's book "To Reach the Clouds".

            Directed by Academy Award-winner Robert Zemeckis, “The Walk” stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the young dreamer who dared the impossible: an illegal wire walk between the World Trade Center towers. Last August 7, 2014 is the 40th anniversary of the astounding event, now being brought back to vivid life in the third act climax of the film.

            Twelve people have walked on the moon.  Only one has ever, or will ever, walk in the immense void between the World Trade Center towers.  Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt), guided by his real-life mentor, Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), is aided by an unlikely band of international recruits, who overcome long odds, betrayals, dissension and countless close calls to conceive and execute their mad plan. 

            Robert Zemeckis, the master director of such marvels as “Forrest Gump,” “Cast Away,” “Back to the Future,” “Polar Express” and “Flight,” again uses cutting edge technology in the service of an emotional, character-driven story.  With innovative photorealistic techniques and IMAX® 3D wizardry, “The Walk” is genuine big-screen cinema, a chance for moviegoers to viscerally experience the feeling of reaching the clouds. 

            It is also one of the more rare live-action films that is a PG-rated, all-audience entertainment for moviegoers 8 to 80 – and a true story to boot.  It is unlike anything audiences have seen before, a love letter to Paris and New York City in the 1970s, but most of all, to the Towers of the World Trade Center.

Opening across the Philippines in October 07, “The Walk” is distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International.

STEP INTO THE TEASER TRAILER OF “THE WALK”

Movie trailer release

The exhilarating first trailer of director Robert Zemeckis' new thriller “The Walk,” a true story based on French high-wire artist Philippe Petit's book "To Reach the Clouds," has just been released and may be viewed here at the video above.

Photo courtesy of Columbia Pictures

“The Walk” stars Joseph Gordon-Levitt as the young dreamer who dared the impossible: an illegal wire walk between the World Trade Center towers. Last August 7, 2014 is the 40th anniversary of the astounding event, now being brought back to vivid life in the third act climax of the film.

Twelve people have walked on the moon, but only one man has ever, or will ever, walk in the immense void between the World Trade Center towers. Guided by his real-life mentor, Papa Rudy (Ben Kingsley), and aided by an unlikely band of international recruits, Petit and his gang overcome long odds, betrayals, dissension and countless close calls to conceive and execute their mad plan.

Robert Zemeckis, the director of such marvels as “Forrest Gump,” “Cast Away,” “Back to The Future,” “The Polar Express” and “Flight,” again uses cutting edge technology in the service of an emotional, character-driven story. With innovative photorealistic techniques and IMAX 3D wizardry, “The Walk” is true big-screen cinema, a chance for moviegoers to viscerally experience the feeling of reaching the clouds. The film is a love letter to Paris and New York City in the 1970s, but most of all, to the Towers of the World Trade Center.

Opening across the Philippines in October 2015, “The Walk” will be distributed by Columbia Pictures, local office of Sony Pictures Releasing International. For more trailer releases, follow this blog or like L.E.N.S. blogs on Facebook.