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Richard Franklin's 'F/X 2: The Deadly Art of Illusion' Bound for Blu-ray[teaser]The 1991 sequel is now up for pre-order. [/teaser] As previously reported, Kino is set to release 'F/X 2: The Deadly Art of Illusion' on Blu-ray on December 8. The Deadly Art of Illusion! Bryan Brown (Far East) and Brian Dennehy (Gorky Park) are back as Rollie and Leo in an all-new action-thriller that continues the F/X saga with stylish wit, unrelenting suspense and amazing high-tech action. Five years after his first deadly adventure, Rollie Tyler (Brown) has left the special effects business and now designs sophisticated electronic toys for a living. But when his girlfriend's ex-husband, a police detective, persuades him to devise an illusion to capture a serial killer, Rollie is once again lured into the lethal world of make-believe. And soon, he finds himself trapped in a murderous maze of deceit and treachery in which he must depend on his ingenious tricks and his friendship with detective Leo McCarthy (Dennehy) to expose a terrifying underworld conspiracy... but only if he can stay alive! Cult filmmaker Richard Franklin (Psycho II, Road Games) directed this top-notch sequel that features a strong cast including Rachel Ticotin (Total Recall), Joanna Gleason (Boogie Nights), Philip Bosco (The Dream Team) and Kevin J. O Connor (Color of Night). Specs have not been detailed yet, but supplements will include trailers. You can find the latest specs for 'F/X 2: The Deadly Art of Illusion' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 8. Order the Blu-rayPosted Tue Oct 13, 2015 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'The House Where Evil Dwells/Ghost Warrior' Planned for Blu-ray[teaser]The double feature will be available on Blu-ray in January. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Scream Factory says 'The House Where Evil Dwells/Ghost Warrior' will hit on Blu-ray on January 5. The House Where Evil Dwells - A century ago, a samurai brutally murdered his adulterous wife and her lover before taking his own life. Now, the Fletcher family has found what they think is their perfect Japanese home – not knowing it's the same house where the murders occurred. But as strange events escalate and the ghosts of the dead begin to toy with the living, the Fletchers discover they've become unwitting players in a horrible reenactment... one which they may not survive! This chilling ghost story stars Edward Albert (Galaxy Of Terror), Susan George (Straw Dogs) and Doug McClure (Humanoids From The Deep) and is directed by Kevin Connor (Motel Hell). NEW TRANSFER. Ghost Warrior - While exploring a cave, two skiers find the body of a 400-year-old samurai warrior entombed in ice. He is brought to the United States in a hush-hush operation and revived through cryosurgery. Unfortunately, he is then forced to battle for his freedom, dignity and life. This Charles Band production stars Janet Julian (King Of New York, Humongous). No other details have been revealed at this time. You can find the latest specs for 'The House Where Evil Dwells/Ghost Warrior' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under January 5.Posted Tue Oct 13, 2015 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
VUDU Updates Android App with 1080p HDX Video Support[teaser]High quality video playback is now available on select Android devices. [/teaser] VUDU has announced the release of its latest Android app. The update offers several new features, including HDX playback support. VUDU's latest Android app now uses a completely rebuilt and redesigned interface with faster performance. Likewise, the update provides a new navigation menu, auto-magic search suggestions, and a portrait mode for smartphones. Finally, the biggest upgrade involves added support for HD (720p) and HDX (1080p) playback on select phones and tablets with Android Lollipop or higher. HDX support is also available on PCs and via the Google Chromecast, but is not yet compatible with iPads or iPhones. Android users can now download the latest VUDU app from the Google Play store. Source: VUDU via EngadgetPosted Mon Oct 12, 2015 at 04:00 PM PDT by: -
