Large Format/"Premium" Theaters (IMAX 15/70, Digital IMAX, XD, ETX, RPX, etc.)

[Poya]

Originally Posted by BaerGriggs

I'll be seeing it next Monday most likely at the AMC Barrywoods in KC. Really looking forward to it, that theater sounds incredible and it's just below IMAX 70mm in terms of presentation and sound in my opinion. I don't believe that this film will be utilizing the HDR Dolby Vision capabilities that AMC Prime now includes but still should be a great show. Hopefully more and more films will now have Dolby Vision and Dolby Atmos included now that Star Wars has.

It does use Dolby Vision. Lubezki confirmed that to be true. I haven't seen the film yet in the format but I did see a regular screening of it in 4K and it looked amazing. Can't wait to see it in Dolby Cinema.

[BaerGriggs]

Originally Posted by Poya

It does use Dolby Vision. Lubezki confirmed that to be true. I haven't seen the film yet in the format but I did see a regular screening of it in 4K and it looked amazing. Can't wait to see it in Dolby Cinema.

Looks like you're correct, for some reason AMC's website hadn't been updated with that info last week but now it is. It did look incredible in that format to say the least.

[BJKH]

Has anyone watched Star Wars in D-Box? I'm kinda interested in seeing it again in that format but I've never done D-Box before.

[xbs2034]

Since I saw some people asking about The Revenant in Dolby Cinema, I should note it is also releasing in IMAX this weekend. I think the IMAX rollout may be more international focused, but it will have some kind of American release as well (see in NYC it is playing at the Penn Station IMAX, though the other 3 locations are continuing with Star Wars)

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by BJKH

Has anyone watched Star Wars in D-Box? I'm kinda interested in seeing it again in that format but I've never done D-Box before.

I really enjoyed it in DBOX, while there were some bits that were not necessary like a big thud when Rey first puts her staff away, MOST of everything else was done really well. The lightsabers, the ships, DBOX was awesome.

That said I saw Laser IMAX in Toronto on the week-end and from a picture quality perspective it blew away everything else I've ever seen. The lack of ambient light on the screen from the cinema (they've intentionally tried to limit it), the black levels, the supreme contrast, I mean I'd handily recommend it long before getting to how awesome the 70mm scene is.

I'm really glad I experienced DBOX (it was my 2nd time after Avengers) but honestly if I could go back and redo, I'd have booked us into Laser IMAX (and it's 40 mins further drive than the DBOX screen is)

As usual with IMAX I recommend taking high fidelity ear plugs like Etymotic Research ER20s. The sound levels are perfect and the 12-channel mix I found more immersive than the Atmos mix.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by dobyblue

As usual with IMAX I recommend taking high fidelity ear plugs like Etymotic Research ER20s. The sound levels are perfect and the 12-channel mix I found more immersive than the Atmos mix.

If the levels are "perfect" you don't need ear plugs.

[Spike M.]

Weirdly, two of the last three IMAX theaters I've been too had the volume far too low. One was a system error; management didn't check the volume, instead relying on the "laser alignment" to set it for them, and turned it up nice and loud immediately upon realizing what was happening. The other was the worst sound system I've ever heard in a movie theater. Low volume, almost no "power", there was apparent reverb and a distinct echo in the room.

Outside of an IMAX theater and my two 70mm screening's of The Hateful Eight, where you know, there was an actual projectionist, I literally can't remember the last time I thought the volume in a theater was high enough. I've started seeking out indie theaters despite their equipment being worse, since they usually have a proper projectionist on hand, or at the very least a staff that cares.

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

Originally Posted by Spike M.

Weirdly, two of the last three IMAX theaters I've been too had the volume far too low. One was a system error; management didn't check the volume, instead relying on the "laser alignment" to set it for them, and turned it up nice and loud immediately upon realizing what was happening. The other was the worst sound system I've ever heard in a movie theater. Low volume, almost no "power", there was apparent reverb and a distinct echo in the room.

Outside of an IMAX theater and my two 70mm screening's of The Hateful Eight, where you know, there was an actual projectionist, I literally can't remember the last time I thought the volume in a theater was high enough. I've started seeking out indie theaters despite their equipment being worse, since they usually have a proper projectionist on hand, or at the very least a staff that cares.

All the IMAX I've ever been to have been horrifically loud. Definitely enough to damage hearing, not comfortable, don't know they have to overdo it so much. A couple shows, even with full on earplugs, even talking still made me wince at times.

I've heard that some people have been taking sound meters into various theaters these days and some have recorded AVERAGE 100dB over 2 hours and peaks of 130dB or more! That is insane and not in a good way.

If you can't recall the last time a place had the volume loud enough than you probably already severely damaged your hearing (and this not a joke I am being serious).

