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

[FAShaffi]

I hope they do if it's letterboxed, but I've read of some Dolby Cinemas in LA that don't matte in that situation, that's why I was wondering

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by FAShaffi

for anyone who has been to the Dolby Cinema at AMC Tysons, is the screen scope or flat? I'm going to to go see X-Men here on Wednesday and it's my first experience with Dolby Cinema, just wondering if the film will fill up the whole screen or be letterboxed? Thanks!

It's flat.

Of the two scope films I've seen they've letterboxed the image

[UFAlien]

According to RottenTomatoes, some Cinemark XD locations now use laser projection. I found an article from 2014 about it, but it doesn't actually mention any specific locations or even the number of installations:

http://lipainfo.org/cinemark-first-t...image-quality/

Anyone have any information about the size and locations of the rollout?

[FAShaffi]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

It's flat.

Of the two scope films I've seen they've letterboxed the image

thanks so much!

[xbs2034]

Ninja Turtles is getting a domestic IMAX 3D release, announced at the last minute.

https://mobile.twitter.com/IMAX/stat...42820399353856

I'm guessing IMAX was planning on playing Alice for another week before Warcraft, but that film's poor opening changed their plans (I also heard non IMAX PLFs playing X-Men did much better than the IMAX sites for Alice last weekend).

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by xbs2034

Ninja Turtles is getting a domestic IMAX 3D release, announced at the last minute.

https://mobile.twitter.com/IMAX/stat...42820399353856

I'm guessing IMAX was planning on playing Alice for another week before Warcraft, but that film's poor opening changed their plans (I also heard non IMAX PLFs playing X-Men did much better than the IMAX sites for Alice last weekend).

looks like the Airbus IMAX theater is stuck with Alice til Warcraft - if I were them, I'd just get the DCP's of 'Xmen' and show that to get folk to trek out there.

EDIT: no, they changed over to Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles 2

EDIT: annoyingly they wont do the week long run of 'Finding Dory' before 'Independence Day: Resurgence'

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by UFAlien

According to RottenTomatoes, some Cinemark XD locations now use laser projection. I found an article from 2014 about it, but it doesn't actually mention any specific locations or even the number of installations:

http://lipainfo.org/cinemark-first-t...image-quality/

Anyone have any information about the size and locations of the rollout?

is this the same thing essentially?

Cinemark Ultra3D

[FAShaffi]

Hello all,

For anyone in the DC area, has anyone gotten a chance to checkout the ArcLight Bethesda? Wanted to check out this theater when the new Independence Day movie comes out next week, and I want to try the “widescreen” theater (which I believe is Auditorium 6). For anyone who has been, are scope or anamorphic movies shot in 2.39 letterboxed on this screen? or is it true widescreen with no bars above and below the image?

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by FAShaffi

Hello all,

For anyone in the DC area, has anyone gotten a chance to checkout the ArcLight Bethesda? Wanted to check out this theater when the new Independence Day movie comes out next week, and I want to try the “widescreen” theater (which I believe is Auditorium 6). For anyone who has been, are scope or anamorphic movies shot in 2.39 letterboxed on this screen? or is it true widescreen with no bars above and below the image?

the screen changes from flat films to scope films it descends down to do the latter. And yes, it's auditorium 6, while 7 isn't as large as 6 it also can playback Dolby Atmos features as such.

[FAShaffi]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

the screen changes from flat films to scope films it descends down to do the latter. And yes, it's auditorium 6, while 7 isn't as large as 6 it also can playback Dolby Atmos features as such.

what do you mean by "descend down" exactly?

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by FAShaffi

what do you mean by "descend down" exactly?

Vertically masking - the bottom is fixed in a stationary setting, the top mechanically is adjusted to slide down to make the screen scope and not have dead /dark space (letterboxing)

[xbs2034]

[QUOTE=Dubstar;12269476

EDIT: annoyingly they wont do the week long run of 'Finding Dory' before 'Independence Day: Resurgence'[/QUOTE]

It seems like IMAX is splitting screens between Dory and Warcraft in general this weekend, and based on the IMAX theater list I didn't notice any laser locations for Dory so possible they didn't do an IMAX laser master (seems like a waste, Warcraft had a poor opening and is looking at some huge drop, and Dory will set the animated feature opening record).

But the film does work well with a 1.9 IMAX screen, and in particular the short before the film looked outstanding in digital IMAX. Also noticed that in the IMAX trailer section, both The BFG and Beauty and the Beast were included. Hadn't heard about either film being announced for IMAX before, but I checked and saw The BFG was indeed just announced for "select" IMAX 3D screens (with Legend of Tarzan also that weekend and possibly even some locations still showing IDR, imagine that will be one of those weeks with a lot of IMAX screen splitting going around).

