It’s nothing like you’ve experienced before.
With the advent of online streaming giants like Netflix, increased movie piracy and even bigger TVs and surround sound systems, it’s clear that cinemas are facing an ever increasing level of competition.
This being said, there’s a multitude of reasons why people continuously go to the cinema and these reasons stretch far beyond the most logical and important one, to be entertained.
Production design, cinematography, sound engineering and a litany of other factors contribute to the cinema-going experience but as films like Jurassic Park, Blade Runner 2049, Dunkirk and even more recently, A Quiet Place, have shown, nothing can match the communal sense of atmosphere and occasion that you get from watching a film on the big screen.
On that note, we’re delighted to say that Ireland’s first 4DX screen has launched in Cineworld, Dublin and after the news broke a few weeks ago, film fans have been asking the same thing, what’s it like?
Ok, given the fact that the 4DX cinema relies so heavily on the senses, it really is something that you have to experience yourself to fully understand but we’ll do our very best to explain it.
To begin with, the organisers couldn’t have picked a better film to demonstrate the capabilities of 4DX because they opted for Rampage with The Rock. FYI, we love Rampage…and The Rock.
Ok, whenever the gigantic gorilla steps or walks on screen, your chair instantly vibrates to keep up with the pace of the gigantic steps. What’s also cool is that when the camera pans, moves or tilts, your chair will move accordingly. Your seat is on an axis that rocks, sways and moves to perfectly match the events that are happening on screen. Prior to the film starting, we got to see what the trailer for Solo: A Star Wars Story felt like in 4DX and it’s the closest thing that you’ll experience to being in a car chase that has dips, turns, skids and crashes.
This is just an appetiser for the big stuff though as massive on-screen explosions and crashes are met by even more prominent vibrations in your chair. Basically, when George the gorilla smashes the living hell out of a building in Rampage, you’re gonna feel it in your back.
In a nutshell, every seat is mounted on a rig that feels almost like it’s a rollercoaster but don’t worry, there’s no chance of whiplash or puke! If the hero is flying, your chair will feel like it is lightly rising. If there is a car-crash on screen, your chair will rock from side to side.
There’s also something that’s going to scare the living crap out of horror fans and it’s called “the tickler.” Basically, this is a flap that’s found at the base of your seat – near the legs – and it brushes up against you. If you’re the type of person that gets jumpy at horror films, this is definitely for you. Fun and games!
That’s not all though because your headrest also comes into play. On the screen, as bullets are fired, planes fly by and punches are thrown, two jets of air will gush past your ears and it’s incredibly immersive. Also, when a massive explosion happens on screen, a puff of fog is sometimes filtered through the cinema.
Now for the really fun part. Whenever there’s a scene with rain/sea, it’s very likely that water will actually splash on your face – not too much though. On top of this, turbines will blow wind through your hair and depending on the scenario on screen, your sense of smell is going to pick up a few interesting odours.
For example, there’s a scene in Rampage where The Rock walk through a jungle. At that moment, a ‘tropical’ odour is filtered through the cinema screen. Wind, fog, lightning, bubbles, water, snow, strobe lights and scents work in perfect synchronicity.
JOE got a chance to chat with Andy Stone, Operations Director, and Rich Barnes, Cineworld GM, and they spoke about the endless capabilities of the format. “Once someone has the 4DX experience, the word of mouth spreads and then everybody wants to come and see it.”
With regards to the audience demand and the selection of films available for 4DX, they said: “there are all sorts of genres which we can play with. We’ve had horror films and family films playing on 4DX, this product works for a raft of different films. Distribution will provide a whole raft of films and when we do our film bookings, we’re looking for a suitable product to put into our 4DX screens. We don’t just limit it to one to one film at a time. We will put on different films at different times – based on audience demand.”
Now the important part, the cost. If you’ve paid into an IMAX film then you’ll be pleased to know that 4DX is basically the same. In addition to your cinema ticket, it’s €5.10 to watch a 2D print in 4DX and €6.70 for 3-D.
The 4DX auditorium will house 152 seats, plus a curved screen that’s bigger than a double-decker bus.
If you want to see what the fuss is about, Avengers: Infinity War is available to watch at Cineworld, Dublin in 4DX right now.
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