Bad Projection Is Ruining the Movie Theater Experience | Hacker News Reader

Bad Projection Is Ruining the Movie Theater Experience

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50 pointsawnird31 comments

I was extremely impressed with the standard screens shown at Alamo Drafthouse. In the Downtown LA branch, after seeing Last Night in Soho, I just had to talk to the projectionist. He was kind enough to discuss technical aspects for over an hour. He explained that they do projector and audio calibrations as part of their bring up for adding a new film. The video calibration being a special laser they use from the center of the room combined with the projectionist's gut feel. The audio being setting up microphones through the room and measuring test signals through the different speakers. The results show: the standard screening of Last Night in Soho looked and sounded better than the Dolby version I saw in AMC. AMC does not have this kind of care placed on their screens because I think they have essentially cut their projectionist staff down to the bare minimum.

The article alluded to the massive investment AMC is doing by replacing the majority of their standard screens over to the new Barco Laser projectors. Here in NJ they are rolling these changes out theater by theater. It was really disappointing to see that AMC Empire 25 really messed up the presentation that the author saw as they were one of the first theaters to undergo this renovation.

Alamo Drafthouse is what competent small business leadership looks like. I used to go there every other week when I lived in ATX.

Sadly they sold to a hedge fund and quality has been going downhill, but yes, for years Alamo was the only thing that kept me going to theaters. It’s still much better than any competitor though

I didn't hear this news. Sad indeed.

I don't have a lot of hope reserved for these kinds of experiences anymore.

You are correct. Here in EU is the same with the corporate mall theaters.

What we do have however are larger networks of subsidized cinemas which almost operate like non-profits. Those usually have projectionists who don’t cut corners.

In my time working with filmmakers and going to film festivals - there really is an obsession with getting it “just right”.

It is truly sad to me how the US has only so many of these Alamo Theaters. Every community should have a properly functioning cinema - it shouldn’t be treated like a computer you hit play on.

This is why I prefer to watch films on a Dolby Atmos or 2D laser IMAX screen. These outside bodies certify that projection and sound are built and operated to a quality specification.

You can find them in your local market if you do some research, most theaters do not have them and if they do it's only 1 of their screens. Theater chains do advertise them as a premium experience and reserve them for whatever the current big hit film is.

Corporate theater chains don’t care about fidelity, this is the only way to get a quality experience from their facilities.

Physical screen damage plagues non certified screens. Between that and dead pixels and the other issues outlined in this article, I see one of them on almost every screen that doesn’t have some kind of technology subtitle promising a superior experience.

The one thing my home theater still needs is an ice machine.

Exactly. With how good home setups are these days, I only go to the theater now for a premium experience, while in my youth, I would go every weekend to hang out with friends or court a girl. I only visit 2 theaters in my city and find only a handful of their auditoriums (main imax) as acceptable.

Even an 80 inch TV cannot possibly compare to a 200 inch cinema screen. I'd argue that right now is an amazing time to see cinema granted you can find a good screen and stick with it. Over the last two years since theaters opened back up, I have seen so many films in an empty theater because people are just not going to see non franchise/superhero movies. As a result, the rest of my local cinema screens are flat out empty. I am perfectly fine with that even though I know it is not sustainable. Combine that with the AMC monthly pass where for ~25$ I get to see three movies a week in any format I want, its an amazing deal for movie fans.

I purchased a 4k ($2.5k) ust laser projector, full sonos setup ($1500) and a 100" screen ($300) and a new recliner couch ($1,200) throughout Covid. I still go and see big movies at the theater, like Avatar. But to be honest, I feel like my setup is much more clear and the audio more crisp than many of the low grade theater rooms.

My projector is good up to 150", I just don't have room for a screen that size in my current house.

You spent so much money only to have a system that does not compete with a good chain. Like I said, IF you find a good screen this is an amazing opportunity to enjoy it while the masses are not crowding the room.

