TCM/Fathom 2019 (1 Viewer)

[PMF]

A few years back, when "My Fair Lady" was making its theatrical rounds, there were some auditoriums that presented this restoration in 2K; while others in 4K. Does anyone know if this is still the case with this year's Fathom events? If so, I wonder if anyone can supply a state-to-state link as to which theaters will be using the 4K format.

 

[PMF]

I support these Fathom events; but I have 3 major complaints, which are as follows:

1) 9 films do not offer Sunday evening presentations; whereas on Wednesday evenings they do.
2) 5 other titles are offered for a longer booking of 3 days; whereas none are being presented in the evenings, at all.
3) There seems to be no easily accessible link that provide the information as to which theaters are showing these films in 4K vs. 2K.

So, here are my 3 major questions:

a) Why can't those who answer the phone at theaters have the required information concerning 2K vs. 4K?
b) Why can't there be Sunday evening shows, each and every time?
c) And why, oh why, can't there be a uniformity of matinee showtimes across the boards?
[some are at 1:00 pm, then others at 3:00 pm; then another at 4:00 pm and even a pair at Noon.]

Again, I wholeheartedly support these growing Fathom events;
but it's become difficult to actually attend each and every event, when so many evening shows are now amiss.

 

[Wayne_j]

My Fair Lady was glorious today. About as good looking as anything I've seen in that theater.

 

[Jake Lipson]

My theater which charged regular admission prices for The Wizard of Oz is charging Fathom prices (+$5.71 above the cost of a regular ticket) higher than a normal ticket) for Gone With the Wind this weekend. That's a deal-breaker to me, so I'm out for this one.

Also:

b) Why can't there be Sunday evening shows, each and every time?
c) And why, oh why, can't there be a uniformity of matinee showtimes across the boards?
[some are at 1:00 pm, then others at 3:00 pm; then another at 4:00 pm and even a pair at Noon.]

I suspect this has to do with the running time of the film. The longer ones, like The Godfather Part II and Lawrence of Arabia, they would want to start earlier in the day to have a more reasonable ending time. And a Sunday evening show for a long movie like that would likely not be very highly attended because of the length and the fact that Monday is a workday for most people. Just a guess.

 

[Angelo Colombus]

Saw Gone With the Wind and had a good time. Glad they showed it in it's original aspect ratio but I thought the picture looked not as vibrant or sharp as the blu-ray release.

 

[Jake Lipson]

I thought the picture looked not as vibrant or sharp as the blu-ray release.

That's odd. I wonder why. (I'm not questioning your account -- just wondering what the cause would be. Because the presentation was digital, theoretically they should be the same.) I didn't go to this one so I have no frame of personal reference.

 

[Angelo Colombus]

That's odd. I wonder why. (I'm not questioning your account -- just wondering what the cause would be. Because the presentation was digital, theoretically they should be the same.) I didn't go to this one so I have no frame of personal reference.

My guess was because of a digital presentation but not sure about that. They did include a overture, intermission, and exit music from the film so very happy to see that.

 

[Worth]

Digital should be sharper than a film print.

 

[Jake Lipson]

Gone With the Wind broke Fathom's gross record for a classic film, which was set by The Wizard of Oz earlier this year:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-gone-wind-sets-record-fathom-1195914

 

[Angelo Colombus]

Gone With the Wind broke Fathom's gross record for a classic film, which was set by The Wizard of Oz earlier this year:

https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/box-office-gone-wind-sets-record-fathom-1195914

When i saw it a few weeks ago the theater was almost full.

 

[Bob_S.]

Glad to see the big turn out for GWTW. I skipped it this year since I saw it the last time it came out. I plan on seeing Ben Hur again, Field of Dreams, Glory, Alien, and I think one or two more I can't remember off the top of my head. Asked my Dad if he wanted to see Ben Hur again with me and he said, "Why would you want to see it in the theater again when you can see it on your 60 in. screen at home?" Because when you have the opportunity to see the chariot race on a bigger screen, you take it.

