10 Cloverfield Lane IMAX tickets already on sale for March 10th on, and the seating chart is the exact same as current IMAX set-up (whereas they will change it with the renovation). So yeah, barring a surprise turn-around, not happening for Batman v Superman.
Unless they do it between BvS and the start of the summer movie season with Civil War (which also has scenes shot with IMAX cameras), don’t bet on it happening for a while.
As for the Museum of Natural History, it just shows nature/science documentaries, never Hollywood features.
Are they dropping the Loews name chain wide (other sites such as the Orpheum and Kips Bay still include it as well)? Also if the renovation includes changing the signage, I wonder if they will finally fix up some of the other screens a bit, and maybe close the entire complex for a bit.
Seeing that closed logo and hearing how quickly they started taking the theater apart still hurts. But thanks to everyone for the photos, and film listings.
While I saw a couple films there during the 2008 NYFF that I don’t recall for sure, with those lists I believe I was able to remember all the normal theatrical releases I saw there (from Independence Day to Spectre)
AMCbayplaza13, that’s old article/info from when laser debuted at the TCL Chinese theater early last year (which was the second site to get it). All the other sites mentioned other than Lincoln Square already have laser, and I think there are around 20 worldwide at this point including a couple which just did the renovation at the start of the year.
I was able to convince my nephews to check out Force Awakens in laser IMAX, and even they noticed a difference from Lincoln Square (where they had seen it during Christmas). I hadn’t seen it in IMAX before, but had first in Real D, then Dolby Cinema, and now IMAX laser and noticed improvement in visual and sounds with each format, plus the native IMAX footage, while sadly too short, was really stunning in that format.
Also from what I understand, they don’t increase the ticket price when going to laser at least initially, and it was $19 there (probably due to the SF market it was a bit cheaper than Lincoln), which again may contribute to AMC being so slow when Lincoln Square is still getting packed houses. The one issue I noticed with laser, is wearing prescription glasses as well I got a reflection in the brighter scenes from the 3D glasses (something that never happened with the 70mm glasses), but for most that won’t be an issue of course, and based on what I saw at least in 2D I believe could be a perfect replacement for 70mm IMAX film (the Deadpool trailer played first and right away my jaw was on the floor with how good it looked).
It looks like IMAX is splitting locations between The Revenant, Star Wars, and Finest Hours this weekend (between two films isn’t that uncommon, but it’s been years since I recall three different films playing in IMAX at once).
It’s annoying cause I’m flying out to the Bay Area this weekend to visit my sister and nephews, and one thing I thought I’d take them to was the laser IMAX at the Meteron. But Star Wars is playing there instead of Finest Hours, and don’t think young kids are gonna want to drive over 45 miles to see something again when there is plenty else to do.
If indeed the renovation is started before Deadpool comes around, that should leave enough time for BvS in laser, but as I’ve said before, given how long it’s taking them and the fact that Lincoln’s IMAX still does good business in liemax mode, until they’ve actually begun the renovation, I’m not taking anything as a given.
I believe the films which played here in its last full year of operation were (I got weekly film schedule emails from them so searched my inbox, plus I saw half of these here anyway): Fifty Shades of Grey, Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Divergent Series: Insurgent, Furious 7, Avengers Age of Ultron, Jurassic World, Terminator Genisys, Ant-Man, Mission Impossible Rogue Nation, The Martian, Spectre, and Star Wars The Force Awakens.
I know Into the Woods opened last Christmas here and was a hold over at the start of the year.
I don’t think they can skip Batman v Superman in March to do renovations as it is a huge release shot with IMAX cameras, and they already gave tickets for a week in advance early screening to the people who attended the IMAX preview event last year.
Maybe they could do it in-between BvS and the summer movie season start with Captain America: Civil War, but if not could well be a long time before they finally do this.
If I recall correctly, the basement screens have stadium seating but are not very good otherwise. I also think the Loews screen has stadium seating up in its balcony, but not for the downstairs section.
Also @ACS12, if you’re interested, The Revenant is now playing in IMAX as well, though at the Penn Station location, not Lincoln Square.
@mhvbear Star Wars would have already played for four weeks if the IMAX closed this weekend, so that’s partly why the fifth week now on sale suggests laser may not be happening for a bit. And while the switch from film to digital was done in a week, all the other places which went laser have been closed for like a month (this includes a brand new sound system with ceiling speakers, linking up to a 24/7 quality control system, and I believe the auditorium redesign is always meant to be part of it as well).