Yamaha Releases MusicCast YSP-1600 Soundbar & SRT-1500 TV Speaker Base[teaser]The first soundbar and speaker base models with MusicCast support are now available. [/teaser] Yamaha has announced the release of two new audio products. The YSP-1600 Soundbar ($500) & SRT-1500 TV Speaker Base ($600) both feature support for the company's MusicCast wireless multiroom audio system. "A great sound bar should make it easy to add amazing sound to your TV, and both of these models deliver on this front. However, what makes them especially remarkable is the integration of MusicCast," said Bob Goedken, general manager, AV division, Yamaha Corporation of America. "Now you can use the MusicCast Sound Bar in one room and link it to a MusicCast Wireless Speaker in another to listen to music or TV audio in both places—so you don't have to miss out on the game or news when you're away from the TV. Yamaha has finally made it a breeze to do this." The YSP-1600 Soundbar features a slim 2.5-inch tall design and eight speaker drivers to provide 5.1 channel surround sound. Meanwhile, the SRT-1500 TV Speaker Base is designed to sit under most 32-inch to 55-inch TVs and features ten speaker drivers. Both models include dual built-in subwoofers, Bluetooth connectivity, HDMI with HDCP 2.2 compliancy, and Digital Sound Projector technology. In addition, Yamaha's integrated MusicCast tech allows customers to stream music and link to other MusicCast speakers, AV receivers and Hi-Fi gear in other rooms via Wi-Fi. Yamaha's YSP-1600 Soundbar ($500) & SRT-1500 TV Speaker Base ($600) are now available from authorized dealers. Source: YamahaPosted Mon Oct 12, 2015 at 01:00 PM PDT by: -
HDD Blu-ray Deal of the Week: 'Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Collection' $49.99 at Amazon[teaser]The classic films starring Basil Rathbone and Nigel Bruce are on sale this week at Amazon.[/teaser] Amazon is selling 'Sherlock Holmes: The Complete Collection' for $49.99 (62% off the suggested retail price). The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection stars Basil Rathbone as the legendary Sherlock Holmes and Nigel Bruce as the venerable Dr. John H. Watson. The Complete Sherlock Holmes Collection is comprised of all 14 classic films on 5 discs: The Hound of the Baskervilles, The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, Sherlock Holmes and the Voice of Terror, Sherlock Holmes and the Secret Weapon, Sherlock Holmes in Washington, Sherlock Holmes Faces Death, The Spider Woman, The Scarlet Claw, The Pearl of Death, The House of Fear, The Woman in Green, Pursuit to Algiers, Terror by Night, Dressed to Kill. Click here to order this set today and this offer is available from now through October 18. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Oct 12, 2015 at 08:24 AM PDT by: -
A Double Dose of 'Troll' Bound for Blu-ray[teaser]A cult classic and the best worst movie ever made will be released together on Blu-ray in November. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Scream Factory says 'Troll / Troll 2' will arrive on Blu-ray on November 17. Troll - Lock the doors and pull out the weed-wacker for this house party of horror! One family is about to find out there's no place like home when a troublesome troll starts taking over their building, transforming each apartment into an overgrown garden of ancient evil and turning tenants into a horde of hairy hobgoblins! Michael Moriarty and Julia Louis-Dreyfus star in this super-slimy scare-fest. Troll 2 - Those greedy goblins are back and hungrier than ever in this gourmet gross-out! Disguised as friendly country folk, a pugnacious posse of people-eating trolls lures visitors to their town. But a family of four is about to discover this place is a real tourist trap... and now, the no-good gnomes must be destroyed before the family gets flambéed... and the world becomes a buffet in this feeding frenzy of fear! Specs haven't been revealed yet, but supplements include: NEW The Making of TROLL featuring interviews with director John Carl Buechler, producer Charles Band, writer Ed Naha, composer Richard Band, special effects artists John Vulich and Gino Crognale, visual effects artists Jim Aupperle, James Belhovek, Linda Drake and Kevin Kutchaver; Behind the Scenes Still Gallery; NEW audio commentary on Troll 2 with actors George Hardy and Deborah Reed; and Theatrical Trailers. As an added bonus, the first 5,000 copies sold will also include a DVD copy of Best Worst Movie. Fans can pre-order their copies by visiting ShoutFactory.com. You can find the latest specs for 'Troll / Troll 2' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under November 17. Order the Blu-rayPosted Mon Oct 12, 2015 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
