Imax firmly believes that big screens are the next big things at the local bijou. According to Variety, "Imax Corp. will install 100 Imax digital screens in AMC theaters in 33 top U.S. markets over the next three years. Move will double the number of commercial Imax screens nationwide."

Some screens will be outfitted in theaters within a year. "By far, this is our largest partnership to date," Imax co-chair/co-CEO Bradley J. Wechsler said. "People love Imax, and they are willing to pay more to see a movie on an Imax screen." Rollout of the first 50 screens will begin in July 2008. An additional 25 will be installed in 2009 and the remaining 25 in 2010.

The Variety article neglected to mention where the new Imax screens will be located, but a look at the Imax press site solved the problem. 

Some of the locations will include "AMC South Barrington 30, Chicago; AMC Mesquite 30, Dallas; AMC Gulf Pointe 30, Houston; AMC Century City 15, Los Angeles; AMC Empire 25, New York; AMC Neshaminy 24, Philadelphia; AMC Eastridge 15, San Francisco; AMC Hoffman Center 22, Washington D.C." This means that Imax movies will be easier to get to. For many folks nationwide, it'll be less than a half hour drive away.

What Imax 3-D can do is make a middling movie like Beowulf into one terrific roller coaster ride. Then again, when you see any actor's mug, blown up in a gigantic closeup, you cringe at too much information. Way too much.