Also on some other points, I have asked staff here about laser and wrote to IMAX on Facebook, and indeed showing there is a desire for laser here could help move things forward. And I do think there is a window after Deadpool (whenever a theater closes for a month, it will miss something, and don’t feel Divergent is such a big IMAX draw they have to show it), but if the redesign isn’t done then, I could well see them holding off at least until Fall 2016 with Batman v Superman (which supposedly has quite a lot of IMAX shot footage) and then the summer movie season being impossible times to close.
Force Awakens IMAX shows added for another week, it’s playing at least until January 22.
Since other sites opening their laser installations in Feburary are already closed for renovation, don’t think it will happen in time for Deadpool now. Perhaps they will run in digital for Deadpool and then close till Batman v Superman (nothing too big currently on IMAX’s schedule in between), or perhaps they will delay again. Given how long they’ve already waited, I’m a bit skeptical until there is an official announcement from IMAX/AMC and renovation has begun.
@ACS12 Deadpool is a 2D only release, then BvS is in 3D but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are also 2D IMAX showings (WB has often done that with pictures like In the Heart of the Sea, The Hobbit, and most directly Man of Steel having both 2D and 3D IMAX showings), though Civil War may only be available in IMAX 3D based on Marvel Studios release history.
IMAX has always said there is a place for both 2D and 3D (how I feel as well), so I don’t expect anything to change with laser regarding that.
Celboy, I haven’t seen the film in IMAX (seen it in Real D first, then Dolby Cinema), but people who’ve seen it confirmed that the Jakku action sequence is the only IMAX sequence in the movie.
Then based on IMAX digital at Lincoln Sq, it will not fill the screen on the sides nor will there be any expansion that way for the whole movie. There will be a vertical expansion in the IMAX scene, but still will be some empty space on top and bottom of screen.
I saw Guardians of the Galaxy and In the Heart of the Sea at this IMAX, and they used the same expanded image vs. a typical 2.35 film (for parts of Guardians, and the total of Sea), but still were windowboxed.
According to NY Post Film Editor Lou Lumenick’s twitter, the 70mm screenings of Hateful Eight at Cinema 1 were just for the press, and if won’t play there normally but rather at East 86th.
Given both are part of City Cinemas chain, I’d guess they’d be moving their 70 projector from Cinema 1 to East 86th for the H8 run, but not sure.
Per Deadline Hollywood, The Hateful Eight will play in 70mm here (along with the Regal E-walk and previously announced Village East Cinemas). Obviously won’t be in the IMAX screen, but wonder if it will be in the Loews which is the biggest of the regular screen, or one of the smaller theaters.
I would hope with nearly 100 theaters nationwide for the 70mm Hateful Eight, they would have at least one other Manhattan location as well. I saw The Master in 70 here, as well as some other films from time to time, but not my favorite layed out theater and a bit on the inconvenient side (close to an hour by public transportation/walking from Union Square) to get to.
If there isn’t anything close by, may wait the two weeks for the DCP wide release, as with family travels and plenty of year end releases, never can catch everything I want right during the holiday season anyway. Though the overture/intermission and six or so extra minutes (apparently a lot of landscape shots included here, and I’m a sucker for beautiful landscape shots in films) of the road show version are very tempting.
A woman who works for IMAX did say it “should” be in for Batman v Superman in late March 2016 when asked on Twitter and there has been buzz about it being as early as end of January, but I’d wait to see an official announcement about laser beginning construction/re-opening date before I fully buy anything at this point.
Apparently new seats will also be part of the laser renovation.
I think the IMAX seats and lobby have been kept up to date better personally, but the downstairs regular theaters are starting to really show their age in some cases and hopefully they also will get some attention soon (particularly as the selection of films in those screens are good with Lincoln getting many limited releases hard to find elsewhere).
Typically theaters are required to agree to two week minimum runs when they book a film from major studios. So while possible there was an agreement worked out (we’ll know for sure soon as word is the H8 70mm locations are going to be announced in next couple days), my guess is H8 will not play here, except maybe as a DCP when it goes wide in January.
Though with laser and 70mm the black bars are only on top and bottom, not the sides as well (and maybe it’s personal preference or seeing tons of films at home this way, but letterboxing doesn’t bother that much whereas something about bars on the sides feel uncinematic), and only because they are trying to preserve the film’s intended aspect ratio and framing.
