but even AMC’s non-booking of say the one off ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ screening on the 4th of October or even the Indiana Jones marathon (tomorrow) convey’s that AMC doesn’t care or want to make the effort to present alternate programming on a screen that needs (and deserves) it. Honestly, I kind of wish AMC would wipe it’s hands of the theater and let someone like the folk over at the Avalon take over and book films like the Castro does.
yes, I did see ‘Lord Jim’ and I thought the print looked stunning. I guess since this is rarely shown the print hadn’t had so much wear and tear that usual 70mm prints of ‘2001’ have. The blue skies (including the eyes of Peter O'Toole) were so lifelike
Equally ‘Khartoum’ was visually astounding – the five front channel spread was meticulous and powerful (I love the music score by the way). I had forgotten for films at 2.76 the screen doesn’t spread horizontally, like at the Uptown, but drops down from the top.
I gathered from what Mr. Guttag has noted to me in the recent past, is that the Silver can’t playback films in DCP harddrive form – I might be wrong, but something like ‘Prometheus’ or any newer film for that matter has to be 35mm. I didn’t see ‘Prometheus’ in IMAX, but the DCP I saw at the Cinemark Egyptian (3D) XD screen had a truly amazing 7.1 mix that wouldn’t be featured as such in IMAX – nor at the upcoming Silver showing. I think it would be cool if the Silver could see if Fox has any 70mm prints of ‘Alien’ or ‘Aliens’
oh, and I’m checking out ‘South Pacific’ on Sunday afternoon ]
did you get any sense of the dimensions (size) of the IMAX screen? Management was clueless to this fact. He also was vague if any auditoriums could playback 7.1 audio.
is AMC purposefully running this theater into the ground – ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ is STILL here, but screenings have been reduced to one screening a day – sad, sad, sad. They could have easily booked the DCP of ‘Raiders’ or ‘Finding Nemo 3D', something? … ??
I really try to avoid screen 5 if at all possible, screen 6 must be directly behind it.
The conversion happened – all the screens can playback in DLP digital projection via Barco projectors. Next Friday’s ‘Samsara’ will be 4K DLP [thumbs up!]
I’ll post back with some more info, since I was rudely bumped off the phone call with the manager about half an hour ago.
as it should be the case, that’s ridiculous to think that theaters should increase tix price just because the technology seems to dictate it – good for them.
five front channel sound tends to be very front heavy Jodar – and for it’s time it sounded great – 8-track SDDS with five front + stereo surround sounded even more impressive! (let’s hope this configurement winds up on DCI sooner than later). I can’t wait to see ‘Khartoum’ and ‘Lord Jim’ next week.
writing a physical letter to corporate may not get you an answer, I’ve never got one, but the alternate ways to vent one’s frustration with AMC and specifically the Uptown is via AMC’s facebook page and/or AMC’s website which has an email option under ‘contact us’
question: can someone help me out with a inquiry regarding a screening of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ a few years back, it was a 35mm print and I could have sworn the it was the expanded title of ‘Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark’ – I’m sure it was, but some folk on another website says such print with the title was never theatrically released as such. ???
Secondly, I have to say I’m getting sick and tired of AMC not giving the Uptown it’s dues in booking alternate programming – specifically the upcoming Indiana Jones marathon on September 15th.
The other insult is the non-booking of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ on October 4th. I don’t get it, AMC gives the shaft to the Uptown when it comes to these screenings and treats the Uptown like a bastard child. Enough is enough for those of who like to write emails, letters, whatever – give AMC corporate a piece of your mind (I have).
Here, in part, is one Kiefaber posted Sunday morning:
“The bevy of overlapping emotions that flow through me on a daily basis, exfoliating from a deep well of frustration and misunderstanding, are compounding as I witness a dear family loved one be torn asunder and into pieces, without anesthesia,” he wrote. “The screams haunt my days and nights. All that I can do of late at sunset, is wander the site of the day’s carnage, searching for any recognizable bits and pieces of skin and flesh, or chunks of snarled innards, respectfully collecting them each day for proper internment.”
~~
one word: cuckoo…
~~
I know it’s probably been noted before Jodar, but I know at one point extra subwoofers were added to the Senator’s sound system in 1998 for Roland Emmerich’s ‘Godzilla’ remake.
