Axiom Home Page Forums General Discussion The Water Cooler Indiana Jones or Batman in IMAX next week?

I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but I called the theater for you and spoke with the manager. The Regal cinemas IMAX screen in New Rochelle is indeed one of the huge six story tall screens, as they used to show 15/70 film. Sadly he told me that they are showing The Dark Knight Rises digitally on that giant screen.

With the current digital projection system that IMAX has, it would likely look worse on their giant screen than if you saw it on a smaller "LieMAX" screen.

I'm guessing they've made the temporary switch to digital in preparation for one of IMAX's next gen digital systems. In the meantime, New Rochelle should be scratched off anyone's IMAX list. Or at least call the theater and ask the manager if they're showing the current IMAX release in film. A 15/70 film screening there would be the real deal.

Thanks Craig. After a bit of searching I found an article explaining the brief history of Fresno IMAX.

It originally opened in Nov 1999 as a real IMAX Theater. I recall seeing Adventures in Wild California and Fantasia 2000 on the big screen during that time. Very impressive. Then in Aug 2001 it suddenly closed due to bankruptcy.

Regal Entertainment Group bought the theater and reopened it in 2004, but it was only used to show 35 millimeter films.

Two years later in 2006, an IMAX screen(50ft x 70ft) and projector were added bringing it back to life.

I've been fortunate to see a few movies since then and always been wowed with great video and audio. The Dark Knight(2008) viewing was quite exceptional.

Now that you have given the bad news to Nick I'm not sure if my IMAX is currently real or not. haha

yeah...LFExaminer lists Fresno as 1570+Digital, so it's likely the same as New Rochelle. You'll have to call and check with them on a case-by-case basis whether or not they're projecting 1570 film there.

IMAX really *&$%! up their brand. Sad.

Damn it!

So now I wonder if I should go at all. I mean, I could see it in the regular theater at the same complex at 8:05 instead of 10:00 in the IMAX, but I could watch it in a "regular" theater back home too.......

Thanks very much, Craig.

FWIW, I was in a LieMax and still thought it was a much better experience than a regular theater. Don't know if its worth the price though...
[pedant]
If were going to nit pick Imax, I feel its my duty to point out that the only real Imax theater was at Expo 67 in Montreal and featured a 360 degree view. The rest of you are just watching on some watered down LieMax version [/pedant]

...not really. That multi-screen presentation idea was a flop, and the founders gave up on it in order to pursue the giant screen format.

LieMax in a smallish LieMax theater may indeed be a better experience than some regular theaters. (I'm lucky enough to live in Los Angeles, so I have two real 1570 film, giant screen IMAX theaters within driving distance - AND the regular theaters here are pretty damn good too.

My concern with New Rochelle is the fact that they have the traditional six story screen but are projecting a 2K image up on it. You'll be able to count the pixels if you want - and it'll likely be too dim.

The new laser projection system they're working on, if they don't F it up, could be something special. Time will tell.

Cool... Movie Theaters with fricken laser beams.