Big-screen giant Imax eyes digital future

The article is an interesting read. I never knew there was such a wide cost difference between IMAX Digital ($800) and IMAX film (3D @$44,000). Its great to here my market gets the first installs, presumably at the AMC Tysons Corner, the newest plex installation and the AMC Hoffman 22. The Baltimore install is presumably at the AMC White Marsh, which has the distinction of being an all THX cert plex of the three. The presumed movie debut at these new IMAX installs will be the new Batman.

With such cost savings, will the ticket prices go down?

Price go down? Don't be facetious. They charge MORE for IMAX presentations, even more so with IMAX 3D.

I can't wait for Rockaway to get IMAX, even though installation won't begin until next year just in time for Avatar, James Cameron's long awaited return to mainstream cinema.

according to IMAX's website: the first three IMAX digital screens are:

AMC Columbia
AMC Hoffman
AMC Potomac Mills

Tyson's is slated for November in time for "Madagascar 2"

agh, I can't stand the fact there's no edit function on this website...

The first three IMAX screens debuting next month (July) will obviousily feature 'The Dark Knight'

Is the new Digital Video format going to be as good,crisp,clear and large as the 7Omm Imax format? I don't think so. I heard the new Imax digital instalations will use a smaller screen. To bad 70mm goes away again to be replaced by video to save money. How many Imax film projection people will be out of work when the Imax house manager flicks on the video digital light? Will the pixels show up on the bigger Imax screens? Some one will get a good deal on used 70mm Imax projectors. Can you imagine if you had a super large Home Theatre set up and show Imax 70mm for your friends, and tilt and curve the screen more then Imax did. Almost like Cinerama back in 2008 with one big projector. Many feature movies have been blown up or made in 70mm 3-D Imax. What will happen to the 70mm film Imax prints? Watch for them on E Bay or The Big Reel.

You raise some interesting questions, Terry. What of the IMAX film installs around the country? I suspect they will be supported. I can't imagine spending more millions to convert the older places to digital. On the other hand, as you've said, how is it all going to look? We'll know in about three weeks when these venues open..

Giles, you're right. I forgot about Columbia. I don't like that place too much as its a teen hangout. In any case, either the Columbia or Hoffman are relatively close to me, but if the White Marsh auditorium is THX certified, it may be the better of the three installations.

Upcoming IMAX Titles:
The Dark Knight (Warner Bros.) (IMAX 3-D) July 18th
Fly Me To The Moon (Summit/nWave)(IMAX 3-D) August 8th (this may change)
Madagascar Escape 2 Africa (DreamWorks) November 7th
Harry Potter and The Half-Blood Prince (Warner Bros.) (IMAX 3-D) November 21st
Monsters vs. Aliens (DreamWorks) (IMAX 3-D) March 27th, 2009
Shrek Goes Fourth (DreamWorks) (IMAX 3-D) May 21st, 2010

Possible IMAX Titles (only predicting here):
Watchmen (Warner Bros.) March 6th, 2009
Terminator Salvation: The Future Begins (Warner Bros./Columbia) May 22nd, 2009
Night At The Museum 2 (Fox) May 22nd, 2009
Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen (DreamWorks/Paramount) June 26th, 2009
G.I. Joe (Paramount) August 7th, 2009
Hotel Transylvania (Columbia) September 25th, 2009
A Christmas Carol (Disney) (IMAX 3-D) November 6th, 2009
Avatar (Fox) (IMAX 3-D) December 18th, 2009
Alice In Wonderland (Disney) (IMAX 3-D) March 5th, 2010
How To Train Your Dragon (DreamWorks) (IMAX 3-D) March 26th, 2010
Iron Man 2 (Paramount) April 30th, 2010 (this date may change)
Superman: The Man Of Steel (Warner Bros.) (IMAX 3-D) Summer 2010
Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part I (Warner Bros.) (IMAX 3-D) November 19th, 2010

Dark Knight is IMAX-3D that's new news to me - I knew Nolan shot some scenes in actual 70mm/IMAX but 3D - mmmmm, I don't think that's the case.

