Comments on: IMAX theater coming to Blacksburg’s First & Main shopping center

By: Brian Woodward

Brian Woodward — Sat, 02 Feb 2013 06:37:47 +0000

And here is a news flash for most Roanoker’s…Blacksburg is 40 minutes away. Take a road trip once In a while!! Hokie town has a lot to offer. Just sayin’!!

By: Meghan

Meghan — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:38:31 +0000

And the boo-birds come out on the blog…. again….

By: wise24153

wise24153 — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:16:57 +0000

I was at Broadway at the Beach in January and noticed the IMAX was not operating but . . the regular theater here is showing movies in some type of super high def format in the old IMAX building. Dark Knight Rises was one of the movies showing in both theaters.

IMAX in Chattanooga TN years ago when I went to see Elton John. My kids loved it! That screen was multi stories high and curved all around us – with the surround sound and effects it was pretty amazing.

Sad to find out this type of entertainment option might soon be obsolete . . . it was pricey though.

By: Spiny Norman

Spiny Norman — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 17:13:46 +0000

This is just to appease the spoiled college kids who come here from larger cities where IMAX is common. As for the “beerverages”… that’s all we need. As if theater patrons aren’t rude and noisy enough, now they’re gonna be drunk? Greeeat.

By: Hans

Hans — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 16:04:51 +0000

The type of IMAX screen the Blacksburg center will have could be “up to 100 feet wide,” Frank said. The CineBowl’s second mega-screen will measure 80 feet wide by 55 feet high under Frank Theatres’ own large-screen format, Frank said. In 2000, Roanoke considered the possibility of having an IMAX theater — with its large, sharp images and big-sound experience — in the Taubman Museum of Art. That element was dropped from planning by 2005.
CineBowl movie tickets will be priced comparably to movie tickets already available in the New River Valley, according to Frank.

By: Other John

Other John — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:58:10 +0000

Also…a clarification from the full article…of the 12 screens, 10 would be conventional, regular screens…only 1 would be IMAX. So, it would be largely similar to other theaters except it would also offer IMAX for some showings, but not everything would be IMAX…which is good.

It also said that the full list of beerverages would be available for the movies…which is pretty awesome. Also sounded like some of the screens might be used for showing various sporting events, which I could totally get into…

By: Chris

Chris — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 14:07:51 +0000

HOKIE2013- ITS HAPPENING ALRIGHT!!!!!!!!!!

By: Bill

Bill — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:27:33 +0000

My only thought is how badly Blacksburg town officials can screw this up.

By: Other John

Other John — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 13:20:46 +0000

daryl, the footprint is 60,000 SF, so presumably, yes. But, the good thing is that from the full article this morning, Mayor Rordham, the Town Manager, and others within the town seem exicted and enthusiastic about the project, saying it fits. That is about as close to a 180 from the uproar over earlier potential projects at the site that required Town approval…so hopefully that means this one can get approved and see the light of day.

By: Mark

Mark — Thu, 24 Jan 2013 12:21:11 +0000

@Scott Brooks: I totally agree about the Taubman.

As for IMAX being on its way out, it really depends on what you mean. The original IMAX film format is indeed on the way out, killed by the economics of digital distribution. The “IMAX” that’s being marketed now is just another digital projection system; from what I’ve read, it’s not even projected in a higher resolution than other digital systems.

The shame of it all is that the Taubman was probably our last chance to have a *real* IMAX theater in our region. Going forward, the industry seems committed to building digital “faux-MAX” theaters, and charging a premium for little more than the name.