THX theaters in San Jose, CA
Gihan Karunaratne
I have been to the 3 supposedly THX certified theaters in the South
Bay and come away disappointed at the quality of the sound. Most
recently I saw Last Kiss Goodnight at the Pavilion in their SDDS/THX
auditorium and felt the sound was no better than an ordinary theater.
The bridge explosion at the end should have rocked the theater but it
sounded almost whimpy. This theatre is advertised as San Jose's
state-of-the-art. The THX theater at the Century 10 in Milpitas was no
better for watching Ghost and the Darkness. What's going on?
Do any of these theaters even show a THX promo or a promo for
digital sound? Maybe I am missing out because I have only been to
Saturday matinees. But before coughing up $8 or whatever the regular
ticket price I need to be assured that these theaters really deliver
what they are supposed to.
Sean Weitzel
In article <3278D0...@eng.sun.com>, Gihan Karunaratne
<gihan.ka...@eng.sun.com> wrote:
I agree that there are no decent THX or digital compatible theaters in San
Jose. It's kind of silly being that we are supposed to be the technology
capitol... After Syufy and AMC open up their supposed megaplexes, it will
be an embarassment to claim that San Jose/Santa Clara Valley has over 100
screens and none of them sound good..
On a more positive note, I believe that the screens that are certified are
not put to their full potential by fault of the goofy management.. let me
give an example..
I have seen ONE film in one of the THX screens that really rocked.. It was
the press screening for 'Star Trek: Generations'. The screening took place
at Century 10 Berryessa. This is a 16 screen multiplex with the two
screens at the end of each hallway being the 'showcase screen' as I call
it. Going into the theater, The leftmost screen is THX with DTS (maybe
SR*D..) the rightmost screen is SR*D (maybe DTS) not THX certified..
For the press screening, I saw
a MINT DTS logo
a MINT THX logo
a MINT feature print and the audio KICKED!!.. it was VERY sonic.. not
painful, but loud enough to shake your stomach violently during the
Enterprise crash landing.
Exactly 4 days later (Saturday Morning) I took my family to pay and see
the same print in the same auditorium...
The sound was WEAK... soft, no low end at all.... but definatly the same
print with the same digital source..
since then, I havent had the opportunity to see any more press screenings
in that auditorium, but all of the films I try to see in that particular
auditorium sound soft and weak. Yet, I hear of the same kinds of
situations that I experienced from others who regularly see press
screenings in that auditorium.. LOUD and GREAT for the press,, WEAK and
watered down for the public.
go figure
-sean
Sean Weitzel
I can't let Syufy go without another clown..
they always seem to choose the lower end non-moneymakers to run in DTS..
Last year I saw a modest box office fizzle called 'The Cure' (Universal)
at Century Capital 16. It was playing on one of the mid-hallway mid-size
screens... needless to say, The prior two films I had seen at the hallway
end auditoriums had played in analog stereo...
The Cure played in DTS complete with DTS logo!.. weird... sometimes they
don't even run the logos anymore..
it's lame..
-s
Chris Scott
> I have been to the 3 supposedly THX certified theaters in the South
> Bay and come away disappointed at the quality of the sound. Most
> recently I saw Last Kiss Goodnight at the Pavilion in their SDDS/THX
> auditorium and felt the sound was no better than an ordinary theater.
> The bridge explosion at the end should have rocked the theater but it
> sounded almost whimpy. This theatre is advertised as San Jose's
> state-of-the-art. The THX theater at the Century 10 in Milpitas was no
> better for watching Ghost and the Darkness. What's going on?
This is interesting. I really enjoy the two THX theaters that the United
Artists Pavillion has. The sound is so loud that my ears hurt during some
sequences. I have seen many movies there, even ones that didn't have a
digital soundtrack. Every movie I've seen in either of the two THX
theaters has looked and sounded perfect. I always see the THX intro
(currently it is the "Tex" intro). Whenever a DTS or SDDS movie is played,
I always see the appropriate intro. Often while watching a movie here, I
see other patrons holding their hands over their ears. The Pavillion is
the only theater in the Silicon Valley that I respect.
Unfortunately for them, Syufy has them locked out from getting the good
first-run movies. A Pavillion employee told me that there is some kind of
5-mile radius exclusivity rule that movie distributors follow. Since
Syufy's Century complex on Winchester Blvd. is within 5-miles of the
Pavillion, Syufy will be the preferred customer of the distributor since
Syufy already has a track record of being a popular movie theater. The
thing is, Syufy's theaters and management are terrible and Pavillion will
never get a chance to show that they also can make money if they are never
given a popular, first-run film to show. I would just love to see the
forthcoming "Star Wars Triology: Special Edition" films next year, but I
probably will be forced to go to the lousy Century theaters on Winchester
Blvd. I really hope that all THX-equipped screens will get the "Star Wars"
films, regardless if they are within 5 miles of their competitor. Can
someone from THX confirm if the Pavillion will be allowed to show the
"Star Wars" films?