For films shot or formatted for IMAX, laser and 15/70 can completely fill a giant IMAX screen with no bars.
I consider it liemax (though still a nice theater with great sound) partly because you don’t get a 80 ft+ image with digital IMAX. More like 75 feet with huge black bars on the sides since Lincoln should be throwing an image near 100 feet. Plus while it is bigger than Empire 25, it doesn’t feel dramatically so the way it used (34th on the other hand I’ve always found too small to really deserve the IMAX branding personally).
Laser will be very different, big increase in resolution, apparently (though I’d like to have the chance to see it for myself to judge) much better image quality, will fill the screen again, and also some other perks like updated sound and a new quality control system which monitors the visuals and sound 24/7 remotely (not talked about much, but I think potentially one of the bigger improvements with the laser IMAX system).
I also wouldn’t quite consider it “brand new” tech by the time in gets to Lincoln. It will have been in use for over a year by then in other locations (debuted with Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies), and in the crazy fast paced tech improvement world we live in, I’d say about a year is the most you have to legitimately market upgraded technology as new, though it does sound like it will be the modern “real” IMAX as 15/70 film projection is sadly on its last legs.
I don’t think IMAX did much wrong (other than perhaps making sure the location got laser sooner, and they won’t outright state it won’t fill the screen which we all know will be the case anyway with digital IMAX), and don’t get why everyone assumed it would show in 15/70.
As I said, I expected it to show in liemax before the announcement (everything but Interstrllar the past two years has) and actually am a bit surprised any 15/70 prints were made and they mostly were for museums which never ditched film. Plus, IMAX listed their film and laser locations on their website once tickets went on sale, a step they don’t take for most movies.
I understand and agree with being disappointed in how the film will play here, but it’s not like IMAX tricked anyone.
10 Cloverfield Lane IMAX tickets already on sale for March 10th on, and the seating chart is the exact same as current IMAX set-up (whereas they will change it with the renovation). So yeah, barring a surprise turn-around, not happening for Batman v Superman.
Unless they do it between BvS and the start of the summer movie season with Civil War (which also has scenes shot with IMAX cameras), don’t bet on it happening for a while.
As for the Museum of Natural History, it just shows nature/science documentaries, never Hollywood features.
Are they dropping the Loews name chain wide (other sites such as the Orpheum and Kips Bay still include it as well)? Also if the renovation includes changing the signage, I wonder if they will finally fix up some of the other screens a bit, and maybe close the entire complex for a bit.
Seeing that closed logo and hearing how quickly they started taking the theater apart still hurts. But thanks to everyone for the photos, and film listings.
While I saw a couple films there during the 2008 NYFF that I don’t recall for sure, with those lists I believe I was able to remember all the normal theatrical releases I saw there (from Independence Day to Spectre)
AMCbayplaza13, that’s old article/info from when laser debuted at the TCL Chinese theater early last year (which was the second site to get it). All the other sites mentioned other than Lincoln Square already have laser, and I think there are around 20 worldwide at this point including a couple which just did the renovation at the start of the year.
I was able to convince my nephews to check out Force Awakens in laser IMAX, and even they noticed a difference from Lincoln Square (where they had seen it during Christmas). I hadn’t seen it in IMAX before, but had first in Real D, then Dolby Cinema, and now IMAX laser and noticed improvement in visual and sounds with each format, plus the native IMAX footage, while sadly too short, was really stunning in that format.
Also from what I understand, they don’t increase the ticket price when going to laser at least initially, and it was $19 there (probably due to the SF market it was a bit cheaper than Lincoln), which again may contribute to AMC being so slow when Lincoln Square is still getting packed houses. The one issue I noticed with laser, is wearing prescription glasses as well I got a reflection in the brighter scenes from the 3D glasses (something that never happened with the 70mm glasses), but for most that won’t be an issue of course, and based on what I saw at least in 2D I believe could be a perfect replacement for 70mm IMAX film (the Deadpool trailer played first and right away my jaw was on the floor with how good it looked).
It looks like IMAX is splitting locations between The Revenant, Star Wars, and Finest Hours this weekend (between two films isn’t that uncommon, but it’s been years since I recall three different films playing in IMAX at once).