Perhaps but the convenience, comfort, ability to pause, and cheapness/variety of food and beverage probably make it worth it. Since I bought my 80" OLED and a decent audio setup I have not had a desire to go to a movie theatre unless it is something new that I want to see immediately or something for my kids.

While there is a minimum quality level, there are still differences between different Dolby and IMAX screen sizes. I dont have it right now but others have compiled a google docs listing the variations across AMC cinemas.

There are multiple IMAX screen types. The full size giant IMAX you'll find at theme parks and such, the medium size, and then a small watered down faux-IMAX that theaters can retrofit into existing facilities.

Dolby Atmos competes with medium IMAX, I forget which is better but they are both miles ahead of a typical theater screen. The entire room has to be designed for certification from the ground up to ensure optimal picture and acoustic properties to every seat. Also the sound and projection hardware required for certification is significantly better than what theaters typically buy.

>There are multiple IMAX screen types. The full size giant IMAX you'll find at theme parks and such, the medium size, and then a small watered down faux-IMAX that theaters can retrofit into existing facilities.

No I am referring only to different size Laser IMAX/Digital IMAX(LieMax) at locations like AMC. They are not uniform screen sizes. Yes the authentic IMAX 70mm/65mm OmniMax is the best but those are a rare species at this point.

>Dolby Atmos competes with medium IMAX, I forget which is better but they are both miles ahead of a typical theater screen.

I disagree, yes they are typically better but a really good laser system that has been calibrated properly can really compete well with some of these average IMAX systems.

>The entire room has to be designed for certification from the ground up to ensure optimal picture and acoustic properties to every seat. Also the sound and projection hardware required for certification is significantly better than what theaters typically buy.

This is my point: That despite certification, theaters are fudging the numbers by reducing the screen size or not keeping things in proper calibration. There is a shared google sheets doc floating around that documents this.

What really ruins the movie theater experience.

1. People browsing their smartphones in the middle of the movie.

2. People talking loudly during the movie.

3. People kicking the back of the seat.

4. Sticky and dirty floors, seats, etc.

Never had issues with bad projection, but I haven't been to the theaters in a few years.

Alamo Drafthouse prides themselves on kicking people out if they do any of these things...yet they were going bankrupt and had to be sold. There has got to be more to it than just these (legit) issues.

Personally I feel it is an indication of societal decline that is contributing. This whole era of people really being isolated thanks to tech and modern society is revealing a lack of empathy for the fellow man.

One of the last films I saw before Covid was Knives Out and an elderly couple were sitting a few seats over. The woman kept repeating the lines to the man and explaining things that were happening in the movie. I can of course appreciate the situation but this is the reason I don't want to go to a theatre often except for the big movies.

Same. But mostly the smartphone thing. Absolutely makes my blood boil.

Figured it wasn't worth the stress anymore, haven't been to the movies in a decade, and probably never will again.

Where I live they have a more expensive VIP version where you get a recliner and food/beverage service. For some reason, people in these respect the experience.

I don't know. Of all the various things that make going to the movie theater unpleasant, I don't think bad projection even cracks my top 5.

Yeah I've only had one experience with terrible projection. I saw Juno at the drive in theatre and the boom mic kept dropping onto the screen.

Ha, that is what I was thinking. It would have to be really bad to be concerned about it.

The aspect ratio discussion in this reminded me of Stanley Kubrick's projection instructions for Barry Lyndon: https://somecamerunning.typepad.com/some_came_running/2011/0...

When I went to see the new Avatar movie I looked at the AMC app and realized that I had only been to see 5 movies in theatres since 2017 and with one exception (the anthony bourdain documentary) I had seen them all at the big IMAX at Lincoln Square in New York.

I went from being someone who went to sometimes multiple movies a week in theatres to having only been to five movies in the past five years!

I know a lot of this has to do with me personally but I also think it's indicative of factors (including bad projection) ruining the experience.

