Cineworld Cinema - Leicester Square
5 Leicester Square,
London,
WC2H 7NA
5 Leicester Square,
London,
WC2H 7NA
42 people
favorited this theater
Showing 651 - 675 of 729 comments
By the way is there any pictures of this conversion? I know that Fred, who once projected at the EMPIRE does some really neat looking videos on Youtube, I wonder if he’s covering this issue?
I don’t know about changing the auditorium I think it should be left as it is it looks fantastic I mean out of this WORLD!
I liked the look of the outside during the late 1980’s with the word EMPIRE all lit up it looked the part and the advertisement of 70mm Dolby films in THX made it all so very tempting to step inside.
I seem to remember when the Warner West End was all knocked down except the front that remained that was a nice touch, so I hope they don’t go too far over the top with the front of the EMPIRE.
Why thank you Mr Dependable! Yea i forgot about that part- sounds great. Wouldnt it be fantastic if they took away all that 80s decor in the foyer and tarted up the auditorium for todays audiences. Ive seen many a great movie here in what is a truly great theatre
Plans have been passed for the ‘opening up’ of the balcony above the entrance doors. This will be used as a ‘platform’ for stars to greet fans when premiers are held at the cinema (similar to the one at the Odeon, Leicester Square.
The front of The Empire is at this time undergoing a transformation. Fankly what ever they do to it it will be million times better than what they had till a few weeks ago. The dreadful canopy that carried the word ‘Empire’ that looked like it had been written by Walt Disney has been taken away and hopefuly destroyed never to be seen again on such a fantastic facade!!! According to a report that the Evening Standard carried a few weeks back which included an artists immpession of what it will look like- its going to go back to an old fashioned iron work canopy. From what i recall from the painting it resembled the new canopys on Londons Victoria Palace & Novello theatres- both of which are stunning. If im corresct its an Irish company who are takeing over the running of The Empire. It needs a lot of work inside to bring it up to a standard exceptable today. Its gone to look very old and tatty in the auditorium recently, maybe because a take over was known for awhile! Back in the 80s this really was a showcase theatre where they had a great pre-performance laser and light show before those fantastic curtains opened onto a huge screen. I look forward to a visit in the future to see whats been done. If anyone has more detailed news of whats going on maybe they would care to fill in the gaps! (Hello, Mr. Roe)
What’s the cubic volume size of the Empire?
What is the lowest frequency the sub bass array can possibly generate and highest sound pressure level?
cjc
This is the new Mel Gibson film hmm, sounds tempting to go along to I mean £20.00 for travel return, ticket for the Empire yeah £30.00 pounds should be well worth the JBL THX 56KW experience!
Happy New Year to you all
So what’s new at the Empire I know I can look at the sites now showing now list, but what’s new on your latest Empire JBL THX 56KW power experience?
Surprisingly, it was a 2.35:1 ratio – looked great spread out across the 62 feet of Empire’s screen!
Happy Feet
What aspect ratio was the film in sounds like a 1.85:1 presentation?
You have to remember this could be down to two several things one the dynamic range on the film mix might be too high! Therefore the projectionist has set the fader level on the Dolby CP-200 from mark “7†to “6†or worse “5.5â€!
On the other hand the fader is set to mark “7†and the mix really isn’t that great, but I’m sure if you where too see it elsewhere, you’ll notice the differences between the films soundtrack.
I don’t remember if the stars were used for Forrest Gump, but I would assume they were.
I saw HAPPY FEET there last night – absolutely crystal clear digital projection on the 62ft wide screen! Sound was not used to its fullest for the movie though, and was not all that loud, compared to most movies shown there! A cute movie that looks great on the Empire.
Here’s a basic idea of the type of neon light that I’m using now.
View link
Compared to the Empire the Empire is light-years ahead with there own technique which is absolutely indispensable.
View link
Anyone know if it neon lighting that colours the Empire’s auditorium? Neon is my first guess or is it something other something more exotic and it is. It’s the only cinema in the UK that knows how to create an atmosphere and that light system is incredible.
Also does anyone know the cost of that lighting system?
I have plans to do something similar in my home cinema using neon lighting with three primary colours and a computerised lighting controller.
