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

[CelluloidPal]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I just found it odd, that the sound levels at Ihe Silver - which I'd assume are THX mandated made the sound much more subdued - I'm a bit baffled since 70mm presentations of 'Lifeforce' and 'Tron' were tremendously loud. Tyson's had more impact soundwise, but the IMAX-laser sound mix was far and away the best incarnation and playback was soul rattling.

AMC must have rejigged it's DC screen since 'Atomic Blonde' was damn impressive and didn't exhibit past system flaws - might have to see 'Hitman's Bodyguard' there too.

To give you a heads up, Hitman's Bodyguard is only at Tysons Dolby screen and Logan Lucky will be at Georgetown's Dolby screen. I was going to see Annabelle:Creation at that Dolby screen but couldn't due to my heavy work schedule.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by CelluloidPal

To give you a heads up, Hitman's Bodyguard is only at Tysons Dolby screen and Logan Lucky will be at Georgetown's Dolby screen. I was going to see Annabelle:Creation at that Dolby screen but couldn't due to my heavy work schedule.

I saw/heard Annabelle in Dolby Atmos over at Arclight the other night, it was quite good. The trailers alone for 'Logan Lucky' make want to wretch - no thanks. Hitman's Bodyguard looks fun I might have to check that out next week over at Tysons.

[Blu-Malibu2009]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Oh man, the BFI are showing T2 3D on August 29th of all days! If I hadn't just spunked £100 to go and see Dunkirk (or still lived in London in general ) then I'd be all over those screenings like a cheap suit. The Dark Knight in 15/70 is the only major IMAX feature I've yet to see in that format, damn it!! I'm dead jealous.

Rylance voice: "Son, we have a job to do." Get it done my friend, get it done.

[ZoetMB]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I have to hand it to AMC Tyson's but since it's not a THX certified auditorium - the 5/70 presentation I saw this afternoon - wiped the floor when compared to the AFI Silver one. The dynamic range proved to be much more effective with tighter low end bass and impact, notably during the hospital boat sinking scene.

Just because it's not certified doesn't meet it doesn't happen to meet the standards. THX is basically four things: an equipment list, screen loudspeakers mounted with flat baffles, the THX crossover and a noise specification, largely pertaining to HVAC noise.

I've been in THX theaters that sounded lousy and non-THX theaters that sounded great. THX theaters were not as consistent as the specs would have one believe. The Coronet (I think) in San Francisco sounded spectacular back in the day, but the formerly THX certified theaters in NYC, like one screen at the Loew's Orpheum and two at the Chelsea sounded like crap.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by Blu-Malibu2009

Rylance voice: "Son, we have a job to do." Get it done my friend, get it done.

Och, I would but the other problem is that the train services from here to there are now completely screwed (I don't drive) because major engineering works are taking place at my final destination. Indeed, I was very lucky to have had as little travel disruption as I did when I went to see Dunkirk so I won't push my luck. They're only movies

[Poya]

Saw Annabelle in Dolby Cinema. It look like it was upscaled. A lot of mosquito noise, which I've never experienced watching on this format. Still, the colors and contrast were great enough to ignore that issue.

[Dubstar]

whoah-ho-ho - AMC just made my day, 'Close Encounters of the Third Kind' on the Dolby Cinema screen at Tysons Corner - just bought me a tix!

[ITDEFX101]

Went to Udvar to see Dunkirk with a friend who wanted to see it in real IMAX last night. Something is up with their bulb...the image seems dimmer than the last viewing and the horizontal lines white are still present on top of the screen. I am curious what could have caused those lines?

[CelluloidPal]

Just visited the AMC Georgetown theater for the first time in many years when it was under Loews.
Man, I did not even recognized the place when I walked in. First time I saw a movie in a recliner seat.
If this is what their Dolby Cinema is like, I'll be there for Close Encounters and will use my MoviePass for Baby Driver when I get it.
I do wonder if they mask their screens there.

