I simply had to see Peter Jackson’s documentary WW1 movie “They Shall Never Grow Old” here and it was a fantastic experience on their widescreen screen here! Warner’s must have mandated 3D screenings of this because almost all of it’s screening in auditorium #6 are just that, and it’s exemplary – the Dolby Atmos mix was equally impressive – this is one of the movies where every element: the restoration of the footage, the 3D imagery, the soundmix, the subject matter all came together to such tremendous visual/auditory effect
^ even though the Uptown doesn’t have an Atmos setup, ‘Ready Player One’ on the big large screen was epic and a highlight of last year.
Just this last past week though Arclight has really stepped up it’s game with trying to put as many movies on the ‘widescreen’ screen and it’s second Dolby Atmos auditorium. While ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ at the Uptown was sensational, Arclight’s return engagement of it on the widescreen screen, and specifically the movie’s Dolby Atmos mix was an auditory experience in it’s own respect and trounced the 5.1 mix with its music and key audio moments traversing over one’s head.
I’ll admit, now being an AMC A-List member, and trying to beholden to not spend money I really don’t have ~ I miss Arclight tremendously. ‘The Favourite’ I saw here in early December was head’s and above far superior to AMC Shirlington’s presentation. 7.1 surround sound, the black box / low lit auditoriums, the three trailers before the feature (and not the standard barrage of twenty minutes of trailers at AMC [and Regal]) all exemplify how and why seeing a movie at the Arclight is my preferred way and environment in experiencing a movie.
^ to answer your question regarding the projectors for the Prime auditorium, there are two Christie 4K projectors. The manager told me they can present 3D features, yet for ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ I saw today, it was 2D. As to the sound ~ wow! color me impressed (far better than what is calibrated and presented at Tysons).
He also told me that the 12-channel sound system is already implemented and installed in the IMAX auditorium but the changeover to laser, won’t happen til after ‘Captain Marvel’ but in time for ‘Avenger’s Endgame (April 26th).
I just went to this theater last week to see the new ‘Fantastic Beasts’ sequel on screen 8, which I remember being the largest, but with the new beds, er, I mean recliners the seating has been reduced dramatically to 151 seats. I don’t know what they did with this auditorium but I remember seeing ‘Starship Troopers’ here and I could have sworn the screen was larger than what I recently saw. The 3D screening had enough light output to make the image and movie have great dimensionality but the overall size of the screen didn’t have wanting to see another movie here. Also when this auditorium had SDDS sound, the audio presentations were top notch, here though the sound was so subdued and unimpressive (this might have been the fault of the movie’s actual soundmix).
so I apologize if this question has been asked and answered but did Dolby make the screen larger during the conversion to Dolby Cinema? A 48 foot wide screen seems rather small in this day and age
I was talking with the manager this afternoon, after seeing ‘Widows’ and he stated that the remaining six auditoriums will be upgraded to playback in 7.1 surround sound within the next six to seven months – that’s great news in my book! AMC seems to be stepping up to the plate and doing technical improvements.
I haven’t been here in years, but having now seen two movies here as of last week; nearly the whole building and theater complex is getting a much needed makeover. The downstairs auditoriums have been renovated and as of writing this up, all the upstairs ones are closed and getting renovated as well. Speaking with one of the managers, he informed me that one of the theaters will become a ‘Prime’ auditoriums with a Dolby Atmos sound system – no plans to add Dolby Cinema. The new recliners while not as tacky as the one’s at Shirlington (those nearly resemble beds when fully reclined) are comfortable and are a darker leather, the one caveat is that they have mini sliding tables which in my opinion are more of a distraction and add a slight discomfort than convenience.
JodarMovieFan, the AFI must have updated their website, but the return of ‘2001’ is a week long engagement. not one show. The 4K restoration in DCP form will be over at the Lockheed Martin IMAX screen at Air & Space (and at Udvar Hazy).
There were a couple of instances of very minor print damage. Prior prints I saw had the blackness of space shots look ultra deep and inky. The quick overhead shots of the shuttle zipping over the moon’s landscape had a very 3D-esque layer effect, that wasn’t apparent in this newer version. On the plus side, this time around, I was really trying to take note of the five front channel (6-track) mix and it was very exemplary.
that’s too bad you missed out on the last screening Jodar, I saw this last Friday with a 14 year old family member, he really dug the whole Frank/Dave/HAL sequence of the movie; ‘The Dawn of Man’ sequence he kind of nodded out. As usual for this type of presentation, great use of the curtains and a twenty minute intermission. Of the prior 70mm presentations I’ve seen ‘2001’ here at the AFI Silver, this wasn’t the ‘best’ but regardless, it’s a treat and necessity to see this in 70mm and the Silver delivered.
