The Commuter is the next IMAX release, but it is listed as having “select IMAX theaters” so I’m sure The Last Jedi will still have most IMAX theaters. I believe Force Awakens even played here all the way till Deadpool in Feb, but Last Jedi seems to be playing out quicker so I expect its run to end with either 12 Strong or The Maze Runner.
While there are last minute attempts to keep it open, the theater is set to close on January 21.
I have mixed feelings about this, I never particularly liked this theater with its dingy atmosphere and uncomfortable seating. But then it does play some great films, and sad to see another NYC theater close.
I hope this would bring more films and business to the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Landmark West 57th (a great and very modern theater, but does suffer from a poor location).
Just one little note for people (like me) seeing The Last Jedi in IMAX here this weekend. While the film did use IMAX cameras for select sequences, it will be a locked scope presentation, and the screen will not be filled for any of those sequences.
Apparently, the director found the aspect ratio switches distracting when he was finishing the movie, and people who’ve seen the film in the UK mentioned there are no IMAX aspect ratio switches.
Basically Dolby Vision uses 4K laser projectors with high dynamic range. Some of the big advantages they tout are a wider color spectrum and I believe 5x the contrast ratio of standard digital projectors.
A lot of people are big fans of them, and I do think the black levels on the projectors are probably the best I’ve seen. But overall I haven’t been as impressed with them as formats like IMAX laser or 70mm film (though, to be fair, I’ve seen fewer titles on Dolby Vision).
The Loews has Dolby Atmos sound system (not even sure the film is even getting an Atmos sound remix, Cameron’s ad for the film just mentions the Dolby Vision visual update), but not a Dolby Vision projector. It will be playing at the AMC Empire though.
Justice League though is playing in 70mm at the Loews screen this weekend. And Murder on the Orient Express is scheduled to continue, which means this theater will have a pretty rare distinction (at least in decades) of playing two 70mm titles at the same time.
I didn’t see Orient Express here (did at Lincoln Square) however I have seen The Master on 70mm as well as a couple digital presentations on the main screen here in recent years, and it’s a great screen.
The other screens here are pretty small and not nearly as nicely decorated. So one nice touch is for about a year now City Cinemas' website and Fandango specially mark those main screen showings under “Jaffe Art Theater” for easy information in case someone wants to see a movie on that screen.
Not sure that really relates to this theater, as aside from the IMAX and Dolby Cinema (formats which never use masking), all the screens I’ve seen here use masking for at least flat and scope.
Aside from some technical issues for certain showings, the one AMC nearby I’m aware of that has abandoned masking is Kips Bay, which did so when they upgraded their seating to recliners (obviously you would prefer they use masking for all, but I can tolerate letterboxing, but when they use pillarboxing on their scope screens it definitely looks kinda ugly to me)
I’d say go to the TCL Chinese for scope movies, and Citywalk for full IMAX titles. Both are large screens and laser projection/IMAX 12 channel sound, so should be a great experience either way.
IMAX has never used masking as a company as far as I’m aware, so for scope and flat titles here they use some letterboxing (though I do feel with flat titles, the screen is so large, it pretty much feels your field of view in the front half of the seats anyway).
The Kips Bay IMAX is a scope screen on the other hand, so most Hollywood films will fill that screen normally perfectly, but for flat titles they will typically crop the image on the top and bottom rather than using pillarboxing (for instance what they did with American Made as the NYC IMAX selected to show that film).
AMC Empire and Kips Bay are also still playing 2049. Only the Brave actually isn’t playing at any NYC IMAX (despite being specially formatted for IMAX)
Blade Runner 2049 is still playing there this weekend (though some of the other IMAXes are going over to Geostorm).
I don’t think anything was planned, just sometimes they wait till as late as Wednesday to finalize the schedule on a weekend without a big title playing.
Yes, laser projection can do 1.43 and the screen should be completely filled for IMAX shot scenes (which Last Jedi apparently has more than Force Awakens).
If you look at 15/70 location list, they are all museum sites which have never put in digital or laser projection, and I’ll echo that no 15/70 is not a big deal when it has laser instead (very close in most aspects, and better in some ways, such as using 12 channel sound with overheads, while 15/70 is stuck with a six channel mix).
