Upconverted DVD & HD-DVD better than theater film viewing

[rhcorolla]

I have watched upconverted DVD’s for over a year now, & have enjoyed HD-DVD’s for a couple months (14 HD movies seen to date).

The wife & I saw a movie yesterday at a theater, & I was totally underwhelmed. I realize different films, theater setups, techniques, cameras, etc. come into play; but the graininess, washed-out colors & blurring from the film left me flat (movie: For your consideration).

Seriously, at this point I would far rather watch an upconverted DVD or HD-DVD on my modest 37” Panny plasma, that go to a movie & see it on a big screen. Besides, the popcorn & drinks are much cheaper. ;)

And that's not even addressing the audio side of the argument...

[WickyWoo]

You're watching a low=budget, dramatic film and you're using that to judge the theater experience?

Get this man some Lawrence of Arabia, STAT

[Michael TLV]

Greetings

Of course the color palette of film is far greater than what you see on HDDVD ...

Regards

[swifty7]

movie experience is hard to beat unless you have dedicated 300 inch full HD with 5.1/7.1 home theater setup.

[swifty7]

Greetings

Of course the color palette of film is far greater than what you see on HDDVD ...

Regards

just wait for hdmi's 1.3 deep color usage and source. ;)

[videonut]

I also would rather watch movies in my home theater. My last outing at the Cinemaplex was to see King Kong on opening day. I got a headache from the constant film jitter. Yes, the projectionist was probably to blame, but it always seems to be something lately. I'll settle for my 120" Firehawk experience anytime.

[rhcorolla]

You're watching a low=budget, dramatic film and you're using that to judge the theater experience?

Get this man some Lawrence of Arabia, STATI'm speaking in general. :p

I do go to see Star Wars & a few other epic adventures at the theater too; but often the audio is un-nerving...

[PRMan]

And for the big events, they make you go in the theater 45 minutes early so they can fill your head with commercials for crappy NBC television.

And the audio is so loud during this portion that I can hear the people sitting right next to me.

No, thanks. I also have very little reason to go to the theater. I've had free AMC passes sitting in my wallet for months and haven't gone yet. I guess I'll take the family to see the Nativity for Christmas...

[jason10mm]

The wife and I see a lot of films. But HD-DVD is definitely converting me to a home only viewer. We just saw "The Fountain" and it seemed like it was lit by a 20w nightlite bulb, all the edges of the film were off on the curtains, and the movie seemed out of focus and bouncing all over the place. Ugh, good movie, but I'm waiting for the HD-DVD to "see" it for the first time.

[SamwisetheBrave]

We saw the "Blood Diamond" trailer in the theater and on our HDTV at home a few days later. We both were impressed how much better the HD image was on our set! :cool:

[Kosty]

My 100 inch 16:9 or 106 2:35 screen and a Mits HC3000 and a HD DVD player make a trip to the movie theater a painful experience now.

My house has much better PQ and AQ. and cheaper snacks.

[DigitalOBX]

I never do theaters any longer.....screaming kids, long lines, rude people, high ticket costs and 500% marked up snacks(Popcorn 10,000% markup... LOL).....NO THANK YOU :mad: .....rather purchase the HD DVD when available and watch in my HT :)

[vancouver]

I used to go to movies at least once a week. No that I have finished my HT the movies doesnt even compare with respect to sound, picure quality or the fact I can drink a beer while watching.

Screeming kids, cell phones, people eating etc.

I long for the day HD DVDs are released the same day as theatricle releases.

[Star56]

movie experience is hard to beat unless you have dedicated 300 inch full HD with 5.1/7.1 home theater setup.


Not true. Blurry, soft, grainy images with washed out colors and fade to gray are the norm at my Cineplex.

[hamsey]

I have only been to 4 movies the last 9 years. I enjoy staying home and watching them on my setup. Especially the sound! Not including HD-DVD or Blu-Ray I am in the process of getting those.

