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

[ITDEFX101]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

TLK is sinking like a stone as far as US takings are concerned. Did not see that coming.

I think after 5 films, people are starting to think.....what's the point? I think they just need to do one more TF movie to end the series.. cancel bumblebee and move that cast to the TF movie. Have Sam come back for one last movie along with everyone else from the original and end it properly as long as they don't pull a RE: TFC on us :|

[StarWarsIsAwesome123]

Most IMAX screens seem to be keeping Transformers but some are splitting showtimes between Transformers and DM3. Though it looks like DM3 is IMAX 2D only. Lego Batman and Cars 3 were also IMAX 2D only. I wonder if this is the new trend for animated films.

[CelluloidPal]

Originally Posted by GLaDOS

Never went to a Dolby Cinema, Cinemark XD, or a Regal RPX before. I wanted to watch Arrival on Dolby Cinema in AMC Georgetown but alas it was a pain switching trains in DC and walking on foot afterwards when I underestimated how much time I had to get there. I did have the pleasure of going to all three of the Smithsonian IMAX theaters, and I think Udvar takes the overall cake in terms of presentation and sound. I wish the Smithsonian used the Johnson theater for theatrical presentations; I saw Interstellar there twice and it was awe-inspiring seeing it in 15/70.

EDIT: If they scored a 15/70 showing for Dunkirk, sign me the f*ck up. Also, imagine if they used the Johnson theater for replaying 15/70 prints from The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, and the Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Never had the pleasure of seeing those movies the way they were meant to be seen

The Lockheed Martin IMAX theater's pretty great on image quality. It's an IMAX Laser screen, so while it's a digital projection you get nice bright and high quality presentation especially if you're watching in 3D. I saw Rogue One on Lockheed Martin and I thought the presentation overall was great. I couldn't really care less on 3D, but the colors and brightness were a lot better presented there than when I watched it on a conventional screen.

And hoo boy, the Dunkirk prologue that came with my Rogue One showing was AMAZING to behold. The IMAX footage held incredibly well, and while the 5/65 footage was noticeably a bit more grainy it looked a hell of a lot better than the 35mm footage from Interstellar. I'm seeing that b*tch on 15/70 on opening weekend and later sometime on IMAX Laser when I get the chance. So definitely go Lockheed Martin or Udvar for seeing Dunkirk in Laser

Actually I haven't had the luxury to travel everywhere to experience different venues. Wish I did, but juggling between studying engineering school and watching movies outside is kind of a pain in the ass.

I got my answer on the Dolby Cinema screen at Georgetown. The screen is fixed scope which means any movie shown in flat will have the black bars on the left and right. I can live with that if the image is properly calibrated and it's not noticeable. The images at the Regal Majestic outside of IMAX don't look so great and on some screens, they've stopped masking them completely which is why I have to make a 45 minute bus ride to Hyattsville.
I've had a much better experience there.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by CelluloidPal

I looking into these premium/large format theater over here in DC.

I understand that the IMAX theater at the Lockheed Martin is showing movies on Sundays. For those who have been to these, how's the presentation? Is it film or digital? I'm interested because Independence Day on July 2 and would love to see this on a massive screen with awesome sound. I know Dunkirk is coming there though.

As for Dolby Cinema in Tysons and Georgetown, I understand that their screens are common width. If that's correct, does that mean scope movies will have those black bars on them?
And how are the IMAX screens at those theaters? I live near one and the screen reaches from the floor to the ceiling.

The "Sci-fi Sunday" series have mostly been the standard commercial theater mass produced DCP's and of the couple I've seen the color reproduction via the laser projector is gorgeous (notably "Wall-E"). Lockheed is laser only, 15/70 there is pretty much history.

Georgetown's Dolby Cinema screen is on the small side when compared to Tysons (which is some two and half stories tall) but on a positive note the audio is superior over Tysons. I've noted this previously but the biggest flaw at Tysons is the red lighting that bounces from the floor/side wall to the lower corners of the screen this creating a red haze if and when the screen is completely dark - once you notice it you can't stop seeing it (ugh drives me bonkers)

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by GLaDOS

Never went to a Dolby Cinema, Cinemark XD, or a Regal RPX before. I wanted to watch Arrival on Dolby Cinema in AMC Georgetown but alas it was a pain switching trains in DC and walking on foot afterwards when I underestimated how much time I had to get there. I did have the pleasure of going to all three of the Smithsonian IMAX theaters, and I think Udvar takes the overall cake in terms of presentation and sound. I wish the Smithsonian used the Johnson theater for theatrical presentations; I saw Interstellar there twice and it was awe-inspiring seeing it in 15/70.

