Odeon Luxe London Leicester Square
26 Leicester Square,
London,
WC2H 7LQ
26 Leicester Square,
London,
WC2H 7LQ
44 people
favorited this theater
Showing 76 - 100 of 752 comments
The product currently used for “LUXE Recliner” installs, including the OLS:
Ferco Seating – “Premium Verona Cinema Seat with Electric Foot & Back Rests”.
CF100. Many thanks for practically confirming my thoughts. I too could see the wall was not a structural change, and that it’s soundproofing (an add on) took up very little space. The JBL’s you mention, are as you say much the same size as the “old” ones. Heavy, yes, but not very deep in size! As you say, the screen position will probably remain a mystery since there is ample room behind it to place it much farther back. And oh, how great would that be to see 2 sets of tabs again. Just saying!! Do you know whether the new proscenium tabs are in use yet? If it was a motor issue, AMC does not seem to consider it’s remedy that important, if they are still not in use.
LoveCinema: Thank you for the information on digital automation/playlists/etc.
The wall at the back of the stage house is clearly a plasterboard wall (British Gypsum SoundBlock product from the “purple” coloured facing paper) and thus is for soundproofing and not structural reinforcement.
AFAIK the previous screen speaker system was 5x JBL 5674, which weigh ~170kg each, plus 4xLW Speakers 6017 dual 21" subwoofers (replacement equivalent model, 6117, weighs 110kg) as an LFE upgrade more recently.
It can be seen from the links that these products are very big!
Presumably, the replacement system is suspended from the fly tower. I recall reading about strengthening needed for the ceiling-hung speakers in the auditorium itself, presumably for the large line arrays and Atmos rear subwoofers rather than the smaller Atmos overheads, but I don’t think the replacement Dolby SLS screen speakers would weigh that much more than previous.
It would seem to me that the reason for moving the screen forward is because the reduced size was necessitated for some reason and therefore moving it forward helped compensate for this, or, simply, that it creates a more “modern” look. But, short of a definitive answer, it would seem that it will remain a mystery…
LoveCinema: I did see the soundproofing of the wall at the back, but this took up little space. The fact that the screen can still be retracted for stage shows, does indicate that there is already enough space behind it. Actually, instead of the feat of retracting when necessary, why didn’t they have it permanently installed in the “retracted” position, as far back as possible. There has to be another reason for bringing it so far forward. But thanks for making this whole issue quite interesting.
RadioVenus: Seems things have changed on stage behind the screen since you last been there. I understand with the installment of ‘Dolby Atmos’ there had to be a wall constructed lately to isolate the auditorium from the adjacent hotel – mainly I should think to hold the immense weight and height of the speakers. The following link might be a conclusion for the new screen to have to positioned forward:
https://www.whathifi.com/features/inside-the-uks-first-dolby-cinema-400-speakers-dolby-atmos-and-a-compton-organ
When I say “6 feet or more”, I mean behind the speakers which were used behind the old screen. The stage is not that deep, but it is certainly deep enough for the new screen to have been placed further back than it is now….or even placed where the old screen (and speakers) was positioned.
LoveCinema: Your reply is interesting. Thank you. But I also need to add a correction to your comment about the screen position. The OLS always had large speakers behind the screen. In fact I have been on the stage there a few years back, and remember that there was ample space behind the previous screen when it was placed further back on the stage. Even with the old screen in place, there was easily about 6 feet or more behind it. There was no need to bring the screen forward to accommodate speakers.
RadioVenus: Need to do a correction – and appologies for that: The ‘Play List’ will only contain ‘Main Features’. The “Art of presentation” (House-Lighting/s and Curtains/Tabs > if they are in condition to operate) are to be added to a “pre-show”– playlist containing commercials and (in need to be added or changed) Trailers of upcoming movies to be shown “coming soon – "at a Theatre near you”.
Greetings from Germany
RadioVenus: Whilst everything has gone ‘digital’ in Cinemas for quite some time ago the presentation of an on going movie show can be ‘added’ towards the ‘Playlist’ and on to the Server and that includes the use of Tabs….or not the use of Tabs. This is how it’s been done in our ‘Main Screen’ (Screen 4) when the Tabs could be used (currently they cannot because the motor has to be maintained). I understand OLS are having problems with the Curtain-motor ?
Now for the ‘forward taken Screen’ there could be one reason: As the OLS (as a ‘Dolby Cinema’) has installed ‘Dolby Atmos Sound System’ with Speakers fitted mostly everywhere in the auditorium (including the ceiling ) some Speakers had also to be fitted behind the Screen. I assume the screen had to be taken forward to make room for these.
Whilst refurbishing our cinemas in our small town lately, we fitted in a new sound-system (not “Dolby-Atmos” of course) and every screen had to come forward to give room for the speakers to be fitted behind.
Greetings from Germany
I learned that Tarantino deliberately dispensed his movie being filmed with 70mm film, because it then would have lacked the impressive wonderful zooms his movie is literally covered with – as these can only be shot with 35mm film. However it’s being post-converted in 70mm format (35mm Panavision blown- up to 70mm) and as I understand is shown as a limited release in 5 Theatres only in the US. It is however planned to be shown in the described 70mm Format later in the year. So maybe the OLS will show it in 70mm. Wether 70mm or 35mm presention – Tarantino’s latest movie should be considered a life-time masterpiece already.
Greetings from Germany
When I learned that ‘Once Upon A Time…’ was only being shown here in 35mm I assumed that Quentin Tarantino must have run out of 70mm stock. Given, however, that such is not the case one would have thought that a 70mm copy could have been found for this theatre; ‘The Hateful Eight’, after all, was thus presented (albeit before AMC’s act of desecration)….