Norm

[8ohms]

Totally agree. The new Digital and HD medium has made watching movies at home on a big screen so much more better than going to the theater. The picture is so much more clearer than any movie theater I have ever been to. Even the popcorn is as good and many times better.

[Chris Blount]

My 100 inch 16:9 or 106 2:35 screen and a Mits HC3000 and a HD DVD player make a trip to the movie theater a painful experience now.

My house has much better PQ and AQ. and cheaper snacks.This is EXACTLY why my trips to the cineplex have deteriorated into almost nothing. I have a 106" 16X9 screen with a Optoma HD72 projector. A simply wonderful experience at home and much better than most of the theaters in town.

[eXgo]

hmm, try watching movies at Silvercity Metropolis, or at a Colossus :)


Movie watching at the theatre is supostu be a group experience. Smell of popcorn,

Sticky floors, etc....




HT is great. but a little too Anti-Social Behavior imo...


Maybe it's not for everyone..

I have 2 Dedicated HT in my house, but still have time to catch a flick once in a while.

Some HD DVD Transfers suck too. And aren't the greatest... Maybe when the crappy PQ movie you watched comes to HD DVD it won't look that great either. Film is way higher RES than 1080p.

[tryguy]

...with the exception of the people talking, the expensive snacks, the lineups and the lack of decent seat selection.

I am just kidding for the most part. I do enjoy theatre-going, but find that I am more immersed in a movie while watching my 106" screen at home.

The theatre is more social and more of an event though.

[Cattledog]

It all boils down to the theatre itself. If it's run by idiots and people who don't care of course its going to look bad. But go to a state of the art Cinema and man no home theatre can compete. Anyway we can't hide in our homes all the time. It's good to get out and experience a film amongst others in the community. My analogy would be getting a college degree online as opposed to going to a Brick and Mortar U and living the whole social, emotional, crazy experience!

CD

[klemsaba]

HT is great. but a little too Anti-Social Behavior imo...

When you go to the movie do you actually talk to the strangers around you? If so, that's great! But whenever I go to the movies, everyone just talks to the person they are with, so the anti-social thing doesn't really apply.

We have movie nights every weekend so we do the social thing at home.

My humble theater blows away our local theaters in town. The screen is perceptually the same size (135" 2.35) as the larger auditoriums. My next movie outing will probably be Spiderman III next summer.

I almost caved in to see Snakes on a Mother F-in' Plane last fall! :D

[tofo17]

The theatre still holds allure for me. OK, I've only got a 37" LCD and HTIB sound but I live in an apartment, so there are practical limitations. HD DVD has added weight to the argument of staying home, and is actually cheaper to buy then the cost of two movie tickets (this is in Australia BTW).

However I enjoy a "dinner and a movie" date with my wife and there is just no way known to man that my wife will let me crank the sound way up at home! Oh, and popcorn at the cinema just tastes better (for what they charge it should taste like f-ing lobster mornay!).

[Cattledog]

When you go to the movie do you actually talk to the strangers around you? If so, that's great! But whenever I go to the movies, everyone just talks to the person they are with, so the anti-social thing doesn't really apply.



That's pretty naive interpretation. When you go to the movies you get to laugh, cry, and enjoy experience collectively. With people you don't know, are of differing backgrounds, races, economic status, religions, etc. That's what makes a community, not just circling the wagons at the compound. But if that's your idea of being social God help ya bro.

CD

[rhcorolla]

That's pretty naive interpretation. When you go to the movies you get to laugh, cry, and enjoy experience collectively. I'll agree that the experience of collective laughing from an audience is great fun.

But often in theaters, you also get to hear annoying people talking incessantly during the movie, listening to people eat popcorn as loud as humanly possible, enduring babies or bratty kids, cell phones ringing & people talking on them, coughing & sneezing, enjoying sticky floors from goofballs who spilled drinks... :rolleyes:

My OP was talking mainly about the picture & audio quality of HD movies vs. big screen versions.

