AMC Rockaway 16

Justin, Have you noticed the start of any construction on the IMAX system? We are now a little over 5 weeks away from the scheduled installation. I just don’t see how they could meet the January 23rd date, especially if it means removing a wall, installing a screen, rearranging the projection booth and seating, training on the new system, etc., but I hope I’m wrong. Keep us posted. You are our best source since you’re there a lot. Thanks.

Advance tickets are now on sale not only for The Day The Earth Stood Still, but Seven Pounds (starring Will Smith in his fourth movie that played at this theater that started with Pursuit of Happyness, then I Am Legend and Hancock), and Yes Man, starring Jim Carrey in his third movie that will play at this theater following The Number 23 and Horton, which had a successful run at this theater for a long period before the summertime. Out of all those movies playing at this theater, the new Keanu Reeves movie will do exceptionally well, even though the IMAX system won’t be ready until the day after oscar nominations are announced.

Upcoming releases at this theater are two….Nobel Son, an independent movie about a family whose father wins the Nobel Prize (great reviews), and Punisher: War Zone, a sequel to the first Punisher movie that doesn’t have the first movie’s star and will likely bomb against this past weekend’s number one movie, Four Xmases.

Outside the theater, someone forgot to remove the poster for Pride and Glory, as that movie is no longer playing at this theater. All the other posters are up to date.

The only digital stuff that AMC shows at this theater is the preshow and special feature content provided by National Cinemedia, such as the Met and NCM Fathom series. How are those faring alongside the regular movies that play at this theater? Once IMAX kicks in, attendance will skyrocket and lines will be long.

Thanks, but I failed to mention that I have already been checking AMC’s website. That’s where I got the date of January 23rd. There’s an asterisk next to it which indicates it could change. I thought you might have had some connection at the theater since you are there a lot. Hey, we can only hope.

Justin, While at the theater yesterday I asked two employees if the IMAX was on schedule for January 23rd. They didn’t know (perhaps they were not at liberty to say). One of them pointed to two auditoriums and said if it were to be installed they would probably remove the wall between them. WE’RE TWO MONTHS AWAY AND THE WALL AIN’T EVEN DOWN YET!!! I then asked how one screen would be able to handle all the 3D movies coming out (almost two dozen next year and dozens beyond that; check out the MarketSaw Blogspot for the list.) I also asked if they would be supplementing the IMAX with some REALD digital 3D. The answer was “there might not be enough money”. I came away discouraged that 3D was probably not in Rockaway’s future any time soon. If you have a credible source, can you share what you know and offer us some hope? Thanks.

Tomorrow’s new releases should appeal to mostly the teens and families that always pack this theater during the weekend. Bolt (in 2-D) and Twilight. Bolt is getting good reviews, but Twilight isn’t. I’m skipping both and saving my money for Australia, The Day the Earth Stood Still, Benjamin Button, and The Spirit. And three days from now will be two months until IMAX comes to Rockaway, upon which a re-release of The Dark Knight might play although I’m getting the Blu-Ray for Christmas (which has those IMAX scenes). As for Disney and IMAX, the Mouse House inked a deal with them to make more of its movies ready for the IMAX screen, which was last seen in Fantasia 2000.

Yes they did. It was worth the price of admission alone, although I wanted to also see the new Watchmen trailer which I saw last night online on Youtube.

Hey PeterApruzzese, I saw a James Bond movie on the same showtime as the other one in your comment. Quantum of Solace, which is way shorter than Casino Royale. Lots of fast action, very little storyline. Sound was decent, although they needed to turn on the right channel for the music to be in stereo (surrounds and center channel were working and the bass too). Also, near the very end, the very bottom of the screen was a bit dark, making reading the numerous subtitles very hard although I wear glasses. Crowd was well behaved, and the food was good (I had a popcorn and diet coke which I shared with my Dad). No splices during the movie too!!!

I checked AMC’s website again and they now have a section devoted to IMAX. Upon checking the coming soon section, the rollout date for the new IMAX theater is now coming out on January 23 of next year, although there is an asterisk warning that the date might change based on economic conditions and the like. I’m going to the AMC today to see Zack and Miri, the first Kevin Smith movie to be shown at this theater and the first since Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back at the old AMC. As for the IMAX, I guess The Day the Earth Stood Still will be the first one since it’s the last of 2008’s films to be shown also in IMAX.

just came back from a showing of Max Payne in theater #13, and me and my dad are the only two people in the theater since most of the crowds went to see either HSM3 or SAW V. Only one splice during the film…but the sound was loud and clear and the presentation was perfect. The popcorn served at this theater is the same as Clearview, good old Orville Redenbacher. Don’t care for the new Queen concert playing next thursday since I liked the band when Freddie Mercury was the lead. Next movie I’m attending will be Zack and Miri with my cousin and her husband.

my mistake..it will be a digital flat imax theater. transformers 2 is the first film that will be shown.