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Black eye for IMAX in front of the media tonight. A source tells me that a botched IMAX screening of The Dark Knight Rises sent about 100 reporters and critics home mid-movie tonight. Warner Bros apologized to the pissed-off invitees and is holding an 8 AM re-screening for them just prior to the Saturday press junket with all the film’s stars. An IMAX rep explained this was the only IMAX print of the movie on the entire West Coast:
“The computer device that syncs the picture and sound broke about 1 hour into the screening. Junket reporters, local press, and members of the Hollywood Foreign Press Association were at the IMAX at the AMC at Citywalk to see the film. A strict no-guest policy with wristbands were issued for entrance. The movie started promptly at 7 PM. But at about 8:15 PM, as a new reel began, the dialogue between Christian Bale and Michael Caine was clearly out of sync - with a full 5- to 10-second lip-flap after lines were spoken. After a few minutes the crowd shouted for a projectionist. The movie was stopped and the lights went up. A 40-year employee of IMAX said that this has never ever happened to him before. After 20 minutes the man came out again and said the sync computer had failed and could not be rebooted. A computer is now being taken out of IMAX headquarters in West Los Angeles and installed in the AMC Universal location overnight. Reporters were asked to return to the same theater Saturday at 8 AM to see the film. Warner Bros reps asked that everyone see the movie in its entirety and not just from where it left off.”
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This would not have happened if it were projected on film. Save 35mm!
actually it is film. The 15/70 film prints of IMAX (the only way Nolan wants people to see the movie for the full frame aspect) do not contain the sound on the print. It is image only so they can use as much film real estate to get the biggest image possible. The sound is frame count synced to the film print via a computer. If the something causes the film to be out of sync, it will remain out of sync for the remainder of the film.
It was an IMAX film projector, handling 70mm film
Yeah, because none of us have had a projector break or print melt halfway through a screening before, right?
Nice try, Crosby.
IMAX is a film format! It would have never happened if it was Digital projection.
No, if it was digital projection, it would have been much worse of a problem.
-RnsW
Uh, what? Things like this happen ALL THE TIME with digital projections. Earlier this year a press screening of The Avengers was delayed because the entire film was deleted and had to be redownloaded. The only reason why this was a problem is because IMAX does not print the soundtrack on the film in order to produce the best image available – this was a computer error, and computers fail ALL THE TIME.
…or in this case, 70mm film….
Had the same thing happen during “Men in Black” at our IMAX here in Virginia Beach. Half way through the movie the voices went out of synch. They were 5 seconds off. We got a refund and a free ticket….which was great as I was about to walk out anyways.
What a terrible movie!! They shut down the IMAX the rest of the day.
i will assume this was sarcasm.
So, I guess if The Dark Knight Rises doesn’t get great reviews from top critics, fanboys will just say they were angry or tired.
On the bright side, the early word from those in attendance at screenings of The Dark Knight Rises in New York and elsewhere earlier today is very, very positive. Apparently, Christopher Nolan managed to stick the landing on the final installment of his Batman trilogy.
Can’t wait to see it in IMAX (if the projectors work).
A bummer, but necessary risk in presenting the best visual experience possible.
IMAX Citywalk had to cancel screenings of Promethesus opening wknd for the same reason. 35mm backup anyone?
Hope that happens at the screening taking place on the Warner lot this weekend.
That IMAX location has had multiple problems. One of the bulbs burned out in the middle of “Prometheus” a few weeks ago. The staff was very nice and offered refunds, but it was still frustrating. A few other friends have had similar problems over the past few months. Hope they get it together soon since they’re the only one in the Valley. The fake IMAX In Burbank doesn’t count,
I’ll bet there’s one guy on their staff who’s just super-incompetent. AMC, fire that incompetent boob! You’re getting international notoriety now over these mishaps!