[WickyWoo]

One experience cannot be replicated

Going to a horrible movie, discovering you are the only people in the theater and heckling it MSTie style

(or a good movie too, shadow puppets at Good Night and Good Luck!)
Stuff you'd NEVER do if there was a single person there you didn't know :)

[rhcorolla]

One experience cannot be replicated

Going to a horrible movie, discovering you are the only people in the theater and heckling it MSTie style

(or a good movie too, shadow puppets at Good Night and Good Luck!)
Stuff you'd NEVER do if there was a single person there you didn't know :)What, you can't do that at home ? Granted, it's not in a public theater. That is more a voyeuristic experience. :eek:

[Dave Mack]

Depends on the theater. We have some pretty good ones in SF and Emeryville.
If you took your average 720P PJ and blew it up even half the size of a true theater screen it would look awful...

[YONEXSP]

You Guys! I took my son to the local cineplex last week & got free crap with out movie. 3, Yes 3 Flies were crawling all over either the glass of the front of the camera for a good 40 mins of the movie. Really really annoying!!

[Flyer69]

I actually just went to the movies for the first time in a year or so and was pleasantly surprised. I went to see Casino Royale and the theater has a DLP projector and the picture was miles better than anything I had seen in the past so much so I could see the difference right away, very good detail. Of course, it still is not at the level of HD but I must say I was both shocked and pleased.

[rseven]

My last couple of visits to the movies have been marred by very scratched film. I agree it is a social experience and certain films are just better in the movies, but HT also has it's place. Sadly, the majority of films these days are not worth spending the money on movie tickets.

[ashokn225]

The biggest problem here is that movie theaters in the states these days, suck. For the most part that is. Most of them are crappy theaters and crappy equipment in malls. Check out a Silvercity Multiplex in Canada and you'll understand what a "going to the movies" experience is all about.

Technically speaking too, 35MM picture quality is compared to SuperHD,4K, when it is compared at a digital level, not 1080i/p.

[MustangSVT]

Last couple of times I've been to the theater I haven't been impressed by PQ, but I did see low budget movies. I saw The Protector a few months ago at the theater, that movie with Tony Jaa, the same guy from Ong-Bak. TBH, the quality looked worse than DVD I kid you not. Now I know it's a on a big screen so it's magnified, but at one point I could swear it was like watching a VHS. It's possible that this movie was filmed onto really bad film reel or something. Anyone else seen it?

Anyway, ever since HD-DVD came out and they're only $23-$27cad, I don't see the point in spending $10 to go see a movie. Would actually be $40 if my parents came too and we got popcorn. No more of that, I'd rather just wait for the dvd or hd-dvd.

[homerx]

I think it depends on theater although some members here have HT that can far surpass anything a movie theater can prouduce.
But, most theater I go to always have a problom of some kind, I'd say the #1 problom is they can seem to center the image very well so 25% is hanging above or bellow the screen.

[dragonyeuw]

With movies being $10 dollars to see,and with a lack of quality movies(IMO),having a good theatre setup at home is the way to go.I'll echo sentiments above that loud talking,cellphones ringing(and let's not forget the LCD screens that light up), sounds of crunching popcorn and candy/chip bags rustling,it makes the experience not worth it.

If it's a movie I have no interest in owing,I'll rent it for 2 bucks when it hits home.If it is a movie I want to own,I'd rather pay $20 for it and watch it as often as I damn please than pay $10 and deal with the aforementioned hassles.Though certain movies(i.e Star Wars) are meant to be seen in the theatre,otherwise I can wait till it arrives on home video.

[Mr.D]

I think it depends on theater although some members here have HT that can far surpass anything a movie theater can prouduce.
.


Not true at all. Not even close.

[SamwisetheBrave]

Not true at all. Not even close.
Yes...and no. I'm not one of those with a 100" screen being fed by a $20,000 projector, but my home setup, modest as it is, is superior to any number of crappy local theaters--and that's before the screaming kids, the sticky floors, the half hour of previews and ads, and (must I go on?)

