Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: King of Prussia IMAX has gone LIEMAX?

This is topic King of Prussia IMAX has gone LIEMAX? in forum Large Format Forum at Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE.

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Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 05-22-2011, 01:36 PM:

Well, at least they still have the biggest screen, I guess.

We went last night to see Pirates and were surprised to see the DLP logo on the IMAX snipe at the beginning. The movie itself seemed a bit dark and muddy. At one point we lost the right eye. After about 3 minutes the show froze on the screen. An announcement was made that they were fixing a slight problem and that they would rewind the movie a bit for us. They did - about 5 minutes worth of movie it seemed like. Then we were back on.

What a freakin bummer. Where am I supposed to watch the new Batman now? New York maybe.

[Frown]

Posted by Jake Spell (Member # 5294) on 05-22-2011, 03:30 PM:

Having seen batman in just about ever perceivable format (35mm, 35mm on a huge screen, IMAX, LieMAX, and my home theater I can say that only the true IMAX did it justice. It was one of the rare times that my jaw dropped. It is sad to see true IMAX's being converted to digital. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 05-22-2011, 09:12 PM:

personally I favour the IMAX (15/70) screen at the Whitaker Center in Harrisburg than King of Prussia anyday - the screen seems larger for starters. King of Prussia's IMAX screen I thought was underwhelming.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 05-22-2011, 09:54 PM:

While I agree with the "smallness" of the KOP screen size as far as IMAX screens go, it is still far larger than a regular multiplex screen and seemed just fine. Harrisburg is a bit of a haul for me, but that's where I'll go if I have to in order to see the next Batman movie on IMAX film. Either that or NYC.

Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 05-22-2011, 10:17 PM:

what's the story with the next Batman movie, I thought I read at one point all the movie was to be shot in IMAX, or will it be like the last one, with select scenes shot as such.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 05-23-2011, 07:20 AM:

The last I heard was that Nolan asked for permission to shoot a higher percentage of the movie in IMAX and was granted that permission.

Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 05-23-2011, 08:53 PM:

^ [thumbsup]

I hope that one of the Smithsonian IMAX screens the new Batman sequel on one's of it's 3 screens, when they screened 'The Dark Knight' in 15/70 IMAX (at Natural History), it blew the IMAX-lite screens out of the water

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 05-23-2011, 10:48 PM:

Ooo the Smithsonian. I'll definitely keep that in mind. They have THREE screens? I know of the one at the Air and Space. You mentioned Natural History. Where's the other? Which is the biggest, or are they all more or less the same?

Posted by Adam Martin (Member # 641) on 05-23-2011, 11:11 PM:

This third and newest one is at the Udvar-Hazy Center in Chantilly, Virginia (Dulles).

NASM: 487 seats, 50x75 feet, opened 1976
NMNH: 470 seats, 66x85 feet, opened 1999
Udvar-Hazy Center: 479 seats, 62x85 feet, opened 2003

Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 05-23-2011, 11:39 PM:

the pre-recorded lady is wrong then, she states the screen at NMNH is 60X90 tsk, tsk

also, both the IMAX screens on the Mall can playback 3D, the Air & Space Udvar Hazy screen cannot.

Posted by Joseph L. Kleiman (Member # 3097) on 05-24-2011, 03:51 PM:

Adam is correct on the specs.

NASM on the Mall has a limited size booth and thus restrictions on the length of film that can be played.

NMNH is a 3D GT, NASM is a two projector SR, and UHC is a single SR unit.

Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 05-25-2011, 10:47 AM:

oh I know that Adam is right, I'm just commenting that NMNH is overstating it's own stats. I thought at one point NASM also had a 70mm projector in the booth as well - I remember seeing 'Empire Strikes Back' (er, Episode 5) as such many many years ago (in a galaxy far far away ... [Wink]

)

Posted by Michael McGovern (Member # 4807) on 05-29-2011, 11:11 PM:

My understanding is that just about all of the multiplexes have phased out 70MM IMAX and switched over to LIEMAX. How the theaters with the giant sized screens made this changeover, I'm not quite sure since it was my understanding that the digital couldn't project the image on a large screen the way the 70MM used to, but I'm not certain

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 05-29-2011, 11:41 PM:

It's my understanding that IMAX doesn't really give a shit about that. FFS, the CEO of the company said that IMAX was never about having a large image. That alone should tell you how much they care about filling a screen with something equal to their 70mm giant screens.

Posted by Steve Guttag (Member # 268) on 05-29-2011, 11:45 PM:

NASM had a pair of Century JJs, actually. In the late '80s that switched to a single one. Since the IMAX got center position, it really separated the 35/70s and changeovers really caused perspective differences between the two projectors. It was then opted to just show from one.

