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

[Connoralpha]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

He loves the lens flares, you mean

What makes you say that?

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by Connoralpha

What makes you say that?

I'll answer that when you get those lights out of my face!

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

35 is not exactly 8mm though is it? I'd have thought that just shooting a major blockbuster on film would be enough to please people but nope, there it is.

Perhaps it's not a question of budget but aesthetics? JJ is a fiend for anamorphic and although you can shoot on 65 with a mild 1.25x anamorphosis using the Ultra Panatars it's not the same as the 2x glass designed for 4-perf 35. And QT gladly went back to 35 for OUATIH after Hateful 8, so it's not always about shooting on the cleanest, sharpest stuff available but evoking the texture and mood of the current story they're trying to tell. Even Roger Deakins - who's fallen in love with the Alexa LF and who's got no time for people using dodgy old glass for aesthetic effect - still likes to shoot with a very high ISO in order to retain a bit of texture on his movies.

Aye, that's true. Having it shot on film is still a good thing and 35 definitely isn't 8. I was just excited to hear a few years ago that this was going to be shot entirely in 65mm and knowing it wasn't is just frustrating to me, is all.

There is an aesthetics issue too, I suppose. For example, I think First Man's heavy usage of 16mm and 2-perf 35mm lent it a lived-in, gritty feel that I really enjoyed. Shooting those scenes in 65mm would impart a completely different feel that the DP and/or director may not want. Conversely, having the moon landing in 16mm or 2/35 instead of 15/70 would lose the impact that the scene had when I saw it in the theater.

[BluBonnet]

This should turn out to be an interesting week for those who like musical documentaries or concert films, with Western Legends playing in many Dolby screens and the Kanye thing on IMAX theaters....

[leftyflip86]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

from what I've read Cinemark's XD screens are Barco laser projectors for a while now; Auro surround sound though, why ??

I noticed that Cinemark Egyptian in Hanover, MD has screen 13 listed with XD shows of SW: The Rise of Skywalker. They also have XD D-Box listed for those same times. So we'll find out whether they still install Auro sound after that auditorium reopens as an XD large format auditorium.

The seating map indicates that they'll be retaining the seating configuration with standard recliners and D-Box enabled recliners. That should allow them to finish the conversion in a shorter period of time.

Screen 12 is the original XD auditorium, which is also listed with shows for Star Wars.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by leftyflip86

I noticed that Cinemark Egyptian in Hanover, MD has screen 13 listed with XD shows of SW: The Rise of Skywalker. They also have XD D-Box listed for those same times. So we'll find out whether they still install Auro sound after that auditorium reopens as an XD large format auditorium.

The seating map indicates that they'll be retaining the seating configuration with standard recliners and D-Box enabled recliners. That should allow them to finish the conversion in a shorter period of time.

Screen 12 is the original XD auditorium, which is also listed with shows for Star Wars.

so, I'm confused, they are retrofitting another auditorium as an XD screen?

that's weird, I'm thinking someone just denoted this wrong on the website, both screen 13 and 25 have the XD logo - only 30 D-Box seats in auditorium #25 ?!?

[leftyflip86]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

so, I'm confused, they are retrofitting another auditorium as an XD screen?

that's weird, I'm thinking someone just denoted this wrong on the website, both screen 13 and 25 have the XD logo - only 30 D-Box seats in auditorium #25 ?!?

Auditorium 25 isn't an actual auditorium, it's just used for listing D-Box tickets in auditorium 13. Because Cinemark has separate D-Box listings, they have them set as the next auditorium number after the last physical auditorium, which is 24 at this theatre. It's the same for D-Box seats in auditorium 18, which are listed as auditorium 26.

Like you, I thought they had made a mistake but nothing is listed in auditorium 13 for the next week. Upcoming November film releases "Midway" and "Ford v Ferrari" are also listed as XD in auditorium 13. Auditorium 12 continues to be used as an XD auditorium as expected, albeit without D-Box motion seats. There are other Cinemark locations with two XD auditoriums, usually theatres with higher screen counts like this one.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by leftyflip86

Auditorium 25 isn't an actual auditorium, it's just used for listing D-Box tickets in auditorium 13. Because Cinemark has separate D-Box listings, they have them set as the next auditorium number after the last physical auditorium, which is 24 at this theatre. It's the same for D-Box seats in auditorium 18, which are listed as auditorium 26.

