Dune Part Two, which cinema screen is best?

broona

broona

broona

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We're hopefully going to the a Metro Centre at the weekend to watch Dune, and it's showing on 4 different types of screen.

We can choose from IMAX, Dolby Cinema, Laser, or Standard.

Can anyone point me in the direction of which would be best? I'm assuming IMAX or Dolby Cinema will be, but any advice is much appreciated.
 
I think Imax is meant to be the best, from memory it has the highest quality of sound and vision standards and is meant to be maintained to a higher standard as a requirement of the licence, I think it also dictates the screen size.
Of the others you're probably looking at marketing and type of screen/sound system, for example Dolby is probably a big screen with full Atmos etc, Laser might be a smaller screen but not necessarily the best sound, and "standard" is likely the smallest screen and possibly older projector/sound equipment.

I know at my local cinema Imax is definitely the biggest/best screens, and their "standard" (often used for smaller films/releases of things like classics*) is probably the smallest.

*I watched T2 IIRC just before the pandemic at my local Odeon and it was on one of their smaller screen, not the Imax or Isense.
 
IMAX is usually only the absolute best when it was filmed in 70mm IMAX film and shown on a 70mm IMAX projector.

Dune 2 was shot digitally and converted to film somehow.

And a lot of cinemas have digital IMAX projectors.

You probably can't go too wrong either way, but the Dolby screen in Leicester Square is great for non IMAX movies and I imagine the metro centre is like that?
 
broona said:
We're hopefully going to the a Metro Centre at the weekend to watch Dune, and it's showing on 4 different types of screen.

We can choose from IMAX, Dolby Cinema, Laser, or Standard.

Can anyone point me in the direction of which would be best? I'm assuming IMAX or Dolby Cinema will be, but any advice is much appreciated.
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IMAX if you’re going to Metrocentre. We went Sunday… back row middle on screen 7 was fantastic. Vision and sound stunning really!
 
Assuming Dolby Cinema means Atmos and Vision I’d go for that. Specifically for Djne I’d pick that over IMAX because it was not shot on IMAX.

But tbh I’d pick Dolby over IMAX most days of the week because I generally feel IMAX is just too big to be enjoyable unless you’re in the 1% of seats slap bang in the prime position.

Dolby Atmos > IMAX audio too, I’d have to check but I’d imagine most movies are mixed for Atmos first and stepped down for other formats like IMAX (7.1, 5.1 etc). So the filmmakers spent most of their time making the Atmos track the best. Same with the grade in Dolby Vision.
 
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Scam said:
Assuming Dolby Cinema means Atmos and Vision I’d go for that. Specifically for Djne I’d pick that over IMAX because it was not shot on IMAX.

But tbh I’d pick Dolby over IMAX most days of the week because I generally feel IMAX is just too big to be enjoyable unless you’re in the 1% of seats slap bang in the prime position.

Dolby Atmos > IMAX audio too, I’d have to check but I’d imagine most movies are mixed for Atmos first and stepped down for other formats like IMAX (7.1, 5.1 etc). So the filmmakers spent most of their time making the Atmos track the best. Same with the grade in Dolby Vision.
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Dune Part 2 was shot in Imax, just not 70mm film which is rare, and the majority of the film is 1.90 so if you see it in Dolby Cinema the top and bottom will be missing.

The best place to see it is either the BFI or Science Museum in 70mm conversion as you get the full 1.43 image.

This needs to be seen on the biggest screen possible IMO.
 
n111ck said:
Dune Part 2 was shot in Imax, just not 70mm film which is rare, and the majority of the film is 1.90 so if you see it in Dolby Cinema the top and bottom will be missing.

The best place to see it is either the BFI or Science Museum in 70mm conversion as you get the full 1.43 image.
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Firstly it wasn't "shot on IMAX". It was shot on Alexa 65 and Alexa LF cameras which are IMAX-certified. There's a difference. Shot on IMAX means shot on 65mm film. IMAX just did a sensible thing a few years ago and started certifying certain cameras that could provide decent enough resolution to be displayed on IMAX screens. Because it was increasingly rare that filmmakers were going to shoot on film.

In fact, the sensor of the Alexa 65 (the 'better' camera) open gate is actually widescreen (2.2:1 roughly) so I wonder (without spending my whole morning Googling how they cropped it) if by watching IMAX you might simply be losing the left and right crop by watching in IMAX, rather than 'gaining' the top and bottom as most would expect - in comparison to the standard widescreen presentation. I doubt it, as that seems wrong but hey. I will ask some of my colleagues who might know off-hand.

