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Where to see Indiana Jones?
posted by
GFeret
on
April 8, 2008 at 7:46 am
IJ #4 we all know is to open next month – May 22 if a Thursday on my calendar. Maybe if our timing isn’t already lost, we at Cinema Treasures might express our preferences now as to where we’d like it to open in our areas, and it could yet make some difference to the people at Paramount.
After all who else besides us knows all our operating cinemas, and what each has to offer, better than we do? We’re the experts!
So IJ fans, what do you have to say about where’d be the best theater(s) in your vicinity to have it open?
P.S.: According to what I’ve read so far, principle photography was NOT shot digitally at the preference of Spielberg, but Paramount will have a percentage of exhibitions in the digital medium.
Comments (72)
Well, first I have to say that it’s going to be a real stretch for me if I even SEE Indy 4. I’ve sworn off wasting my time and money on sequels, remakes and franchise films. On the other hand, Steven Spielberg is one of my favorite living directors and carries a lot of credibility with me. So, it looks like I will reluctantly cave in this one time to see INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL. I just hope it’s much better than TEMPLE OF DOOM. That was one of Spielberg’s worst moments on film.
As easy as it would be to say I’d prefer to see it on a very large screen like the one at the Ziegfeld Theatre in NYC, I would prefer to see it at the small intimate screen at the Hampton Arts Theater in Westhampton Beach, Long Island, where I spend every summer. The reason being that it houses less rude, inconsiderate and crazy people in the audience; and THAT is what my moviegoing experience has come to down to.
There is a lack of BIG screens here in the Chicago area, but auditorium 15 at the AMC-Loews Country Club Hills is really big. So I would love it if Paramount had them retro-fit #15 for 70MM, and have a special 70MM showing of “Crystal Skull” there. I know it’s wishful thinking, but I can dream, right?
This will be the first “Indiana Jones” movie I’ve seen in a theater, so I don’t wanna see it in a shoebox. River Oaks #9 or McClurg Court would’ve been ideal, but they’re gone now.
Since Paramount is distributing, my bet is that its going to have big Hollywood premiere, most likely at the Chinese Theater. If its 70mm or DP, the house can handle either format. Then they’ll probably take over the Kodak Theater or back to the Paramount lot for a big, big Indy-era themed party.
So, forget about it landing at your favorite theater in Mayberry, USA.
Now, if they do a later east coast ‘premiere’, my guess is yes, do it at the Ziegfeld. Of course our own DC’s Uptown would be a far more worthy auditorium since we have a superior 70' wrap around screen that would far and away convey a better cinematic experience in 70mm hands down, than the Ziggy. If it is DP, they did premiere “The Guardian” there with a big $2M theme opening.
The website for Clearview Cinemas (www.clearviewcinemas.com) confirms that INDIANA JONES AND THE KINGDOM OF THE CRYSTAL SKULL will premiere at the Ziegfeld Theatre on May 22nd.
Does anybody know if this was filmed in 70MM?
I don’t know for sure, but I hear that Cannes will have a 70MM screening. Don’t know when.
My guess is that it was shot in super-35.
CinemarkFan: I too heard of IJ#4 in 70mm @ Cannes, a coupla days ahead of the 22nd. Now I know something of ‘Super-16’ myself, but can you (or someone) give us a capsule summary of what’s ‘Super-35’ please?
Well I know where I want to see it in my area, and luckily it will be shown there on May 22nd. Israel’s best cinema at the moment is the “Planet”, a 15 screen megaplex with big screens in all auditoriums, but screen 6, with over 400 seats and an extra big screen (and an excellent sound system) is my favorite place to see the movie. Luckily, it will be shown there on May 22nd, and I will no doubt be there. It will, however, be a 35mm Dolby Digital presentation. The nearby Globus theater will have a DP presentation but I dont think I’d like to see it there as it was shot on film and not digitally. Besides, the Planet is such a superb place to see movies (plus the fact that it’s only 10 minutes from my home) that I don’t think I’d like to see it any other place.
G. Feret
Here’s an wiki article explaning the super-35mm format
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Super_35_mm_film
Can anyone confirm any other bookings?
