which has better PQ, movie theater or Blu-ray

[sheldonison]

Originally Posted by Zten

Its impossible for Blu Ray to be better. Even if it could EXACTLY reporduce the resolution of the source material, it would only be the same as the real film movie. Anything less than 100% exact reproduction would only be worse. It could never be better....

Now the other factors (Old or abused/damaged film, noisy kids in the theatre, people talking, no beers, expensive, have to drive there, etc) still exist making movie theatres worse than home theatres w/ blu ray!

We all know that the 35mm original negative has more resolution than blu-ray, especially if its low speed film shot using good lenses. But the theater doesn't project the original negative. And even if the release print isn't abused or damaged, the movie theater stiill might not get the movie shown in focus.

As far as 1.85:1 goes, I think blu-ray would always have better PQ than a theatrical print. That would be mostly based on the smaller negative used for 1.85:1, versus the full 1080x1920 for blu-ray. I still think a widescreen 2.35:1 theatrical print ought to have better PQ than blu-ray at 817x1920, but first I have to find a theater that knows how to keep their projector in focus.