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

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

So a few tidbits from my recent visit to my local home theater. I asked about what complexity level is the theater because of the upcoming Regal Unlimited promo and found quite a bit of information.

-My local home theater (Manassas, VA)is Complexity Level 4 and due for an overhaul and upgrade (which is constantly being push back for some reason. Management was like "Don't know what your talking about.." when it comes to the new Regal Unlimited program, which I could understand if HQ is telling their employees not to talk about it until official release.
-The nearest newer (6 years old) theater is Complexity Level 3. That's Gainesville, VA.
-Was told that once upgrades are complete, Manassas will go to Complexity Level 3.
-And the most interesting news is that Screen 14 which is across from the IMAX Screen 10 is getting upgraded to 4DX. I find this interesting as I believe this might be the only theater in the area which will get 4DX as the nearest 4DX theater is at Regal Gallery Place & 4DX in DC.

I am surprised since the nearest motion controlled seating equipped theater that I know of is COBB Theater in Leesburg, VA.

audio wise 4DX is a joke since all they feature is 7.1 audio, no immersive surround sound with overhead speakers - eh, Regal you do things so half assed nowadays.

[Geoff D]

Originally Posted by voltz

I almost made a thread on this, but kept confusing myself trying to make it a discussion of interest.

We know that when a movie's run is up, it's typically erased or destroyed to prevent falling into the hands of the public, but now that 4KUHD is so close, why must they continue to insist we have a watered down format knowing these films will never be seen at their best again? All that detail quality goes to waste and with how close we are to 2020, I'm starting to find this practice hugely unacceptable.

I can understand when original master prints are kept and later given life on another format, but digital has it's limits as most films do get shot on a format that is 4k or less (just now we're doing 6) Being realistic, why must Hollywood hold us back?

[Creed]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

audio wise 4DX is a joke since all they feature is 7.1 audio, no immersive surround sound with overhead speakers - eh, Regal you do things so half assed nowadays.

The same audio utilized in standard or 3D shows....SMH.

[UFAlien]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

Wait was Lion King filmed only for the background plates? Or is the entire movie 100% photo digital?

The entire movie is digital animation, but shot like a live-action movie. All the locations, sets, and characters are computer generated, and they were created and animated in 360 degrees. Then the crew went into a big empty studio with a fake camera rig and other equipment hooked up to motion-tracking systems, and used VR headsets and monitors to be "on location" in the virtual environments. The motion tracking allowed the camera operators to walk around the room and operate the virtual camera as if they were actually there shooting normally.

The virtual camera was programmed with the specs of an Arri Alexa 65, but there's no actual live-action footage in the movie. The filmmakers did take a real Alexa 65 to Kenya to shoot reference footage for the animation, but none of that material is in the film.

It's actually really awesome cutting-edge tech that I frankly think is wasted on a pointless, charmless remake of an animated classic set in a real-world location. Imagine shooting a TRON movie this way! Or anything in an impossible, fantastical setting, where for the first time you can have human operators be "there" and use traditional filmmaking techniques to immerse the audience in a dream-world.

[Geoff D]

I don't think any such tech is 'wasted' on making fluff because it's all a proving ground, as you say there are some exciting possiblities that this tech can offer so they might as well prove it can work on something that'll be a slam dunk, rather than some new movie that tanks and then attaches a stigma to using such tech.

[leftyflip86]

The Grand Screen auditorium at B&B Overland Park in Kansas is the first with the ScreenX Amphitheater format, which basically means the seating area is curved and the side walls are angled outward toward the rear of the auditorium to provide a more "immersive" experience for ScreenX formatted films. The speakers for the DTS:X sound system are embedded in the walls, similar to some international Dolby Cinema auditoriums. This removes the issue that some ScreenX locations have with surround speakers interfering with images projected on the side walls/side screens.

Source: https://www.boxofficepro.com/cj-4dpl...-amphitheater/

A few months ago, Cinemark and IMAX announced that two IMAX laser systems would be installed into Cinemark locations. Although this wasn't posted earlier, I figured some may be interested. The Cinemark locations to receive the laser systems are in Daly City, California and Milford, Connecticut. The Milford location will have its existing IMAX Digital screen upgraded to laser, while the Daly City location will be a new IMAX laser install.

The Century theater in Daly City already has an XD large format auditorium.

Source: https://www.prnewswire.com/news-rele...300819977.html

[ITDEFX101]

IT Chapter 2 had a pretty strong sound mix. Not sure if it was stronger than Chapter 1 but dialog, sound effects, and music were evenly distributed through the speakers at my local d-imax theater.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

IT Chapter 2 had a pretty strong sound mix. Not sure if it was stronger than Chapter 1 but dialog, sound effects, and music were evenly distributed through the speakers at my local d-imax theater.