Hollywood?
Westwood?
Seattle?
Most people think “Temple of Doom” was the worst Indiana Jones film, but I actually prefer it to “The Last Crusade”. The third one was a good movie, especially whenever Sean Connery was onscreen, but I felt it was a comedown after “Temple of Doom”. It was so much a retread of “Raiders” (the Nazis, etc.), it felt like they were playing it safe, running for cover. I’m the only Indy fan I know who hopes the new one is more like the second film than the third.
W.Huelbig: I too liked (parts of) TEMPLE OF DOOM. But not the very ghoulish, even grisly parts. I think many parents objected to having brought their young'uns to the latest Spielberg treat after ET, and it contained a long ritualistic pulling a heart out in a sacrifice sequence. Anything goes?!
It was TEMPLE OF DOOM which inevitably led to the PG-13 movie rating we’ve had since 1984.
I also love Temple of Doom except for its sour notes here and there.It is flawed but challenging where Last Crusade played it safe to the point of dull.I still love them all though.
It was “Temple of Doom” and “Gremlins” were the ones that led to the PG-13 and “Red Dawn” was the first one released.
Sorry, but TEMPLE OF DOOM just outright sucked for me. Bad story, bad acting and bad dialogue. And I think regardless of how good an actress Cate Capshaw is, she is likely to only be remembered for her constant “Oh-mi-God!” throughout the whole movie. And Short Round…don’t even get me started on that character!
If you watch the behind-the-scenes DVD of the Indy trilogy pack, even Steven Spielberg himself says that probably the best thing he got out of making TEMPLE OF DOOM was meeting his wife.
“No time for love Dr. Jones! We got company!”.
Hollywood/Westwood are no-brainers. Grauman’s in Hollywood & Village (with maybe a seperate set of Midnight shows over the weekend at Bruin) in Westwood.
I read a few months ago that Spielberg himself declared that there will be NO DLP PRINTS created for “Indy 4.” If he does, however, strike any 70MM prints I’ll be stunned. Highly unlikely as 70MM can only be run with DTS Digital.
Why not 70MM six-track magnetic?
Is the Chinese (and extra screens at Chinese 6) really a no-brainer? Arclight has been getting most good booking lately, including Paramount. Chinese gets the occasional decent booking with extra screens added at the Chinese 6. The rest of the Chinese 6 seems to get a lot of schlocky bookings and 2nd runs. The place is very well run, though. I’ve been there twice in the past couple months.
Westwood: AMC Avco has been getting some Paramount product, but usually not the grade A bookings (they got Drillbit Taylor eg.) Could they make a bid for Indy?
I believe the single screen CHEHALIS THEATRE in Chehalis, Wash. has it booked. Excellent picture and sound at this theater!
I don’t think we (or anyone else, for that matter) can influence what specific theatres Indy 4 is booked into, as those agreements between theatre chains/owners and distributors are commonly made months in advance.
Here in NYC, along with the Ziegfeld, Indy 4 has been booked into the Village East Cinemas, the AMC Loews 19th Street East 6, the AMC Loews Orpheum 7, the AMC Loews Kips Bay 15, the AMC Loews 34th Street 14, Clearview Cinemas' First and 62nd Street Cinemas, Regal Cinemas Battery Park Stadium 11, the Magic Johnson Harlem 9, and the Coliseum Cinemas, as well as, I believe, the Upper West Side triumverate of the Clearview Cinema at 62nd and Broadway, the AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13, and the AMC Loews 84th Street 6.
There has been some internet traffic realtive to a possible Indy 70 MM print for Cannes (For instance, see the 70 MM Rumor Mill at the in70mm.com site). As to where to see it here in S. Cal, any of these will do for me: Chinese, Village, Cinerama Dome, or Big Newport. And in regards to the “Temple of Doom” it is my least favorite of them. I thought it was unnecessarily violent.
JSA
The Uptown theatre in DC has it’s poster up as a ‘coming soon’ feature. (horray!)