When NASM changed from the Langley theatre, got the lower-light, lost the 3-bladed rotor, went to SR projectors, changed from Mark 1 reel units to the QTRU, went to "3-D" and changed to the Lockheed Martin theatre, 35/70mm film was removed. With two QTRUs, two SR projectors (on diagonal tracks) and a lack of desire to program conventional movies, they/it had no place in the booth anymore.

-Steve

Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 06-06-2011, 09:19 PM:

Steve: where was the Langley Theater?

Posted by Joshua Waaland (Member # 287) on 06-06-2011, 09:51 PM:

Was just reading this thread and then went over to the Cosi Science Center website to plan a visit with our kids for next week when I saw this:

"A special note about the Extreme Screen Theater:
COSI's 7-story Extreme Screen will temporarily close on May 31, 2011 and reopen on June 10, 2011. What's going on, you ask? We're making the experience even BETTER for our guests! COSI is installing brand new fully-digital projection systems that will allow us to make the theater experience 'too-cool'!"

www.cosi.org

I really wish they would have waited a few more weeks so I could have seen the film one last time. UGH!

"BETTER"? We will see, but I highly doubt it. [Roll Eyes]

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 06-06-2011, 11:05 PM:

Wow.

I think if I worked at IMAX I'd be looking for another job at this point.

What a shame.

[Frown]

Posted by Jim Henk (Member # 3628) on 06-07-2011, 12:59 AM:

Is there any place in the Southern California area still running IMAX *film*? I know that Reuben H Fleet Space Theatre in Balboa Park is, but that's limited to 40 minute titles, at least by the nature of their venue. Anybody else at all?

Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 06-07-2011, 02:41 AM:

The Rave 18 near LAX definitely still has 15/70 IMAX.

Posted by Paul Mayer (Member # 355) on 06-07-2011, 12:05 PM:

I'm pretty sure the California Science Center Imax in LA's Exposition Park is still film-based. It is an educational venue, so the programing is all non-theatrical 1570 titles.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 06-07-2011, 01:56 PM:

Regarding the COSI (Center of Science & Industry)-Columbus system, that was an Iwerks 8/70 system.

I always found the image to be extremely dim and underlit. 3D films in there were almost unwatchable. Perhaps the digital system will be brighter...I guess we'll just have to see. I'll try to get down there soon and check it out.

I don't have a lot of faith in COSI...they used to have some quality people down there, but they were let go in a budget crunch. The digital planitarium was just dreadful, and I'm not sure they even run that any more.

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 06-08-2011, 07:19 PM:

15/70 and proud here still!!

Posted by Sean Weitzel (Member # 244) on 06-08-2011, 10:30 PM:

The Regal Hacienda Crossing 21 in Dublin, CA is still 15/70 as of the last time I was there in February. As should be the Sony Metreon in San Francisco.

Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 06-11-2011, 10:59 AM:

It appears the Regal in Dublin went to digital sometime in the spring, as they played Thor IMAX 3D, a digital-only IMAX title.

Posted by Joe Redifer (Member # 3) on 06-11-2011, 02:08 PM:

I'd just like to say that I cannot understand why any place would ever be called "King of Prussia". This is unacceptable.

Posted by Manny Montes (Member # 5639) on 07-18-2011, 03:57 PM:

it's a weird name, and i'm not sure why it was named that way, but its named after the city it is in.

Posted by Joseph L. Kleiman (Member # 3097) on 07-21-2011, 01:53 PM:

King of Prussia was actually the name of an inn that opened in the area in the 1760's. The town that was founded near it was named after the inn since it was already on all the maps and well known to travelers.

There are a number of different stories about how the inn gots its name, but they all relate to political events around the time of the Revolutionary War. The inn building still exists (having been moved about 10 years ago to make room for a highway project) and houses the King of Prussia Chamber of Commerce.

Posted by Allan Young (Member # 6332) on 07-22-2011, 04:49 AM:

Mark: something else to consider when choosing a venue for the next Batman film - for The Dark Knight, there were eleven special prints for "prestige" locations produced. They A/B rolled the blown-up DMR footage with the OCN from the IMAX cameras. NYC got one, along with The Bridge and City Walk in LA, Chicago and London. They're planning to do the same for The Dark Knight Rises.

I'm guessing there hasn't been direct printing for IMAX in quite a while - maybe it was done for some of the early shorts when there were only a few IMAX venues ?

Posted by Joseph L. Kleiman (Member # 3097) on 07-22-2011, 06:18 PM:

We had one of the special prints in Columbus, GA to open the Infantry Museum. We were fortunate enough that, as a second-run theater, my request for our prints to be shipped from Mall of GA were met. The print, even after both the initial and encore runs, looked amazing.

Both Mission Impossible and Dark Knight Rises will have footage shot in 15/70, so even if you can't catch one of the special prints, try to see them in one of the few remaining IMAX film theaters.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 07-23-2011, 07:34 AM:

How does one find out where the special prints are?

