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

[pL86]

Originally Posted by RossyG

I used to be a projectionist and for the first 30-odd years of my life saw everything on 35mm film in cinemas.

I can see why people like seeing film projected, and I loved seeing 2001: A Space Odyssey on 70mm pre-pandemic, but having seen many films since in 4K Dolby Vision, be they’d shot digitally (Barbie; MI7) or on film (Babylon; Oppenheimer) I actually think 4K is your best bet for local cinemas.

The projectionists simply aren’t there anymore outside a few big venues.

I used to go to the Duke of York’s in Brighton most weeks as they slowly transitioned from film to (2K) digital. The film showings were markedly worse than the digital. Not necessarily because of the format, but because they used dirty prints of new films and never seemed to be able to focus it properly. And this was when they had full-time professional projectionists.

And all this month they were supposed to be showing Oppenheimer on 35mm but had to switch to digital after a week or so due to “technical issues”.

I’m afraid most cinemas need “idiot proof” projection now and digital is just that. And 4K looks terrific on a big screen.

I just came out of a Dolby Cinema show of Blue Beetle that was being projected pillarboxed and vertically squeezed so circles looked like ovals and the actors looked like Munch's The Scream. And the manager on duty told me that's how it was suppose to look. Careless, indifferent or ignorant staff can muck up digital projection just as easily as celluloid.

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by pL86

I just came out of a Dolby Cinema show of Blue Beetle that was being projected pillarboxed and vertically squeezed so circles looked like ovals and the actors looked like Munch's The Scream. And the manager on duty told me that's how it was suppose to look. Careless, indifferent or ignorant staff can muck up digital projection just as easily as celluloid.

Ugh. Sorry to hear that. Yeah, digital doesn't make people not lazy or idiotic unfortunately. What theater was that?

[Deciazulado]

Originally Posted by pL86

I just came out of a Dolby Cinema show of Blue Beetle that was being projected pillarboxed and vertically squeezed so circles looked like ovals and the actors looked like Munch's The Scream. And the manager on duty told me that's how it was suppose to look.

[Mike0284]

https://twitter.com/IMAX/status/1720197145217904643

"We’re opening the vault – errr, van – and bringing back an iconic moment from IMAX's history.

Tomorrow. 11.3.23"

[PondaBaba]

Originally Posted by Mike0284

https://twitter.com/IMAX/status/1720197145217904643

"We’re opening the vault – errr, van – and bringing back an iconic moment from IMAX's history.

Tomorrow. 11.3.23"

just some (imo pretty crappy) merch on their site unfortunately (and i get the feeling that they may have attempted this after reading everyone slagging off the designs of the previous lot of merch they had to buy to take advantage of a deal getting a free Oppenheimer promo imax film strip over the past few months)

[BluBonnet]

Anyone catch Queen Rock Montreal on IMAX?

[Fang Zei]

DC area update:

As I mentioned in the Dune: Part Two thread, AMC Georgetown’s Imax theater is expected to reopen in time for that movie’s release in early March after being closed since at least as far back as August when they closed it to do a laser/12-channel conversion and switch out the seats (which apparently still won’t recline but at least they’re new).

The manager there says the refurb is finished and they’re just waiting for a DC government inspection.

Meanwhile, the full-sized dual-laser Imax at the downtown Air & Space Museum will remain closed until they finish renovating that side of the building.

[pappy97]

The IMAX poster for Alex Garland's Civil War was just released. Anyone have any idea on what the aspect ratio will be for IMAX screenings of that film? I.e., will be it a blown up 2.35:1 or IMAX ratios of 1.9/1.43:1?

(I actually prefer the blown up 2.35:1 for IMAX because my local IMAX (really LIEMax at Bassett Place IMAX in El Paso, TX) sucks and has handrails that annoyingly obstruct your view of the bottom of the 1.9:1 ratio footage. If it has 1.9:1 footage, then I just skip IMAX altogether.)

[Scorpion Soldier]

Originally Posted by pappy97

The IMAX poster for Alex Garland's Civil War was just released. Anyone have any idea on what the aspect ratio will be for IMAX screenings of that film? I.e., will be it a blown up 2.35:1 or IMAX ratios of 1.9/1.43:1?

(I actually prefer the blown up 2.35:1 for IMAX because my local IMAX (really LIEMax at Bassett Place IMAX in El Paso, TX) sucks and has handrails that annoyingly obstruct your view of the bottom of the 1.9:1 ratio footage. If it has 1.9:1 footage, then I just skip IMAX altogether.)

1.85:1, same as other formats.

[pappy97]

Originally Posted by Scorpion Soldier

1.85:1, same as other formats.

Ok, thanks. I'll skip it in IMAX then.

[Dubstar]

I saw 'Civil War' earlier tonight on the IMAX screen at Tyson's Corner and I could have sworn it was mixed in 12-channel sound yet I've not seen anything online that it was mixed as such.

Speaking of IMAX laser upgrades in the Washington DC area, I saw 'Godzilla X Kong' over at Hoffman 22 in Alexandria VA. The 3D image looked great but they didn't bother upgrading to 12 channel as there were no new speakers in the ceiling. They didn't even bother upgrading to the new leather seats like over at Tyson's, they're really are cramped and feel like you're sitting way too close to the person next to you.

