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

[ITDEFX101]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

Rosedale AMC Laser IMAX 3D (Roseville, Minnesota) review.

The AMC in the Rosedale Mall just renovated their LIMAX room with Laser IMAX 3D projectors and new seats, flooring, etc.

I went there for the first time since the renovation to check out The Rise of Skywalker in Laser IMAX 3D.

I could immediately tell the image was significantly brighter than 2K IMAX, it really was very bright. The image also looked sharper and I could definitely see it had deeper blacks. I am still surprised at how bright it was. I always pick IMAX 3D when available because of the brightness and 3D quality, this laser system kicks it up a pretty big notch.

I did notice during the 2D previews I could see screen sparkle or something on white text and such. It wasn't exactly a screen sparkle, but it was definitely something, almost a fuzzy look, although the image itself was very sharp. Kinda hard to explain.

The seats seemed comfortable enough at first, but the backs are kinda stiff to recline making it kinda hard to 'sink into'.

This specific AMC location has failed to provide a quality presentation...again. Last time I was at this theater for Spiderman Far From Home IMAX 3D their air conditioner broke when it was 100°+ outside. This made the theater unbelievably hot and I was sweating just sitting there in shorts. They actually PAUSED the movie and told everyone they were offering free drinks and refunds. All the way back when Inception came out, this specific theater had audio delayed by a second or so as well.

This time during the Laser IMAX 3D presentation I noticed the LEFT and RIGHT speaker channels were not working, AT ALL! During the beginning of AMC movies they play a PSA saying to note the exits, that they might be located in the "Front, Left, Right or Back of the theater". Those directional words appear on screen and the voice speaking it comes out of the corresponding channels. I hear "Front" and "Back" but "Left" and "Right" were completely silent.

I knew right away there was an issue and I went out to tell a manager there was a problem. I got a blank stare and a "we'll let the general manager know" followed by another employee piping up "I was just in there and I could hear it okay."

I went back in the theater for the rest of the previews and it was obvious the sound was coming from the front and back, but nothing on the sides. During the actual movie you could see things happening without hearing them. Lightsabers would hit with zero noise. Ships would fly by with zero noise. Etc.

After the movie was over I went back to the manager and asked if there were able to figure it out, their response? "We called IMAX".

Laser IMAX 3D > 2K IMAX 3D > RealD 3D > Laser IMAX 2D > 2K IMAX 2D > Dolby > 2D

(I prefer 3D and big bright screens)

It really annoys me that they charge a premium ticket price but can't provide premium service. I understand that no one working in the theater is certified to diagnose and resolve any sound issues. I am truly shocked that management doesn't run a quick audio and video test of each screen an hour or so before the theater opens to address any issues before people come in. I am not expecting full audio calibration but a simple audio check would test all speakers and confirm any issues.

In the end they say, "I am sorry....here is a readmit pass..." My local theater can't keep their presentation quality consistent week after week. One week the movie will sound and play fine, the next movie will have issues and so on.

[CelluloidPal]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

Tried out Regal's 4dx in Ashburn, VA last night on Rise of Skywalker. Here are my thoughts:

-Only worked for one or two during the trailers.. It didn't work at all for Top Gun (bummer)
-There are seat belts :O
-The seats themselves are not as padded as other Regal seats so if you have lower back problems, this can be a bit much on your back/butt.
-In certain scenes such as the opening credits, the seats will tilt in away to give you that feeling that you are floating away from the text.
-The Pasaana speeder scene was very intense with seats rocking, wind blowing.
-Any time weapons fired you would feel shots of air coming from behind you. Getting stabbed in the back, you feel that too.
-Kef Bir water scenes really pump up the fans and increases the *squirts of water*. It actually made me feel almost like I was traveling with Rey and feeling the cold and wind of the environment without being too overwhelmed.
-The side fans will clank back and forth after a few intense wind scenes.
-When the camera moves around certain characters the seats will tilt around to give you that feeling that you are actually moving with the camera...which was kinda cool.
-The overall effects did not over power the movie presentation.
-The sound system itself...honestly I wasn't impressed as it felt like it was average to that of other Regal or other standard screens sound systems.