Thanks,
Chris
_____________________________
Chris Scott
Illustrator Quality Assurance
Adobe Systems, Inc.
csc...@best.com
Vern Dias
Sean Weitzel wrote:
>
> In article <3278D0...@eng.sun.com>, Gihan Karunaratne
> <gihan.ka...@eng.sun.com> wrote:
>
> > Bay and come away disappointed at the quality of the sound. Most
> > recently I saw Last Kiss Goodnight at the Pavilion in their SDDS/THX
> > auditorium and felt the sound was no better than an ordinary theater.
> > The bridge explosion at the end should have rocked the theater but it
> > sounded almost whimpy. This theatre is advertised as San Jose's
> > state-of-the-art. The THX theater at the Century 10 in Milpitas was no
> > better for watching Ghost and the Darkness. What's going on?
> >
> > digital sound? Maybe I am missing out because I have only been to
> > Saturday matinees. But before coughing up $8 or whatever the regular
> > ticket price I need to be assured that these theaters really deliver
> > what they are supposed to.
There is a simple explanation for what you heard:
The press screening probably had studio reps that TOLD THE THEATRE to
play it at the PROPER DOLBY REFERENCE LEVEL.
When the studio rep left, the LAME MANAGER or PROJECTIONIST (take your
choice0 set the level to his/her liking.
--
Vern Dias
Through the magic of Merlin (AKA WARP 4)
and Netscape Navigator
Sean Weitzel
In article <cscott-0411...@cscott.vip.best.com>, csc...@best.com
(Chris Scott) wrote:
I doubt the pavilion will get Star Wars... There was an article a while
back about how the Pavillion is seriously lacking attendence.. The artile
was in the West magazine of one Sunday's Mercury News.. it indicated that
there were "....several other theater circuits interested in assuming
control and/or ownership of the UA pavillion"
Anyone want to take a guess as to why the sudden re-modeling of Century
22? perhaps to THX it? for Lucas's little flick?.. Hell will freeze over
before I subject myself to Star Wars at *ANY* of the San Jose theaters...
this is why we're going down to Los Angeles to see it.. anyone want to
recommend a great theater in LA?.. Isn't Mann's Chinese *THE* place to be?
I read reports in rec.arts.movies.tech that there will be *NO* 70mm prints
made!!!! only 35mm anamorphic with all 3 digital formats.. SAY IT ISN'T
SO!!!!
-sean
Charles Ingalz
swei...@best.com (Sean Weitzel) writes:
>In article <cscott-0411...@cscott.vip.best.com>, csc...@best.com
>(Chris Scott) wrote:
>I doubt the pavilion will get Star Wars... There was an article a while
>back about how the Pavillion is seriously lacking attendence.. The artile
>was in the West magazine of one Sunday's Mercury News.. it indicated that
>there were "....several other theater circuits interested in assuming
>control and/or ownership of the UA pavillion"
Syufy plans to purchase the Pavillion from UA. They are also dealing
with the city so they can have first rights on the small film distributors
too. They are doing this because they want the repitory film market
that the Camera Cinema's have. The second reason is that Century will
need more seats to lock out the AMC20 plex from first runs when they
open up. The problem has a lot less to do with Syufy than it does
with the city of San Jose's redevelopment agency and planning
committee. All I can say is that we get what we deserve.
>Anyone want to take a guess as to why the sudden re-modeling of Century
>22? perhaps to THX it? for Lucas's little flick?.. Hell will freeze over
>before I subject myself to Star Wars at *ANY* of the San Jose theaters...
>this is why we're going down to Los Angeles to see it.. anyone want to
>recommend a great theater in LA?.. Isn't Mann's Chinese *THE* place to be?
Century 22 would never be THX. Besides the fact the no one in San Jose
gives a crap about THX, that Syufy is too cheap, the big domes could probably
never be THX simply because of the shoddy construction. The screen is way
too curved and distorted (to make it flat would take away 1/3 of the
seating), I can hear airplanes and cars from outside as clear as day,
the exit doors leak daylight and is very distracting, and the sound
reverbs in the dome like a cave.
>> I would just love to see the
>> forthcoming "Star Wars Triology: Special Edition" films next year, but I
>> probably will be forced to go to the lousy Century theaters on Winchester
>> Blvd. I really hope that all THX-equipped screens will get the "Star Wars"
>> films, regardless if they are within 5 miles of their competitor. Can
>> someone from THX confirm if the Pavillion will be allowed to show the
>> "Star Wars" films?
The Pavillion will not be showing Star Wars. The closest decent THX
theater that will show it will be the Cinema 9 in Santa Cruz, or the
UA Coronet in San Francisco.
-Charles
John Scoleri
Star Wars SE will open at the Century 21 on January 31, 1997.
John
Jesse Skeen
John Scoleri (resrv...@earthlink.net) wrote:
: Star Wars SE will open at the Century 21 on January 31, 1997.
And all showings the following day will be cancelled until the new print
arrives to replace the one damaged by Syufy's incompetent fools!