AMC Neshaminy 24 Theatres

They aren’t cutting anything up. I spoke to a manager on duty when I went to see Logan tonight. IMAX is getting upgraded but they wouldn’t specify in what way (do they need to close the whole auditorium for three months for just laser projection?), and 24 is indeed being converted to Dolby Cinema. Which is the one “premium” experience I’d pay money for…

The former Premiere Theater was located within the Modell’s Sporting Goods store. If you look closely, you can see the tapered walls as it neared the screen in the rear of the store.

I think the reason why he does not have those grand opening ads is mainly because the Miami newspapers are not digitalized

Well moving on from grand opening ads

The MacGuffins Bar & Lounge opens every day around 1PM, and closes when the theatre closes.

AMC Neshaminy 24 is getting an MacGuffins Bar

I sort of get what you mean about the problem with the top masking. It would be quite the understatement (and stating the obvious) that 70mm Ultra Panavision isn’t exactly a good match for a 200 seat multiplex auditorium with a 25' wide 1.85 to 1 screen with top masking for scope. I would think that a 2.39 to 1 screen, even a moderately sized one would have been a better match. Hopefully as digital technology moves forward (I’ve read that Arri now has a 6k camera that has a sensor larger than a 5-perf 65mm film frame and Panavision is working on a digital camera that allegedley will get in the ballpark of 65mm film) we may see a format that will work in the modern multiplex. With home screens getting bigger, better and more affordable everyday it will be needed.

Thanks markp. It’s great to hear from someone who really has knowledge. All the auditoriums at AMC Neshaminy 24 were 35mm at one time and all the rooms have more than one port in the booths so it definately sounds like spin that they couldn’t use any of the big rooms. IMO, they just didn’t want to compromise the “Star Wars” receipts. With regards to the screen masking, I was befuddled as to why they chose not to use the existing movable top masking to at least mask down to 2.4 to 1 which would have significantly cut down on the empty unmasked screen left below the 2.76 to 1 frame. IMO it just really took alot away from the presentation having over a third of the screen unmasked. A small area below the frame would have been much more acceptable. I had considered going to see it at the UA/Regal 17 Riverview Plaza (they actually had 70mm capacity before digital took over; saw “Far and Away” in 70mm there and it looked fabulous) but the Neshaminy is a bit more convenient.

Changed my avatar name to “Cinedelphia” from HowardB so as not to be confused with HowardBHaas. Anyway, went to see the 70mm Ultra Panavision “Roadshow” Engagement of Tarantino’s “The Hateful Eight” today at Neshaminy. I liked the film itself but what I really want to comment on is the presentation (which was a mixed bag). First the positives: despite the age and cobbled together nature of the old 70mm projectors and 70mm anamorphic lenses that needed to be scrounged for these presentations the projection was bright, jitter free, with the ultra sharp detailed image and depth of field one would expect from real 70mm. No focus problems, etc. There was some damage evident at times on either the right or left edge of the frame (two or three lines) but it was not a distraction and again considering the age , etc of the equipment, understandable. The film was also framed at the proper 2.76 to 1 aspect ratio. Now the negatives: IMO this was a wasted opportunity to see real 70mm. AMC opted to show the film in a 200 seat auditorium with about a 25' wide screen instead of one of the 40' or 50' wide screened large rooms. What compounded the problem was that the auditorium has a 1.85 to 1 screen that has top masking for scope and for whatever reason (could have been some technical reason related to the throw of the 70mm projector) they opted not use use the masking at all and just project the 2.76 to 1 image from the top of the screen down leaving the bottom of the screen empty and the bottom edge of the frame looking a bit blurred and frayed. This definately took away from the impact of the projected image and was a bit distracting to say the least. I did ask one of the Ass’t Managers why they didn’t retro fit one of the large rooms for 70mm (which would have made sense,specifically Auditorium #24 which has a 60'wide 2.39 to 1 screen and side masking) his response was odd, he claimed that the 70mm projector would not fit in the booth…..and then went on the extoll the virtues of the auditorium it was shown in….sounded like spin to me. After giving it some thought, the real reason could be that the theater may have a contractual obligation to show the new “Star Wars” in the largest four auditoriums for the first two weeks of its engagement (not uncommon practice for big event films). Anyway, I don’t regret shelling out the extra bucks despite the shortcomings. What really hit home was the loss of the Boyd and what a perfect venue a restored Boyd would have been for a special, unique engagement like this. If anyone else has seen the 70mm “Roadshow” of Hateful Eight at other venues I’d love to hear of your experience.

Interstellar will be shown here starting Friday November 7 in 4k digital and 2k IMAX

IMAX 3D version of The Hobbit: The Desoliation of Smaug is playing at the Neshaminy 24, along with the Real D 3D version, and the 2D version.

Anyone know if projectors here are 2k or 4k? Lawrence of Arabia will show Thursday only but if I attend, I want the 4k.

This past Thursday, July 14, had “Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows Part 2” in various formats, on 23 screens, breaking the record of 16 screens for “Star Wars Episode III: Revenge Of The Sith”