Is it worth the 24.45 (3d)???.... Yes for a once a year experience....next year's Top Gun will probably benefit from a presentation like this. The sound system was no where near IMAX/Dolby Atmos/Etc...I didn't walk out drenched but anything sensitive to water (paper) may need to be put away and I would highly recommend not putting anything in the seats next to you because they will bounce around in the chair during motion scenes (popcorn for example). Wearing a light jacket would help. Some scented air would be blown a times but it wasn't bad at all. Doing this for every movie will be costly IMHO.

The 4DX screen in Downtown DC doesn't have seatbelts.
As for the water effects, they can be turned off. There's a button on the armrest that does it.
I've only experienced 4DX twice, one for Winchester (the only convenient showtime available after work) and the other recently for Gremlins. (Tix were $10.00.)
If you have a boatload of Regal points, you can use them for a nice discount.
But 4DX experience should be used for specific movies that can benefit well with it and get your money's worth. The upcoming Top Gun is one that would fit it like a glove.

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

It really annoys me that they charge a premium ticket price but can't provide premium service. I understand that no one working in the theater is certified to diagnose and resolve any sound issues. I am truly shocked that management doesn't run a quick audio and video test of each screen an hour or so before the theater opens to address any issues before people come in. I am not expecting full audio calibration but a simple audio check would test all speakers and confirm any issues.

In the end they say, "I am sorry....here is a readmit pass..." My local theater can't keep their presentation quality consistent week after week. One week the movie will sound and play fine, the next movie will have issues and so on.

One time something similar happened before and management told me the IMAX room was calibrated by lasers every morning and it wasn’t possible have a problem.

The frustrating thing about the Rise of Skywalker situation is they didn’t even offer a readmit pass. I’m going to call and ask for one. I didn’t even mention every single pair of IMAX glasses were very dirty. When I pointed it out they said they would give me a clean pair and they couldn’t find one and said “well this is the best there is I guess”.

During Captain America Civil War some audio processor thing was broken and the volume was very low, so low I had trouble hearing dialogue over people around me chewing popcorn and opening candy and such. They told me IMAX told them it wouldn’t be a problem. It clearly was.

It took them about three months to fully fix that problem as when they reinstalled the broken part it broke again. So I had to call the theater and talk to a specific person to ask if it had been fixed yet.

One of the IMAX projectors was broken/off during Joker, but that didn’t matter much since that was just 2D, it did seem a little bit dimmer though. When I mentioned it on the way out their response was oh that second projector isn’t used all the time because our screen isn’t wide enough. I usually talk to management when I have an issue and it is really interesting to hear the types of replies they come up with, it’s no wonder their systems are broken because they don’t even know there’s a problem.

I don’t have problems very often, I truly don’t, but I see so many movies that I usually end up getting a lot of issues.

[ITDEFX101]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

One time something similar happened before and management told me the IMAX room was calibrated by lasers every morning and it wasn’t possible have a problem.

The frustrating thing about the Rise of Skywalker situation is they didn’t even offer a readmit pass. I’m going to call and ask for one. I didn’t even mention every single pair of IMAX glasses were very dirty. When I pointed it out they said they would give me a clean pair and they couldn’t find one and said “well this is the best there is I guess”.

During Captain America Civil War some audio processor thing was broken and the volume was very low, so low I had trouble hearing dialogue over people around me chewing popcorn and opening candy and such. They told me IMAX told them it wouldn’t be a problem. It clearly was.

It took them about three months to fully fix that problem as when they reinstalled the broken part it broke again. So I had to call the theater and talk to a specific person to ask if it had been fixed yet.

