AFI Silver Theatre and Cultural Center

I meant DCP of Cleopatra.

I wanted to see ‘Star’ but missed it due to work :P

I am glad AFI put together a short video on 70mm movies to educate those who don’t know or were alive when these releases were the BIG events and weren’t the IMAX-lite, XD, Xtreme..etc presentation we have today. Come to think of it, they should have shot it in 65mm with some kind of six track sound mix to show off what the EXPERIENCE could be. They could even employ the older THX sound trailer..the GRAND one with the light show. I think James Horner scored that one. I remember seeing the Grand THX sound trailer, as it was ‘new’ when they released the first ‘Die Hard’ movie in ‘88 and seeing it at the now closed Cineplex Oden Wisconsin Ave 6 (either theater 5 or 6).

I did see ‘Lifeforce’ again, in 70mm, after 28 years, on the big screen. Its amazing that this print looked as good as it does. Hardly any fading or washouts and the soundtrack, itself, was intact..BUT, as with my previous experiences with 70mm presentations at the Silver, where is the surround sound?? I can understand with the older movies that perhaps there weren’t rear/side channel sounds. Just about every sound effect was in front.

For example, the scene where Carlton and the British Colonel fly in the helicopter to the base..there should have been the helicopter flying sound from the rear of the theater to the front. Nothing.

Also, the various visual effects of the ‘lifeforce’ swirling about should have had theater surround effects as it went off screen. sigh

Not to be entirely negative, Henry Mancinci’s score, with the London Symphony was effective, loud and calming, again heard all from the front screen. Observing some of the people in front jump and react to some of the shocking parts was fun given the age and overall campiness of the movie.

I was thinking about seeing ‘The Sound of Music’ but the end of the caption says 35mm. I wonder whose holding up the 70mm print of that movie :P It seems they are giving ‘2001: A Space Odyssey’ a rest this time around.

I guess ‘Lifeforce’ was the sci-fi choice this time..but next time..maybe the fall, guys, please book ‘Brainstorm.’ That was shot in 65mm and would be great to see again. If they play it right, you’ll experience regular 35mm mono and 70mm surround, during the point of view scenes, and decent 65mm filmed visual effects. And great performances by Louise Fletcher (she deserved a Oscar nom imho), Chris Walken and Natalie Wood’s last movie.

Enjoyed yesterday beautiful 70mm print of “Patton” in the historic auditorium. Had missed it early last year when it was shown prior to the 1st 70mm “spectacular” (film festival) so am thankful it was included in the current 2nd series. I asked & confirmed this was the DTS sound version. Sound was also great. Internet research reveals that in 2002, all prints were a wreck, so a new print was created.

another facebook message/confirmation is that playback can be projected 4K. Here’s also a link to the mini 70mm film fest that also makes mention to the Silver’s new DCP system: http://www.afi.com/silver/films/2013/p62/70mmspectacularpart2.aspx#sound

‘Jedi’ would be cool in 70mm, but I’m thinking that it’s 35mm. Lucasfilms I seriously doubt would let them screen the film from projected bluray and the Silver can’t (as I understand it) show actual DCP’s. That has to change though, since the major studios are now threatening all new movies in 35mm will cease as of 2014. I saw ‘Lifeforce’ last year and I haven’t heard a 70mm feature THAT loud – the tremendous ending and notably the ending with the crescendo of music was hair raising and simply jaw dropping – don’t miss it this time Jodar!

Rechecking the AFI site, today, they have the rest of summer’s calendar and from the looks of it they must be having a 70mm series. I see the usual ‘Lawrence of Arabia’ booked. Tobe Hooper’s ‘Lifeforce’ returns, ‘The Master.’ Curiously, they’ve got ‘Star Wars: Return of the Jedi’ but I sincerely doubt its 70mm, especially with the recent tweaking by George Lucas, its probably either Blu-Ray or DP. ‘Sound of Music’ and ‘Hello Dolly!’ could also be in 70mm but there are no hyperlinks or announcements to indicate presentation formats as of this posting. Jedi would be great to see in 70mm especially for the speeder bike sequence on Endor and, of course, the space battles at the end.

I missed ‘Lifeforce’ the last time around. Based on prior AFI Silver experience, I wonder if it will surpass my memory of watching it the first time at the old Ontario in DC. That was an unforgettable experience…I can still smell the ‘paint’ from that theater’s remodel and the skylights beaming against the skies. The last few AFI 70mm showings were subdued soundwise.

It looks like fun!

JodarMovieFan, I saw “Gettysburg” in 35mm when it was released and thought it excellent. It is 70mm blow up. I think the 70mm series is likely films that aren’t blow up, and am eager to see the full list (not yet available online).

There is a 70mm Film Festival in NY, NY sponsored by the Film Society of Lincoln Center. Unlike AFI Silver, they are screening “Star!,” “The Sound of Music” and “My Fair Lady” in 70mm – 3 films I had really hoped AFI would have offered but did not. I also agree with Giles – there should have been more evening screenings at AFI Silver. In the summer, many of us are away on the weekends or just caught up doing other things which are difficult to get away from.

Any news on how well the movie is doing here? I saw ‘The Master’ in DP but was underwhelmed by the story…Forgive my simplistic summation, but all I got from it was that Joaquin Phoenix character is a sexually repressed drunk, seeks answers from Phillip Hoffman’s Ron Hubbard-like character, fails, but finds happiness at the end, by meeting and getting laid by a bar floozy. So..there is a happy ending, after all to a ‘happy ending.’ :–)

What I did like was the acting. For sure, Joaquin and Hoffman will get nominations for their acting. Phoenix has come a long way from when I first saw him ‘Inventing the Abbots’ and the jealous schemer in ‘Gladiator.’ Hoffman, proves again, what a great character film actor he can be.

For sure, the DP print I saw, captured an excellent first generation scan, presumably 65mm. Colors, texture, even the wrinkles of Joaquin’s face in the opening shot, with what looked like rosacea could be seen…so is it worth seeing AGAIN?

I saw “The Master” here in 70mm on the 21st at 7:15. The show was almost sold out, which I honestly didn’t expect. The print was stunning.

Yesterday, saw “The Master” in 70mm at the Ziegfeld in NYC, where it looked stunning! No use of curtain, and no surround sound but the score was great. At least a few hundred people attended the 3:30 PM show. Anybody see it here at the AFI?

not to be a broken record about this, but if and when the Silver gets around to doing another 70mm film fest – I really hope they get a clue and showcase the films in the evenings – the weekend (and weekday) screenings were TOO early. The missing of ‘Those Magnificent Men’ was a bitter disappointment.

wish I had known you were there Jodar, I would have said hi – I had to unfortunately fly out of there right at the end of the cast end title crawl – was meeting some friends over at Landmark Bethesda for a screening of ‘Chicken with Plums’ – they had the longest trailer I’ve seen for ‘The Master’ – can’t wait!

I liked how the overture/movie just started, sometimes the trailers diminish the effect of a movie- particularly musicals.