Movie theaters

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#487861 30-Jun-2011 14:43

timmmay: Reading in Wellington is decent. Like KopKiwi I do prefer a blu ray on my home system, with leather recliners, 55" LCD, Onkyo/Wharfdale sound, a volume control, and a pause button. If movies came out on blu ray around the same time as on movies i'd probably rarely go to the movies.

I rarely go to the movies anyway. The main thing for me is they're too loud, and too expensive.

The experience at Reading isn't bad, but the pricing is a bit on the steep side. I tend to buy my own snacks from the Starmart thingy outside rather than the concession stand, which saves a bit. Bur lately, I haven't been that often anyway - did go ans see the X-Men prequel though.

The worst experience I had was at the MidCity just before it closed. It was a multiplex and the soundproofing between the theatres was *very very* bad. There was a horror movie on in the next unit, and we were watching a deep and meaningful drama that the GF wanted to see. As the hero was dying and gazing into his loves eyes for one last time, we were treated to a very audible long scream from the film next door. Everyone started laughing (the timing was bang on) and it kinda ruined the atmosphere of the tragic ending.

Part of the theatres' problem is that home equipment is getting much better, which is raising peoples expectations and making the quality margin between movie theatres and home theatres much narrower. When you add in rising prices, and the idiots who want to talk and use their cellphones, the home option is staring to look much better.

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#487873 30-Jun-2011 14:57

I rarely buy snacks for movies, I eat before I go.

Kopkiwi

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#487880 30-Jun-2011 15:10

cgrew: Just out of interest Gentleman, are we running our Home Theatre's at full lossless audio as well as 1080P? What amps ya got?

Conor

Running a Yamaha 667. Brilliantly clear audio with Mission 5.1 setup.

sen8or

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#487918 30-Jun-2011 15:48

Haven't been to a theatre in ages, last movie I think was Karate Kid in Kaiapoi with my sons Kung Fu club, took them about 5 mins to get the film right at the start, but after that it was ok.

Have blu-ray set up at home with lossless audio via Denon AVR3805 (using analog output from the blu-ray player) and connected via HDMI to a pannasonic pt-ax200 projector & 92inch Indigo screen. Speakers are Image reference fronts, image centre chanel and polk fxi dipole surrounds. Also have some Image CW100s doing 2nd lounge duties that will be re-incorporated into main system in the new house.

Sound and picture quality is excellent, even though the ax is "only" 720p, a good quality Blu-ray looks outstanding. DVDs are a little more ordinary, particularly at how close to the screen we are.

Our viewing distance is a little close at just over 3m from the screen, new house will be better, 4 - 4.5m or so, so the perception of the image will improve again as seating distance becomes more optimum.

Own a video shop, so have access to heaps of BR and DVDs, get bugger all screeners these days but they look bad enough on a 42inch plasma, no desire to blow them up to 92. Must try some ps3 games on it one day....

k14

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#487932 30-Jun-2011 16:02

After my last experience at Readings in Queenstown I've decided I will never go to a mainstream cinema again, only boutique ones like Dorothy Browns (Arrowtown) or Paradiso (Wanaka). Nice chairs and decent sound for a night out. A little more expensive but I don't mind paying for the point of difference.

The thing that gets me is the rubbish picture quality. Are any movie theatres digital or do they all use film still? It seems to me that dust gets on the reel and leaves big shadows on the screen when projected. No one was worried back in the 50's but times have moved on. I am in the process of putting together a HT system at home, so far only an Onkyo NR609 receiver. Hopefully get some speakers in the next 2 weeks and then I can watch whatever I want in the comfort of my lounge with little compromise on picture and sound.

lchiu7

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#487953 30-Jun-2011 16:27

cgrew: Just out of interest Gentleman, are we running our Home Theatre's at full lossless audio as well as 1080P? What amps ya got?

Conor

Yes I am as my sig notes. Paradigm and KEF speakers.

Can't beat watching a BluRay movie on a 100" projector with lossless audio.