High-Def Digest Attends VIZIO's Fall Showcase with Dolby Vision Reference Series Ultra HD TVsAs we continue to watch the 4K Ultra HD market evolve, manufacturers have begun to move beyond mere improvements in resolution, offering several new display technologies that aim to deliver improved levels of contrast, detail, and color -- continuing the industry trend of not only adding more pixels, but better pixels. At the forefront of these advancements is Dolby Vision. An end-to-end imaging solution that covers content creation, distribution, and playback, Dolby Vision is designed to provide customers with an enhanced viewing experience through the combination of High Dynamic Range and Wide Color Gamuts. Though we've seen plenty of demos and pre-market displays that use the tech in the past, [teaser]Dolby Vision is now finally ready to make its official home theater debut with the release of VIZIO's Reference Series. [/teaser] As its name might imply, the Reference Series is designed with true videophiles in mind, and cements VIZIO's gradual expansion from the budget market into the genuine premium home theater sphere. At launch, the lineup includes an impressive 65-inch model and an absolutely mouth-watering 120-inch behemoth -- and earlier this week we were invited to demo both of these displays in action. The Basics The Reference Series is available in 65-inch ($6,000) and 120-inch ($130,000) models. Each Ultra HD panel features an 800-nit, full-array LED backlight with 384 active zones for superior black levels and brightness. Equipped with Dolby Vision, the displays also include support for Dolby Vision High Dynamic Range (HDR) content with wide color gamuts, providing enhanced contrast with more realistic highlights and shadow detail. The 65-inch model uses quantum dot technology while the 120-inch model uses phosphor coated LEDs (a 120-inch quantum dot sheet just isn't feasible yet). In addition, the 65-inch model includes an integrated 3-channel soundbar with separate rear satellites and a wireless subwoofer. HDMI 2.0 connections with HDCP 2.2 compliancy are integrated as well. Finally, the VIZIO Internet Apps Plus smart TV platform is also implemented, allowing customers to enjoy Dolby Vision HDR streaming content from services like VUDU and Netflix. Demos To show off the Reference Series' unique picture quality features, VIZIO set up a series of demos highlighting different aspects of the TVs, including streaming, local dimming, contrast, HDR, color, and audio. And to conclude the showcase, they even had a full home theater room set up with the massive 120-inch model, offering a taste of what lucky consumers (with $130,000 to spend) can come to expect from the wall-sized TV. First up, VIZIO had a series of 65-inch sets hung across the wall, all displaying various demo reels. Though most of these TV were playing content off of drives, the company did have one unit actually set to an active VUDU stream, offering a taste of Dolby Vision Ultra HD streaming with smooth playback over 15mbps. With content specially mastered in the Dolby Vision process, VUDU will be the first platform to provide Dolby Vision HDR movies. The initial lineup will feature 16 titles from Warner Bros., including 'The Lego Movie,' 'Edge of Tomorrow,' 'Into the Storm,' 'Man of Steel', 'San Andreas,' 'Mad Max: Fury Road,' 'Magic Mike XXL,' 'Jupiter Ascending,' 'The Great Gatsby,' and more. Likewise, Netflix will also be supporting the Dolby Vision process and will be offering the first and second season of 'Marco Polo' in Dolby Vision HDR. Moving away from specific content and on to specific picture quality features, VIZIO spotlighted the TV's impressive full-array local dimming. To demonstrate the display's 384 active zones, the company brought back a special demo that it previously included in its last launch event. This demonstration pitted the Reference Series against a competing edge-lit model, the Samsung UN65JS8500 SUHD TV. Both displays were hung side-by-side and each had their diffusers and light guides removed. A simple animation of fish and flowers played on both sets, revealing the many active zones lighting up in specific sections of the panel on the VIZIO, and the comparatively dim center and bright sides of the edge-lit model. Of course, as fun as a demo like this can be, it clearly does not offer a good comparison of real world performance. Thankfully, VIZIO also had the same Samsung model pitted against the Reference Series 65-inch TV under normal, dark room viewing conditions. Both TVs played a video reel full of detailed imagery (swirling cosmos, sparking lava, etc.) that really brought out the differences in the displays' backlight performance. The VIZIO set maintained a deep, inky shade of black without crushing details while the edge-lit