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

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by MrsMiniver

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.

Well, the Atmos system I heard was 30,000 watts, and it sounded a hell of a lot less powerful than IMAX's 12K systems. Where do you get your info about the pits? I recently saw a movie at the biggest screen outside of Sydney, in San Fran, and it had an enormous pitt, but the bass didn't seem any weaker than at the Boeing in Seattle which doesn't have much of one.

[Zhorik]

Originally Posted by Spike M.

Well, the Atmos system I heard was 30,000 watts, and it sounded a hell of a lot less powerful than IMAX's 12K systems. Where do you get your info about the pits? I recently saw a movie at the biggest screen outside of Sydney, in San Fran, and it had an enormous pitt, but the bass didn't seem any weaker than at the Boeing in Seattle which doesn't have much of one.

Were both the atmos and Imax screenings for the same movie?

A comparable atmos or auro mix doesn't need to be as loud as the sound can be spread out reducing competition between the sounds emitted by the speaker. It also reduces muddiness from movies like transformers that tend to use up the dynamic range during the heavy scenes.

[Jonno2009]

Originally Posted by MrsMiniver

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?

Cineplex Scotia Bank in downtown MTL.

Can't make Rogue Nation in IMAX this weekened either, hopefully Fantastic Four won't usurp the IMAX screen next weekend when i want to see Rogue Nation in IMAX!

[MrsMiniver]

Originally Posted by Spike M.

Well, the Atmos system I heard was 30,000 watts, and it sounded a hell of a lot less powerful than IMAX's 12K systems. Where do you get your info about the pits? I recently saw a movie at the biggest screen outside of Sydney, in San Fran, and it had an enormous pitt, but the bass didn't seem any weaker than at the Boeing in Seattle which doesn't have much of one.

It sounded less powerful because the watts are spread out to something like 58 surround speakers that are not very large. I have a hard time believing that those small speakers can adequately fill a large room unless they are all firing.

It does not sound right that Boeing does not have a pit? Boeing is a classic design.

I should of clarified my response better. It's not that the non pit has more bass, its that the sub is more in line with the seats than the pit theaters that has to travel up the pit. Also, if you read the original patents from IMAX from the 70s and 80s, some IMAX theaters do not have a sub bass system.

[MrsMiniver]

Originally Posted by Jonno2009

Cineplex Scotia Bank in downtown MTL.

Can't make Rogue Nation in IMAX this weekened either, hopefully Fantastic Four won't usurp the IMAX screen next weekend when i want to see Rogue Nation in IMAX!

Montreal Science Centre and the Gallerie Quebec are both real IMAX theaters just like the Scotiabank location.

[ZoetMB]

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.

There's a difference between peak levels for dynamic range and average levels. When someone is having a normal conversation in a scene and it feels like they're screaming at you, then it's too fking loud! And I say that as an ex-recording engineer.

You're supposed to feel the sound in your chest during a big action scene, not when there's normal dialog. And even during a big action scene, the sound needs to be clean and warm, not mid-rangey and metallic.

The problem today (and this isn't just about IMAX) is that directors have such big egos and are so insecure, they feel the only way to gain emotion is to MAKE IT LOUD. I really should not have to wear earplugs during a movie. I've been to movies where the levels were frequently beyond the threshold of pain. That's ridiculous. All it does is cause tedium in the audience and they stop reacting emotionally to the film. The way that you cause emotion is by surprising the audience with quick moments of louder sound, like the glass blowing out in the viewing tower near the end of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". Then you quiet things down again to force the audience to pay close attention. If it's so loud that the audience has a physical reaction and some people grab their ears, their attention is taken out of the story.

Having said that, I saw Interstellar in 70mm IMAX and I saw Gravity in digital IMAX in the same theatre and the levels on both were fine. There were a few moments where it got too loud, but they were so few that I could live with it. The sound on Gravity was especially great and I heard it was even better in Dolby Atmos.

[MrsMiniver]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

There's a difference between peak levels for dynamic range and average levels. When someone is having a normal conversation in a scene and it feels like they're screaming at you, then it's too fking loud! And I say that as an ex-recording engineer.

You're supposed to feel the sound in your chest during a big action scene, not when there's normal dialog. And even during a big action scene, the sound needs to be clean and warm, not mid-rangey and metallic.