Like you, I thought they had made a mistake but nothing is listed in auditorium 13 for the next week. Upcoming November film releases "Midway" and "Ford v Ferrari" are also listed as XD in auditorium 13. Auditorium 12 continues to be used as an XD auditorium as expected, albeit without D-Box motion seats. There are other Cinemark locations with two XD auditoriums, usually theatres with higher screen counts like this one.

a-ha - thanks for the clarification.

Fairfax Corner has two XD screens, I'm just surprised it took this long for the Egyptian to add a second XD screen.

I haven't been there in quite sometime, and i'm having a senior moment, is Auditorium 13 to the left auditorium 12 or is it on the other side of the concession stand?

[leftyflip86]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

a-ha - thanks for the clarification.

Fairfax Corner has two XD screens, I'm just surprised it took this long for the Egyptian to add a second XD screen.

I haven't been there in quite sometime, and i'm having a senior moment, is Auditorium 13 to the left auditorium 12 or is it on the other side of the concession stand?

Auditoriums 1-12 are on one side (to the left when walking into the theatre) and 13-24 are on the other. So Auditorium 13 is on the opposite side of the concession stand. Auditoriums 12 & 13 are pretty much the same size. However, Auditorium 13 has a lower seating capacity due to the extra space required by the D-Box motion seats.

[leftyflip86]

Originally Posted by leftyflip86

I noticed that Cinemark Egyptian in Hanover, MD has screen 13 listed with XD shows of SW: The Rise of Skywalker. They also have XD D-Box listed for those same times. So we'll find out whether they still install Auro sound after that auditorium reopens as an XD large format auditorium.

The seating map indicates that they'll be retaining the seating configuration with standard recliners and D-Box enabled recliners. That should allow them to finish the conversion in a shorter period of time.

Screen 12 is the original XD auditorium, which is also listed with shows for Star Wars.

Well that was fast -- they're already showing Terminator: Dark Fate on both XD screens. I wonder what they added to auditorium 13 to make it a premium large format (besides the price up charge), considering the conversion was finished so quickly: Cinemark Egyptian 24 and XD

Also noticed that they now require Cinemark Movie Rewards membership (either free Movie Fan membership or paid Movie Club membership) to receive Discount Day pricing, similar to AMC Stubs Discount Tuesdays.

[UFAlien]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

from what I've read Cinemark's XD screens are Barco laser projectors for a while now; Auro surround sound though, why ??

We've actually discussed this misconception before. Cinemark announced they'd acquire an unspecified number of laser projectors years ago, but no specifics ever really came out and more recent promos from Cinemark themselves touting XD specify the model line of projectors used for XD as Barco's high-end Xenon lamp 4K projectors.

[leftyflip86]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

from what I've read Cinemark's XD screens are Barco laser projectors for a while now; Auro surround sound though, why ??

The new XD auditorium (13) at Cinemark Egyptian has an Auro speaker configuration with two rows of side surrounds and two rows of overhead surrounds. It did sound good, with good bass production and the mid and high frequency audio wasn't overbearing like most IMAX screens I've visited. Noticed some surround panning during the plane flyover scenes in "Midway" but didn't sound like the overhead speakers were used. Projection looks like xenon, not laser -- it's brighter than most xenon projection but doesn't have the distinct look of laser projection.

I like the retrofit of the original XD auditorium (12) better. There is a wheelchair ramp in the "new" XD auditorium 13 that runs across the front of the auditorium from the right side aisle, which means the new XD screen doesn't go all the way down to the floor like the flat aspect ratio XD screen in 12. This was installed during the recliner retrofit a few years ago when it was a standard auditorium with a wide scope ratio screen. The new XD screen in 13 appears to be scope aspect ratio as well. The preshow and a few trailers in flat aspect ratio were pillarboxed (black bars on the sides) on the screen.

