I think it all went down hill a few years ago when Episode 3 ended up in the Dome/Arclight instead of at Grauman’s like every other Star Wars film. Then last year Arclight got Transformers and The Simpson’s Movie over Grauman’s {SM didn’t even play at the Village). This year the same thing happened with Iron Man (no Village either). I bet Star Trek will end up showing only at Arclight as well. Blah.
Went to a showing of Iron Man in theater 10. Was dreading seeing it on film but it ended up being digital. Bravo for getting that sorted out. The bad part is that the picture quality throughout was unnaturally soft, like the image was purposely unfocused. I hope it’s not stuck like that. I rather see a sharp detailed picture with occasional jaggies than a mushy image.
Besides the Dome none of the Arclight theaters have decent bass do they? Sounded pretty weak.
I don’t understand why Iron Man won’t be playing at the Mann Village instead of the crippled AVCO. Doesn’t Paramount own a part of the Village theater?
So no digital showings of Iron Man or Indy 4 in the other theaters either? What happened to those new NEC projectors? Are they just going to sit there all summer long?
The only place to see either film properly is in Westwood, again. Nit thrilled about it either as Indy 4 should’ve been a lock for Grauman’s.
I guess I’m in the middle: I want the big theater with the curtains (hopefully working) AND the 2k/4k DLP. Unless the movie used film all the way thru post and didn’t utilize a DI then there is no reason to view the film version except for comparison purposes. I much rather see it in a format that is closer to the source. Plus the sound (24-bit lossless?) beats the crap out of low bitrate Dolby Digital.
As for Arclight getting the NEC projectors when should that happen? The NECs at Grauman’s and the Village are pretty nice. The Dome’s IMO looks like crap but it’s mostly because of the screen and it’s problems.
The Dome will be getting Iron Man AND Indy 4? That’s pretty disappointing as I was looking forward to seeing them at Grauman’s where there’s actually light on the screeen.
If you’re referring to the Mann’s Chinese 6, by Grauman’s) they have top down masking. The screens actually look better when it’s down since 1.85:1 films are way too tall. What were they thinking?
With the decline of Westwood and single screen theaters in general it was inevitable. I imagine the other village theaters are not too far away from getting the axe as well.
Argh, I should’ve been more specific. While they did close and reopen the curtains after the Screenvision preshow, they DID NOT close and reopen them after the trailers.
“Saw "Cloverfield” here on Sunday 1/20/08. They DID close the curtains after that annoying Screenvision preshow. So it looks like somebody got our messages about the lack of proper showmanship here."
That is true but they didn’t do the curtain closing/opening thing before the movie. Oh well.
Anyone else think Grauman’s has better sound than the Village? The sound is not bad but I think Grauman’s setup is just more satisfying even with the echo. The Dome IMO is still the king of bass though but it’s been too inconsistent.
No wonder printed newspapers are dying.
I think it all went down hill a few years ago when Episode 3 ended up in the Dome/Arclight instead of at Grauman’s like every other Star Wars film. Then last year Arclight got Transformers and The Simpson’s Movie over Grauman’s {SM didn’t even play at the Village). This year the same thing happened with Iron Man (no Village either). I bet Star Trek will end up showing only at Arclight as well. Blah.
Glad to see others acknowledge the lousy booking Grauman’s has been given lately.
haineshisway,
We’re not comparing pristine special 35mm prints to mediocre 1k digital nowadays.
Re: El Capitan’s screen. Yes, it’s not very big. 40ft?
Went to a showing of Iron Man in theater 10. Was dreading seeing it on film but it ended up being digital. Bravo for getting that sorted out. The bad part is that the picture quality throughout was unnaturally soft, like the image was purposely unfocused. I hope it’s not stuck like that. I rather see a sharp detailed picture with occasional jaggies than a mushy image.
Besides the Dome none of the Arclight theaters have decent bass do they? Sounded pretty weak.
4-6k digital projection = big tv experience? :-D
I wish we’d see real films in IMAX instead of blowups.
So no digital showings in any of the regular theaters I guess. Bummer. I’d even settle for watching it in 1k. What happened to those older DLPs?
French Kitty, Iron Man isn’t playing at the Village. It’s at the AVCO though. Yuck.
I don’t understand why Iron Man won’t be playing at the Mann Village instead of the crippled AVCO. Doesn’t Paramount own a part of the Village theater?
Yeah, Paramount will hold the premiere there but it actually won’t play at Grauman’s. ::thumbs down::
//Isn’t “Iron Man” booked into the Avco, not the Village?
You’re right. The Harold and Kumar flick will still be playing there on Friday. Really bad booking by Paramount.
I’m pretty sure the Village will be playing both Iron Man and Indy 4 on their DLP. Should look and sound fantastic.
So no digital showings of Iron Man or Indy 4 in the other theaters either? What happened to those new NEC projectors? Are they just going to sit there all summer long?
The only place to see either film properly is in Westwood, again. Nit thrilled about it either as Indy 4 should’ve been a lock for Grauman’s.
I thought the NECs were just brighter 2k units.
I guess I’m in the middle: I want the big theater with the curtains (hopefully working) AND the 2k/4k DLP. Unless the movie used film all the way thru post and didn’t utilize a DI then there is no reason to view the film version except for comparison purposes. I much rather see it in a format that is closer to the source. Plus the sound (24-bit lossless?) beats the crap out of low bitrate Dolby Digital.
As for Arclight getting the NEC projectors when should that happen? The NECs at Grauman’s and the Village are pretty nice. The Dome’s IMO looks like crap but it’s mostly because of the screen and it’s problems.
But no 2k DLP or cranked sound. Also no architexture, no curtains…. damn you Paramount. Don’t make me have to go to Westwood Village.
The Dome will be getting Iron Man AND Indy 4? That’s pretty disappointing as I was looking forward to seeing them at Grauman’s where there’s actually light on the screeen.
Is it a print or the dvd?
If you’re referring to the Mann’s Chinese 6, by Grauman’s) they have top down masking. The screens actually look better when it’s down since 1.85:1 films are way too tall. What were they thinking?
The more properly done 2k DLP setups the better. I kind of doubt we’ll get those with these 3 chains though.
Film is still fantastic as a capture medium and will be around for a while longer. It’s the release prints that suck.
Those are indeed great photos. The lighting is normally so terrible in there that most of the details are hidden. The balcony looks scary.
The screen should’ve been torn out years ago. No one ever bothered to even straighten out the right side. Slackers.
Well, at least it wasn’t abandoned and left rotting for decades.
Rest in Peace, National. May you have a place on a corner in movie theater heaven.
With the decline of Westwood and single screen theaters in general it was inevitable. I imagine the other village theaters are not too far away from getting the axe as well.
Argh, I should’ve been more specific. While they did close and reopen the curtains after the Screenvision preshow, they DID NOT close and reopen them after the trailers.
AMC could be handing out free tickets but their theaters (at least in SoCal) still suck.
“Saw "Cloverfield” here on Sunday 1/20/08. They DID close the curtains after that annoying Screenvision preshow. So it looks like somebody got our messages about the lack of proper showmanship here."
That is true but they didn’t do the curtain closing/opening thing before the movie. Oh well.
Anyone else think Grauman’s has better sound than the Village? The sound is not bad but I think Grauman’s setup is just more satisfying even with the echo. The Dome IMO is still the king of bass though but it’s been too inconsistent.