Samsung demonstrated a more grey/blue shade of black. Likewise, the VIZIO had superior uniformity and viewing angles, while the competing set had some backlight bleeding around the edges and tended to wash out a lot more when viewing from the side. Though under these demo conditions the full-array Reference Series model easily bested the edge-lit Samsung, it should be noted that Samsung does indeed offer a full-array SUHD TV model of its own -- but since it is only available with a curved-screen panel, it was not used for this comparison. For the final head-to-head demo of the night, VIZIO had another room set up with three televisions on the wall. To the far right was the Pioneer Kuro plasma HDTV -- once widely regarded as the undisputed top-dog of the home theater display world. To the far left was the Samsung UN65JS8500. And finally, in the center was the 65-inch Reference Series display. Aimed at demonstrating the VIZIO TV's superior Dolby Vision wide color gamut, the demo shifted through a series of different tests patterns on all three televisions, displaying a series of colors. All three TVs were set to their factory "Movie Mode" and the VIZIO was dialed down to 50% brightness. Thanks to its expanded color gamut and quantum dot tech, the Reference Series offered punchier shades of red, blue, and green. By comparison, the Pioneer plasma and its standard Rec 709 color space looked noticeably dull and faded. Though the VIZIO and Samsung were much closer in color reproduction, the Reference Series did still have a slight edge, offering bolder and seemingly more pure colors, especially when it came to green and yellow. Far surpassing the current Rec 709 standard, the 65-inch Reference Series and its quantum dot panel offer support for 120% of the P3 color gamut and 87% of the Rec 2020 color gamut. Meanwhile, the 120-inch model offers 96% of the P3 color gamut and 73% of the Rec 2020 color gamut. Check out the above picture for a comparison the 65-inch VIZIO (left) and Pioneer (right), and the below picture for a comparison of the Samsung (left) and VIZIO (right) -- though I must stress that a camera is not a particularly good way to capture such a comparison, and I am only including these pictures to give readers a ballpark idea of what the demo was like. Taking away the competition to let the Reference Series shine by itself, the next demo room featured another reel of VUDU Warner Bros. titles playing in a completely dark room. This section was designed to show off all of the display's picture quality features -- combining local dimming, HDR, and wide colors to create a premium viewing experience. The results? Ultra HD bliss. Detail was strong, blacks were inky, colors were sumptuous, and the high dynamic range grading really did lead to an appreciable expansion of the image. Scenes from 'The Great Gatsby' were especially notable for their delectable eye-candy. While the Reference Series' picture quality might have been getting most of the attention at the event, VIZIO also made sure to spotlight the TV's audio as well. In an attempt to buck the subpar audio found in most big-screen TVs, the company is actually including a 5.1 soundbar system with the 65-inch model. The three channel soundbar sits right under the display, and though it can be disconnected from the TV, it can't be used with any other models. A separate wireless subwoofer and two rear satellite speakers are also included. For demo purposes, VIZIO played a scene from 'Star Trek' and 'The Art of Flight: Alaska' with the system set to 90% volume. The first sequence featured some immersive space action, and the compact 5.1 system did a great job of filling the relatively large demo room with enveloping sound and surprisingly full bass. The second clip featured a snowboarding adventure (giving me a quick PTSD flashback to my first attempts at skiing last winter… former Floridians should stick with beaches) with a low frequency heavy music soundtrack and some distinct surround cues that spread overhead helicopters around the soundfield. Though the 5.1 system wasn't as nuanced or crisp as more refined speaker systems, the experience was leaps and bounds better than any traditional integrated TV speakers could ever hope to be. Unfortunately, the soundbar system does not support any lossless or immersive audio sound formats. On that note, considering that the Reference Series is aimed at major home theater enthusiasts, it's likely that most potential customers will already have a dedicated surround sound system (or will be willing to spend the cash for