Cineworld Cinema - Leicester Square

LARGE_screen_format:

Thanks for the detailed information and links. ;o)

You’re welcome. :–)

Didn’t realise that non-IMAX cameras could be used for scenes that are shown as 1.43:1 or 1.9:1 ratio on IMAX screens.

The only strict criteria I’m aware of is that, for non-IMAX content, IMAX Digital systems will only operate in a “crippled” mode, e.g. only one of the two projector (no 3D) is used. This includes non-IMAX trailers, advertising, etc. before an IMAX main feature, and with an IMAX with Laser projection system, this can be seen by putting on the supplied 3D glasses; one eye is blanked out. ;–)

I suspect 1.43:1 scenes would be shot on 15perf IMAX, e.g. “Dunkirk.”

IMAX themselves now offer digital cameras (1.9:1 ratio); however, if the objective is to achieve “IMAX” quality, then there are various options available—and the technology is developing at a rapid pace!

When the “Mission: Impossible – Fallout” picture “opened up” to 1.9:1, I actually said to myself “wow… this is… IMAX.”

It really is an exciting time for “large format” content as astonishing results are now possible, and things are only going to get better. :–)

Lucy is judged by many to be a reference quality 4K UHD movie.

Interesting! I shall have to acquire a copy. :–)

The clarity and detail, as demonstrated by e.g. the close shots of Morgan Freeman’s face, is certainly startling.

LARGE_screen_format:

Found this piece of information interesting bearing in mind the amount of overseas IMAX auditoria that exist especially in the U.S.

Interesting. I suspect it’s a regurgitated press release, and sure enough, it is:

Empire Cinemas Expands IMAX Commitment with Three-Theatre Deal in England.

From IMAX – Lucy:

“Lucy: The IMAX Experience will be released in select international IMAX theatres only.”

I actually rather enjoyed “Lucy,” even if the premise and execution was absurd. Fantastic picture quality also.

I ended up seeing it twice at the LSQ IMAX, as I wanted a friend to experience a screening in a “real cinema,” the Orange/EE Wednesdays promotion was still available (albeit for IMAX screens there was a modest uplift charge for the “free” ticket), and I was quite happy to watch “Lucy” again.

Neither screening was terribly busy, and IIRC, on my second visit, I had a brief conversation with a member of staff, who when asked how the IMAX screen was doing, looked rather sheepish and said that “it is… building awareness” and “it is a success.”

To be fair to IMAX/Empire Cinemas, the “new” IMAX sites referenced in the above-linked press release didn’t suffer from the same problem as LSQ under Empire Cinemas, including the inability to get bookings of the biggest releases.

Of course, it is now very much a success, and given the very high grosses achieved over at the BFI London IMAX, as well as the Central London prices, I wouldn’t be surprised if for certain releases it is one of the highest grossing IMAX venues on an international basis.

Thats amazing. How about in america?

Will do.

I hope to visit and watch a movie in the IMAX auditoria as soon as possible (depending on what is being shown at the time) after it opens to the public.

@CF100

Was the presentation of Mission: Impossible – Fallout in IMAX 3D? I watched it on the opening day in 2D but then on seeing this review where it was awarded the maximum score of 35/35, had considered travelling to Hemel Hempstead to watch it again, this time in IMAX 3D. Sadly, didn’t manage to and it has today been replaced by Ant-Man and the Wasp.

https://www.cinemablend.com/news/2454659/to-3d-or-not-to-3d-buy-the-right-mission-impossible—-fallout-ticket

Be interested to hear your comments on the 3D effect considering this was a post-production conversion, as are most movies, and not natively shot in 3D.

I enjoyed the movie and even rewatched all of the other five movies in the franchise before and after this latest instalment in the franchise.

The scenes in Kashmir during the final act, were they the only ones filmed using IMAX cameras and opened up to fill the whole screen? I had expected the Burf Khalifa scene in Ghost Protocol to have been filmed in IMAX but alas I don’t believe it was? It certainly isn’t listed on the wiki list of movies filmed using IMAX cameras.

The new intu shopping centre redevelopment in Watford have set an opening date of 27th September 2018 for the 4-storey Debenhams store as phase one of the opening. No other details have yet been released with regards to the opening date of the new Cineworld 9-screen cinema which includes an IMAX screen. Had hoped it would open this month.

Presumably one of the Cinema Treasures Admin team will create a new page for it once it’s official release date has been officially announced?

I attended a screening of “Mission Impossible—Fallout” in the IMAX auditorium today, having booked my ticket at the “last minute” (by which I mean, just enough time to get to the cinema some minutes before the auditorium doors were opened!)

This was foolish in that I did not consider whether the film was worth seeing—albeit, its current Rotten Tomatoes score is 97%(!)—so “research” may not have been of any assistance!

It turns out that the film IS worth seeing—but, IMO, only for the visuals in the final act. Set in Kashmir, numerous stunning shots of mountainous terrain in “full height” IMAX Digital (1.9:1) are featured, presumably digitally acquired (CGI aside) using Panavision Millennium DXLs (8K source format) per IMDb Technical Specifications.

Full use of the 12 channel IMAX sound system was apparent in these scenes, e.g. strongly directional helicopter sounds panned overhead.

