Movie Theater Experiences

[Kauno]

This happened years ago. The movie was Akira Kurosawa's Dreams and I was 17 or 18, very shy. 30 minutes before the end some unlucky movie theater employee turned the speakers on and we had to listen disco music through the rest of the film. No-one complained, we all sat there and listened the loud music.

[Movie-Brat]

While I was watching Catching Fire (which is really good by the way), somebody took a crying baby and it had gotten to a point where somebody shouted, "You ne to take your kid outside!" And the baby still kept crying.

Who brings a baby to a film like Catching Fire?

I attended a screening of The Purge where someone brought their toddler daughter. It was a rather late show, too. Thoroughly appalling (but enough about the movie - ha!)

Okay seriously, who brings a baby to those two movies?

[sir_luke]

...at yet another AMC theater (see a trend?)...

I had several interesting visits to AMC during their "Fall Classics" series one year. First I went to see Rear Window, and it was fine except for a few hiccups with the sound (one was more prolonged than the others). We got comp tickets afterwards, though, so I guess someone complained.

Anyway, I went to a Sunday matinee of Gone With the Wind (it was a sea of menopausal women) using my free ticket, and it was a thoroughly unprofessional, even disastrous, DVD presentation. This will all sound made up, but I swear to you that I really suffered through it. The "projectionist" FAST-FORWARDED through the overture and skipped the intermission music (pausing so people could go to the bathroom). Then, in a turn of events that boggles the mind, the sound began to intermittently cut out in the last 20 minutes of the film. It really did, you guessed it, cut out in the worst spot imaginable. We read Clark Gables lips, "Frankly, my dear" was completely silent. The entire theatre was literally in an uproar, women shouting some very angry things, and some--like me--simply chuckling in sheer disbelief. Management came in and turned all the lights on, and they eventually replayed the last 15 minutes or so. This was my second comp ticket.

With my free ticket from GWtW, I went to see Christmas Vacation because I was in the holiday spirit and I apparently enjoy subjecting myself to really awful things over and over. I sat down, and the movie started off without a hitch... And then the cast and crew commentary began over the opening credits.

I got three *consecutive* apology tickets. I was starting to get spoiled, secretly hoping that there would be screw-ups so I could see free movies for the rest of my life.

[Movie-Brat]

Are you cursed to experience those screw ups or something because that would be my thought if that happened to me.

[sir_luke]

I guess so. Suffice it to say I don't visit AMC very frequently anymore.

[Movie-Brat]

Well look on the bright side, free tickets. I'd be happy myself. Though three straight screw ups in a row is weird.

[Perkins Cobb]

How is it a plus to get "free" tickets if they waste your time with botched screenings each time? (And why go to a theater to see a projected DVD, even for free?)

[dad1153]

...at yet another AMC theater (see a trend?)...

... a thoroughly unprofessional, even disastrous, DVD presentation.

I've had my share of these, but you'd think AMC as a chain would spring for DCP's (Blu-rays as absolute last-resort). Last year a Landmark Sunshine (Mark Cuban's chain) in NYC they had a midnight weekend showing of "Raiders of the Lost Ark" which I assumed, as they usually do, would be projected from a Blu-ray. To my horror "Raiders" begins and it's (a) DVD, (b) framed for 2:35:1 (the movie is 1:85:1), (b) low-resolution (480i blown-up) and (d) the RGB colors are screwed-up (green-skin colors, hues way off, etc.). After 10 minutes of this the theater stops the movie, spends 10 minutes trying to fix it and then someone comes and tells us they can't fix the projector (only the RGB could be fixed) and that they'd issue refunds to all. They were nice about it and even offered to play the movie for those that didn't mind it looking as it did and had made the trip. About 1/3 of the packed house stayed and watched "Raiders" (myself included) and, warts and worse-than-VHS grime notwithstanding, the movie still played.

Later in '13, on the same NYC Landmark theater, I was watching "Philomena" when the theater lights stayed on for the first 10 minutes. Nobody else complained, but 10 min. in I couldn't take it any more and went to get somebody. A minute later the lights went off and, as expected, when the movie ended the theater was plunged into darkness because the lights off threw the timing mechanism off. But man, sir_luke's AMC horror stories tops 'em all.