Yes, in the best of all possible worlds a well-maintained, big-screen theater presentation takes the cake. And, yes, people can mention one or two such gems in L.A. or Chicago, or Denver, etc., but good luck in most towns! :o

[pappy97]

I have watched upconverted DVD’s for over a year now, & have enjoyed HD-DVD’s for a couple months (14 HD movies seen to date).

The wife & I saw a movie yesterday at a theater, & I was totally underwhelmed. I realize different films, theater setups, techniques, cameras, etc. come into play; but the graininess, washed-out colors & blurring from the film left me flat (movie: For your consideration).

Seriously, at this point I would far rather watch an upconverted DVD or HD-DVD on my modest 37” Panny plasma, that go to a movie & see it on a big screen. Besides, the popcorn & drinks are much cheaper. ;)

And that's not even addressing the audio side of the argument...

Try comparing your set up to commercial DLP at the movie theater.

Your HT is probably still better, but at least it is a fair comparison. Comparing most HT's to ANALOG movie theaters is a joke.

Have you ever seen films on commercial DLP, especially those filmed digitally, a la animation or movies like Sin City?

When my friends and I go out to the movies, we always try to watch films in DLP. Seeing Sin City in commercial DLP was a treat. Sure my current set up with a 1080p TV beats it, BUT at least it is a huge screen at the theater that I can't compete with.

I am willing to trade that difference in PQ, at times, for the big screen. But ONLY for commercial DLP, not this analog crap.

I don't think For Your Consideration is even available in commercial DLP, so I suspect this movie you watched was analog, hence crap.

Try out commercial DLP, especially with movies you know to be filmed digitally (mostly animation and other big budget stuff like Star Wars films), and then report back here. It won't be as bad as your last experience, promise.

http://www.dlp.com

Click on the cinema tab

[t_tringle]

I too really hate the current state of cinema as far as the presentation at your local "corporate owned" movie theater is concerned.

It seems more ane more that as these company's get bigger they of course lose site of how they got where they are in the first place. They all hire 17 year olds for 75 percent of their workforce. I understand that high school students need work but you can at least try to find intelligent ones. Thank god for automated tellers and ticket vending.

I've said it before, the movie theaters have ONE, count it, ONE job that they absolutely have to get right. The rest is just value add, and by that I mean it gives the theaters way more money than value for the customer. That ONE job is to get the Visual and Aural experience of the movie as close to perfect as they can.

Too many times over the past 5 years have I been to the theaters on OPENING night of a film I had been waiting months to see,

RETURN OF THE KING
SERENITY

to name a couple, and of course the sound is screwed up. I mean Return of the King was one of the biggest movies of the past Decade. If you can't get the 7:00pm showing on the night it opens to be working right, you have no place running a movie theater.

But there is no replacement for seeing movies like Fellowship, or Empire Strikes back or Return of the Jedi, Raiders, etc with a theater full of people who really love the movie and respond as they should.

It is something I will miss if theaters get even worse than they are now.

Just my 2 cents.

TimT

[t_tringle]

Not true at all. Not even close.

You have to remember that not all places have movies with Huge theater screens. Some of them are actually quite small.

Place that in with all of the other annoyances that you can experience at the theater (cell phones anyone, crying babys) and it makes that screen just not worth it any more.

Sound used to be a huge factor in movie presentation and it still is, but alot of places barely provide what you can get at home these days.

As more and more people purcase home theater in a box, they are going to feel that they no longer need to spend $40 to $50 dollars a pop to go to the theater. Which is why DVD sales surpassed box office last year.