It’s annoying cause I’m flying out to the Bay Area this weekend to visit my sister and nephews, and one thing I thought I’d take them to was the laser IMAX at the Meteron. But Star Wars is playing there instead of Finest Hours, and don’t think young kids are gonna want to drive over 45 miles to see something again when there is plenty else to do.
If indeed the renovation is started before Deadpool comes around, that should leave enough time for BvS in laser, but as I’ve said before, given how long it’s taking them and the fact that Lincoln’s IMAX still does good business in liemax mode, until they’ve actually begun the renovation, I’m not taking anything as a given.
Oops missed one (not surprised I did)– Tomorrowland played in-between Avengers and Jurassic World
I believe the films which played here in its last full year of operation were (I got weekly film schedule emails from them so searched my inbox, plus I saw half of these here anyway): Fifty Shades of Grey, Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Divergent Series: Insurgent, Furious 7, Avengers Age of Ultron, Jurassic World, Terminator Genisys, Ant-Man, Mission Impossible Rogue Nation, The Martian, Spectre, and Star Wars The Force Awakens.
I know Into the Woods opened last Christmas here and was a hold over at the start of the year.
I don’t think they can skip Batman v Superman in March to do renovations as it is a huge release shot with IMAX cameras, and they already gave tickets for a week in advance early screening to the people who attended the IMAX preview event last year. Maybe they could do it in-between BvS and the summer movie season start with Captain America: Civil War, but if not could well be a long time before they finally do this.
What a bummer. Though I think we all knew this may be coming, so I’m glad I made an effort to go here as much as possible the last couple years.
The Prime (now Dolby Cinema) certainly does not have the second most seats as it uses those recliners which cut down seating capacity dramatically.
There is a regular screen (think theater #13 but not sure) on the second main floor which has a lot of seats and my guess is second to IMAX.
If I recall correctly, the basement screens have stadium seating but are not very good otherwise. I also think the Loews screen has stadium seating up in its balcony, but not for the downstairs section.
Also @ACS12, if you’re interested, The Revenant is now playing in IMAX as well, though at the Penn Station location, not Lincoln Square.
@mhvbear Star Wars would have already played for four weeks if the IMAX closed this weekend, so that’s partly why the fifth week now on sale suggests laser may not be happening for a bit. And while the switch from film to digital was done in a week, all the other places which went laser have been closed for like a month (this includes a brand new sound system with ceiling speakers, linking up to a 24/7 quality control system, and I believe the auditorium redesign is always meant to be part of it as well).
Also on some other points, I have asked staff here about laser and wrote to IMAX on Facebook, and indeed showing there is a desire for laser here could help move things forward. And I do think there is a window after Deadpool (whenever a theater closes for a month, it will miss something, and don’t feel Divergent is such a big IMAX draw they have to show it), but if the redesign isn’t done then, I could well see them holding off at least until Fall 2016 with Batman v Superman (which supposedly has quite a lot of IMAX shot footage) and then the summer movie season being impossible times to close.
Force Awakens IMAX shows added for another week, it’s playing at least until January 22.
Since other sites opening their laser installations in Feburary are already closed for renovation, don’t think it will happen in time for Deadpool now. Perhaps they will run in digital for Deadpool and then close till Batman v Superman (nothing too big currently on IMAX’s schedule in between), or perhaps they will delay again. Given how long they’ve already waited, I’m a bit skeptical until there is an official announcement from IMAX/AMC and renovation has begun.
@ACS12 Deadpool is a 2D only release, then BvS is in 3D but I wouldn’t be surprised if there are also 2D IMAX showings (WB has often done that with pictures like In the Heart of the Sea, The Hobbit, and most directly Man of Steel having both 2D and 3D IMAX showings), though Civil War may only be available in IMAX 3D based on Marvel Studios release history.
IMAX has always said there is a place for both 2D and 3D (how I feel as well), so I don’t expect anything to change with laser regarding that.
Celboy, I haven’t seen the film in IMAX (seen it in Real D first, then Dolby Cinema), but people who’ve seen it confirmed that the Jakku action sequence is the only IMAX sequence in the movie.
Then based on IMAX digital at Lincoln Sq, it will not fill the screen on the sides nor will there be any expansion that way for the whole movie. There will be a vertical expansion in the IMAX scene, but still will be some empty space on top and bottom of screen.
