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

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by Poya

IMAX is nothing compared to Dolby Cinema. Better picture and sound. I'll only go see IMAX films of they were shot and presented in the 70mm format.

How's life in Pleasentville?

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by Spike M.

I've never been to an IMAX that had an up-charge for 3D. In California, Oregon, and Washington, it's all flat rate. My cross country friends report the same, too.

Yeah, at all the chain locations I've been to IMAX has just a flat rate (though it is obviously still one of the more expensive regular ticket options around, I've only seen PLFs with special recliner seats charge more). The only time I remember them charging more was with the Amazing Spider-Man which I saw at a Jordan's Furniture store which has an IMAX screen built-into the location, and there it was just a 25 cent fee to pay for cleaning the glasses (not much of a surcharge).

[nrocket3]

Guys I am going to New England this week for vacation I will be in CT, Boston, Springfield Mass, New Hampshire and Maine. I want to see Ant-Man can you guys recommend a theater whether it be IMAX LASER Atmos or whatever.

My only request is that I get a premium experience without 3D. I know tough to find!

If not I'll deal with the 3D.

[nrocket3]

Originally Posted by nrocket3

Guys I am going to New England this week for vacation I will be in CT, Boston, Springfield Mass, New Hampshire and Maine. I want to see Ant-Man can you guys recommend a theater whether it be IMAX LASER Atmos or whatever.

My only request is that I get a premium experience without 3D. I know tough to find!

If not I'll deal with the 3D.

Anyone know if the Regal Fenway Stadium 13 & RPX has Atmos? It is unclear on the site.

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by nrocket3

Anyone know if the Regal Fenway Stadium 13 & RPX has Atmos? It is unclear on the site.

http://www.dolby.com/us/en/find-a-movie-theatre.html

[Blu-Malibu2009]

Originally Posted by nrocket3

Guys I am going to New England this week for vacation I will be in CT, Boston, Springfield Mass, New Hampshire and Maine. I want to see Ant-Man can you guys recommend a theater whether it be IMAX LASER Atmos or whatever.

My only request is that I get a premium experience without 3D. I know tough to find!

If not I'll deal with the 3D.

Regal is pretty good about putting their RPX shows in 2D. Sometimes it is split showtimes between 2D and 3D on the same screen.

[meremortal]

I love the experience of watching IMAX in the dome theaters in science museums. Even if the documentary they're showing isn't the most captivating, my eyes are usually glued to the screen for the overwhelming immersion from every angle. On the flip side is our local Cinemark IMAX... while the picture is a reasonable upgrade for the wall to wall bigger screen, the sound levels at this particular theater are just deafening. The last two times I caught a movie there I had really rough headaches and even the slightest of sounds made my ears hurt for a day or two afterwards. Mad Max, especially, was just an all-out ear assault and makes me reluctant to go for IMAX again because of the insane volume that seemed louder than some concerts I've been to.

[seannyd]

Originally Posted by meremortal

I love the experience of watching IMAX in the dome theaters in science museums. Even if the documentary they're showing isn't the most captivating, my eyes are usually glued to the screen for the overwhelming immersion from every angle. On the flip side is our local Cinemark IMAX... while the picture is a reasonable upgrade for the wall to wall bigger screen, the sound levels at this particular theater are just deafening. The last two times I caught a movie there I had really rough headaches and even the slightest of sounds made my ears hurt for a day or two afterwards. Mad Max, especially, was just an all-out ear assault and makes me reluctant to go for IMAX again because of the insane volume that seemed louder than some concerts I've been to.

I actually saw Star Trek 2009 in a dome theater and it was AWFUL. It was not meant to be seen that way for sure and everything was all distorted because of the curved picture. But the Detroit Science Center had the Trek exhibit at the time, so they were trying to maximize their Trek-ness I suppose. Waste of money on my part though. The exhibit was cool.

[jscoggins]

Originally Posted by meremortal

I love the experience of watching IMAX in the dome theaters in science museums. Even if the documentary they're showing isn't the most captivating, my eyes are usually glued to the screen for the overwhelming immersion from every angle. On the flip side is our local Cinemark IMAX... while the picture is a reasonable upgrade for the wall to wall bigger screen, the sound levels at this particular theater are just deafening. The last two times I caught a movie there I had really rough headaches and even the slightest of sounds made my ears hurt for a day or two afterwards. Mad Max, especially, was just an all-out ear assault and makes me reluctant to go for IMAX again because of the insane volume that seemed louder than some concerts I've been to.

You should contact them via e-mail. Each Cinemark theater has its own e-mail address.

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by meremortal

makes me reluctant to go for IMAX again because of the insane volume that seemed louder than some concerts I've been to.

[Jonno2009]

What the heck is up with IMAX nowadays? isn't there exclusivity deals anymore?

Here at my favorite theater in Montreal we have the only true IMAX theater in Quebec and last week it had Ant-Man playing, come this Friday Ant-Man will be replaced by Pixels and the week after that Pixels will be replaced by Mission Impossible. 3 weeks and 3 different movies?! Don't think i ever saw that..

Is it up to the theater chain to decide who gets that screen? I was looking forward to see Ant-Man in IMAX 3D next week on my vacation(couldn't go this weekend), but nope, Pixels will be playing! EFF that!


People truly want Pixels in IMAX 3D?!

[nrocket3]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tegP...ature=youtu.be

[MrsMiniver]

Originally Posted by Jonno2009

What the heck is up with IMAX nowadays? isn't there exclusivity deals anymore?