Don’t quote me but I think the installation of the 8-SDDS sound system debuted with ‘Episode I: The Phantom Menace’
oh I forgot to mention I recently saw Tangerine Dream in performance at the Howard – great show by the way, and what a beautiful restoration of the theater!
got a chance to check out Auditorium 1 for ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ – very impressive digital projection with the film’s integration of IMAX shot scenes and standard 35mm which looked great on it’s DCP – however… there appeared to be a smudge just to the left of mid-center, which is either on the glass of the projection booth or (perish the thought) on the lenses of the projector itself – management said they would look into it and correct it. The sound seemed to be on the low end and was no where as bombastic or loud as at the Avalon (and that was 35mm and lossy audio) Lastly, I was none to pleased with the audience, at one point some jerk put his hand (and middle finger) directly in front of projector – that’s the problem with the projection booth being that low and close to audience level.
the auditoriums that were untwinned were 1 & 2, and 3 & 4 (the latter which is now screen 2, is the largest screen). All the screens are now ‘digital’ featuring Christie 4K upgradeable projectors and can/will playback 7.1 audio
holy batman! The presentation of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ really demonstrated the loudness levels the speakers could handle here at the Avalon – even though the Dolby Digital 5.1 is not lossless audio when compared to sound from digital projection – the bass was powerful and relentless.
so I saw ‘The Watch’ on screen 4 and the Sony image looked fantastic! great clarity, sharpness and color – the blue of the ‘Neighborhood Watch’ jackets just jumped out. Considering there is significant throw from the projection booth to the screen, I guess AMC figured out that Sony could and can do the job – and it does.
Oddly on the audio side, there’s a slight buzz that is emitting out of one (or possibly more) of the speakers from behind the screen – in the quiet moments, which isn’t many in the movie, it becomes quite apparent and distracting – management said he’d look into the problem.
so I talked with the manager this evening and she said that all the systems are Sony 4K projector’s including the new installations on screens 1 and 4 – really? it took THAT long?!?
I find it out that the Seattle Cinerama isn’t listed – the fact that it able to playback digital 2K and 4K projection, 70mm and Cinerama prints is a major plus
or let Cinemark run it and let them do their great Thursday ‘Classic Series’ film showcase.
but even AMC’s non-booking of say the one off ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ screening on the 4th of October or even the Indiana Jones marathon (tomorrow) convey’s that AMC doesn’t care or want to make the effort to present alternate programming on a screen that needs (and deserves) it. Honestly, I kind of wish AMC would wipe it’s hands of the theater and let someone like the folk over at the Avalon take over and book films like the Castro does.
yes, I did see ‘Lord Jim’ and I thought the print looked stunning. I guess since this is rarely shown the print hadn’t had so much wear and tear that usual 70mm prints of ‘2001’ have. The blue skies (including the eyes of Peter O'Toole) were so lifelike
Equally ‘Khartoum’ was visually astounding – the five front channel spread was meticulous and powerful (I love the music score by the way). I had forgotten for films at 2.76 the screen doesn’t spread horizontally, like at the Uptown, but drops down from the top.
I gathered from what Mr. Guttag has noted to me in the recent past, is that the Silver can’t playback films in DCP harddrive form – I might be wrong, but something like ‘Prometheus’ or any newer film for that matter has to be 35mm. I didn’t see ‘Prometheus’ in IMAX, but the DCP I saw at the Cinemark Egyptian (3D) XD screen had a truly amazing 7.1 mix that wouldn’t be featured as such in IMAX – nor at the upcoming Silver showing. I think it would be cool if the Silver could see if Fox has any 70mm prints of ‘Alien’ or ‘Aliens’
oh, and I’m checking out ‘South Pacific’ on Sunday afternoon ]
did you get any sense of the dimensions (size) of the IMAX screen? Management was clueless to this fact. He also was vague if any auditoriums could playback 7.1 audio.
is AMC purposefully running this theater into the ground – ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ is STILL here, but screenings have been reduced to one screening a day – sad, sad, sad. They could have easily booked the DCP of ‘Raiders’ or ‘Finding Nemo 3D', something? … ??
as of today (and Friday’s features listed on Landmark Bethesda’s website), all the screens have been converted to digital projection: Barco DLP.
I really try to avoid screen 5 if at all possible, screen 6 must be directly behind it.
The conversion happened – all the screens can playback in DLP digital projection via Barco projectors. Next Friday’s ‘Samsara’ will be 4K DLP [thumbs up!]
I’ll post back with some more info, since I was rudely bumped off the phone call with the manager about half an hour ago.
wasn’t there an indoor merry-go round near the theater?
as it should be the case, that’s ridiculous to think that theaters should increase tix price just because the technology seems to dictate it – good for them.