One of the IMAX projectors was broken/off during Joker, but that didn’t matter much since that was just 2D, it did seem a little bit dimmer though. When I mentioned it on the way out their response was oh that second projector isn’t used all the time because our screen isn’t wide enough. I usually talk to management when I have an issue and it is really interesting to hear the types of replies they come up with, it’s no wonder their systems are broken because they don’t even know there’s a problem.

I don’t have problems very often, I truly don’t, but I see so many movies that I usually end up getting a lot of issues.

I am not sure why there can be an issue with the equipment and yet staff is like "it was working fine earlier..." What exactly is management doing???

[ITDEFX101]

Now what's up with the digital keys? My local theater seems to be having issues with these in order to play the movies. Last time it happened was for Detective Pikachu and they came out just before show time and told us they were having issues with the digital keys so they gave us a choice, either come back to the front to get a refund, later showing OR wait it out and they will give us all 3d readmit passes... Guess what I did? waited it out (for about an hour). I wasn't too bummed about it because of the free pass but if I had ordered hot food then I would have been SOL.

[ITDEFX101]

oh and forgot to mention

Saw SW in their Dolby Atmos screen on Monday. Holy crap that audio was the best calibration I have heard in years. It beat out Manassas D-IMAX/RPX combined.

[Dreamliner330]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

I am not sure why there can be an issue with the equipment and yet staff is like "it was working fine earlier..." What exactly is management doing???

Nothing. Their immediate response is to make an excuse. In their mind: Makes noise = Sound works

During Inception, the audio had a delay, my Dad and I walked out and asked for a refund, including concessions. They put up a fight, even went into the room, came back and said it sounded fine (during that water rushing in scene, no dialog).

I insisted on a refund and they started the refund process, a few minutes later groups of people started exiting the IMAX room and I said "Oh look at that, I wonder why everyone is leaving?"

Incompetence frustrates me the most and it is unfortunately very common.

[ITDEFX101]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

Nothing. Their immediate response is to make an excuse. In their mind: Makes noise = Sound works

During Inception, the audio had a delay, my Dad and I walked out and asked for a refund, including concessions. They put up a fight, even went into the room, came back and said it sounded fine (during that water rushing in scene, no dialog).

I insisted on a refund and they started the refund process, a few minutes later groups of people started exiting the IMAX room and I said "Oh look at that, I wonder why everyone is leaving?"

Incompetence frustrates me the most and it is unfortunately very common.

True. I am not expecting Alamo quality technicians..but I assumed that IMAX is contracted to handle all the issues relating to the IMAX screens (hence why if you see an IMAX movie and they say if there was an issue with the presentation, report it to the QA email).

I don't think they should be charged for a call but I guess it is easier to give out readmit passes, then to write email/make a call.

[ITDEFX101]

General question here for the NOVA peeps on here.
I have seen SW: TROS 5 times already. I am targeting as many premium formats before the next major release (Bad Boys for life?).

Here is where I saw them
1. RPX Regal Gainesville, VA

2. IMAX 3D Regal Manassas, VA

3. Dolby Atmos Alamo Drafthouse Ashburn, VA

4. 4DX Regal Ashburn, VA

5. xD 3d Cinemark Fairfax, VA

I still haven't seen it at Udvar Hazy IMAX in Chantilly. This is because when I saw TFA, I had to wait 2 hours in a huge line just view the movie. Not sure how bad the lines are now. I know there are no IMAX scenes. There is the Cobb Theater in Leesburg that has it in DBOX but to be honest I thought the 4DX experience was better and more immersive. AMC Prime in Tyson's Corner, but that felt a bit underwhelming for GOTGv2.

So what other places I need to watch TROS in premium format?

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

General question here for the NOVA peeps on here.
I have seen SW: TROS 5 times already. I am targeting as many premium formats before the next major release (Bad Boys for life?).