Here at my favorite theater in Montreal we have the only true IMAX theater in Quebec and last week it had Ant-Man playing, come this Friday Ant-Man will be replaced by Pixels and the week after that Pixels will be replaced by Mission Impossible. 3 weeks and 3 different movies?! Don't think i ever saw that..

Is it up to the theater chain to decide who gets that screen? I was looking forward to see Ant-Man in IMAX 3D next week on my vacation(couldn't go this weekend), but nope, Pixels will be playing! EFF that!


People truly want Pixels in IMAX 3D?!

That happens from time to time. It looks like IMAX is trying hard to shorten the play run for movie, this way they can put a demand on their screens. The thinking would be for IMAX to gain multiple screens within a complex.

Which theater in Montreal?

[meremortal]

Originally Posted by jscoggins

You should contact them via e-mail. Each Cinemark theater has its own e-mail address.

I just got a response back from them over the obscene IMAX volume levels and they said the audio/video is calibrated each morning to IMAX standards and it "may be too loud for some people." No kidding. So in other words, they don't care about my concern and instead offered a free ticket to shut me up over my complaint. Not too happy.... but also not terribly surprised with the outcome. I tell them it's too loud for my comfort and they basically say "Deal with it... but, at least next time you can be uncomfortable for free."

[ManBeast]

Not had any problems with the volume, but then again I have only been to two IMAX screens.

I wonder if Pixels will get pulled from IMAX. If the reviews are so bad I doubt people will want to pay the premium to see it and opt for a standard screen instead. I've not seen IMAX mentioned on any advertising for that or Fantastic Four here for a while, but Man from U.N.C.L.E has IMAX printed on every poster and billboard I have seen!

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by meremortal

I just got a response back from them over the obscene IMAX volume levels and they said the audio/video is calibrated each morning to IMAX standards and it "may be too loud for some people." No kidding. So in other words, they don't care about my concern and instead offered a free ticket to shut me up over my complaint. Not too happy.... but also not terribly surprised with the outcome. I tell them it's too loud for my comfort and they basically say "Deal with it... but, at least next time you can be uncomfortable for free."

Well, they aren't wrong. I see some random people in almost every IMAX screening complaining about the volume even when it's at a reasonable but still loud level. The whole concept of the IMAX experience is that big screen, and sound that you can feel in your chest. If you don't want that, don't go to an IMAX movie.

Granted, there certainly are screenings I've been to that are just painfully loud, but those are rare around here.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by Spike M.

Well, they aren't wrong. I see some random people in almost every IMAX screening complaining about the volume even when it's at a reasonable but still loud level. The whole concept of the IMAX experience is that big screen, and sound that you can feel in your chest. If you don't want that, don't go to an IMAX movie.

Granted, there certainly are screenings I've been to that are just painfully loud, but those are rare around here.

I'm usually not rattled by volume, but 'Transformer 4' IMAX (digital) volume setting was unacceptable - first time I complained to management about it, I even made the jab: "The Dolby Atmos mix on your ETX screen was far superior and less loud than the IMAX's screen's volume" (he was embarrassed since for a while I was seeing a lot of movies on the ETX screen and he knew me by sight and frequent conversations - got a free pass [my new stomping ground though is Arclight Bethesda for their Dolby Atmos systems on two screens, and Airbus IMAX since they have the new laser system]

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I'm usually not rattled by volume, but 'Transformer 4' IMAX (digital) volume setting was unacceptable - first time I complained to management about it, I even made the jab: "The Dolby Atmos mix on your ETX screen was far superior and less loud than the IMAX's screen's volume" (he was embarrassed since for a while I was seeing a lot of movies on the ETX screen and he knew me by sight and frequent conversations - got a free pass [my new stomping ground though is Arclight Bethesda for their Dolby Atmos systems on two screens, and Airbus IMAX since they have the new laser system]

How would you rate the "power" of the new IMAX system vs Atmos? I noticed from my one Atmos experience and couple of experiences with the JBL 7.1 systems in the XD theaters (as well as a 7.1 showing of a movie with a Meyer sound system), that neither seemed as strong or robust as Interstellar in a proper IMAX theater. That plays huge for me when it comes to the "experience".

[MrsMiniver]

Originally Posted by meremortal

I just got a response back from them over the obscene IMAX volume levels and they said the audio/video is calibrated each morning to IMAX standards and it "may be too loud for some people." No kidding. So in other words, they don't care about my concern and instead offered a free ticket to shut me up over my complaint. Not too happy.... but also not terribly surprised with the outcome. I tell them it's too loud for my comfort and they basically say "Deal with it... but, at least next time you can be uncomfortable for free."

So don't go. IMAX won't miss you.

[MrsMiniver]

Originally Posted by Spike M.

How would you rate the "power" of the new IMAX system vs Atmos? I noticed from my one Atmos experience and couple of experiences with the JBL 7.1 systems in the XD theaters (as well as a 7.1 showing of a movie with a Meyer sound system), that neither seemed as strong or robust as Interstellar in a proper IMAX theater. That plays huge for me when it comes to the "experience".

IMAX on average is about 12,000 watts. Atmos can go to ridiculous levels. You will feel more IMAX bass in " non pit" auditoriums vs the auditoriums which have a pit.

Watts is power and that is what gives you good sound. But you must have a good mix and sound design team. Not volume levels.

As for Interstellar, it was specifically designed for IMAX 15/70 locations in regards to the sound. But, it also got a good sound design and mix team which means it will sound good wherever you see it. As long as the volume levels are not too high.