Empire 1 Cinema Leicester Square London (1 Viewer)

[andySu]

Oh my god! They ripped out the seats that used to be close to the side walls.

^^ The seat colour is so ugly. ^^

Above "Ha, Ha that's not a cinema" ^^.

Below. "Now that's a cinema"

 

[DP 70]

Empire Leicester square has posted pictures.

Well, this is just despicably disgraceful.

^^ BEFORE Empire Leicester Square original EMPIRE 1 ^^.
Below is the disgrace of imax liemax marketing.

Oh their screen is 26.5m x 15.6m big deal. The cinema is wider in the middle due to the false walls stuck on the existing brick walls. (Sigh) If one every went to "Empire 1" and had sat at the front. The THX screen looked HUGE! All this marketing liemax is, is illusion and delusion for suckers. (I meant lieMAX).

OMG who took the picture? Its all blurred. LieMAX staff needs to go to SpecSavers and get a pair of glasses.

Oh yeah like those imax speakers with laser beam guidance for sharks, surrounds really going to surround the audience in the few rows underneath the old projection box above. What a flawed liemax sound system.

This is so MORBID looking.

impact tiny screen. I've seen Dinky toys bigger than this.

You got to "18" years old to sit in impact baloney and you have to pay £18.00 pounds ? £18.00! I seem to recall a month or so back they had the bloody check at putting the price up £20.00 for a week or so. What a disgraceful cinema that has lost all respect with me. Shame on you Empire cinemas.

The back row with seats close to the arrays of surrounds won't make you look behind! It would make you look above!!! What a flawed cinema.

This used to be the best greatest cinema in the whole United Kingdom and they pissed it all way on wrecking crew that have vandalized the cinema beyond repair or fixing. Its all gone.

I don't know Empire can post these pictures and be proud of it, All they care about is how much they make? I hope it all backfires in their faces. Then they'll know it was huge was a mistake.


I think its absurd playing the same film in the same original auditorium one in imax with outdated sound system and delusional laughable screen. The other tiny less than half size screen with Dolby Atmos? What is the SCAM the here? Get customers to be so confused and pay to see the film twice? That is bloody cheeky.

I'd see a film twice if it was original EMPIRE 1,. Pay to see it at front row then pay again to sit in the circle, was fine with me. Sitting a large space where the sound was all around me. Sit in that dinkyMAX and dinkyImpact screen NEVER, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

The Imax screen is 87ft wide , the Impact screen is about 60ft I would not call them Dinky.

 

[DP 70]

Empire Leicester square has posted pictures.

Well, this is just despicably disgraceful.

^^ BEFORE Empire Leicester Square original EMPIRE 1 ^^.
Below is the disgrace of imax liemax marketing.

Oh their screen is 26.5m x 15.6m big deal. The cinema is wider in the middle due to the false walls stuck on the existing brick walls. (Sigh) If one every went to "Empire 1" and had sat at the front. The THX screen looked HUGE! All this marketing liemax is, is illusion and delusion for suckers. (I meant lieMAX).

OMG who took the picture? Its all blurred. LieMAX staff needs to go to SpecSavers and get a pair of glasses.

Oh yeah like those imax speakers with laser beam guidance for sharks, surrounds really going to surround the audience in the few rows underneath the old projection box above. What a flawed liemax sound system.

This is so MORBID looking.

impact tiny screen. I've seen Dinky toys bigger than this.

You got to "18" years old to sit in impact baloney and you have to pay £18.00 pounds ? £18.00! I seem to recall a month or so back they had the bloody check at putting the price up £20.00 for a week or so. What a disgraceful cinema that has lost all respect with me. Shame on you Empire cinemas.

The back row with seats close to the arrays of surrounds won't make you look behind! It would make you look above!!! What a flawed cinema.

This used to be the best greatest cinema in the whole United Kingdom and they pissed it all way on wrecking crew that have vandalized the cinema beyond repair or fixing. Its all gone.

I don't know Empire can post these pictures and be proud of it, All they care about is how much they make? I hope it all backfires in their faces. Then they'll know it was huge was a mistake.