TimT

[vexum]

i thought i was the only one who hated going to the theater...aside from the loud, rude, blinglish-speaking sub-humans, and cell phones, and .....okay, okay... so i hate being in public. but i dont care how many times i hear that film resolution is superior to hd.. no its not . i have 20/20 vision, and film has ALWAYS looked like crap to me. if i were to compare film pq to anything, it would be vhs. if film has potentially so much more resolution, why does standard dvd blow it away on my 720p native projector? (and hd dvd and blu ray are so superior, its not even worth comparing) i will never go to a theater again..... until of course,george lucas makes another film..

[divianb]

Thre is also something that I love regarding my Home Theater. I can decide whenever I want to repeat an scene or stop the movie whenever I want in order to do things that I can not do in Movie Theater, like answering the phone.

[shaneotool]

Most of the theater screens around here alway seem to have either stains or tears. Also film doesn't look as sharp to me and there is like 25% overscan on the curtains.

[turansformer]

I think that there are many subpar theaters out there, but if you're willing to search, DLP is starting to become a standard feature. I refused to watch any movies at my 14 screen theater because the film projectors were soft and the sound was less than stellar. Finally, my girlfriend drug me out to see a chick flick when I noticed that the entire theater had upgraded to DLP! It was a night and day difference. I actually watch movies there again. Check your local theaters and ask if they have planned or are planning to do any upgrades to their system. You never know....

[gremmy]

For less than 6 grand, you can throw a picture up in your own dedicated home theater that can blow away anything you're likely to get in a commercial theater, with the exception of IMAX.

I have a 1080p Sony Pearl, 96 inch screen. My contrast ratio is at least 5 times higher than the theater's, based on my own visual assessment and the numbers I've seen posted here in this forum. My colors are richer too, largely because of the highly elevated black levels at the commercial theater.

Also, the image at my local theater is often out of focus and running on dim bulb, and the prints are worn and full of dust and grain.

And let's not forget the annoying people (adults, mostly) with their cell phones and constant talking.

[nightfly13]

If you took your average 720P PJ and blew it up even half the size of a true theater screen it would look awful...
You're probably right. But you don't need a 20' screen in your home, because you're not a business trying to jam 250 people into one showing, you're basically loving life with a 10' screen and 5-7 people. Like in everything else, it comes down to viewing ratio, not screen size.

I admit there is something great about going to an 'event movie' and having the 100' screen that's not quite replicated with my 98" screen, no matter how high I turn up the sound.

When I build a house with a dedicated theater in 4-5 years, it'll have a 120-130" screen and 1080p DLP, sitting 1.2x back and I think, if I don't over-do it it'll have every ounce of excitement for my kids as going to a big modern theater.

Maybe that's the key, huge huge immersion for special events, and just standard 92" enjoyment for most events... so that's why some of you have two dedicated theaters? :)

[pappy97]

I think that there are many subpar theaters out there, but if you're willing to search, DLP is starting to become a standard feature. I refused to watch any movies at my 14 screen theater because the film projectors were soft and the sound was less than stellar. Finally, my girlfriend drug me out to see a chick flick when I noticed that the entire theater had upgraded to DLP! It was a night and day difference. I actually watch movies there again. Check your local theaters and ask if they have planned or are planning to do any upgrades to their system. You never know....

If you look a few posts above, I discussed commercial DLP at the movie theater, but no one listens.

People have such a bad taste in their mouth about movie theaters that even they we try to tell them there is at least a better experience out there (Commercial DLP), they refuse to listen.

I'm really getting tired of the closed-mindedness about this issue, especially from avsforum regulars, double especially if they live in an area that has commercial DLP but instead once a year go to analog movie theaters (including IMAX) and then come here and rip it.

[pappy97]

For less than 6 grand, you can throw a picture up in your own dedicated home theater that can blow away anything you're likely to get in a commercial theater, with the exception of IMAX.

Most IMAX is ANALOG, just like other crappy movie theaters, so your HT likely blows it away. Even though IMAX is huge, if it is analog, it's just huge garbage.

The best comparison is commercial DLP at movie theaters vs. HT, or if you are lucky to find it, IMAX w/ commercial DLP (I've heard of it, but never have seen it).