In relation to presentation, once a precedent has been set (ie no tabs at all when the venue was relaunched) things are never quite the same again and it is evident that there is not the political will on the part of AMC to run the place properly.
Once upon a time , people responsible for running Village Halls would have regarded any comparison with the Odeon Theatre Leicester Square as the greatest compliment but not, I suspect, these days,sadly….
CF100: I haven’t been to the OLS lately as I am currently in Los Angeles. For your information, I saw the 70mm version of “Once Upon A Time..” showing at the Cinerama Dome in Hollywood. And they still use blue velvet tabs there (and masking) ! All the time. Like you say, it would be interesting to hear if the Odeon is up to par yet with it’s presentation. I still cannot believe their apparent “couldn’t care less” attitude. The Odeon was once referred to as “The Cathedral”. Sadly, AMC have turned it into a village church hall.
Has anyone paid a visit to the OLS for the 35mm presentation of “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood”? Seems like a good opportunity for someone with a clue (e.g. projectionist!) to get the tabs/lighting operating as they should…
Screened the World premiere of the movie “Dad’s army”(2019 version) on 27/1/2016.
RadioVenus: Aesthetically, I too preferred the previous position.
Moving the screen forward makes the sightlines “worse.” The old rear stalls only just about had viable sightlines to the top of the screen; however, they, of course, have been “removed.”
The new screen is slightly smaller than the previous, but moving it forward helps compensate, relatively.
I’m not sure that the screen has actually been “moved up,” as stated in other posts? Comparing the 1998 2D screen with the 2018 screen, it looks like the reduced size has allowed for the bottom of the screen to be raised, but the top looks to be in about the same location?
Note, also, from the second image that the sightlines to bottom of the screen from the front row of the balcony are only just viable.
I have no idea why the screen was moved forward; it might be imagined that it was a decision based on “modernisation,” or it may have been for acoustic reasons, for which there are good reasons why it would be preferable.
If, as FanaticalAboutOdeon says, the OLS is staffed by 3 technical personnel, then it is puzzling if all aspects of presentation aren’t programmed to perfection, let alone basic standards…
LoveCinema..yes. Quite simple really. I do not understand the current management or “technical” staff at the Odeon. If everything is automated, rather than manually pushing the buttons, why can’t they program it all to happen as it used to! One other thing I often wonder about, is why did they bring the screen so far forward? I can’t think it’s because of sight lines? The screen always looked better, and bigger when it was further back on the stage. And of course it also allowed us to enjoy 2 sets of tabs. If the screen was further back, they could fit screen tabs to the screen frame. then, when the screen was totally retracted, the screen tabs could be closed and hide and protect the screen for stage events. (Maybe, they will lower some tabs from the fly tower to cover the screen in those instances.) But I just wish they would get their act together. It’s not that difficult, so I am assuming that they really don’t care. And I wonder if those burnt out canopy bulbs have been replaced yet……
It’s as simple as this: – Music fades out – House-lighting dims – CURTAINS PART….(at a decent slow speed) This procedere mainly creates the cinematic-atmosphere for the audience and….shows professional presentation of movie-screening. It has been done like this in over 120 years of cinema.
House-tabs had been fitted at last….. so why not u s e t h e m??????
terry: LOL… Yeesh! I do sympathise with your past experience of these, as you call them, “delicacies!”
CF100: The introduction of the latter ‘delicacies’ marked the beginning of the down marketing of the industry,in my opinion. I used to feel nauseous when patrons bought them at sales kiosks and proceeded to smother them in the condiments on offer….
Wherever I would be standing on the foyer the happy eaters of this commodity always seemed to head in my direction, just to add to my queasiness!
It would be interesting to know how “food and beverage” offerings have changed over the years?
Obviously, the changes to the exhibition industry have been fast paced in the 2010’s; however, for instance, looking at “old cinema adverts” videos on YouTube includes exhortations to make last minute concession counter trips, a reminder that a variety of alcoholic beverages are available from the bar, and very unappetising close shots of hot dogs!
RadioVenus: Given the way that the exhibition industry has veered toward a hi – tech/intensive catering culture at the expense of atmosphere and presentation, nothing would surprise me either.
If it is a case of supplying and fitting a new motor then you should be fortunate enough to see the auditorium at its best – albeit nowhere near as good as was once the case – when you next visit………
Terry; Maybe their excuse is that they are waiting for a different motor to be installed. Not sure that it takes any longer than a few hours overnight to change a motor! Nothing would surprise me.
moviebuff82:
Not quite sure what you mean, Dolby Cinema AFAIK is a “scope” format?
To quote FanaticalAboutOdeon’s post dated 2nd March 2019 (information taken from the publication “Cinema Technology”):
“Screen/Projection: Scope width – 13.35, Flat width – 11.60, Scope height – 5.59, Height – 6.2”
All figures in metres.
What was the point of fitting those house tabs if the attitude of the theatre staff is “Well, we show films all day so we leave the curtains open” ?
Has it not always been the case that West End (and provincial city/large town) cinemas show films all day?
I could understand tabs not being part of the performance at OLS during the period between December 2018 and late May/early June(?) of this year when there were simply none to use.
What excuse do they have now??
What was the point of fitting those house tabs if the attitude of the theatre staff is “Well, we show films all day so we leave the curtains open” ?
Has it not always been the case that West End (and provincial city/large town) cinemas show films all day?
I could understand tabs not being part of the performance at OLS during the period between December 2018 and late May/early June(?) of this year when there were simply none to use.
What excuse do they have now??