If someone at Regal reads this, please tell someone with the power to improve the Regal theaters in the DC area. Projection, sound and service suck. Placating people with free passes after they complain doesn’t really help the situation. All service people should greet customers, offer assistance when possible, be attentive to patrons needs, secretly enter the auditoriums during the show and STAY for at least several minutes to monitor excessive talking, cell phone texting or other usage and/or any other disruptive behavior.
You mean to tell me that after a 9 month roll out, someone’s eyes are open to the fact that the AMC IMAX installs are really IMAX-lite ? Yet, in some markets, they charge even more than the REAL IMAX theaters? Here in the DC area, the Chantilly VA IMAX theater run by the Smithsonian charges $12.50 for the IMAX version of Star Trek. Yet, the area DC AMC IMAX-lite theaters charge $14.50 and up. After 5 screenings, I still think the THX Dolby Digital Cinema presentations are the overall superior theatrical experience. For me, the superior sound separation, clarity and bass boom just doesn’t cut it in the advertised 12000 watts of power that the AMC IMAX-lite venues boast.
Bill, thanks. I hope to make it up there next Sun. :)
Bercy, at the Senator in Baltimore, they would close and open the curtain before the main attraction so I guess it would depend on the venue. Towards the end of their operation though, I did notice that the curtain had to be manually (a worker had to pull them open) operated. Since the rest of the moviehouses in and around the DC Metro/Balto area where I’m at are multiplexes without curtains the discussion is moot.
Are we that hard up on celebratory events that we have to commemorate the release of probably one of the worst of the Star Wars' movies??? Okay, I’m being flip.
I did see this movie probably 6 times in theaters. The most memorable was at Baltimore’s Senator Theater. I had just come to realize its existence and classic nature just a few months prior(?) when they showed 60th anniversary editions of both the Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind. Also, they were advertising the fact that they had just installed the then new Dolby Digital EX sound system and it was probably the best venue to see and experience the film and it was. It was a family event as my older brother and parents came with me. Unfortunately, my Dad couldn’t tolerate the ‘loudness’ of the film after the disintegration blast of Qui-Gon’s and Obi-Won’s ship by the Trade Federation Fish Heads. He got up and left the theater to sit it out in the car.
I believe the other times I saw this movie was at DC’s Uptown; which had the best screen but not the best sound, in VA at National Amusement’s now closed Arlington Blvd Multiplex; Hoyts (now Regal) theaters in Bowie, MD and Alexandria, VA both, which had the Dolby Digital EX installs in their two-story auditoriums and were probably equal to the Senator in sound delivery oomph.
People can say what they want about how irritating Jar Jar was and the irritating nature of the young Anakin, but as with any saga, this was the beginning Lucas wanted to tell. The movie is full of great action sequences, in particular the fight scene between Darth Maul, Qui Gon and Obi-wan. It was almost like watching a fight that was ballet choreographed with some of the fluid, if graceful movements.
Bill, we know the movie is ‘trektacular’ but how was the presentation at the Ziegfeld? Did they use the curtain? Did they play the Dolby Digital Cinema trailer prior to the start? On the other hand, were there any noticeable detractions in the presentation? I wanted to come up to see it on Sun but forgot it was Mother’s Day. Hopefully, I can make it up next weekend before it goes. I’ve seen it 4x, 3x in a DCinema set up with THX and in the IMAX-lite set up at the AMC. As far as I’m concerned, the Dolby Digital Cinema set up with THX is superior to IMAX in sound. You can ‘feel’ the punches with a more resounding thud and the surrounds, ship ambient sounds (I love how they mixed the classic TOS ship sounds with modern)…were all far superior. I noticed that the Lincoln and Empire IMAX showtimes were practically sold out the entire weekend, as were the ones in the DC market.
Saw the new Star Trek opening night and again on Friday in #10. The presentation was truly exceptional. The theater rumbled when it needed to at the climax and one could feel the punches during the fight scenes. If only the screen were larger. I hope to catch the movie again here at least once more before it gets bumped.