one) -- so, as nice as the soundbar system is, I actually would have preferred for VIZIO to exclude it so that they could cut down the TV's MSRP a bit. Finally, it was time for the main event: the 120-inch monster. Set up in a cozy home theater room setting complete with leather seats, the mammoth-sized Reference Series display almost took up the entire wall. In other words, I was now in A/V heaven. For demo purposes, the TV was connected to the same 5.1 soundbar system that comes with its smaller 65-inch sibling, and we were treated to two Dolby Vision clips. The first sequence was from 'Man of Steel' and featured Russell Crowe being attacked on Krypton (you know, that scene where he rides a dragon… for some reason). Filled with sci-fi weaponry and various explosions, the scene offered some great specular imagery with intense highlights and detailed shadows -- showing off the HDR tech beautifully. The way the laser blasts seemed to pulse off the screen was particularly impressive. With that said, director Zach Snyder's stylized (i.e. drab) color palette wasn't terribly good for showing off Dolby Vision's wide color gamut. For the grand finale, however, VIZIO elected to play a scene from the hyper-saturated brilliance that is 'Mad Max: Fury Road.' The scene in question featured Immortan Joe's army in hot pursuit (wait, that basically describes every scene in the movie, doesn't it?) and provided a dazzling showcase for the Reference Series' unique strengths. Fire roaring from car engines sizzled off the screen with bright intensity that didn't become blown out, and the red costume on the guitar player was rich and bold without bleeding. As a whole, both scenes demonstrated the impressive versatility of both the Dolby Vision process and the Reference Series' picture quality attributes -- resulting in a display that is capable of intense brightness and deep blacks without crushing or clipping detail in either extreme. In practice, the local dimming, HDR, and wide colors really do lead to a rather breathtaking jump in realism. Well, maybe "realism" isn't the right word to use when describing scenes that feature a dying alien world and a post-apocalyptic wasteland, but I think you get the idea. A Word on HDR & Ultra HD Blu-ray Support There's been some confusion about the Reference Series' potential support for future Ultra HD Blu-ray discs/players and HDR content beyond Dolby Vision, so I reached out to VIZIO and Dolby for some clarifications. The Reference Series features HDMI 2.0/HDCP 2.2 compliant connections and will provide support for any Dolby Vision HDR content that is released on Ultra HD Blu-ray (the format is an option for the spec, but not a requirement) through a Dolby Vision-enabled Ultra HD Blu-ray player. Likewise, the TVs will support Dolby Vision HDR streaming content through services like VUDU and Netflix. On the topic of other possible HDR formats, VIZIO says that the company will evaluate future formats as they are finalized. Final Thoughts After witnessing the market-ready Reference Series TVs in person (and wiping the drool from my mouth), it's really hard not to be impressed by their premium picture quality features and Dolby Vision technology. Actually, it's really hard not to be blown away. Thanks to the displays' 384 local dimming zones, HDR, and wide color gamut, these models really are among the most advanced on the market. With that said, they do come with some equally advanced price tags. Though VIZIO is widely celebrated for its competitive pricing and best "bang for your buck" value with its other display lines, the Reference Series TVs don't exactly seem to be following this trend. At $6,000 for the 65-inch model and $130,000 for the 120-inch model, the company is clearly going after true home theater enthusiasts here. Still, while there are cheaper 65-inch Ultra HD TVs on the market with some form of HDR and wide color, this is the first and only display series that currently supports Dolby Vision -- a distinction that could prove to be worth the price increase if the format becomes widely adopted. Interested buyers can now submit special orders for the Reference Series displays at VIZIO.com. Customers will then be contacted by a local custom installer to arrange delivery and a white-glove setup service.Posted Fri Oct 9, 2015 at 05:00 PM PDT by: -