The conversion to IMAX laser at the Georgetown complex is taking FOREVER.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Fang Zei

DC area update:

As I mentioned in the Dune: Part Two thread, AMC Georgetown’s Imax theater is expected to reopen in time for that movie’s release in early March after being closed since at least as far back as August when they closed it to do a laser/12-channel conversion and switch out the seats (which apparently still won’t recline but at least they’re new).

The manager there says the refurb is finished and they’re just waiting for a DC government inspection.



Meanwhile, the full-sized dual-laser Imax at the downtown Air & Space Museum will remain closed until they finish renovating that side of the building.

I heard the downtown Air and Space Museum IMAX reopening wont happen til 4Q 2025, at the earliest... I'm thinking realistically 2026

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Anyone catch Queen Rock Montreal on IMAX?

Yes ! ... Uh "Wow" !!

[Dubstar]

I've been trying to see all the recent 70mm engagements at the AFI Silver Spring theater, I missed "Dune Part 2" (I did see it in IMAX laser at Udvar Hazy, Dolby Cinema at Tyson's, IMAX laser at Tyson's (the projector was having problems), Alamo Drafthouse Bryant Street 'Big Show', and AFI Silver (Christie 4K, 7.1 surround). Udvar Hazy was the best experience of the film, the Dolby Cinema the best sounding and oddly the AFI Silver presentation looked great too!

'Napolean' 70mm print at the Silver looked terrible.

"Tenet" in 70mm was damn impressive and super loud.

"Lawrence of Arabia" in 70mm, seen last Sunday was a mixed bag, the final hour and condition of the print looked outstanding!

[Benoit Blanc]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I've been trying to see all the recent 70mm engagements at the AFI Silver Spring theater, I missed "Dune Part 2" (I did see it in IMAX laser at Udvar Hazy, Dolby Cinema at Tyson's, IMAX laser at Tyson's (the projector was having problems), Alamo Drafthouse Bryant Street 'Big Show', and AFI Silver (Christie 4K, 7.1 surround). Udvar Hazy was the best experience of the film, the Dolby Cinema the best sounding and oddly the AFI Silver presentation looked great too!

'Napolean' 70mm print at the Silver looked terrible.

"Tenet" in 70mm was damn impressive and super loud.

"Lawrence of Arabia" in 70mm, seen last Sunday was a mixed bag, the final hour and condition of the print looked outstanding!

What were the first 79 hours like?

[Cherokee Jack]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I saw 'Civil War' earlier tonight on the IMAX screen at Tyson's Corner and I could have sworn it was mixed in 12-channel sound yet I've not seen anything online that it was mixed as such.

Speaking of IMAX laser upgrades in the Washington DC area, I saw 'Godzilla X Kong' over at Hoffman 22 in Alexandria VA. The 3D image looked great but they didn't bother upgrading to 12 channel as there were no new speakers in the ceiling. They didn't even bother upgrading to the new leather seats like over at Tyson's, they're really are cramped and feel like you're sitting way too close to the person next to you.

The conversion to IMAX laser at the Georgetown complex is taking FOREVER.

Got our first IMAX Laser in Arizona last year but they didn’t upgrade the seats either. Current seats are lousy too, some kind of weird design where each row is basically one long fabric couch with arms that can be put up and down between seats. What’s funny is that there are conventional IMAX locations in Arizona that got the new seats several years ago when AMC bought them from a chain that went under. Wouldn’t surprise me if AMC is trying to keep upgrade costs down these days but it does dilute the branding IMO.

Only been there once since the upgrade, will need to give a closer look at the speakers next time.

[Pieter V]

https://ymcinema.com/2024/04/09/imax...ures-revealed/

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by Cherokee Jack

Got our first IMAX Laser in Arizona last year but they didn’t upgrade the seats either. Current seats are lousy too, some kind of weird design where each row is basically one long fabric couch with arms that can be put up and down between seats. What’s funny is that there are conventional IMAX locations in Arizona that got the new seats several years ago when AMC bought them from a chain that went under. Wouldn’t surprise me if AMC is trying to keep upgrade costs down these days but it does dilute the branding IMO.

Only been there once since the upgrade, will need to give a closer look at the speakers next time.

Interesting, all the IMAXes in Manhattan are now laser with 12 channel sound and upgraded seats, and I believe last to do so was Kips Bay in Fall 2019, so thought that was more widespread. The Times Square IMAX did it interestingly, they did the seats and 12 channel sound upgrades first keeping digital, and then almost two years later added the laser projection.

[Cherokee Jack]

Originally Posted by xbs2034

Interesting, all the IMAXes in Manhattan are now laser with 12 channel sound and upgraded seats, and I believe last to do so was Kips Bay in Fall 2019, so thought that was more widespread. The Times Square IMAX did it interestingly, they did the seats and 12 channel sound upgrades first keeping digital, and then almost two years later added the laser projection.

AMC has rolled out their upgrades based on market strength so areas like NYC and CA have gotten priority. That said, all of Arizona’s Dolby Cinemas are at least four years old so it would seem that it’s IMAX that doesn’t want to invest here, not AMC. I was told by an employee at the one location that finally got an IMAX Laser that it was due in part to their manager lobbying for it, so even that might have been a one-off.

[Dubstar]

I just had a peek in the AMC new IMAX in laser upgrade at the DC Georgetown Cineplex- it looks fantastic: the new leather seats, 12-channel sound. Hoffman (Alexandria, Virginia) totally got shafted, no additional speakers, no new seats