“IMAX” vs Dolby Cinema: Your experiences?

4 Stars Has anyone seen films in both formats?

I am familiar with the new scaled-down IMAX that have proliferated cinemas the last ten years and have seen many movies in them, but just this past month, our local AMC installed a “Dolby Cinema” theater that seems very much to duplicate IMAX. I toured it the other day while no movie was showing and it has a bigger screen than the other (non-IMAX) theaters, the screen is moved up to be closer to the audience, and they promise Dolby Atmos sound.

I’ve yet to see a film in a Dolby Cinema format but the AMC is showing Fate of the Furious this Friday in both their IMAX theater and the Dolby Cinema theater. Has anyone seen films in both formats? If so, how do they compare? Which should I choose?

Thanks!

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Dave Upton

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I've found Dolby Cinema far superior, because i'm a contrast nut. Overall color saturation, contrast was so much better that I've now started going to Dolby Cinema almost exclusively.
 

Tino

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I have seen the same film many times in Both formats and I preferred the IMAX versions every time.

Bigger screen
3D
Comparable sound

Although Dolby Cinema is close and would always be my choice if IMAX wasn’t available. And I LOVE those seats. :)
 

3D Projectionist

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My own recollections of Imax are fond ones but you will have to turn the clock back to 1990's when I very regularly attended the new 70mm film Imax cinema here. That 15 perf 70mm projector was something to behold and I had the pleasure of gaining access to film it being threaded which for a reel film nut like me was quite a thrill at that. 15 years or so later it was replaced with a 3D Imax projector with for a short time leaving the old projector on display outside. For some years it went missing as none of the staff could tell me where it was moved to then I found out it was in Canada.

I went back so many time in the early 90's to see Grand Canyon over and over on that massive screen along with many others but the digital Imax is pale by comparison so I stopped going after the switch.

Imax was always a 70mm film wonder but regretfully the digital side they now embrace holds no Cinema magic for me..
 

Tino

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My own recollections of Imax are fond ones but you will have to turn the clock back to 1990's when I very regularly attended the new 70mm film Imax cinema here. That 15 perf 70mm projector was something to behold and I had the pleasure of gaining access to film it being threaded which for a reel film nut like me was quite a thrill at that. 15 years or so later it was replaced with a 3D Imax projector with for a short time leaving the old projector on display outside. For some years it went missing as none of the staff could tell me where it was moved to then I found out it was in Canada.

I went back so many time in the early 90's to see Grand Canyon over and over on that massive screen along with many others but the digital Imax is pale by comparison so I stopped going after the switch.

Imax was always a 70mm film wonder but regretfully the digital side they now embrace holds no Cinema magic for me..
I agree. But it still way better thanks standard digital projection.
 
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