Ok, watched The Dark Knight Rises at the Odeon in Maidenhead on Saturday.
It was playing in screen 1. The largest screen available. I got a premier seat which cost an additional couple of £.
Ok, sit down, ad's play. I note the screen is the full width of the wall. Absolutely huge! Lights go down and the main feature begins.... and i see...black bars top and bottom
Shock horror. They weren't black. The bars were a muddy grey. Putrid. The film begins and the colours are totally and completely washed out.. So much so that i spend the first 10 mins in horror appalled at the quality of the image. Why the bars!? Why not scope it up?
Ok. 2hrs 40mins of poor image later and i walked out telling my friend i'd have been better waiting for a blu ray release to watch it at home on my own big screen! I mean honestly, is this what i now pay £10+ a ticket for?
Granted it was a 8000 HD digital image. It was clearer yes.. Sharper... yes but completely milky and dull with no vibrance or punch. So very dissapointed.
I've been in touch with the manager and he's emailed a response to my question as to why a scope film is presented on a 1.85:1 screen. The response is recorded below:
I was disappointed to read you comments and apologise that you did not enjoy your visit. I have discussed your email with my Technical Manager All of our screens here at Maidenhead are set up so full screen is 1.85:1 (Flat) so any scope picture will have borders at the top and bottom. This is the largest picture we can get. We have both checked all of the setting's and colours on all showings of The Dark Knight Rises. We have checked all screens that are showing The Dark Knight and have come to the conclusion that this is how the film was shot and the we are showing it to the exact settings required by the director.
Oh really? I mean, why? Are films now being shot in 1.85:1 moreso than 2.35:1 to justify the bigger image with a compromise that scope films show with black bars?
Here we all are creating masking systems or dwelling over what to do reach a state of home cinema nirvana with velvet fabrics being marketed for the signinficant improvement to the home cinema experience when the big screen itself presents an image that is poor and washed out.
Was The Dark Kinight purposely filmed with poor blacks? I don't think so.
I last watched The Avengers on the big screen at another Odeon. Again, i was not overly impressed at the blacks compartively to what i can achieve at home. I mean, seriously, the black bars on my home set up are very barely noticeable compared to what i've seen at the Odeon.
I just wondered whether the 1.85:1 is the preferred size at most cinemas following the success of family movies and animations which are predominantly presented in 1.85:1
Any views?
I've been given complimentary tickets by the Odeon. A nice gesture.
It was playing in screen 1. The largest screen available. I got a premier seat which cost an additional couple of £.
Ok, sit down, ad's play. I note the screen is the full width of the wall. Absolutely huge! Lights go down and the main feature begins.... and i see...black bars top and bottom
Shock horror. They weren't black. The bars were a muddy grey. Putrid. The film begins and the colours are totally and completely washed out.. So much so that i spend the first 10 mins in horror appalled at the quality of the image. Why the bars!? Why not scope it up?
Ok. 2hrs 40mins of poor image later and i walked out telling my friend i'd have been better waiting for a blu ray release to watch it at home on my own big screen! I mean honestly, is this what i now pay £10+ a ticket for?
Granted it was a 8000 HD digital image. It was clearer yes.. Sharper... yes but completely milky and dull with no vibrance or punch. So very dissapointed.
I've been in touch with the manager and he's emailed a response to my question as to why a scope film is presented on a 1.85:1 screen. The response is recorded below:
I was disappointed to read you comments and apologise that you did not enjoy your visit. I have discussed your email with my Technical Manager All of our screens here at Maidenhead are set up so full screen is 1.85:1 (Flat) so any scope picture will have borders at the top and bottom. This is the largest picture we can get. We have both checked all of the setting's and colours on all showings of The Dark Knight Rises. We have checked all screens that are showing The Dark Knight and have come to the conclusion that this is how the film was shot and the we are showing it to the exact settings required by the director.
Oh really? I mean, why? Are films now being shot in 1.85:1 moreso than 2.35:1 to justify the bigger image with a compromise that scope films show with black bars?
Here we all are creating masking systems or dwelling over what to do reach a state of home cinema nirvana with velvet fabrics being marketed for the signinficant improvement to the home cinema experience when the big screen itself presents an image that is poor and washed out.
Was The Dark Kinight purposely filmed with poor blacks? I don't think so.
I last watched The Avengers on the big screen at another Odeon. Again, i was not overly impressed at the blacks compartively to what i can achieve at home. I mean, seriously, the black bars on my home set up are very barely noticeable compared to what i've seen at the Odeon.
I just wondered whether the 1.85:1 is the preferred size at most cinemas following the success of family movies and animations which are predominantly presented in 1.85:1
Any views?
I've been given complimentary tickets by the Odeon. A nice gesture.