Posted by Joseph L. Kleiman (Member # 3097) on 07-23-2011, 05:01 PM:

DKP would have that info. 310-255-5500

Posted by Sean Weitzel (Member # 244) on 08-15-2011, 06:58 PM:

quote: Edward Havens
It appears the Regal in Dublin went to digital sometime in the spring, as they played Thor IMAX 3D, a digital-only IMAX title.

I never followed up after your post, but I called Regal Dublin just now and they indeed confirmed they are digital. She was quick to point out that they were superior to the "mini-max" in Stockton as they maintained their original 6 story tall screen.

Posted by Chad Bateman (Member # 6006) on 09-14-2011, 12:11 PM:

COSI's New Digital System is worth a visit. Amazing Image using two stacked Christie 2230's. You can find out more Information by visiting their website or by searching on youtube.

Posted by Joseph L. Kleiman (Member # 3097) on 09-14-2011, 04:15 PM:

COSI was done by Claco from Salt Lake City. It's using circular polarizers, but I'm not sure yet if that's REALD or DepthQ.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 09-14-2011, 05:00 PM:

I always found that the previous 70mm Iwerks system at COSI was FAR too dim in that room, especially with 3-D. I will get down there in the next couple of weeks and check out the new system. The primary operator there has been there a long time, moving over from the now-closed Marcus Imax to COSI. I hope it works well for them.

Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 09-14-2011, 11:00 PM:

quote: Sean Weitzel
I never followed up after your post, but I called Regal Dublin just now and they indeed confirmed they are digital. She was quick to point out that they were superior to the "mini-max" in Stockton as they maintained their original 6 story tall screen.

You know what they say... if you have to tell someone you're superior, you'd not.

Posted by Tony DeWald (Member # 6922) on 06-13-2012, 09:44 PM:

According to the list listed here.
http://www.lfexaminer.com/DarkKnightRisesOn1570.htm

KoP will be showing dark Knight Rises in real 15/70 IMAX. Anyone able to confirm this? I'd rather not drive out to A.C. To get real IMAX.

Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 06-13-2012, 10:21 PM:

Nevermind

Posted by Tony DeWald (Member # 6922) on 06-13-2012, 10:43 PM:

What were you going to say?

Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 06-13-2012, 10:55 PM:

I forgot I had already said what I was going to post on page 1, the Harrisburg theater is my first choice over KoP's screen - the screen at KoP is too forward and close to the audience, it's a tad overwhelming and not in the good sense.

Posted by Tony DeWald (Member # 6922) on 06-14-2012, 02:18 PM:

For anyone who cares. KoP is showiNg Dark knight Rises in 70 mm 15/70 according to the person I spoke tO today in the theater.

Harrisburg is probably great but to far for me to go to see a movie.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 06-15-2012, 10:27 AM:

I called KOP last night and was told the same thing. Bought my tickets to the Saturday (21st) 7 PM show last night. The guy I spoke to confirmed that they still have both 70mm and digital projectors but couldn't remember the last 70mm movie they showed there.

Posted by Sean Weitzel (Member # 244) on 09-08-2012, 06:15 PM:

My local stand alone IMAX theater, the Esquire IMAX in Sacramento just put this on their website. I guess we know what this means [Frown]

Posted by Tony DeWald (Member # 6922) on 09-08-2012, 07:27 PM:

Boooooo

Posted by Joseph L. Kleiman (Member # 3097) on 09-08-2012, 09:48 PM:

The Esquire is hosting the Giant Screen Cinema Association conference Sept. 18-20. They needed a digital projector for the conference to show clips and films not available in 1570. And since they're adding the IMAX digital projector, they'll now be able to increase their Hollywood offerings. And the best part...they're keeping the 1570 projector and with a new port window and rail system can switch between the two.

Posted by Sean Weitzel (Member # 244) on 09-10-2012, 08:07 PM:

Oh that's excellent news!

Posted by Joseph L. Kleiman (Member # 3097) on 09-23-2012, 02:13 PM:

I had the opportunity to experience the new Esquire last week during the GSCA conference. I sat in rows E and F and didn't have any issues with the digital projector, though I've been told the screen door effect does exist if you get closer than that.

The digital image crops the top and bottom, but is large enough that it shouldn't bother most people. It's akin to a 35mm film playing letterboxed in DMR. The architecture of the auditorium certainly places the digital experience far ahead of those in Emeryville, Fairfield, Stockton, and El Dorado Hills.

I was extremely pleased with the brightness and color of both the film and digital images on the new screen. The new sound system is crisp and crystal clear (it uses the nXos calibrator) and I'm hearing things I've never heard from the old one. And I've been listening to the old one for over a decade.

The only thing I'm upset with is that this is an older digital system, so the projectors are Christie, not the more advanced Barco's that will be going into the newer systems.

I've been told that Skyfall, Star Trek, and Hunger Games will all be 1570 but most other DMR, including Hobbit, will likely be digital. Not worried about that since San Jose will be playing Hobbit in 1570 on the dome.