Factors for why I've reduced my moviegoing, in no particular order:

Theatres seem to be absolutely disgusting now. I went to a "dine in" theatre near me years ago and there was a spill of something on the seat. After searching for and finding someone who worked there they helpfully gave me some paper towels and shrugged. Even ignoring extreme events like this, theatres just don't seem clean anymore. The anecdote about them using leaf blowers to clean seems apt and accurate.

The experience in general seems to be degraded and less respectful. I find the attitude of others in the theatre to be terrible (talking over movies, using phones, kicking chairs, etc). Whatever foods they are selling now smells awful and is nausea-inducing to me.

I'm not even sure it would be /possible/ for me to go see as many movies as I used to. I'm sure this is partially my shifting taste but there also seems to be far less variety now vs 10-20 years ago, more screens showing fewer movies trending towards blockbusters. I definitely could not find one movie a week I was interested to see, even ignoring other factors.

Streaming is completely upsetting this as well. Previously I had to decide between "see this now or wait 6-12-18 months" and now movies either release on streaming in a few weeks, or, have simultaneous releases. Many of the most interesting (to me) movies don't even release in theatres.

I have vastly upgraded my home cinema experience. This is largely in response to all of the above points, but, it absolutely factors into it. I have an 85" OLED screen with a Very Good ATMOS sound system.

For all but the largest of movies I can now watch them at home, in better quality, in better comfort, at my own pace.

Movie theatres are dead, long live the movies!

"Barry Lyndon" is not one I've seen, but famously Kubrick acquired special lenses from NASA to shoot by candlelight (I believe f/0.7 which were then the fastest in the world), so when he says an infinite amount of care went into the look of the film, I believe him. This is a very cool piece of ephemera from the film world to have come up online. Thank you.

Barry Lyndon is a very special movie. You have to love cinema and love Kubrick to love Barry Lyndon. It is not a movie which rewards casual viewing, but, if you're already talking about special lenses from NASA (and yes that is true) you'll appreciate all the work which went into it.

“An infinite amount of care” is the standard for Kubrick after a certain point in his career. He was insanely detail-oriented and obsessive in the research and execution of his films.

There’s a wonderful mini-documentary called ‘Stanley Kubrick’s Boxes’ that really dives into just how meticulous he was. It’s astounding to see.

It's even more obvious for (good) 3D movies. I saw the most recent Avatar movie several times, in several different projection formats, and it was extremely clear to me that if you don't see it in Dolby Cinema 3D (high frame rate and all) you're barely seeing it at all. Even proper "real" IMAX 3D doesn't come anywhere close in terms of brightness, depth of 3D, lack of blurriness.

I'm a huge fan of both Avatar movies, not because they're great story or anything, but because they do 3D so well and the world so immersive and interesting. And I fear the fact that all but a slim minority of 3D theaters are so sub-par will be a huge setback for the format and discourage other filmmakers from investing in making 3D that's as good.

I haven't been to a cinema since COVID and hardly went before then (once or twice a year).

I spoke last year with a friend who runs theatre distribution for a major studio. He said this is common among Xers like me, but that older people and, surprisingly, genZ are enthusiastic cinema-goers. I would not have guessed the latter.

I think it's unlikely I'll ever go to a cinema again. I hear about films being released in cinemas these days and figure I'll just see it when it comes to streaming...or maybe not.

I'm older, and I'm not a fan of seeing movies in the theater anymore. I used to be an avid moviegoer. I'm also unwilling to subscribe to streaming services (I got rid of cable TV for a reason, I don't need it back).

So I only really watch movies on disc anymore, or occasionally at a friends house. Which means that I don't watch many new mainstream movies -- which I'm OK with. The vast majority of the movies being made these days aren't my kind of thing anyway, and the sorts of movies I do enjoy tend to have disc releases.

I saw the jujutsu kaisen movie at an AMC and the picture quality was terrible, 1/3 of the screen was tinted blue. Never had an issue at an Alamo Drafthouse though.

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