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

[Dubstar]

for those in the DC metro area - AMC Tyson's Corner's ETX screen is now closed and is being converted over as a 'Prime' / Dolby Cinema auditorium.

[chad_1138]

Just saw an article on the Indianapolis new about the Downtown IMAX going digital. Got really worried...

However, they said they are only adding digital projectors. THEY ARE KEEPING THEIR 70MM IMAX FILM PROJECTOR

[bootsy]

Originally Posted by chad_1138

Just saw an article on the Indianapolis new about the Downtown IMAX going digital. Got really worried...

However, they said they are only adding digital projectors. THEY ARE KEEPING THEIR 70MM IMAX FILM PROJECTOR

Awesome.

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by chad_1138

Just saw an article on the Indianapolis new about the Downtown IMAX going digital. Got really worried...



However, they said they are only adding digital projectors. THEY ARE KEEPING THEIR 70MM IMAX FILM PROJECTOR

See if it gets used again. :P

I've heard laser trumps film. Unless the camera negative is spliced, the resolution of 70mm isn't preserved anyhow.

(I did love Interstellar in 70mm and I do understand 70mm is capable of higher resolution with the right conditions.)

[42041]

My sample size for laser projection right now is one 3D viewing of Star Wars but I don't think I'm going to miss the 70mm. Contrast seemed better (as far as I could tell through the glasses), the resolution on tap is quite sufficient, and of course it doesn't have film's stability and dirt/damage issues.

[Poya]

Here's my personal ranking of theatrical formats:

IMAX 70mm
70mm
35mm
Dolby Cinema
IMAX w/ Laser
4K
IMAX digital
2K

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by Poya

Here's my personal ranking of theatrical formats:



IMAX 70mm

70mm

35mm

Dolby Cinema

IMAX w/ Laser

4K

IMAX digital

2K

Is this based on preference or observation?

[Poya]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

Is this based on preference or observation?

A bit of both. There's something about film that feels colorful and authentic than laser. Dolby Cinema is the closest to achieving what colors and dynamic range film has compared to the others. It's certainly better than IMAX's laser.

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by Poya

A bit of both. There's something about film that feels colorful and authentic than laser. Dolby Cinema is the closest to achieving what colors and dynamic range film has compared to the others. It's certainly better than IMAX's laser.

Yeah, I wish Dolby Cinema was in Minnesota.

With a digital intermediate, I think the benefit of celluloid is psychological.

[Poya]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

Yeah, I wish Dolby Cinema was in Minnesota.

With a digital intermediate, I think the benefit of celluloid is psychological.

It's been said that digital intermediates don't have as much options for color or dynamic range like photochemical timing does.

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by Poya

It's been said that digital intermediates don't have as much options for color or dynamic range like photochemical timing does.

That's my point. What's the last movie without the camera negative being imported digitally?

Other than things like Interstellar which had some sequences cut together, pretty much everything goes through a computer, how does that retain the color?

How can celluloid be superior of its content was exported from a computer?

[Poya]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

That's my point. What's the last movie without the camera negative being imported digitally?

Other than things like Interstellar which had some sequences cut together, pretty much everything goes through a computer, how does that retain the color?

How can celluloid be superior of its content was exported from a computer?

I'm guessing the digital prints are made from the phototimed interpositive, and isn't the interpositive made after a negative has been colored? There are still films out there not done with a digital intermediate that aren't Nolan films. Transcendence, The Hateful Eight, and Inherent Vice (and other PTA films), to name a few, and those feel more like films than those that were shot on film but went through a DI.

[WJWS Channel 13:Amity]

Originally Posted by Poya

A bit of both. There's something about film that feels colorful and authentic than laser. Dolby Cinema is the closest to achieving what colors and dynamic range film has compared to the others. It's certainly better than IMAX's laser.

Just curious which IMAXwithLaser theatre you went to.

[Poya]

Originally Posted by WJWS Channel 13:Amity

Just curious which IMAXwithLaser theatre you went to.

Citywalk.

[byserkhan]

Where to i buy imax release movies or find any forum or torrent ?
I did not find any imax releases 2015

Thanks.

[Spike M.]

Originally Posted by Poya

I'm guessing the digital prints are made from the phototimed interpositive, and isn't the interpositive made after a negative has been colored? There are still films out there not done with a digital intermediate that aren't Nolan films. Transcendence, The Hateful Eight, and Inherent Vice (and other PTA films), to name a few, and those feel more like films than those that were shot on film but went through a DI.

The Hateful Eight and The Master might be an exception because relatively few prints were made, but I know typically only a handful of Nolan's IMAX prints are directly from the IP, the rest are from the 8/4K digital scans. Outside of that, virtually every print made in the last decade is coming from a DI.

[WJWS Channel 13:Amity]

Originally Posted by Poya

Citywalk.

Therein lies your problem, AMC.
Pm me and come experience IMAXwithLaser3D or 2D at the Chinese on me.
We were the first to install IMAXwithLaser back in April of last year.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by WJWS Channel 13:Amity

Therein lies your problem, AMC.
Pm me and come experience IMAXwithLaser3D or 2D at the Chinese on me.
We were the first to install IMAXwithLaser back in April of last year.

technically "the second" IMAX-laser theater - Toronto's Scotiabank Toronto & IMAX theater was the first.

Smithsonian's Udvar Hazy Chantilly Virginia was the third and the image is outstanding.

[xbs2034]

I did finally get to see laser IMAX this weekend visiting family in San Francisco. Now they were still showing Force Awakens, so I believe it is the first time I've seen a film 3 times theatrically off a single release since The Phantom Menace and would've preferred The Finest Hours, though was great to see a giant IMAX screen filled again, even if fairly briefly.

I will say image quality was outstanding, certainly noticeably so over Dolby Cinema even in the 35 footage (I don't even think 5/70 Hateful Eight could match up to the laser footage in the IMAX sequence), and while I think the Atmos mix was better in some places, overall I probably preferred the new IMAX system sound mix, if nothing else because it felt right volume wise here whereas the film was too loud at times in Atmos. It is unfair to fully judge a format off of one film, but my immediate impressions are laser still lacks behind IMAX 15/70 film in some areas (even though I sadly recognise that format is for all intents and purposes dead), but could well be the second best I've seen.

[Dubstar]

for those in the Washington DC are who missed seeing 'Star Wars The Force Awakens' over at the Virginia Airbus IMAX-laser location - good news! Air & Space intown museum debut's it's brand spankin' new laser system on Feb. 25th - 'The Force Awakens' will have a short window of Friday afternoon to Sunday night.