Here is where I saw them
1. RPX Regal Gainesville, VA

2. IMAX 3D Regal Manassas, VA

3. Dolby Atmos Alamo Drafthouse Ashburn, VA

4. 4DX Regal Ashburn, VA

5. xD 3d Cinemark Fairfax, VA

I still haven't seen it at Udvar Hazy IMAX in Chantilly. This is because when I saw TFA, I had to wait 2 hours in a huge line just view the movie. Not sure how bad the lines are now. I know there are no IMAX scenes. There is the Cobb Theater in Leesburg that has it in DBOX but to be honest I thought the 4DX experience was better and more immersive. AMC Prime in Tyson's Corner, but that felt a bit underwhelming for GOTGv2.

So what other places I need to watch TROS in premium format?

How does XD 3d compare to Imax 3d?

[ITDEFX101]

To be honest the THX xD 3d presentation felt like not all channels were being utilized and same with the IMAX 3d. 3d has always been mediocre to me unless Frame Break has been applied...which the last movie I saw with Frame Breaking 3d was Ghostbusters 2016, and I thought that framebreak was pretty good in 3d even in the far back of the theater.

[ITDEFX101]

Any NOVA peeps tried that BTX theater in Reston? 20 bucks! :O Worth it?

[singhcr]

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

Nothing. Their immediate response is to make an excuse. In their mind: Makes noise = Sound works

During Inception, the audio had a delay, my Dad and I walked out and asked for a refund, including concessions. They put up a fight, even went into the room, came back and said it sounded fine (during that water rushing in scene, no dialog).

I insisted on a refund and they started the refund process, a few minutes later groups of people started exiting the IMAX room and I said "Oh look at that, I wonder why everyone is leaving?"

Incompetence frustrates me the most and it is unfortunately very common.

Sorry to hear about your experience. I talked to them for over a year about how the Dolby Cinema screening room at Rosedale was out of focus as the dual projectors were misaligned, plus there were lights on the corners of the screen that never turned off either. I finally gave up and went to the Southdale location in Edina. The stupid lights are still there in the lower corners of the screen but they are usually not distracting except for very dark scenes. The only time I have ever seen a properly set up Dolby Cinema screen was in Century City near LA when I was visiting friends and saw Batman v Superman.

Originally Posted by Dreamliner330

Incompetence frustrates me the most and it is unfortunately very common.

I hear you on that, it irritates me to no end. If they don't offer a pass next time, try demanding one. That usually works. I typically only do that if I warned them about a problem before or during the film such as the aforementioned focus issue, bad audio, etc. They have never refused me when I asked for a refund or readmit pass. I often have social anxiety about confronting people like that but I keep telling myself that I am a paying customer and they have a duty to show the movie correctly, so I am entitled to a refund if they don't do their job especially after I've given them a heads up by notifying them of an issue and they don't take the opportunity to fix it.

I was going to check out the laser IMAX in Southdale, I won't bother after what you have written about your unfortunate experience. You deserve better than that as a moviegoer and as a paying customer, and the movies deserve to be shown properly too. Even if nobody in the audience or even the management cares, please keep up your standards even if it gets a bit awkward with the management. Someone has to.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

Tried out Regal's 4dx in Ashburn, VA last night on Rise of Skywalker. Here are my thoughts:

-Only worked for one or two during the trailers.. It didn't work at all for Top Gun (bummer)
-There are seat belts :O
-The seats themselves are not as padded as other Regal seats so if you have lower back problems, this can be a bit much on your back/butt.
-In certain scenes such as the opening credits, the seats will tilt in away to give you that feeling that you are floating away from the text.
-The Pasaana speeder scene was very intense with seats rocking, wind blowing.
-Any time weapons fired you would feel shots of air coming from behind you. Getting stabbed in the back, you feel that too.
-Kef Bir water scenes really pump up the fans and increases the *squirts of water*. It actually made me feel almost like I was traveling with Rey and feeling the cold and wind of the environment without being too overwhelmed.
-The side fans will clank back and forth after a few intense wind scenes.
-When the camera moves around certain characters the seats will tilt around to give you that feeling that you are actually moving with the camera...which was kinda cool.
-The overall effects did not over power the movie presentation.
-The sound system itself...honestly I wasn't impressed as it felt like it was average to that of other Regal or other standard screens sound systems.