GREMMY: Supposedly this theater in your area shows movies DLP. You should inquire and when it shows a movie that will look good in commercial DLP (animated or action blockbuster), check it out in commerical DLP:

Landmark Plaza Frontenac
210 Plaza Frontenac
St. Louis, Missouri 63131

[gremmy]

Most IMAX is ANALOG, just like other crappy movie theaters, so your HT likely blows it away. Even though IMAX is huge, if it is analog, it's just huge garbage.


I certainly hope you're kidding. Although the idea of resolution is different in the world of film vs. the world of digital cinema, IMAX is an ultra-high resolution source -- very high fidelity image. Who ever told you that analog is crappy? CRT is an analog display technology and it still produces the deepest blacks and best contrast ratios by a long shot.

[pappy97]

I certainly hope you're kidding. Although the idea of resolution is different in the world of film vs. the world of digital cinema, IMAX is an ultra-high resolution source -- very high fidelity image. Who ever told you that analog is crappy? CRT is an analog display technology and it still produces the deepest blacks and best contrast ratios by a long shot.

I am NOT referring to the display technology, but rather the print.

Most IMAX and regular movie theaters have reels of film, that are grainy, have "Cigarette burns," etc.

Commercial DLP showings are either movies shot digitally OR the film has been upconverted. Either way, no reel of film is used when presenting the movie.

I know CRT still has the best blacks and all that. I am not dissing it.

You never answered my question: Have you seen commercial DLP? I listed a theater for you in your area in my last post. Check it out and make sure you see an animated or special-effects-heavy movie in commercial DLP. Then compare it to your HT quality and ALSO compare it to an analog movie theater.

As I keep saying (although how many times do I have to say it before it becomes a broken record), your HT probably has a better PQ than commercial DLP, but commercial DLP blows away regular analog movie theaters by a long shot.

ANY COMPARISONS BETWEEN MOVIE THEATERS AND HOME THEATERS SHOULD BE COMPARING YOUR HOME SETUP TO COMMERCIAL DLP,

not comparing your home set up (with pristine blu ray, HD-DVD, or upconverted DVD's) to analog movie theaters with reels of film that have grain and cigarette burns, etc.

[gwsat]

Although I love my HT setup and thank God for it every day, I still go to the movies regularly. The experience of a picture being projected on a screen that encompasses hundreds of square feet in a large auditorium with a state of the art sound system simply can’t be duplicated in a home – unless, of course one decides to build and equip his own huge auditorium.

That said, there is a lot of difference in movie theaters. In fact, here in OKC there are only two Cineplexes that meet my standards for video and audio quality, so I don’t see movies in any other theater any more, except under duress. Thus, those who complain about the bad pictures and sounds coming from poorly setup projection and audio equipment and dirty theaters and think that what they see and hear from their own HT systems is far better have a point.

[gremmy]

I am NOT referring to the display technology, but rather the print.

Most IMAX and regular movie theaters have reels of film, that are grainy, have "Cigarette burns," etc.

Commercial DLP showings are either movies shot digitally OR the film has been upconverted. Either way, no reel of film is used when presenting the movie.

I know CRT still has the best blacks and all that. I am not dissing it.

You never answered my question: Have you seen commercial DLP? I listed a theater for you in your area in my last post. Check it out and make sure you see an animated or special-effects-heavy movie in commercial DLP. Then compare it to your HT quality and ALSO compare it to an analog movie theater.


I have wanted to see commercial DLP, but I have not. The Cinema that you posted -- I've never even heard of it before. I didn't even know plaza frontenac had a theater. I'll check it out sometime.


ANY COMPARISONS BETWEEN MOVIE THEATERS AND HOME THEATERS SHOULD BE COMPARING YOUR HOME SETUP TO COMMERCIAL DLP,

not comparing your home set up (with pristine blu ray, HD-DVD, or upconverted DVD's) to analog movie theaters with reels of film that have grain and cigarette burns, etc.


