Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: 15/70 Multiplex Theatres

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Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 08-16-2011, 06:36 PM:

According to a list published by the LF Examiner, these multiplex theatres are running 15/70 IMAX as of 7/26/2011:

Harkins Arizona Mills 25 (Tempe, AZ)
Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 & IMAX (Irvine, CA)
Rave 18 + IMAX (Los Angeles, CA)
Edwards Ontario Palace 22 & IMAX (Ontario, CA)
AMC Loews Metreon (San Francisco, CA)
Regal Pointe 21 & IMAX (Orlando, FL)
AMC Loews Lincoln Square (New York, NY)
Edwards Houston Marq*E 23 & IMAX (Houston, TX)

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 08-16-2011, 06:43 PM:

That's a pretty small list.

Posted by Sean Weitzel (Member # 244) on 08-16-2011, 07:50 PM:

For multiplexes, yeah that's a short list but there are still tons of museums and science centers that are 15/70. I was surprised to see the Metreon is still 15/70. That leaves the greater SF Bay Area with only the Metreon for 15/70 flat screen. The San Jose Tech Museum is a dome screen with only 2d capability, and the next closest 15/70 flat screen theater is the Esquire IMAX in Downtown Sacramento about 100 miles away. The only 15/70 to digital conversion I am aware of is the Regal Hacienda crossings in Dublin, CA

Posted by Paul Gordon (Member # 3320) on 08-17-2011, 07:12 AM:

Silver City (Cineplex), Gloucester (Ottawa), Ontario, Canada still has their 15/70 all their other screens have gone digital though.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 08-17-2011, 08:21 AM:

The Providence Place Imax (operated by National Amusements, which also operates a 16-screen multiplex that is adjacent to it) is also 15/70.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 08-17-2011, 10:36 AM:

Oklahoma still has a couple 15/70 screens, but they don't show Hollywood films. The Omniplex is a IMAX-dome style screen with an Iwerks branded 15/70 projection system. The Chickasaw Cultural Center apparently has a 15/70-based flat screen theater, also not IMAX-branded.

The 15/70 equipment in theaters that do show Hollywood films is endangered and probably due for extinction. I have strong feeling The Dark Knight Rises will be the last Hollywood movie to have any 15/70 film prints made if any are made at all. Who knows? By the time The Dark Knight Rises is released museum venues may be the only places left with any 15/70 equipment.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 08-17-2011, 11:06 AM:

Is there a DLP system that will work on a dome screen? Or will these venues remain 15/70?

Posted by Frederick Lanoy (Member # 5416) on 08-17-2011, 02:47 PM:

"La Géode" in Paris has a very big IMAX dome screen.

They still have 15/70 mm projector but they show some digital content with a Barco DP 3000. In digital, only 40 % of the screen is enlight.

Posted by Caleb Johnstone-Cowan (Member # 3710) on 08-17-2011, 02:52 PM:

Add Odeon Manchester Printworks 20 to that list, only multiplex with a 15/70mm IMAX in the UK.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 08-17-2011, 03:37 PM:

quote: Mark Lensenmayer
Harkins Arizona Mills 25 (Tempe, AZ)
Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 & IMAX (Irvine, CA)
Rave 18 + IMAX (Los Angeles, CA)
Edwards Ontario Palace 22 & IMAX (Ontario, CA)
AMC Loews Metreon (San Francisco, CA)
Regal Pointe 21 & IMAX (Orlando, FL)
AMC Loews Lincoln Square (New York, NY)
Edwards Houston Marq*E 23 & IMAX (Houston, TX)

There are more than that. Toronto has a number including the original Cinesphere.

As for Multiplexes, a few Famous Players are still running film.

Posted by Mark Lensenmayer (Member # 134) on 08-17-2011, 06:06 PM:

I limited the list to US multiplex sites mainly to highlight how few locations will be able to show the next Batman movie to maximum effect. Remember that many institutional locations do not run commercial movies.

The LF Examiner offers an international list here.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 08-17-2011, 09:31 PM:

Mark,

Famous Players in Canada has about fifteen.. 15/70 theatres.

Posted by Pravin Ratnam (Member # 1417) on 08-17-2011, 10:15 PM:

Are all the Liemax theaters digital? And are they all at 4K?

Posted by Chris Slycord (Member # 4239) on 08-17-2011, 10:47 PM:

IMAX Digital uses 2 Christie 2K projectors.

Posted by Frank Angel (Member # 248) on 08-18-2011, 07:02 PM:

Which is nice and bright, but no matter how many 2K projectors are pointed at the screen, they will still only give you a 2K picture. Unfortunately, two 2Ks don't add up to 4K; in fact, if those two projectors get even slightly out of alignement so they are not pixel for pixel accurate, the picture can degrade to LESS than 2K. Than said, I have always found the IMAX digial, be it 2D or 3D, always looks very sharp and of course kickass bright.