I think its absurd playing the same film in the same original auditorium one in imax with outdated sound system and delusional laughable screen. The other tiny less than half size screen with Dolby Atmos? What is the SCAM the here? Get customers to be so confused and pay to see the film twice? That is bloody cheeky.

I'd see a film twice if it was original EMPIRE 1,. Pay to see it at front row then pay again to sit in the circle, was fine with me. Sitting a large space where the sound was all around me. Sit in that dinkyMAX and dinkyImpact screen NEVER, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

The Imax screen is 87ft wide , the Impact screen is about 60ft I would not call them Dinky.

 

[andySu]

The Imax screen is 87ft wide , the Impact screen is about 60ft I would not call them Dinky.

Well I guess you don't know how to use a tape measure? The middle has always even the back of the empire is far wider. I think the BFI thou not been there is a bigger imax liemax as they show 70mm and liemax digital, So why not go there its what 1.5 miles away by, the crows nose?

So yhy insist calling it imax. LIEMAX. Okay! Empire want to discredit themselves by ruing their once fine cinema. Imax liemax doesn't swallow with me. You go and enjoy it, Let LIEMAX Empire take your £20.00 away a piece at a time. I have better things to do with £20.00.


This is what I'd sooner spend £20.00 for my cat.

If my cat knew I was spending £20.00 on LIEMAX Empire, he would cat bat transform in 10 seconds.

 

[Paul_Warren]

Thanks for the old pictures Andy it was the best cinema on planet earth & sounded incredible as you well know

Empire cinemas are in financial trouble so hopefully whoever buys this site from them sooner or later re-remodels it back into how it was back in the glory days.

They also messed up an ugly but historic cinema in Ealing, West London about a 2 min walk from the historic Ealing Film Studios. Empire closed it in 2008 then demolished it in 2009 & left the old historic front wall up but did not develop the land into a promised £20m multiplex site so now the local government are going through the courts to repurchase the site & redevelop it themselves without Empire cinemas involvement (this site is opposite the local government office seeking reposssession of the 6 years demolished site).

So Empire Cinema's left that entire town of Eaing without a cinema for 6 years & counting & plan to build in 3 more years so thats 9 years without a cinema in one of West London's most expensive & popular suburbs all because of mis-management of the project
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Empire_Cinemas#Controversy_surrounding_Empire.27s_Ealing_site
http://ukbusinessproperty.co.uk/news/empire-cinemas-owner-fails-to-oppose-appointment-of-receivers-at-ealing-cinema
http://www.getwestlondon.co.uk/news/local-news/ealing-faces-three-more-years-7485038

This is Empire cinemas plan which has been up in the air since 2009
http://www.empirecinemas.co.uk/cinema_info/empire_ealing/t22

So as you can see they did not just ruin Empire 1 Leicester Square they ruined Ealing, West London by demolishing & not redeveloping the promised multiplex for 6 years now. I can clearly see now how their vision for Empire 1 Leicester Square turned out so poor

 

[andySu]

They shouldn't have touched EMPIRE 1. Or least make the walls ceiling look the same only the shape of those tiles feature make it so when you press your fingertips on it, you find that its absorbent. Problem of echo sorted. They must have had some brains who got a fat greedy paycheck. Well I hope they spent the money well.

6 years is shameless. This cinema company has more millions to throw around and around and I have only tens of pounds to buy wood or plasterboard or other bits for my home cinema (slow build). Pisses me, right off.

Hope lightening strikes the Empire Ealing, and the wall falls down. Leaving it in that state walking away when they have ££££££millions of pounds.

Reminds of the line in PLATOON. That hole ain't gonna dig itself. Common boy get your dick skin on that thing. Dig!That Empire ain't gonna build itself. Common Empire get your dick skin, £millions on that thing. Build.

 

[andySu]

Empire LieMax Square can not compare itself with how it used to be... LieMAX nothing compares.



Yes "mini imax".

 

[DP 70]

Whatever you say the Empire Imax Digital 3D with Dolby Atmos is still the best Cinema that is left out of theCinemas that were in the West End.Okay!

