Aziz Ansari has started a campaign against AMC because he feels some of their IMAX showings are duping consumers into paying an extra $5. Aziz, one of my favorite comedians who has gained success from MTV's Human Giant and the new NBC show Parks and Recreation, recently blogged about paying the extra $5 to see Star Trek on an IMAX screen that was not much bigger than a regular-sized screen. With some research, he uncovered the truth behind IMAX and AMC’s scheme. Check the graphic, from the LF Examiner website explaining the differences. Look how much bigger Lincoln Center’s IMAX is compared to Empire 25’s. Both are billed as IMAX movies, yet one is definitely not worth the extra money.

IMAX claims their smaller screens still give audience members “the IMAX Experience,” but I disagree. Since Star Trek was not shot in IMAX film like those fish and space movies you see on field trips, it’s nothing more than a blown up version of the regular 35 mm film. It is digitally tweaked and the sound is possibly better, but the size of the screen matters for any Hollywood crossover to IMAX. According to the LF Examiner, 72 of the 138 screens are the smaller size. One blogger has started a Google Map of the real and fake IMAX screens across the country.

Richard Gelfond, the CEO of IMAX, has responded to Aziz, “The overwhelming majority of comments on that guy’s blog this morning, more than 90% of them, are vehemently disagreeing with him. And consumers are confirming this with their continued purchases of tickets.” Aziz wrote back, “Who did those numbers? The same guy who measures your bullshit tiny IMAX screens???”

As for me, I already thought IMAX was a rip-off. Even on a big screen, it couldn’t make 300 not suck. When I see Star Trek, I’ll see it on a regular screen on a Tuesday for free. Thanks, Optimum Triple Play! Screw you AMC!