In what could be a blow to the rollout of digital cinema -- at least as envisioned by the major studios -- Lions Gate Films and AMC Theatres said Thursday that the two will partner for an exclusive digital release of "The Final Cut," starring Robin Williams, Mira Sorvino and Jim Caviezel.

AMC will screen the digital print in 117 theaters in 27 markets, using its proprietary Digital Theatre Distribution System, a system currently used for its preshow advertising content. The file of the movie will be distributed via satellite. The deal marks the first time an exhibitor and distributor will partner for a relatively wide-scale release of a digital print on systems that are not compatible with the standards set by DCI, the seven-studio digital cinema coalition.

But some distributors and exhibitors are concerned that the Lions Gate/AMC experiment will introduce consumers to a version of "digital cinema" that is of lesser visual quality than standard film projection.

AMC has been a vocal proponent of digital cinema, and its spokesman Rick King said that the DTDS system offers sufficient quality to be used to exhibit films at the moment. "We think the quality is good enough as an interim solution," King said. "I would characterize it as high resolution rather then the superhigh resolution that the 2K projectors are delivering. I think the picture on the screen is comparable to a high-definition TV image. For us, it demonstrates the flexibility of our digital system -- a demonstration of our ability to offer a national release of a film in the major markets."

Others involved in the transition to digital cinema, however, say AMC's system should not be compared to high-definition television. Said one industry insider: "Why would you want to equate the moviegoing experience with television?"

Added Doug Darrow, business manager DLP Cinema: "It's a problem that there are inferior quality systems that are going to be used to show movies to moviegoers. The moviegoer deserves a theatrical-quality image, and the only way they can get that is with a DLP Cinema projector and a DCI-compliant system. With all due respect to my friends at AMC, if you are going to show a movie to an audience, and they are going to pay standard ticket price, then they deserve the best quality that technology can deliver."

Others worry that if "Final Cut" generates solid grosses when it is released Oct. 15, that could lead to exhibitors adopting a number of digital formats rather than one common standard.

"The concern with these experiments with less than 2K (resolution) is you start to chip away at the idea of a single global system, and the whole thing could dissolve into some chaos of standards," said Charles Swartz, executive director and CEO of the Entertainment Technology Center at USC. "We may lose the opportunity to get to the single inventory system."

Rather than employ a traditional, limited platform release for "Final Cut," Lions Gate president of distribution Tom Ortenberg said the AMC system is well matched to the film because there are thematic similarities between the futuristic movie and the digital medium. "Final Cut," directed by Omar Naim, is a sci-fi thriller set in a world of memory implants in which Williams plays "a cutter" who edits people's memories.

"The digital presentation works very creatively and effectively with the theme of the movie, which is about digital memory chips implanted in the brain," Ortenberg said. "There were a lot of synergies on a practical and creative basis, and AMC was a key component of it."

He added that in opening specialized product during the competitive fall season, specialty distributors are always looking for an advantage, and Lions Gate felt that partnering with AMC would give it an advantage.

"We see this as an exciting opportunity in a very competitive fall season for specialized product to get the undivided attention of AMC," Ortenberg said. "We're always looking for new and innovative ways to market our films. On every film we release, we look for those ideas that can set us apart from the marketplace. This seemed like a natural fit for 'Final Cut.' "

This isn't the first time AMC has distributed a film via its digital network. Last month, the Kansas City, Mo.-based theater chain bowed the indie film "Evergreen" in 115 theaters. AMC declined to release the grosses for the release, saying only that it performed below expectations. Added spokesman King: " 'Evergreen' was a resounding success on the technical delivery side."

Others involved in film exhibition are watching AMC's digital distribution with interest. According to Greg Laemmle, president of independent circuit Laemmle Theatres: "It's good to gauge audience acceptance of standards that are a little bit below what the studios are demanding. Maybe this is an opportunity to see if a digital transition doesn't have to be as expensive as some of the numbers that are being thrown around."

According to Ortenberg, "Final Cut" will be exclusive to AMC's digital projectors for its first two weeks of release. On Oct. 29, Lions Gate plans to expand its run into other markets and to other theaters within AMC's markets.

"When we were approached with this idea, we were immediately intrigued," Ortenberg said. "The entire filmmaking team was interested in this and saw the potential. Rather than pass on the idea because it was new and untested, everybody embraced it, and we have high hopes. We think the systems are high enough quality."