I thought 'Fly Me to the Moon' was a REAL-D only release.

I think they timed the November IMAX-D theatre openings just right, because with the very small window between Madagascar and The Half Blood Prince - those IMAX screens can show more screenings per day than the IMAX screens at the museums - Udvar Hazy here in the District area might be screwed, suffice to say.

also, I thought the point of IMAX going digital was that more studios would jump on the bandwagon, there seems to be considerable amount of time between 'Fly Me to the Moon' (if this does get released in IMAX) and Madagascar 2 - September to November and then after Harry Potter : January to the March release of "Monsters vs. Aliens"

???

Here's something I found at the forums at filmtech.com

"Digital installations in the DC area are due to start around now .

However The Dark Knight: The IMAX Experience will not be screened on any of them.

Christopher Nolan, after going to the trouble of filming sections of the movie on IMAX 15 perf /65mm negative, refuses to have his movie shown this way.

There are rumours from a well placed source that an upcoming 3D feature will also be filmed in IMAX."

Good to know that Mr. Nolan is standing up for actual IMAX/70MM film.

Good to know some people like Nolan and Spielberg still respect film, like I do. Like I've always said, "if it ain't broke, don't fix it."

All right, I'm confused. The new IMAX installations are 35mm IMAX installs or is it IMAX Digital Projection, or something else? If its IMAX 35mm, it sounds like 70mm blow up to me, which isn't true 70mm to begin with. So to bellyache complain now before we even get a chance to see how good or bad this format is isn't fair. I doubt AMC and Regal would spend money on a format that will yield only a marginal improvement in the moviegoing experience.

The installations are IMAX Digital Projection (using DLP projectors). I wonder why White Marsh is opening in October, while the other local AMC Theatres are opening in July. Like Jodar, I'd rather go there than Columbia.

oh great, now I have to trek in a gas gusling car over to Udvar Hazy to see 'Dark Knight' - no real prob but since Hoffman is on a metro stop, but oh well, so I'd assume it'll be Kung Fu Panda then in IMAX digital - I mean what's the point of opening in July if 'Dark Knight' isn't allowed a the IMAX digital "experience"?

Of the one time I've been to the AMC theatre's in Columbia it was my last - it was by the far the worst filmgoing experience ever, really it was - very very rude teenagers.

Now that school is out for the summer you will need to wait till Sept and go to a mid week matinee. Some kids ruin everything for everyone else.

The so-called IMAX screenings at the Smithsonian's Udvar Hazy Air & Space are masked screenings. When we saw Panda there in IMAX, it was liked watching a letterboxed movie. The top and bottom of the screen was not utilized. Had I known, I would have just gone to a DP screening and saved money, time and gas going all the way to Sterling VA.

But back to the AMC installs, I hope their IMAX presentations utilize the whole screen otherwise it will be no different than any other movie in their larger auditoriums. Actually, the idea of DP on a IMAX-sized screen.. 70' or larger is exciting; no flicker, better contrast, no fading or scratched prints...less than three weeks away. :)

unfortunately all the Hollywood fare being converted to IMAX dimensions retains the film's original aspect ratio - so yes you are going to get black bars above and below the image - not utilizing the whole image - I think the last film that was best experienced on the imax screen that used most of it was 'The Ant Bully' and 'Robots' for that matter where they had OAR's of 1.85:1 2:35:1 films really don't seem all that worth it if you ask me. Since this has been mentioned over on the Uptown theatre thread, I'm surprised AMC hasn't converted that to digital projection, since Disney accomplished it for the DC premier of 'The Guardsman' (curve and all) and then promplty took it down after it's premier [sad face]. They'd be better off installing a 4K Sony LCoS system since the closest is Landmark Inner Harbour Baltimore and is one up from 2K DLP and (supposedly) less than IMAX DLP.

sorry to thread jack this topic but here's the theatres that are presenting 'Hancock' in true 4K resolution/playback on Sony Digital Projection systems:

AMC AMC Plaza Bonita 14 3050 Plaza Bonita Rd., National City, CA 91950

AMC AMC Tyler 16 3375 Tyler Ave., Riverside, CA 92503

AMC AMC Orchards 12 14653 Orchards Pkwy., Westminster, CO 80023

AMC AMC Avenue Forsyth 12 410 Peachtree Pkwy., Cumming, GA 30040

AMC AMC Highland Village 12 4090 Barton Creek, Highlands Village, TX 75077

Cinemark Cinemark Tinseltown Plano 3800 Dallas Pkwy., Plano, TX 75093

Marcus Majestic Brookfield Theatre 770 North Springdale, Waukesha, WI 53186

Muvico Muvico Rosemont 18 9701 Bryn Mawr Ave., Rosemount, IL 60018

AMC Yonge Dundas 24 10 Dundas Street East, Toronto, Ontario M5B 2G9

That's no where near us, Giles. LOL. I'm hoping to catch it at the Ziegfeld this Sun. They've got an excellent Dolby Digital Cinema set up there. I'm curious about the resolution of IMAX DP. Is it 12K? :)
The Reuters article doesn't say.

I've not seen any literature or news of the resolution for IMAX either - it's as if they want it to be a secret or something. As of last week, Landmark in Baltimore was supposed to have Hancock in 4K Sony DP but that didn't happen - sucks. Since all the IMAX DP will be out in the suburbs I'm hoping AMC might upgrade one of it's Georgetown auditoriums to feature Sony 4K (one could hope).

The IMAX theater (Theater #1) at AMC Columbia appears to be finished. However, no IMAX films are currently being shown.

MovieTickets.com shows Kung Fu Panda being shown in DP (again after WALL-E replaced it last week) today and tomorrow. Afterwards, it will be shown in standard 35 mm. The digital key probably expires after tomorrow, so they ended up having to use the film format for future dates. WALL-E continues to be shown in DP with the old DLP projector in #14.

I know I can't seem to recall where I read this online, but supposedly the specs for IMAX Digital are 8K

Correction on AMC Columbia 14: theater #1 is still closed/under construction. My previous post was based on assumption. It is still blocked off by a large Hancock cardboard display with an IMAX banner hanging above the theater. Any news on Hoffman Center and Potomac Mills?

“Digital Imax” Installation Schedule

July 2008
Alexandria, VA – AMC Hoffman 22
Columbia, MD – AMC Columbia Mall 14
Woodbridge, VA – AMC Potomac Mills 18

August 2008
Bensalem, PA – AMC Neshaminy 24
Cherry Hill, NJ – AMC Loews Cherry Hill 24
Hamilton, NJ – AMC Hamilton 24

October 2008
Altamonte Springs, FL – AMC Altamonte 18
Aventura, FL – AMC Aventura 24
Baltimore, MD – AMC Loews White Marsh 16
Boston, MA – AMC Loews Boston Common 19
Concord, NC – AMC Concord Mills 24
Jacksonville, FL – AMC Regency Square 24
New York, NY – AMC Empire 25
Orange Park, FL – AMC Orange Park 24
South Miami, FL – AMC Sunset Place 24
Tampa, FL – AMC Veterans Expressway 24

November 2008
Burbank, CA – AMC Burbank 16
Emeryville, CA – AMC Bay Street 16
Houston, TX – AMC Gulf Pointe 30
Los Angeles, CA – AMC Century 15
McLean, VA – AMC Tysons Corner 16
New York, NY – AMC Loews 34th Street 14
New York, NY – AMC Loews Kips Bay 15
San Jose, CA – AMC Eastridge Mall 15
Santa Clara, CA – AMC Mercado 20
Sugar Land, TX – AMC First Colony 24

