Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: "MATRIX RELOADED" in IMAX opens on Friday, 6/6

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Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 06-04-2003, 12:12 PM:

The IMAX version of "MATRIX RELOADED" opens this Friday, June 6 and was wondering how wide is the release going to be. I have not heard if the film will play at the Waikiki IMAX Theatre here in Honolulu but if it does, it should do a lot better than "THE GHOST OF THE ABYSS" which is not doing too well anymore. I was not planning to see the "MATRIX" sequel in a theatre because I disliked the original very much but I would consider seeing it in IMAX if it plays here.

-Claude

Posted by Bill Gabel (Member # 1105) on 06-04-2003, 12:22 PM:

Looks like around 39 prints.

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 06-04-2003, 02:07 PM:

Me and a bunch of freinds are planning on making a trip to LA to see it.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 06-04-2003, 02:20 PM:

Playing at Marcus Imax starting Friday. They are showing MATRIX 3 times per day and GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS 3 times per day.

(Correction: Early info was wrong. They are running 2 GOTA and 3 MATRIX at Marcus Imax.)

[ 06-06-2003, 06:33 AM: Message edited by: Mark Lensenmayer ]

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 06-04-2003, 03:36 PM:

This release will roll out in waves for the next month. Some theaters will not be able to play it because of conventional chains objecting to it playing in their markets.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 06-04-2003, 04:28 PM:

Hi Adam.

Because Consolidated (Pacific) is the dominant exhibitor in Hawaii with the most screens, I do not think they will be any objections by the two other chains, Signature and Wallace if Consolidated's Waikiki IMAX play the MATRX RELEADED" film because they know that the majority of the people will not go out of their way to see a movie in Waikiki even if the film was in IMAX. This is the reason Consolidatedy had to shut down their three Waikiki standard theatres because of the lack of interest in film presentation by the public.

By the way, I am looking forward to meeting you and seeing your theatre during my trip to Sacramento early next month when I go there on a photo assignment.

-Claude

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 06-04-2003, 04:36 PM:

The Loews Lincoln Square, Regal New Roc City and UA King of Prussia get to "Reload in IMAX". They'll play it one matinee and two evening shows.

Claude: Bookmark Hawaii Showtime -- it has schedules for all theaters in Hawaii, IMAX included.

Posted by Michael West (Member # 428) on 06-04-2003, 07:25 PM:

we start matrix on imax this friday. i will have the pleasure of making this up on its many reels thursday (i hope)

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 06-05-2003, 12:00 AM:

Strange things are going on in Auckland ,as Matrix has been showing in the MEGA SCREEN theatre ???? I don't know if they have converted the old IMAX to a Large Format cinema , I,ve been away in the Philippines so I,ve not been there....but it could be .
Location: Sky City Metro, Level 3, 291-297 Queen St, Auckland
Postal Address: Box 5505, Auckland
Email: mega@village.co.nz
Fax: (09) 369 2401
Movie Information Line: (09) 369 2400
Cinema Screen: The largest screen in NZ - 400+ seats (Dolby Digital Sound)
Facilities Available: Toddler booster seats (limited supply), Time Out games arcade Level 2 Sky City Metro.

Posted by Claude S. Ayakawa (Member # 1401) on 06-05-2003, 12:50 AM:

Charles,

The Hawaii Showtimes web site did not have any indication that "MATRIC RELOADED" will open Friday at the Waikiki IMAX but todays Midweek magazine that features this coming weekend's new movie schedule has the film scheduled to open in IMAX here in Honolulu. Now that I know it will play here, I will try to catch it on Sunday because I will have some time in the afternoon.

-Claude

Posted by Bernard Tonks (Member # 809) on 06-05-2003, 04:23 AM:

I see that "MATRIX RELOADED" has a running time of 2 hours 18 minutes. Does that mean the Imax version will be an abridged version with platter capacity limited to 2 hours, or are they including an Intermission?

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 06-05-2003, 02:05 PM:

Confirmed ====Matrix Reloaded on the biggest screen
IMAX theatre in Auckland reopens as Mega Screen Queen Street, will screen "The Matrix Reloaded"
15 May 2003

Queen Street's IMAX theatre has been given a new lease of life.