 

[Dr Griffin]

Empire LieMax Square can not compare itself with how it used to be... LieMAX nothing compares.

Spoiler

Yes "mini imax".

Bad, bad move by IMAX. Makes them look really bad. Cupcakes!?

 

[andySu]

Whatever you say the Empire Imax Digital 3D with Dolby Atmos is still the best Cinema that is left out of the
Cinemas that were in the West End.

Okay!

LIEMAX. Hey Everyone Empire Leicester Square isn't 70mm imax!, Its the digital FAKE called LIEMAX!!! Rip off! Waste of £20.00 pounds.

No it isn't the best anymore it used to up until last year, 2013. If it was the Best. I would have gotten couch up there one day before it opened again and camped outside. Nope I didn't do that. As its NO LONGER THEE BEST cinema in the in United Kingdom.

 

[andySu]

Bad, bad move by IMAX. Makes them look really bad. Cupcakes!?

It makes imax corp, look evil corporation. That go around ruining classic premiere cinemas. A premiere cinema that is something that Vast, Huge. The LIEMAX is a half size abomination screen. This outrageous. outrageous. OUTARGUES!

How about calling evilMAX they go around with their muddy boots and destroy single large premiere screens into LIEMAX screens.

 

[Dr Griffin]

While I won't go as far as to defend what was done to the Empire Leicester Square, there were/are probably many factors at play. Does anyone know how they were doing financially with the single theatre? I mean, was there fairly full houses on a somewhat regular basis? If it was a struggle to meet obligations with a single screen in the present competition, they may have been forced to do something. They've only added one new screen, is that right? It would seem to be a drastic expenditure for just one additional screen. One of, if not the, last old movie houses in Baltimore, The Senator, just completed a remodel last year, and added 3 additional screens without cutting up the original main theater that dates to 1939. The original theater was restored as well, and they did a fantastic job. They've added digital projection, but have kept their 35mm projectors for periodic special screenings. I had seen many films there over the years. I especially remember seeing the Sensurround movies there, with the huge horn loaded cabinets in the back corners rattling the place (I think they had to remove some seats to put them in!). Its a shame something similar couldn't be done for the Empire. The fake IMAX tag-on has to be like salt in the wound. There is no defense for that.

http://thesenatortheatre.com/

 

[andySu]

On nearly all past few years going there the screen 1 wasn't full like it was from Indiana Jones 3, '89 till last time I was there '94 Timecop.

2000 Gladiator, not even close or near to be full. Maybe I missed the first few weeks when it might have been full?

Transformers 2007, morning show not even near or close to full. I guess there presentation standards was dropping a bit? I mean that would be a reason for some not to go?

The Spy Who Loved Me, Sunday, show for public and tech crew was almost full. But worst I ever watched. Total lose of centre channel 6 mins and I had to get up and bring to attention of management at least (twice I had to leave my seat as it was distracting).

I lost nearly 40 mins of the film and Empire, didn't give me free ticket/s for any other show in future or my money refunded. I wasted a whole bloody day.

Toy Story Dolby-3d, farder set below "7" I was told when I chatted for 4 mins to Dave Norris, when leaving. I felt ripped off. I spent 2.2 hours on the couch and it was terrible. Also the cinema wasn't full up. Dave's excuse for the fader setting was "The cinema wasn't full up".

I hardly went to most films that was on this hyped 56kw, Ir was just an ear bleeder! Who ever set the EQ up? Please don't quit night time pizza deliveries.

The times I had to cover my ears. The stage channels lacked bass authority.

STAR TREK 2009 first day showing and second show was almost close to full. A few random seats here and there was empty. But the sound was far too overkill bright on the stage MF HF horns, ear bleeders.

X-Files I want to believe. Nearly all the Scully girlie fans booked the smaller 4 and 5 screens? Well there was plenty of seats in Empire 1, for first day public showing and maybe only 40 or less for first day showing.

I'd take a good guess and say they started to lose the Empire, spark of showmanship, which is a shame really. Far better in the '89 .