I wasn’t able to attend this presentation/Q&A, but I thought I just add this special screening of ‘2001’ just for the sake of retaining it here on Lockheed’s listing:
“Sci-Fi Sundays Special Event: ‘2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY’ featuring introduction and Q&A with Douglas Trumbull, Laser 2D, May 20th at 1:45 pm National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC
This special screening will be introduced by, and followed by a Q&A with, legendary filmmaker and visual effects pioneer Douglas Trumbull, who created many of 2001’s stunning, Academy Award-winning FX sequences. Trumbull also earned Academy Awards nominations for his work on the sci-fi classics Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and Blade Runner."
it’s not Dolby Cinema, but it certainly is banking on having a supersized screen: “Super EMAX”
‘Emagine Novi Super EMAX is the largest movie screen in Michigan with innovative new laser projection creating the most awe-inspiring movie experience in the Midwest including:
AFI Silver just announced the 70mm engagement of ‘2001’ will be from July 5th to the 12th. Sounds like Fox has also culled new 70mm prints and 4K DCP’s of “The Sound of Music” for later this year (fingers crossed) – I’ve never seen or heard this in 70mm and would love to hear the original 6-track mix, as I am not a fan of the 7.1 remix done for the bluray.
this theater most definitely does NOT need reclining seats, recliners while comfortable would cheapen it in my opinion. Laser projection is paramount in boosting both the illumination of the image, and having the colors better pop.
@ Howard: AMC for whatever reason removed the left/center, and right/center channels out from behind the screen, but retained the original center and left/right speakers, they’re still there, but the original cinerama configuration is gone.
@ veyoung52 – yes in the 90’s 6-track split stereo surround became the standard, but Sony also it’s 8-channel mixing, cinema presentation that brought back the five stage channels, and boy did it sound glorious.
if AMC were to ever consider integrating/renovating the Uptown’s sound system to feature Dolby Atmos, reinstalling the left/center and right/center is paramount as Atmos does recommend the two additional speakers for especially wide screen dimensions (Arclight Bethesda for example is five front [plus bass] on it’s Atmos,‘widescreen’ screen)
can someone jog my memory, but I seem to recall ‘Arachnophobia’ played here in 70mm – or was it over at 4000 Wisconsin? I also thought Ridley Scott’s ‘Legend’ was 70mm, it’s possible it was only 35mm.
that would seem odd Heisen considering for 3D ‘brightness’ is actually boosted for dimensionality to work, the only element that is causing darkness would be the IMAX glasses. Of the two ‘laser’(Smithsonian Institute) IMAX theaters in and around the Washington DC area, the brightness is consistent and impressive and shows off how beneficial ‘laser’ (IMAX) projection is in overall state of the art presentation.
what are the details about the theater’s projector’s and audio systems? I gather at least one theater can playback 4K content as last Fall they premiered these two new 4K DCP’s
• The animated features PRINCE OF EGYPT and A GOOFY MOVIE with special Q&As with the film’s directors. Both projected for the first time in the updated 4K Digital Cinema Package.
Howard, I actually went to the 1:40pm screening last Friday – and yes I got a souvenir programme – what a beaut!
Greenbelt is still 5.1 – phase 2 (which has yet to commence), might include the installation/upgrade to 7.1, time will tell.
I asked way back when the Avalon reopened what projector they had and they stated a 4K system was in the main auditorium – maybe they informed me incorrectly [EDIT: upon looking back at my Avalon Theater comment I mis-remembered, it’s a Christie projector that can be upgraded to playback in 4K, but from what I gather they’ve never done the system upgrade].
As to the 6-track soundtrack of ‘Phantom Thread’ it sounded very front heavy, with very little, subtle use of the surrounds and when it did, it was mostly for the music.
Personally I would love to hear a new movie from a director who remembers five stage channel mixed movies bring back that technical aspect – since I think it can be done on current processors (five front plus two surround channels).
I saw ‘Phantom Thread’ here at the AFI Silver last Friday and they used the curtains only for the conclusion of the movie, usually they do it for both the beginning and the end.
Did the Greenbelt finally upgrade to 7.1 surround sound? I know that for here and the Avalon which is playing on the main screen, the 7.1 mix can and is played back as such.
apparently there was a December edition with ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘Elf’ – who knew ?? (I’m slipping here). For the record last weekend’s movie was ‘Sing’ (I love that movie).