'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation' - Now Fully Detailed for Blu-ray![teaser]The latest film in the action-packed franchise is headed for Blu-ray this holiday season. You can order your copy now![/teaser] Hailed as “relentlessly thrilling” (Chris Nashawaty, Entertainment Weekly) and filled with “jaw-dropping stunts” (Scott Mendelson, Forbes), the global hit 'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation' will hit Blu-ray on December 15 from Paramount Home Distribution. A 5-film boxed set collecting all the films will also be available on the same date. Loaded with “killer action and tight suspense” (Peter Travers, Rolling Stone), Paramount Pictures and Skydance Media’s MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE—ROGUE NATION was directed and written for the screen by Christopher McQuarrie. Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Simon Pegg and Ving Rhames return to their iconic roles and the movie also stars Alec Baldwin and newcomer Rebecca Ferguson in a “star-turning role” (Brian Viner, Daily Mail) as a mysterious double agent. With his elite organization shut down by the CIA, agent Ethan Hunt (Cruise) and his team (Renner, Pegg, Rhames) race against time to stop the rise of a new global threat, The Syndicate, a dangerous network of rogue operatives turned traitors. To stop them, Ethan must join forces with an elusive, disavowed agent (Ferguson) who may or may not be on his side as he faces his most impossible mission yet. The Blu-ray combo pack will feature 1080p video, Dolby Atmos audio, and supplements include: an audio commentary by Tom Cruise and director/screenwriter Christopher McQuarrie; Lighting the Fuse; Cruise Control; Heroes; Cruising Altitude; Mission: Immersible; Sand Theft Auto; and The Mission Continues. Here's a behind-the-scenes clip from the special features (available on iTunes Extras and Blu-ray Combo Pack) that shows how Tom Cruise completed the underwater sequence from the film, including how he trained to hold his breath for up to 6 minutes: You can find the latest specs for 'Mission: Impossible - Rogue Nation' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it's indexed under December 15. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Oct 9, 2015 at 10:00 AM PDT by: -
'My Fair Lady: 50th Anniversary Edition' Dated for Blu-ray[teaser]The classic Oscar-winning film has been restored for a Blu-ray release at the end of the month. [/teaser] In an early announcement to retailers, Paramount will be bringing 'My Fair Lady: 50th Anniversary Edition' to Blu-ray on October 27. The release will feature a brand new 4k restoration from an 8K scan of the original negative and other surviving 65mm elements, all painstakingly restored by acclaimed film historian and preservationist Robert A. Harris. Adapted from the original Broadway hit and headlined by Hollywood legends Audrey Hepburn and Rex Harrison, My Fair Lady 50th Anniversary Edition arrives in collectible packaging with an entire Blu-ray disc dedicated to 90 minutes of special features including a variety of original trailers and featurettes that were used in theaters to promote the feature film, as well as footage from the film's Los Angeles and British premieres in 1964. You can find the latest specs for 'My Fair Lady: 50th Anniversary Edition' linked from our Blu-ray Release Schedule, where it is indexed under October 27. Order the Blu-rayPosted Fri Oct 9, 2015 at 08:00 AM PDT by: -
HDD First Look: Dolby Cinema at AMC[UPDATE: AMC and Dolby originally called these auditoriums Dolby Cinema at AMC Prime, in an ode to the exhibition chain's previously established premium cinema auditoriums, but they've since been renamed Dolby Cinema at AMC, which I think is a smart choice.] A white dot pops up on a darkened, sixty-foot cinema screen. It looks like every movie you've ever seen projected digitally. Clear white encircled by black levels that are not only grey, but bright enough to partially illuminate the room. This test pattern represents the industry standard 2,000:1 contrast ratio at 14 foot-lamberts (fL). Then the image shifts so drastically an entire audience of A/V enthusiasts audibly gasps. The white dot now shining a bright 31 fL. As for the screen? Seemingly gone. Perfectly black. The auditorium plunged into total darkness. The contrast ratio a staggering million to one. Welcome to Dolby Cinema at AMC. More specifically, welcome to auditorium 14 at AMC Theaters' flagship Burbank 16 location where we are seated to demo a new premium large format theatre offering that's been rolling out at AMC since May of this year. AMC initially announced plans to first convert 50 Prime and ETX premium large format auditoriums to meet Dolby Cinema specifications by 2018 (and 50 more by 2024). However, early reactions by filmmakers and customers have been so positive, AMC hopes to have 50 Dolby Cinema at AMC Prime locations open by the end of 2016. What is Dolby Cinema at AMC? In the broadest sense, it's a premium movie-going experience designed to transport audiences into a film's universe using three components: 1) Dolby Vision -- a new dual-4K Christie laser projection system designed for films that have been color graded for Dolby Vision HDR (high dynamic range), giving content 500-times the contrast ratio of conventional projection systems. Pure black levels, expanded color gamut capabilities, and twice the brightness (up to 31fL). 