[Cherokee Jack]

Question for theater goers in Philly/Central NJ: Can anyone confirm the aspect ratio used at the various Dolby Cinemas in the area? I found a master list of IMAX theaters that includes screen dimensions but have had no such luck with Dolby theaters. I know the AMC Neshaminy Dolby is common height and am pretty sure the AMC Cherry Hill location is as well (Doctor Sleep was pillar boxed when I snuck in to check during my last visit). The IMAX theaters at both of those locations use Dolby-style recliner seating and the seating is steeper presumably to accommodate the taller screen; I personally prefer that arrangement to the one used at Neshaminy's common height Dolby and would like a Dolby option for 1.85:1 releases. So at this point I'm curious about the following theaters:

AMC Dine-In Fashion District (this just opened in downtown Philly)
AMC Hamilton 24
AMC New Brunswick 18
AMC Rockaway 16
AMC Aviation 12

[voltz]

Originally Posted by Scorpion Soldier

https://twitter.com/IMAX/status/1184484139984195584

That may as well be 16:9

So is the IMAX contract gonna screw over blu-ray owners on this one too?

[leftyflip86]

The first "ICE (Immersive Cinema Experience)" PLF theater in the US is opening this weekend at Regal L.A. Live in Los Angeles with "Jumanji: The Next Level" as the opening film.

According to the format's official website, ICE (Immersive Cinema Experience) uses a 4K Christie 9P laser projector with LED screens on the side walls, Dolby Atmos sound, and luxury seats. The format is based in France.

Unlike CJ Group's ScreenX format and Barco's now defunct Escape format that use the side walls to extend the main screen, ICE Theaters have the side screens as separated LED panels, not continuous screens.

ICE | L.A LIVE - YouTube

Press Release:
https://www.lalive.com/news/detail/n...the-next-level

Official ICE Screen website:
https://theicescreen.com/

ICE at the L.A. Live website:
https://www.lalive.com/movies/ice

[Poya]

Me: Hey, Alejandro, wanna go to the ICE?

Alejandro: .......

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by singhcr

I really can't see why a film lover would want to shoot 35mm over 65mm for a big budget film like Star Wars.

Because 65mm film cameras are more bulky and have a more limited lens selection. Also some directors like the look of anamorphic lenses, especially in out-of-focus areas (although back in the day, some cinematographers hated those lenses and would shoot 2-perf instead, which was then stretched vertically optically in the lab which made it compatible with a 4-perf anamorphic print.)

Note that when some directors or cinematographers talk about shooting in 65mm, they're not necessarily referring to film. Sometimes they're referring to large format digital cameras, but most are actually smaller than 65mm. The background negative area for 65mm is 2.068" x .906" resulting in a 70mm print projection area of 1.912" x 0.87".

The Arri Alexa 65 is 2.13 x 1.01", but the LF's are only 1.44 x 1.01" and the Panavision Millennium and Red Monstro 8K are only 1.61 x 0.85" and the Sony Venice is only 1.43 x 0.95".

In addition, while shooting 65mm is not the same as presenting in 70mm, many of today's 70mm films have digital intermediates, making the use of 70mm superfluous.

In 1992, "Far and Away" was supposed to restart studio interest in 65mm origination. But the film was a failure and it didn't really look any better than a 35-to-70mm blowup, so it didn't happen. The main reason for 70mm in those days was the 6-track mag sound and you could get that with a blowup and you could get 5.1 digital sound once that came along, so few films were ever shot in 65mm since then.

[Dreamliner330]

I saw Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker in 2K IMAX 3D and thought it looked great. I've got another screening scheduled for Monday in an newly renovated LIMAX room with 4K Laser IMAX 3D.

Does anyone know if the DCP actually 4K 3D?

I've said before I still prefer 2K IMAX 3D over 4K Dolby so I'm sure I'll like the laser IMAX even more, I'm just curious if the DCP is better or not.

[Dreamliner330]

Rosedale AMC Laser IMAX 3D (Roseville, Minnesota) review.

