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Why go out???

Just returned from watching Knives Out at one of these supposedly premium theaters. Well the seats at least are premium. Big, reclining, and comfortable enough. None of the usual crammed in like cattle feel. That's it for the good news. For some unfathomable reason the theaters are numbered but without movie names. We walk down the hall, not one name or even a poster. We weren't the only ones, another couple was roaming around wondering where to go. 

The screen was (Guessing) not even 16:9 and with awful grainy coarse quality which you think well it'll be better for the feature but no, its not! Who in this millennium shows movies in pan and scan? Woodinville! Hard to believe this is the only one- let me know! 

In case you're wondering no, this isn't me being audio/videophile finicky, my wife was complaining all the way home! My projector is Sony, not even the latest, not even 4K, and no Blu-Ray I'm a Pirate Bay/RARBG scofflaw kinda guy, all movies watched off the MacBook Pro (with ECT, and the system is to die for but still....) MY WIFE was complaining! She actually thought it was worse than me! (Well I make allowances, but still...)

What gets me is, I've seen and know how good movies can be. Seen Lawrence, Hamlet, My Fair Lady etc in 70mm. Hateful Eight in 70mm too but that one the projectionist clearly didn't know what he was doing. Beside the point. Cinema should be an experience. A memorable experience. Hamlet was. My Fair Lady was. This one was memorable only in the sense that we will remember not to come back.

Time was not all that long ago no amount of money would get you to cinema quality. But now? Cinema has descended, home theater (IF you do it right!) is actually better. Not a little either. WAY better!

Is it me?Or are they killing the motion picture industry?

Why go out? 
128x128millercarbon
roxy1927
112 posts
 
My favorite movie experiences were the great NY midtown palaces in the 70s. They occasionally showed 70mm prints with 6 channel stereo which pinned you to the back wall of the theater. And there was the time Radio City showed a gorgeous Technicolor print of Singing in the Rain. Superman at the Criterion was wonderful as well before that magnificent theater was sliced up in '80.

After that in the 90s there were the great Robert Harris restorations of Spartacus and Lawrence. His recent restoration of MFL on Bluray is better than the one he did in the 90s. It is closer to the original roadshow 70mm print I saw a long time ago in the Warner Cinerama on Broadway.

Also I disagree about sound. I much prefer the 6 track stereo that existed before Dolby then but you were probably speaking about the sound of the average theater of the time. Acceptable but mono. Nothing beats Super Panavision 70 and Todd AO. Yeah it's pointless to go to movies for me today. Contemporary films are fine on bluray and a large HD TV are good enough for me. Even the clips I've seen of the new Skywalker look spectacular on my Bravia Smart.

Now if David Lean were to come back from the dead and show his films at the rebuilt Warner or Rivoli on Broadway with their large curved screens and Western Electric stereo speakers I'm there and I'd be super happy.
audiozenology
362 posts
 
If you are going to a cinema for good sound, then best to search out Imax theaters. From a sound perspective, they are significantly better than old 70mm theaters. They will also have higher end projectors, brighter images, and better screens. The only issue I have found with Imax is they are so bright, that for the first 10-15 minutes of the movie, dust from people entering/leaving the theater creates a noticeable haze in the air.

At 4K, most seating positions are beyond eye resolution. They next 8K step will push that further, but realistically contrast and color have a bigger impact on our impression of quality past a certain resolution point and 4K is there already.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon OP
12,531 posts
 
Exactly. Its like with cameras, megapixels don't matter. 

The most impressive cinema I know is the Tigard in Oregon. From far out in the parking lot it just looks like a movie theater. Not a drab concrete box. The large lobby is flanked by concessions with a grand wide and gently sweeping ramp leading up to the main theater. So none of this wandering down long dark halls searching for #11.

Inside the screen is huge, the seats comfortable, and the sound the best I've heard. The system floats a rock solid image just like the sound stage of any really good system should be. 

Here at home (Redmond, WA) we hardly ever go out to a movie. Every single time in Oregon though I look for the chance to go to Tigard. Going for the lowest common denominator the movie industry has totally missed the boat.
phusis's avatar
phusis
1,119 posts
 

... [Edward] Norton calls on moviegoers to be vocal about ensuring movie theaters are running projection and sound at top quality because in most cases around the country they are not.

“A lot of filmmakers and cinematographers that I know that have really started to look into this say that more than 60 percent of American theaters are running their projector at almost half the luminosity that they’re required by contract to run it at,” Norton said. “They are delivering crappy sound and a dim picture, and no one is calling them on it.”

Norton continued, “If [movie theaters] were delivering what they’re supposed to be delivering, people would be going, ‘Wow, this is amazing, I do not get this at home’…Well, I want people to literally walk into their theater and find the manager and say, ‘If this looks dark, you’re giving me my money back. Because I’m paying — and at the ArcLight, I’m paying premium — for a premium experience.'”

https://www.indiewire.com/2019/10/edward-norton-spielberg-netflix-theaters-destroying-movies-1202181698/?fbclid=IwAR3FucDOk_6igg4bmANTwSd2MA49SzAd49YjMtxAjIgGgWNgqIqraIKyTxE 

Good, and necessary advice from Mr. Norton here. Be sure to address and complain about any issues you may experience to the manager of the theatre you're attending, be that technical issues or otherwise. And don't let anyone bring along your problem to the manager; instead go to him or her directly in whatever way possible - either (preferably) face-to-face, by mail or telephone. 

A majority of theatres may have 4K projectors by now, but that's not at all to say they're showing their films in 4K. In fact, most don't. From what I'm aware of most films still have a 2K digital intermediate (their native image resolution), and even films with 4K DI's are usually shown in 2K at the theatres, because their 4K DCP counterpart is a more expensive package. 

I remember a few years ago when I called the biggest theater chain here in Denmark asking them whether they were showing their films in 4K, if the DI allowed, and I was told "We have 4K projectors installed," the person saying that feeling quite comfortable it settled the matter. When I inquired further whether that meant they were actually showing films in 4K there was a moment of silence, until: "I'll have to ask the manager about that." I never heard back from them on this, even though I requested it repeatedly. Years have passed, and I'm now being told, when I recently asked a technician prior to a film viewing, that on rare occasions they are now showing films in 4K. Another theater chain, Cinemaxx, have shown their films in 4K whenever possible for years already.

A great home theater.. that is, a very capable 2-channel home set-up with proper dynamic range/headroom, extension to at least 25-30Hz (preferably via separate subs), lots of radiation area, etc. with a great and big OLED screen from the likes of LG or Sony (or a great 4K projector), not least sourced via UHD discs, will pale most commercial cinemas (expect perhaps some IMAX venues). 

millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon OP
12,531 posts
 
A great home theater.. that is, a very capable 2-channel home set-up with proper dynamic range/headroom, extension to at least 25-30Hz (preferably via separate subs), projector...

Home theater!
2-channel!
SubS PLURAL!!

Sorry. You got too many things right. Rendered speechless.

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