I simply had to see Peter Jackson’s documentary WW1 movie “They Shall Never Grow Old” here and it was a fantastic experience on their widescreen screen here! Warner’s must have mandated 3D screenings of this because almost all of it’s screening in auditorium #6 are just that, and it’s exemplary – the Dolby Atmos mix was equally impressive – this is one of the movies where every element: the restoration of the footage, the 3D imagery, the soundmix, the subject matter all came together to such tremendous visual/auditory effect
^ even though the Uptown doesn’t have an Atmos setup, ‘Ready Player One’ on the big large screen was epic and a highlight of last year.
Just this last past week though Arclight has really stepped up it’s game with trying to put as many movies on the ‘widescreen’ screen and it’s second Dolby Atmos auditorium. While ‘Bohemian Rhapsody’ at the Uptown was sensational, Arclight’s return engagement of it on the widescreen screen, and specifically the movie’s Dolby Atmos mix was an auditory experience in it’s own respect and trounced the 5.1 mix with its music and key audio moments traversing over one’s head.
I’ll admit, now being an AMC A-List member, and trying to beholden to not spend money I really don’t have ~ I miss Arclight tremendously. ‘The Favourite’ I saw here in early December was head’s and above far superior to AMC Shirlington’s presentation. 7.1 surround sound, the black box / low lit auditoriums, the three trailers before the feature (and not the standard barrage of twenty minutes of trailers at AMC [and Regal]) all exemplify how and why seeing a movie at the Arclight is my preferred way and environment in experiencing a movie.
^ to answer your question regarding the projectors for the Prime auditorium, there are two Christie 4K projectors. The manager told me they can present 3D features, yet for ‘Spider-Man: Into the Spider-Verse’ I saw today, it was 2D. As to the sound ~ wow! color me impressed (far better than what is calibrated and presented at Tysons).
He also told me that the 12-channel sound system is already implemented and installed in the IMAX auditorium but the changeover to laser, won’t happen til after ‘Captain Marvel’ but in time for ‘Avenger’s Endgame (April 26th).
I just went to this theater last week to see the new ‘Fantastic Beasts’ sequel on screen 8, which I remember being the largest, but with the new beds, er, I mean recliners the seating has been reduced dramatically to 151 seats. I don’t know what they did with this auditorium but I remember seeing ‘Starship Troopers’ here and I could have sworn the screen was larger than what I recently saw. The 3D screening had enough light output to make the image and movie have great dimensionality but the overall size of the screen didn’t have wanting to see another movie here. Also when this auditorium had SDDS sound, the audio presentations were top notch, here though the sound was so subdued and unimpressive (this might have been the fault of the movie’s actual soundmix).
so I apologize if this question has been asked and answered but did Dolby make the screen larger during the conversion to Dolby Cinema? A 48 foot wide screen seems rather small in this day and age
I was talking with the manager this afternoon, after seeing ‘Widows’ and he stated that the remaining six auditoriums will be upgraded to playback in 7.1 surround sound within the next six to seven months – that’s great news in my book! AMC seems to be stepping up to the plate and doing technical improvements.
I haven’t been here in years, but having now seen two movies here as of last week; nearly the whole building and theater complex is getting a much needed makeover. The downstairs auditoriums have been renovated and as of writing this up, all the upstairs ones are closed and getting renovated as well. Speaking with one of the managers, he informed me that one of the theaters will become a ‘Prime’ auditoriums with a Dolby Atmos sound system – no plans to add Dolby Cinema. The new recliners while not as tacky as the one’s at Shirlington (those nearly resemble beds when fully reclined) are comfortable and are a darker leather, the one caveat is that they have mini sliding tables which in my opinion are more of a distraction and add a slight discomfort than convenience.
‘2001’ – the IMAX DCP is now over at the Lockheed intown Air & Space IMAX screen
JodarMovieFan, the AFI must have updated their website, but the return of ‘2001’ is a week long engagement. not one show. The 4K restoration in DCP form will be over at the Lockheed Martin IMAX screen at Air & Space (and at Udvar Hazy).
There were a couple of instances of very minor print damage. Prior prints I saw had the blackness of space shots look ultra deep and inky. The quick overhead shots of the shuttle zipping over the moon’s landscape had a very 3D-esque layer effect, that wasn’t apparent in this newer version. On the plus side, this time around, I was really trying to take note of the five front channel (6-track) mix and it was very exemplary.
that’s too bad you missed out on the last screening Jodar, I saw this last Friday with a 14 year old family member, he really dug the whole Frank/Dave/HAL sequence of the movie; ‘The Dawn of Man’ sequence he kind of nodded out. As usual for this type of presentation, great use of the curtains and a twenty minute intermission. Of the prior 70mm presentations I’ve seen ‘2001’ here at the AFI Silver, this wasn’t the ‘best’ but regardless, it’s a treat and necessity to see this in 70mm and the Silver delivered.