Posted by Geoff Jones (Member # 3668) on 08-18-2011, 07:28 PM:

Why do you guys have to post all this stuff to make me sad?

Sad Jonesy.

At least I'm happy that two movies I loved as a kid are getting re-released this weekend: Conan and Fright Night! I hope they found some good prints!

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 08-19-2011, 07:59 AM:

quote: Frank Angel
Than said, I have always found the IMAX digial, be it 2D or 3D, always looks very sharp and of course kickass bright.

I prefer IMAX Digital.I have always seeked out the digital. Never had a problem with it.

I prefer AMC over all the other GTA theatres so IMAX Digital works for me.

Posted by Scott Norwood (Member # 30) on 08-19-2011, 09:14 AM:

quote: Frank Angel
Which is nice and bright, but no matter how many 2K projectors are
pointed at the screen, they will still only give you a 2K picture.

Not if multiple 2k images are tiled to produce something bigger. The edges could even be digitally processed to blend (almost) seamlessly, and the picture could be pre-processed to account for non-uniform brightness across each 2k tile. In theory, a "digital Imax" system could indeed provide resolution equivalent to that of 15/70, and possibly with increased brightness (at least on a flat screen; domes would be more difficult). The technology exists today, but Imax apparently figures (perhaps correctly) that no one would want to pay what it would cost to achieve this level of quality.

I have not seen [dlp]

Imax, so I cannot comment on the image quality.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 08-19-2011, 09:37 AM:

quote:
I have not seen [dlp] Imax, so I cannot comment on the image quality.

Well you should see it. Digital IMAX is a much nicer experience and picture that standard 35mm experience going on right now. I also like the DMR process.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 08-19-2011, 10:43 AM:

quote: Tom Petrov
I prefer IMAX Digital.

Over what? 15/70? 35mm? 2k digital? 4k digital?

The IMAX Digital presentation of Pirates at King of Prussia looked muddy as hell and almost made me hate the movie. This was on an IMAX sized screen. I've seen IMAX Digital on a small multiplex screen and that looked ok, although the Sony 4K projectors look much better to me.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 08-19-2011, 04:24 PM:

Mark - I prefer the IMAX Digital experience over everything that is out there. I saw TRON in 15/70 and was not thrilled, way to big a screen with too much action going on. Traditional IMAX does not work IMO for Hollywood movies.

over 35mm and standard digital of the same movie, I will take a IMAX presentation any day.

Posted by Victor Liorentas (Member # 5272) on 08-19-2011, 05:03 PM:

Does that include The Dark Knight 15/70 sequences?
I hope you don't think Liemax is better than that.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 08-19-2011, 05:15 PM:

Never saw Dark Knight in IMAX, althought the IMAX sequences were good on HD TV. I could care less about the resolution. 15/70 is too big of a screen for me in most cases. I don't go to Digital IMAX because it is better than 15/70, I go because its better than 35mm or standard digital. I will not see a 15/70 going forward.

The IMAX Digital experience does not work for all, but it works for me.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 08-19-2011, 09:51 PM:

quote: Tom Petrov
I could care less about the resolution.

Tom, this statement alone disqualifies you fully on fairly judging the differences between true 15/70 IMAX film footage and HDTV resolution "digital" video blown up on a sort of big screen.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 08-19-2011, 10:00 PM:

quote: Bobby Henderson
Tom, this statement alone disqualifies you fully on fairly judging the differences between true 15/70 IMAX film footage and HDTV resolution "digital" video blown up on a sort of big screen.

That's fine. I just prefer the digital experience.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 08-19-2011, 10:15 PM:

Actually it doesn't disqualify him. He said that he COULD care less... which means he does care.

Posted by Bobby Henderson (Member # 840) on 08-19-2011, 10:26 PM:

Tom is just back to the old trolling habits.

Posted by Tom Petrov (Member # 1534) on 08-19-2011, 11:14 PM:

quote:
ctually it doesn't disqualify him. He said that he COULD care less... which means he does care.

Mark - Hold on a sec. When I say I don't care about the resolution it is true. The resolution makes no difference to me. I like the overall experience of the IMAX Experience that I get at AMC. Famous Players on the other hand has traditional 15/70 and when I saw TRON, the screen was way to big, and you were way too close IMO. 15/70 DOES NOT work for Hollywood movies.

Back to digital IMAX. I have seen AVX and Cineplex and ETX at AMC and they are both a bit better than 35mm film. They are not as good as IMAX Digital.

As for being a troll, not true at all. I will not argue that 15/70 is superior in resolution than IMAX digital, it is. However as an overall "Experience" I prefer the AMC IMAX "Lite, LIEMAX" or whatever you call it over the 15/70 film that is just to big IMO. 15/70 works for cats and space stuff that is slow moving, but not for action or hollywood stuff and I think IMAX has admitted that.

