Cineplexes blossom with hi-tech luxury
THOSE of you who follow the local corporate scene will know that the Nu Metro theatre chain was recently sold off to an independent operator.
Since breaking out on their own, NuMetro Theatres have gone largely under the radar; at least to this entertainment reviewer. I’ve noticed the change in their corporate colours to orange, and the funkier look of their staff uniforms, but was unaware that they were up to much, apart from that.
Ster-Kinekor has undergone some significant technical upgrades – most notably, a rash of new-generation IMAX theatres. But what has NuMetro been up to? After doing some homework, I discovered that they’re re-furbing furiously – in other words, upgrading their cineplexes both cosmetically and technically.
They may be behind in the IMAX race, but their Gauteng game is ahead of their traditional competitor in other respects. The NuMetro complexes at The Glen and the Clearwater Mall have already been sexied-up with new looks and cuttingedge technology, and other complexes will follow in the coming months.
Watch this space in the coming weeks, and find out the latest info, as these titans bring their best game. It’s an exciting race, and the winner is… the cinemagoer.
In all of this excitement, we shouldn’t forget those bold, Durban-based independents, Cine Centre, who were the first exhibitors to boast a cineplex that was all3D-capable.
Another important development, with power blackouts casting their shadow over the country, is that Cine Centre was the first cinema group in the country to have all its theatres generator-backed.
That means no more of the frustration, wasted time and pointless parking fees that attend a half-night at the movies. Cine Centre (the Avalon Group) have also impressed with high projection standards, good theatre management, and wellappointed auditoriums. But then they have been in the game for over 70 years…
It’s good to know that South African cinema is keeping abreast of exciting international developments. – Tat Wolfen