Cineplex Theatres Is Going Digital

[Hard_Taco]

This week Cineplex have announced they will install Canadian made ( in Kitchener to be exact) Christie CP2000 DLP Cinema projectors in their 25 theatres across the country. Metro Vancouver area is one of them. Heres the link www.marketwire.com/mw/release.do?id=826626&k=cineplex for Vancouver. There are more press releases for other cities and towns at Marketwire. In Toronto, a new Silvercity will be opening at Fairview Mall is going to be all digital a first for Toronto. Incase anyone didn't know, the landlord have kicked out Rainbow Cinemas in flavour of Cineplex. In my opinion, it doesn't do much to woo movie goers as you have to endure dirty theatres, high prices for food and tickets. Also small theatre owners have to cough up a lot of money to buy those projectors. Even if the big chains such as Cineplex turn their theatres into entertainment centres such as Silvercity Oakville. The bright side for those who go the movies, the picture will be much better.

[shawn99]

I'd actually go if the picture is lot better in terms of quality.

[robertalan]

This week Cineplex have announced they will install Canadian made ( in Kitchener to be exact) Christie CP2000 DLP Cinema projectors in their 25 theatres across the country.
They've got a lot more than 25 theatres across Canada (131 theatres with 1,327 screens), and they are hardly the first to install chain to install them after AMC and Empire, and their not even the first digital projectors in Cineplex theatres.

The bright side for those who go the movies, the picture will be much better.
In my experience, I would say the picture is about equal. The benefits are in distribution, not having to print expensive film copies and transport them to the theatres. Also, since many movies are digitally edited or contain cgi, there's one less step in duplication. It also allows the use of Real D 3D movies, which are becoming more popular - Hannah Montana, U2 3D, and the upcoming 2009 Avatar by James Cameron - theatres are rushing digital projectors into place to get a piece of that 3D pie.

[Sohjonn]

i like rainbow cinema, i can't justify spending 10-12 for a movie, when rainbow was offering 7-9 and even cheaper on tuesdays. it's not the rfd way.

[mrtvgame]

Not such new news but interesting nevertheless.

The thing is Farview was originally Cineplex during the 80's when the mall was retrofitted to accomodate the cinemas above the food court.

IMO, Cineplex has sucked ass since taking over Famous Players, which had the majority of the their complexes THX certified. Since giving up that certification, the quality of presentation has been dismal. They just do not keep up their cinemas whether it is the theater equipment or the physical condition of seating, washrooms and public places.

Really there is no incentive to go to the cinema anymore. I can have a better experience at home with 100" inch 1080p, 7.1 TrueHD DTS set-up. Picture and sound beats the cinema, my seats are more comfortable and I don't have to swim through piss to go to the bathroom.

[robertalan]

Really there is no incentive to go to the cinema anymore. I can have a better experience at home with 100" inch 1080p, 7.1 TrueHD DTS set-up. Picture and sound beats the cinema, my seats are more comfortable and I don't have to swim through piss to go to the bathroom.

Sorry, nothing beats seeing a hot new movie with a lively crowd on opening night.

The crowd energy and reactions creates an electricity just like a rock concert compared to listening to an iPod.

[Cas77]

Sorry, nothing beats seeing a hot new movie with a lively crowd on opening night.

The crowd energy and reactions creates an electricity just like a rock concert compared to listening to an iPod.

Sorry, but the same can be said for rock concerts. Last one I went to the accoustics were horrible in a 20K seat venue. Good accoustics cannot be obtained in such big venues (or outdoors for that matter). I was disturbed at least 25 times so the drunks could squeeze by to go get their beer. In the intermission my wife had to stand in line 25min just to use the ladies room.

Thanks but no thanks. If that's what the 'electricity' is all about I'll leave my seats to someone else and pick up their greatest hits on itune.

Same can be said for movie theaters. Seat kicking, kids talking at the wrong times and cell phones do not make a lively crowd in my books.

In terms of technology the home experience has greatly surpassed the experience you get when going out and it keeps improving exponentially when compared to the later.

[mrtvgame]

Sorry, nothing beats seeing a hot new movie with a lively crowd on opening night.