EDIT: If they scored a 15/70 showing for Dunkirk, sign me the f*ck up. Also, imagine if they used the Johnson theater for replaying 15/70 prints from The Dark Knight, The Dark Knight Rises, Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol, and the Hunger Games: Catching Fire. Never had the pleasure of seeing those movies the way they were meant to be seen

The Lockheed Martin IMAX theater's pretty great on image quality. It's an IMAX Laser screen, so while it's a digital projection you get nice bright and high quality presentation especially if you're watching in 3D. I saw Rogue One on Lockheed Martin and I thought the presentation overall was great. I couldn't really care less on 3D, but the colors and brightness were a lot better presented there than when I watched it on a conventional screen.

And hoo boy, the Dunkirk prologue that came with my Rogue One showing was AMAZING to behold. The IMAX footage held incredibly well, and while the 5/65 footage was noticeably a bit more grainy it looked a hell of a lot better than the 35mm footage from Interstellar. I'm seeing that b*tch on 15/70 on opening weekend and later sometime on IMAX Laser when I get the chance. So definitely go Lockheed Martin or Udvar for seeing Dunkirk in Laser

Actually I haven't had the luxury to travel everywhere to experience different venues. Wish I did, but juggling between studying engineering school and watching movies outside is kind of a pain in the ass.

The easiest and most direct way to get from the Smithsonian mall area to Georgetown is get on any 30 bus on Pennsylvania Ave.on the north side of the Archives building.

To see Dunkirk in the immediate DC area in 5perf 70mm - the AFI Silver will be presenting it as such.

Ever since Cinemark switched over to Auro sound on their XD screens I've never gone back - it's my least favorite immersive audio format. Wish Regal would get on the ball and convert all their RPX screens to Dolby Atmos - just offering 7.1 audio seems cheap and lazy

EDIT: regarding 'Dunkirk' DC/MD/VA 5perf/70mm screenings:

Regal Gallery Palace Stadium 24 (D.C.)
AMC Hoffman Center (Alexandria)
AMC Tyson’s Corner (McLean)
AFI Silver 3 Theatre (Silver Springs)
AMC White Marsh (Baltimore)
Cinemark Egyptian (Baltimore)
Maryland Science Center IMAX (Baltimore)

[FAShaffi]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

The "Sci-fi Sunday" series have mostly been the standard commercial theater mass produced DCP's and of the couple I've seen the color reproduction via the laser projector is gorgeous (notably "Wall-E"). Lockheed is laser only, 15/70 there is pretty much history.

Georgetown's Dolby Cinema screen is on the small side when compared to Tysons (which is some two and half stories tall) but on a positive note the audio is superior over Tysons. I've noted this previously but the biggest flaw at Tysons is the red lighting that bounces from the floor/side wall to the lower corners of the screen this creating a red haze if and when the screen is completely dark - once you notice it you can't stop seeing it (ugh drives me bonkers)

I saw "Baby Driver" tonight on the Tyson's Dolby screen, looked and sounded great (besides the red light glare), and it had a really inventive Atmos sound mix compared to other Dolby Cinema titles I've seen there and in NYC, it really worked well for the movie, which has lots of music. Haven't had the pleasure of trying the Georgetown screen yet, hopefully soon.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by FAShaffi

I saw "Baby Driver" tonight on the Tyson's Dolby screen, looked and sounded great (besides the red light glare), and it had a really inventive Atmos sound mix compared to other Dolby Cinema titles I've seen there and in NYC, it really worked well for the movie, which has lots of music. Haven't had the pleasure of trying the Georgetown screen yet, hopefully soon.

The Tysons Atmos presentations in my opinion have been wildly inconsistent, Arclight Bethesda's screen 6 has the best calibrated system in the DC area and 'Baby Driver' sounded absolutely ace!

[FAShaffi]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

The Tysons Atmos presentations in my opinion have been wildly inconsistent, Arclight Bethesda's screen 6 has the best calibrated system in the DC area and 'Baby Driver' sounded absolutely ace!