I cant remember the last time I was at the movies but I guess I might go to see one if it's in 3D and likely to be a good one.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

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timmmay

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#487971 30-Jun-2011 16:49

Is blu ray lossless audio? I assumed it was mpeg compressed.

sen8or

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#487995 30-Jun-2011 17:34

wikipedia explains it better than me

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DTS-HD_Master_Audio

Regs

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#487997 30-Jun-2011 17:37

ArcticSilver: What has happened to the movie theater industry?
A few years ago, I could go to the movies for $13 and get popcorn and a drink for around $5.
Now, its $16-$21 for tickets, $18 for a drink and some popcorn and lackluster sound.

Putting aside the sound quality arguement - as some theatres do a good job in that regard - the rest is just down to rising costs. A rise from $13 to $16 doesnt sound that bad, to be honest. In that same period, food prices, wages, electricity, have all gone up. I'm suprised it hasnt risen faster. I guess they cant increase it too much though, or they will lose more business to the DVD and the internet.

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timmmay

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#488000 30-Jun-2011 17:46

sen8or: wikipedia explains it better than me

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/DTS-HD_Master_Audio

Interesting, thanks :)

ArcticSilver

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#488049 30-Jun-2011 20:27

Regs:
ArcticSilver: What has happened to the movie theater industry?
A few years ago, I could go to the movies for $13 and get popcorn and a drink for around $5.
Now, its $16-$21 for tickets, $18 for a drink and some popcorn and lackluster sound.

Putting aside the sound quality arguement - as some theatres do a good job in that regard - the rest is just down to rising costs. A rise from $13 to $16 doesnt sound that bad, to be honest. In that same period, food prices, wages, electricity, have all gone up. I'm suprised it hasnt risen faster. I guess they cant increase it too much though, or they will lose more business to the DVD and the internet.

I don't have a problem with the $18~ price that it has risen to, but the food price increase is just insane, surely the demand would go down at these prices?

I'd happily pay $25 to go to the movies if the Cinema was properly equipped.

There was one Cinema in Wanika i went to called, Cinema Paradiso, it had couches (proper ones), freshly cooked meals (much cheaper than snacks at Hoyts), a alright picture and good sound. It was the best Cinema i have been to. It seems the smaller Cinema's are the only ones doing it right anymore.

Oh and don't get me started on the quality of movies these days............

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lchiu7

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#488147 1-Jul-2011 08:32

While I don't have huge objections to paying say $18 for a movie ticket (I hardly ever eat popcorn or drink soda), when it's family of four then it becomes a tad expensive. Of course that assumes there is a movie that the whole family wants to go to.

My kids are old enough to go buy themselves and even if I am paying they don't seem to want to go that often, preferring to watch movies in the home theatre.

Staying in Wellington. Check out my AirBnB in the Wellington CBD. https://www.airbnb.co.nz/h/wellycbd PM me and mention GZ to get a 15% discount and no AirBnB charges.

blakamin

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#488156 1-Jul-2011 09:06

Best one in the welly region http://www.lighthousepauatahanui.co.nz/

"From our fully licensed cafe bar where a fine selection of beer and wine is available, to our comfortable couch seats, Light House makes for an enjoyable evening out. "

SepticSceptic

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#488262 1-Jul-2011 14:17

Kopkiwi: This is the reason I bought a projector for the lounge with a 3D adapter.

3D adapter ? Wasn't aware of such a thing - does it fit over the front of the lens or similar ? Do you have a link for the product you purchased ?

ilovemusic

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#488441 1-Jul-2011 21:32

Jaxson: Probably what has changed a bit also is that we can now get full uncompressed sound at home via bluray and tailored it to our specific setup, optimising the sound for us, not the whole theatre space, and we get full HD pictures now too, also optimised distance wise/angle with etc for us.

timmmay: Is blu ray lossless audio? I assumed it was mpeg compressed.

Only LPCM is uncompressed.

The common BD formats of Dolby True-HD and DTS-MA HD are compressed, albeit using lossless compression.

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