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- IMAX and More at Houston Area's New Complex
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- January 13, 2000: Houston Chronicle
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- The $70 million Edwards Marq*E Entertainment Center isn't finished yet. In fact, its only open tenant is Edwards' Marq*E 23 Cinemas, and even there, finishing touches are still being added.
- Blame the Disney folks - or thank them.
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- Disney had a hard-bargain time-table for the release of Fantasia/2000 its IMAX-size reinvention of 1940's Fantasia, which opened on New Year's Day. Play it Jan. 1 - April 30 or turn in your Mousketeer ears.
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- The Edwards chain, based in Newport Beach, Calif., had planned to open its new theater at Silber Road and Interstate 10 in March. Disney's deadline accelerated construction, with the theatre opening Christmas Day and its IMAX auditorium Jan. 1.
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- Messy work continues outside for future tenants; the eateries and small shops that will surround central tenant Edwards. But moviegoing is well under way for Houston's first commercial IMAX Theater, which is suddenly a happening place.
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- The Edwards IMAX has a 75-by-83-foot screen covering its entire front wall, with the other walls and 410 seats in a deep red.
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- IMAX theaters always have had "stadium seats," the new rage at mainstream theaters, with steep rows to showcase massive images properly. The Edwards' superb sound system also is worth sitting near the middle for best effect.
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- At the Edwards, there's an elevator to the second level, which offers access to all seats.
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- Before or after the film, Disney fans can check out two large standing displays in the lobby featuring artwork and descriptions of the film and its creation.
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- For those who think this is the same old Fantasia as the original - just bigger - it's not. Seven of the film's eight sequences are new, with a fanciful, wondrous melding of music and images befitting Walt Disney's concept.
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- Only the original film's Sorcerers, Apprentice segment is included, enlarged for IMAX (at the cost of clarity and resolution).
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- Fantasia/2000 is showing daily at 9:30 and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30, 3:30, 5:30,7:30, 9:30 and 11:30 p.m. The film runs 75 minutes. Soon it will be preceded by a three-minute pre-show featuring lasers, music and demonstrations.
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- Until then, you'll hear a monotonous recording directing you to "walk carefully up the stairs after you enter" and to "please sit as close to the center as possible."
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- Fantasia/2000 tickets are $11 for adults, $10 for senior citizens and $9 for children, with no discounts and no passes accepted. Advance and group tickets are available by calling 888-332-IMAX.
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- Business is booming for Fantasia/2000 on its 40 IMAX screens nationwide. (The film will play normal-size theaters later this year.) But you can catch it with ease and without crowds at many morning and afternoon screenings on weekdays.
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- The theater has 2,800 parking spaces and valet parking. It's located just outside West Loop 610 on the north side of Interstate 10 and east of Silber Road. Remaining tenants are expected to be open for business in April or May.
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- When Fantasia/2000 leaves after April 30, it will be replaced by a variety of IMAX movies, with several playing each day, said Michael Turner, promotions manager of Edwards IMAX.
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- Edwards was the first commercial chain to add an IMAX theater; it did so in 1996. But Fantasia/2000 is "the first big studio film we've had for an IMAX theater," said Turner, noting that most productions are educational films made for museums.
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