STAR TREK INTO DARKNESS second show of the day as the first show was at Midnight and I only had few hours waiting then got 7.20am couch to London.

The screen wasn't even half full maybe 30% full for second show and third show, as I wanted to listen too this Atmos twice to suss it out.

Indiana Jones when I got there afternoon show was half full, the film had already been showing for months. Next show it got a bit full up! So still drawing in the crowds.

STAR TREK '89 70mm (THX) Marathon was full!

Some and not all films appeal to the public so the cinema might do fairly for the time its on until the next film that the cinema is banking on to do well, often does,

ALIVE first show was bit quiet maybe 30 or so in Empire 1, Not sure what second show or all the rest like, only saw it the once.

CAPE FEAR '91 that was bit empty in the afternoon weekday.

Timecop, it was moderately a few in the afternoon show. Film had been playing for a month or so, saw it twice in my home town at MGM screen 1, that's a smaller size to Empire 1, but it was about close to full.


I bet if you went to empire tomorrow and sat in the foyer, bought a few soft drinkers and counted how many go into the LIEMAX for each show performance , I bet not even 100 go in. Its like 400 seats or so? And this Guardians is suppose to be the dogs bollocks lieMAX 3d film ever! I bet you 1 pence not even 100 per show.

A day they'd might be turning over small amount to pay the electrical bill to waste another 15kw Xenon lamp time.

They can keep it now. I saw the best of Empire in the late '89 till 94, would have liked to see APOLLO 13 there in dts (THX) why, why, did I not go? I saw that film 14 times at the local cinema.

Its a shame something similar couldn't be done for the Empire. The fake IMAX tag-on has to be like salt in the wound. There is no defense for that.

http://thesenatortheatre.com/

Ouch yes, I know what salt feels like on simple cut on the hand.

 

[andySu]

I want Arnold Schwarzenegger, to crush the empire lieMAX impact screen with a TANK!

 

[DP 70]

LIEMAX. Hey Everyone Empire Leicester Square isn't 70mm imax!, Its the digital FAKE called LIEMAX!!! Rip off! Waste of £20.00 pounds.

No it isn't the best anymore it used to up until last year, 2013. If it was the Best. I would have gotten couch up there one day before it opened again and camped outside. Nope I didn't do that. As its NO LONGER THEE BEST cinema in the in United Kingdom.

I think we all know the Empire is not 70mm Imax but it still better than any cinema in Londons West End.
The best cinema in the UK is the Pictureville in Bradford for Cinerama, 70mm Cinerama, 4K and you
have a 15/70 Imax next door.

 

[DP 70]

I went to see Guardians of the Galaxy in the Impact Screen with Dolby Atmos last night andthe sound mix was the best I have heard in a cinema.The Soundfield was fantastic and they showed the new Dolby Atmos Amaze trailer before the feature.This sounded better than Star Trek into Darkness in Dolby Atmos in the original single screen.Have to say Empire have done a good job.

 

[DP 70]

This week it was Expendables 3 it was loud the mix was even better than GOTG . I did notice that the picture could have been a bit
brighter.

Its worth seeing this in Dolby Atmos if you can.

 

[MrMiniver]

Empire Leicester square has posted pictures.

Well, this is just despicably disgraceful.

^^ BEFORE Empire Leicester Square original EMPIRE 1 ^^.
Below is the disgrace of imax liemax marketing.

Oh their screen is 26.5m x 15.6m big deal. The cinema is wider in the middle due to the false walls stuck on the existing brick walls. (Sigh) If one every went to "Empire 1" and had sat at the front. The THX screen looked HUGE! All this marketing liemax is, is illusion and delusion for suckers. (I meant lieMAX).

OMG who took the picture? Its all blurred. LieMAX staff needs to go to SpecSavers and get a pair of glasses.

Oh yeah like those imax speakers with laser beam guidance for sharks, surrounds really going to surround the audience in the few rows underneath the old projection box above. What a flawed liemax sound system.

This is so MORBID looking.

impact tiny screen. I've seen Dinky toys bigger than this.