Here I disagree. My point of comparison is the local Cineplex (a.k.a the theater within close proximity where I am likely to see a movie if I decide to go out). I'm not driving to plaza frontenac to see movies on a regular basis, I don't care how good they look, although I will make it a point to stop in at least once. Bunch of whackos out there anyway.

I just want to know that my theater is at least as good as what I can get at the local film theater. And it's WAY better than that.

[pappy97]

Here I disagree. My point of comparison is the local Cineplex (a.k.a the theater within close proximity where I am likely to see a movie if I decide to go out). I'm not driving to plaza frontenac to see movies on a regular basis, I don't care how good they look, although I will make it a point to stop in at least once. Bunch of whackos out there anyway.


And I disagree with you. Many of us go out of our way to get the best of anything we want (Especially as it relates to HD and stuff), and I personally go out of my way to see movies in commercial DLP. I've driven 80 miles each way to see a premiere of a movie just because it was the closest DLP showing (and that was Superman Returns, which wasn't so great IMHO).

If you check out commercial DLP, you might find you like it enough to go out of your way, especially for animated movies or movies that you know to be filmed digitally a la Sin City or Star Wars films. Right now, since you haven't seen it, you don't know if you would go out of your way for it (just be sure your first time is for an animated movie OR a movie you know to have been shot digitally. I have seen a few films that didn't wow me via commercial DLP).


Of course movie theaters with film reels are not going to compete with your HT set up. Your HT set up doesn't use film reels with cigarette burns or grain (although you may see grain with bad transfers :D)

There shouldn't be threads comparing anything on this forum to regular movie theaters because it is no comparison. The only argument for regular movie theaters is the communal experience. Nothing else.

At least with commercial DLP, it is closer and can provide the communal experience plus a better picture, even a "pop" experience like when watching a PIXAR movie in commercial DLP (it is a treat!)

[pappy97]

Although I love my HT setup and thank God for it every day, I still go to the movies regularly. The experience of a picture being projected on a screen that encompasses hundreds of square feet in a large auditorium with a state of the art sound system simply can’t be duplicated in a home – unless, of course one decides to build and equip his own huge auditorium.

That said, there is a lot of difference in movie theaters. In fact, here in OKC there are only two Cineplexes that meet my standards for video and audio quality, so I don’t see movies in any other theater any more, except under duress. Thus, those who complain about the bad pictures and sounds coming from poorly setup projection and audio equipment and dirty theaters and think that what they see and hear from their own HT systems is far better have a point.

I take it then you haven't experienced commercial DLP, right? As I keep saying, it is a better experience PQ wise than regular movie theaters.

If you are willing to drive a bit, this theater about 35 miles away from OKC has DLP according to dlp.com. Of course you should check with them first before venturing out there. Be warned though, they might not know what you are talking about since many movie theaters don't think this is a big deal:


Carmike Cinema Centre 8 - Shawnee
3031 North Harrison Avenue
Shawnee, Oklahoma 74802

(Right now that theater is showing the following films in commercial DLP:
http://www.carmike.com/showtimedetails.aspx?theatrenumber=159756

Naitivity Story
Deja Vu
Deck the Halls
Casino Royale
Flushed Away
Saw III

I'd recommend Flushed Away in DLP to give you the best idea of commercial DLP)

If you see an animated movie OR a movie that is shot digitally on it, you might experience a pop. Movies that are filmed but converted to digital format and then shown via commercial DLP isn't that bad either.

[pappy97]

Landmark Plaza Frontenac
210 Plaza Frontenac
St. Louis, Missouri 63131

Damn, unforunately (for dlp), this theater basically show indie flicks, so the chances they'll have a DLP showing you would want to see is slim. Besides that, the closest is Bloomington, IL.