My cousins and I caught the 5:30pm show of the new Star Trek movie. I can’t believe they sold out all shows and then added a later and earlier show! Surprisingly, the audience make up was older, which seemed to go against the filmmakers intention of making this the most accessible of the Treks. Comparing this viewing to the DLP THX Annapolis showing, I have to give my preference to the latter. This venue’s sound system lacks a deep bass that literally adds punch to scenes involving hand to hand fighting. The thuds were dull here and sorely missing was a good theater shaking during the climax. On the other hand, the screen’s larger size draws one into the action but is not enough to sustain given the sound system’s lack of ooomph.
$10 for an IMAX ticket? No way. I paid more than that for DLP! GRRR! The AMC IMAX-lite venues charge at least $14 and up depending on the market. I wish this theater were closer to me..at least in Virginia.
Buying a ticket is all good but the fact of the matter is most of the movie theaters in the DC area suck. Gone are the single screen gems of yesteryear. With the exception of the Uptown, there aren’t any worthy theaters for the President and his entourage to go to. Unfortunately, the Uptown didn’t book Star Trek, which is strange because of the fact that it is advertised on the huge IMAX screen venues.
I couldn’t notice how small the screens seem to be compared to the Bengies drive-in we have in Baltimore. I have yet to ‘experience’ a drive in movie but hope to this season.
Yes, but if its at the AMC’s IMAX, its really supersized DP, or what I’d like to call IMAX-lite. In the true IMAX auditoriums its letterboxed because of the aspect ratio of the movie so, again, its not TRUE IMAX. Our market isn’t getting it in DP so its either IMAX or regular film.
Oops. I meant to say the Star Trek in DP at the Ziegfeld! They have an excellent system and best presentation of Revenge of the Sith, including 35mm film, anywhere. Its just that there hasn’t been an equal since. I’m hoping Trek will be as at least as satisfying presentation wise if nothing else.
So I’m reading on the Clearview website that Star Trek will have an exclusive two-week digital projection run. Fascinating. May be worth charting a course to the Manhattan venue opening weekend. When I last saw a DP movie here (Will Smith’s “I Am Legend”) it was rather disappointing as there were no curtain action and the sound levels were suprisingly low.
If memory serves me correctly, one of the auditoriums had stereo and was larger then the second of the twins. No, it wasn’t anything great but they did offer rather cheap prices for second run movies. I do recall that they had pictures of several of local Maryland movie theaters some closed, some still open. Towards the end, they showed primarily Hindi films. Retail stores have no taken over the space that was once a movie theater.
I forgot to mention the auditorium we saw it in was #6, which seems like one of the smallest of the auditoriums but with still fairly large screen. I’m guessing at least 30ft.
My friend and I caught a midnight screening of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. As it turned out, the movie shown was actually an extended edition print where a similar version aired on the ABC network way back in 1981. This print was not bad for its age, which I’m presuming dates back to 1981 given when the extended cut was actually made. The only difference is that an alternate take of McCoy counselling Kirk about his fitness at command and Kirk being fitted with a EV suit were NOT in this presentation.
The film sound levels could have been increased a great deal to compensate for some of the surround drop outs. The extended version, with its ‘new’ cuts were noticeably lacking in at least the original cuts surrounds and ambient sounds, which made the sound flat.
It was interesting to note the audience attendance as that I thought there would be more ‘mature’ or seasoned viewers in attendance. It looked more like a geekdom private showing with the prevalence of the 25, or so in the audience, twentysomethings. And they were quite well behaved in that there were no snickers or cat calls during some scenes that I’ve noticed in past viewings. I’d also say there were a few viewers who were seeing this movie for the first time given their reaction to some of the scenes.
Overall, the experience was quite good given the age of this movie, almost 30 years, and the fact that the last time I’ve seen it in the DC area was way back in 1991. I hope Paramount strikes a new print of this movie, if not the Director’s Edition.
After paying anywhere from $10-$14 for a movie, who is going to pay another $10 for popcorn and soda? I’d rather eat/drink before the show or sneak it in. Unless its one of the independents, I’m not spending one cent more on over priced concession fare.
If it was, its hard to tell. When I saw a movie there it was just an ordinary theater, albeit small with a decent sized screen, say 30 feet maybe?
Oops. It should be senator.com. Sorry.
