Dolby Atmos or 3D?

[DFTrouble]

Our local theater has two Atmos screens. However, they won't play 3D movies on them because they say the general public prefers non-3D movies (i.e. the theater doesn't sell as many 3D tickets).

We saw Star Trek in 3D, but I'm torn about Superman, which we plan to see this weekend. It is on an Atmos and 3D screens. Any thoughts?

[GreenGaijin]

I've never really heard of Dolby Atmos before, but I assume it's like an advanced audio experience. I remember seeing a 3D trailer for Man of Steel in Imax and it looked pretty standard. Somethings looked good but others didn't.

I would go with the better sound option, that way you could feel the base of each punch and impact. Plus, the score is composed by Hans Zimmer.

[Col. Zombie]

I had my first exposure to Dolby Atmos at the Santikos theater in San Antonio when I watched Iron Man 3 several weeks ago. I liked it... A LOT!!

3D, on the other hand, sucks, and I hate it... A LOT!!

[srinivas1015]

I absolutely love 3D but wasn't too impressed with MOS's conversion. Go with Atmos.

[thenexus6]

There was literally no 3D in Man of Steel - it's a bust go ATMOS

[rubystone356]

the 3d is terrible. I saw man of steel in none 3d atmos. It was great.. may I ask what theatre it is that has it in non 3d and atmos?

Jacob

[Tony208]

Dolby Atmos can be incredible

[LynxFX]

I've seen The Hobbit and Star Trek 2 in Atmos, absolutely stunning! It reinvigorates the moving theater experience with something you can't replicate at home yet.

[TJS_Blu]

Saw The Hobbit in Atmos, haven't paid much attention to developments since, but at the time I saw Hobbit, there had only been two titles released with Atmos sound, I think one of them was a Pixar movie and the other was Taken 2 (!). Kind of hard to believe they would create a bunch of Atmos soundtracks unless they've added a bunch of new theaters.

[drummerboy_2002]

Originally Posted by TJS_Blu

Saw The Hobbit in Atmos, haven't paid much attention to developments since, but at the time I saw Hobbit, there had only been two titles released with Atmos sound, I think one of them was a Pixar movie and the other was Taken 2 (!). Kind of hard to believe they would create a bunch of Atmos soundtracks unless they've added a bunch of new theaters.

It's not so hard to believe. Most channel based mixes can be rendered from the Atmos object based mix. Once mixers become accustomed to Atmos, it will be less work to mix for Atmos and derive the other mixes, than to create a custom mix for all the flavors of channel based audio.

[DFTrouble]

Originally Posted by rubystone356

the 3d is terrible. I saw man of steel in none 3d atmos. It was great.. may I ask what theatre it is that has it in non 3d and atmos?

Malco Paradiso in Memphis, TN.

Thanks for the help, folks!

[AmrlKJaneway]

Hey, a little off topic, but not worth a new thread, so;

If you were shooting a film, and it was effects heavy so your producers told you to go digital for reasons of melding the live action and CGI, and then gave you the choice of 4K or 3D, which would you choose?

After experiencing 4K only recently, I'm heavily swayed towards it. The added detail on the CGI, and the live action as well, immersed me a lot more that being able to separate layers, which I find you can do easily enough in 2D anyway.

To the OP - After seeing the shockingly bad 3D in the Man of Steel trailer, I myself am going 2D when I see it next week. No Atmos, but the screen is much bigger, and that's a draw in itself. I'll probably see every movie from now on on that screen. And it's 4K when the source allows it (which Man of Steel doesn't)!

Oh, and if you got no effects, or they're not that heavy, then celluloid all the way!

[Dubstar]

currently there are only two Dolby Atmos theaters in the DC metro area - AMC Tysons and Regal Kingstowne - both screens play their movie in 3D (when it's a 3D release) Oddly, only the Regal screen can playback in high frame rate, the Tyson's ETX screen isn't set up as such.

[thenexus6]

The fact thats there only one (well two - but its at pinewood studios so I doubt you can visit) ATMOS cinemas here in the UK I would pick that over the same old "3D"

[kong73]

Originally Posted by DFTrouble

Our local theater has two Atmos screens. However, they won't play 3D movies on them because they say the general public prefers non-3D movies (i.e. the theater doesn't sell as many 3D tickets).

We saw Star Trek in 3D, but I'm torn about Superman, which we plan to see this weekend. It is on an Atmos and 3D screens. Any thoughts?

Go for the sound! MOS already has enough going on in visuals you don't need the 3D

[blu-ray_girl_fan]

It's not an either/or proposition since Dolby Atmos is a sound system/mix while 3D is for the eyes.

Having said that, I like how theaters are offering a choice. Some movies simply don't have good 3D conversions.

[rubystone356]

I saw the man of steel at the folsom theatre in california. They are playing man of steel in non 3d with atmos. here is a link to it.
http://www.cinemawest.com/pal.html

Jacob

[42041]

I saw The Hobbit in Dolby Atmos and it was... whatever. Nothing I'd go out of my way for. I hear the 3D conversion of Superman is pretty bad though.

[Dubstar]

Originally Posted by 42041

I saw The Hobbit in Dolby Atmos and it was... whatever. Nothing I'd go out of my way for. I hear the 3D conversion of Superman is pretty bad though.

bad isn't the right word, pointless is better.

[kong73]

Originally Posted by Dubstar

bad isn't the right word, pointless is better.

Yeah, Pointless is right! save your $$$ and don't let hollywood get ya...2D is just find... and fyi the same goes for World War Z Great films in 2D