This is also why I disagree seeing it on 70mm is best. I'm happy to see something that has been originated on film, go through the process, and be presented on 70mm projection. But for something shot digitally, it just seems false. And to be honest, unless you're seeing the print in the first week or so it'll get scratched, dusty etc. and that makes for a far worse viewing experience than a lovely digital IMAX or Dolby presentation. In my opinion.

EDIT: Why Chris Nolan’s “Shot For IMAX” Trumps Tom Cruise’s “Filmed For IMAX” In This Summer’s Key Cinema Battle
 
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Scam said:
Firstly it wasn't "shot on IMAX". It was shot on Alexa 65 and Alexa LF cameras which are IMAX-certified. There's a difference. Shot on IMAX means shot on 65mm film. IMAX just did a sensible thing a few years ago and started certifying certain cameras that could provide decent enough resolution to be displayed on IMAX screens. Because it was increasingly rare that filmmakers were going to shoot on film.

In fact, the sensor of the Alexa 65 (the 'better' camera) open gate is actually widescreen (2.2:1 roughly) so I wonder (without spending my whole morning Googling how they cropped it) if by watching IMAX you might simply be losing the left and right crop by watching in IMAX, rather than 'gaining' the top and bottom as most would expect - in comparison to the standard widescreen presentation. I doubt it, as that seems wrong but hey. I will ask some of my colleagues who might know off-hand.

This is also why I disagree seeing it on 70mm is best. I'm happy to see something that has been originated on film, go through the process, and be presented on 70mm projection. But for something shot digitally, it just seems false. And to be honest, unless you're seeing the print in the first week or so it'll get scratched, dusty etc. and that makes for a far worse viewing experience than a lovely digital IMAX or Dolby presentation. In my opinion.

EDIT: Why Chris Nolan’s “Shot For IMAX” Trumps Tom Cruise’s “Filmed For IMAX” In This Summer’s Key Cinema Battle
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All largely semantics - I said shot in imax not on imax - Dune Part 2 definitely has more image in both IMAX versions so seeing in Dolby Cinema is a massive compromise. Plenty of comparisons on YouTube.

Some people appreciate seeing film projection regardless of source - either way imax digital or film is superior to Dolby Cinema for this particular film.
 
n111ck said:
All largely semantics - I said shot in imax not on imax - Dune Part 2 definitely has more image in both IMAX versions so seeing in Dolby Cinema is a massive compromise.
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Well then you're getting into the nitty gritty of how every shot is framed and to be honest we'd never know. Just like we'd never know what shots are panned and scanned from the widescreen 'into' IMAX or if they were both cropped from the full aperture. There's too many variables, but I do know that although filmmakers love to say "shot for IMAX" the reality is that the majority of screens that it'll play on will be standard widescreen and they will be reminded this by the studio during production and post. I just don't agree that Dolby is a compromise, it's just a matter of framing whcih can be subjective really. And Atmos is superior to IMAX audio, so you could call IMAX audio a 'compromise'.
n111ck said:
Plenty of comparisons on YouTube.
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Please do link. I can only find ones about the trailer or people drawing lines around 16:9 pictures to "explain".

Anyway, I'm not trying to start an argument. There's too many variables to say one is completely superior, in my opinion. Yes, you may get "more picture" with IMAX but it might be cropped/zoomed anyway so the quality is lessened, and the reality of an IMAX theatre is that it's very hard to get a good seat in the best spot. And the audio is not as good as Atmos anyway. I'd hate to part with £30+ here in London for IMAX only to have crappy seats.
 
Scam said:
Well then you're getting into the nitty gritty of how every shot is framed and to be honest we'd never know. Just like we'd never know what shots are panned and scanned from the widescreen 'into' IMAX or if they were both cropped from the full aperture. There's too many variables, but I do know that although filmmakers love to say "shot for IMAX" the reality is that the majority of screens that it'll play on will be standard widescreen and they will be reminded this by the studio during production and post. I just don't agree that Dolby is a compromise, it's just a matter of framing whcih can be subjective really. And Atmos is superior to IMAX audio, so you could call IMAX audio a 'compromise'.

Please do link. I can only find ones about the trailer or people drawing lines around 16:9 pictures to "explain".

