First 4DX cinema launching in South Africa this December

The first 4DX cinema in Africa is launching in Cape Town ahead of the Christmas holidays.

Described as an “immersive experience”‚ 4DX uses motion‚ vibration‚ water‚ wind‚ lightning and scents to help you feel as if you are part of the movie.

The new movie house with specially constructed steel floors‚ massive curved screens and advanced audio features will open at the Nu Metro V&A Waterfront on Wednesday‚ 16 December.

The films that will be shown have not yet been announced‚ with Nu Metro saying in a statement: “Negotiations are under way with the film distributors locally to secure the best available content that can screen in the revolutionary 4D-format”.

Nu Metro The Pavilion in Durban has been earmarked for the 4DX upgrade during the first quarter of 2016‚ with other sites to follow nationally.

The films screened in 4DX will be in HD/2D and Digital 3D on a silver curved wall-to-wall screen (9‚7m wide x 5.2m high). Its audio system has been upgraded to a Dolby CP750 with 7.1 full surround sound. The Barco projector used in the cinema now also uses an upgraded lamp for brighter picture in both 2D and 3D.

“We had to install a complete new steel floor structure to be able to handle the 0.3G-force the unit moves with; as well as water‚ air and scent lines. The complete system uses 24 computers (1 in each of the 21 seats‚ motion PC‚ monitor PC and screen server). The ‘force’ utilises Servo motors and transducers‚ and not hydraulics‚ making the movement much smoother and more active. South Africa is in for a total new way of watching movies!” said Johan van Staden‚ Nu Metro Cinemas: Head of Technical‚ who received training on the new technology in Seoul.

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