Not sure what all the dramatic complaining is about. The sound in the Dome nowadays is pretty darn good. The new laser projection is also bright and crisp. The curve of the screen and the projection angle is still an issue (distortion, cross reflections) but everyone knows this already. They’ve masked down the screen to reduce the cropping but it still looks weird.
They replaced the seats not too long. They’re wider and comfier than before.
It’s been discussed here before. The real issue isn’t the curved screen or whatever masking they’re trying now. It’s the angle of the projection which makes movies with lots of horizon shots and horizontal lines look ridiculous. I remember seeing LoA in the Dome a few years ago and every epic shot of the desert looked like it was filmed through a fish bowl. Same thing with each of the Lord of the Rings movies.
Maybe for some the grandness of the screen compensates for the distortion but for me it’s annoying. I like a big curved screen (Grauman’s pre-2002 screen was great) but not when it makes everything look like it’s going to fall over.
Never thought the screen size was small at the El Capitan but it depends on what aspect ratio the screen is set up for since they seem to mask it down vertically for scope (common width). 1.85:1 films are pretty tall. Taller than anything at Arclight for sure.
Anyone else notice the rattling behind the screen during bass heavy scenes? I think a speaker is either blown or something is not secured. Needless to say it happened a lot during Gravity.
Still really impressed with the presentation. 3-D, picture, sound is really top notch not to mention the spacious seating. Yes, I wish they would mask the top and bottom for scope films but that’s a minor quibble since the blank space disappears into the darkness.
Are they masking the screen for 2.35:1, leaving it unmasked (yuck) or is Gravity taking up the whole screen? I guess I’ll find out tomorrow. They really need to get rid of the Screenvision preshow. Totally ruins the atmosphere and it looks like garbage.
I agree. It’s a visually impressive screen but not IMAX in shape or vertical height.
I was very impressed with The Hobbit trailer showing in 2.35:1. Just awesome to see the full length of the screen being used and the 3D was very clear and not dim like you see at Arclight. I hope they actually mask the top and bottom and not leave it empty when wide films play there.
I wonder what they’re planning on doing with the sides between the pillars. There’s some strange box shapes there. Is the space between the pillars and theater wall still accessible?
I hope they kept the curtains closing between the side pillars when the lights dim as well as the hidden drinking fountain on the right side.
I think this is one of those projects where we really have to wait and see how it turns out. It could be great or it could be a disaster (Egyptian theater). I just hope that when I walk into this new Grauman’s it won’t be like they forcefully jammed an IMAX theater inside.
Mr. Wright, did you hear anything about any changes to the forecourt such as bringing back the palm trees or fixing the right side fountain? Also, do you know if the heating system is functioning? When I saw The Hobbit there a few weeks ago it was freezing.
While I’m not looking forward to the idea of my favorite theatre being ripped up and needlessly reconfigured again (seriously why?) I’m optimistic about the lighting getting some TLC. I hope whatever new seating they put in will match the rest of the theatre and not look like something they got from AMC. The same goes for the curtain and the screen.
It will always be Grauman’s no matter what this page says.
I think the steps were added during the 2001 remodel.
If anything good comes out of another remodeling I hope the lighting inside the theater is taken care of. There are a lot of burnt out/non functional lighting elements right now.
The exposed screen for The Hobbit looked roughly the same size when I saw Attack of the Clones there in 2002. I’m betting closer to 60ft.
The idea of stadium seating inside Grauman’s sickens me. The sightlines are excellent now. The current reclining seats from the last remodel are a pain to sit in but making it into a standard AMC or that Egyptian theater abomination is just a bad idea.
I’m pretty sure the full width of the screen at Grauman’s is closer to 70ft than 90ft. I was there last night and the screen is as masked down as much as it was when I saw Attack of the Clones there in 2002.
Great presentation btw but the lack of heating was inexcusable. The awkward reclining seats which were put in for the 2001 restoration also need to go. Sadly I don’t think the current management cares that much.
The majority of 35mm prints I’ve seen at Arclight Hollywood over the years have been mediocre at best so all digital presentations are long overdue. Film is a superior medium to shoot on but the garbage prints that are churned out today aren’t doing it any justice.
Not sure what all the dramatic complaining is about. The sound in the Dome nowadays is pretty darn good. The new laser projection is also bright and crisp. The curve of the screen and the projection angle is still an issue (distortion, cross reflections) but everyone knows this already. They’ve masked down the screen to reduce the cropping but it still looks weird.
They replaced the seats not too long. They’re wider and comfier than before.