This venue has resumed operations as of 5/15/09. The status should be changed to open. Showtimes and info are at www.thesenator.com
If someone at Regal reads this, please tell someone with the power to improve the Regal theaters in the DC area. Projection, sound and service suck. Placating people with free passes after they complain doesn’t really help the situation. All service people should greet customers, offer assistance when possible, be attentive to patrons needs, secretly enter the auditoriums during the show and STAY for at least several minutes to monitor excessive talking, cell phone texting or other usage and/or any other disruptive behavior.
You mean to tell me that after a 9 month roll out, someone’s eyes are open to the fact that the AMC IMAX installs are really IMAX-lite ? Yet, in some markets, they charge even more than the REAL IMAX theaters? Here in the DC area, the Chantilly VA IMAX theater run by the Smithsonian charges $12.50 for the IMAX version of Star Trek. Yet, the area DC AMC IMAX-lite theaters charge $14.50 and up. After 5 screenings, I still think the THX Dolby Digital Cinema presentations are the overall superior theatrical experience. For me, the superior sound separation, clarity and bass boom just doesn’t cut it in the advertised 12000 watts of power that the AMC IMAX-lite venues boast.
Bill, thanks. I hope to make it up there next Sun. :)
Bercy, at the Senator in Baltimore, they would close and open the curtain before the main attraction so I guess it would depend on the venue. Towards the end of their operation though, I did notice that the curtain had to be manually (a worker had to pull them open) operated. Since the rest of the moviehouses in and around the DC Metro/Balto area where I’m at are multiplexes without curtains the discussion is moot.
Are we that hard up on celebratory events that we have to commemorate the release of probably one of the worst of the Star Wars' movies??? Okay, I’m being flip.
I did see this movie probably 6 times in theaters. The most memorable was at Baltimore’s Senator Theater. I had just come to realize its existence and classic nature just a few months prior(?) when they showed 60th anniversary editions of both the Wizard of Oz and Gone With the Wind. Also, they were advertising the fact that they had just installed the then new Dolby Digital EX sound system and it was probably the best venue to see and experience the film and it was. It was a family event as my older brother and parents came with me. Unfortunately, my Dad couldn’t tolerate the ‘loudness’ of the film after the disintegration blast of Qui-Gon’s and Obi-Won’s ship by the Trade Federation Fish Heads. He got up and left the theater to sit it out in the car.
I believe the other times I saw this movie was at DC’s Uptown; which had the best screen but not the best sound, in VA at National Amusement’s now closed Arlington Blvd Multiplex; Hoyts (now Regal) theaters in Bowie, MD and Alexandria, VA both, which had the Dolby Digital EX installs in their two-story auditoriums and were probably equal to the Senator in sound delivery oomph.
People can say what they want about how irritating Jar Jar was and the irritating nature of the young Anakin, but as with any saga, this was the beginning Lucas wanted to tell. The movie is full of great action sequences, in particular the fight scene between Darth Maul, Qui Gon and Obi-wan. It was almost like watching a fight that was ballet choreographed with some of the fluid, if graceful movements.
Bill, we know the movie is ‘trektacular’ but how was the presentation at the Ziegfeld? Did they use the curtain? Did they play the Dolby Digital Cinema trailer prior to the start? On the other hand, were there any noticeable detractions in the presentation? I wanted to come up to see it on Sun but forgot it was Mother’s Day. Hopefully, I can make it up next weekend before it goes. I’ve seen it 4x, 3x in a DCinema set up with THX and in the IMAX-lite set up at the AMC. As far as I’m concerned, the Dolby Digital Cinema set up with THX is superior to IMAX in sound. You can ‘feel’ the punches with a more resounding thud and the surrounds, ship ambient sounds (I love how they mixed the classic TOS ship sounds with modern)…were all far superior. I noticed that the Lincoln and Empire IMAX showtimes were practically sold out the entire weekend, as were the ones in the DC market.
Thanks Chuck for the picture link. It brings back memories. :)
Saw the new Star Trek opening night and again on Friday in #10. The presentation was truly exceptional. The theater rumbled when it needed to at the climax and one could feel the punches during the fight scenes. If only the screen were larger. I hope to catch the movie again here at least once more before it gets bumped.
