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My only hope with a development like this is that they can arrive at a high quality standardization. I say this because I've seen wildly varying quality in digital projection in NYC. At the AMC 25 in Times Square, I saw Apocalypto projected so poorly that it looked like an interlaced big budget episode of Survivor. At Union Square, I saw The Departed and it looked like they were screening a DVD -- even the sound was dreadful. On the other hand, the Ziegfeld has the best digital projection around -- both Sweeny Todd and especially Zodiac (sharpest, clearest image I've ever seen) were ace.

its a huge deal to me. the local carmike chain here had turned into a shithole, and the new Consolidated theater was fresh, new, polished, with more food options (Pretzels... hell yes) and great, comfortable seats.

then Carmike got digital projectors. And they're really freakin' good. So now, i go to the Carmike theater even though the seats are often broken and the popcorn tastes like foam pellets. But damn, the image is crystal clear and the sound if fantastic. It's like watching a gigantic HD television.

One day i'd like the clarity of digital projection AND pretzels. One day.... one day...

I also appreciate a nice, hot pretzel at the movies.

A higher level standardization is my biggest hope for this endeavor. I just don't understand why the studios are finally deciding to work together when they should've done this a long time ago. It's kinda like our President coming out and saying he's been working on this global warming problem.

If the studios are serious, and create a higher level of standardization, this could potentially make going to the movies less of an ordeal. Moviegoers will start to notice that the moviegoing experience is looking and sounding better.

Now, if they could only make theaters serve fresher popcorn...

And why aren't hamburgers sold at regular theaters? I would prefer them over hot dogs.

Gotta say, the digital projection looks WAY better on most presentations around here. It added about one star to my opinion of I, Robot. When the 35mm version of Revenge of the Sith had a power bump right at the exact point when Yoda looses his grip during the senate fight (there was an audible groan from the audience), I dragged my family 2 hours out of our way to see it digitally. Worth it.
Speaking of which, the smaller chain around here, Empire Theatres is putting in the digital 3d stuff on 3 theatres around here for Hannah Montana, starting March 14. I saw a coming soon one-sheet for Journey 3D in line as well :)
At least Disney accomplished some good around here....

It's easy to underrate solid projection when you only see movies at the Arclight or the Vista (or the Ziegfeld and whatever the best multiplex is in New York these days).

Jimmy, im with you on the hamburgers.

Im a smuggler at the movies a lot of times. I go to the Sonic burger next door, grab a burger and fries and sneak it in my wife's purse.

Most times i go to the movies on monday or tuesday night, and a lot of times were the only one in the theater. A few weeks back i was enjoying my burger feast and another couple looks back and goes 'damn, i wish i brought a fucking hamburger'

From what I've read it doesn't look like studios are creating a holding company. Rather it appears that studios have negotiated separate deals with Access IT to pay virtual print fees. This, frankly, isn't any different than how the studios deal with Access already.

With regards to the quality of the digital projection at the Ziegfeld - I have to respectfully disagree.

I saw "Blade Runner" there at the end of last year, and the shadow details were completely crushed. Maybe their bulb's gone dim?

I really love the look of digital projection. I understand the purist concerns, but you can go to a new release on a Sunday and the print's already deteriorated and has a bunch of scratches. Sure, film in film if you like, but digital projection's my preferred viewing method. The colors are just that much sharper, and the sound's so much improved.

I believe there are two deals operating together, Wreck.

And Jimmy, I think the timing was finally forced by a combination of some consistency of the equiptment and the big parent companies looking for any way to improve their margins, which this will in time.

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