I will have to check it out at ArcLight then, luckily I loved the movie so I definitely want to see it again the only Atmos theaters I've been to are Tysons and Empire 25 in NY, both AMC, so it'll be interesting to see how Arclight compares

[GLaDOS]

Originally Posted by CelluloidPal

I got my answer on the Dolby Cinema screen at Georgetown. The screen is fixed scope which means any movie shown in flat will have the black bars on the left and right. I can live with that if the image is properly calibrated and it's not noticeable. The images at the Regal Majestic outside of IMAX don't look so great and on some screens, they've stopped masking them completely which is why I have to make a 45 minute bus ride to Hyattsville.
I've had a much better experience there.

Noted. The Regal Majestic IMAX theater in Silver Spring wasn't too bad. I saw Captain America: Civil War there and I found the overall image to be not too shabby, especially for the IMAX sequence at the airport. I don't recall much from the sound, but I thought it was a bit underwhelming.

Hyattsville's movie theater is pretty good and it's very easy to access via metro (that's how I can get around DC from College Park save for the pain in the ass trip to Georgetown).

I'll see if I can try out the Dolby Cinema there next time. Really curious to try it out and compare their laser projection and sound systems to IMAX's.

Originally Posted by Dubstar

To see Dunkirk in the immediate DC area in 5perf 70mm - the AFI Silver will be presenting it as such.

Ever since Cinemark switched over to Auro sound on their XD screens I've never gone back - it's my least favorite immersive audio format. Wish Regal would get on the ball and convert all their RPX screens to Dolby Atmos - just offering 7.1 audio seems cheap and lazy

I'll be watching Dunkirk in the Maryland Science IMAX theater for the 15/70 showing. I just can't pass up on seeing it on real IMAX film, plus I live 20-30 minutes from Baltimore. Happy to find out that the AFI Silver Spring theater is presenting it in 70mm. I'm a dumbass for passing out on The Hateful Eight 70mm there, plus anything to support extremely rare exhibition formats.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by FAShaffi

I will have to check it out at ArcLight then, luckily I loved the movie so I definitely want to see it again the only Atmos theaters I've been to are Tysons and Empire 25 in NY, both AMC, so it'll be interesting to see how Arclight compares

The only caveat of Arclights Atmos screen(s) are they are not laser or feature those spangly recliners (which I personally loathe). The turn around of films has been immediate and quick if you want and plan to see a movie in Atmos or on their 'widescreen ' screen you literally have a week to do so. Thankfully the Arclight brings back the showcase summer movies for another round in early September for a one off Atmos/widescreen engagement.

[ITDEFX101]

Has the Alamo Drafthouse made any improvements to their audio/video systems? It's been several months since I have gone... looks like they are starting to jack up their prices to match local area theaters.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

Has the Alamo Drafthouse made any improvements to their audio/video systems? It's been several months since I have gone... looks like they are starting to jack up their prices to match local area theaters.

the One Loudoun location opened up a new auditorium: with 222 seats and Dolby Atmos sound:

NEW “THEATER A” SHINES AT ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE

[ITDEFX101]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

the One Loudoun location opened up a new auditorium: with 222 seats and Dolby Atmos sound:

NEW “THEATER A” SHINES AT ALAMO DRAFTHOUSE

You know I sent my wife and her friend to the Alamo a few months back and she mentioned about an upgrade and I was like whatever...... So since I haven't heard from anyone about Dolby Atmos at the Alamo......I take it is not as good as Tyson's?

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

You know I sent my wife and her friend to the Alamo a few months back and she mentioned about an upgrade and I was like whatever...... So since I haven't heard from anyone about Dolby Atmos at the Alamo......I take it is not as good as Tyson's?

I'm the last person to be advocating Tyson's DC screen, not impressed with the sound or the other amenities

[ITDEFX101]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I'm the last person to be advocating Tyson's DC screen, not impressed with the sound or the other amenities

Well since I scored 2 seats for the early preview showing next Monday in their theater A for War for the Planet of the Apes, I am hoping to get a better idea of what to expect.

[Chaotic]

Saw my first movie in Dolby Cinema/Atmos (Despicable Me 3). It was nice but I couldn't find the recliner button. Don't know why they just didn't put in the same place as the other theaters. The Dolby Ads after the trailers were so loud. Glad I tested this out with DM3 and not something like Transformers. The sound was great (especially with the planes and guitar)

[Pieter V]

[antovolk]

lol I kinda love this - I made some exactly like that back in the day for ST Into Darkness, Catching Fire and BVS

[ITDEFX101]

*sigh* why are they using that frame? It seems so bland. I am still not convinced.

[antovolk]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

*sigh* why are they using that frame? It seems so bland. I am still not convinced.

It's just an official still, not even a frame from the film. No full 1.44:1 frames have been released yet