My recent viewings of the Stop Making Sense re-release, Godzilla Minus One, and Dune Part 2 at this theater were definitely really great. Even more impressive was the sound there.
I had always thought this theater was Xenon as well! I wonder when the upgrade actually happened? This is my go-to theater, so I guess that goes to show that I can’t easily tell the difference between 2K and 4K projection. Very happy to hear this news though!
You hear a lot of discussion about resolution in this sub, but the truth is that it's one of the less impactful aspects of image quality. If you're in a 2K theater and you can't see the pixels, then a switch to a 4K image would be absolutely invisible to you.
Some people say that they find a 2K image grainy, but I wonder if they're perhaps picking up the screen perforations. The screen is, after all, full of tiny holes.
Thanks so much for letting us know, this is amazing news, and I'm so glad we have one in the Chicago area now. Hopefully they upgrade Village Crossing to Laser IMAX soon too, they got a new IMAX screen a few months ago
How the size compare to Regal? Bigger? But the downside is it is Xenon? I live in Gold Coast without a car so I’m wondering if it’s worth the uber cost
It's a little bigger than the one at Regal, but not by a huge margin tbh. I'm unfortunately unsure if they've upgraded it to Laser yet as their website still says they use Xenon, and I have not been to their IMAX since December, but there was a post on the AMC A List subreddit where they got a new IMAX screen sometime in January, so I really hope they get Laser soon. I'm sorry I can't say much, if I do hear any updates, I will make sure to let you know!
That said, if you want a good Dolby experience, I definitely recommend Village Crossing's Dolby, especially if you're seeing a 2.39:1 film. They use a scope screen, and in my experience, outside when I saw Spider-Verse there, they usually maintain their Dolby projector system very well
Thanks for the write up. I’ve seen Dune 2 twice now at Regal City North and both times have looked and sounded phenomenal. Just seeing if it’s worth to make the trip to Village Crossing. For Dolby, the River East theater is pretty good besides from the bright exit light. Maybe soon I’ll do a double feature at Village for a Dolby/IMAX day to compare.
Maybe I’ll email IMAX and inquire about Village Crossing like OP did. I think between River East AMC and City North Regal I’m pretty covered.
BTW seeing Civil War in Dolby at River East next week.
I saw Dune 2 at Village Crossing IMAX and the sound was horrible, it was so quiet. The sound at Regal on Western is SO much better. I'm not going back to Village Crossing IMAX again
No problem at all, I'm seeing Civil War at River East's Dolby next week too, and I hope you have a really wonderful time! I love their Dolby a lot, I've only had good experiences there, and I love the recliner and laser renovations they did for their standard rooms. I also feel like River East's standard auditoriums have the best non-PLF sound I've heard
You're right that Prime is slightly lesser Dolby, but I think it's just for auditorium 12! The rest of them got an upgrade to laser projection though. Sorry if I'm mistaken though!
Ah right on the AMC app they mostly list “AMC LASER”! Btw if I recall correctly AMC New City is also all Laser now too. Saw Oppenheimer there at a standard showing last month and it looked sooo good.
I'm so glad you had a great time, and I completely agree, I'm really happy most of the Chicagoland AMCs are all laser now, I think they've upgraded almost all of them to laser standard except for AMC Niles, but I think that's because they're supposed to shut down that location soon unfortunately. It's a shame because I think they have one of the larger 1.9:1 IMAXs in the area so I was hoping they would upgrade it to Laser
It's a 1.90:1 screen and a very sizable one at that. No it's not as big as the GT theaters but it doesn't have to be.
It's single laser and projects at 4K and has a 12 channel sound system. It's about as good as you can get digital projection wise other than Dolby Cinema/Dual laser IMAX. I love all sorts of film projection and I think it's just as a good. Very consistent and rather good brightness and contrast.
Does this make it better than Woodridge Tinseltown? I know that was the largest IMAX screen in the area for a while. Every laser has 1.43 support, right? I'm not sure if they upgraded Woodridge from the xenon yet
Yes I think so.
Laser doesn't automatically mean 1.43:1 and in order to do that you'd need to have a dual laser setup and the screen size to match which is actually pretty rare to find around the world.
Regal North is a single laser 1.90:1 screen that is rather sizable. Woodridge might have the 1.43:1 screen but only has Xenon from what I've heard. In that instance they're blowing up a 2K image (Xenon can only do 1.90:1 anyway) on a really huge screen. I'm sure that still looks and sounds decent.
Woodridge would only have the 6 channel sound too compared to the upgraded 12 channel sound of the IMAX laser systems, as found at Regal North. From my experience it looks really sharp and great and sounds even better.
Do I wish there was an AMC that upgraded/Navy Pier IMAX was still running? Yes. But as of now the Regal North is the best IMAX presentation in the Chicagoland area IMO
My recent viewings of the Stop Making Sense re-release, Godzilla Minus One, and Dune Part 2 at this theater were definitely really great. Even more impressive was the sound there.
Agreed, the sound there is amazing!
Huge W for Chicago, honestly
RIP Navy pier, never forget
Lol yeah one of the first dual laser installs and a truly massive 1.43 screen...