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by xbs2034

It seems like IMAX is splitting screens between Dory and Warcraft in general this weekend, and based on the IMAX theater list I didn't notice any laser locations for Dory so possible they didn't do an IMAX laser master (seems like a waste, Warcraft had a poor opening and is looking at some huge drop, and Dory will set the animated feature opening record).

But the film does work well with a 1.9 IMAX screen, and in particular the short before the film looked outstanding in digital IMAX. Also noticed that in the IMAX trailer section, both The BFG and Beauty and the Beast were included. Hadn't heard about either film being announced for IMAX before, but I checked and saw The BFG was indeed just announced for "select" IMAX 3D screens (with Legend of Tarzan also that weekend and possibly even some locations still showing IDR, imagine that will be one of those weeks with a lot of IMAX screen splitting going around).

I don't get why Spielberg went with the scope 2.39 framing for 'BFG' he was smart when he filmed 'Jurassic Park' in knowing that in order to depict height (of the dinosaurs) - having a wide screen doesn't achieve that. Whatever... it's water under the bridge at this point, not much you can do.

on the topic of IMAX-laser, and more specifically: 'Finding Dory' I'll want to see it again but on the Dolby Cinema screen next week - the presentation I saw yesterday in 3D really de-saturated the colors and brightness with the glasses. Impressive Atmos mix, less than stellar 3D.

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I don't get why Spielberg went with the scope 2.39 framing for 'BFG' he was smart when he filmed 'Jurassic Park' in knowing that in order to depict height (of the dinosaurs) - having a wide screen doesn't achieve that. Whatever... it's water under the bridge at this point, not much you can do.

on the topic of IMAX-laser, and more specifically: 'Finding Dory' I'll want to see it again but on the Dolby Cinema screen next week - the presentation I saw yesterday in 3D really de-saturated the colors and brightness with the glasses. Impressive Atmos mix, less than stellar 3D.

I think it may be a stylistic thing with Spielberg now to shoot 2:35, as I don't think he's done 1:85 since War of the Worlds. Though actually he overruled the DP on Jurassic World who wanted to shoot 2:35, which is why Trevorrow came up with the compromise 2.00 ratio.

Usually I find 3D brightness isn't a problem with a good theater that knows what they're doing, but always a shame when the image is projected too dark. In IMAX, the 3D in Dory was still pretty medium level (actually again the best use of 3D was in the short, I don't think Pixar will ever go big on pop-outs but there was a strong sense of depth and immersion in the image in the short), but it was a bright and colorful picture in many scenes.

[Geoff D]

Funny that Señor Spielbergo has gone back to proper widescreen, he seemed to avoid it like the plague at one point

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I don't get why Spielberg went with the scope 2.39 framing for 'BFG' he was smart when he filmed 'Jurassic Park' in knowing that in order to depict height (of the dinosaurs) - having a wide screen doesn't achieve that. Whatever... it's water under the bridge at this point, not much you can do.

Nearly every GODZILLA film since the '60s have been shot 'scope (Japanese and both American remakes).


So have the past 2 KING KONG films (1976, 2005).


You don't need 1.85 for "height".

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by PeterTHX

Nearly every GODZILLA film since the '60s have been shot 'scope (Japanese and both American remakes).


So have the past 2 KING KONG films (1976, 2005).


You don't need 1.85 for "height".

Yeah, that was the nonsensical reason Whedon gave for shooting the first Avengers in 1.85; to show off the Hulk's scale. Obviously he came to his senses afterwards.

The trick is good framing and blocking. The AR doesn't matter.

[Dubstar]

yet with most new theater construction with screens that do vertical masking - 1.85 screens make sense to have an image that takes up the whole wall versus 2.39 film that diminishes the screen. It's the same concept why some movies are reframed for IMAX to take up more of the screen, black borders above and below the screen wastes the space.

[Dubstar]

I went to see 'Finding Dory' a second time tonight - but this time in Dolby Cinema over at AMC Tysons' and while the laser projection was simply outstanding (outside of the annoying red light haze in the corners of the bottom of the screen)

BUT...

the sound was truly terrible as compared to what I heard last week over at Bethesda's Dolby Atmos 'widescreen' screen - you could barely hear the overhead or rear sound cues, voices seemed pushed too forward (and loud) and caused some to sound very sibilant (this was also the case for 'Captain America: Civil War') all in all - it was no where as immersive to my initial screening of 'Dory'. I'm not sure if it's the dimensions of the room or it's size, but Dolby needs to recalibrate it something, it's just not acceptable and doesn't show off Atmos to it's fullest extent. In it's former ETX form it was fine, but whatever Dolby did they somehow made it worse.

[PeterTHX]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I I'm not sure if it's the dimensions of the room or it's size, but Dolby needs to recalibrate it something, it's just not acceptable and doesn't show off Atmos to it's fullest extent. In it's former ETX form it was fine, but whatever Dolby did they somehow made it worse.

Or the cinema themselves have screwed with the levels.