The big-screen theatre - the only one of its kind in New Zealand - has been revamped by Village Sky City Cinemas after closing more than a year ago.

Prior to closing, it showed IMAX large format movies, which offer very high quality images because of the physical size of the film.

Now the cinema - renamed "Mega Screen Queen Street" - is to re-open at midnight tonight to screen the "The Matrix Reloaded".

Ticket prices will be the same as for Village regular cinemas.

Village Sky City Cinemas Chief Executive Joe Moodabe says the cinema has been adapted to screen blockbuster "event movies" over the coming months including "2 Fast 2 Furious" (June), "The Hulk" (June), "Terminator 3" (July), and "Tombraider 2" (September).

Posted by Michael West (Member # 428) on 06-05-2003, 02:15 PM:

bernard
our imax sr system uses two projectors and incorporates a change-over from platter "a" for right projector to platter "b" left projector, this change-over is obviously unseen by the audience. the print will arrive on many rolls which will be spliced together on two large platters. information (frame counts etc.) is programmed into the plc (programmable logic controller) that will signal the projectors to start, dowser open, change-over, doswer close, and stop, the feature should just fit the platters but just in case (we also have just recieved two slightly larger than normal platters, have extensions for the take up arms and re calibrated qtru cards/modules). note i really have glossed over it all some. the matrix we have from what i understand is un-cut.

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 06-05-2003, 04:39 PM:

Bernard

To use the SR changeover as described by Michael we need to use 75 minute ,53"diameter platters as opposed to the standard 60 minute 51" diameter!

For single projector GT 3D setups , such as at BFI London IMAX, the Quick Turn Reel Unit needs to be modified to take 150 minute capacity platters which I tink are approximately 72" diameter.

Unfortunately , at the moment , the only UK IMAX theatre being given the oportunity to screen Matrix Reloaded is the BFI. For reasons as yet unclear the international release is limited to one screen each in the UK,Russia,Singapore, South Africa, Japan and Germany AFAIK there are no foreign language versions currently available.

[ 06-06-2003, 02:42 AM: Message edited by: Dick Vaughan ]

Posted by Bernard Tonks (Member # 809) on 06-05-2003, 05:04 PM:

Michael and Dick,

Thank you for explaining all of that. So very interesting as well.

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 06-06-2003, 02:38 AM:

Here is full list from IMAX on theatres showing reloaded

Opening June 6, 2003

United States
Addison, Illinois - Addison IMAX Theatre
Atlanta, Georgia - Regal Mall of Georgia 20 & IMAX
Boise, Idaho - Edwards Boise Stadium 21 & IMAX
Buffalo, New York - Regal Transit Center 18 & IMAX
Cathedral City, California - Desert IMAX Theatre
Colorado Springs, Colorado - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at Cinemark Carefree
Circle
Columbus, Ohio - Marcus Crosswoods IMAX Theatre
Dallas, Texas - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at Cinemark 17
Denver, Colorado - UA Colorado Center 9 & IMAX
Dublin, California - Regal Hacienda Crossings 20 & IMAX
Grand Rapids, Michigan - IMAX Theatre at Celebration! Cinema
Hampton, Virginia - Riverside IMAX Theatre at the Virginia Air & Space
Center
Honolulu, Hawaii - The IMAX Waikiki Theatre
Houston, Texas - Edwards Houston Marq*e 23 & IMAX
Irvine, California - Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 & IMAX
King of Prussia, Pennsylvania - UA King of Prussia Stadium 16 & IMAX
Lincolnshire, Illinois - Regal Lincolnshire 20 & IMAX
Los Angeles, California - IMAX Theatre at The Bridge
Los Angeles, California - Universal CityWalk IMAX Theatre
Nashville, Tennessee - Regal Opry Mills 20 & IMAX
New Orleans, Louisiana - Entergy IMAX Theatre at Audubon Aquarium of the
Americas
New Rochelle, New York - Regal New Roc City 18 & IMAX
New York, New York - Loews IMAX Theatre, Lincoln Square
Ontario, California - Edwards Ontario Palace 22 & IMAX
Rochester, New York - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at Tinseltown USA
San Francisco, California - Loews IMAX Theatre at Metreon
Santa Clarita, California - Edwards Valencia 12 & IMAX
Spokane, Washington - IMAX Theatre at Riverfront Park
Tampa, Florida - Regal Channelside Cinemas 9 & IMAX
Tulsa, Oklahoma - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at The Tulsa
Woodridge, Illinois - Cinemark IMAX Theatre at Seven Bridges