[Drucker]

Dad, thanks for the tip about Sunshine. The only time I went there was an excellent experience watching Alien at a midnight showing. It was a 35MM print that had plenty of character and the house was packed.

[Roger Ryan]

...To my horror "Raiders" begins and it's (a) DVD, (b) framed for 2:35:1 (the movie is 1:85:1)...

Actually, RAIDERS is supposed to be 2.35:1 (all the Indiana Jones films are), but I'm sure that doesn't make up for the otherwise miserable presentation.

[pzadvance]

A couple weeks ago I attended a much-publicized screening of Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, which alleged to be the first time all three films had been shown together in one event (I believe that's since been disputed, but anyway). Turns out that not only were Before Sunrise and Before Sunset projected from DVDs (and early DVDs too, from 2000 and 2004 respectively, I believe), but Before Sunset began with English subtitles on--so there was no disguising its format whatsoever, even from those who might not have been in the know. They stopped the film five minutes in, apologized, said they'd attempt to remove the subs, but after a couple of minutes the film began again, subtitles and all, and we were just forced to ignore it. Thankfully, Before Midnight was shown in a DCP, but of course, there were assholes behind us talking throughout it. Still a worthwhile experience to see all three in one day, but for all the press they were drumming up about the event and all the money they charged people for tickets, you'd think they'd at least be able to get their hands on some adequate exhibition formats.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

Aside from ardent cinephiles, I don't think the majority of the public would care or notice if they're projecting a DVD. The audience always just seems to want to see it on the big screen or in a comfy theater. The way it's projected is secondary.

[dad1153]

Dad, thanks for the tip about Sunshine. The only time I went there was an excellent experience watching Alien at a midnight showing. It was a 35MM print that had plenty of character and the house was packed.

They're pretty good at advertising when they do show 35mm prints, which is the exception instead of the rule, but when it's a good Blu-ray (like "Akira" a few weeks ago or "Breakfast at Tiffany's" this past weekend) the projection's good-enough. For the next four weeks here in NYC Sunshine is showing four Miyazaki movies in 35mm and in Japanese with English subtitles. :)

[aewb]

My local cinema recently switched to digital projection in part because it was becoming increasingly hard to source 35mm prints from certain distributors and they didn't think it was fair to charge full price for a dvd screening. However occasionally they can still only obtain a blu ray but when they do the screen is way too bright with blacks appearing dark grey. I spoke to the manager and he told me that the system has been professionally calibrated for DCP and the projectionist cannot adjust it for dvd/blu ray playback. Is this true?

[Emilio]

My local cinema recently switched to digital projection in part because it was becoming increasingly hard to source 35mm prints from certain distributors and they didn't think it was fair to charge full price for a dvd screening. However occasionally they can still only obtain a blu ray but when they do the screen is way too bright with blacks appearing dark grey. I spoke to the manager and he told me that the system has been professionally calibrated for DCP and the projectionist cannot adjust it for dvd/blu ray playback. Is this true?

Unsure about that. I've been in and worked in a recent projection booth which contained everything from 35/70mm projection, digital projection, Macbook Pro and a Blu-Ray player as well.

[David M.]

I'd be amazed if that was true. The picture settings for the video inputs (vs DCP playback) will be different but I'd be shocked if there was no scope to adjust.

Even if that were true on the projector end, they could still run their sources through a video processor (like a Lumagen Mini) and use the calibration controls on that to correct any lack of settings on the projector.

Where is this local cinema?

[aewb]

I'd be amazed if that was true. The picture settings for the video inputs (vs DCP playback) will be different but I'd be shocked if there was no scope to adjust.

Even if that were true on the projector end, they could still run their sources through a video processor (like a Lumagen Mini) and use the calibration controls on that to correct any lack of settings on the projector.

Where is this local cinema?

Cinema is in Essex. The manager told me he is going to contact the manufacturer to see if they can help.