(Picture quality-wise, the rest of the film is lacking in detail with poor depth of field and I assume was mostly acquired on 35mm film per IMDb Technical Specifications, although no grain was apparent, suggesting heavy noise reduction.)

IMAX auditorium update:

• I’m not sure if it was the fault of the source material, but there was a marked absence of low level detail throughout the film, with dark areas clipped to black. Some low level dither seemed to be visible in one or two 1.9:1 scenes in the final act. Subtle “laser speckle” was also apparent momentarily a couple of times.
• Today’s outside temperature was ~30°C, and the HVAC system was working extremely well with the auditorium very well chilled and unstuffy for the late afternoon screening I attended, as were the foyer areas.
• On the left splay wall, the front bottom two LED bars were misaligned. (Photo uploaded.)
• Also, my perception was that the colour-changing LEDs have lost some brightness, which is odd since even allowing for 5 hours of use/day, they would not even have hit the 10,000 hour mark, and the bars use OSRAM LEDs which have outstanding performance in terms of brightness maintenance with use. Perhaps they are being driven hard? With 171 RGB bars, and given a retail price of, say, £200+ each, one does wonder whether Cineworld will bother with long term upkeep/replacement. Regular LED strips just wouldn’t be bright enough to illuminate the large areas of black walls/ceiling, which the current system already struggles with. I overheard a kid sitting behind making a comment on the “magical lighting,” so clearly it’s effective in adding a special touch for those with no awareness of the heritage aspect.
• AFAICT, one or more of the subbass drivers bottomed out during one of the trailers; if this represents failure, hopefully IMAX will action replacement(s).

Cineworld (Empire) Leicester Square update:

• The building site notice still appears on the fire exit door to Leicester Street.

• To add to ongoing observations of extreme minutiae, the left wall of the lower vestibule (i.e. underneath the section leading to the 4DX) now has black strips added. (Photo uploaded.) Interestingly (?), if it’s the same product visible in fit-out photos of Cineworld Broughton—see Image 1 and Image 2—these black strips might not actually be PMMA (aka Perspex/Plexiglass,) but Alupanel.

• Empire Cinemas' registered office is, as of November 2017, 63-65 Haymarket. The “10 – Empire Studios” sign remains by the entrance to the upper level offices on the Leicester Place frontage, although no signs of activity were externally visible, it doesn’t seem unreasonable to assume that they’ve vacated.

[Added text to overcome “Your comment appears to be spam!” notification which appeared on reposting with minor edits. And some more text for another repost. :–(]

Thank you Zappomatic and others for the detailed and interesting comments and photos about the refurbishment of Cineworld Leicester Square.

Passed by Cineworld (Empire) LSQ yesterday; alas “Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again” was playing in the IMAX/Superscreen. :–(

(ABBA, like them or not, have gifted the world with a large repertoire of popular songs written and arranged to a very high standard, many of which are classics, and I have no interest in watching/hearing them being mutilated in a corny sequel!)

Cineworld are now branding LSQ as “London’s premiere destination and home to the stars,” on the screen nearest to the entrance (mounted on the right side wall of the lower vestibule), with clips of various premiere/“red carpet” events being shown. (Photo uploaded.)

The only external sign of ongoing building work remains the “Construction Site” notice on the exterior of the Leicester Street fire exit doors.

Empire Cinemas' registered address has been changed to 63-65 Haymarket, aka Empire Haymarket. The “Empire Studios” sign remains by the the entrance door facing Leicester Place.

bigjoe59: Regarding the Cinerama you refer to, that format/system existed way before my time—but perhaps you mean the location that was originally, and is today, named the “Prince Edward Theatre”? It’s about 100 metres (on foot) from Shaftesbury Avenue.

“The Ten Commandments” got an ABC general countrywide re-release in March 1973, so its possible that it played the ABC Shaftesbury Avenue a little earlier. Originally a live theatre (Saville Theatre of 1931), from 1970 it became a twin-screen cinema for ABC. Still open today as the Odeon Covent Garden http://cinematreasures.org/theaters/911

Hello from NYC-

when i was in London the Summer of 1972 I went to two
movie theaters-the Shaftsbury Cinerama where i saw a
70MM re-issue of The Ten Commandments and the Odeon
Marble Arch where I saw Nicholas and Alexandra. are the
two theaters still standing?

New seating is very comfortable and thickly padded although I found the back row of screen 2 to have been installed at perhaps a little too upright an angle with the headrest preventing me from sitting the way I wanted to – I didn’t notice this issue in screen 1. Surprisingly even the outer backs of the seats are padded and upholstered. The old seating was very comfortable so long as nobody was sitting in front of you, in which case the seat in front would recline back into your knees (it seemed to me a way of saving space, dressed up as a luxury). On balance I think I prefer the new seats.

Very bright, crisp picture with good black levels and contrast, and punchy sound however there was a noticeable keystone effect when projecting a flat picture. Sadly no moveable masking. In person I too was struck by the apparently low number of sidewall speakers however this might have been to do with the lighting which doesn’t tend to spread onto the walls.

These refurbished screens are less characterful than previously but no longer suffer from some of the frankly unacceptable viewing angles that they used to offer.

Added photos of refurbished new screen 2