You got to "18" years old to sit in impact baloney and you have to pay £18.00 pounds ? £18.00! I seem to recall a month or so back they had the bloody check at putting the price up £20.00 for a week or so. What a disgraceful cinema that has lost all respect with me. Shame on you Empire cinemas.

The back row with seats close to the arrays of surrounds won't make you look behind! It would make you look above!!! What a flawed cinema.

This used to be the best greatest cinema in the whole United Kingdom and they pissed it all way on wrecking crew that have vandalized the cinema beyond repair or fixing. Its all gone.

I don't know Empire can post these pictures and be proud of it, All they care about is how much they make? I hope it all backfires in their faces. Then they'll know it was huge was a mistake.


I think its absurd playing the same film in the same original auditorium one in imax with outdated sound system and delusional laughable screen. The other tiny less than half size screen with Dolby Atmos? What is the SCAM the here? Get customers to be so confused and pay to see the film twice? That is bloody cheeky.

I'd see a film twice if it was original EMPIRE 1,. Pay to see it at front row then pay again to sit in the circle, was fine with me. Sitting a large space where the sound was all around me. Sit in that dinkyMAX and dinkyImpact screen NEVER, ABSOLUTELY NOT.

I know the difference between 15/70 and digital IMAX, I will actively seek out 15/70 at some of theaters near me when there was 15/70 prints still available. Where I live, there were three 15/70 theater that were classic built, they were located inside a mulitplex, today they have changed to digital projection.

Its sad to see that some people like yourself can't get over the fact that IMAX has changed their projection system. Calling it LIEMAX, you are just trying to ruin for the people who actually ejnoy IMAX.

Things I like about digital IMAX are that it uses dual projection and the image on screen is much brighter and sharper than the images I have seen Atmos houses. The digital IMAX sound really is not all that much different as the 15/70 based IMAX used digital sound anyway. Some of the converted 15/70 IMAX locations use the original speakers from the past even though they have changed over to IMAX.

I also like the event factor that IMAX creates, it makes going to the movies a lot more fun. Atmos has tried but I honestly do not think it is working for them. I doubt people would shell out IMAX prices for Atmos, usually Atmos is cheaper. The blue countdown IMAX trailer is much mroe thrilling than the Atmos trailers.

At the end of the day, people like what they like. There have been people on this forum (iBobby Henderson and more) who have been predicting the demise of IMAX because they have gone digital. That is been hardly the case. They are doing bettter than ever. I will be seeing Interstellar in 15/70 when it is released, I cannot wait. But for the time being, I seek out and have no problem watch digital IMAX

I have never understood why people like yourself bitch about something they don't like. If you don't like IMAX then don't go. I for one love going to watch a movie in The IMAX Experience.

 

[MrMiniver]

I think we all know the Empire is not 70mm Imax but it still better than any cinema in Londons West End.The best cinema in the UK is the Pictureville in Bradford for Cinerama, 70mm Cinerama, 4K and youhave a 15/70 Imax next door.

Totally agree.

 

[andySu]

I know the difference between 15/70 and digital IMAX, I will actively seek out 15/70 at some of theaters near me when there was 15/70 prints still available. Where I live, there were three 15/70 theater that were classic built, they were located inside a mulitplex, today they have changed to digital projection.

Its sad to see that some people like yourself can't get over the fact that IMAX has changed their projection system. Calling it LIEMAX, you are just trying to ruin for the people who actually ejnoy IMAX.

Things I like about digital IMAX are that it uses dual projection and the image on screen is much brighter and sharper than the images I have seen Atmos houses. The digital IMAX sound really is not all that much different as the 15/70 based IMAX used digital sound anyway. Some of the converted 15/70 IMAX locations use the original speakers from the past even though they have changed over to IMAX.

I also like the event factor that IMAX creates, it makes going to the movies a lot more fun. Atmos has tried but I honestly do not think it is working for them. I doubt people would shell out IMAX prices for Atmos, usually Atmos is cheaper. The blue countdown IMAX trailer is much mroe thrilling than the Atmos trailers.

