4DX & ScreenX formats are intended to give the viewer a more immersive experience. If it turns out that you didn’t care too much for whichever movie you chose to watch, these formats can’t change the content of the movie itself or what you thought of it.
Whereas the presentation quality (sound and vision) can. For example, watching an all-time classic in 70mm/IMAX/PLF or Dolby Cinema could greatly change both your experience and opinion of a movie compared to if you watched it for the first time on a small-sized ‘standard’ screen.
In recent years cinema chains seem to have taken the approach to enhance the quality on offer and increase ticket prices rather than change nothing in the way of presentation quality (both sound and vision) and keep ticket prices the same or even to reduce them in a hope of increasing footfall through their doors. It must be working otherwise millions would not be spent on major refurbishments of multi and megaplexes.
In case you’re not aware Dolby Cinema uses a Dolby Vision projection system which was co-developed with Christie featuring two 4K laser projection heads. I have not read any instance of 35/70mm projectors being retained and used once Dolby Cinema has been installed.
There’s no page as yet for the soon to open Cineworld, Watford so I’ll just post it here. Open to the public on 14th December 2018 and will not only have IMAX with Laser (only the third UK cinema to have it) but also ScreenX (only the sixth cinema in the UK to have it).
Does anyone happen to know the size of the screen in the Dolby Cinema at this theater and also the previous size of the screen in Loewes auditorium prior to the refurbishment?
There are a number of IMPACT screens in Empire Cinemas across the country that are around that width. Disappointing, if that is the case, for a flagship cinema after almost one year of remodelling at a cost of ~£10M! 82 feet (25 metres) wide would be nicer otherwise IMAX across the Square at Cineworld may still be the place to watch movies in a PLF for that immersive experience.
“There is nothing that says cinema better than watching side masking move out to reveal a full 2.35:1 widescreen image.”>
I never got tired of watching the side masking open out to reveal a 2.35:1 scope screen at various venues including UCI Wycombe 6. Bigger is better! :o)
Visited this cinema a bunch of times around mid to late 90’s whilst under Virgin ownership. If I recall they offered a monthly pass for £20 which entitled you to unlimited movies. Don’t remember any other cinema chain offering anything similar around that time until many years later when Cineworld launched their Unlimited Card?
The final aspect in Dolby’s quest for the perfect projected image is the use of a constant height screen. That means the screen is the width of the auditorium and uses an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. When projecting films made in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio there is masking at the sides but when switching to a widescreen film the projector zooms, shifts and refocuses to the full width of the screen and the side masking moves out to reveal the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. There is nothing that says cinema better than watching side masking move out to reveal a full 2.35:1 widescreen image.
Watched a bunch of movies at this cinema during the early to mid 90’s. Think it was run by MGM in those days?
See that it has changed ownership a number of times since then but it is sad to read that there has been little to no investment over the past two decades.
When did Empire Cinemas take over? I notice they have converted one of the auditoriums (screen 4) to an IMPACT screen. The bookings page quotes 283 seats yet on the auditorium information page it states 354 which is a noticeable difference. Also screen, which the largest auditorium, quotes 435 seats on the bookings page but 467 on the auditorium information page.
Pricing seems good value, peak times £8.50 for adults or £8.75 for 2D IMPACT (£10.25 for 3D IMPACT). A mere 25p (£1.75 for 3D) uplift charge for IMPACT screenings is a no-brainer!
A couple of things I don’t like are unreserved seating for all performances and have the aisle running right through the centre of the auditorium. What is the point of booking in advance if you still have to arrive early in order to obtain a good seating position?
Screen 10 has all ‘premium’ seating which carries no additional charge. Not sure if these are the same so-called ‘premium’ seats as found at Empire, High Wycombe or not? But I found there to be nothing particularly premium about them. They are located in the back three rows only in screens 3 & 4 (the two identical largest auditoriums). No uplift charge for these seats but previously these could only be booked online and not in person at the cinema. Not sure if that is still the case or not? When I watched The Wolf of Wall Street I opted for premium seats to see what they were like and was disappointed. They didn’t seem any more premium than the standard seats. The leg room is poor if you are a tall person. Have not chosen those seats again since.
I felt the same when watching Ready Player One on an Xtreme screen at Vue, Westfield Shepherd’s Bush. A good portion of the height of the screen is lost to letterboxing when watching a movie filmed in scope and almost seems pointless paying the extra for Xtreme over a standard non-Xtreme screen that may have a scope screen and possibly wider image.
If D-Box just offered built-in shakers in comfy armchair style seats I’d probably check it out. Seen as it includes tilting seats as well then one may as well go all out and watch a movie in 4DX for a more immersive effect.
