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This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2
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Author
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Topic: Dunkirk (2017) 5/70mm Version
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Paul Mayer
Oh get out of it Melvin, before it pulls you under!
Posts: 3836
From: Albuquerque, NM
Registered: Feb 2000
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posted 07-22-2017 09:38 AM
THEATER: Cinemark Rio 24, Albuquerque, NM
HOUSE: 13 (their biggest screen)
FORMAT: 5/70mm
RESERVED SEATS: K20/K21 $7.50 senior discount (Yay!)
70mm TRAILERS: Bladerunner 2049, Justice League (pillarboxed 1.85 on the 2.20 screen)
Caught the opening 6pm show on Thursday 6/20
The Rio had to move the BL&S JJ 70mm installation package to be on their biggest screen, so this was a fresh install, not the one they used for H8 (which I didn't get to see since I was running H8 on another screen out of town).
I rarely say this about theater presentation technical reviews these days... it was FLAWLESS! None of my usual nit-picks and quibbles here, didn't need to. Lamp focus/centering/flicker, plate filing, image steadiness and focus, screen masking, print cleanliness and condition, room tuning and sound playback level - all spot on. This was a wonderful example of "Film Done Right!" My hat's off to the projectionist and technician that did/is doing this screen. I can only hope that my own shows look and sound this good!
I'll be back again in a couple of weeks to see how the print holds up, assuming I don't get pulled in by WB as a replacement Dunkirk projectionist somewhere. With this one, the Rio 24 is off to a great start!
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Connor Wilson
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 190
From: Sterling, VA, USA
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 07-22-2017 05:02 PM
CINEMA: AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13 - New York, NY
DATE/TIME: July 22nd, 2:00pm
AUDITORIUM: Loews
FORMAT: 5/70mm
TRAILERS: Blade Runner 2049 (letterboxed 2.39:1); Justice League (pillarboxed 1.85:1) - both in 70mm.
PROBLEMS:
About 10 minutes into the feature, the projector and sound stopped and the lights came up. We waited for around 5 or so minutes until a lady came to the auditorium and said "they are fixing the 70mm. You can choose to wait until it comes back on the screen, or go outside and ask for a refund." One man asked "how long do we have to wait?" She responded that she didn't know, and by the grace of God, the movie came back on the screen with sound right where it left off, and the lights went down again. It should be noted that before the projectionist paused the film, a couple of vertical scratches were visible on the screen. It is likely the show was interuppted to fix the projector from damaging the print any further.
Print was steady, some dirt but 95% spotless. No vertical scratches were ever seen again further into the film. Absolutely no changeover cues on the print, but I was still able to tell when a new reel started by that black horizontal line that typically flashes at the start of a new reel in a platter presentation.
Focus wasn't good on the bottom margin of the screen. This wasn't really noticeable until the scrolling credits at the end. Although to its faults, the Loews screen is curved, and it's quite a big throw from the projector.
Sound was perfectly fine. This is an Atmos-capable auditorium, so the LFE (and presumably the surround sub-bass) went to my ribcage at times. JBL speakers. I was seated at row R if that matters.
Below-to-mediocre presentation at the AMC Loews Lincoln Square 13, which is also playing this film in 15/70mm IMAX. I would've preferred to go to City Cinemas 1, 2, 3 for this event because they reguarly play 5/70mm prints since Warner Bros. started making more of them again, but since I was with a group we went to the familiar and beloved AMC location. Also, the Loews auditorium has one of the best sound systems in New York.
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Connor Wilson
Expert Film Handler
Posts: 190
From: Sterling, VA, USA
Registered: Jan 2011
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posted 07-26-2017 05:42 PM
CINEMA: City Cinemas, Cinemas 1, 2 & 3 - New York, NY
DATE/TIME: July 26th, 12:45pm
AUDITORIUM: Cinema 1
FORMAT: 5/70mm
TRAILERS: 2017 Chevorlet Equinox advert (DCP, pillarboxed 1.78:1); Wind River (DCP, letterboxed 2.39:1); An Inconvenient Sequel: Truth to Power (DCP, full 1.85:1); Blade Runner 2049 (70mm, letterboxed 2.39:1); Justice League (70mm, pillarboxed 1.85:1).
