Comments from MovieTix86

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MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about Cinemark Egyptian 24 and XD on Jun 21, 2010 at 9:25 pm

Auditoriums #6 and #13 now have digital projection. Auditorium #13 has RealD 3D and is showing Toy Story 3 in 3D, not sure about #6 though. I saw “The Karate Kid” in #6, which had better surround effects but a lower sound level than previous 35 mm viewings. I previously saw “Prince of Persia: The Sands of Time” (35 mm) in the same auditorium and the sound level was much higher.

And yes, the theater has switched to Cinemark-style ticket taking, meaning the main area of the theater is open (consisting mostly of the concession area, though the arcade room is also open to the public now). Each of the hallways leading to the auditoriums has a ticket taker. I also experienced this at the Century San Francisco Centre 9, which is also run by Cinemark.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about Diamond Cinemas Westview on Apr 6, 2010 at 3:02 pm

Here is an article about the theater closing: View link

This theater should be listed as 9 screens.

Under Regal ownership, the theater was known as UA Westview Mall 9 and its online ticketing page still exists on Fandango: View link

The theater was recently gutted and the back end demolished. Steel beams remain in the interior of the building, possibly to support the stores built adjacent to the theater.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about AMC introduces new, premium theater auditoriums on Mar 21, 2010 at 2:09 pm

AMC Press Release: View link

According to the press release, this ETX auditorium appears to be using a 2K projector instead of the 4K projector used at Yonge & Dundas in Toronto. Auditorium 1 at AMC Pleasure Island was retrofitted with ETX.

I’m a bit surprised that IMAX has no issues with AMC ETX, since it is similar to Cinemark’s XD auditoriums.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about Cinemark Egyptian 24 and XD on Mar 6, 2010 at 4:19 pm

I saw Alice in Wonderland in the XD auditorium (#12) this weekend. The size and seating layout of the auditorium is similar to the adjacent auditorium (#11), so the seat count should be roughly the same. The seating capacity sign was removed after the conversion to XD due to the installation of new seats. I sat a few rows from the center aisle this time, so I was able to see the entire screen. The screen takes up the majority of a patron’s field of vision, even towards the rear of the auditorium. It is noticeably larger than the digital IMAX at Columbia (both height and width wise) and the sound system is equally bigger in terms of bass output. You will definitely notice a difference when the pre-show ends and the previews/trailers start. The bass was most noticable during the Tron Legacy trailer, when the auditorium received a nice shaking throughout the trailer. There were also some scenes in Alice when the bass made its presence known.

I also noticed that digital artifacts such as motion blur and ghosting were more subtle and much less frequent than digital IMAX. The picture was not dark as most other RealD 3D presentations I’ve seen. It was just as bright and vivid as digital IMAX. The picture of Alice in Wonderland filled the majority of the screen, with thin vertical masking lines on the side edges of the screen (similar to Avatar in digital IMAX).

Cinemark has a trailer for XD, which is shown before the movie starts. The Disney Digital 3D trailer was also shown after the XD trailer since this particular film is distributed by Disney and presented in 3D.

Giles, according to Cinemark’s press releases regarding XD, all XD auditoriums use a Barco DP-3000 DLP 2K projector. All XD auditoriums also have plush leather seating and custom JBL sound systems with at least 30 speakers.

One last side note: the area behind the information/customer service counter is walled off on both sides due to renovations of the concession stand. An area of the right side of the concession stand was open but I did not visit that area since the XD auditorium is on the left side of the building.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about AMC Tysons Corner 16 on Feb 23, 2010 at 5:02 pm

Apparently, the IMAX (Digital MPX) auditorium will be opened to the public on March 5 with the release of Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.
Preview screenings of “Under The Sea 3D” are reported to occur this week.

Sources:
View link
View link

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about Cinemark Egyptian 24 and XD on Feb 7, 2010 at 8:22 pm

This is the last week to see Avatar in Cinemark XD (RealD 3D) – up until Thursday, February 11. Just a heads up if you’re interested in seeing it in XD. I was originally interested in seeing it in XD but I don’t think I can make it by this week.

Cinemark has also changed the promotional tag lines for XD, possibly due to the IMAX lawsuit, as seen on their XD page.