LOL, Mate I’m still suffering the after-effects of the Empire’s sound system from the late 1989’s to the mid 1990’s the flashbacks are very vivid.
Star Trek III was kicking me when captain Kirk was kicking the Klingon in the face, I have had enough of you! The audience like that bit! It was in your chest, now that was seated in the middle row, the royals sit. When the U.S.S. Enterprise final went up it went UP! BOOM! It felt like someone kicking me in the face damn!
tjhyman
You mentioned “Forrest Gump†I read an article somewhere that the Empire used the stars above the screen to great affect during the opening of the film is this true?
Andy, the Empire will outgross most West End sites due to their prices but the results do not reflect the excellent presentation they provide in the big screen. At least not yet.
When I saw THE INCREDIBLES there a couple years ago, the sound effects in the film took full advantage of the Empire’s sound system – brilliant sound then.
One of the best sound experiences I can remember at the Empire is FORREST GUMP – during the Vietnam scene, when it’s all quiet, raining and then suddenly the bombs and bullets hit and the sound system went NUTS !!!
When I saw THE INCREDIBLES there a couple years ago, the sound effects in the film took full advantage of the Empire’s sound system – brilliant sound then.
One of the best sound experiences I can remember at the Empire is FORREST GUMP – during the Vietnam scene, when it’s all quiet, raining and then suddenly the bombs and bullets hit and the sound system went NUTS !!!
sinelinden, cjc
I would do this take an SPL db meter with you! This way it will be able to judge the level of power of presentation.
There is still only one cinema that has pinched me and that was Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade at the Empire via the original THX specification back in 1989.
When I say pinched I mean that, just when the water from the cup, the Holy Grail was poured onto Indiana’s dad I felt a pinching low frequency that was right in the stomach I Kidd you not all!
I was seated about 4 rows from the front in one of the middle rocker chairs, so I was pretty close to the screen! I’m never going to forget that part in the film never it was incredible now that was power of atmosphere sheer presentation that not even the Bournemouth IMAX cinema has achieved, sure it’s got over 10KW of power provided by the Sonics loudspeaker array.
But the Empire is still the number #1 for film sound presentation! I would like very much to see hear and feel the power of the Empire unleashed on me again not sure when? I’ll keep checking the films coming soon and do a little research on that film based upon it’s soundtrack this will hopefully sale me the film based on the type of theme if it an Action, Sci-Fi, Horror, or other hopefully I’ll be making my way from Bournemouth to the Empire Leicester square…
Sound at the Waterloo IMAX has 11,600 Watts Sound accordig to their website whereas The Empire Screen 1 has 56,000 Watts. And The Empire has a bigger 35mm screen than any other in London.
HAPPY FEET is showing at The Empire from tomorrow.
And whilst I would now make an effort to go to the IMAX London for certain films (like Happy Feet / Superman Returns / Batman Begins), I would prefer to see it at The Empire this weekend – I think the sound is much better than IMAX, although IMAX claim to have more power in terms of watts !
Insignificant to the point of “off EDI” and no one knows what “THX means anymore” best describes this run, Andy.
I think that those of us who have visited the Empire on one or more occasions rave about the THX sound system there. Getting a good film to play there that’s going to do huge box office returns for that site I feel is based on sound!
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was one of those films and the Star Trek films especially the Star Trek day back in October 1989 WOW astonishingly out of this world and the THX sound system really brought out the richness of the 70mm six-track Dolby Stereo presentation to very high standards that I don’t think has been equalled anywhere else in the United Kingdom except at the Empire!
Not sure how well “A Good Year†is doing at the moment but with 56KW of JBL THX sound power I’d say it doing moderate business, does anyone know for sure?
Qoute
“The Laser Show has not been working since about 1997 and it now seams that they could not get it repaired and no plans to have it again as it appears that at one Royal Film Premier his HRH Charles objected to it as it was "Tacky”.“
Qoute
Mr70mm
What the hell would he know a person who’s been born with a golden spoon in his hand, tacky my foot!
The Laser Show has not been working since about 1997 and it now seams that they could not get it repaired and no plans to have it again as it appears that at one Royal Film Premier his HRH Charles objected to it as it was “Tacky”.