[JamesF]

A couple weeks ago I attended a much-publicized screening of Before Sunrise, Before Sunset, and Before Midnight at the Santa Barbara Film Festival, which alleged to be the first time all three films had been shown together in one event (I believe that's since been disputed, but anyway). Turns out that not only were Before Sunrise and Before Sunset projected from DVDs (and early DVDs too, from 2000 and 2004 respectively, I believe), but Before Sunset began with English subtitles on--so there was no disguising its format whatsoever, even from those who might not have been in the know. They stopped the film five minutes in, apologized, said they'd attempt to remove the subs, but after a couple of minutes the film began again, subtitles and all, and we were just forced to ignore it. Thankfully, Before Midnight was shown in a DCP, but of course, there were assholes behind us talking throughout it. Still a worthwhile experience to see all three in one day, but for all the press they were drumming up about the event and all the money they charged people for tickets, you'd think they'd at least be able to get their hands on some adequate exhibition formats.

I saw all three together at the Prince Charles Cinema in London last year (they've repeated the event a couple of times since), and similarly remember the first two films being played from DVD. I'm not even sure HD masters exist of either yet - either that or they were two of the worst DCPs I've yet seen.

[Movie-Brat]

I saw all three together at the Prince Charles Cinema in London last year (they've repeated the event a couple of times since), and similarly remember the first two films being played from DVD. I'm not even sure HD masters exist of either yet - either that or they were two of the worst DCPs I've yet seen.

I don't think WB has bothered to make HD masters of the first two films. From what I've been told, they haven't done much on their obscure work or even yeah like the first two Before films.

[tenia]

I'm not even sure HD masters exist of either yet.

Shouldn't there be 35mm prints left anyway ? Or are we so far advanced in technology now that we had to go through porr DVD screening instead of proper 35mm prints in case no HD master exists yet ?

That would be quite a backward step, quality-wise (I'm quite sure that the answer is "with no 35mm projector left, you're stuck with digital, even if it means a DVD only").

[Professor Wagstaff]

Cineplex to Test Surcharge for Best Movie Seats

[jindianajonz]

Cineplex to Test Surcharge for Best Movie Seats

“It’s really about providing our guests with choices when they go to the movies . . . I sort of position it akin to an aircraft where you have your regular coach seating, then you might want a bit more amenities, so you go into business class, and then you have a first-class.”

Wow, what an absolutely terrible way to market this. I actually don't think the change is that bad of an idea- for shows that are sold out, it always seemed unfair to me that I paid the same price to sit at the very front edge of the theater. I wouldn't mind paying a small premium to guarantee a better seat (not to mention have less demand for those nicer seats).

The big difference between airplane seating and this is that movie theaters don't fill up like airplanes do, so even if you do buy a cheap seat you can probably move over to a better one once the trailers start, especially if you know your theater won't be terribly crowded.

[warren oates]

To me this is like charging for better seats at a live event, like theater, opera or sports. In theory it makes sense, so long as all of the other seats in the theater are also selectable and assigned in advance. I'd certainly only consider paying a premium if the film is IMAX and/or 3D, otherwise I actually prefer to sit more on the side in most venues and slightly below what most people would think of as an optimum row. On the other hand, there is something kind of antidemocratic about the whole idea of applying this pricing structure to moviegoing. Even at a place like the Arclight, there's a certain leveling fairness to knowing that everyone in the audience paid the same amount for a ticket and got the seat they selected on a first come, first served basis.

[Drucker]

If you're buying tickets online, is there also going to be some nonsense "service charge?"

I agree this makes sense in theory, but with the exception of a Christms-week showings at Film Forum and IFC Center, I have never been to a full house movie screening. Certainly not of a non-repertory screening. So to me, this seems unnecessary. How about uh you just get to the film 20 minutes early and relax?

[willoneill]

If you're buying tickets online, is there also going to be some nonsense "service charge?"

In the specific case on Cineplex, no, they don't have an online service charge. In fact you get bonus Scene Points for online/app purchases, so it's actually better to buy online.