Even when the Ziegfeld was the go to site for premieres, they were held all over the city. Certainly big halls like Alice Tully or Radio City are popular, as are other special venue sites, but some are held in multiplexes (AMC Lincoln Square is a popular choice for that with its large Loews regular screen and its IMAX)
I would check by once every couple months when I was by the space, and it looks like earnest progress is finally being made on the ballroom. I’ve seen full construction going on the last two times, and they now have a Ziegfeld Ballroom NYC banner hanging and a sign saying it is coming Fall 2017.
It obviously wouldn’t be the same, but I hope at least one end of the year release hosts a premiere there (those are done in hotel special events rooms sometimes, so this shouldn’t be that different).
I’ve heard opening week attendance was low. I think the big issue is the product they have. I want to check the theater out but none of the movies interest me (was interested in Mother! before but the F cinemascore scared me off from seeing it, at least theatrically), which is a shame as there are several exciting indies/limited releases out now.
Hopefully they will get higher profile pictures once the Fall awards season fully kicks off, and the Sunshine’s closure next year might also open up booking availability
StunPlex, this theater is currently undergoing renovations (looks like it is being done in phases with 7 or 8 of the 13 screens open at a time), so I think it is currently the RPX screen’s turn.
There is reserved seating and a slightly higher ticket price ($17, which I believe is a buck or two higher than before) accompanying the re-opening.
Hopefully they would at least update the cushioning on the seats as those have seen some wear and tear and are not the most comfortable, but yes they should still keep the classic movie palace feel, including continuing their use of curtains which open with the previews before each show.
This theater will be one of six screening the IMAX remaster of the original Blade Runner on September 20th. Hopefully they will add a double feature with the sequel or something, but at the moment the IMAX release of that classic is going to be very rare.
Celestial85, yes the Loews screen (theater 1) has an Atmos sound system and has had since at least 2014.
Though since it isn’t designated as a large format theater, it is indeed hard to find on Fandango, you need to click on an individual showing to see what screen it will be in, as well as cross reference if the film itself has an Atmos mix.
Interesting that both the Sunshine and Lincoln Plaza will close the same day.
The Commuter is the next IMAX release, but it is listed as having “select IMAX theaters” so I’m sure The Last Jedi will still have most IMAX theaters. I believe Force Awakens even played here all the way till Deadpool in Feb, but Last Jedi seems to be playing out quicker so I expect its run to end with either 12 Strong or The Maze Runner.
http://deadline.com/2017/12/new-york-famed-lincoln-plaza-arthouse-theatre-to-close-in-january-1202228088/
While there are last minute attempts to keep it open, the theater is set to close on January 21.
I have mixed feelings about this, I never particularly liked this theater with its dingy atmosphere and uncomfortable seating. But then it does play some great films, and sad to see another NYC theater close.
I hope this would bring more films and business to the Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Landmark West 57th (a great and very modern theater, but does suffer from a poor location).
Just one little note for people (like me) seeing The Last Jedi in IMAX here this weekend. While the film did use IMAX cameras for select sequences, it will be a locked scope presentation, and the screen will not be filled for any of those sequences.
Apparently, the director found the aspect ratio switches distracting when he was finishing the movie, and people who’ve seen the film in the UK mentioned there are no IMAX aspect ratio switches.
Yes, the footage shot with IMAX film cameras will fill the entire screen. 1.43 in IMAX laser is quite the spectacle
Basically Dolby Vision uses 4K laser projectors with high dynamic range. Some of the big advantages they tout are a wider color spectrum and I believe 5x the contrast ratio of standard digital projectors.
A lot of people are big fans of them, and I do think the black levels on the projectors are probably the best I’ve seen. But overall I haven’t been as impressed with them as formats like IMAX laser or 70mm film (though, to be fair, I’ve seen fewer titles on Dolby Vision).
The Loews has Dolby Atmos sound system (not even sure the film is even getting an Atmos sound remix, Cameron’s ad for the film just mentions the Dolby Vision visual update), but not a Dolby Vision projector. It will be playing at the AMC Empire though.
Bigjoe59- Titanic has been remastered for Dolby Vision projectors. It won’t play here, since it is only playing in Dolby Cinema screens.
Justice League though is playing in 70mm at the Loews screen this weekend. And Murder on the Orient Express is scheduled to continue, which means this theater will have a pretty rare distinction (at least in decades) of playing two 70mm titles at the same time.
I was lucky enough to get to go to the first showing Thursday at 7pm. The presentation was great.