Canada
Calgary, Alberta - IMAX Theatre, Famous Players Paramount Chinook
Edmonton, Alberta - IMAX Theatre, Famous Players SilverCity West Edmonton
Mall
Halifax, Nova Scotia - Empire IMAX Theatre
Langley, British Columbia - IMAX Theatre, Famous Players Colossus Langley
Mississauga, Ontario - IMAX Theatre, Famous Players Coliseum Mississauga
Montreal, Quebec - IMAX Theatre, Famous Players Paramount Montreal
Toronto, Ontario - IMAX Theatre, Famous Players Paramount Toronto
Woodbridge, Ontario - IMAX Theatre, Famous Players Colossus Woodbridge

Opening June 20, 2003

United States
Dearborn, Michigan - IMAX Theatre at The Henry Ford
Miami, Florida - IMAX Theatre at Sunset Place
Natick, Massachusetts - Comcast IMAX 3D Theater at Jordan's Furniture
Natick
San Antonio, Texas - IMAX Theatre San Antonio River Center
Seattle, Washington - Boeing IMAX Theater at Pacific Science Center

Posted by Charles Everett (Member # 889) on 06-08-2003, 03:26 PM:

"Reload in IMAX" -- WB estimates $700,000 from 39 venues per Mojo. The per-theater average for the IMAX version was higher than 2 Fast 2 Furious!

As with the 35mm version, the 2nd and 3rd weekends will tell whether this can play long-term.

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 06-09-2003, 12:59 AM:

Well I checked the old IMAX in Auckland and as it has been renamed the MEGA SCREEN ,it sure does have a HUGE screen as it retains the original IMAX screen seating etc. but now it has these Huge masking curtains for pre show adds etc. and opens to full width for the main feature ,which is shown in blown up 35mil. this takes up all the width of the screen but only about 55% of the height ,but still comfortable to watch .
The only thing distracting is that the light is not even over the whole screen ,with both top corners low on brightness but over all impressive ,I only hope that they are able to secure some 70mil prints in the future to use more of the IMAX screen .

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 06-11-2003, 07:13 PM:

This is a technical review of the Matrix: Imax. I've already given my comments on the content.

I saw MATRIX: IMAX this afternoon at the still too-dark Marcus Imax. A surprisingly good crowd for an afternoon show. There was a group of about 10 people there who saw GHOSTS OF THE ABYSS, and then stayed for MATRIX.

Film looks to be somewhere near 2.35:1, or maybe just a bit less. I couldn't tell exactly, as I had no way of measuring the height of the image.

The film looked very good. There was some grain, but it wasn't excessive. It wasn't the razor-sharp, almost eerily crisp true 15/70 image, but it certainly looked better than 35mm blown up for that screen. 15/70 credits look like slides with no distortion around the letters. These looked very, very slightly out of focus with some ringing around the edges.

Sound was louder than the 35mm screening I saw at the same theatre. Sounded like a good digital track, but nothing I haven't heard before. Only difference was the surrounds are in the rear of an IMAX theatre and none on the sides.

Screen width here is 76'. My guess is that it would have looked just about the same with 5/70 projection using DTS sound, and it wouldn't have taken 40 reels of film. It would be interesting to compare the physical size of a 5/70 frame with the picture area of the letterboxed IMAX frame.

Agent Smith still RULES!

[ 06-12-2003, 07:09 AM: Message edited by: Mark Lensenmayer ]

Posted by Paul Cassidy (Member # 951) on 06-12-2003, 12:52 AM:

You the mean SMITHS rule [Big Grin]