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

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by lowimpact

Heading to AMC Tyson's Corner 16 in Northern Virginia tonight and can't decide between IMAX 3D and ETX with Atmos sound (searching led me to this thread). There are several articles floating around hyping the Atmos collaboration for Star Trek so I'm really tempted to go for ETX over IMAX.

Thoughts?

IMAX will have shifting aspect ratios. IMAX has their own sound system, so they didn't license Atmos from Dolby.

[lowimpact]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

IMAX will have shifting aspect ratios. IMAX has their own sound system, so they didn't license Atmos from Dolby.

So ETX+Atmos or just digital non-3d would be the best experience?

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by lowimpact

So ETX+Atmos or just digital non-3d would be the best experience?

No, it depends on what you want.

IMAX: shifting aspect ratios + 3D (no 2D IMAX showings since IMAX wants the extra money you pay for 3D)

AMC ETX, Cinemark XD, Regal RPX: very large screens, possibly Dolby Atmos, 3D (again, they want your money)

2D: for people who can't stand 3D

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by lowimpact

Heading to AMC Tyson's Corner 16 in Northern Virginia tonight and can't decide between IMAX 3D and ETX with Atmos sound (searching led me to this thread). There are several articles floating around hyping the Atmos collaboration for Star Trek so I'm really tempted to go for ETX over IMAX.

Thoughts?

you wont get the shifting aspect ratio feature on the ETX screen, but Atmos is insanely fun. As much as I'd like to hear this in Atmos, I'm checking this out on Monday over at Udvar Hazy - in 15/70 (2D) IMAX - and then more than likely a second time in Atmos at Tysons later in the week.

[Poya]

http://http://www.nolanfans.com/2013...-imax-release/

An interesting article regarding the future of IMAX.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by NARMAK

No, it shouldn't make a slight bit of difference where the IMAX (15/70mm) theatres are concerned.

You should see the aspect ratio switch full screen to take full advantage of the top and bottom of the screen. Then it'll switch back to 'normal'. I think 2k releases are generally for the home release type stuff tbh, so you'll always see them go back and 're-master' something if there was an ability to extract greater quality from the original source.

The 2K version is the final conformed master from which the regular theatrical deliverables are derived (e.g. 35mm prints and digital cinema packages), as well as home video editions of course. The 15/70 IMAX version goes through a different pipeline AFAIK, using a 6K scan of the 35mm material which is graded (applying DNR, sharpening etc if desired) filmed out onto 15/70 and cut together with the true IMAX negative.

[DaFees]

Originally Posted by Poya

http://http://www.nolanfans.com/2013...-imax-release/

An interesting article regarding the future of IMAX.

Sorry but that article clearly implies that after Interstellar we will never get the big screen experience that you get with IMAX ever again, which I am sorry but that is wrong. Film projectors and film prints may be on their way out BUT IMAX is developing new, quieter, 3D digital IMAX cameras. In fact Micheal Bay is using one these such new cameras for Transformers 4. This all works with the new projectors that are laser based that IMAX is creating. Yes film may be better to some purists BUT these projectors, even though they are digital, can give the same size a film projector with a 70mm print can give you.

SO, the big screen experience we all know and love here isn't dying or going away after Nolan finishes Interstellar. NO, in fact it is just evolving to an all digital setup from digital IMAX cameras to digital projectors.

With this it should be pointed out that late next year both the Air & Space museum and the Natural History Museum in Washington D.C. will be among the first locations to receive these new digital projectors. I am sure there are other locations but these are two confirmed locations I am aware of at this time.

[Poya]

Originally Posted by DaFees

Sorry but that article clearly implies that after Interstellar we will never get the big screen experience that you get with IMAX ever again, which I am sorry but that is wrong. Film projectors and film prints may be on their way out BUT IMAX is developing new, quieter, 3D digital IMAX cameras. In fact Micheal Bay is using one these such new cameras for Transformers 4. This all works with the new projectors that are laser based that IMAX is creating. Yes film may be better to some purists BUT these projectors, even though they are digital, can give the same size a film projector with a 70mm print can give you.