I didn’t see Orient Express here (did at Lincoln Square) however I have seen The Master on 70mm as well as a couple digital presentations on the main screen here in recent years, and it’s a great screen.
The other screens here are pretty small and not nearly as nicely decorated. So one nice touch is for about a year now City Cinemas' website and Fandango specially mark those main screen showings under “Jaffe Art Theater” for easy information in case someone wants to see a movie on that screen.
Not sure that really relates to this theater, as aside from the IMAX and Dolby Cinema (formats which never use masking), all the screens I’ve seen here use masking for at least flat and scope.
Aside from some technical issues for certain showings, the one AMC nearby I’m aware of that has abandoned masking is Kips Bay, which did so when they upgraded their seating to recliners (obviously you would prefer they use masking for all, but I can tolerate letterboxing, but when they use pillarboxing on their scope screens it definitely looks kinda ugly to me)
I’d say go to the TCL Chinese for scope movies, and Citywalk for full IMAX titles. Both are large screens and laser projection/IMAX 12 channel sound, so should be a great experience either way.
IMAX has never used masking as a company as far as I’m aware, so for scope and flat titles here they use some letterboxing (though I do feel with flat titles, the screen is so large, it pretty much feels your field of view in the front half of the seats anyway).
The Kips Bay IMAX is a scope screen on the other hand, so most Hollywood films will fill that screen normally perfectly, but for flat titles they will typically crop the image on the top and bottom rather than using pillarboxing (for instance what they did with American Made as the NYC IMAX selected to show that film).
AMC Empire and Kips Bay are also still playing 2049. Only the Brave actually isn’t playing at any NYC IMAX (despite being specially formatted for IMAX)
Blade Runner 2049 is still playing there this weekend (though some of the other IMAXes are going over to Geostorm).
I don’t think anything was planned, just sometimes they wait till as late as Wednesday to finalize the schedule on a weekend without a big title playing.
Yes, laser projection can do 1.43 and the screen should be completely filled for IMAX shot scenes (which Last Jedi apparently has more than Force Awakens).
If you look at 15/70 location list, they are all museum sites which have never put in digital or laser projection, and I’ll echo that no 15/70 is not a big deal when it has laser instead (very close in most aspects, and better in some ways, such as using 12 channel sound with overheads, while 15/70 is stuck with a six channel mix).
Even when the Ziegfeld was the go to site for premieres, they were held all over the city. Certainly big halls like Alice Tully or Radio City are popular, as are other special venue sites, but some are held in multiplexes (AMC Lincoln Square is a popular choice for that with its large Loews regular screen and its IMAX)
I would check by once every couple months when I was by the space, and it looks like earnest progress is finally being made on the ballroom. I’ve seen full construction going on the last two times, and they now have a Ziegfeld Ballroom NYC banner hanging and a sign saying it is coming Fall 2017.
It obviously wouldn’t be the same, but I hope at least one end of the year release hosts a premiere there (those are done in hotel special events rooms sometimes, so this shouldn’t be that different).
I’ve heard opening week attendance was low. I think the big issue is the product they have. I want to check the theater out but none of the movies interest me (was interested in Mother! before but the F cinemascore scared me off from seeing it, at least theatrically), which is a shame as there are several exciting indies/limited releases out now.
Hopefully they will get higher profile pictures once the Fall awards season fully kicks off, and the Sunshine’s closure next year might also open up booking availability
Yes, and they are upgrading the sound systems to 7.1 or Atmos
StunPlex, this theater is currently undergoing renovations (looks like it is being done in phases with 7 or 8 of the 13 screens open at a time), so I think it is currently the RPX screen’s turn.
There is reserved seating and a slightly higher ticket price ($17, which I believe is a buck or two higher than before) accompanying the re-opening.
Hopefully they would at least update the cushioning on the seats as those have seen some wear and tear and are not the most comfortable, but yes they should still keep the classic movie palace feel, including continuing their use of curtains which open with the previews before each show.
This theater will be one of six screening the IMAX remaster of the original Blade Runner on September 20th. Hopefully they will add a double feature with the sequel or something, but at the moment the IMAX release of that classic is going to be very rare.
Celestial85, yes the Loews screen (theater 1) has an Atmos sound system and has had since at least 2014.
Though since it isn’t designated as a large format theater, it is indeed hard to find on Fandango, you need to click on an individual showing to see what screen it will be in, as well as cross reference if the film itself has an Atmos mix.