So, let’s talk IMAX. First, the transference from the original film to restoration print, then, finally to the IMAX format, is absolutely impressive. If you’ve seen the documentary, you know the restoration is good (eight out of ten), and when blown up to IMAX quality, it’s not perfect by any stretch, but it’s good enough—no complaints.
The sound throughout IMAX: The Beatles: Get Back – The Rooftop Concert is incredible. For this special screening, Jackson answered crowd questions, and he noted he was not an audio expert but remarked how immaculate the original recordings were in quality and preservation. Considering the concert was on top of a roof, there was no wind distortion on the original vocal recordings, and each instrument was pulled directly from the amps for the cleanest tracks. In the IMAX theater, the sound was top-notch studio quality and unbelievable that it was all captured live and sounded perfect as if right off the album.
“It was like church with the return of the communal experience you can only get in a packed theater…”
While watching the concert, I noticed just how much fun John, Paul, George, and Ringo were having. They were shakey at first, but soon they kicked into full Beatles mode. When you go to a concert, there’s a level of professionalism and performance going on. Here, the lads felt free and easygoing. Better yet, you get each one’s personality shining through. There’s a friendship and camaraderie that was authentic and never appropriately captured in any of their time previously on-screen. It’s the difference between performing at Dodger Stadium versus the intimate Cavern Club, where they began in Liverpool. The IMAX print just brought their friendship out in a way that the streaming service couldn’t do (with the exact same footage).
Remember being in a theater with people. My IMAX theater was full of people way older than me (and I’m pretty old myself). It felt like a concert, but better because the giant screens hanging over the performers are shoved right against your face in IMAX. It was like church with the return of the communal experience you can only get in a packed theater before the pandemic. IMAX: The Beatles: Get Back – The Rooftop Concert is required viewing for every fan of The Beatles and a big hats-off to Peter Jackson’s service to cinema history.
Jackson mentioned that while making The Beatles: Get Back, he interviewed as many people as he could who were there (including one of the cops prominently featured) and wisely recorded those interviews (professionally) for research. He suggested that we fans politely (and in large numbers) ask Disney for a proper Beatles documentary considering all the footage has already been shot.
"…each one’s personality [shines] through."