Is it worth the 24.45 (3d)???.... Yes for a once a year experience....next year's Top Gun will probably benefit from a presentation like this. The sound system was no where near IMAX/Dolby Atmos/Etc...I didn't walk out drenched but anything sensitive to water (paper) may need to be put away and I would highly recommend not putting anything in the seats next to you because they will bounce around in the chair during motion scenes (popcorn for example). Wearing a light jacket would help. Some scented air would be blown a times but it wasn't bad at all. Doing this for every movie will be costly IMHO.

I know I've stated this in the past, but I will never give Regal my money for the 4DX experience - one it's expensive, two: 7.1 surround sound only ?? please ... Regal seems to cheap out in not installing either DTS-X or Dolby Atmos to give the audio experience a boost or heightened experience of the other tactile amenities the 4DX experience offers. I saw the signage today when I was down at Gallery Place when I went to see "1917"

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

General question here for the NOVA peeps on here.
I have seen SW: TROS 5 times already. I am targeting as many premium formats before the next major release (Bad Boys for life?).

Here is where I saw them
1. RPX Regal Gainesville, VA

2. IMAX 3D Regal Manassas, VA

3. Dolby Atmos Alamo Drafthouse Ashburn, VA

4. 4DX Regal Ashburn, VA

5. xD 3d Cinemark Fairfax, VA

I still haven't seen it at Udvar Hazy IMAX in Chantilly. This is because when I saw TFA, I had to wait 2 hours in a huge line just view the movie. Not sure how bad the lines are now. I know there are no IMAX scenes. There is the Cobb Theater in Leesburg that has it in DBOX but to be honest I thought the 4DX experience was better and more immersive. AMC Prime in Tyson's Corner, but that felt a bit underwhelming for GOTGv2.

So what other places I need to watch TROS in premium format?

Arclight Bethesda - personally I find it to be the best calibrated Dolby Atmos system (auditorium #4) and unlike some Dolby Cinema screens in the DC/VA/MD area, where ancilary red/blue lighting bounces back onto the screen, this isn't not a problem here given the largeness of the screen and dropping close to floor level (I have yet to go to an Alamo Drafthouse to hear the Atmos systems, but my friend who is in charge of theater audio systems for the area, he knows his shit and strives for the systems to sound their best). The best two Dolby Cinema screens in my opinion are at Hoffman and Georgetown; the latter is a set 2.39 screen. My personal favourite AMC non-Dolby Cinema screen is the Prime screen at the Rio - the Atmos setup there is excellent.

Originally Posted by ITDEFX101

Any NOVA peeps tried that BTX theater in Reston? 20 bucks! :O Worth it?

for that price? um, it's not laser projection, it's a nice size semi-large set 2.39 screen, 7.1 only. I'd rather see a movie over at the Angelika Mosaic's large screen 1 auditorium.

[ZoetMB]

When I've been to theaters where sound channels are missing or there are other problems, I walk out and ask for my money back immediately. They'll always say, "no one else has complained" and I'll say, "that's because they're technically ignorant and don't realize something is wrong." They'll walk into and theater and pull the, "I hear sound so it's okay" argument. And I'll say, "there is no sound coming out of the left channel" or "the dialog is coming out of the right channel instead of the center channel". Drives me crazy. If they still balk, I pull out the "I used to be a COMPANY NAME consultant, so I know what I'm talking about" (which is true).

I used to complain all the time about screens that had the Sony projectors that kept the 3D filters on when showing 2D movies that made the movies incredibly dim, but now that 3D is the exception, that doesn't happen anymore in the theaters I attend.

