AMC Lincoln Square 13

Just saw the IMAX list for Star Wars TFA, the nearest 15/70 IMAX Theatres for us is Philadelphia & Washington D.C. otherwise it’s just the plain 2K IMAX Digital here as they won’t have the laser system installed until next year. I wonder if Dolby Vision & Dolby Atmos at the Empire 25 will be better in the Prime auditorium for this film.

Yeah I would have come in for the 15/70 Awakens on 100', but heck no for the digital when having to come in from the suburbs. Interstellar was amazing in 15/70 as was Dark Knight as all the others. Man, what a bummer, finally I thought we’d see SW in gigantic IMAX scale. Absurd. And instead of going laser, they just shut down the Nyack IMAX. So basically 270 miles to see it in real IMAX if you live in this area. Pretty sad for such a rich populated area as the greater NYC region. We really have the saddest theaters in this region.

The problem is 15/70 prints cost 30k+ back in 2013, and if anything are more expensive now given how rarely film is made. As I’ve said, Lincoln Square is probably a victim of its own success: why pay all that money for a laser install (though seems like it may come early 2016- fingers crossed) or a film print when it already has nearly sold out the entire first weekend (I have to decide between IMAX at Empire which is already filling up, or standard Real D at theaters closer to me) In the cheaper digital format.

I was at the theater last night and was able to get tickets. I went there figuring fandango would crash.

What was a little sad was when the manager coming out “informing us” that he didn’t know when exactly seats would be released and to try the internet first. You would think the actual “physical” theater would have more power but I guess the corporate world relies on the internet more. A little surprising.

Fortunately that all changed about a half hour later.But those seats did go fast.

Nope, there are six laser 3D locations in the U.S.: TCL Chinese and Universal Citywalk in LA, Meteron in San Fran, Boeing Science Center in Seattle, and the two closest to NYC (though still pretty far) the Sunbrella theater in Reading MA, and Airbus IMAX in Chantily VA. So more than just LA, but clearly focused more on that region.

And IMAX/AMC didn’t just kill 15/70 now, that basically happened at the end of 2013, with anything since (like Interstellar) just being a special occasion. But it is too bad how second class the Lincoln IMAX became after that compared to what it used to be as a 15/70 location.

So basically one or two theaters in LA are the only place in the entire U.S. to see it in true giant screen with the 1.43 for the special scene and 3D?

Tickets to Force Awakens now available in 3D, 2D, and digital IMAX 3D. There will be a limited number of 15/70 prints, but apparently are 2D only (cheaper than dual strip 3D prints) and are mainly focused in the few remaining film only locations, namely in some museums.

As for the whole film/digital debate, I think IMAX 15/70 is the best projection format I’ve seen (of course still haven’t had the chance to IMAX laser) and love the look of film as a source format, but for regular multiplex projection I prefer digital. I never got the TV in Public argument and feel it does look great, plus is much more stable, whereas 35mm projection perhaps looks better under ideal circumstances, but more often I was seeing it looking kinda poor, particularly in the last few years when it was being phased out (still would like to see it from time to time for nostalgia if nothing else).

Is rare to see new releases on film now, but at NYFF I got to see two upcoming films: Brooklyn and Son of Saul in 35. Brooklyn’s print was created just for the festival and despite some blemishes really did look terrific, quite possibly better than a DCP would, but Saul’s print looked like it had been around and a couple times I was worried the film was gonna fall apart.

I agree The400Blows. Unfortunately we are in the minority.

The latest from AMC, IMAX LASER at the end of January. The reason they don’t own the building, they have to get clearance when they do construction.

Thanks xbs2034. But according to IMDb, SW7 has some scenes in 1.43:1 aspect ratio. Can digital IMAX at Lincoln square fully display those scenes to fill its giant screen?

I’m gonna see Crimson peak next week, I guess its 1.85:1 ratio will take up more screen space than “the walk”’s 2.35:1. Am I right?

And Really looking forward to have laser at Amc Lincoln square.

It is possible to take 70mm footage and release it in digital projection, same as any other source format.

While Hateful Eight will get a limited 70mm (regular 5/70, not IMAX 15/70) exclusive window, the vast majority of people will see it in digital projection with its wide release two weeks later.

Hey Howard, that was the fanboy article I was referring to (Making Star Wars is a fansite, and have had wrong info before, so I would take what they say with a grain of salt). I did some looking into it when that article first came out and can find no concerte info about a 15/70 release (which IMAX confirmed back in June 2014 for Interstellar).

Also Syndey IMAX, the world’s largest screen, lists it as playing in digital on their website https://www.imax.com.au/films/star-wars-the-force-awakens/ and if IMAX/Disney is not gonna supply a print there, then where would they? I’m assuming 15/70 releases of Hollywood movies sadly ended with Interstellar, but maybe IMAX will surprise us, and at least as I said the laser locations will do the full 1.43 ratio for IMAX shot footage.

Waterguy65, yes the digital IMAX uses less of the screen than 15/70 and laser (those two are “real” IMAX, digital is the “fake” or “liemax”).

There has been no confirmation of 15/70 prints of Force Awakens being made (there is a fanboy article about it, but wouldn’t trust it), and reports last year were Interstellar was the final 15/70 release (and it has been the only one of 2014 and 2015 so far), so very possible they will show it in digital IMAX. If you wanted to see it in full image IMAX, the IMAX laser locations in the Boston and DC areas are the closest (I miss full IMAX, latest 15/70 presentation I saw at Lincoln Square was Catching Fire, and the last 15 or so times I’ve gone its always been liemax).

IMAX has said they plan on going from the dozen or so laser IMAXes now in use to 70+ worldwide by the end of 2016, so presumably Lincoln Square would be in that rather large 2016 window (IMAX has said they do plan to eventually convert the theater).