I don't why some take offense to it. But I have seen Sanctum, I am Number 4, Super 8, Green Hornet all in IMAX Digital and I 100% would not consider the IMAX 15/70 from Famous that was pretty much across the street, and Famous 15/70 is $2 cheaper than AMC IMAX Digital.

Just my opinion.

PS: TRON 15/70 was scratched.

Posted by Mark J. Marshall (Member # 1409) on 08-20-2011, 08:41 AM:

quote: Tom Petrov
When I say I don't care about the resolution it is true.

Ok, but you didn't say that.

quote: Tom Petrov
I could care less about the resolution.

If you "could care less" then that means you do care.

Posted by Jonathan Althaus (Member # 5042) on 08-20-2011, 10:21 AM:

quote: Tom Petrov
15/70 works for cats and space stuff that is slow moving, but not for action or hollywood stuff and I think IMAX has admitted that.

No no no no. Dark Knight's 15/70 sequences were brilliant. And IMAX knows it

IMAX VP on Dark Knight and Tron

Posted by Frederick Lanoy (Member # 5416) on 08-20-2011, 11:58 AM:

IMAX 15 / 70 scenes of The Dark Knight on a true IMAX screen were truly amazing to me. Really great.

Digital IMAX has not the potential to show this kind of quality. I don't say it's crap but it's definitly not the same world.

The next Mission : Impossible and the next Batman will have some scenes shoot in IMAX 15/70 so i guess Hollywood knows the potential of the format.

I hope i'll be able to see the next Batman in 15/70. It won't be in France where there are only Digital IMAX on medium multiplex screen.

Posted by Aaron Garman (Member # 1653) on 08-20-2011, 12:22 PM:

Tom, you haven't seen the full potential of 15/70 until you've seen The Dark Knight in it. It was truly remarkable, and blows away anything the current IMAX Digital can do. Too big? That's just bonkers!

AJG

Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 08-21-2011, 12:27 AM:

I did see Tron at an ex-Famous Players IMAX and was blown away but how good the image looked. It was taller than the standard letterboxed films if memory serves well, which could be responsible for the image looking " too big ".

Posted by System Notices (Member # 2357) on 03-25-2013, 08:31 PM:

It has been 582 days since the last post.

Posted by Sam King (Member # 4029) on 03-25-2013, 08:31 PM:

1. I am pretty sure that AMC Universal Citywalk 19 in SoCal still has 15/70 in their IMAX.

2. Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21 now has digital on their (approx) 64x86 IMAX screen. Don't know if that's in addition to the GT or if it has replaced it.

Posted by Terry Lynn-Stevens (Member # 7349) on 04-05-2013, 11:52 AM:

In Toronto Ontario Canada, two 15/70 theatres appear to have gone liemax.

The Scotiabank and Colossus in Vaughn are both showing JP3D.

Posted by Victor Liorentas (Member # 5272) on 04-05-2013, 12:38 PM:

I heard from a good source that Scotiabank still has 15/70 but maybe they have both?

Posted by Terry Lynn-Stevens (Member # 7349) on 04-05-2013, 12:47 PM:

I guess it is possible that they have both, but I was under the impression that the Scotiabank screen was too large for digital. I know they have both at the Coliseum in Mississauga, but that screen is not all that large.

Perhaps JP3 got a 15/70 release? Henry Ford is playing it as well

Posted by Kurt Zupin (Member # 2751) on 04-09-2013, 03:19 AM:

JP 3D did get a 15/70 release. Very limited number of prints, not sure on total but its not more then 20.

Posted by Terry Lynn-Stevens (Member # 7349) on 02-03-2014, 01:27 AM:

quote: Victor Liorentas
I heard from a good source that Scotiabank still has 15/70 but maybe they have both?

So I was wrong about Scotibank, while they have in fact transitioned to digital IMAX, the 15/70 projectors are still in the booth.

Here is a pic of an IMAX purpose built location owned by Cineplex. Picture was taken today.

Posted by Terry Lynn-Stevens (Member # 7349) on 03-04-2014, 05:55 PM:

Such sad [Frown]

news:

Only One 70mm IMAX Theater Remains in Los Angeles and It’s Going Away Too

Los Angeles film fans used to have two choices when they wanted to see old-school 70mm film IMAX. There was the Universal CityWalk location and The Bridge, which then became the Rave. Unfortunately, the Rave 18 was recently purchased by Cinemark and that company has “decided to go in a different direction with this auditorium,” according to IMAX. That means the AMC Universal CityWalk is the only 70mm IMAX screen left the movie capital of the world. However, that too will soon change, eventually leaving the city without a film projection IMAX theater. In its place will be a much more advanced laser projection system. Read more below.