Anyway, I'm not trying to start an argument. There's too many variables to say one is completely superior, in my opinion. Yes, you may get "more picture" with IMAX but it might be cropped/zoomed anyway so the quality is lessened, and the reality of an IMAX theatre is that it's very hard to get a good seat in the best spot. And the audio is not as good as Atmos anyway. I'd hate to part with £30+ here in London for IMAX only to have crappy seats.
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The whole movie was shot in 1.90 with some 1.43 so any non Imax version is cropped as the DCP is 2.35. Also given Dune Part 1 wasnt released with the imax footage on disc the cinema is likely the only way to see the full version - whereas DV / DA will be available to watch at home in a few months.

Film is a visual medium so arguing about IMAX 12 channel vs Dolby Armos is a bit of a moot point.

Most movie fans have Unlimited cards so Imax dual laser in Leicester Square is only a £5 uplift lol.. but yes you do have the option to cross the street to the smaller screen to see the cropped version in dolby..
 
n111ck said:
The whole movie was shot in 1.90 with some 1.43 so any non Imax version is cropped as the DCP is 2.35
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Well, I'd argue 1.90 is closer in shape to 2.35 anyway so...
n111ck said:
Film is a visual medium so arguing about IMAX 12 channel vs Dolby Armos is a bit of a moot point.
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Disagree. And I'd imagine half the people working on a film like Dune (i.e. the sound crew) would also disagree. It's the whole experience.
n111ck said:
but yes you do have the option to cross the street to the smaller screen to see the cropped version in dolby..
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Or I could watch it at work in what has been described as one of the top 5 private screening rooms in Soho for free ;)
Stu999 said:
Tell me you haven’t watched the video without telling me you haven’t watched the video.
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With respect, I didn't need to. But having watched it, firstly he saw it in IMAX at 1.90 anyway so not a huge difference from Dolby. Certainly more 'widescreen' e.g. traditional shape than true IMAX. He shows some pics here which demonstrate exactly what I have been trying to say that we don't know how they cropped it for either ratio. As-in, it's not necessarily the case you get "more" top and bottom in comparison to Dolby or 1.90. And there's more highlights/detail in the Dolby presentation. Mind you, all in all it's not the best video because he's not comparing true IMAX. And he's just comparing two specific theatres, like when he's talking about bass.

He also speaks at length about the whole experience of the cinema, crappy IMAX seats that are uncomfortable, older screen, look at that carpet etc. That whole experience matters more to me when I pay to see a film, than getting another metre of sky above a characters head ;)

Anyway, like I say. It's personal preference.
 
Scam said:
Well, I'd argue 1.90 is closer in shape to 2.35 anyway so...

Disagree. And I'd imagine half the people working on a film like Dune (i.e. the sound crew) would also disagree. It's the whole experience.

Or I could watch it at work in what has been described as one of the top 5 private screening rooms in Soho for free ;)

With respect, I didn't need to. But having watched it, firstly he saw it in IMAX at 1.90 anyway so not a huge difference from Dolby. Certainly more 'widescreen' e.g. traditional shape than true IMAX. He shows some pics here which demonstrate exactly what I have been trying to say that we don't know how they cropped it for either ratio. As-in, it's not necessarily the case you get "more" top and bottom in comparison to Dolby or 1.90. And there's more highlights/detail in the Dolby presentation. Mind you, all in all it's not the best video because he's not comparing true IMAX. And he's just comparing two specific theatres, like when he's talking about bass.

He also speaks at length about the whole experience of the cinema, crappy IMAX seats that are uncomfortable, older screen, look at that carpet etc. That whole experience matters more to me when I pay to see a film, than getting another metre of sky above a characters head ;)

Anyway, like I say. It's personal preference.
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There is clearly a difference between 1.90 / 1.85 and 2.35 hence why most cinemas have both screen options.

It may be the whole experience but DA and 12 chan are not night and day difference - unlike a small dolby screen and a giant IMAX.

A screening room? Seriously you are no film fan lol.

How big is your Dolby screen? Which cinema?

Leicester Square doesnt have uncomfortable seats and is dual laser - walking in from the bottom right hand side of the screen is really impressive - much better than your sleazy Soho joint I'd imagine. :D

Anyway I have unlimited access to all Odeon and Cineworld cinemas with minimal uplift for IMAX or Dolby so no reason to be biased - seeing this in the non IMAX version when you have the choice is a mistake.
 
Just had a look at available seats for Saturday, and almost all of the good IMAX seats are taken if we all want to sit together, so it looks like we're going Dolby Cinema anyway! :cry:

We saw Oppenheimer on IMAX and it was stunning, hopefully Dune on Dolby Cinema is just as good, if not, we'll book up earlier for the IMAX over the next couple of weeks.
 
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