The problem today (and this isn't just about IMAX) is that directors have such big egos and are so insecure, they feel the only way to gain emotion is to MAKE IT LOUD. I really should not have to wear earplugs during a movie. I've been to movies where the levels were frequently beyond the threshold of pain. That's ridiculous. All it does is cause tedium in the audience and they stop reacting emotionally to the film. The way that you cause emotion is by surprising the audience with quick moments of louder sound, like the glass blowing out in the viewing tower near the end of "Close Encounters of the Third Kind". Then you quiet things down again to force the audience to pay close attention. If it's so loud that the audience has a physical reaction and some people grab their ears, their attention is taken out of the story.

Having said that, I saw Interstellar in 70mm IMAX and I saw Gravity in digital IMAX in the same theatre and the levels on both were fine. There were a few moments where it got too loud, but they were so few that I could live with it. The sound on Gravity was especially great and I heard it was even better in Dolby Atmos.

Where did you see it? Gravity was digital IMAX.

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by MrsMiniver

It does not sound right that Boeing does not have a pit? Boeing is a classic design.

It has a ""pit"". You could probably get in an out of it with a step latter, whereas something like the Metreon in San Francisco has enough of a dive that you'd break your legs or crack your head if you jumped. Navy Pier in Chicago doesn't have much of a pit, either.



You can sort of make it out here.

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

There's a difference between peak levels for dynamic range and average levels. When someone is having a normal conversation in a scene and it feels like they're screaming at you, then it's too fking loud! And I say that as an ex-recording engineer.

You're supposed to feel the sound in your chest during a big action scene, not when there's normal dialog. And even during a big action scene, the sound needs to be clean and warm, not mid-rangey and metallic.

Oh, I agree. Jurassic World was almost painfully loud, but it's been a rarity where I've experienced showings as painfully metallic and sharp as that. I'm sure it happens consistently in a lot of places, but hearing people in the theater whine about it even when it -isn't- too loud makes me understand why IMAX responds in the way they do to complaints. A lot are probably valid, but there's always that one guy who in every showing thinks that it's too loud, so IMAX corporate needs to keep that in mind when responding to volume complaints.

I think a bigger problem might be the speakers themselves. The Boeing's old system would hit loud highs with grace, all the retrofits I've been too hit highs with that painful metallic sharpness you described.

[Jonno2009]

Originally Posted by MrsMiniver

Montreal Science Centre and the Gallerie Quebec are both real IMAX theaters just like the Scotiabank location.

Yeah well the Montreal Science Centre only plays nature movies, not actual studio movies. and Quebec city is 3 hours away from Montreal :P

[Chris60119]

Imax is the only way to go for big visual movies. I have a GTX theater close to me, but I'd rather drive the hour to IMax.

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by Jonno2009

Yeah well the Montreal Science Centre only plays nature movies, not actual studio movies. and Quebec city is 3 hours away from Montreal :P

I thought, at least for now, Scotiabank, TCL Chinese, Boeing, and Airbus are the only "real" IMAXes showing Hollywood films. They are the only laser locations listed on IMAX's website, and I'm pretty sure everything else is IMAX digital (at least which shows traditional features, some of the museum may still be showing 15/70 nature/science films).

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by xbs2034

I thought, at least for now, Scotiabank, TCL Chinese, Boeing, and Airbus are the only "real" IMAXes showing Hollywood films. They are the only laser locations listed on IMAX's website, and I'm pretty sure everything else is IMAX digital (at least which shows traditional features, some of the museum may still be showing 15/70 nature/science films).

They're considered 'real' because once every two years Nolan makes them deliver a product that's worth the absurd ticket price, and they're able to show it. But yeah, D-IMAX only taking up about 50% of a proper big screen like the Metreon is absolutely embarrassing. I don't understand it... there's no way the Metreon and Lincoln Square aren't taking a ticket sales hit from only using a fraction of the screen space.

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by Spike M.

They're considered 'real' because once every two years Nolan makes them deliver a product that's worth the absurd ticket price, and they're able to show it. But yeah, D-IMAX only taking up about 50% of a proper big screen like the Metreon is absolutely embarrassing. I don't understand it... there's no way the Metreon and Lincoln Square aren't taking a ticket sales hit from only using a fraction of the screen space.

IDK how big a hit they are taking (and this is even with Lincoln Square remaining a dollar more than the other 3 NYC IMAXes, which made more sense when it had a much bigger screen size utilized and used the 15/70 prints which are expensive to make).