TBA
Alderwood, WA – AMC Loews Alderwood Mall 16
Arcadia, CA – AMC Santa Anita 16
City of Industry, CA – AMC Puente Hills 20
Crestwood, IL – AMC Loews Crestwood 18
Eatontown, NJ – AMC Loews Monmouth Mall 15
Harahan, LA – AMC Elmwood Place 20
Highlands Ranch, CO – AMC Highlands Ranch 24
Homestead, PA – AMC Loews Waterfront 22
Independence, MO –AMC Independence Commons 20
Kansas City, MO – AMC BarryWoods 24
Kennesaw, GA – AMC Barrett Commons 24
Los Angeles, CA – AMC Promenade 16
Mesquite, TX – AMC Mesquite 30
Morrow, GA – AMC Southlake Pavilion 24
Newport, KY – AMC Newport on the Levee 20
Rockaway, NJ – AMC Rockaway 16
San Diego, CA – AMC Palm Promenade 24
South Barrington, IL – AMC South Barrington 30
Stony Brook, NJ – AMC Loews Stony Brook 17
Torrance, CA – AMC Del Amo 18
Tukwila, WA – AMC Southcenter 16
Virginia Beach, VA – AMC Lynnhaven 18
Westminster, CO – AMC Orchards 12
Westminster, CO – AMC Westminster Promenade 24

As of today, there are no advance tix sales for the DC/Balto area AMC IMAX theaters. Perhaps, they aren't ready yet. The only relatively close IMAX theater for Batman Returns is the Air & Space theater in Chantilly, VA.

uh it's called 'The Dark Knight' ;) word is that the six minute "IMAX" opener on the 'Batman Begins' bluray is amazing looking.

None of the digital-projection Imax venues will be showing THE DARK KNIGHT digitally, at least initially. The Imax theaters showing THE DARK KNIGHT are scheduled to screen a 15/70 film print.

Digital and IMAX Cinema: I wonder what the chances are of a lot of the great, golden oldie-but-goody classic films, such as WSS, Dr. Zhivago, Lawrence of Arabia, etc., have of being re-mastered, reprinted, cleaned up., etc., and then made to be presented in Digital or IMAX Cinema Theatres? That, imho, could be interesting, if it could/would be done.

I'm sure classic films can be converted to the format. Its just a matter of if a studio is willing to go to the expense of the cleaning and conversion process, probably making a digital interpositive and then going with the appropriate format.

Looks like the first IMAX digital theatres will debuting with Fly Me To The Moon on August 8th.

And I'm liking those two coming to Kansas City. I've been to both of those theatres and I can't to see the final results.

As for classic titles, I'd say it's unlikely due to the restoration costs and the blowing-up and the potential complaints from purists. But if possible, I could see Warner Bros. and IMAX releasing such titles as 2001, Blade Runner, My Fair Lady, the first two Batman films, the first two Superman films, The Wizard Of Oz, Gone With The Wind, How The West Was Won, Around In The World In 80 Days, The Right Stuff and The Mission. Mostly stuff that was previously released in 70mm or are classics.

considering Warner Bros. is currently converting all of it's titles via 4K technology a release here and there of these "classics" would be a grand idea.

According to MovieTickets.com, AMC Hoffman Center 22 and AMC Potomac Mills 18 will begin showing IMAX movies this weekend. Kung Fu Panda: The IMAX Experience and Space Station 3D will be shown at both theaters starting this Friday.

IMAX showtimes have been added for AMC Columbia 14 at MovieTickets.com. IMAX admission for all three theaters is $3 more than regular admission.

MovieTix86,

It sucks :) Thanks for the update. No Batman.

I mentioned this over on the AMC Hoffman's theatre thread - but I was very impressed audio wise with the upgrade - the image though... I still have to see a couple of other DMR'd/true IMAX films mastered to IMAX-Digital specs. Don't get me wrong, 'Space Station 3D' while filmed with IMAX cameras did look great, I was able to see some very minor imperfections with the source element - not digital artifacts par se. The real star was the system's 12-channel sound system - one word: WOW

KingBiscuits: Potential complaints from purists? About what? just curious. While it's true that the films that you mentioned above would be great if reprinted, remastered, cleaned up and re-released on digital/dolby sound IMAX cinema, I also think that a film such as West Side Story would really be out. of. this. world if re-released likewise.