SO, the big screen experience we all know and love here isn't dying or going away after Nolan finishes Interstellar. NO, in fact it is just evolving to an all digital setup from digital IMAX cameras to digital projectors.

With this it should be pointed out that late next year both the Air & Space museum and the Natural History Museum in Washington D.C. will be among the first locations to receive these new digital projectors. I am sure there are other locations but these are two confirmed locations I am aware of at this time.

That digital IMAX camera you're talking about isn't as good as a real IMAX camera. 4K is as high as it can go. Same with the projectors. They are using inferior tech just to save money. And people like PTA, Tarantino, and Nolan are outspoken critics against digital projectors. If IMAX continues to screw us over, then I switching to Cinerama. We're not purists. We just care about quality.

[DaFees]

Originally Posted by Poya

That digital IMAX camera you're talking about isn't as good as a real IMAX camera. 4K is as high as it can go. Same with the projectors. They are using inferior tech just to save money. And people like PTA, Tarantino, and Nolan are outspoken critics against digital projectors. If IMAX continues to screw us over, then I switching to Cinerama. We're not purists. We just care about quality.

Ok, ok, ok. Forgive me but I shall back pedal. Forgive my crass term purist. Digital is the future and I can see where even at 4K the new cameras and projectors still don't equal the film cameras of today BUT at least the new projectors can give us that screen filling experience we love unlike the current crop of projectors out there. As for whether film is better than digital. I liking it to comparing vinyl versus CDs / digital downloads. I can understand where vinyl is better but digital IS easier to work with. So I can understand where all the digital critics are coming from when digital can't equal that of film (or vinyl, analogue, or whatever).

I know my previous post didn't suggest it but I DO care about quality but I am a realist to. Digital is the future and although it may not be better than currently available film at least the next step in IMAX cameras and projectors aren't as bad as they could be. IMAX is at least letting us have the screen filling experience we love.

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

The probabilities of seeing Star Trek Into Darkness in 15/70 are high. Surprisingly, Paramount has made 35mm prints for some theaters.

Well, I'm out of luck. Both of the real IMAX theaters in Colorado are screening it digitally. From what I've read elsewhere, it seems that not many theaters are getting the 70mm prints. To shoot a film in 70mm and then downscale it to digital 2K when the venues in question are specifically designed to show 70mm prints is asinine.

[noirjunkie]

Originally Posted by DaFees

Sorry but that article clearly implies that after Interstellar we will never get the big screen experience that you get with IMAX ever again, which I am sorry but that is wrong. Film projectors and film prints may be on their way out BUT IMAX is developing new, quieter, 3D digital IMAX cameras. In fact Micheal Bay is using one these such new cameras for Transformers 4. This all works with the new projectors that are laser based that IMAX is creating. Yes film may be better to some purists BUT these projectors, even though they are digital, can give the same size a film projector with a 70mm print can give you.

SO, the big screen experience we all know and love here isn't dying or going away after Nolan finishes Interstellar. NO, in fact it is just evolving to an all digital setup from digital IMAX cameras to digital projectors.

With this it should be pointed out that late next year both the Air & Space museum and the Natural History Museum in Washington D.C. will be among the first locations to receive these new digital projectors. I am sure there are other locations but these are two confirmed locations I am aware of at this time.

IMAX actually responded to the NF article on their twitter feed, stating that 70mm prints of films will still be available after Interstellar. So it looks like the prints will exist, at least in a handful of locations.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by noirjunkie

Well, I'm out of luck. Both of the real IMAX theaters in Colorado are screening it digitally. From what I've read elsewhere, it seems that not many theaters are getting the 70mm prints. To shoot a film in 70mm and then downscale it to digital 2K when the venues in question are specifically designed to show 70mm prints is asinine.

Visit the Bob Bullock IMAX in Austin.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by noirjunkie

Well, I'm out of luck. Both of the real IMAX theaters in Colorado are screening it digitally. From what I've read elsewhere, it seems that not many theaters are getting the 70mm prints. To shoot a film in 70mm and then downscale it to digital 2K when the venues in question are specifically designed to show 70mm prints is asinine.