Adam Davis, the executive director of corporate communications at IMAX, said while Cinemark’s decision to go away from IMAX makes the CityWalk location the only 70mm one left the city, their new laser technology (which we detailed here) will eventually replace that as well:

AMC’s Universal CityWalk will continue to have both IMAX 70mm film and IMAX digital projection systems until we launch our next-generation laser projection system.

We’re developing this new system from the ground up. We believe this new dual 4K laser technology – which represents the largest R&D investment in the Company’s history – will be far superior to anything currently in the market and for years to come, delivering an experience that will be more visceral, brighter, razor-sharp and in fuller lifelike colors than anything available today.

hat change won’t be coming until 2015 at the very earliest.

The TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX is one of the largest and most technologically advanced theaters in the world. So even though it’s not film, IMAX is positioning it as something even better. In fact, laser is evolutionary, offering double the contrast of even IMAX film projection. However, until fans can see laser with their own eyes, the struggle will be winning over people who are beholden to celluloid.

Part of that change could happen this November when IMAX releases Christopher Nolan’s Interstellar in IMAX. The filmmaker is a devotee of film and shot the movie on IMAX film. But with only one theater able to screen it like that in Los Angeles, and laser projection coming in 2015, his reaction will be a major turning point. There’s a chance Interstellar could be the last feature film ever shot and projected on 70mm IMAX, at least in Los Angeles. Other cities could have the option of seeing it in various museums and other large format IMAX screens.

And while the closure of the Rave/Cinemark leaves only two large-format IMAX screens in Los Angeles, Davis suggested that closure could leave the door open for a new one in the future. There are no immediate plans, however. He left fans with this sentiment:

We want to thank our fans in the area that have supported our format and this theatre over the years and encourage them to check out our exciting 2014 lineup of films at our other IMAX locations nearby.

Los Angeles fans, IMAX film projection is eventually going away in your city. Even though it’s being replaced with a huge advance in technology, what do you think about this?

Only One 70mm IMAX Theater Remains in Los Angeles and It’s Going Away Too

Posted by Terry Lynn-Stevens (Member # 7349) on 04-29-2014, 01:36 AM:

Not sure how reliable LFE Examiner is, but according to them, all United States 15/70 multiplex locations have converted to digital. The only holdout is the AMC RiverCentre 11 +IMAX location.

Posted by Kilian Henin (Member # 8098) on 04-30-2014, 03:23 PM:

Sad news. I was on the IMAX Victoria, BC website and saw the "Closed for Construction" notice - another 15/70 theatre bites the dust.

Posted by Ivan Plamondon (Member # 7637) on 04-30-2014, 04:36 PM:

I too will miss the quality that 15/70 brings. But with the loss of film processing and it's associated costs, digital is the only feasible way to go. Looking forward however to the new laser projectors coming in the future.

Posted by Terry Lynn-Stevens (Member # 7349) on 04-30-2014, 09:58 PM:

Ivan, are you guys in Niagara slated for the new laser projection?

Posted by Ron Lacheur (Member # 1126) on 04-30-2014, 11:12 PM:

Victoria is holding onto their 1570 until Laser is available.

Posted by Edward Havens (Member # 4715) on 04-30-2014, 11:51 PM:

I know of at least two 15/70 theatres that are dual setups, keeping the 15/70 projectors in place for specific titles while running digital when 15/70 prints aren't made.

Posted by Ivan Plamondon (Member # 7637) on 05-04-2014, 10:39 AM:

Not that I'm aware of Terry. Victoria is switching over to digital as of last week.

Posted by Jonathan Goeldner (Member # 4854) on 05-22-2014, 11:31 AM:

I know this thread is supposed to be about the mulitplex IMAX screens - but what's the timetable for the museum's conversions? I had read somewhere that the Smithsonian are slated for the laser systems - wouldn't it be premature to go with the dual 2K projector systems knowing that the 4K laser projectors are just round the corner?

Posted by Terry Lynn-Stevens (Member # 7349) on 05-22-2014, 04:15 PM:

Johnathan, yes it would be premature for any 15/70 theater to go with the dual 2K set up unless the theatre wants to play Hollywood DMR releases. Most current IMAX documentaries releases are still available in 15/70 and the most recent Island of Madagascar is available.

The other issue is that there are no available digital prints for most of the IMAX features predating 2008 or sometime around that date. IMAX just recently started scanning 15/70 negatives for the eventual IMAX laser release which is about to happen. IMAX laser will have a larger sensor than the standard 16x9 that is used in the dual 2K set up, it will not be the exact size of 15/70 but it will be very close.

As for 15/70 DMR prints, I have yet to see a 15/70 DMR release in 2014, both Australian 15/70 complexes installed digital but were under the impression that some 15/70 prints would be made, this was not the case. They are playing Hollywood DMR in digital.