Yesterday, July 21, started the conversion of AMC Neshaminy 24's Auditorium #1 from 35mm to Digital IMAX. The first film slated to play is Kung Fu Panda: The IMAX Experience. The theatre will seat 505, down from the original 617 seats when AMC Neshaminy first opened.

The IMAX Theater Locator has been updated with all upcoming IMAX theaters. The list now includes international theaters and Regal Entertainment Group theaters opening this Fall.

AMC Neshaminy 24, AMC Loews Cherry Hill 24 and AMC Hamilton 24 will open their IMAX theaters on Friday, August 15 (this Friday). Kung Fu Panda & Space Station 3D will be shown in IMAX format at all theaters.

The potential complaints being a classic scope film being run on IMAX either cropped or letterboxed and in a digital source. Purists like their film and it filling up the screen.

And I'm surprised that Fly Me To The Moon is only running on film in IMAX theatres. It is running in matinees at most of those theatres.

None of the IMAX Theatres in Philadelphia are showning "Fly Me To The Moon". AMC Neshaminy 24, Hamilton 24 & Cherry Hill 24 are showing "Space Station 3D" and "Kung Fu Panda", REG King of Prussia Stadium 16 is showing "The Dark Knight", and The Franklin Institute is showing educational IMAX films and "The Dark Knight".

Eagle Eye is now hitting IMAX screens starting September 26th. I wonder if it's because Spielberg was executive producer and Katzenberg's a big IMAX supporter.

well at least there is a September IMAX release, we would have had to have waited til November anyway for Madasgascar 2.

The Hoffman is strangely not listing anything on it's IMAX screen - what's up with that??

Don't worry, the Hoffman 22 is still showing "Space Station 3D" and "Kung Fu Panda" on their iMAX screen.

AMC IMAX theaters opening on September 5: AMC Loews White Marsh 16 (Baltimore, MD), AMC Orange Park 24 (Orange Park, FL), AMC Aventura 24 (Aventura, FL), AMC Empire 25 (New York, NY), AMC Veterans 24 (Tampa, FL)

I just did some research and apparently IMAX digital is going to be using what's called 4K projectors, probably from Sony. Most digital theaters are currently using 2K projectors, but in a few years, most new theaters will probably be using 4Ks. So there won't be any difference between an IMAX theater and a regular theater except for the 12-channel sound equipment, that is, if they're still going to have 12-channel sound. Also Kodak says 4K is about the quality of 35mm film, and you already have some special effects companies generating effects at 8K. So although IMAX will save a bunch of money in not using film, it's not really going to be anything special like using 70mm sideways (giving you an effective 140mm film frame). The AMC Boston Common is promising IMAX this month, and this is probably what it's going to install. Maybe the IMAX folks think people will see the name and think they're getting something special when they're really not.

The IMAX systems are 4K Texas Instrument DLP, not Sony LCoS (Liquid Crystal on Silicon). All current DLP's are 2K, Sony's systemes are 4K. As I mentioned previousily, 'Hancock' was projected in 4K in select theatres that have Sony units, November's release of 'Quantum of Solace' will be the next 4K release. I thought initially IMAX were going to be 6K at least (with the rumored system being two Sony 4K systems outputting 8k resolution), it was surprising to hear from the IMAX rep at the opening of the Hoffman IMAX auditorium it was only 4K. According to an article in American Cinematographer 35mm can actually be 6K in resolution, but due to tweaking of the image to mass produced 35mm print the resolution is greatly reduced.

Question though: are Hollywood movies that are transferred to IMAX presentations actually remixed to take advantage of the 12-channel configurement? I remember reading somewhere online that the 'Transformers' IMAX soundmix was very different from the standard 6-channel mix.

Speaking about Transformers, I did see both the IMAX and 35mm versions and I'm hard pressed to denote the difference without taking notes of each presentation. To be honest, I thought the 35mm one in a THX Cert theater (BowTie Annapolis #1 auditorium) was better as I recall my niece and I slightly dodging and weaving during the bot fight scenes. Sound was coming out from everywhere as the sound booms from impacts and movements.

