Episode VII: The Force Awakens - Discussion * SPOILER THREAD * — Page 19

If I'm not mistaken there's only one or two IMAX theaters that still uses film prints. The IMAX I typically go to is full size but they went digital about a year ago. The last film I saw there was TDKR. Ever since then it's been digital projection when I've gone. Seeing STID was a bit of a disappointment, as the IMAX weren't full size and didn't seem to be of much higher quality.

Can the DCP produce the same image quality as the 70mm? I doubt it, but would like to hear an exact answer. Nolan's filming more in IMAX for Interstellar than anyone has ever done before, and I'd like to know if, when I see it, it will be full quality.

Well considering that list was updated in May of this year, I'm going to assume it is correct in saying more than two IMAX theatres have film projectors.  And apparently the one I go to (Lincolnshire) does still have 15/70, oddly enough I haven't seen them use the 15/70 film projector they supposedly have each time I've been there.

Hopefully, they'll use it for Episode VII.  Personally I really want to my first experience of this movies to be without me having seen the trailers, and with a real projector, but I'm not sure if either of those goals are happening.

On another note, does anyone know of a list for 35mm film theatres?

I see. The small number I gave was from an article I had read awhile back - there's only one 70mm IMAX projector left in LA - and I couldn't remember the specifics of it and got my facts mixed up.

Though I'm still a little skeptical of that list. It says the IMAX I go to (Providence) has 1570 and Digital (and it also says that the theater opened in 2012 which is most certainly untrue). Like I said the last film projection I saw there was TDKR. But I guess the movies I've seen there since (Raiders, STID, Elysium, Godzilla) all would have been digital anyway? I don't know. 

15/70 prints are expensive to produce, something like 30-50 thousand dollars for a two to two-and-a-half hour movie. TDKR is the only time a Hollywood film has played at all three theaters in the DC area. It was a big summer movie that was gonna do big business at the box office, so Warner Bros could afford to spend some money on it. There were a hundred or so imax prints made of tdkr.

Interstellar is only getting 50 or so imax prints. It's supposed to be the last Hollywood movie released in actual 15/70, as the digital "replacement" for those projectors is coming next year.

35mm, meanwhile, has all but disappeared. Paramount's final domestic release on 35mm was Anchorman 2 last year. They've said they'll continue 35mm distribution for the overseas territories that haven't caught up yet.

Christopher Nolan and his former cinematographer Wally Pfister are big on not only shooting but also finishing their movies on film. Pfister made his directorial debut recently with Transcendence and there were only 79 35mm prints made of the movie.

Well hopefully my theatre will show Interstellar in film (it would be well worth the extra ticket price for me), but I'm still just so sad to see all these film projection systems go.  I guess it's just nostalgia for me, but the most distinct thing I remember about going to the movies as a kid was film projection and over the more recent years, the few times I happened to view a print of a film, I just felt like a kid again.  The projector noise.  The little splotches, scratches, and flicker of the film.  Even that soft lighting that came off the screen.  If I could experience a movie that recreates that first experience of seeing Star Wars, and see that in a similar way as back then, I might go all Kevin Smith teary eyed.

AntcuFaalb said:

Fang Zei: Which DC theater is this? I live in Columbia, MD, so I'd like to check it out.

Two in the district, a stone's throw from each other on the mall at the air & space museum and the museum of natural history.

The third is out in Chantilly, VA at the air & space udvar-hazy center near dulles airport.

Hopefully they'll look to this McQuarrie art that Duracell will definitely love:

What about Vader's saber? Shouldn't his be candy-coloured as well?

If I had the money, I'd be blind from alcohol poisoning by now.

Sorry that I am late to the party....

I have seen a photo of the new Stormtroopers.

I have a friend whom has shown me photos.  He absolutely would not let me have copies (they are all digital) for fear of them getting out and getting him busted.

This is not what I saw.

Protocol Droid said:

These photos are not on the web at all.

I have a close friend whom works in a certain area of the film industry and has shown me photos.  He absolutely would not let me have copies (they are all digital) for fear of them getting out and getting him busted.

Having said that, I believe one is a modern version of the Tie Fighter pilot as it is black and has a breathing tube that goes laterally from one side of the 'chin' area to the other side.  

Another one is (I believe) a modern Snow Trooper as it is white, helmet hangs down in the back, but is different than the actual Stormtrooper.

 I have some photos too!  They're of Harrison Ford, you can clearly see that where his leg broke that he has a Terminator endoskelton.  He's definitively a cyborg from the future.

I got the pictures from a friend but I can't let anyone see them.

Tobar said:

My only question is, what in the world is a Jedi wig?

Isn't it obvious? 

 I have some photos too!  They're of Harrison Ford, you can clearly see that where his leg broke that he has a Terminator endoskelton.  He's definitively a cyborg from the future.

I got the pictures from a friend but I can't let anyone see them.

I know you are just busting my chops, and I am ok with that.  I kinda knew it would happen.

Make of that what you will.

Sadly, my post can never be confirmed.  Well, at least not until Judgement Day.