At the end of the day, people like what they like. There have been people on this forum (iBobby Henderson and more) who have been predicting the demise of IMAX because they have gone digital. That is been hardly the case. They are doing bettter than ever. I will be seeing Interstellar in 15/70 when it is released, I cannot wait. But for the time being, I seek out and have no problem watch digital IMAX

I have never understood why people like yourself bitch about something they don't like. If you don't like IMAX then don't go. I for one love going to watch a movie in The IMAX Experience.

Ask me if I care? I don't. LieMAX has ruined my cinema going to London. And London really needs another LieMAX? Why that is 2 or 3 LieMAX now in London. That is like my home town saying yes to another Odoen cinema that would be about 4 mins walking distance away from at least 9 screens in the town. The town doesn't need another cinema. Plus 2.3 miles away UCI I mean empire, no I mean empire cinemas.

20 Years ago if one said Empire. they know you mean Empire Leicester Square. Today i call it empire with no uppercase letter as it no loner deserves that right.

empire is just video cinema to me now and not a place of real showmanship class of presentation that went years ago... empire has so degraded that cinema with that LieMAX impact abomination. I like art cinemas and Empire 1m used to be one those it was real impact screen with 1330 seats and that I can chose anywhere to sit. In LieMAX I think I would be kicking the seat with person in front me! But that won't happen as I'm not going to spend and waste £20.00 when I can spend it on cat food. I;m not taking the Mickey. I mean it. I;d rather feed my cat than sit in the empire LieMAX or impact screen and crying and yes men do cry,

Looking at empire now is like having one ear cut off and one pulled out. That cinema has no vision no more. I don't care if showed STAR WARS films big deal I can get that chesty bass mid kick sound on my chest at home with deep low sub bass. empire isn't a special cinema no more.

Oh, BTW, I have seen 70mm 15 imax in my home town but that was demoished into rubble last year as the town didn't want that lying imax in town no more. They lied about getting more newer imax 70mm that never happened. Even the manager lied to me that they'll be doing BLADE RUNNER 70mm late night show, and that never happened and then they finally closed down and said they're refurbishing a cinema that was still practically brand new. Kinder ironic, the site was lying now I know why other forums call it,LieMAX. I don't care for no more and Yes funny I was liking it many years ago when it opened. You didn't expect me to say that did you, who ever you are?

Demolition so sweet. Rip that imax down. What an eyesore.

Back view off the imax building as it was referred too by the town is where the imax screen was just a few feet behind those brick wall a huge 60 feet by wow 60 or wider? That used to be true imax, that the town as now long forgotten about.

There was even 24 live video of the imax 70mm being demolished,

imax webcam demolition.

The other cinemas are just less than 2 mins walking time to the left of the picture. The town doesn't need new Odeon. And Knowing Odeon they might put a LieMAX in one of the screens the town doesn't need another imax or LieMAX.

Now that was imax demolition job,

Oh, and this Auro deal I read around with a new imax sound system and if that is installed in the LieMAX it will so confuse the paying public when they show the same film in the same large room with dividing wall between is, BS.

Then after a few weeks one of the same film is moved out of the LieMAX or impact screen and goes into smaller boothless screen.

Next they'll use the managers office as boothless 12 seat screen. Oh they'll find way? That cinema must be so dire desperate for large crowds. I bet the lines of people outside the empire are almost non-existent. In the last few recent years, not once have I seen hundreds queuing up outside.

I bet most of the 10 screens are never full up each performance. They show that royal opera crap? Its a cinema not royal Albert Hall for Pete's sakes. That's one other reason I don't go to empire cinema london or local. If I wanted to watch that I'd pay to the real thing.

Maybe this thread should have been called the Empire loyal fans appreciation thread. And have another thread called empire LIEMAX. I hope I and Bobby, does some public damage to get savvy people not to wasting their money. A real loyal Empire fan with any pride would walk past it.

I'm done chatting and ranting about this. Don't quote me. I'm done with chatting on this.

EMPIRE 1, 1330 seat premiere THX Atmos cinema, R.I.P. In dignity Talk about 20"13" being a bad unlucky year.