Former: Crisp, Clear Digital Projection / Mega-sized screen / Custom Sound System
Updated: 2D & 3D Digital Projection / Wall-to-Wall screen / Custom sound system

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about AMC Columbia 14 on Dec 28, 2009 at 8:00 pm

I also saw Avatar in IMAX Digital 3D this past weekend and agree with Jodar. The film works quite well with this format, especially the 3D aspect that feels more immersive due to the screen size and sound system.

Not sure why non-IMAX previews were shown, especially since there were already several IMAX 3D previews. They could have shown the IMAX countdown trailer in 3D as they did in the past. Then again, that trailer may have been replaced with the new AMC IMAX intro.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about AMC Columbia 14 on Dec 21, 2009 at 5:18 pm

IMAX 3D screenings of Avatar were sold out on opening day. Several RealD screenings were also sold out during the evening. According to MovieTickets.com, Avatar is being shown in RealD 3D in 2 auditoriums. Previously only auditorium 14 had RealD.

I have not seen the movie yet but I did see the Avatar Day preview footage here in IMAX 3D, which I thought was impressive.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about Flagship Cinemas Movies 10 at East Point Center on Dec 12, 2009 at 8:21 am

Chain should be changed to Independent since Regal no longer operates this theater.
Theater website: http://www.eastpointmovies10.com/

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about Cinemark Egyptian 24 and XD on Nov 22, 2009 at 7:52 am

I noticed that the theater description has been updated with the XD (Extreme Digital Cinema) auditorium. Auditorium 11 is also digital projection (DLP) and should be added along with auditoriums 7 and 18. All four digital auditoriums are capable of showing RealD 3D.

Cinemark Press Release for Cinemark XD: Cinemark News Release at EarthTimes

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about Cinemark Egyptian 24 and XD on Nov 21, 2009 at 12:31 pm

I saw The Twilight Saga: New Moon in the Cinemark XD auditorium this weekend.

Auditorium 12 was completely redesigned to be distinguishable from the other auditoriums within the theater. Like most IMAX MPX systems, the auditorium features a ceiling to floor, wall to wall screen. However, the screen is noticeably larger than most IMAX MPX screens (at least compared the local IMAX MPX Digital theaters) as it appeared to fill more of my field of view from the center of the auditorium, which I thought was more immersive. The picture is masked but does fill the width of the screen. The picture quality is similar to any DP system though on a larger screen. What I thought stood out about XD was the sound system – i.e. feeling the rumble of the bass during the action scenes.

Other aspects of the auditorium were also changed. The red seats were replaced with new black leather seats, the walls have new lighting fixtures and red curtains. XD signs have also been added to the outside of the theater and the XD auditorium entrance.

XD pricing is not based on surcharges (like AMC’s 3D and IMAX surcharges) but fixed XD admission that applies throughout the day – similar to Regal’s IMAX admission, except Regal doesn’t charge extra for 3D. Also, like Regal’s IMAX admission, Cinemark’s XD prices differ by theater. In comparison, AMC has fixed surcharges for Digital 3D and IMAX, which adds on to the applicable AMC admission price (A.M. Cinema, Matinee, Evening, Child, Senior, etc.). Like Regal, AMC does not charge extra for IMAX 3D.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about Cinemark Egyptian 24 and XD on Nov 17, 2009 at 3:32 pm

According to the Cinemark web site and Fandango, the large-format Cinemark XD auditorium (#12) opens Thursday at midnight with The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about Cinemark Egyptian 24 and XD on Nov 16, 2009 at 2:37 pm

Good digital presentation of 2012 in auditorium #11 over the weekend. The screen in #11 has side masking, which expanded the screen width to match the film’s aspect ratio after the NCM FirstLook pre-show.

Large-format Cinemark XD is in auditorium #12 and has not yet opened.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about AMC Rockaway 16 on Nov 15, 2009 at 4:46 pm

As JJD said, the glasses for Digital IMAX 3D are polarized like the RealD glasses but are slightly larger and have the IMAX logo on the ear clips, which are not retractable like the RealD glasses. The glasses are not as large as the passive “goggles” that I’ve used for giant screen IMAX 3D.