Gravity made over a million from Lincoln Square's IMAX screen alone. And while that was a special film and the first major release in IMAX digital at Lincoln Square (they switched from film to digital just the week before), I go there fairly often and have seen plenty of big crowds since.

As far as I'm concerned, while I do still think Lincoln Square IMAX is one of the best places in NYC to see a movie with great sound and good picture, until when/if it gets a laser upgrade, I'm not gonna consider the lower resolution windowboxed presentation "real" IMAX.

[MrsMiniver]

Originally Posted by Spike M.

I don't understand it... there's no way the Metreon and Lincoln Square aren't taking a ticket sales hit from only using a fraction of the screen space.

Sure you do. Most people don't know, don't know what was before, and don't really care. I care, but seeing as 15/70 is gone, i have to settle for digital. There are a lot of other things that make digital IMAX worth it, dual projection, a standardized set up, unique speakers. And most people want it to be fun.

[Poya]

Originally Posted by MrsMiniver

Sure you do. Most people don't know, don't know what was before, and don't really care. I care, but seeing as 15/70 is gone, i have to settle for digital. There are a lot of other things that make digital IMAX worth it, dual projection, a standardized set up, unique speakers. And most people want it to be fun.

15/70mm is NOT gone! There are already 2 upcoming films partially shot in the format and more to come.

And no: LIEMAX is NOT worth it! There are AMC's around the globe that show films in 4K, something LIEMAX can't do. Also, their speakers pale in comparison to the immersion of Atmos.

[nrocket3]

Originally Posted by Poya

15/70mm is NOT gone! There are already 2 upcoming films partially shot in the format and more to come.

And no: LIEMAX is NOT worth it! There are AMC's around the globe that show films in 4K, something LIEMAX can't do. Also, their speakers pale in comparison to the immersion of Atmos.

Well then please list the locations of where I can see something like say Rouge nation, Star wars or Batman v Superman in 15/70 because I can't find any.

[MrsMiniver]

Originally Posted by nrocket3

Well then please list the locations of where I can see something like say Rouge nation, Star wars or Batman v Superman in 15/70 because I can't find any.

Star Wars I think is gonna get a release. But I could see IMAX pushing laser to the older locations, so maybe not. I believe the older locations that convert to 15/70 are not allowed to keep the film projectors.

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by Poya

15/70mm is NOT gone! There are already 2 upcoming films partially shot in the format and more to come.



And no: LIEMAX is NOT worth it! There are AMC's around the globe that show films in 4K, something LIEMAX can't do. Also, their speakers pale in comparison to the immersion of Atmos.

LIEMAX is still better than most. Finding a 4K Atmos theater with a big screen and bright image is difficult (I tried 3 before finding one).

LIEMAX is absolutely better than regular rooms, even if they have a 4K projector.

I'd rather watch Ant Man or Jurassic World in IMAX. Mad Max & Fantastic 4 are good Atmos titles.

Is IMAX still releasing 70mm prints? I got the impression Interstellar was the end. (Filmed in 70mm and released in 70mm are different)

[MrsMiniver]

Originally Posted by poya

15/70mm is not gone! There are already 2 upcoming films partially shot in the format and more to come.

And no: Liemax is not worth it! There are amc's around the globe that show films in 4k, something liemax can't do. Also, their speakers pale in comparison to the immersion of atmos.

lol :d

[Poya]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

LIEMAX is still better than most. Finding a 4K Atmos theater with a big screen and bright image is difficult (I tried 3 before finding one).

LIEMAX is absolutely better than regular rooms, even if they have a 4K projector.

I'd rather watch Ant Man or Jurassic World in IMAX. Mad Max & Fantastic 4 are good Atmos titles.

Is IMAX still releasing 70mm prints? I got the impression Interstellar was the end. (Filmed in 70mm and released in 70mm are different)

I went to Citywalk personally and talked to the manager about their 70mm projector. They said that the laser will indeed be included but the 70mm will still be kept, and while Interstellar was the last 70mm print they received, it seems likely that they will receive more for Star Wars and Batman v Superman, since IMAX isn't completely throwing away celluloid and the president still loves film, not to mention that's the format the filmmakers want the audiences to see, so releasing only laser prints of them would be stupid.

I am lucky to live near AMC Burbank 16, where the Dolby Cinema resides. Watching with those dual 4K lasers and Atmos was a relevation and has to be the 4th best way to show a film (3rd is 35mm, 2nd is regular 70mm, and 1st is 70mm IMAX). I know these theaters are hard to find but they are expanding as fast as they can.