Why can't a major city like St. Louis, MO have a major theater with commercial DLP??? Geez

[Chris Blount]

I must admit, Cinema DLP looks pretty darn good. I went to see "The Nightmare Before Christmas" last month in a DLP 3D theater. I was VERY impressed. The colors and clarity of the picture was fantastic. It blew away anything else I have seen both at home and in the theater.

A new Cineplex just opened here in San Antonio, TX. It's the largest built in the United States in 2006. It contains 1 IMAX auditorium and several smaller ones. I have already gone to a couple of movies in the "regular" auditoriums. Sound and picture were perfect and better than my home theater. I just hope it stays that way.

[cybersoga]

I wonder what a domestic HD-DVD player hooked upto a commercial DLP projector would look like?

[Sky042]

I am NOT referring to the display technology, but rather the print.

Most IMAX and regular movie theaters have reels of film, that are grainy, have "Cigarette burns," etc.

Commercial DLP showings are either movies shot digitally OR the film has been upconverted. Either way, no reel of film is used when presenting the movie.

I know CRT still has the best blacks and all that. I am not dissing it.

You never answered my question: Have you seen commercial DLP? I listed a theater for you in your area in my last post. Check it out and make sure you see an animated or special-effects-heavy movie in commercial DLP. Then compare it to your HT quality and ALSO compare it to an analog movie theater.

As I keep saying (although how many times do I have to say it before it becomes a broken record), your HT probably has a better PQ than commercial DLP, but commercial DLP blows away regular analog movie theaters by a long shot.

ANY COMPARISONS BETWEEN MOVIE THEATERS AND HOME THEATERS SHOULD BE COMPARING YOUR HOME SETUP TO COMMERCIAL DLP,

not comparing your home set up (with pristine blu ray, HD-DVD, or upconverted DVD's) to analog movie theaters with reels of film that have grain and cigarette burns, etc.

So something along these lines?
http://www.christiedigital.com/AMEN/Products/christieCP2000.htm

[Sky042]

Unfortunately the local theaters to me have let themselves slide we have both regal and united artists.
The one theater I usually choose over the other because they have very nice klipsch sound setups but in both of them the screens are looking dim and dingy. Last movie I saw there was World Trade Center and it really wasn't that visually appealing.

Where I grew up they only just recently shut down the main theater to build a new one. Up until a few years ago there was a 2 screen theather that had STEREO sound. In the last year or so before it was torn down they put in rear speakers but the sound was still terrible.

The new one I haven't been to as I don't live there anymore.

Mostly the wife and I prefer to stay home and watch our 65" Mitsu 1080p and HD DVD player.

[gobucks25]

The biggest problem here is that movie theaters in the states these days, suck. For the most part that is. Most of them are crappy theaters and crappy equipment in malls. Check out a Silvercity Multiplex in Canada and you'll understand what a "going to the movies" experience is all about.

Technically speaking too, 35MM picture quality is compared to SuperHD,4K, when it is compared at a digital level, not 1080i/p.

What's funny reading this thread is how many people believe that 1080i or p somehow is of a higher resolution than what you'd get at a movie theatre.

[JOHNnDENVER]

I dunno. I get 6 to 10 people in my theater is seems to be enough to give the full experience of social interaction and sharing of the film.

I usually know them though. :)

[Skitals]

I saw The Golden Compass last weekend and I almost walked out. Not (entirely) because of the film, but because of the crappy audio and video. The audio was so loud it was clipping, and the picture was desaturated and excessively grainy. It wasn't normal grain, just added grain from a really crappy release print. No to mention for a solid 5 minutes in the middle of the film there was a giant yellow gash in the center of the screen that flashed every other frame. No idea what that was. It was a really crappy experience.

People also fail to realize that while film can resolve to a much higher resolution than HD (over 4K), it goes through many many processes which degrades the quality, and the release print can be really bad. My professor emailed me a study analyzing the perceived resolution of release prints at many theaters, and the results were appalling. Unfortunately I can't find the link.