Should I go see Star Wars in true 70mm IMAX? (Space and Rocket Center, Huntsville AL)

[Eug]

Those who have reviewed this 3D format do say that the laser tech mostly if not completely eliminates the problems with brightness and contrast inherent with the IMAX Digital 3D format, but obviously, the image will be even better in the same 2D format.

Yep, I dislike a lot of things about 3D, but the dimness and screen-door effect drove me up the wall. And it would give me a headache. I was pleasantly surprised at just bright and contrasty Star Wars 3D was, and the image was mostly solid, but even more surprising was the fact I got no headache. This is the first 3D movie in fact at a theatre where I've not gotten at least a minor headache.

The technology really has improved a LOT. But OTOH, as mentioned, the 3D didn't make the movie better in any way IMO. I would have rather had it in 2D with IMAX any day.

If available, I would gather that IMAX with laser in 2D is the way to see a movie now.

I'm guessing, but I'm thinking I'd be happy with a good quality 4K non-IMAX theatre for SW.

One caveat however is that the audio, even the new 12 channel format, is still inferior to Dolby Atmos.

I just wish they'd turn the volume down a notch or two.

 

[EvilYoda]

3.5 hours D:

But with an intermission! So I can consume adult beverages and not worry about missing any of the movie!

(Tomorrow is me completely nerding out...Star Wars again at 1:30PM, then playing Magic: The Gathering at 4PM until 9PM and then Hateful 8 at 10PM. Whew!)

 

[Ns1]

But with an intermission! So I can consume adult beverages and not worry about missing any of the movie!

(Tomorrow is me completely nerding out...Star Wars again at 1:30PM, then playing Magic: The Gathering at 4PM until 9PM and then Hateful 8 at 10PM. Whew!)

I'm genuinely jealous. Instead I have to like, hang out with my dogs and wife and family and shit.

 

[Eug]

I want to see Hateful 8 in 70 mm too. Playing here in Toronto, and in Montreal where I'll be on Xmas day. But I too have to hang out with the family and shit, so I'll be missing it.

No reserved seating either.

 

[highland145]

Alabama? Just drive over and I'll put you up.

 

[Eug]

Going to see it at a cheap suburban LieMAX 3D right now, against my wishes. I wanted to go to the proper IMAX downtown but my wife didn't want to drive that far.

I'll let you know how it compares to the proper IMAX 3D with laser, which I saw a couple days ago. I guess the good news is the ticket price is only 40% of what I paid for the other one.

 

[Exterous]

I saw it at the Space and Rocket Center this past weekend, and there's one very important thing to keep in mind if you do go: GET THERE EARLY! The biggest drawback of a dome theater for a normal movie is that most of the seats aren't very good. You want to sit up as high as possible and as close to the center as possible. I was about 40% up and all the way on the left, and essentially, anything on the left side of the screen was very difficult to see. Also, the further down you go, the more you have to spend the entire time looking up. Now, I say to get there early, because when my movie got out, the line for the next showing was LONG. There were at least 100 people already lined up for the next showing.

Now, if that dissuades you from going to see the movie at the Space and Rocket Center, but you still want to see it in Huntsville, consider this theater instead: http://www.fandango.com/touchstarcinemasmadisonsquare12_aauwn/theaterpage . That theater was recently renovated to have leather, electric reclining seats. I haven't been there, but I've been in similar theaters elsewhere, and it's quite nice compared to the normal airline-esque theater seats.

Thanks for the information - I really appriciate it. I think from your review and the time crunch we would be in to make it work anyway I'll see it locally. We have some nice places not too far away with reserved recliners well spaced out and what not.

Thanks again

Alabama? Just drive over and I'll put you up.

Heck no! I know you live next to a burial ground. This is how horror movies start

 

[zinfamous]

still haven't been able to see it--but I am hopeful for the Smithsonian on IMAX/2D sometime this weekend.

 

[Eug]

Well the 3D LieMAX experience was an interesting educational experience. My wife thought it was pretty good but despite the 60% lower ticket price, I was pretty disappointed with the image quality and the sound quality as well.

On the plus side I didn't notice significant screen door effect from where I was sitting and flickering didn't seem much worse than the proper IMAX 3D with laser.

However, the negatives were many. The image was very noticeably dimmer like regular 3D theatres 10 years ago. It was also less contrasty, and in some scenes the image looked washed out. Those characteristics combined meant that shadow detail I could see with the 3D laser IMAX were totally missing in the 3D LieMAX showing. The difference was striking. Furthermore, even in bright scenes, the 3D LieMAX was noticeably less detailed. In the 3D laser IMAX version in one scene Chewie was off in the distance but easily recognizable. In the 3D LieMAX version he was more like an oblong fuzz ball. I guess part of the reason for this is 4K for 3D laser IMAX vs 2K for 3D LieMAX, in addition to the differences I mentioned earlier.

Also, the sound quality was quite simply just worse. I don't know how much of this was due to inaccurate calibration vs just inferior equipment. It wasn't as bad as some cheaper theatres I've been to, but it just wasn't in the same league as the 3D laser IMAX theatre I went to before.

So yeah, just avoid 3D LieMAX if image and sound quality matter to you.

 

[highland145]

Another question, what brings you to Alabama? Football?

 

[Exterous]

snip

Thanks for that. We just moved so I don't know what kind of quality the theaters by us have but supposedly the one we are going to is 'quite nice'. No idea what that really means though. On the positive side the previous theater by us was pretty crappy so I have low expectations.

Another question, what brings you to Alabama? Football?

We're spending New Years in New Orleans so we figured we'd drive from Atlanta and spend some time in a few more states to cross them off our list

 

[highland145]

We're spending New Years in New Orleans so we figured we'd drive from Atlanta and spend some time in a few more states to cross them off our list

Holy smokes, I spent several days (pre marriage) in NO during Madri Gras.....Making Saints into sinners.