My cousins and I caught the 5:30pm show of the new Star Trek movie. I can’t believe they sold out all shows and then added a later and earlier show! Surprisingly, the audience make up was older, which seemed to go against the filmmakers intention of making this the most accessible of the Treks. Comparing this viewing to the DLP THX Annapolis showing, I have to give my preference to the latter. This venue’s sound system lacks a deep bass that literally adds punch to scenes involving hand to hand fighting. The thuds were dull here and sorely missing was a good theater shaking during the climax. On the other hand, the screen’s larger size draws one into the action but is not enough to sustain given the sound system’s lack of ooomph.
$10 for an IMAX ticket? No way. I paid more than that for DLP! GRRR! The AMC IMAX-lite venues charge at least $14 and up depending on the market. I wish this theater were closer to me..at least in Virginia.
Buying a ticket is all good but the fact of the matter is most of the movie theaters in the DC area suck. Gone are the single screen gems of yesteryear. With the exception of the Uptown, there aren’t any worthy theaters for the President and his entourage to go to. Unfortunately, the Uptown didn’t book Star Trek, which is strange because of the fact that it is advertised on the huge IMAX screen venues.
FASCINATING! Boldy go film patrons and Star Trek fans everywhere!
How wonderful!
I couldn’t notice how small the screens seem to be compared to the Bengies drive-in we have in Baltimore. I have yet to ‘experience’ a drive in movie but hope to this season.
Yes, but if its at the AMC’s IMAX, its really supersized DP, or what I’d like to call IMAX-lite. In the true IMAX auditoriums its letterboxed because of the aspect ratio of the movie so, again, its not TRUE IMAX. Our market isn’t getting it in DP so its either IMAX or regular film.
Oops. I meant to say the Star Trek in DP at the Ziegfeld! They have an excellent system and best presentation of Revenge of the Sith, including 35mm film, anywhere. Its just that there hasn’t been an equal since. I’m hoping Trek will be as at least as satisfying presentation wise if nothing else.
So I’m reading on the Clearview website that Star Trek will have an exclusive two-week digital projection run. Fascinating. May be worth charting a course to the Manhattan venue opening weekend. When I last saw a DP movie here (Will Smith’s “I Am Legend”) it was rather disappointing as there were no curtain action and the sound levels were suprisingly low.
If memory serves me correctly, one of the auditoriums had stereo and was larger then the second of the twins. No, it wasn’t anything great but they did offer rather cheap prices for second run movies. I do recall that they had pictures of several of local Maryland movie theaters some closed, some still open. Towards the end, they showed primarily Hindi films. Retail stores have no taken over the space that was once a movie theater.
Interesting picture. :)
So the bottom line is no more movies (preferably first run) will be shown until……?
Weren’t these supposed to be installed at the Mann Chinese 6 theaters? I recall there was a news item posted on this site about it several months ago.
I forgot to mention the auditorium we saw it in was #6, which seems like one of the smallest of the auditoriums but with still fairly large screen. I’m guessing at least 30ft.
My friend and I caught a midnight screening of Star Trek: The Motion Picture. As it turned out, the movie shown was actually an extended edition print where a similar version aired on the ABC network way back in 1981. This print was not bad for its age, which I’m presuming dates back to 1981 given when the extended cut was actually made. The only difference is that an alternate take of McCoy counselling Kirk about his fitness at command and Kirk being fitted with a EV suit were NOT in this presentation.
The film sound levels could have been increased a great deal to compensate for some of the surround drop outs. The extended version, with its ‘new’ cuts were noticeably lacking in at least the original cuts surrounds and ambient sounds, which made the sound flat.
It was interesting to note the audience attendance as that I thought there would be more ‘mature’ or seasoned viewers in attendance. It looked more like a geekdom private showing with the prevalence of the 25, or so in the audience, twentysomethings. And they were quite well behaved in that there were no snickers or cat calls during some scenes that I’ve noticed in past viewings. I’d also say there were a few viewers who were seeing this movie for the first time given their reaction to some of the scenes.
Overall, the experience was quite good given the age of this movie, almost 30 years, and the fact that the last time I’ve seen it in the DC area was way back in 1991. I hope Paramount strikes a new print of this movie, if not the Director’s Edition.
After paying anywhere from $10-$14 for a movie, who is going to pay another $10 for popcorn and soda? I’d rather eat/drink before the show or sneak it in. Unless its one of the independents, I’m not spending one cent more on over priced concession fare.