That’s bad news regarding an IMPACT auditorium being dropped, I’m sure Empire Cinemas will be disappointed at having to implement this change. Although most auditoria contain recliners and sofas, which reduce the seating capacities, the seat counts do still seem on the low side for a new multiplex. I guess nowadays having more auditoria and therefore a wider range of programming takes precedence over having fewer auditoria with larger screens and increased seating capacities?
My guess is they perhaps only sold these two particular sites (17-screen Basildon, Essex and 16-screen Bournemouth) due to being offered so much over the ‘market value’ that it would have been bonkers not to have taken the deal.
Clearly, they must have been busy sites for them to reinvest in new competing sites, this time in town centres? Hopefully, they will go all out and make these new cinemas something special in order to attract some of Cineworld’s client base from the existing sites?
Talking of D-Box, has anyone watched a movie in a D-Box screen? I’ve watched a few movies in 4DX but not D-Box and am considering trying it out at some point if its any good?
According to that 2016 Annual Report, at the end of 2016 Cineworld had 27 4DX screens, 33 IMAX screens and six of their own Superscreen formats across their whole group including RoI and Europe.
I’m surprised to learn that they only had six Superscreens.
4DX & ScreenX formats are intended to give the viewer a more immersive experience. If it turns out that you didn’t care too much for whichever movie you chose to watch, these formats can’t change the content of the movie itself or what you thought of it.
Whereas the presentation quality (sound and vision) can. For example, watching an all-time classic in 70mm/IMAX/PLF or Dolby Cinema could greatly change both your experience and opinion of a movie compared to if you watched it for the first time on a small-sized ‘standard’ screen.
In recent years cinema chains seem to have taken the approach to enhance the quality on offer and increase ticket prices rather than change nothing in the way of presentation quality (both sound and vision) and keep ticket prices the same or even to reduce them in a hope of increasing footfall through their doors. It must be working otherwise millions would not be spent on major refurbishments of multi and megaplexes.
In case you’re not aware Dolby Cinema uses a Dolby Vision projection system which was co-developed with Christie featuring two 4K laser projection heads. I have not read any instance of 35/70mm projectors being retained and used once Dolby Cinema has been installed.
http://investor.dolby.com/news-releases/news-release-details/dolby-selects-christie-co-develop-dolby-vision-projection
And for those interested, the Dolby Atmos for Cinema White Papers:
https://www.dolby.com/us/en/technologies/dolby-atmos/dolby-atmos-next-generation-audio-for-cinema-white-paper.pdf
http://www.associationdesmixeurs.fr/wp-content/uploads/2015/10/Dolby-Atmos-Cinema-Technical-Guidelines.pdf
Am I correct in thinking this is the best audio and picture quality IMAX screen in the U.S.? Also, the largest.
Cineworld, Watford, which opens on 14th December 2018, with become the third cinema in the UK to have IMAX with Laser. Also, ScreenX.
https://www.cineworld.co.uk/blog/cineworld-watford-opens-this-december
There’s no page as yet for the soon to open Cineworld, Watford so I’ll just post it here. Open to the public on 14th December 2018 and will not only have IMAX with Laser (only the third UK cinema to have it) but also ScreenX (only the sixth cinema in the UK to have it).
https://www.cineworld.co.uk/blog/cineworld-watford-opens-this-december
https://www.watfordobserver.co.uk/news/17197542.cineworld-watford-to-open-with-new-270-degree-screen/
Can’t, hardly wait to visit…
Does anyone happen to know the size of the screen in the Dolby Cinema at this theater and also the previous size of the screen in Loewes auditorium prior to the refurbishment?
It would be great to see some photos of the Dolby Cinema auditorium if anyone is able to take and upload them onto here.
Which sound format would the Royal Albert Premieres have been presented in?
The 11-week turnaround seems quite good when you considering the site of the expansion including four new auditoria plus restrooms etc.
There are a number of IMPACT screens in Empire Cinemas across the country that are around that width. Disappointing, if that is the case, for a flagship cinema after almost one year of remodelling at a cost of ~£10M! 82 feet (25 metres) wide would be nicer otherwise IMAX across the Square at Cineworld may still be the place to watch movies in a PLF for that immersive experience.
Great news that I have been anticipating for a very long time.
Wonder if this flagship Dolby Cinema will be the largest worldwide and have the highest seat?
Hopefully, once this first Dolby Cinema in the UK has opened, many more will open across the country in 2019 and beyond?
Here’s hoping…
Does anyone happen to know the size of the IMAX screen at this cinema?
Sad to see some of the first multiplexes in the UK going the way of the dinosaur rather than being refurbished etc.