It's more of a money/resources issue than anything. Those 15/70 prints are hella expensive, and for what? A theatrical run lasting for a few weeks and maybe an occasional revival. It's always been that way, granted, but the relentless drive towards digital, even on 'large format' scale, is opening up more avenues for the IMAX bigwigs to explore. In terms of sheer logistics, what's easier to cart around? A hard drive or several hundred pounds worth of bulky-ass film reels? I'm not being smartarsed, just stating the reality of the situation.

Don't get me wrongo, I LOVE these true 15/70 presentations, but they will be gone soon enough. The paucity of Into Darkness' 15/70 prints is surely testament to that, although Man Of Steel will be 15/70 as well (NB: it was not shot in IMAX), so perhaps my doom and gloom is unfounded; they may not have had enough capacity to spit out multiple prints for Trek and MoS within such a short space of time. In that case, it'll be interesting to see how many 15/70 prints of MoS make it into the wild.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

It's more of a money/resources issue than anything. Those 15/70 prints are hella expensive, and for what? A theatrical run lasting for a few weeks and maybe an occasional revival. It's always been that way, granted, but the relentless drive towards digital, even on 'large format' scale, is opening up more avenues for the IMAX bigwigs to explore.

Don't get me wrongo, I LOVE these true 15/70 presentations, but they will be gone soon enough. The paucity of Into Darkness' 15/70 prints is surely testament to that, although Man Of Steel will be 15/70 as well (NB: it was not shot in IMAX), so perhaps my doom and gloom is unfounded; they may not have had enough capacity to spit out multiple prints for Trek and MoS within such a short space of time.

Well, Star Trek Into Darkness's opening weekend is softer than expected. Maybe the IMAX folks knew something that we didn't.

[Scorpion Soldier]

For the people that have seen Star Trek Into Darkness in digital IMAX, were the IMAX scenes presented in 1.89:1 or 16:9? Heard a rumor that the digital version is presented in 1.89:1 and I really hope it isn't true

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by blu-ray_girl_fan

Well, Star Trek Into Darkness's opening weekend is softer than expected. Maybe the IMAX folks knew something that we didn't.

Indeed. As I just added to my post above, I think I need to wait and see how many prints Man Of Steel gets before pronouncing the death of 15/70.

Originally Posted by Scorpion Soldier

For the people that have seen Star Trek Into Darkness in digital IMAX, were the IMAX scenes presented in 1.89:1 or 16:9? Heard a rumor that the digital version is presented in 1.89:1 and I really hope it isn't true

Well, that's SOP for the digital IMAX 'alternating aspect' presentations. You're comparing 1.78 to 1.89 though, it's not a major difference IMO.

[Scorpion Soldier]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Indeed. As I just added to my post above, I think I need to wait and see how many prints Man Of Steel gets before pronouncing the death of 15/70.


Well, that's SOP for the digital IMAX 'alternating aspect' presentations. You're comparing 1.78 to 1.89 though, it's not a major difference IMO.

Well I'm really nitpicky on losing visual information, even if its only a little bit. Just knowing there's more image to the picture being shown in 1.44:1 elsewhere already really bugs me.(My OCD working up doesn't help either) But none the less I will be watching the IMAX 3D version. 1.78:1 is better than nothing.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by Scorpion Soldier

For the people that have seen Star Trek Into Darkness in digital IMAX, were the IMAX scenes presented in 1.89:1 or 16:9? Heard a rumor that the digital version is presented in 1.89:1 and I really hope it isn't true

The OP answers your questions regarding Real IMAX vs. Digital IMAX aspect ratios.

[BJKH]

Hey OP, there are a couple formats that are here in Canada that you guys don't have. Both are at Cineplex.

Cineplex UltraAVX

and

Cineplex D-Box

You don't have to add them, but I thought I should post them here since nobody else has.

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

Originally Posted by BJKH

Hey OP, there are a couple formats that are here in Canada that you guys don't have. Both are at Cineplex.

Cineplex UltraAVX

and

Cineplex D-Box

You don't have to add them, but I thought I should post them here since nobody else has.

We have D Box here in the U.S., and UltraAVX sounds just like ETX, XD, RPX, etc.