Suffice to say, smoother than Lincoln Square. The screen in Cinema 1 is common height, so to add some flair of showmanship, the DCP trailers and the masking were set to Flat. At the end of the Inconvenient Sequel trailer, the audio cut off (perhaps switiching from DCI to Datasat). The masking opened up from the sides to 2.2:1 as the Blade Runner trailer began in 70mm. In spite of the 2K source, contrast was improved over the digital trailers from their DLP projector, and overall steadiness was improved, and dirt was less visible, than Saturday's Lincoln Square show. The entire feature played all the way through with no interruptions.
If you want to catch a first-run 70mm engagement at NYC, look no further than this indie tri-plex between 60th Street and 3rd Avenue. They have been committed to Warner's recent slew of 70mm blow-ups from Digital Intermediate, since Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, and their presentation quality has improved since. Dunkirk is special because its 5/70mm prints have been sourced from an interpositive direct from the 65mm negatives and reduction negatives for most of the 15/70mm IMAX footage. It's a unique, grain-free, pixel-free, high-resolution way to experience the film aside from the letterboxed DCP in its 4K Flat container (which I haven't seen but don't plan to). Hoyte van Hoytema's cinematography is admitedly soft and hazy, whether it was intentionally so for aesthetics or whatever generations lost in the 5/70 photochemical finish be it the reduction negs or the digitally-comped shots. I did hear that the 15/70mm IMAX version was sharper, but the standard 65mm shots looked worse through the DMR. I might check out 15/70 Dunkirk one day at Lincoln Square, if I get a good day to go and good seats.
No issues with sound, it's just kind of a downgrade from the Loews auditorium at Lincoln Square. It's quieter, and the same problems I've had with dialog intelligibility (that I didn't mention) at Loews are still problematic at Cinema 1. It has to be at fault with the sound mix, which Nolan is notorious for. Maybe it's not as bad as The Dark Knight Rises, but I think it's worse than Interstellar in 35mm Dolby Digital, a film which had tons of complaints in relation to the sound. Maybe some more EQ and extra months at the mixing room could have helped. For reference, it took 6 months to complete the sound mix for Interstellar.
Focus was perfect, end credits were sharp from top to bottom. Plate firing was great, but I did notice a tiny bit of edge feathering on the right-hand side. At Loews, there was feathering at the top (or was it bottom?) side, and since the screen had more of a curve, there was more distortion. Distortion was still visible at Cinema 1 but nowhere near as much. It has a curved screen too, but not as deep. Oh, and Cinema 1's print had changeover cues, thin white circles without any marking filled in.
Superior presentation than the famous AMC Lincoln Square, but around $4 more expensive for the ticket. All three screens at Cinemas 1, 2 & 3 have all reclining seats. Comfy, and modern for a place built in the early-1960s. The seats at Loews are stuck in 1994, but I guess to its benefit. Quantity over quality, and Loews is a big place for premieres and large crowds.
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Buck Wilson
Jedi Master Film Handler
Posts: 894
From: St. Joseph MO, USA
Registered: Sep 2010
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posted 07-27-2017 09:36 PM
AMC Leawood Town Center 20
Theater 12, I believe the same auditorium they had H8 in.
BL&S projector #34
Thursday 7/27/2017, 4:00 pm
I still think there's a tiny shutter timing issue with this guy, seems a little too strobey in the light scenes.
Print looked good after a full week of shows, aside from some very light base side platter looking scratches on the mid-left side of the screen
Movie is different, as has been mentioned, more like a fictional chronicling of events. I liked it. It really made me FEEL, and feel I did. I can't begin to imagine the sense of hopelessness, defeat, etc......... Crazy.
Sure is nice to see film on screen....
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