The BigScreen Cinema Guide: News & Events

It has come to the attention of The BigScreen Cinema Guide that there is the possibility of the construction of two THX-certified theaters in the Milwaukee Metro Area.

This is a great opportunity for Milwaukee, as THX certification assures a great presentation of each movie shown. The BigScreen Cinema Guide encourages this effort, and we welcome the opportunity to have top-quality theater installations in Milwaukee.

Unfortunately, there is also the possibility that these theaters may be constructed without THX certification. The primary reason is probably that the people making the investment are not sure that such an investment is of interest to Milwaukee movie-goers.

They need to see that the movie-going public of Milwaukee is interested in the best movie presentations possible, and that they should go ahead with getting their theaters THX-certified.

If you're wondering if you would really be able to tell if you were in a THX-certified theater, here's a few questions:

• Have you ever heard the projector running during quiet parts of a movie?
• While you were watching that intimate moment between the two stars, were you ever interrupted by the noise of the heating/cooling system kicking in?
• Have you ever gone to see a nice, laid-back movie, only to have the summer's biggest blockbuster playing in the screen next door rattle the drink in your cup holder?
• Have you ever been disappointed when you saw the biggest blockbuster of the summer, and during all of the explosions, the speakers distorted and crackled?
• Have you ever strained to hear the dialog in some movies, but then other parts of the movie seemed almost too loud?

If you had seen these movies in a THX-certified theater, you could answer NO to every one of these questions!

When "Star Wars" came out in the late 1970's, many theaters could not handle the wonderful sound effects that were contained in the movie. This fact disappointed George Lucas, the man behind Star Wars, and he started an organization that would help theaters be better equipped to present all movies the best of their potential. This organization is called THX. In 1983, when George Lucas' "Return of the Jedi" was released, there many theaters that were well up to the task of presenting its brilliant soundtrack and special effects.

Since that time, the number of THX-certified theaters has spread tremendously. Some theater corporations are so convinced of the merits of THX certification, that they build entire movieplexes, with EVERY SCREEN THX-certified.

With the growing use of Digital Sound systems, such as DTS Digital, Dolby Digital, and SDDS Digital, theaters need to be even better than ever when presenting today's movies. These systems deliver better quality sound than ever imagined back in 1983, and the capability of the theater is even more important as a result. The THX information describes it best...

"Having a digital soundtrack is like having a compact disc; having a THX Sound System is like having a quiet room and a really great stereo on which to play the compact disc. Digital recording and THX work together to produce the best sound experience possible."

When the next set of Star Wars movies comes out, you can bet that they will push the limits of sound quality and presentation. THX-certification assures that the theater is up to the task. Every six months, THX technicians re-certify each theater, to make sure that nothing has gone wrong, and that the customer will always get a top-notch presentation.

What are you, the Milwaukee Movie-Goer, to do to make sure that the owners of these upcoming theaters realize that THX certification is something that you will appreciate?

An educated customer is the best way to convince the theaters that they should invest in delivering the best movie presentation possible. Find out what THX certification means to the movie-going experience at the address below, then demand high-quality presentations from the theaters! A theater doesn't have to be THX-certified to deliver a good performance, but how would you know until you spend your money??

With your help, we may be able to convince theater owners in Milwaukee that the time has come for THX-certified theaters. If we are going to pay top-dollar for attending a movie, we want the best presentation possible!

For more information about THX, and what it can do to improve the movie-going experience, visit Lucasfilm's THX Home Page