IMAX puts 3D spin on science films with “Hubble 3D”

By Michael Goldman

LOS ANGELES (Reuters) – IMAX has returned to outer space with the movie “IMAX: Hubble 3D,” a documentary that harks back to IMAX’s roots in science films, but spins into a 3D, Hollywood orbit.

In recent years, the company known for giant-screen films has carved out a valuable business boosting the size of big-budget studio movies like “Avatar” and “How to Train Your Dragon” to suit larger screens, both in 2D and 3D. With its newest effort, however, IMAX returns to its role of offering large-format science films, albeit this time in trendy 3D.

“IMAX: Hubble 3D” documents the May 2009 space shuttle mission to repair the Hubble Space Telescope. To capture that footage, a crew of IMAX veterans relied on astronauts to be filmmakers. It was a challenging collaboration led by director Toni Myers and her IMAX crew, teaming with seven astronauts, a NASA support team, one giant camera, space shuttle Atlantis and the galaxy’s most famous telescope.

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