The AMC in the Rosedale Mall just renovated their LIMAX room with Laser IMAX 3D projectors and new seats, flooring, etc.

I went there for the first time since the renovation to check out The Rise of Skywalker in Laser IMAX 3D.

I could immediately tell the image was significantly brighter than 2K IMAX, it really was very bright. The image also looked sharper and I could definitely see it had deeper blacks. I am still surprised at how bright it was. I always pick IMAX 3D when available because of the brightness and 3D quality, this laser system kicks it up a pretty big notch.

I did notice during the 2D previews I could see screen sparkle or something on white text and such. It wasn't exactly a screen sparkle, but it was definitely something, almost a fuzzy look, although the image itself was very sharp. Kinda hard to explain.

The seats seemed comfortable enough at first, but the backs are kinda stiff to recline making it kinda hard to 'sink into'.

This specific AMC location has failed to provide a quality presentation...again. Last time I was at this theater for Spiderman Far From Home IMAX 3D their air conditioner broke when it was 100°+ outside. This made the theater unbelievably hot and I was sweating just sitting there in shorts. They actually PAUSED the movie and told everyone they were offering free drinks and refunds. All the way back when Inception came out, this specific theater had audio delayed by a second or so as well.

This time during the Laser IMAX 3D presentation I noticed the LEFT and RIGHT speaker channels were not working, AT ALL! During the beginning of AMC movies they play a PSA saying to note the exits, that they might be located in the "Front, Left, Right or Back of the theater". Those directional words appear on screen and the voice speaking it comes out of the corresponding channels. I hear "Front" and "Back" but "Left" and "Right" were completely silent.

I knew right away there was an issue and I went out to tell a manager there was a problem. I got a blank stare and a "we'll let the general manager know" followed by another employee piping up "I was just in there and I could hear it okay."

I went back in the theater for the rest of the previews and it was obvious the sound was coming from the front and back, but nothing on the sides. During the actual movie you could see things happening without hearing them. Lightsabers would hit with zero noise. Ships would fly by with zero noise. Etc.

After the movie was over I went back to the manager and asked if there were able to figure it out, their response? "We called IMAX".

Laser IMAX 3D > 2K IMAX 3D > RealD 3D > Laser IMAX 2D > 2K IMAX 2D > Dolby > 2D

(I prefer 3D and big bright screens)

[ITDEFX101]

Tried out Regal's 4dx in Ashburn, VA last night on Rise of Skywalker. Here are my thoughts:

-Only worked for one or two during the trailers.. It didn't work at all for Top Gun (bummer)
-There are seat belts :O
-The seats themselves are not as padded as other Regal seats so if you have lower back problems, this can be a bit much on your back/butt.
-In certain scenes such as the opening credits, the seats will tilt in away to give you that feeling that you are floating away from the text.
-The Pasaana speeder scene was very intense with seats rocking, wind blowing.
-Any time weapons fired you would feel shots of air coming from behind you. Getting stabbed in the back, you feel that too.
-Kef Bir water scenes really pump up the fans and increases the *squirts of water*. It actually made me feel almost like I was traveling with Rey and feeling the cold and wind of the environment without being too overwhelmed.
-The side fans will clank back and forth after a few intense wind scenes.
-When the camera moves around certain characters the seats will tilt around to give you that feeling that you are actually moving with the camera...which was kinda cool.
-The overall effects did not over power the movie presentation.
-The sound system itself...honestly I wasn't impressed as it felt like it was average to that of other Regal or other standard screens sound systems.

Is it worth the 24.45 (3d)???.... Yes for a once a year experience....next year's Top Gun will probably benefit from a presentation like this. The sound system was no where near IMAX/Dolby Atmos/Etc...I didn't walk out drenched but anything sensitive to water (paper) may need to be put away and I would highly recommend not putting anything in the seats next to you because they will bounce around in the chair during motion scenes (popcorn for example). Wearing a light jacket would help. Some scented air would be blown a times but it wasn't bad at all. Doing this for every movie will be costly IMHO.