AMC Mazza Gallerie 7

Saw “The Muppets” today at this place, auditorium #4. Here are my initial thoughts about there theater:

This was my first time at the Mazza Gallerie, and it was a surprising experience. I’ve expected the place to go all digital but then I noticed a little scratch on that AMC Coming Soon snipe. I guess I didn’t read up too well. For a THX house, this place was very modest. AMC didn’t bother to promote their THX certification on all seven screens, not even a little sign in the lobby that reads “THX Certified Cinema” or something like that. The screen (auditorium 4) was pretty big, and I’m a fan of the homey textures on the side walls. While the sound system was decent, I think it didn’t push it up to it’s fullest potential (at least for this screen). It was lossy, 20-year-old Dolby Digital, and while it still sounds decent, it’s starting to show its age in the days of uncompressed PCM audio. The print looked very well, with some scratches here or there after three weeks. They do a better job at handling 35mm than the Regal Countryside 20 can handle itself. Definitely going to go there again.

Was 7.1 sound added to any of screens 5,6, or 7 when the digital projectors were installed? I haven’t seen any movies that have 7.1 sound in those theaters yet, though I have in theater 2 and it sounds fantastic there.

AMC has always been really bad at promoting THX it seems; not just at Mazza Gallerie but all locations of theirs that have it. And now they took down the THX sign in the lobby leaving pretty much no indication of THX certification anywhere. Really stupid.

spoke with the general manager this morning, he’s still vague on the time table on when screens 1,3, and 4 will get the digital conversion, although he did note that the size of screen #1 is an issue, I did mention though ‘well if they can put DLP on the Uptown screen it’s possible… with a Christie system’ – he totally agreed.

‘African Cats’ was visually stunning in Sony DP on screen 7.

Auditorium 6’s digital projection system can also present REAL-D 3D features.

REAL-D 3D system opened on screen 5. Screens 6 and 7 also now have digital projection. Obviousily the hold outs and most obvious next conversions are the two largest auditoriums 1 and 4.

I saw Cop Out here in #3. For one of the few THX cert places in this market, they don’t do much to advertise the fact to patrons other than a single poster sheet. The movie was a yawner. The previews and movie had surrounds but were lacking. At least Patti LaBelle singing the closing song during the end credits could’ve played in surround. No THX trailer. The AMC trailer, which I’d like to call the immersion trailer that has an audience member transformed into the film being watched showed off the sound system’s potential but is not a substitute for the THX deep note.

Giles, do they play the THX sound trailer before the movies start? When I used to go there it was a toss up as to whether or not they do. Also..what of the Sony Digital install in #2, is there a trailer played before the movie to showcase the format? #2 is the smaller venue to the left, on the side of the concession stand, isn’t it?

as I saw ‘Avatar’ 3D here today, I can say the screen features side masking – in that when projecting 2.35 widescreen films the screen’s sides extend horizonately – something alot of Regal theatres and AMC’s Tyson’s screen are not configured to do. Since Sony 4K systems tout more luminence over 2K DLP, this film benefitted greatly, the glasses didn’t darken the image and the digital sound was thunderous and intense – this was definately the superior presentation than the first time I saw the film at Regal Carousel Mall in Syracuse New York.

a Sony 4K digital system was installed in Auditorium 2 for ‘Saw VI’

for awhile they were listing ‘Iron Man’ after it left the Uptown as being a DLP presentation at Mazza, but I never confirmed if that was truly the case though.

Saw ‘Sisterhood’ over at Cinema De Lux in DLP over the weekend and wow, the couple of scenes that took place in Greece – the cinematography was top notch – made me want to go there, more than ‘Mamma Mia!’ did

I need to realize that complaining to the manager is always the best route, because one it lets that person know first hand what the problem(s) is/are. He said he’d look into why films weren’t being played back in 5.1 since the auditorium should in fact be decoding it in Dolby Digtial. He said the missing cup holders are replaced regularily since some of the larger sized cups actually pull up/off when the drinks are removed. Not really much of a response to the wearing arm rests, I might have to go one up and complain to corporate. I asked tangentily about future DLP at Mazza, and he gave some rather lame explanation, “certain AMC’s are testing the technology/audience response”, I almost wanted to say, well if you had at least two systems here,you could rotate/book at two films at the same time – it’s not THAT impossible. I didn’t say, well AMC’s relunctance, slow roll out of DLP/LCoS systems isn’t helping one bit, I still have to trek out to National Amusement in Fairfax Virginia to see something in digital, because they have six systems – oh well, time will tell.

Aren’t 6 and 7 the auditoriums with the leather love seats that serve alcohol during the week? If so, thats pretty bad they aren’t keeping up with maintenance. They charge more for those auditoriums don’t they? I wanted to see Mummy 3 there..thinking since its gone from my favorite THX plex in Annapolis. I guess I’ll have to go to Tysons.

Giles, you should fill out a comment card on the THX website about your bad experience. Since the place is supposed to be THX certified, the presentation should not have been so lackluster especially one like the fx-laden Mummy.