The IMAX presentation at the Regal King of Prussia plex was good but I remember the movie being masked once again leaving lots of screen space above and below the projected film. To me, that detracts from being absorbed/enthralled somewhat by the movie and in such a visual/aural presentation thats not an ideal thing.

Here is a picture of the projector: IMAX Digital Projector

After watching "Eagle Eye" in IMAX Digital, I have to say its not worth paying $13. The screen size is about the same as your larger AMC theater plex. Maybe the animated movies are better. We'll see when Madagascar 2 comes out in a month.

Jodar where did you see it? I saw "Eagle Eye" at the AMC Columbia IMAX. Only the speaker system and screen were changed. The seating is exactly the same.

Yes. :) I wonder if the other IMAX Digital installs are as 'small.' I have to check them out. The thing is they can't charge IMAX prices ($13) for something thats not the 6 story tall screen I regard as true IMAX.

I saw Eagle Eye over at Hoffman and there was an IMAX representative with a questionaire about IMAX and Eagle Eye - I filled out most of it, my only complaint was the fact that the auditoriums being converted seem to be on the small side. It's unfortunate considering some the largest 2K DLP systems are over Cinema De Lux (the one's immediately left and right of the center concession stand). I haven't heard any new news which auditorium over at Tyson's is getting the conversion - I really really hope it's the promised #3.

When I saw the movie last weekend, there were a few people who were sitting in the back that walked out before the movie started. I'm guessing they didn't think it was worth the price. This was before a matinee show, which is $11 for IMAX admission compared to $8 for regular admission.

I also noticed that almost all the people in the auditorium sat close to the front. Sitting in the back doesn't give you the "big screen" feel that you get with traditional IMAX theaters since you can see the edges of the screen.

I did see 'Kung Fu Panda' three days earlier before 'Eagle Eye' premiered and I thought that was great in IMAX - the obvious plus was the sound, the thumps and thwacks were appropriately loud and bassy. I sat in the hot seat - row three (from the center aisle), seat 12. 'Madgascar 2' will great in IMAX because it's not a scope film, as I mentioned before 1.85 films are fantastic on the IMAX screen, because their aren't the black bars above and below the image.

When we saw "Eagle Eye" at the AMC Columbia 14's 'IMAX' theater (#1), it had already started. Unfortunately, there was no one to question us about anything. As I was waiting for my friend to get tickets, I asked the guy at Customer Service about the presentation and all he said was that there were fewer commercials. Ha! Who'd want to spend the money to advertise gum in IMAX? Okay, maybe they'd use a smaller projector. Giles, like you've said, the non-scope films should be more immersive since it takes advantage of the whole screen.

what ever projector they used at Hoffman to project the pre-film advertisements, looked terrible, it was all orange. However the IMAX ads for the future films, 'The Day the Earth Stood Still' and 'Watchmen' projected in actual IMAX looked and sounded great.

Hey, KingBiscuits: The above-mentioned films sound like they'd be great in Digital cinema. However, I wish to add West Side Story to that list, because it would likely be fantastic.

a brand new 70mm print of 'West Side Story' was recently shown at the Castro in San Francisco, I'm hoping the AFT Silver can show it here in the DC area for an East Coast presentation. A new stage production of 'West Side Story' is having it's pre-Broadway engagement at the National Theatre beginning in mid-December.

That I'm aware of, Giles. It would be cool if it were shown here in the Boston area too. I'm aware of the new Broadway stage revival of West Side Story that's coming up after the new year, and of its pre-Broadway engagement at the National Theatre in mid-December. It's also scheduled, I think, to show at the Palace theatre in NYC afterwards. As a devout fan of the film version of West Side Story who's also seen several different stage productions of this great musical, I think it would be interesting to see WSS presented and interpreted differently, but who really knows how it'll turn out.

Here's hoping for a national re-release of this great film classic (WSS) in theatres nationwide! That would be cool!

Now I know that this digital is the craze, but before theaters become all 2k/4k, I want to see a return to this. Film fans, please read.

http://www.in70mm.com/workshop/index.htm
http://www.fromscripttodvd.com/bill_bennett_interview.htm