‘soft opening’ was on Friday, June 8th. Official opening Friday June 15th.
the recent Smithsonian screening at the Lockheed IMAX screen was a DCP and not actual “film”
I wasn’t able to attend this presentation/Q&A, but I thought I just add this special screening of ‘2001’ just for the sake of retaining it here on Lockheed’s listing:
“Sci-Fi Sundays Special Event: ‘2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY’ featuring introduction and Q&A with Douglas Trumbull, Laser 2D, May 20th at 1:45 pm National Air and Space Museum, Washington, DC
This special screening will be introduced by, and followed by a Q&A with, legendary filmmaker and visual effects pioneer Douglas Trumbull, who created many of 2001’s stunning, Academy Award-winning FX sequences. Trumbull also earned Academy Awards nominations for his work on the sci-fi classics Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Star Trek: The Motion Picture, and Blade Runner."
it’s not Dolby Cinema, but it certainly is banking on having a supersized screen: “Super EMAX”
‘Emagine Novi Super EMAX is the largest movie screen in Michigan with innovative new laser projection creating the most awe-inspiring movie experience in the Midwest including:
AFI Silver just announced the 70mm engagement of ‘2001’ will be from July 5th to the 12th. Sounds like Fox has also culled new 70mm prints and 4K DCP’s of “The Sound of Music” for later this year (fingers crossed) – I’ve never seen or heard this in 70mm and would love to hear the original 6-track mix, as I am not a fan of the 7.1 remix done for the bluray.
this theater most definitely does NOT need reclining seats, recliners while comfortable would cheapen it in my opinion. Laser projection is paramount in boosting both the illumination of the image, and having the colors better pop.
@ Howard: AMC for whatever reason removed the left/center, and right/center channels out from behind the screen, but retained the original center and left/right speakers, they’re still there, but the original cinerama configuration is gone.
@ veyoung52 – yes in the 90’s 6-track split stereo surround became the standard, but Sony also it’s 8-channel mixing, cinema presentation that brought back the five stage channels, and boy did it sound glorious.
if AMC were to ever consider integrating/renovating the Uptown’s sound system to feature Dolby Atmos, reinstalling the left/center and right/center is paramount as Atmos does recommend the two additional speakers for especially wide screen dimensions (Arclight Bethesda for example is five front [plus bass] on it’s Atmos,‘widescreen’ screen)
can someone jog my memory, but I seem to recall ‘Arachnophobia’ played here in 70mm – or was it over at 4000 Wisconsin? I also thought Ridley Scott’s ‘Legend’ was 70mm, it’s possible it was only 35mm.
^^ while they’re at it put back the left/center, right/center speakers behind the screen that were removed years ago.
that would seem odd Heisen considering for 3D ‘brightness’ is actually boosted for dimensionality to work, the only element that is causing darkness would be the IMAX glasses. Of the two ‘laser’(Smithsonian Institute) IMAX theaters in and around the Washington DC area, the brightness is consistent and impressive and shows off how beneficial ‘laser’ (IMAX) projection is in overall state of the art presentation.
what are the details about the theater’s projector’s and audio systems? I gather at least one theater can playback 4K content as last Fall they premiered these two new 4K DCP’s
• The animated features PRINCE OF EGYPT and A GOOFY MOVIE with special Q&As with the film’s directors. Both projected for the first time in the updated 4K Digital Cinema Package.
Howard, I actually went to the 1:40pm screening last Friday – and yes I got a souvenir programme – what a beaut!
Greenbelt is still 5.1 – phase 2 (which has yet to commence), might include the installation/upgrade to 7.1, time will tell.
I asked way back when the Avalon reopened what projector they had and they stated a 4K system was in the main auditorium – maybe they informed me incorrectly [EDIT: upon looking back at my Avalon Theater comment I mis-remembered, it’s a Christie projector that can be upgraded to playback in 4K, but from what I gather they’ve never done the system upgrade].
As to the 6-track soundtrack of ‘Phantom Thread’ it sounded very front heavy, with very little, subtle use of the surrounds and when it did, it was mostly for the music.
Personally I would love to hear a new movie from a director who remembers five stage channel mixed movies bring back that technical aspect – since I think it can be done on current processors (five front plus two surround channels).
^ nice article Howard.
I saw ‘Phantom Thread’ here at the AFI Silver last Friday and they used the curtains only for the conclusion of the movie, usually they do it for both the beginning and the end.
Did the Greenbelt finally upgrade to 7.1 surround sound? I know that for here and the Avalon which is playing on the main screen, the 7.1 mix can and is played back as such.
apparently there was a December edition with ‘It’s a Wonderful Life’ and ‘Elf’ – who knew ?? (I’m slipping here). For the record last weekend’s movie was ‘Sing’ (I love that movie).