I can't compare 6-track IMAX to Dolby Cinema, but comparing the Atmos mixes of Chapter 1 to Chapter 2, 1 is the better overall mix.

[ITDEFX101]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

I can't compare 6-track IMAX to Dolby Cinema, but comparing the Atmos mixes of Chapter 1 to Chapter 2, 1 is the better overall mix.

And see that was a failed opportunity on the theater chains end to do a back to back 1 day promo for the movies. The IMAX showing started at 5 instead of the usual 7pm. If they did that then I could have easily compare the mixes to of both movies because they were fresh in my mind. Last time I saw Chapter 1 was in a regular theater that seemed to have a weak dialog out put last month.

[puddy77]

It seems that Kanye West has a companion film to his new album coming out in IMAX Oct. 25, Jesus is King. Unknown, but doubtful if it was shot on IMAX film.

http://www.artnews.com/2019/09/30/ka...-roden-crater/

[Dreamliner330]

I just found out the LIMAX room at AMC Rosedale in Roseville Minnesota is getting new seats and 4K Laser projectors!!

I already prefer 2K IMAX to Dolby Cinema (screen size and especially 3D). 4K IMAX makes it a no brainer.

[Scorpion Soldier]

In a rather last minute announcement, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil will be opened up to 1.90:1 for the entire film in IMAX.

Feel the full power of @Maleficent
in #IMAX. Immerse yourself in her mystical world and see up to 26% more picture, only in #IMAX theatres. Out 10/18. Reserve your seat: https://www.imax.com/movies/maleficent-mistress-of-evil

https://twitter.com/IMAX/status/1184484139984195584

[rwc]

Originally Posted by Scorpion Soldier

In a rather last minute announcement, Maleficent: Mistress of Evil will be opened up to 1.90:1 for the entire film in IMAX.

Highly unlikely that it'll be anything other than 2.39:1 on 4K, 3D and standard blu-ray, right?

[Scorpion Soldier]

Originally Posted by rwc

Highly unlikely that it'll be anything other than 2.39:1 on 4K, 3D and standard blu-ray, right?

Pretty much guaranteed it won't be.

[BluBonnet]

Originally Posted by rwc

Highly unlikely that it'll be anything other than 2.39:1 on 4K, 3D and standard blu-ray, right?

Who knows, maybe the IMAX version will be a Disney Plus exclusive!

[rwc]

Originally Posted by BluBonnet

Who knows, maybe the IMAX version will be a Disney Plus exclusive!

Or IMAX Enhanced (even less likely of course)... but yeah basically no hope for the expanded ratio on 3D blu-ray (unless they open it further to 1.78:1, like that's ever going to happen), which is what I care about, so I think I might have to drive to the nearest IMAX an hour away to see this in IMAX 3D rather than normal 3D.

I really hope studios don't start regularly doing this - releasing a film that is fully in 1.90:1 in IMAX cinemas, and releasing scope everywhere else.
Because that no longer feels like an exclusive IMAX bonus, where a film that is intended for scope has some special expanded moments - that feels like a monopoly.
If the film is fully expanded to 1.90:1 (which means the creators absolutely had this ratio in mind), then it probably could and probably should have just been filmed in 1.85:1 and released everywhere as such. I hope the industry doesn't start making exclusivity a major theatrical issue; it's already an issue in the blu-ray and streaming worlds...

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

I just found out the LIMAX room at AMC Rosedale in Roseville Minnesota is getting new seats and 4K Laser projectors!!

I already prefer 2K IMAX to Dolby Cinema (screen size and especially 3D). 4K IMAX makes it a no brainer.

Sweet! When will that open?

So this location will have both Dolby Cinema and 4K IMAX laser screening rooms?

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by Geoff D

Nothing seems to be confirmed yet but there are lots of plans being mooted for redeveloping that area.

I really hope the BFI is saved. It's getting harder and harder to see proper 15/70 or even laser IMAX these days.

Those bastards demolished the 15/70 theater that was literally 5 minutes away from my house so there are no 15/70 theaters in my state. I am going to have to drive 8 hours to see Tenet in Chicago this summer assuming it gets an IMAX print.

[xbs2034]

The thing that bothers me about Maleficent and limits my interest in that version, is it’s another example of having to choose between 3D and expanded ratio, since all IMAX showings are in 2D. I think Blade Runner 2049 was the first one to do so, but has happened in a number of cases since.

And I lean towards choosing 3D then, sometimes there is a break like how it was announced right away that MI Fallout would have the expanded ratio on its home release (even though I don’t think the effect is quite the same at home) so knew to go for 3D which I wasn’t sure would be possible at home, or how I saw Captain Marvel first in Real D and then in IMAX laser to get both, but don’t think Maleficent is the type of movie I would see twice in theaters.

[dannphou]

Will Star Wars The Rise Of Skywalker have IMAX scenes?