Technology and innovation are fundamentally linked to the film industry. Every year, new techniques and tools debut that filmmakers from years gone by could have only dreamed of. However, sometimes trends are not a matter of moving forward, but going back in time and returning to long forgotten technniques. Despite the advanced CGI and camera techniques already present in Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice, it now seems that Warner Bros may take a cue from history and release the superhero showdown in an iconic yet seldom used film stock.
A new report from THR indicates the very real possibility that Warner Bros are considering releasing Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice in 70mm on select screens. There’s been ample talk about 70mm lately, as if it’s a new kid on the block, but the reality is that the use of the film stock is actually a return to form for Hollywood studios. Many iconic roadhouse films such as Lawrence of Arabia utlilzed the film decades ago, and after a long sabbatical it is now experiencing something of a resurgence.
The primary reason that Batman V Superman can consider a release such as this is because much of the legwork has already been done. Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight will be hitting theaters soon, and that marks the first movie to utilize 70mm in decades. Bringing the film to screen required an immense investment of time, money, and effort to equip and train movie theater employees with everything they need to properly project the film stock. However, now that all that work has been done, future releases like Batman V Superman can benefit from the hard work put in by Tarantino and The Weinstein Company.
While there’s decidedly more work involved when it comes to using 70mm film stock, the benefits are generally considered to outweigh the drawbacks in the eyes of auteur filmmakers. 70mm provides stability and clarity of image that simply cannot be achieved on cheaper, easier film stocks like the more commonly used 35mm, and I think we can all agree we want our Dark Knight and Man of Steel to look as good as possible when they begin their tussle with Doomsday and Lex Luthor.
So for those of you cinephiles out there who revel in the aesthetic quality of a film, the hope still remains that the showdown between DC’s two biggest titans will look as good as it can possible be. Despite The Hollywood Reporter's claims to the contrary, Warner Bros hasn't confirmed if they will release Batman V Superman: Dawn of Justice in 70mm, but it goes without saying that we will be keeping our fingers crossed. The film stars Henry Cavill, Ben Affleck, Gal Gadot, and Jesse Eisenberg, and will hit theaters on March 25, 2016.