[ITDEFX101]

Oh I forgot to mention, last weekend I visited the AMC Huffman theater. Good grief it's a multistory movie theater! Damn Their seating configuration is strange. We sat at the almost top section and when the movie started it masked it so the screen was more towards the bottom so we were mostly looking down .... weird.

[CelluloidPal]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

Oh I forgot to mention, last weekend I visited the AMC Huffman theater. Good grief it's a multistory movie theater! Damn Their seating configuration is strange. We sat at the almost top section and when the movie started it masked it so the screen was more towards the bottom so we were mostly looking down .... weird.

I haven't been to the Hoffman in years. I think the last movie I saw there was Salt and as I can remember, their IMAX screen was no bigger than their standard screen if not smaller.
I considered going back to see things are down there these days but the word hasn't been very good to say the least.

[xbs2034]

Chinese megahit Wolf Warrior 2 is taking over some U.S. IMAX locations this weekend. It's an IMAX 2D release, but since it's that way in China as well, and in fact seems like there is no 3D release at all in America, plus perhaps due to the Russo brothers influence there is a lot of handheld and fast cut action sequences (which wouldn't aide 3D), seems like a pretty ideal way to see the movie.

As often is the case with the Chinese blockbusters I've seen, there could be more nuance and subtly in the story, and the CGI is very dodgy (probably due to the lower budget), but the action sequences definitely deliver, and actually has a very 80's R rated action movie feel. Aside from the CGI, image quality was very nice in IMAX, and while it was maybe too loud in a couple scenes, really nice sound mix (saw from the credits that it has an Atmos mix as well).

[ITDEFX101]

Originally Posted by CelluloidPal

I haven't been to the Hoffman in years. I think the last movie I saw there was Salt and as I can remember, their IMAX screen was no bigger than their standard screen if not smaller.
I considered going back to see things are down there these days but the word hasn't been very good to say the least.

Oh yeah, their IMAX screen. Walked into it just to take a look. That screen looks a lot smaller than AMC's IMAX screen. They charge far less for IMAX I think than anyone else. God damn Regal, who charges like 20 bucks no matter what time of day for IMAX.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

Oh yeah, their IMAX screen. Walked into it just to take a look. That screen looks a lot smaller than AMC's IMAX screen. They charge far less for IMAX I think than anyone else. God damn Regal, who charges like 20 bucks no matter what time of day for IMAX.

AMC Rio's IMAX-digital screen is a joke - that location once had a massive screen where I saw 'A.I' but then they twinned it ....

have once been to Regal Majestic IMAX screen to see 'Stalingrad' - no matinee pricing, are you kidding?? haven't been back since.

[CelluloidPal]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

AMC Rio's IMAX-digital screen is a joke - that location once had a massive screen where I saw 'A.I' but then they twinned it ....

have once been to Regal Majestic IMAX screen to see 'Stalingrad' - no matinee pricing, are you kidding?? haven't been back since.

The Majestic pricing is quite high. I think that's due to the area that it's in.
At least, their IMAX screen is closest to an actual IMAX screen and I was around when they closed off that theatre and they actually redesigned and refitted that place. First movie I saw there was Tron:Legacy and that screen was actually immersive.
As for the pricing, I've always found ways to save money on their tickets.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by CelluloidPal

The Majestic pricing is quite high. I think that's due to the area that it's in.
At least, their IMAX screen is closest to an actual IMAX screen and I was around when they closed off that theatre and they actually redesigned and refitted that place. First movie I saw there was Tron:Legacy and that screen was actually immersive.
As for the pricing, I've always found ways to save money on their tickets.

oh do share ...

Tyson's IMAX is still the tallest in the DC metro area of the 'Digital' non-laser screens. Smithsonian's three (soon to be two) are still the best though.

Silver Spring - high rent? ... mmmm ... no. (even if Discovery Channel HQ is it's prominent tenant).