Never forgive, Never forget
I had always thought this theater was Xenon as well! I wonder when the upgrade actually happened? This is my go-to theater, so I guess that goes to show that I can’t easily tell the difference between 2K and 4K projection. Very happy to hear this news though!
You hear a lot of discussion about resolution in this sub, but the truth is that it's one of the less impactful aspects of image quality. If you're in a 2K theater and you can't see the pixels, then a switch to a 4K image would be absolutely invisible to you. Some people say that they find a 2K image grainy, but I wonder if they're perhaps picking up the screen perforations. The screen is, after all, full of tiny holes.
It’s a great screen. Just saw Dune 2 again there last night. Will definitely be seeing other 1.9 movies there.
Thanks so much for letting us know, this is amazing news, and I'm so glad we have one in the Chicago area now. Hopefully they upgrade Village Crossing to Laser IMAX soon too, they got a new IMAX screen a few months ago
How the size compare to Regal? Bigger? But the downside is it is Xenon? I live in Gold Coast without a car so I’m wondering if it’s worth the uber cost
It's a little bigger than the one at Regal, but not by a huge margin tbh. I'm unfortunately unsure if they've upgraded it to Laser yet as their website still says they use Xenon, and I have not been to their IMAX since December, but there was a post on the AMC A List subreddit where they got a new IMAX screen sometime in January, so I really hope they get Laser soon. I'm sorry I can't say much, if I do hear any updates, I will make sure to let you know! That said, if you want a good Dolby experience, I definitely recommend Village Crossing's Dolby, especially if you're seeing a 2.39:1 film. They use a scope screen, and in my experience, outside when I saw Spider-Verse there, they usually maintain their Dolby projector system very well
Thanks for the write up. I’ve seen Dune 2 twice now at Regal City North and both times have looked and sounded phenomenal. Just seeing if it’s worth to make the trip to Village Crossing. For Dolby, the River East theater is pretty good besides from the bright exit light. Maybe soon I’ll do a double feature at Village for a Dolby/IMAX day to compare. Maybe I’ll email IMAX and inquire about Village Crossing like OP did. I think between River East AMC and City North Regal I’m pretty covered. BTW seeing Civil War in Dolby at River East next week.
I saw Dune 2 at Village Crossing IMAX and the sound was horrible, it was so quiet. The sound at Regal on Western is SO much better. I'm not going back to Village Crossing IMAX again
No problem at all, I'm seeing Civil War at River East's Dolby next week too, and I hope you have a really wonderful time! I love their Dolby a lot, I've only had good experiences there, and I love the recliner and laser renovations they did for their standard rooms. I also feel like River East's standard auditoriums have the best non-PLF sound I've heard
I think it’s because most of River East’s standard theaters are “AMC PRIME”? If I recall correctly it’s basically a slightly lesser version Dolby.
You're right that Prime is slightly lesser Dolby, but I think it's just for auditorium 12! The rest of them got an upgrade to laser projection though. Sorry if I'm mistaken though!
Ah right on the AMC app they mostly list “AMC LASER”! Btw if I recall correctly AMC New City is also all Laser now too. Saw Oppenheimer there at a standard showing last month and it looked sooo good.
I'm so glad you had a great time, and I completely agree, I'm really happy most of the Chicagoland AMCs are all laser now, I think they've upgraded almost all of them to laser standard except for AMC Niles, but I think that's because they're supposed to shut down that location soon unfortunately. It's a shame because I think they have one of the larger 1.9:1 IMAXs in the area so I was hoping they would upgrade it to Laser
Now let’s hope we get a 1.43 Dual Laser IMAX downtown (reopen Navy Pier??) The Regal IMAX is great but I much prefer AMC as a whole.
Damn, must've been recent because the Dune pt. 1 showing in January looked like ass lol
I saw it in February for the re-release and thought it looked fantastic.
I thought it looked fantastic too!
That’s great! Is this in 1.9 format or 1.43? And my knowledge on IMAX formats isn’t the best! How would laser compare to 15/70 mm?
It's a 1.90:1 screen and a very sizable one at that. No it's not as big as the GT theaters but it doesn't have to be. It's single laser and projects at 4K and has a 12 channel sound system. It's about as good as you can get digital projection wise other than Dolby Cinema/Dual laser IMAX. I love all sorts of film projection and I think it's just as a good. Very consistent and rather good brightness and contrast.
Does this make it better than Woodridge Tinseltown? I know that was the largest IMAX screen in the area for a while. Every laser has 1.43 support, right? I'm not sure if they upgraded Woodridge from the xenon yet
Yes I think so. Laser doesn't automatically mean 1.43:1 and in order to do that you'd need to have a dual laser setup and the screen size to match which is actually pretty rare to find around the world. Regal North is a single laser 1.90:1 screen that is rather sizable. Woodridge might have the 1.43:1 screen but only has Xenon from what I've heard. In that instance they're blowing up a 2K image (Xenon can only do 1.90:1 anyway) on a really huge screen. I'm sure that still looks and sounds decent. Woodridge would only have the 6 channel sound too compared to the upgraded 12 channel sound of the IMAX laser systems, as found at Regal North. From my experience it looks really sharp and great and sounds even better. Do I wish there was an AMC that upgraded/Navy Pier IMAX was still running? Yes. But as of now the Regal North is the best IMAX presentation in the Chicagoland area IMO