2) Dolby Atmos -- a reference quality sound system capable of decoding object-based surround mixing. In Burbank's case, that's five in-screen speakers plus 48 surrounds, 4 ceiling-mounted subwoofers, and in-seat transducers for extra rumble. 3) Comfort & Aesthetics -- not only does the auditorium boast leather recliners facing a large screen, but the entire space has been painted matte black to control ambient light, color lights have been used to highlight the numerous speakers, and there's the Signature Entrance, an audio-visual pathway meant to evoke a journey into the mindset of watching a particular film. Demoing Dolby Cinema To show off the room's capabilities, we sampled five clips from four 2015 films that have be graded for Dolby Vision and mixed in Dolby Atmos. 'Tomorrowland' -- The first Dolby Vision title remains the only one I've seen all the way through. I can't comment on the HDR versus the standard color grading because I've only seen the Dolby Vision version, but we watched a vibrant one-take shot where Casey (Britt Robertson) gets an extended look at the Tomorrowland universe. Bright and sparkling with saturated colors, this demo felt exceptionally lifelike, with extra points awarded for its blue skies and cloud details when these things normally blow out. In short, this demo, much like the scene it depicted, offered a window into another world. It reminds me a bit of seeing HD for the first time back when SD was still the standard. 'Inside Out' -- I mistakenly assumed color grading was less essential to animated features. That assumption imploded the moment we watched two clips from Pixar's 'Inside Out', which I had seen earlier this year in non-HDR 4K digital projection. Pixar films are always cutting edge in terms of fine details, textures, and bold colors. But seeing 'Inside Out' in Dolby Vision is nothing short of a revelation. We began with the movie's opening scene, the birth of Riley and the four emotions who live inside her head -- Joy, Sadness, Disgust, and Anger. In this sequence, character designs boast much more dimension and more detail in their skin colors. Meaning, without Dolby Vision, they appear as yellow, blue, green, and red; in Dolby Vision, their skin textures are more present and include other shades in the same way that human skin textures flush or pale. It was like someone had upgraded my glasses prescription. Next we were treated to a sequence set in the part of Riley's mind where she locks up her fears and nightmares. Joy and Sadness must trudge deep into a dark cave tinged with fluorescent walls to rescue the missing Bing Bong. What's notable about this particular sequence is that, while the theatrical standard for color space is P3, this scene is the first in the history of digital projection to use the wider Rec.2020 (aka BT.2020) color gamut. It was, outside of 70mm or 70mm IMAX, possibly the best looking 2D projected imagery I've ever seen. 'Inside Out' benefits from the taller 1.85:1 aspect ratio, which makes the day and exterior sequences seem brighter, but this scene, set in a near-dark cave, was remarkable for its Kuro-quality black levels, shadow details, depth and resolution, and vibrate, fluorescent greens and purples. 'Inside Out' looked so good part of me is worried next month's Blu-ray release will feel a bit like a disappointment. 'Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials' -- Fox is currently touting the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray release of the original film, but Maze Runner II was the first in the series to be Dolby Vision color-graded. We watched the opening sequence, which comprises of a nightmare/flashback of a military checkpoint and then Thomas (Dylan O'Brien) racing upwards in a freight elevator before waking in a helicopter and fleeing for the safety of a factory environment. Though I'm unable to personally compare the Dolby Vision 'Scorch Trials' to its standard color grading, I will say it offered tons