[GLaDOS]

Anyone ever went to the IMAX theater in AMC White Marsh? I presume it's a digital screen, but just curious as to how tall is it and what's the aspect ratio. Planning to see Dunkirk again with a friend there.

[CelluloidPal]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

oh do share ...

I get my hands on those Regal blue passes and just pay the upcharge.

Originally Posted by Dubstar

Tyson's IMAX is still the tallest in the DC metro area of the 'Digital' non-laser screens. Smithsonian's three (soon to be two) are still the best though.

Interesting. I'm still looking to pay that place a visit and it's cool to know that Tysons has a taller screen there.

Originally Posted by Dubstar

Silver Spring - high rent? ... mmmm ... no. (even if Discovery Channel HQ is it's prominent tenant).

All I know is that area has totally been revitalized and doesn't even look like it used to. I mean there a Dave & Busters there now. I may be wrong about the high but the reasoning for not even having a matinee break for IMAX tickets there escape me.

Side Note: Does anybody know if Tysons or Georgetown mask their screens? I say T2 3D at Georgetown (nice recliners, BTW) and I noticed that the screen wasn't being masked to scope.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by CelluloidPal

I get my hands on those Regal blue passes and just pay the upcharge.



Interesting. I'm still looking to pay that place a visit and it's cool to know that Tysons has a taller screen there.



All I know is that area has totally been revitalized and doesn't even look like it used to. I mean there a Dave & Busters there now. I may be wrong about the high but the reasoning for not even having a matinee break for IMAX tickets there escape me.

Side Note: Does anybody know if Tysons or Georgetown mask their screens? I say T2 3D at Georgetown (nice recliners, BTW) and I noticed that the screen wasn't being masked to scope.

why Regal doesn't offer cheaper matinee pricing at the Majestic is baffling - it seems very assh*lish.

Tyson's has vertical masking - except on the Dolby Cinema screen.

The last two times I've been to Georgetown was for 'The Accountant' and the one off 'Sgt. Pepper' Dolby Atmos presentation on the Dolby Cinema screen - I can't recall what they did with the 2.35 image for the former (if there were letterboxing).

Really my go to theater is Arclight Bethesda which has vertical masking on all it's screens as well as 7.1 playback.

AMC Mazza screens 1 and 2 have horizontal masking, so scope movie look really wide and the auditoriums themselves are wide as well and not boxie (#2 also has 7.1, and 3D - why AMC didn't upgrade theater #1's Dolby Digital EX sound system to 7.1 is a complete mystery).

my favorite area theater's that have impressive 'tall' screens are Cinemark's Egyptian XD screen and Fairfax Corner's two XD screens.

[CelluloidPal]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

why Regal doesn't offer cheaper matinee pricing at the Majestic is baffling - it seems very assh*lish.

Tyson's has vertical masking - except on the Dolby Cinema screen.

The last two times I've been to Georgetown was for 'The Accountant' and the one off 'Sgt. Pepper' Dolby Atmos presentation on the Dolby Cinema screen - I can't recall what they did with the 2.35 image for the former (if there were letterboxing).

Really my go to theater is Arclight Bethesda which has vertical masking on all it's screens as well as 7.1 playback.

AMC Mazza screens 1 and 2 have horizontal masking, so scope movie look really wide (#2 also has 7.1, and 3D - why AMC didn't upgrade theater #1's Dolby Digital EX sound system to 7.1 is a complete mystery).

my favorite area theater's that have impressive 'tall' screens are Cinemark's Egyptian XD screen and Fairfax Corner's two XD screens.

Which is why I go to the Hyattsville Royale 14. The place is actually pretty nice. The prices are good, even better on Tuesdays ($5.00 tickets) and the mall and many restaurants are across the street so the food options are plentiful.

I'm curious to see how Mazza has changed up recently. Last movie I remember seeing there was the first Iron Man movie.
Georgetown's transformation is like night and day, though.