Extra $5 for fake IMAX? Beam me up, Scotty
Filed under: Extracurriculars, Consumer Complaints
If you're paying an extra $5 to see the new "Star Trek" movie on an IMAX screen, you're getting ripped off if it's not the huge IMAX screen you're used to.Some theaters that claim to have an IMAX screen, and charge $5 more to get in, are showing the movie on a screen that is slightly larger than a regular movie screen, but not as big as the 76 feet by 97 feet screen that IMAX customers have come to expect, according to a blog by Los Angeles actor Aziz Ansari.
Ansari went to see the "Star Trek" movie at a theater in Burbank, CA, on Monday and found that the $5 surcharge didn't get him into a big-screen theater, but to one that is slightly larger than normal. AMC and Regal theaters across the country are doing this, he found.
Despite that its two major digital partners, AMC and Regal, wanted to call the new digital projection system "IMAX Digital" to differentiate the new system, IMAX chose not to, according to the LF Examiner.
Ansari didn't realize he was duped until his ticket was torn and he was inside the theater. Now that you know, ask before buying your ticket what size the screen is.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
5-12-2009 @ 10:33AM
Jason Cochran said...
Aaron is absolutely right. I got ripped off by AMC by this. The movie was just on a slightly larger screen, not the towering screen IMAX usually denotes. Frankly, I'm going to think three times before paying for any IMAX movie at all now -- not a smart move on the cinemas' part.
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5-12-2009 @ 2:51PM
Robert Kocher said...
I had the choice of an IMAX screen or a regular screen because Star Trek was playing at both. Yeah, I paid extra money for it...it might have been $3 or $5, but whatever it was it was well worth it.
I don't think anyone really thinks you are going to walk into gigantic IMAX screens in a regular movie theater. The screen was slightly larger yes, but it wasn't the size of the IMAGE that made a difference. It was the quality of the image itself and ...it was the SOUND that made it worth the money alone.
OMG, the IMAX sound system was way better than the normal movie. I honestly can't see why someone would complain for a few more dollars for a much higher quality sound system and even a better picture. I love going to the movies and when it's a really special movie (especially like Star Trek), I would ALWAYS chose the IMAX version.....I'm very glad it was an option and hope it's hear to stay forever.
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5-12-2009 @ 5:04PM
Nik said...
"I don't think anyone really thinks you are going to walk into gigantic IMAX screens in a regular movie theater."
That wasn't my experience. I kept wondering what was going on during Star Trek. I was distracted by a soft image and what I later saw was discussed as a "screening" effect on light backgrounds. I got out of the theatre and went online to see if there was any logical reason I was disappointed.
It's not worth the money, and from now on I won't go to a digital IMAX showing unless it's to go with others.
From my research, I *think* it's "1570" IMAX that I want from now on.
As to sound: I would have preferred they didn't use everyone one of those 12,000 Watts! Great sound, but too loud.
5-14-2009 @ 7:09PM
Oyez O. said...
Yes, this is crap.
But I don't think AMC/Regal are going to change anything until they think it's going to hurt their bottom line.
Please sign my petition here to tell them we're not going to put up with this crap:
http://bit.ly/liemaxpetition
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