You are so right about this, I actually got into an argument with the manager when i went to see MI Ghost Protocol there on opening night. Cause they left the behind the screen maintnence lights on, and the seam lines of the screen were very noticeable. I went out 4 times durring the movie to complain about it, nothing was done. at the end of the movie, I asked to speak to the manager was given a run around, and basicly told i was wrong, and didnt know what i was talking about. (never mind the fact I was projectionist at the IMAX at point orlando, back when it was a MUVICO for a number of years) This manager was insistant that i was making it up and refused to call the projectionist down so i could point it out to him, or even let me show him exactly what i was talking about.
He just assumed i was out for a refund or a free ticket. Which i was not and hadnt even asked for either. finally I left, went on twitter and face book and posted about my experience there, 24 hours latter AMC corp, is trying to get me to get intouch with them about the issue.
At that point i didnt care anymore, that theatre will never get my business ever again, I will spend the extra money on gas and drive down to the RAVE or the Irvine Spectrum before AMC citywalk 18 gets my money again. It doesnt surprise me that They had issues with Promethus and now this DKR screening as well.
Stay far far away from this theatre, that cares nothing about Quality Presentation
I had this happen to me at a screening of “How to Train Your Dragon” at the San Francisco Metreon IMAX screen. So I really, really doubt that employee is telling the truth. The film started about 45 minutes late and was out of sync by, you guessed it, 5 to 10 seconds. So they cut the sound completely and let the movie play soundless for awhile. It was actually quite fun as everyone in the audience began making up their own sound effects for the action on screen and this lasted for a good 5 minutes until they cut picture all together and told us the film would not be playing and they could not fix it. No further explanation. They gave us all two free tickets and a refund so it was well worth going even with the inconvenience. Still, this is not some never seen occurrence in IMAX theaters, but my guess is it happens mostly on the film IMAX’s as TDKR is on film and City Walk projects film. The Metreon projects IMAX film as well. I doubt a digital IMAX or LieMAX would have the same sound issue.
I saw Inception at the Citywalk IMAX and it had problems partway through the movie too. If I recall correctly the sound just dropped out completely.
Please remind the 40 year IMAX veteran that the same thing happened Saturday night of opening weekend of The Dark Knight. After a false fire alarm went off, a few minutes after they restarted the movie the sound drifted out of sync. Even worse, we were left waiting over an hour before a condescending manager told us there was no way to fix the sync problem. A few hundred angry patrons can verify this.
And please remind the 40 year IMAX veteran that the same thing happened a few days afterward, but without the fire alarm as an excuse. We used our “free” passes to attempt to see The Dark Knight the Tuesday after it opened, 20 minutes in the sound slipped out of sync for no reason. Again, there’s plenty of people to verify this. It can’t have been a mere coincidence that this happened to us twice in one week..
I will never go to that theater again.
I WAS THERE THAT NIGHT! Two Hours in line at Citywalk just to have the fire alarm go off right at the start of the epic car chase in the middle of the film. Then sitting there for 45minutes waiting before the Citywalk staff told us they couldn’t resync the sound and booted us out so they could let in the next showing. I’ve never been more disgusted with a theater or their handling of a such a fuck-up. My first, and last time at their IMAX. Skip the crowds and headaches, go to the RAVE 18 in Culver City. Genuine IMAX, great facilities, $2 parking, and I’ve never had a problem there.
I bet there are people out there willing to kill for those wristbands.
The Rave is the best place to see an IMAX film in LA. Reserved seating. Great staff. Don’t bother with universal city walk. Same thing happened with TDK in 2008. Synching problems halfway through. Made my blood boil.
Actually, this was most likely a FILM print. The computer synching links the film print to an external audio source.
Confirmation that it was indeed a film print:
“”The Dark Knight Rises” will be presented on 70-millimeter film in 102 IMAX 15/70mm locations worldwide.”
Maybe it’s a good luck curse for Christopher Nolan films. A Nolan-attended screening of INCEPTION at the Arclight had to be shut down when the A/C failed. That movie went on to earn heaps of money and praise. So, you know, this could be a good thing!
I’ve nothing but sympathy for the projectionist. I once had Braveheart slip off the cake stand after about ten minutes of playing. Rather than shut down and re spool. I stood there for the remaining two and a half hours letting it run through a white cloth.