Unlike the RealD presentations, they usually have someone standing at the IMAX auditorium entrance who gives out the glasses before the show. However, when I saw Monsters vs. Aliens in IMAX 3D Digital, they just had the glasses sitting out on a table for patrons to take in with them. They are not disposable like RealD glasses and must be returned after each screening and cleaned on a machine like regular IMAX and Dolby 3D glasses.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about Cinemark Egyptian 24 and XD on Nov 5, 2009 at 7:32 pm

Saw Astro Boy in #23 (one of the smaller auditoriums), which I enjoyed both presentation and plot-wise.

Cinemark appears to be refurbishing the theatre, as I noticed that the carpeting throughout the theatre seems to have been replaced recently. The carpeting in the auditorium was also replaced. Lower lighting was moved from the top of the steps to the bottom quarter of the side walls.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about AMC Columbia 14 on Oct 30, 2009 at 7:01 pm

Jodar, that’s precisely the reason why I didn’t see it in IMAX DLP. I had originally planned to but my relatives didn’t want to pay the extra evening surcharge for IMAX and didn’t want to see a film that late. Most theatres are showing the IMAX DLP version once in the early afternoon between Where The Wild Things Are IMAX screenings and also during the evening – this theater is not.

I may see this again in DP at another area theatre if this one does not add earlier showtimes for IMAX DLP. As you said, Bow Tie Annapolis Mall 11 is showing it in DLP; Cinemark Egyptian 24 also has DLP screenings and Landmark Harbor East is showing the film in 4K.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about AMC Columbia 14 on Oct 29, 2009 at 8:44 pm

I saw Michael Jackson’s This Is It in auditorium #2 tonight. The 35 mm presentation was quite good, especially for a concert film. Due to the aspect ratio of the film, the large screen in #2 was utilized at full height with no top down masking. It’s a shame the director decided against a 3D release since the scenes were still shown, though in 2D.

I did have one minor gripe: during an interview scene near the beginning of the film, the dialogue of the person skipped due to a reel change.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about Harbor East Cinemas on Oct 28, 2009 at 8:15 pm

The theater website needs to be updated to
View link

According to the official site, Disney’s A Christmas Carol and Avatar will be the first two movies shown in 3D.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about AMC Columbia 14 on Oct 24, 2009 at 2:23 pm

Jodar, I’m not sure what you’re referring to when you say “older movie with a new system”. When I went there on October 22, they were still working on the 4K system. Hence, why I said auditorium #6 was closed.

I saw “Where the Wild Things Are” in auditorium #2, which was a 35 mm film presentation. On the same day, “Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs” was shown in #14 but in 35 mm film and not DLP 3D as in previous weeks. The movie appears to be showing in 3D now, so they may have been working on the DLP projector again.

Sorry if I wasn’t clear enough in my last post.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about AMC Columbia 14 on Oct 23, 2009 at 4:17 pm

Jodar, was the movie shown in auditorium #6? When I went to see “Where the Wild Things Are” yesterday (in auditorium #2), it was closed. So I’m assuming the 4K system is in that auditorium.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about AMC Columbia 14 on Oct 21, 2009 at 8:10 pm

According to MovieTickets.com and Fandango, the documentary film, “Amelia”, will be shown in Sony 4K at this theater and AMC Loews White Marsh 16 starting on Friday (October 23).

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about Cinemark Egyptian 24 and XD on Oct 14, 2009 at 4:20 pm

Online ticketing has been moved from the Muvico web site to Cinemark.com and Fandango

Cinemark is now showing live and prerecorded events at this theatre via NCM Fathom. The first event shown was “Mayweather vs. Marquez Live in HD”.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about Flagship Cinemas Movies 10 at East Point Center on Oct 2, 2009 at 7:37 am

Correction on previous comment: this theater is now an independently owned and operated theatre. Regal Entertainment Group no longer operates this theatre.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about Flagship Cinemas Movies 10 at East Point Center on Sep 26, 2009 at 6:52 pm

This theater appears to be closed. Its listing on Fandango still exists but online ticketing has been removed. Also, it’s showtime listings were not shown in the local newspaper (Baltimore Sun) this weekend.

MovieTix86
MovieTix86 commented about AMC Dine-In Stonebriar 24 on Sep 19, 2009 at 5:19 pm

Auditorium #17 was reopened last week as an IMAX Digital theatre: IMAX Entrance