Cineworld Cinema - Leicester Square

Here’s a basic idea of the type of neon light that I’m using now.

View link

Compared to the Empire the Empire is light-years ahead with there own technique which is absolutely indispensable.

View link

LOL, Mate I’m still suffering the after-effects of the Empire’s sound system from the late 1989’s to the mid 1990’s the flashbacks are very vivid.

Star Trek III was kicking me when captain Kirk was kicking the Klingon in the face, I have had enough of you! The audience like that bit! It was in your chest, now that was seated in the middle row, the royals sit. When the U.S.S. Enterprise final went up it went UP! BOOM! It felt like someone kicking me in the face damn!

tjhyman

You mentioned “Forrest Gump” I read an article somewhere that the Empire used the stars above the screen to great affect during the opening of the film is this true?

When I saw THE INCREDIBLES there a couple years ago, the sound effects in the film took full advantage of the Empire’s sound system – brilliant sound then.

One of the best sound experiences I can remember at the Empire is FORREST GUMP – during the Vietnam scene, when it’s all quiet, raining and then suddenly the bombs and bullets hit and the sound system went NUTS !!!

sinelinden, cjc

I would do this take an SPL db meter with you! This way it will be able to judge the level of power of presentation.

There is still only one cinema that has pinched me and that was Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade at the Empire via the original THX specification back in 1989.

When I say pinched I mean that, just when the water from the cup, the Holy Grail was poured onto Indiana’s dad I felt a pinching low frequency that was right in the stomach I Kidd you not all!

I was seated about 4 rows from the front in one of the middle rocker chairs, so I was pretty close to the screen! I’m never going to forget that part in the film never it was incredible now that was power of atmosphere sheer presentation that not even the Bournemouth IMAX cinema has achieved, sure it’s got over 10KW of power provided by the Sonics loudspeaker array.

But the Empire is still the number #1 for film sound presentation! I would like very much to see hear and feel the power of the Empire unleashed on me again not sure when? I’ll keep checking the films coming soon and do a little research on that film based upon it’s soundtrack this will hopefully sale me the film based on the type of theme if it an Action, Sci-Fi, Horror, or other hopefully I’ll be making my way from Bournemouth to the Empire Leicester square…

HAPPY FEET is showing at The Empire from tomorrow.

And whilst I would now make an effort to go to the IMAX London for certain films (like Happy Feet / Superman Returns / Batman Begins), I would prefer to see it at The Empire this weekend – I think the sound is much better than IMAX, although IMAX claim to have more power in terms of watts !

I think that those of us who have visited the Empire on one or more occasions rave about the THX sound system there. Getting a good film to play there that’s going to do huge box office returns for that site I feel is based on sound!

Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was one of those films and the Star Trek films especially the Star Trek day back in October 1989 WOW astonishingly out of this world and the THX sound system really brought out the richness of the 70mm six-track Dolby Stereo presentation to very high standards that I don’t think has been equalled anywhere else in the United Kingdom except at the Empire!

Not sure how well “A Good Year” is doing at the moment but with 56KW of JBL THX sound power I’d say it doing moderate business, does anyone know for sure?

The Laser Show has not been working since about 1997 and it now seams that they could not get it repaired and no plans to have it again as it appears that at one Royal Film Premier his HRH Charles objected to it as it was “Tacky”.

Have attended the Empire since the summertime of Wednesday September 13th 1989 for the 70mm six-track Dolby Stereo THX presentation of Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, what a show what show it was totally out of this world. Ever since that day I was rather taken by its style for cinema presentation that is second to none.

Since my early days starting out as a junior projectionist for UCI at the Tower Park site based in Poole where lacing up 35mm Victoria IV projectors and running shows was kinder of entertaining. During a few days I took a day trip to London, because all I was reading in the press and certain other magazines was THX sound system.

Well has anyone would know it’s a very special event that brings the sound into you’re lap! Well maybe you’re chest whole pinching you’re stomach as well as the water from the Holy Grail is poured onto Indiana Jones’s dads wound! Still couldn’t tell where that low frequency was coming from?

Visited this cinema on Monday night and saw The Guardian in Dolby Digital Cinema and THX.
I was a little worried when the trailers and commericals played as the screen seemed small considering I’d read here that was now a bigger screen in stalled. During the trailers the top masking was very thick as was the side masking.
However when the movie started, the screen was much bigger, with very little top masking and more screen displayed at the sides (despite this being a film presented in 1.85.1), if it had been scope I’d understand the sides seeming in wider. It seems the new screens increased size is used more for digital presentations, which I have to say looked excellent and the sound was very good.
The curtains are now working again and a good use of lights before the film started.
Only about 40 people in the cinema though.

I am very curious about these new custom 4-way JBL speakers installed at the Empire,anyone knows more?thanks

On Wednesday I went to see “World Trade Centre” at the Empire in Screen One presented in (2K) Digital Cinema.

It was the 2:15pm screening, the ticket was at £7.50 not bad for West End prices.

On entering the empty Auditorium you notice the Taps/curtains were left open and did not move at any time, as the Adverts and Trailers I only counted 30 people in a 1,300 seater Theatre!.

Through out the film you could hear at times drilling noise from a construction site below the Cinema and this is a THX approved Theatre!.

Some of the “WTC” scenes did loose a lot Black contrast and it looked like Gray scale in some of the darker scenes, most of the film looked and sounded great as well the 35mm Adverts/Trailers.

The Empire seam to lost it’s “WOW” factor these days and on my way out I asked the Ticket guy about the Curtains and was told they had broken down last Sunday and was uncertain if the owners will get them fixed sooner or later.

The problem there, if they only get about a handfull of people a day for these early shows, would people go to see them when you have the BFI NFT Cinema in London?.

These “early specials” never get publicised anywhere other than their website, so no wonder it is poorly supported.

I expect the Empire’s long term plan is for first run Premier openings judging their investment at this Cinema.

It would be nice to see 70mm screened at the Empire once again…..