The crowd energy and reactions creates an electricity just like a rock concert compared to listening to an iPod.

Disagree. You need to watch a film or concert at my place.

I am not into crowds of energy which usually equate to a bunch or moronic teenagers that do not how to behave in a movie theater. This accompanies yelling, cell phones and lame laser pointers. Then of course the poor upkeep of the seating, sound system and film projections.

Here's to the death of cinemas as we know it.

[CSK'sMom]

In my experience, I would say the picture is about equal. The benefits are in distribution, not having to print expensive film copies and transport them to the theatres. Also, since many movies are digitally edited or contain cgi, there's one less step in duplication. It also allows the use of Real D 3D movies, which are becoming more popular - Hannah Montana, U2 3D, and the upcoming 2009 Avatar by James Cameron - theatres are rushing digital projectors into place to get a piece of that 3D pie.

+1! IIRC, when the Cineplex theater was built here in Niagara Falls 6 or so years it was built with digital. It was the only cinema in all of Niagara to actually have the Hannah Montanna 3D movie. The only differences we find can be attributed to theater design. There is a real difference with the newer theater design vs. a theater that was built say 20 years ago.

editted to add: By the way our Cineplex is $8.25 admission everyday. ;)

[Hard_Taco]

Not such new news but interesting nevertheless.

The thing is Farview was originally Cineplex during the 80's when the mall was retrofitted to accomodate the cinemas above the food court.

IMO, Cineplex has sucked ass since taking over Famous Players, which had the majority of the their complexes THX certified. Since giving up that certification, the quality of presentation has been dismal. They just do not keep up their cinemas whether it is the theater equipment or the physical condition of seating, washrooms and public places.



The film projectors going to be replace by the digital ones and there is no point buying new ones. I have notice what you mean when it comes condition of the theatres. Cineplex is trying save money on labour cost by focusing on larger projects such as aging theatre replacements and expansion. Once in a while you got university and college students applying there, they are too expensive. Cineplex prefer high school students.

[revelation]

i like rainbow cinema, i can't justify spending 10-12 for a movie, when rainbow was offering 7-9 and even cheaper on tuesdays. it's not the rfd way.

If you were really concerned with price, you would know that its $4.99 on Tuesdays at Coliseum Scarborough, Morningside Cinemas and Eglinton Town Centre. AND half price popcorn.

Minus snacks, its just a couple bucks more than a rental, plus you can collect Scene points.

[stud171]

Empire already beat them to the punch on this one:

http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/February2008/26/c5221.html

[robertalan]

Sorry, but the same can be said for rock concerts. Last one I went to the accoustics were horrible in a 20K seat venue. Good accoustics cannot be obtained in such big venues (or outdoors for that matter). I was disturbed at least 25 times so the drunks could squeeze by to go get their beer. In the intermission my wife had to stand in line 25min just to use the ladies room.

Thanks but no thanks. If that's what the 'electricity' is all about I'll leave my seats to someone else and pick up their greatest hits on itune.

Same can be said for movie theaters. Seat kicking, kids talking at the wrong times and cell phones do not make a lively crowd in my books.

In terms of technology the home experience has greatly surpassed the experience you get when going out and it keeps improving exponentially when compared to the later.

Disagree. You need to watch a film or concert at my place.

I am not into crowds of energy which usually equate to a bunch or moronic teenagers that do not how to behave in a movie theater. This accompanies yelling, cell phones and lame laser pointers. Then of course the poor upkeep of the seating, sound system and film projections.

Here's to the death of cinemas as we know it.
I honestly feel sad that you two haven't experienced the crowd energy that I am describing. :(

Has no one else been to a great concert or opening night movie?

[wbastien]

+1! IIRC, when the Cineplex theater was built here in Niagara Falls 6 or so years it was built with digital. It was the only cinema in all of Niagara to actually have the Hannah Montanna 3D movie. The only differences we find can be attributed to theater design. There is a real difference with the newer theater design vs. a theater that was built say 20 years ago.

editted to add: By the way our Cineplex is $8.25 admission everyday. ;)
I love the theatre at the Niagara Square, much better than the one at the Seaway Mall.