“Pissed off”
I find it hard to feel TOO bad for critics who are seeing “The Dark Knight Rises” a week early in IMAX for free.
Oh Christopher!!!
How your beloved antiquated medium has slapped you in the face!!!
A DCP wouldn’t have done this.
Too funny.
Yeah, it just would have completely crashed.
nonono…
it’s the COMPUTER that synced the sound that crashed. it’s not nolan’s luddism but his hubris in using technology at all!
if he shot dkr without sound (and therefore the need for a computer to sync it), it would have been fine… after all, if a guy cranking the projector drops dead, you can just get another guy.
same thing with the person playing the piano live.
oh nolan, you tech slut. hoisted by your own petard!
Spiderman put the ‘eyes’ on Batman, or, at least, entangled the screening in a web…
This seems almost unthinkable–A high profile event that had a long time to prepare for and not only does it screw up, but there is no working backup plan ready.
It seems unthinkable, but it is becoming commonplace. Stock markets screw up high profile initial public offerings. Football games stop play because the fields are in terrible shape. Bridges (and nuclear power plants) crumble because infrastructure isn’t maintained.
Movies like TDKR generate hundreds of millions of dollars. Why the hell didn’t they have complete redundant systems ready to run if one failed? (Same all over–the stock market makes billions. The NFL makes billions. Governments get endless taxes. But money always gets spent on other things. Someone needs to rethink budget priorities.)
I hope this doesn’t happen when I see the film at the Pointe IMAX in Orlando. I may cry if it does
This was not even True IMAX. From what I understand AMC only shows fake Digital IMAX. I’ve read that the Real IMAX version of this movie weights over 600 pounds. Now that is impressive.
“The Dark Knight Rises” is the biggest film ever. Literally.
That theatre is listed as a Real IMAX screen.
http://www.thedarkknightrises.com/imax.html
Not sure how accurate that list is. Because they list a theater near me as real IMAX and I have confirmed it is fake digital IMAX.
Its real IMAX, but only because It was allready in place there for many years before AMC became the theatres operator.
Its a shame because before it was AMC it was a great location in terms of Quality presentations.
It is indeed a film IMAX. It has been since the theater was opened by Cineplex Odeon. I was at the DKR trade screening at Citywalk earlier in the day and there were no technical problems. (and the film was fantastic)
And the prices out there are crazy. $10 for parking alone and their “validation” is to give you $5 in money for use at the concession stand. If they’re gonna be greedy, they need to be on top of this stuff.
I had a sound problem at this exact same location while watching the IMAX version of 300. The sound kept looping the same 10 seconds over and over again. The staff were great though and refunded our tickets, parking fees, and gave us free tickets to use again. Hopefully they get an additional back-up computer in place by the release of the Dark Knight Rises.
We had a similar problem at the Cinerama Dome at the 11 AM showing of The Amazing Spider-Man on Tuesday July 3rd.
The 3D was screwy for the first 20 minutes. The management was slow to respond, and when they finally did, actually had to stop the movie for 10 minutes to figure out what went wrong. It still wasn’t right for most of the film.
Sloppy work by these theaters. If they think the future of theater profits lies in $3-5 up-charges for 3D, they’d better get it right.
Arclight has seen their Quality control go down, ever since they started buying additional theatres to operate. They are no longer at the top of their game, and on top of that are 100 percent digital now, its a shame that they get everything thats good now, cause the chinese theatre up the street still has both film and digital. And when showing digital they have a back up 35 mm print to switch to, while they work on any DLP problems that might arise from time to time.
An event this big and they didn’t have backup machines they could plugin??? Pathetic. Or maybe this is some old, fill-up-the-room tech that costs thousands to do the least little change to.
If this was at the village in westwood or the Chinese in Hollywood, they would have had a back up plan in place.(of course neither of those locations are IMAX screens of course.)
I have heard some rumors around (I wanna say over on the cinema treasures site)that the chinesetheatres were looking at possibly renovating one of the chinese 6 screens and making it a IMAX screen(and not just a LIEMAX) in the next year or so.