But I must say that I haven't really seen any problems in the last year that was the direct fault of a theater (aside from theaters not having masking). I haven't loved all the Dolby Atmos mixes and audio is frequently too freaking loud, but overall, the projection and sound have been pretty good, although I mainly attend Dolby, IMAX and Prime screens.

I was seeing something on a Dolby screen and there was no audio at all during the trailers, but I went out and screamed for a manager and they got it fixed pretty fast. It wasn't the first show of the day, so I don't know what went wrong...maybe some kind of automation fluke.

[avs commenter]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

When I've been to theaters where sound channels are missing or there are other problems, I walk out and ask for my money back immediately. They'll always say, "no one else has complained" and I'll say, "that's because they're technically ignorant and don't realize something is wrong." They'll walk into and theater and pull the, "I hear sound so it's okay" argument. And I'll say, "there is no sound coming out of the left channel" or "the dialog is coming out of the right channel instead of the center channel". Drives me crazy. If they still balk, I pull out the "I used to be a COMPANY NAME consultant, so I know what I'm talking about" (which is true).

I used to complain all the time about screens that had the Sony projectors that kept the 3D filters on when showing 2D movies that made the movies incredibly dim, but now that 3D is the exception, that doesn't happen anymore in the theaters I attend.

But I must say that I haven't really seen any problems in the last year that was the direct fault of a theater (aside from theaters not having masking). I haven't loved all the Dolby Atmos mixes and audio is frequently too freaking loud, but overall, the projection and sound have been pretty good, although I mainly attend Dolby, IMAX and Prime screens.

I was seeing something on a Dolby screen and there was no audio at all during the trailers, but I went out and screamed for a manager and they got it fixed pretty fast. It wasn't the first show of the day, so I don't know what went wrong...maybe some kind of automation fluke.

you sound like a psycho

[dannphou]

Anyone know if AMC 34th Street 14 is a good theater for IMAX? Im going to see 1917 there in IMAX, since it seems like the only location to play the movie in that format for some reason.

[xbs2034]

Originally Posted by dannphou

Anyone know if AMC 34th Street 14 is a good theater for IMAX? Im going to see 1917 there in IMAX, since it seems like the only location to play the movie in that format for some reason.

It will have great picture and sound with the IMAX laser system, and a 1.9 aspect ratio (whereas Kips Bay uses a scope screen) so you get the expanded image for 1917. Though for size, it is unfortunately the smallest of the 4 Manhattan IMAX locations.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by ZoetMB

When I've been to theaters where sound channels are missing or there are other problems, I walk out and ask for my money back immediately. They'll always say, "no one else has complained" and I'll say, "that's because they're technically ignorant and don't realize something is wrong." They'll walk into and theater and pull the, "I hear sound so it's okay" argument. And I'll say, "there is no sound coming out of the left channel" or "the dialog is coming out of the right channel instead of the center channel". Drives me crazy. If they still balk, I pull out the "I used to be a COMPANY NAME consultant, so I know what I'm talking about" (which is true).

I used to complain all the time about screens that had the Sony projectors that kept the 3D filters on when showing 2D movies that made the movies incredibly dim, but now that 3D is the exception, that doesn't happen anymore in the theaters I attend.

But I must say that I haven't really seen any problems in the last year that was the direct fault of a theater (aside from theaters not having masking). I haven't loved all the Dolby Atmos mixes and audio is frequently too freaking loud, but overall, the projection and sound have been pretty good, although I mainly attend Dolby, IMAX and Prime screens.

I was seeing something on a Dolby screen and there was no audio at all during the trailers, but I went out and screamed for a manager and they got it fixed pretty fast. It wasn't the first show of the day, so I don't know what went wrong...maybe some kind of automation fluke.

for awhile there, I think a lot of movie theater managers in and around the Washington DC metro area, either knew me by name or by recognition - I'd be very critical of any technical flaws but also praised them when the systems/theatrical experience was great. I think some of them were like "oh shit, he's here again, everything has to be tiptop - hide"