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

Speaking of that, does anyone know what the audio level is like for the new Laser IMAX at Airbus in VA and Reading in MA? Also how is the new laser projection? I believe Airbus screen is 86' wide anyone know the Reading dimensions? Is it true that even the most distant seats at Airbus are too close?
Do the buttkickers shake you in annoying ways at Reading even make it uncomfortable and vibrate your innards or just wiggle the chairs a little?

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

If the levels are "perfect" you don't need ear plugs.

Exactly. And sadly it is hard to find ANY auditorium these days where you don't need earplugs, although there are a scattered few, none on the biggest, nicest screens though.

[WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW]

Originally Posted by 42041

Saw SW in Imax Laser this evening (first time seeing their new laser projection setup) and man, I'm kinda regretting it... like I usually do with IMAX blowups. The laser projection seems great, mind you, a more than worthy replacement for their 70mm system, but the best looking part of the presentation was the IMAX promo reel... actual movies continue to look subpar blown up to a screen sized for 15/70. Really hope they bring that tech to more screens that aren't absurdly large.

What theater?

[dobyblue]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

If the levels are "perfect" you don't need ear plugs.

I thought what I said was pretty hard to misunderstand given that I included the second sentence in the same paragraph but I'll try and state it again in an attempt to clarify - once I had my ER20s in the sound levels were perfect.

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW

All the IMAX I've ever been to have been horrifically loud. Definitely enough to damage hearing, not comfortable, don't know they have to overdo it so much. A couple shows, even with full on earplugs, even talking still made me wince at times.

I've heard that some people have been taking sound meters into various theaters these days and some have recorded AVERAGE 100dB over 2 hours and peaks of 130dB or more! That is insane and not in a good way.

If you can't recall the last time a place had the volume loud enough than you probably already severely damaged your hearing (and this not a joke I am being serious).

It's not that I'm hard of hearing, but I adamantly subscribe to the philosophy that volume should be set to a level where neutral dialogue fills the room. It should command the audiences attention, and in a theater with a proper sound system, you should "feel" action beats vibrating through you as if you were at a concert or a musical.

This isn't just a personal quirk of mine. I spent a little over a year as a film and digital projectionist, and the "guideline" is what I described above, which is why it's no coincidence that theater's with a real projectionist always get it right. Tarantino seems to think as much, he personally set the volume on a screening of The Hateful Eight I went to and I thought it was perfect.

I don't want to make it seem like IMAX is generally too low, though. Just last month I went to a Star Wars screening that was far too loud. But that isn't indicative of what I normally experience in a regular theater.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW

All the IMAX I've ever been to have been horrifically loud. Definitely enough to damage hearing, not comfortable, don't know they have to overdo it so much. A couple shows, even with full on earplugs, even talking still made me wince at times.

Pretty much all the IMAX theaters I've been to are the same way. The one closest to me is the worst. You can actually hear the distortion from the speakers being overdriven.

[xbs2034]

While not exactly a premium large format location, New York's historic Ziegfeld theater (a large single screen movie palace with over 1000 seats, which continued to host many movie premieres and was one of the few locations with a 70mm projector ready to plug in and go) is closing in a few weeks to be converted into a ballroom. Force Awakens will likely be the final film to play there.

[Creed]

Suicide Squad is in IMAX 3D. Yes or no, do you think the movie will look good in the format since Barbados don't have one?

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by xbs2034

While not exactly a premium large format location, New York's historic Ziegfeld theater (a large single screen movie palace with over 1000 seats, which continued to host many movie premieres and was one of the few locations with a 70mm projector ready to plug in and go) is closing in a few weeks to be converted into a ballroom. Force Awakens will likely be the final film to play there.

That's a real bummer.

[dvdmike]

Originally Posted by creed123

Suicide Squad is in IMAX 3D. Yes or no, do you think the movie will look good in the format since Barbados don't have one?

3d means a 2k DMR upscale, large format with atmos may be better

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by WBMakeVMarsMovieNOW

Speaking of that, does anyone know what the audio level is like for the new Laser IMAX at Airbus in VA and Reading in MA? Also how is the new laser projection? I believe Airbus screen is 86' wide anyone know the Reading dimensions? Is it true that even the most distant seats at Airbus are too close?
Do the buttkickers shake you in annoying ways at Reading even make it uncomfortable and vibrate your innards or just wiggle the chairs a little?

Yes correct - the screen is 86 ft wide. As to volume levels I thought the volume for 'The Force Awakens' was the loudest; 'San Andreas' was fun loud, but Episode 7 was pushing it to the extreme in not a good way. Of the three Smithsonian IMAX screens yes Airbus' distance of the screen to the back row isn't deep as the Lockheed Martin theater (down at the in town National Mall Air & Space museum) Lockheed' s screen is currently closed for its conversion to laser - reopening in March).

[Creed]

Originally Posted by dvdmike

3d means a 2k DMR upscale, large format with atmos may be better

Thanks for the reply.