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

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by UFAlien

When did they finish their changeover? Seems like AMC's doing a pretty solid pace with these, it wasn't listed as laser when I updated the map just a couple weeks ago.

Today's Penguins and Hellboy was the debut of the new system

[leftyflip86]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

They don't recline but they are brand new and have a little bounce to them (with cupholders) they look quite sleek - I'll try to post the pic I took of them - I like them

Is the seating capacity the same? I assume that the new seats are a bit larger than the originals.

Has anyone been to any of the recent AMC Prime retrofits? One I've been to had good presentation (projection and sound wise) but the recliners were so crammed together that it was hard to walk through the aisles, even with the footrests down before the show. The rows are so narrow that they couldn't fit divider walls between the rows like the other auditoriums in the theater, which have more adequate row spacing (obviously with less seating capacity due to recliners).

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by leftyflip86

Is the seating capacity the same? I assume that the new seats are a bit larger than the originals.

Has anyone been to any of the recent AMC Prime retrofits? One I've been to had good presentation (projection and sound wise) but the recliners were so crammed together that it was hard to walk through the aisles, even with the footrests down before the show. The rows are so narrow that they couldn't fit divider walls between the rows like the other auditoriums in the theater, which have more adequate row spacing (obviously with less seating capacity due to recliners).

I think so, 350 is the seat number

the new AMC Prime at the Rio Gaithersburg Maryland location is great, the rows aren't too cramped and with an Atmos system to boot - it's a nice smaller auditorium

[Falaskan]

I can't get over 4DX since seeing MI:Fallout. I was nearly thrown from my chair during the helicopter crash scene. Definitely gonna see my favorites in this format.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Falaskan

I can't get over 4DX since seeing MI:Fallout. I was nearly thrown from my chair during the helicopter crash scene. Definitely gonna see my favorites in this format.

If you had actually been thrown from the chair, there's a good chance you could have sued for damages!!

[Schism213]

Is UltraAVX at Cineplex theatres essentially 4K projection w/ Atmos sound?

[Agent Kay]

Seeing endgame in my first laser IMAX trip in a few hours.
I have tickets right after for it in one of only 2 UK Dolby cinemas, but seeing it back to back is not happening now due to travel.
But I may pop in and watch a bit to see/hear the difference back to back as a true comparison

[Dreamliner330]

I wish we had a laser IMAX theater in Minnesota. I also wish the Great Clips IMAX theater didn't close a few months ago (the only real, 6+ story tall screen in Minneosta).

I've seen Endgame twice in IMAX 3D (2K LieMAX). Both times I sat roughly 32 feet from the screen (counted ceiling tiles) and honestly, it was glorious.

IMAX 3D > *

[Agent Kay]

This is dual laser, not the biggest screen in the UK (that's Xenon) but I wanted to try this for a change and obviously the ratio played a factor.
Last night rewatching IW on 4k was the first time I thought it felt a little cramped in the framing, so looking forward to this as I saw that in the Xenon IMAX.

This was nearly a 4 hour trip tho...

[Agent Kay]

The Dolby screen was a little brighter, but did not measure up to the dual laser IMAX 3D, that is my new go to big film cinema

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

This is dual laser, not the biggest screen in the UK (that's Xenon) but I wanted to try this for a change and obviously the ratio played a factor.
Last night rewatching IW on 4k was the first time I thought it felt a little cramped in the framing, so looking forward to this as I saw that in the Xenon IMAX.

This was nearly a 4 hour trip tho...

Just got back from the regular rinky-dink 2K chain cinema I try and visit if I can, and the 'scope framing on Endgame didn't bother me for a second. IW, yes, that opening scene looks weirdly cramped while the rest I thought was fine, but this time around it was framed up noice in 'scope.

(As an aside - which I'll post here as it'll just get lost instantly in pretty much any other Endgame thread - something that bugged me with IW was how certain scenes looked a little 'stretched', that people looked a fraction too tall and thin. It's one of the perils of working with anamorphic if you don't desqueeze it properly, and I got a hell of a lot more of that same feeling in Endgame. It didn't 'wreck' the movie in any way, it's just one of the many things that Geoffy sees that no-one else does )

[CinemaFirst]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

The Dolby screen was a little brighter, but did not measure up to the dual laser IMAX 3D, that is my new go to big film cinema

Sheer screen size, and thus visual immersion: IMAX wins hands down.

Sound, however, Dolby Cinema all the way for me.