WOW! The UK is yet to open its first Dolby Cinema and yet you guys get movie theaters with both IMAX and Dolby Cinema in the same multiplex! So lucky!
How big is the Loews theater compared to the IMAX screen?
Is one of the existing auditoriums being converted to Dolby Cinema or will this be an additional/new one?
CF100
I never got tired of watching the side masking open out to reveal a 2.35:1 scope screen at various venues including UCI Wycombe 6. Bigger is better! :o)
Visited this cinema a bunch of times around mid to late 90’s whilst under Virgin ownership. If I recall they offered a monthly pass for £20 which entitled you to unlimited movies. Don’t remember any other cinema chain offering anything similar around that time until many years later when Cineworld launched their Unlimited Card?
‘If’ it turns out to be a flagship Dolby Cinema…
The final aspect in Dolby’s quest for the perfect projected image is the use of a constant height screen. That means the screen is the width of the auditorium and uses an aspect ratio of 2.35:1. When projecting films made in a 1.85:1 aspect ratio there is masking at the sides but when switching to a widescreen film the projector zooms, shifts and refocuses to the full width of the screen and the side masking moves out to reveal the 2.35:1 aspect ratio. There is nothing that says cinema better than watching side masking move out to reveal a full 2.35:1 widescreen image.
Watched a bunch of movies at this cinema during the early to mid 90’s. Think it was run by MGM in those days?
See that it has changed ownership a number of times since then but it is sad to read that there has been little to no investment over the past two decades.
When did Empire Cinemas take over? I notice they have converted one of the auditoriums (screen 4) to an IMPACT screen. The bookings page quotes 283 seats yet on the auditorium information page it states 354 which is a noticeable difference. Also screen, which the largest auditorium, quotes 435 seats on the bookings page but 467 on the auditorium information page.
Pricing seems good value, peak times £8.50 for adults or £8.75 for 2D IMPACT (£10.25 for 3D IMPACT). A mere 25p (£1.75 for 3D) uplift charge for IMPACT screenings is a no-brainer!
A couple of things I don’t like are unreserved seating for all performances and have the aisle running right through the centre of the auditorium. What is the point of booking in advance if you still have to arrive early in order to obtain a good seating position?
Screen 10 has all ‘premium’ seating which carries no additional charge. Not sure if these are the same so-called ‘premium’ seats as found at Empire, High Wycombe or not? But I found there to be nothing particularly premium about them. They are located in the back three rows only in screens 3 & 4 (the two identical largest auditoriums). No uplift charge for these seats but previously these could only be booked online and not in person at the cinema. Not sure if that is still the case or not? When I watched The Wolf of Wall Street I opted for premium seats to see what they were like and was disappointed. They didn’t seem any more premium than the standard seats. The leg room is poor if you are a tall person. Have not chosen those seats again since.
I felt the same when watching Ready Player One on an Xtreme screen at Vue, Westfield Shepherd’s Bush. A good portion of the height of the screen is lost to letterboxing when watching a movie filmed in scope and almost seems pointless paying the extra for Xtreme over a standard non-Xtreme screen that may have a scope screen and possibly wider image.
Ticket pricing is good value at this cinema. Mon-Thurs £6.95 and Fri-Sun £7.95. IMPACT in a ‘superior standard’ seat is only £7.95 which is a bargain!
If D-Box just offered built-in shakers in comfy armchair style seats I’d probably check it out. Seen as it includes tilting seats as well then one may as well go all out and watch a movie in 4DX for a more immersive effect.
That’s bad news regarding an IMPACT auditorium being dropped, I’m sure Empire Cinemas will be disappointed at having to implement this change. Although most auditoria contain recliners and sofas, which reduce the seating capacities, the seat counts do still seem on the low side for a new multiplex. I guess nowadays having more auditoria and therefore a wider range of programming takes precedence over having fewer auditoria with larger screens and increased seating capacities?
My guess is they perhaps only sold these two particular sites (17-screen Basildon, Essex and 16-screen Bournemouth) due to being offered so much over the ‘market value’ that it would have been bonkers not to have taken the deal.
Clearly, they must have been busy sites for them to reinvest in new competing sites, this time in town centres? Hopefully, they will go all out and make these new cinemas something special in order to attract some of Cineworld’s client base from the existing sites?
Talking of D-Box, has anyone watched a movie in a D-Box screen? I’ve watched a few movies in 4DX but not D-Box and am considering trying it out at some point if its any good?
Has that IMAX Theatre Design article not been updated since 1983? Things have moved on since then!
According to that 2016 Annual Report, at the end of 2016 Cineworld had 27 4DX screens, 33 IMAX screens and six of their own Superscreen formats across their whole group including RoI and Europe.
I’m surprised to learn that they only had six Superscreens.