It’s been discussed here before. The real issue isn’t the curved screen or whatever masking they’re trying now. It’s the angle of the projection which makes movies with lots of horizon shots and horizontal lines look ridiculous. I remember seeing LoA in the Dome a few years ago and every epic shot of the desert looked like it was filmed through a fish bowl. Same thing with each of the Lord of the Rings movies.
Maybe for some the grandness of the screen compensates for the distortion but for me it’s annoying. I like a big curved screen (Grauman’s pre-2002 screen was great) but not when it makes everything look like it’s going to fall over.
Never thought the screen size was small at the El Capitan but it depends on what aspect ratio the screen is set up for since they seem to mask it down vertically for scope (common width). 1.85:1 films are pretty tall. Taller than anything at Arclight for sure.
Anyone else notice the rattling behind the screen during bass heavy scenes? I think a speaker is either blown or something is not secured. Needless to say it happened a lot during Gravity.
Still really impressed with the presentation. 3-D, picture, sound is really top notch not to mention the spacious seating. Yes, I wish they would mask the top and bottom for scope films but that’s a minor quibble since the blank space disappears into the darkness.
Are they masking the screen for 2.35:1, leaving it unmasked (yuck) or is Gravity taking up the whole screen? I guess I’ll find out tomorrow. They really need to get rid of the Screenvision preshow. Totally ruins the atmosphere and it looks like garbage.
I agree. It’s a visually impressive screen but not IMAX in shape or vertical height.
I was very impressed with The Hobbit trailer showing in 2.35:1. Just awesome to see the full length of the screen being used and the 3D was very clear and not dim like you see at Arclight. I hope they actually mask the top and bottom and not leave it empty when wide films play there.
I wonder what they’re planning on doing with the sides between the pillars. There’s some strange box shapes there. Is the space between the pillars and theater wall still accessible?
I hope they kept the curtains closing between the side pillars when the lights dim as well as the hidden drinking fountain on the right side.
That was the real thing, not a replica.
I think this is one of those projects where we really have to wait and see how it turns out. It could be great or it could be a disaster (Egyptian theater). I just hope that when I walk into this new Grauman’s it won’t be like they forcefully jammed an IMAX theater inside.
Mr. Wright, did you hear anything about any changes to the forecourt such as bringing back the palm trees or fixing the right side fountain? Also, do you know if the heating system is functioning? When I saw The Hobbit there a few weeks ago it was freezing.
While I’m not looking forward to the idea of my favorite theatre being ripped up and needlessly reconfigured again (seriously why?) I’m optimistic about the lighting getting some TLC. I hope whatever new seating they put in will match the rest of the theatre and not look like something they got from AMC. The same goes for the curtain and the screen.
It will always be Grauman’s no matter what this page says.
I think the steps were added during the 2001 remodel.
If anything good comes out of another remodeling I hope the lighting inside the theater is taken care of. There are a lot of burnt out/non functional lighting elements right now.
The exposed screen for The Hobbit looked roughly the same size when I saw Attack of the Clones there in 2002. I’m betting closer to 60ft.
The idea of stadium seating inside Grauman’s sickens me. The sightlines are excellent now. The current reclining seats from the last remodel are a pain to sit in but making it into a standard AMC or that Egyptian theater abomination is just a bad idea.
I’m pretty sure the full width of the screen at Grauman’s is closer to 70ft than 90ft. I was there last night and the screen is as masked down as much as it was when I saw Attack of the Clones there in 2002.
Great presentation btw but the lack of heating was inexcusable. The awkward reclining seats which were put in for the 2001 restoration also need to go. Sadly I don’t think the current management cares that much.
The majority of 35mm prints I’ve seen at Arclight Hollywood over the years have been mediocre at best so all digital presentations are long overdue. Film is a superior medium to shoot on but the garbage prints that are churned out today aren’t doing it any justice.
When is 3-D going to cease being called a fad and more of a technology which is revisted every couple decades?
With the success of Avatar and other 3-D films I don’t think 3-D is dying out anytime soon.
True. Hopefully they’ll actually play something worth driving to scary Westwood to see.
Regency Bruin and Village… That doesn’t sound right.
3-D on a budget.
The end of civilization/America comments are hysterical. It’s a cute novelty toy not the downfall of mankind in a box.
Inevitable posts about inflation and the added cost of 3-D glasses in 3 2 1…
Typical gloom and doom. I enjoy watching films in 3-D, 2-D, film, and digital.
The comments are more informative than the article.
Any chance of Arclight Westwood?