of depth and shadow detail in what was very dark material with a muted color palette. However, this was my least favorite demo because the letterboxing at the top and bottom of the frame was not true black. Apparently, even though Dolby Vision is capable of that million-to-one contrast ratio, it's up to the filmmakers to decide how to use it. In this case, they might have selected less than true black levels for the letterboxing, or perhaps ambient light from the rest of the frame could have affected black levels. It's hard to say exactly what we experienced without talking to the actual folks who graded the film. Either way, I wish Dolby Cinema and AMC Prime auditoriums had moveable matte panels they could slide into place for 2.40:1 aspect ratio films, or that the letterboxing was a darker color. Granted, it's only possible to have such a complaint once you experience how amazing the black levels can be for other material. 'Everest' -- Our last demo featured a scene from 'Everest' where Beck Weathers (Josh Brolin) nearly falls to his death while crossing a crevasse on a rickety ladder bridge. It's a thrilling sequence that evokes a chilling sense of vertigo on larger screens. I recently saw 'Everest' in 3D at the TCL Chinese IMAX, which features 4K laser projection and the second-largest screen in North America. Without more time in each to compare and contrast, I can't say Dolby Cinema topped that experience in total -- they each have their own strengths -- but I prefer the film's Dolby Atmos mix (it is much more detailed and articulate), and Dolby Vision brought a lot more fine details to snow and ice. Also, my leather recliner was much more comfortable, so there's that. Hehe. Regardless, the point of this final demo was to go to the other end of the spectrum from the 'Inside Out' cave sequence. Dolby Vision will plunge you into darkness without crushing as easily, as it will display detailed spectral and highlights for objects that would normally bleed white. In short, this demo proved the Burbank 16 Dolby Cinema at AMC is easily one of the best looking and best sounding commercial digital cinema auditoriums I have ever experienced (and yes, that includes professional stages where they create Dolby Atmos sound mixes you hear in cinemas and at home). [teaser]Welcome to the future of cinema. [/teaser] 2D Exclusive Apart from the fantastic demonstrations, the other huge takeaway from this event was learning, much like Ultra HD Blu-ray, Dolby Cinema at AMC Prime auditoriums are going to be 2D exclusive. Turns out the Dolby Cinema projection system is only capable of 14fL in 3D and, since AMC already has 2,300 RealD and 150 IMAX screens capable of 3D, they want Dolby Cinema auditoriums to offer a different kind of premium experience. It's a bit of a shame to know we won't be getting 3D + Atmos ('Mad Max Fury Road' at a pre-Dolby-Vision AMC Prime was so good I saw it three times there), but at the same time this should appeal to many purists and I can't help but admire the notion of ensuring the customers only get to experience this remarkable projection system at peak output Where Can I Experience Dolby Cinema at AMC? There are currently eight locations in operation with four under construction. Keep your eye on THIS PAGE for an updated list. What Will Be Playing in Dolby Cinema at AMC? Nine films have so far been color-graded for Dolby Vision and mixed in Dolby Atmos this year —- 'Tomorrowland', 'San Andreas', 'Inside Out', 'Pixels', 'Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation', 'The Perfect Guy', 'Everest', 'Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials', and 'The Martian'. The next batch of titles will include 'Pan' (10/9/15), 'The Hunger Games: Mockingjay – Part 2' (11/20/15), 'In the Heart of the Sea' (12/11/15), and 'The Jungle Book' (2016) along with many others that have yet to be announced. In Summary I very much enjoyed my short time with Dolby Cinema at AMC. Dolby Vision plus Dolby Atmos plus the creature comforts of AMC Prime is an intoxicating mixture worthy of its premium surcharge (currently the same as IMAX). Together with the historic Chinese, this auditorium offers one of the two best cinema experiences in all of Los Angeles, and I'm very much looking forward to visiting more AMC Prime and/or ETX conversions (seriously, let's get the Century City location done ASAP) over the next few years. Had a chance to visit a Dolby Cinema at AMC? Hop over into the forums, or to the comments below, to let us know about your experience. Cheers.Posted Thu Oct 8, 2015 at 05:45 PM PDT by:
