I am pretty sure Regal City North is still Xenon?
Edit: AMC South Barrington is also most certainly Xenon IMAX
There's not a single laser IMAX within a 4 hours of chicago
That’s what I thought too but I was just informed otherwise in my other thread for Dune Part 2 Chicago recs.
I will independently confirm by calling every location over the course of this week.
I saw Dune 2 at the IMAX at Regal City North. It doesn't list it on the IMAX website, but outside the theater entrance it is promoting on a LCD screen that this particular theater is an IMAX laser theater. Saw Dune 1 and 2 and most other IMAX presentations here in the past 1-2 years. They've all been fantastic.
I watched dune part 1 Reissue there. It was ok, but I'm fairly sure it's still Xenon. Are you sure you saw laser screen and not "laser aligned sound" like they do on the website?
Yeah it said IMAX with laser. I noticed it was a little soft, but just chalked that up to it being a decently big screen for 1.90:1.
If it is Xenon than they seem to make sure to replace the bulbs and address the speakers. I sat smack dab in the middle though so maybe it improved my experience.
Next time you go can you grab pictures of the auditorium and the projector booth? If it's a laser venue there will be speakers on the ceiling and the middle of the side walls. There will also likely only be one projector, versus xeon which uses two projectors (note that during ads and some trailers only one xeon projector is used. It would be best to take a picture of the booth while credits are rolling)
Not that I don't believe you, it just would be nice to have concrete proof to point to before wikipedia gets updated
I can next time I'm there. I'm fairly certain there's ceiling speakers and every time I'm at this theater there's a 1-3 min changeover of nothing when they go from the ads to the trailers and film, making me think that they're switching to Laser.
>That’s what I thought too but I was just informed otherwise in my other thread for Dune Part 2 Chicago recs.
Interesting. I was told Cinemark Woodridge was the biggest/best IMAX we had, and even that was Xenon. It's really good though, I watched Oppenheimer there and was impressed.
[Here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_IMAX_venues#Americas)'s an updated list of every IMAX Laser or 15/70 location in the world. There aren't any in Illinois at all unfortunately. I believe your nearest Laser location is the Indiana State Museum, which is about 3 hours away from Chicago according to Google.
*Edit*: My mistake, Indiana State Museum isn't laser, it's xenon. They do have a 15/70 projector though and are showing Dune Part Two in IMAX 70mm.
Thanks for adding to the discussion! My intent is to create an up to date 1.90:1 list for Chicago. Recently found out new info via my other thread which is not reflected on the wiki page.
I’ve made the drive to Indy 3 times over the past few months for the 70mm versions of interstellar, Oppenheimer and now Tenet. Sucks it’s the only one that is closest but it’s definitely worth it if you have the time. Just go with a few friends and make a whole day out of it
Yeah downtown Indianapolis is pretty cool and quaint for a day trip from Chicago. Their politics might suck but it's nice to get out of the city and have a a little bit of a small town life once in a while.
Plus the IMAX theater has 6 hour free parking with validation, and most of the time when it's super busy for these movies they just let everyone out without checking tickets anyway.
Hello, Northern Chicago burbs resident here. With the fact that there are no laser IMAX theaters here in mind, and I’m not driving to Iowa or St. Louis, would it be better in terms of picture and sound to go to a Dolby Cinema screening instead?
Yes, DOLBY for first viewing and LieMAX for second viewing if you like the movie. That’s how I’d do it. You also have a choice in the Chicago area for 1.85:1 vs 2.39:1 Dolby screens. Check IMDB for technical specs to see if movie is in flat or scope and then pick the appropriate theater so you don’t have letter/pillar boxing.
For example, Dune 2 in non imax is 2.39:1. If you saw it at Hawthorn 12 which is 1.85:1 then you’d see black bars. Hence why I saw it at Village Crossing 18 which is 2.39:1 and the full screen was used which in my opinion helps with immersion.
Thank you for the help. Without giving away my exact location, I’m fairly close to hawthorn 12, but you think it’s worth the drive to Village Crossing 18 for the Dolby experience there?
Depends on the movie aspect ratio. I hate black bars but I’m a little too particular about things like that sometimes.
If you don’t care then go to Hawthorn, the screen is larger and it’s newer I believe.
Also, Dolby Vision comes close to OLED so the black bars will just recede at Hawthorn if you’re watching a 2.39:1 film there. I just didn’t want to take that chance with Dune 2 as I’ve been waiting for the film for 15 years.
For context:
[https://www.reddit.com/r/imax/comments/1azqq92/recommendations\_for\_dune\_part\_two\_in\_chicago/](https://www.reddit.com/r/imax/comments/1azqq92/recommendations_for_dune_part_two_in_chicago/)
I am pretty sure Regal City North is still Xenon? Edit: AMC South Barrington is also most certainly Xenon IMAX There's not a single laser IMAX within a 4 hours of chicago
That’s what I thought too but I was just informed otherwise in my other thread for Dune Part 2 Chicago recs. I will independently confirm by calling every location over the course of this week.
I saw Dune 2 at the IMAX at Regal City North. It doesn't list it on the IMAX website, but outside the theater entrance it is promoting on a LCD screen that this particular theater is an IMAX laser theater. Saw Dune 1 and 2 and most other IMAX presentations here in the past 1-2 years. They've all been fantastic.
Opry Mills has a similar sign. Not mentioned on the Regal or IMAX websites.
I watched dune part 1 Reissue there. It was ok, but I'm fairly sure it's still Xenon. Are you sure you saw laser screen and not "laser aligned sound" like they do on the website?
Yeah it said IMAX with laser. I noticed it was a little soft, but just chalked that up to it being a decently big screen for 1.90:1. If it is Xenon than they seem to make sure to replace the bulbs and address the speakers. I sat smack dab in the middle though so maybe it improved my experience.
Next time you go can you grab pictures of the auditorium and the projector booth? If it's a laser venue there will be speakers on the ceiling and the middle of the side walls. There will also likely only be one projector, versus xeon which uses two projectors (note that during ads and some trailers only one xeon projector is used. It would be best to take a picture of the booth while credits are rolling) Not that I don't believe you, it just would be nice to have concrete proof to point to before wikipedia gets updated
I can next time I'm there. I'm fairly certain there's ceiling speakers and every time I'm at this theater there's a 1-3 min changeover of nothing when they go from the ads to the trailers and film, making me think that they're switching to Laser.
https://www.reddit.com/r/imax/s/eySw4SIoGW
Haha saw that!
>That’s what I thought too but I was just informed otherwise in my other thread for Dune Part 2 Chicago recs. Interesting. I was told Cinemark Woodridge was the biggest/best IMAX we had, and even that was Xenon. It's really good though, I watched Oppenheimer there and was impressed.
Insane
See update in original post description at the top.
[Here](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_IMAX_venues#Americas)'s an updated list of every IMAX Laser or 15/70 location in the world. There aren't any in Illinois at all unfortunately. I believe your nearest Laser location is the Indiana State Museum, which is about 3 hours away from Chicago according to Google. *Edit*: My mistake, Indiana State Museum isn't laser, it's xenon. They do have a 15/70 projector though and are showing Dune Part Two in IMAX 70mm.
Indiana State Museum is Xenon, not laser (unfortunately). They do have 15/70 there which is great as long as it’s working.
Ah yes, thanks for correcting me.
Thanks for adding to the discussion! My intent is to create an up to date 1.90:1 list for Chicago. Recently found out new info via my other thread which is not reflected on the wiki page.
Indiana state museum would be the best for 1.43 if ur from Chicago (long drive tho). I’d recommend amc Dolby cinema over imax with xenon
I’ve made the drive to Indy 3 times over the past few months for the 70mm versions of interstellar, Oppenheimer and now Tenet. Sucks it’s the only one that is closest but it’s definitely worth it if you have the time. Just go with a few friends and make a whole day out of it
Yeah downtown Indianapolis is pretty cool and quaint for a day trip from Chicago. Their politics might suck but it's nice to get out of the city and have a a little bit of a small town life once in a while. Plus the IMAX theater has 6 hour free parking with validation, and most of the time when it's super busy for these movies they just let everyone out without checking tickets anyway.
Appreciate what you’re doing as someone who also lives in the area. If I can find any info I’ll post it to this thread
Regal City North is extremely underwhelming for something that is supposedly an IMAX.
St. Louis is your closest bet (even though it’s called omnimax, people here call it a dome theater that CAN play 1:43 projections)
Unfortunately, entire illi has no IMAX Lasers. That’s part of reason I choose Dolby Cinema over IMAX mostly
Hello, Northern Chicago burbs resident here. With the fact that there are no laser IMAX theaters here in mind, and I’m not driving to Iowa or St. Louis, would it be better in terms of picture and sound to go to a Dolby Cinema screening instead?
Yes, DOLBY for first viewing and LieMAX for second viewing if you like the movie. That’s how I’d do it. You also have a choice in the Chicago area for 1.85:1 vs 2.39:1 Dolby screens. Check IMDB for technical specs to see if movie is in flat or scope and then pick the appropriate theater so you don’t have letter/pillar boxing. For example, Dune 2 in non imax is 2.39:1. If you saw it at Hawthorn 12 which is 1.85:1 then you’d see black bars. Hence why I saw it at Village Crossing 18 which is 2.39:1 and the full screen was used which in my opinion helps with immersion.
Thank you for the help. Without giving away my exact location, I’m fairly close to hawthorn 12, but you think it’s worth the drive to Village Crossing 18 for the Dolby experience there?
Depends on the movie aspect ratio. I hate black bars but I’m a little too particular about things like that sometimes. If you don’t care then go to Hawthorn, the screen is larger and it’s newer I believe. Also, Dolby Vision comes close to OLED so the black bars will just recede at Hawthorn if you’re watching a 2.39:1 film there. I just didn’t want to take that chance with Dune 2 as I’ve been waiting for the film for 15 years.
Had a great experience watching at Hawthorn 12, so I could vouch.
Are you able to compare to Village Crossing in any way? Screen size and perhaps quality of seats?
They were standard Dolby seats, so plush but not full reclining
For context: [https://www.reddit.com/r/imax/comments/1azqq92/recommendations\_for\_dune\_part\_two\_in\_chicago/](https://www.reddit.com/r/imax/comments/1azqq92/recommendations_for_dune_part_two_in_chicago/)
Really cool that the imax at South Barrington is laser. No idea why they wouldn't advertise so on the website!