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

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

Whoa, where did this come from? and down the street from AMC tyson's?

Let us know what you think overall compared to AMC's and Regal's presentation. Especially the prices for normal and premium format screens.

yeah, over at International Drive and West Park Dr. ... in the new up and coming swanky 'Boro' section of Tyson's (ew, ah) I might wander over there today just to get some of the lowdown, general information and all, but I plan on either checking out a movie on Sunday or next Monday night. Their websites been up for some four months or so, I thought they'd be up for the Holidays in December, but now the opening is official.

There's even talk that IPic is going in over at Tysons II where the old Macy's was, but that's a bit overkill with three different movie theaters being THAT close to one another.

[Dubstar]

wow, just saw tonight 'Star Wars: Episode 9: Rise of Skywalker' on the largest ICON-X screen at the new Tyson's Showplace Icon cineplex and I have to tip my hats off to them. The Dolby Cinema screen at AMC Tyson's maybe taller, but the screen here is definitely wide (set at scope framing; so a 1.85 movie will have black borders on the side) and while Dolby has darker black levels and more color pop, the 4K laser Barco projector proved it was the next best thing, the image is superior to Arclight's 4K non-laser "Widescreen" screen. The Atmos system at Showplace also trumps Dolby Cinema's set up which has wildly inconsistent acoustic problems and flaws - it tremendously helps there aren't wall separating the rows which can hinder you hearing the back surrounds. Unfortunately it sounds like the 70mm projector indication on the website was only a generic listing that somehow got included for this location, but is not the case. Kudo's to also having a maximum number of set trailers before a movie at four total - Arclight is still the best with only three, no ads, and no intros. Another one up from the nearby AMC is that here, there are four Atmos (ICON-X) auditoriums and the other's all have 7.1 surround sound (like Arclight and the Angelika Mosaic).

[avs commenter]

Saw my first film in Dolby. It mainly lived up to the hype. The visuals were nice but the audio was the clear difference compared to a traditional theater

[Dubstar]

While it was never a deluxe premium theater/screen - AMC just closed their last name big East Coast single theater - Washington DC's historic Uptown theater - what a tremendous loss of another "movie palace"

[Cherokee Jack]

Originally Posted by avs commenter

Saw my first film in Dolby. It mainly lived up to the hype. The visuals were nice but the audio was the clear difference compared to a traditional theater

Yep, a big IMAX Laser screen gives Dolby Cinema a run for its money but the 12-channel cannot compare with Atmos.

Not all Dolby Cinemas are created equal btw. Auditorium size, lighting and maintenance/calibration of the projector all make a noticeable difference. I was somewhat underwhelmed by the picture quality of the first Dolby Cinema I attended but have since found better Dolby options in my area.

[filmczy]

The Esquire IMAX theater here in Sacramento, CA open in 1999. Been there many, many times without any problems. You can even go upstairs and view the projection room.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Cherokee Jack

Not all Dolby Cinemas are created equal btw. Auditorium size, lighting and maintenance/calibration of the projector all make a noticeable difference. I was somewhat underwhelmed by the picture quality of the first Dolby Cinema I attended but have since found better Dolby options in my area.

audio calibration of the system varies from one theater to the next too - here in the DMV area, Tyson's is the worst, my two fave DC screens are at Hoffman and Georgetown.

The best non DC Atmos systems are at:
- Arclight / auditorium 6
- AMC Rio / Prime screen
- Showplace Icon / auditorium's 1 and 2 (not been in 9 and 10).

[UFAlien]

Despite the film's delay, the April issue of American Cinematographer still has its feature on No Time to Die. It has this to say about the IMAX aspect of the film:

The production was captured on a combination of 35mm and 65mm film negative. The filmmakers wanted smooth transitions between the two gauges, so entire sequences were designed for one format or the other, with no intercutting. The extended pre-credit sequence (shot in Norway), in which Safin hunts down victims on a frozen lake, will play in IMAX in theatres that are so equipped, and then the first scene following the credits is anamorphic widescreen. Other IMAX sequences include a car chase in ancient Matera, Italy, and an action scene in Cuba involving Bond and Nomi (Lashana Lynch) – a fellow double-0 agent with elite skills, who’s promised to give the super spy a run for his money.

“Framing for 1.43 while protecting for 2.40 is not as challenging as you might think,” cinematographer Linus Sandgren notes. “It can be a lot of work to make sure the sets are covered in all formats, but regarding the composition, the 2.40:1 aspect ratio in the center of the image will still be where your eyes are looking when the movie is projected in IMAX. The additional top and bottom of the IMAX frame is really the periphery; it’s used for atmosphere and to immerse the audience in the movie.”

“The story required us to use IMAX cameras in very challenging conditions,” he adds, “including temperatures below zero, in air, on cables, underwater, and in heavy-action vehicle stunts, and the cameras really performed beyond our expectations.”

The majority of No Time to Die was captured in anamorphic 35mm – which Sandgren regards as “the classic Bond look” – with Panavision’s Panaflex Millennium XL2. Scenic action sequences, though, were captured in large format. “Five-perf and 15-perf 65mm look spectacular projected,” says director Cary Joji Fukunaga, recalling the filmmakers’ initial large-format tests. “Some of the images just leapt off the screen.”

The filmmakers used IMAX MSM 9802 and Mark IV cameras for these scenes, with five-perf Panavision System 65 units employed for intimate dialogue because, says Sandgren, “IMAX cameras are just a bit too loud.” When the System 65 units were unavailable toward the end of production, the filmmakers turned to the 65mm Arriflex 765 – which was more often used by the production’s 2nd unit for dialogue within IMAX sequences. When shooting IMAX, the camera team framed for both 1.43:1 and 1.9:1 – owing to differences in IMAX venues’ projection systems. Five-perf was usually tiled for 1.43:1, according to Sandgren.

That last line confuses me a bit - "tiled?" My best guess would be they modified the cameras somehow to expose a taller frame, but that, by definition, would make it not "five-perf" anymore. It seems even less likely that they shot with multiple 5-perf cameras and stitched the images together for a taller ratio, though. Or is this just a confusing way of saying they cropped the footage?

[Dubstar]

By now, some of you may have read that AMC's future is looking a bit dire with the temporary theater closings amidst the coronavirus pandemic; I'm wondering what is going to happen if and when the chain reopens, and if it's bought out, will Dolby's exclusivity with AMC cease, will it allow other chains to invest and integrate Dolby Cinema to their premium auditoriums? Time will tell, and with the economy tanking for theaters, I don't think we'll see any improvements any time soon.

[pappy97]

In these crazy times, it is especially difficult to figure out which theaters will have Tenet in IMAX 15/70. Anyone know in the US? I am especially wondering if the Cinemark Webb Chapel IMAX in Dallas will have it. In years past, they would bring in the IMAX 15/70 projector for special films, including Nolan films. I saw TDKR and Interstellar in IMAX 15/70 at this theater. I'm worried about even going to a screening safety wise, and that has me really concerned that this theater won't bring in the IMAX 15/70 film projector this time. Anyone know? Thanks!

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by pappy97

In these crazy times, it is especially difficult to figure out which theaters will have Tenet in IMAX 15/70. Anyone know in the US? I am especially wondering if the Cinemark Webb Chapel IMAX in Dallas will have it. In years past, they would bring in the IMAX 15/70 projector for special films, including Nolan films. I saw TDKR and Interstellar in IMAX 15/70 at this theater. I'm worried about even going to a screening safety wise, and that has me really concerned that this theater won't bring in the IMAX 15/70 film projector this time. Anyone know? Thanks!

Only 13 Theaters Worldwide Are Getting Tenet in 15/70 IMAX

https://www.reddit.com/r/tenet/comme...ing_1570_imax/

This link shows the theaters - it has 14 not 13

https://www.in70mm.com/now_showing/index.htm

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by Lee A Stewart

Only 13 Theaters Worldwide Are Getting Tenet in 15/70 IMAX

https://www.reddit.com/r/tenet/comme...ing_1570_imax/

This link shows the theaters - it has 14 not 13

https://www.in70mm.com/now_showing/index.htm

Most of those theaters are regular 70mm, not IMAX (so 5/70 and not 15/70). The list is also not complete, don’t see any US locations, and are already theaters in Chicago and Columbus which have stated they have 70mm showings (apparently The Music Box is also the only US theater showing the re-release of Inception in 70mm).

https://gatewayfilmcenter.org/tenet-in-70mm/

https://musicboxtheatre.com/films/tenet

It’s also possible more film print screenings will come when NY and CA reopen theaters. Though of course who knows when that will open, and if Tenet might essentially be played out theatrically by that point with the expenses of film showings not being worth it by that time. It does sound like at least as far as 5/70 theaters go, it will have less than Joker’s 26, and way less than Dunkirk (which was 90+ I think).

Looks like early access screenings are being done mostly in premium format, even for theaters which don’t have IMAXes they are showing it in their own alternative format.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by UFAlien

Despite the film's delay, the April issue of American Cinematographer still has its feature on No Time to Die. It has this to say about the IMAX aspect of the film:



That last line confuses me a bit - "tiled?" My best guess would be they modified the cameras somehow to expose a taller frame, but that, by definition, would make it not "five-perf" anymore. It seems even less likely that they shot with multiple 5-perf cameras and stitched the images together for a taller ratio, though. Or is this just a confusing way of saying they cropped the footage?

Just a guess but yes, I think they're saying that they cropped the 5-perf to 1.44 to match the actual IMAX stuff, shooting it with a 'tiled' aspect that keeps the square in the middle of the action...but that's incredibly pointless because by the time you've punched in on the native ~2.25 5-perf aspect you're using an image area that's not all that bigger than 4-perf 35mm.

Snyder did the same thing on BvS, for some of the dialogue 'IMAX' scenes they used the 5-perf camera and just cropped it for the 15/70 print and, in all honesty, it looked like shit compared to the actual IMAX 15-perf stuff.

[edit]

But as the home version of BvS was in the fixed 2.39 AR I *think* they used the full 5-perf shots rather than making a letterbox extraction of a 1.44 crop of a 2.25 original! Which would've been madness.

[Lee A Stewart]

[Geoff D]

As I said, the centre extraction from the 5-perf 65 really isn't that much bigger than 4-perf 35.

[Lee A Stewart]

[Geoff D]

As I said, the centre extraction from the 5-perf 65 really isn't all that bigger than 4-perf 35. You keep pulling up examples that don't show the 35 in fullap, nor the 1.44 extraction from the 65, so it's not surprising you're still a bit confused.

[Lee A Stewart]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

As I said, the centre extraction from the 5-perf 65 really isn't all that bigger than 4-perf 35. You keep pulling up examples that don't show the 35 in fullap, nor the 1.44 extraction from the 65, so it's not surprising you're still a bit confused.

How's this?

[Geoff D]

You tell me, instead of just spamming threads. You remind me of someone else who used to do junk like this on here.

[Eric The Duke]

I'm really sad that I will be seeing Tenet at an AMC IMAX instead of a Smithsonian IMAX theater.