UK IMAX lovers PLEASE enter, for they are slowly VANISHING!

[jonnywhc]

Hey all, I'm sorry if this isn't quite the place to post this on the forum but I thought id give it a shot here.

I was talking to Odeon on Facebook and iv been told they are "upgrading" the IMAX screen at Manchester Printworks to a digital, due to the "demand being too high" not 2. This is Odeon's ONLY true IMAX screen, all the rest being the MUCH smaller digital ones.

Now, he MAY have meant that it would soon be able to play both film AND digital, hence the "upgrade", if not..and I think what was really meant..is that the big screen is being ripped down. IF Manchester isn't your local..I would still worry. This is Odeon's one and only bigscreen..and its going. So yours may be next.

IF this is true, it will take away from the spectacle of so many films, and crop any future films filmed in IMAX - when we do watch them on digital or regular screens. Chris Nolan wouldn't be happy!

I will ask in house tomorrow when I watch Avengers what the deal is, and if this is infact true or false. He also mentioned that a date has not been set for the conversion yet, so perhaps we here at SHH could start a petition to try and retain the screen, and others in the UK..when one falls, the others may go too.

For those of you who don't know the difference between real and digital, a image is below. Cinemas DON'T tell you up front if the screen is IMAX or LIEMAX beforehand, and the price is exactly the same, so you can imagine the letdown some may have walking into it for the first time, or mistakenly thinking it would be huge like before.

This MAY turn out to be total rubbish lol..and I hope so..but I thought it was important, and some would like to know.

 

[bullets]

I have to deal with LIEMAX in Pensacola , FL. It sucks when you've been to a nice one before and know the difference.

 

[Spidey220987]

The IMAX in Birmingham has been renamed "The Giant Screen" , but everyone still refers to it as IMAX lol, the dimensions are the same

 

[jonnywhc]

Was so few staff in because it was a Sunday morning, and none of them knew, so I emailed Odeon and they thankfully said they are only looking to try and get a digital projector BESIDE the realIMAX. They didn't know why the FB page said what they did.

Then again..noone here seemed to care so it wouldn't have mattered if it was getting totally replaced lol.

 

[Bruce Malone]

Wait are you still charged the same if you go to a "liemax" as a reg Imax?

 

[jonnywhc]

Oh yes! Sneaky huh?

 

[Bruce Malone]

Wow ridiculous. I think we have something like the liemax size screens where i'm from but they're called ultra avx screens and they do not cost as much as the imax screens closer actually to regular sized screens.

Aren't there laws in place against false advertisements?

 

[jonnywhc]

Wow ridiculous. I think we have something like the liemax size screens where i'm from but they're called ultra avx screens and they do not cost as much as the imax screens closer actually to regular sized screens.

Aren't there laws in place against false advertisements?

My local has a standard priced screen which, I'm told, is the biggest standard screen in Europe..yet a digital IMAX would cost quite abit more.

They are quite clever about it, small print and all. They claim DigitalLIEMAX has unbelivable digital clarity, as in trying to say its as special as the big screen..just in a different way. Which is awful. IMAX should stick to putting effort into making IMAX more well known and available, and the cinemas should make the distinction between screens, cos I know people who some bother going to IMAX ever again after going to LIEMAX unknowingly and never knowing the true experience. They are cheating themselfs out of more potential money.

 

[B.A. Baracus]

Manchester is my local Imax, and i know it atleast one fellow poster who's local is the machester one, good to hear they are not actually ripping it down.

 

[terry78]

This is an IMAX right here.

Navy Pier in Chicago. I saw Revenge of the Fallen at this one, and as garbage as that movie was, the shots Bay specifically set up for this screen made up for it.

 

[loulad]

First post, joined just for this thread and to say thanks for the info jonny. Was a bit miffed at not being able to see Avengers in digital IMAX at Manchester. But was even more miffed when i read on their twitter that they were upgrading (downgrading) the screen to digIMAX. There's no way I'm settling for the TDKR on the smaller screen or any film for that matter that would be available in IMAX. So was chuffed when i read you'd got that email from Odeon. Once again thanks for the info.

 

[chamber-music]

Well IMAX BFI on the South Bank in London which is the largest in the UK is safe.

 

[jonnywhc]

First post, joined just for this thread and to say thanks for the info jonny. Was a bit miffed at not being able to see Avengers in digital IMAX at Manchester. But was even more miffed when i read on their twitter that they were upgrading (downgrading) the screen to digIMAX. There's no way I'm settling for the TDKR on the smaller screen or any film for that matter that would be available in IMAX. So was chuffed when i read you'd got that email from Odeon. Once again thanks for the info.

No problem mate lol the Twitter said that too? If the OFFICIAL pages can't even agree with the email service..that's bad. The email I recived said several times that the big screen would be fine, even saying TDKR and Hobbit would play on them this year with no problems. Id love in person confirmation, so I'll try and ask the manager next time I'm in. But, I think it's okay now!

And yeah, I did see Avengers on screen 18 which pretty big..but pitty about no IMAX. I asked in another email if they do get side by side projectors will that's mean ANY digital file could play on the big screen. Sadly a much less helpful employee replyed that time and treated it like national security t: I imagin the cost of a digital file of Avengers vs IMAX reel is huge..so I wondered if you could take any digital file and blow it up full screen..Pitty I didn't get an answer lol. Id imagin its possible. Expendables..etc could all be stretched big.

Obviously nothing beats true IMAX film tho!

Well IMAX BFI on the South Bank in London which is the largest in the UK is safe.

Most likely, but its the idea that the general public who aren't in the know may go to a "IMAX" and never go back cos its nothing special compared to realIMAX.