It is confirmed at the Arclight in Hollywood. I am working very hard to convince the programming people to only book film prints for this engagement. We have 8 digital screens now including the Dome and it would be a travesty to play this film in digital especially in the Dome.
I have also heard the buzz about Paramount striking a 70mm print for the Cannes premiere. I know the previous three films premiered in 70mm and it would make sense if Spielberg wanted to do it again for this one. I just hope they strike more than one print so the rest of us might have a chance to see it somewhere. I will do whatever it takes to see this in 70mm if it screens somewhere here in LA.
WOW…I just KNEW Indy would rock Grauman’s. At least I don’t have to worry about standing in line for it!
As far as Indy playing at “CrabCo” instead of the Village? HA! The only way that’ll happen is if they reverse The Split. If I was forced to watch Indy 4 for the first time there, I’d shoot myself!
I predict it will open so “wide” that records will be set. If there’s a theatre NOT playing it, it’s because they don’t want to, OR, they’re only set up for digital and supposedly, Speilberg says no digital screenings, only film so we’ll see. So, given that, I’d say 8,000 plus screens. That’s about one-in-four.
Like its three predecessors, “Indiana Jones And The Kingdom Of The Crystal Skull” was shot in 35mm anamorphic.
Michael, thanks for the info on the new films principle cinematography. It says something about modern production techniques that I get almost as excited hearing about a movie actually being filmed in anamorphic as I would if it was announced it was being shot in Super Panavision 70! I suppose the day will come when I feel that way when I hear a film is actually being shot on, of all things, FILM!
As the article above stated, Spielberg shot the movie on film. He is still of the belief that movies be shot and projected on FILM. He has not, at least for now, embraced this whole digital thing, the way his buddy Lucas did. I give him all the credit one deserves.
Thanks everyone for all your responses so far. I say ‘so far’ because, while I can’t speak for Paramount, the exact screens and playdates of IJ#4 may not be set in stone just yet. If they decide to do 70mm @ Cannes (on May 18) then it’s quite feasible it’ll be one of a batch of 10 or 12 large-format prints. So please continue to make your opinions known here about how best you’d like to see it wherever you are.
My heading stated 22 May which I got from the imdb.com IJ#4 website, but maybe Friday the 23rd’s a more intelligent choice.
Some of the harder booking decisions will no doubt be made in these final weeks, and will result from just how strong a summer blockbuster Paramount & Spielberg think they have on their hands. The competition I think doesn’t appear very formidable at all to me: SPEED RACER (opens a week or so earlier). What else at that time? Usually if a studio opens in blitzkrieg fashion right from the start it can cause doubts, i.e., get the best box-office take you can for those first 2-3 wks because word-of-mouth won’t help sustain it—take the American GODZILLA for example. But with US economy screeching to halt, the public usually returns in droves to see familiar faces on the big screen nevertheless.
May I ramble one last time: I think bringing back Karen Allen from IJ#1 to be just what the doctor ordered, don’t you? Simply because she’s marvelously beautiful AND already established successful screen chemistry w/ Harrison Ford who’s 9 years her senior and on the wrong side of 65. This will definately serve to blunt the popular argument that he’s too far past his prime for this type of role again (plus it doesn’t hurt that Indy, when in character, always wears a hat).
Think this film will spin off into son-of-indy films?
G. Feret, I think they are getting May 22 because many theatres will probably be doing either 8 P.M. or 10 P.M. shows on thursday night. I know the theater I work in will probably get it on 2 screens (both 35MM) and I’m sure if given the oppertunity, the owner will run shows on thursday night. Also, couldn’t agree with you more about Karen Allen. Don’t know why she wasn’t around in #2 or 3.
I guess that fact that Mann Theatres being owned by WB and Paramount has little to do with booking Paramount movies at the Chinese.
That’s strange that Spielberg would distribute this film only, especially since George Lucas is one of the biggest proponents of digital cinema.
I also find it odd that the Empire 25 in New York hasn’t booked it or been confirmed to book it.
I know that Janusz Kaminski (DP for Indy 4) likes film over digital. I think that he and Spielberg will continue using film as long as they can.
“What else at that time? Usually if a studio opens in blitzkrieg fashion right from the start it can cause doubts, i.e., get the best box-office take you can for those first 2-3 wks because word-of-mouth won’t help sustain it.” G Feret
I think you’ll find that virtually every film released today is GONE after 3 weeks, at least as a first-run. That’s those in general release, not art films. It’s the nature of the business as it’s evolved into exhibition for the sake of advertising for the real money maker, the after-market DVD’s. Looking at the full history of film exhibition is fascinating in that it has constantly evolved, but particularly so since the 1970’s – single screens to the 3 to 6 screen multiplexs. those multiplexs to the 1990’s Megaplexes with no fewer than 16 screens. All of those screens were created to give justification to holding a film, whose attendance was waning. Giving it a longer life, constantly moving it from the largest, say 700 seat auditorium down to the smallest 100 seat shoebox. Thus, the theatre ran it for the full, six-week run, but put the newer, in demand films in the larger houses. Those six-week commitments are now three weeks, as today’s audience wants instant gratification, demanding to see it on opening weekend or not at all. It’s a precarious situation to say the least. One that takes deep pockets to build new theatres. One that few can or would take.
The decision to go with film for Indy 4 may also be due to the desire of both Spielberg and Kaminski to emulate Douglas Slocombe’s cinematography from the previous pictures.
JSA
WGTRay, I must be in the minority of those who wait about two weeks after a movie opens (if I go at all!) before I go. I need to let the craziness die down because I simply cannot handle the masses of rude and inconsiderate people.
A people person I AM NOT!
I believe the Lafayette Theater in Suffern is getting it? They have the teaser promo in the lobby. If they book it, I can’t think of any place else in New York State you would want to see it. This theatre is awesome- huge screen, balcony, the works!
Manwithnoname, Different aspect ratios have different lenses, and Shine a Light is 1.85 meaning the trailers would have to be as well.
They showed Indy trailers with Step Up 2 and that was shot flat.
Trailers are shipped three ways usually: flat (such as the trailers for American Gangster, Juno, Valkyrie and The Bucket List), scope (such as this, Speed Racer, Rambo, Kung-Fu Panda and the last three Pixar films) and both flat and scope titles (such as Deception, Jumper, Street Kings and The Spiderwick Chronicles). Theatres then outfit the trailers shipped both ways for their respective formats but they are compatible with either one.
All right. There should be someone in the know, who peruses this board, or a member, who knows SOMEBODY at Paramount, or Lucasfilm, or otherwise is a distant relative, friend or aquaintance, who knows about 70mm prints for Indy4. If so, someone, please share info, if there may be 70mm prints out there for the release. There are worthy venues out there who would do it justice and I don’t mean any lousy multiplex.. :)
To any Paramount/LucasFilm spy that may be lurking around here
Please have a 70MM showing of Indy 4 in the Chicago area. These places would be worthy of a wide-screen showing.
The Pickwick in Park Ridge. Auditorium 1 – 1500 seats.
AMC-Loews Country Club Hills in Country Club Hills. Auditorium 15 – 676 seats.
Kerasotes Showplace 12 @ Golf Mill in Niles. Auditoriums 1 & 7 – 460 seats each.
C'mon, give me 70MM!
Ah – a common almost reliable thread is making itself apparent in your posts – that is the definite desire to see IJ#4 in 70MM out there!
I’ll go along with that hands down. CinemarkFan – I’ll 2nd your nomination myself for Kerasotes Golf Mill in 70MM. But can anyone confirm the Pickwick in P.R. has the machinery for it (it should)?
Its not Indy4, its any film worthy of the format. Now, if we’re talking Norbit 2: The Next Generation, then I’d take a pass.
The only reason we’re latching on to this is because of the blurb on 70mm.com. I’d probably feel the same about the new Batman since part of it was supposedly filmed in 65mm.
G. Feret
I don’t think the Pickwick has the machinery for 70MM. Come to think of it, I don’t know if the Showplace or Country Club Hills have it ether. But it wouldn’t hurt to retrofit them for 70MM.
I like DLP, but it’s always presented on small screens, and I don’t wanna see Indy 4 on a small screen.
I would like the Cinemark Melrose Park play it in 70MM in theatres 5 and 6. I agree with CinemarkFan with the Showplace 12 @ Golf Mill would be perfect a 70MM showing of “Crystal Skull” since the old Golf Mill theatre and the Hillside Square are gone.
Is it too late to write letters to the people at Paramount? If not, then we need to get a campaign going.
Jimpiscitelli, I haven’t seen a movie on screens 5 & 6 at the Melrose, but I remember seeing “Hidalgo” on my 14th birthday on screen 4, and that was a huge screen. The projection was so bright, it was almost dizzying in some scenes.
C'mon people, Indy 4 for 70MM!
I can confirm that that the Mann Village in Westwood will be opening Indiana Jones 4.
Now I would like to get more info about the 70mm rumor. THIS should be the theatre to get the 70mm print if that were to happen.
However, on a sadder note, it is a shame that the former Mann National did not survive to see IDJ4 as the previous 3 all opened at the National in 70mm. Mann National, RIP!
If it wasn’t shot in 70mm, and it wasn’t, then if it’s screened in 70mm, it’s a 35mm blow-up, which isn’t unusual. Just keep in mind, blow-ups do not make it better. Defects just become 4 times actual size. Something to think about.
No!A good 35mm blow-up blows away 35mm projection on a big screen!Its the physics of the larger frame area,more light passing through it.The high speed printing of 35mm prints will not happen with 70mm prints.It is rare to get a bad picture,a 480p video projector compared to a 1080p.
it’s no different than recent films getting DMR’d for IMAX, most of those films are 35mm to begin with and the masters then converted to IMAX specs, the audiomix might differ, but it’s the same process when films in the past received 70mm engagements that were'nt shot in 70mm.
This is so exciting. Question for everyone. I know at the last minute they decided to add 8pm and 10pm showings of Iron Man the day before. Do you think they’ll do the same with Indy 4? Right now I’m planning on seeing it at whatever the first showing is at the Mann Village (for the crowd), and then going to the Dome to see it again on Thursday night (with a guaranteed good seat). But just want to make sure I plan right.
These rumors of 70mm are amazing too— though the only place I can find any confirmation of that is on in70mm.com and it looks like that print would solely be for the screening at Cannes. I would hope that if they were to send this print elsewhere, it’d be the Village or Dome… but as of right now, it’s not clear whether it is even going to exist.
I also just read on imdb that the mann chinese will be getting it too. Thought that would never happen, both Arclight and Chinese getting it at the same time. Crazy…
Mister Topps, where exactly on IMDB did you read that the Chinese and the Arclight would get Indy 4 at the same time?
who knows how valid this info is, but here’s where I heard it:
View link
Something tells me someone was misinformed.
I wrote DLP and they tell me that there WILL be a “wide release” of Indiana Jones in DP.
So no 70mm? I guess Lucas' clout and Producer status outweighs Spielberg’s desire at exclusive film presentation of this movie. This is sad. I was reading Entertainment Weekly’s interview with the two and read that Spielberg is quite a film purist. He and his long time editor, Kahn, used a moviola to edit the movie. Talk about old fashioned! And they can’t manage to get at least few 70mm prints made after all that effort? If I were so stubborn (and rich) about doing things like that, I’d spend my own money for the prints. :)
I wrote to Paramount’s East Coast distribution and received no response. I’m trying their group sales to see if that yields any information for either DP or 70mm. I’ll post once I receive a response.
For anyone interested in seeing it at the Mann Village in Westwood – tickets just went on sale.
For Chicago area posters….
It will be showing at the Fox Theater in Elgin on Randall Road off the Northwest Tollway,on “Ultra Screen” which it three stories high and very wide, plus revved up sound. its as close as you can come to old 70mm theaters.
The Marcus Theater in Addison on Lake Street
will have it on “Superscreen” which is larger than a reg screen but nowheres as big as “Ultra Screen
Both are selling tickets online now for the midnight shows and all others.
Indy 4 has been booked into the Regal EWalk Stadium 13 in Times Square.