 

[Ray H]

What are the thoughts on these presentations? I had purchased tickets for The Wizard of Oz and My Fair Lady earlier this year, but something came up and I had to cancel both times. To Kill a Mockingbird is showing tomorrow and Wednesday. So should I expect something better or worse than watching the BD at home? If memory serves, the BD was a little heavier on the DNR than I would've liked. Is it gonna just be the Blu-ray projected on the big screen?

 

[Wayne_j]

Not TCM, but I just got back from the Fathom Event for The Karate Kid. They started with a retrospective with new interviews with Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, and Martin Kove. Next they showed a clip and a trailer for season 2 of Cobra Kai. Finally they showed the movie. Everyone had a good time but unfortunately the projector was slightly out of focus.

 

[MartinP.]

A few years ago I saw The Ten Commandments and after the Intermission during the first few minutes the movie all of a sudden pixelated and then skipped about 3 minutes further into the film.

 

[Wayne_j]

I've seen them forget to star the pre show and then after people complained that the movie didn't start they had to fast forward to the start of the movie.

 

[ScottJH]

Not TCM, but I just got back from the Fathom Event for The Karate Kid. They started with a retrospective with new interviews with Ralph Macchio, William Zabka, and Martin Kove. Next they showed a clip and a trailer for season 2 of Cobra Kai. Finally they showed the movie. Everyone had a good time but unfortunately the projector was slightly out of focus.

I also saw it this afternoon and was a little disappointed with the presentation as well. Thought it looked too dim that could have been the projector. It was definitely on the softer side but I think that was how it was shot. Overall if the Fathom site didn't specifically say this was sourced from the new 4k restoration I would have had a hard time believing that it was.

 

[Wayne_j]

I also saw it this afternoon and was a little disappointed with the presentation as well. Thought it looked too dim that could have been the projector. It was definitely on the softer side but I think that was how it was shot. Overall if the Fathom site didn't specifically say this was sourced from the new 4k restoration I would have had a hard time believing that it was.

I've found that almost any non premium screen at my local Regals have either soft focus or are too dim or both. Since coming home I watched The Karate Kid on Blu Ray and although it isn't the sharpest film, it was noticeably more sharp than it was in the theater today. I also have rarely seen obvious grain on non premium screens at my Regals even when I have the disc at home and there is plenty on the disc from the same transfer. My theory is that the theater intentionally sets the projectors out of focus to hide the pixel pattern from the customers.

If projectors are out of focus or too dim it makes no difference if the source file is 2K or 4K.

 

[ScottJH]

I've found that almost any non premium screen at my local Regals have either soft focus or are too dim or both. Since coming home I watched The Karate Kid on Blu Ray and although it isn't the sharpest film, it was noticeably more sharp than it was in the theater today. I also have rarely seen obvious grain on non premium screens at my Regals even when I have the disc at home and there is plenty on the disc from the same transfer. My theory is that the theater intentionally sets the projectors out of focus to hide the pixel pattern from the customers.

If projectors are out of focus or too dim it makes no difference if the source file is 2K or 4K.

I saw it at an AMC. I'm hoping my local chain gets it through Flashback Cinema soon so I can do a comparison. Another thing I forgot to mention was quite a few panning shots had major judder/stutter. One example was right near the beginning when the camera pans down right before Daniel & his mom take off from Newark in the car. Did you notice that? I'll have to take a look at the current Blu-ray later on today.

 

[LeoA]

Are there ever additions to the schedule? I only became aware that these were being shown not too far away from me earlier last year, so I'm not a long-time follower.

Wondering if I'm wasting my time checking the schedule from time to time, since I don't think I've seen anything added to the calendar yet.

 

[TravisR]

Are there ever additions to the schedule? I only became aware that these were being shown not too far away from me earlier last year, so I'm not a long-time follower.

Wondering if I'm wasting my time checking the schedule from time to time, since I don't think I've seen anything added to the calendar yet.

I don't think they have more TCM screenings BUT my local chain periodically adds older movies throughout the year. For instance, The Goonies was just added recently for two days in the middle of this month.

Long story short, I'd keep checking if I were you.