Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: IMAX Multiplex?

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Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 03-11-2007, 07:48 PM:

Are there any IMAX multiplexes anywhere? What I mean by that is a single theater with more than one IMAX screen and equipment.

Posted by Dick Vaughan (Member # 540) on 03-12-2007, 04:07 AM:

Not quite a multiplex but Kennedy Space Centre has 2 IMAX 3D
theatres http://www.kennedyspacecenter.com/visitKSC/imax.asp

Posted by Mike Olpin (Member # 1115) on 03-12-2007, 08:41 AM:

Several "Rides" have multiple IMAX screens including Back to the Future at Universal Hollywood and Soarin' Over Califonia at Disney's California Adventure.

Posted by Joseph L. Kleiman (Member # 3097) on 03-12-2007, 02:20 PM:

The following locations have two or more IMAX screens:

San Antonio: IMAX Theater at Rivercenter
Seattle: Pacific Science Center
Kennedy Space Center
Disney's California Adventure
EPCOT
Tokyo Disney Sea
Universal Studios Hollywood
Universal Studios Florida
Universal Studios Japan
Parc du Futuroscope
Shanghai Science Center

Commercial cinema-based multiplexes with more than one IMAX screen - none.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 03-12-2007, 06:28 PM:

Although it may seem like more "DMR" IMAX blow-up releases are happening, I don't think there's a currently a high enough frequency to warrant a commercial theater site having 2 or more IMAX screens. True IMAX 15/70 releases seem even more rare.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 03-12-2007, 09:26 PM:

I agree with Bobby on this one..there just isn't enough product to justify two screens. In my opinion, there is barely enough product for ONE screen. There needs to be at about 1 release per month for this to be really successful, IMHO.

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 03-17-2007, 07:37 PM:

Are IMAX venues pretty standardised in terms of physical size and number of seats? If so I could see a situation where if enough DMR titles were issued a multiplex could have a 500-seat and a smaller 250-300 seat IMAX auditorium to move films over.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 03-18-2007, 02:27 PM:

I don't think there is a standard seat count for IMAX theaters. However, the screens are required to be very big. It would be a stupid waste to build any IMAX auditorium where the screen was scaled down to sizes one finds in any typical theater auditorium.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 03-18-2007, 06:08 PM:

There definitely isn't a standard seat count. I have seen some teeny-tiny IMAXs. Take the one inside of the Luxor in Las Vegas, for instance. I walked into that auditorium and it was about the size of maybe three of my bedrooms stacked side by side. It was ridiculously small. It had to have only seated about 50 people, max.

Posted by Joseph L. Kleiman (Member # 3097) on 03-19-2007, 04:22 PM:

quote: Bobby Henderson
the screens are required to be very big. It would be a stupid waste to build any IMAX auditorium where the screen was scaled down to sizes one finds in any typical theater auditorium.

The MPX at Showplace Buckland Hills in Manchester, CT, is only 23.5x47, with 226 seats.

quote: Joe Redifer
There definitely isn't a standard seat count. I have seen some teeny-tiny IMAXs. Take the one inside of the Luxor in Las Vegas, for instance. I walked into that auditorium and it was about the size of maybe three of my bedrooms stacked side by side. It was ridiculously small. It had to have only seated about 50 people, max.

The Luxor IMAX Theatre's screen is 68x84 and it has 300 seats.

Posted by Brian Michael Weidemann (Member # 2243) on 03-19-2007, 05:14 PM:

MPXs are, after all, designed to be installed into "regular" houses, so far as I understand. The screens may fall short compared to "proper" IMAX screens, but I'll bet they're among the sharpest projected images possible.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 03-19-2007, 06:07 PM:

quote: Joseph L. Kleiman
The Luxor IMAX Theatre's screen is 68x84 and it has 300 seats.

It's still the smallest and most claustrophobic IMAX auditorium I've ever seen, and far from impressive (which IMAX is supposed to be, right?)

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 03-19-2007, 06:07 PM:

Those MPX screens might be among the sharpest possible...provided they're illuminated with a native IMAX filmed 15/70 image and not some faked DMR blow-up hooey.

Posted by Michael Coate (Member # 757) on 03-19-2007, 09:40 PM:

quote:
The MPX at Showplace Buckland Hills in Manchester, CT, is only 23.5x47, with 226 seats.

If I did the math correctly, that is a 2.00:1 aspect ratio. How do they handle projecting an IMAX DMR print that is letterboxed around 1.85:1 ("Robots," "Night At The Museum," "Charlie And The Chocolate Factory," etc.) ???

Posted by Joseph L. Kleiman (Member # 3097) on 03-19-2007, 11:30 PM:

I've spoken with two people who have seen films there and both have mentioned that on "Polar Express," the top and bottom of the image were cropped.

Posted by Michael Coate (Member # 757) on 03-20-2007, 12:20 AM:

quote: Joseph L. Kleiman
I've spoken with two people who have seen films there and both have mentioned that on "Polar Express," the top and bottom of the image were cropped.

"The Polar Express" was not 1.85:1. Why would it need to be cropped???

In fact, "The Polar Express" wasn't really scope either (in IMAX); it was approx 2.00:1. So one would think it would've perfectly fit a 2.00:1 MPX screen.

Posted by Joseph L. Kleiman (Member # 3097) on 03-20-2007, 11:43 AM:

Just what I've been told by two different large format professionals. They both said it was noticable during the credits.

Posted by Michael Coate (Member # 757) on 03-20-2007, 03:47 PM:

What you're describing makes no sense. I suspect that (a) the credit sequence(s) were printed in a different (taller) ratio than the rest of the movie, (b) either you or they are confusing "The Polar Express" with a different title, or (c) the projection at the theatre in question is grossly misaligned.