UltraAVX: A Review

UltraAVX: "The Next Level of Cinema": A Review

Cineplex Odeon's UltraAVX, or Ultra Audio Visual Experience, marketing-speak for "movie theatre with perks," is dubbed "the next level of cinema" by its creators, boasting the following series of features:

• reserved seating
• a giant, wall-to-wall screen
• "crystal clear" digital projection (Christie Solaria 2230 DLP Cinema projectors)
• "immersive" sound system (Dolby digital surround sound system)
• wide, high-back "rocker" seats

Pat Marshall, Cineplex's VP of communications and investor relations claims that "each element of UltraAVX has been designed based on guest research, as we wanted to build the kind of auditorium that our theatre guests would build if they were the designers.”

There is a catch though. UltraAVX admission costs more, comparable in price to IMAX at roughly $3 more than regular admission plus taxes.

But What's the Point of UltraAVX If There's IMAX?

Having had the chance to test out UltraAVX in February 2013 in Toronto, at the Cineplex Odeon Cinemas, I put Cineplex's claims to the test to answer the questions most want answered: 1) what is the point of Ultra AVX, is it better than IMAX? And 2), is UltraAVX worth paying a higher admission price? So for the sake of comparison, I watched one action movie in UltraAVX (A Good Day to Die Hard) and then, I watched a different action movie in IMAX (Django Unchained).

Is UltraAVX screen size and image quality better than IMAX?

In terms of image quality, the UltraAVX image is vivid, crisp and detailed, down to the last fine line and crow's foot. IMAX does have a leg up on image, but just by a bit. Screen size? UltraAVX is as wide as an IMAX screen, just not quite as tall, though much bigger than what you'd find in a regular theatre. For perspective, consider that there were a couple of scenes where the actors were flying towards the screen and it felt as though they were leaping into the audience.

What about sound?

It's a close tie. Both have excellent sound systems, better than in a regular theatre, with IMAX sounding marginally clearer than UltraAVX. But UltraAVX seemed louder with respect to bass, with rumbling you can feel through your seat, depending on the scene. Definitely the kind of sound system you'd want for an action movie.

So, is UltraAVX comfier than an IMAX Theatre? Is It Worth the Ticket Price?

From my point of view, it's a big YES. I pretty much stopped going to see movies in regular theatres over issues like having to sit through 30 minutes of previews I'd skip if I didn't have to get there early to get a good seat. And regular theatre seats inevitably lead to achy leg and hurty ass syndrome, which, in my case, usually kicks in 60 minutes into a flick. UltraAVX verdict? Said legs approved of the seats, which are wide and spaced out. You can even recline at will without bothering viewers behind you and the seats are soft and cushiony, better than IMAX seats, with zero rear ache and leg stiffness courtesy of the "rocking chair" movement that allows for a recline without disturbing anyone, a pain-free first in my personal, full-adult-height-movie-theatre-watching history. Last but not least, seat reservations are the sweet, sweet icing, allowing viewers to skip all the previews, show up late, and still get the spot they coveted, this, without ruffling those already seated, as leg room is spacious enough to let latecomers and the bathroom-bound pass through without anyone having to shift and/or stand up to give way. And ticket counter lineups can be bypassed altogether by reserving seats online.

Cineplex's Pat Marshall wasn't kidding when he said they wanted to "build the kind of auditorium that our theatre guests would build if they were the designers.” In one ultra swoop, Cineplex eliminated almost everything I loathed about cinemas, re-crafting the movie-going experience into something fun and stress-free, an experience that could very well rival the comfort of home theatres.