I saw Guardians of the Galaxy and In the Heart of the Sea at this IMAX, and they used the same expanded image vs. a typical 2.35 film (for parts of Guardians, and the total of Sea), but still were windowboxed.
According to NY Post Film Editor Lou Lumenick’s twitter, the 70mm screenings of Hateful Eight at Cinema 1 were just for the press, and if won’t play there normally but rather at East 86th.
Given both are part of City Cinemas chain, I’d guess they’d be moving their 70 projector from Cinema 1 to East 86th for the H8 run, but not sure.
Per Deadline Hollywood, The Hateful Eight will play in 70mm here (along with the Regal E-walk and previously announced Village East Cinemas). Obviously won’t be in the IMAX screen, but wonder if it will be in the Loews which is the biggest of the regular screen, or one of the smaller theaters.
I would hope with nearly 100 theaters nationwide for the 70mm Hateful Eight, they would have at least one other Manhattan location as well. I saw The Master in 70 here, as well as some other films from time to time, but not my favorite layed out theater and a bit on the inconvenient side (close to an hour by public transportation/walking from Union Square) to get to.
If there isn’t anything close by, may wait the two weeks for the DCP wide release, as with family travels and plenty of year end releases, never can catch everything I want right during the holiday season anyway. Though the overture/intermission and six or so extra minutes (apparently a lot of landscape shots included here, and I’m a sucker for beautiful landscape shots in films) of the road show version are very tempting.
No laser IMAX for 2015 has been confirmed.
A woman who works for IMAX did say it “should” be in for Batman v Superman in late March 2016 when asked on Twitter and there has been buzz about it being as early as end of January, but I’d wait to see an official announcement about laser beginning construction/re-opening date before I fully buy anything at this point.
Apparently new seats will also be part of the laser renovation. I think the IMAX seats and lobby have been kept up to date better personally, but the downstairs regular theaters are starting to really show their age in some cases and hopefully they also will get some attention soon (particularly as the selection of films in those screens are good with Lincoln getting many limited releases hard to find elsewhere).
Typically theaters are required to agree to two week minimum runs when they book a film from major studios. So while possible there was an agreement worked out (we’ll know for sure soon as word is the H8 70mm locations are going to be announced in next couple days), my guess is H8 will not play here, except maybe as a DCP when it goes wide in January.
Though with laser and 70mm the black bars are only on top and bottom, not the sides as well (and maybe it’s personal preference or seeing tons of films at home this way, but letterboxing doesn’t bother that much whereas something about bars on the sides feel uncinematic), and only because they are trying to preserve the film’s intended aspect ratio and framing.
For films shot or formatted for IMAX, laser and 15/70 can completely fill a giant IMAX screen with no bars.
I consider it liemax (though still a nice theater with great sound) partly because you don’t get a 80 ft+ image with digital IMAX. More like 75 feet with huge black bars on the sides since Lincoln should be throwing an image near 100 feet. Plus while it is bigger than Empire 25, it doesn’t feel dramatically so the way it used (34th on the other hand I’ve always found too small to really deserve the IMAX branding personally).
Laser will be very different, big increase in resolution, apparently (though I’d like to have the chance to see it for myself to judge) much better image quality, will fill the screen again, and also some other perks like updated sound and a new quality control system which monitors the visuals and sound 24/7 remotely (not talked about much, but I think potentially one of the bigger improvements with the laser IMAX system).
I also wouldn’t quite consider it “brand new” tech by the time in gets to Lincoln. It will have been in use for over a year by then in other locations (debuted with Hobbit: Battle of the Five Armies), and in the crazy fast paced tech improvement world we live in, I’d say about a year is the most you have to legitimately market upgraded technology as new, though it does sound like it will be the modern “real” IMAX as 15/70 film projection is sadly on its last legs.
I don’t think IMAX did much wrong (other than perhaps making sure the location got laser sooner, and they won’t outright state it won’t fill the screen which we all know will be the case anyway with digital IMAX), and don’t get why everyone assumed it would show in 15/70.
As I said, I expected it to show in liemax before the announcement (everything but Interstrllar the past two years has) and actually am a bit surprised any 15/70 prints were made and they mostly were for museums which never ditched film. Plus, IMAX listed their film and laser locations on their website once tickets went on sale, a step they don’t take for most movies.
I understand and agree with being disappointed in how the film will play here, but it’s not like IMAX tricked anyone.