ABC 7 is stating the theater will become a vaudeville type ‘live’ theater.
five front channel sound tends to be very front heavy Jodar – and for it’s time it sounded great – 8-track SDDS with five front + stereo surround sounded even more impressive! (let’s hope this configurement winds up on DCI sooner than later). I can’t wait to see ‘Khartoum’ and ‘Lord Jim’ next week.
much thanks sguttag on that little tidbit of news regarding ‘The Master’
writing a physical letter to corporate may not get you an answer, I’ve never got one, but the alternate ways to vent one’s frustration with AMC and specifically the Uptown is via AMC’s facebook page and/or AMC’s website which has an email option under ‘contact us’
and yes, sadly the 70mm projector is gone … :(
I’m really curious in knowing what the theater’s sound/digital projector system will get installed in the renovation
question: can someone help me out with a inquiry regarding a screening of ‘Raiders of the Lost Ark’ a few years back, it was a 35mm print and I could have sworn the it was the expanded title of ‘Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark’ – I’m sure it was, but some folk on another website says such print with the title was never theatrically released as such. ???
Secondly, I have to say I’m getting sick and tired of AMC not giving the Uptown it’s dues in booking alternate programming – specifically the upcoming Indiana Jones marathon on September 15th.
The other insult is the non-booking of ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ on October 4th. I don’t get it, AMC gives the shaft to the Uptown when it comes to these screenings and treats the Uptown like a bastard child. Enough is enough for those of who like to write emails, letters, whatever – give AMC corporate a piece of your mind (I have).
(from the aforementioned article):
Here, in part, is one Kiefaber posted Sunday morning:
“The bevy of overlapping emotions that flow through me on a daily basis, exfoliating from a deep well of frustration and misunderstanding, are compounding as I witness a dear family loved one be torn asunder and into pieces, without anesthesia,” he wrote. “The screams haunt my days and nights. All that I can do of late at sunset, is wander the site of the day’s carnage, searching for any recognizable bits and pieces of skin and flesh, or chunks of snarled innards, respectfully collecting them each day for proper internment.”
~~
one word: cuckoo…
~~
I know it’s probably been noted before Jodar, but I know at one point extra subwoofers were added to the Senator’s sound system in 1998 for Roland Emmerich’s ‘Godzilla’ remake.
Don’t quote me but I think the installation of the 8-SDDS sound system debuted with ‘Episode I: The Phantom Menace’
oh I forgot to mention I recently saw Tangerine Dream in performance at the Howard – great show by the way, and what a beautiful restoration of the theater!
what sad news.
there’s a nice quick glimpse of the exterior of the theater in the movie ‘Ruby Sparks’
got a chance to check out Auditorium 1 for ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ – very impressive digital projection with the film’s integration of IMAX shot scenes and standard 35mm which looked great on it’s DCP – however… there appeared to be a smudge just to the left of mid-center, which is either on the glass of the projection booth or (perish the thought) on the lenses of the projector itself – management said they would look into it and correct it. The sound seemed to be on the low end and was no where as bombastic or loud as at the Avalon (and that was 35mm and lossy audio) Lastly, I was none to pleased with the audience, at one point some jerk put his hand (and middle finger) directly in front of projector – that’s the problem with the projection booth being that low and close to audience level.
the auditoriums that were untwinned were 1 & 2, and 3 & 4 (the latter which is now screen 2, is the largest screen). All the screens are now ‘digital’ featuring Christie 4K upgradeable projectors and can/will playback 7.1 audio
holy batman! The presentation of ‘The Dark Knight Rises’ really demonstrated the loudness levels the speakers could handle here at the Avalon – even though the Dolby Digital 5.1 is not lossless audio when compared to sound from digital projection – the bass was powerful and relentless.
so I saw ‘The Watch’ on screen 4 and the Sony image looked fantastic! great clarity, sharpness and color – the blue of the ‘Neighborhood Watch’ jackets just jumped out. Considering there is significant throw from the projection booth to the screen, I guess AMC figured out that Sony could and can do the job – and it does.
Oddly on the audio side, there’s a slight buzz that is emitting out of one (or possibly more) of the speakers from behind the screen – in the quiet moments, which isn’t many in the movie, it becomes quite apparent and distracting – management said he’d look into the problem.
so I talked with the manager this evening and she said that all the systems are Sony 4K projector’s including the new installations on screens 1 and 4 – really? it took THAT long?!?
I find it out that the Seattle Cinerama isn’t listed – the fact that it able to playback digital 2K and 4K projection, 70mm and Cinerama prints is a major plus