[UFAlien]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

(As an aside - which I'll post here as it'll just get lost instantly in pretty much any other Endgame thread - something that bugged me with IW was how certain scenes looked a little 'stretched', that people looked a fraction too tall and thin. It's one of the perils of working with anamorphic if you don't desqueeze it properly, and I got a hell of a lot more of that same feeling in Endgame. It didn't 'wreck' the movie in any way, it's just one of the many things that Geoffy sees that no-one else does )

I noticed it too, but only really when said characters weren't in the center of the frame. I assume it's an artifact of the lenses. Maybe they were literally using the old Ultra Panatars from the 50s and 60s for some shots? Or the new ones were built to have a "vintage" look with some of those issues.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by UFAlien

I noticed it too, but only really when said characters weren't in the center of the frame. I assume it's an artifact of the lenses. Maybe they were literally using the old Ultra Panatars from the 50s and 60s for some shots? Or the new ones were built to have a "vintage" look with some of those issues.

To my eyes it's more than just the periphery of the frame, even people in the centre look a fraction 'stretched' here and there. Besides, the actual image being recorded is about 2.65:1 when desqueezed (1.25x on the 2.11 open gate Alexa 65 sensor) and what we're seeing is a centre 'punch in' on that to 1.90, from which the 2.39 'scope is then extracted, so any of those kinds of artefacts at the extreme edge of the frame - which TBH were most chronic on the kind of cheap wide angle 2x ana glass used in european and hong kong movies decades ago - are actually being cropped out.

As for these Ultra Panatar lenses, they're completely new designs but with the appropriate UP70 squeeze and coverage of the large format image circle. Trent Opaloch didn't want the actual retro glass (which itself was extensively refurbished) as used on Hateful 8 and Rogue One. This set was so new that they didn't have a full complement of them for the start of production on IW/Endgame.

[Mike0284]

@IMAX

We’re excited to partner with @MGM_Studios and #Bond25 @IMAX Film Cameras.

[Dreamliner330]

Aren’t the new “Digital IMAX Cameras” just rebranded Arri Alexa 65’s which they show in “IMAX” in 1.90:1?

It just seems like a far cry from full resolution 70mm IMAX. Just like how IMAX went from enormous 1.43:1 screens to digital IMAX 1.90:1 retrofits.

I’m all about better quality and I do think even digital IMAX is better than most, but any idiot can figure out bigger speakers, 2 projectors and pushing the screen closer to the seats and making it as big as it will fit...my local theater has a identical non-imax room and the only difference is more seats in front of the split. They just took out seats and made the screen bigger...anyone can do that. It just seems like the IMAX brand got so diluted they opened themselves up to a takeover by Dolby who offered ‘recliners’ and audiences went bonkers.

Also, did you guys notice a new IMAX promo instead of a countdown? I liked the change but the content is lame. Not as bad as the Dolby leaf thing, but pretty cheesy. The space part was cool because it went silent and sounded like a vacuum. Lol.

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by CinemaFirst

Sheer screen size, and thus visual immersion: IMAX wins hands down.

Sound, however, Dolby Cinema all the way for me.

Disagree totally, the 12 channel mix won hands down here, their soundmixers at Disney have no idea what to do with Atmos

[Agent Kay]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

Aren’t the new “Digital IMAX Cameras” just rebranded Arri Alexa 65’s which they show in “IMAX” in 1.90:1?

It just seems like a far cry from full resolution 70mm IMAX. Just like how IMAX went from enormous 1.43:1 screens to digital IMAX 1.90:1 retrofits.

I’m all about better quality and I do think even digital IMAX is better than most, but any idiot can figure out bigger speakers, 2 projectors and pushing the screen closer to the seats and making it as big as it will fit...my local theater has a identical non-imax room and the only difference is more seats in front of the split. They just took out seats and made the screen bigger...anyone can do that. It just seems like the IMAX brand got so diluted they opened themselves up to a takeover by Dolby who offered ‘recliners’ and audiences went bonkers.

Also, did you guys notice a new IMAX promo instead of a countdown? I liked the change but the content is lame. Not as bad as the Dolby leaf thing, but pretty cheesy. The space part was cool because it went silent and sounded like a vacuum. Lol.

Bond 25 is 70mm not digital.
But yes I lament the movement to digital only screens.
This is how the few good ones in the UK stack up


I got a countdown that was the standard "filmed and mixed with IMAX stuff" one.

[Geoff D]

^ And it takes the piss that the biggest UK IMAX screen of them all in that comparison STILL doesn't have a laser installation. Gah.

Originally Posted by Mike0284

Note the reference to 1.43 picture height on the bottom right corner of the slate. Noice.

[CinemaFirst]

Originally Posted by Agent Kay

Disagree totally, the 12 channel mix won hands down here, their soundmixers at Disney have no idea what to do with Atmos

Oh really. I haven't seen Endgame in Dolby Cinema (yet). Just IMAX 12 channel (single probably) Laser. I was writing of previous experiences, where the controlled power, the precision, the tone, etc., all was superior in DC.