In DC, our Uptown and its super wide 70' screen will have it but no 70mm. As for digital, the DLP site has yet to be updated. I bet Spielberg is still tweaking the movie as we speak, though the ticket sites have it clocked in at 2 hours 4 minutes.
Did anyone see Harrison Ford on Leno last Friday? They didn’t even have any CLIPS. They should have had at least something. I hope this last minute rush in editing doesn’t mean the film is going to be bad. With the disappointing results of “Speed Racer”, this past weekend, I hope its not a hint of things to come with Indy.
The time’s now here—too bad 70mm INDY was just a rumor, but no Digital projection either, at least not in my vicinity.
Strangely the INDY bookings seem to me a little restrained, when one considers this exact weekend the competition is only PRINCE CASPIAN; IRON MAN was well received but past its peak. SPEED RACER’s still around but it turned out weakly.
Advance screening reviews I’ve browsed are almost all positive, but many seem to add the “but it’s silly” dismissal. Super-serious nor intelectual plot we certainly never were expecting, but it better not be mindless CGI dazzling either. I’m soon to find out, at a fine old theatre, and I hope your response proves the wait worthwhile.
I’m reminding myself of RAIDERS OF THE LOST ARK, when I saw it sneak-previewed (probably also Memorial Day weekend ‘81) w/ regular feature FOUR SEASONS (Carol Burnett, Jack Weston) at the old Golf Mill (now gone and replaced by the Showplace at Golf Mill where INDY #4 will play) theatre in Niles IL. Some friends asked how I’d liked it before it opened general release, and I recall describing the scene where the sword-brandishing arabian tries to pick a fight w/ Indiana in a crowded market, and finds quite matter-of-factly he’s out-gunned. At the time another new big opening was DRAGONSLAYER (actually quite a fine film), and the fickle public proved there was only room for one.
Thanks very much to all who responded—have a great Memorial Day weekend with a movie at your local Cinema Treasure.
G. Feret, there you go again showing off your exceptional memory….
The “Raiders Of The Lost Ark” sneak-preview screenings were on June 5, 1981 with the release starting one week later on the 12th.
Well, for someone to extemporaneously recall a trivial calendar date (+ co-feature) 27 yrs later, and be but 1 wk off (assuming M. Coates' dilligent research is accurate), can still be considered remarkably good (if I do say so). And I did say ‘probably’ in my post, anyway. So there.
Something else just come to mind about the first INDY then: there was an almost apologetic tone in the various printed press releases, that Spielberg had ‘learned his lesson’ so to speak from having wasted so much money on the unpopular “1941,” and therefore ROTLA was filmed while not on the cheap but without the benefit of a lot of expensive camera set-ups, etc. Afterwards came ET and Steven was solidly back in the publics' good graces.
You didn’t say “probably,” you said “probably also”…meaning you assumed “Raiders” opened on Memorial Day weekend as did the other “Indiana Jones” (and original trilogy “Star Wars”) movies.
Anyway, I wouldn’t be giving you a hard time if you hadn’t made that pompous remark about having a perfect memory in the “When visiting Cinema Treasures, what is the first section of the site you go to?” thread, or if you hadn’t disrespected me with your inability to bring to a close our argument regarding “Star Wars” at the Edens Theater.
For anyone interested in this sort of thing, here’s a link to a little tribute thing on the three original “Indiana Jones” movies that I put together and posted on my Yahoo group. Enjoy the flashback!
I had a good time watching the ‘return of a great adventure’, to borrow a variation of the ad used for the Raiders films. True, we had no 70mm or even DP in our market. It seems the all DP venues got it..great for them. I happened to catch my first viewing at Baltimore’s Senator where they were able to get a select EK Vision Premier print of the movie.
As great as the presentation was, with opening and opening curtains and a personal intro by the theater’s owner, there was one part of the film that already showed signs of scratching/blotching and at the very, very end of the movie there was a horrible loud screeching and ripping sound. I hope they didn’t ruin the print they got. It was disturbing nonetheless.
i saw that too at the amc in rockaway, but there were no sound issues.