Technology

Gone are the days when you’d hear the whirring of the cinema reels from a projection booth. Since the advent of digital technology a few years ago, films are now played via a hard drive on a digital projection system in South African cinemas with varying levels of luxury, screen size and surround sound systems for the audience’s pleasure.

Ster-Kinekor and Nu Metro have various offerings to entice those who are keen to experience a different type of cinema event and even the Labia, the last independent cinema in Cape Town, has had to invest in digital projectors. Many film buffs and even the regular cinemagoer try to replicate the cinema experience in their home. The well-heeled often include a mini theatre in their homes, while the rest of us opt for a home theatre system with a big screen, based on affordability. While there is a lot to be said about cinema chains maximising profit by being seen to be in the confectionery business, for me and many others, there is nothing quite like watching a film in a cinema on the big screen with all the bells and whistles.

You may recall many years ago the V&A Waterfront boasting an IMAX cinema, which sadly closed down. However, Ster-Kinekor has reintroduced IMAX at its cinema complex at Cape Gate Mall, in Brackenfell. Sadly, fans of the original IMAX screen, which was exceptionally large and initially used for Imax format documentaries but then screened commercial films, were disappointed with the new screen size which is only slightly larger than most flagship cinema screens, but nowhere near the original IMAX size.

I remember being in the original IMAX projection room, marvelling at the huge projector reels which had to lay on its side as opposed to being upright and threaded like a normal reel due to its weight.

The digital IMAX variant is disappointing from a screen size perspective. The sound format used is Dolby Digital 7.1, which can be found in the main flagship screens of many other cinema houses as well.

Nu Metro, not to be outdone by their counterparts, have gone one better, introducing the Scene Extreme cinema at their Canal Walk complex. It’s touted as Africa’s first ever Laser Projection cinema and a screen which epitomises “Biggest is Best”.

The Xtreme cinema is able to showcase films in 4K Ultra High Definition (UHD) on a giant screen.

The laser projector used also significantly increases the on-screen quality of standard 2K films. Disappointingly, this flagship cinema cannot play 3D films at the time of going to press, almost nine months after its launch, due to technical issues.

It’s the first cinema in the city to feature the Dolby Atmos sound system, offering 360 degree audio. Atmos soundtracks condense multiple levels of audio objects and moves away from the concept of “channels” for “stereo” or “surround”. The audio objects are processed with precision through an increased number of speakers all around the cinema, including overhead speakers, enabling sound objects to literally be moved around in 3D space. From a cinema-going perspective, it is a great experience.

The cinema also has leather seats which recline, although it is a bit clumsily designed. The seat only reclines if you physically push back, as opposed to the seats in the Scene VIP cinemas, which you’ll find at Canal Walk and the V&A Waterfront complex.

VIP is Nu Metro’s luxury in-cinema dining option, featuring full recliner leather seating, a VIP lounge, licensed bar at select cinemas, as well as a gourmet food menu prepared by Nu Metro’s in house VIP chef. Disappointingly, the cinema does not cater for Muslim or Jewish clients as the food is neither Halaal nor Kosher.

Also, while the food is brought to the audience member on a tray, there is no side table on which to place it.

Here, it is Ster-Kinekor that trumps their counterparts, in some ways, but sadly also making strange design flaws.

Their luxury cinema houses are called Prestige. The seating layout provides an individual standalone leather bound seat or couples seats with a cooling system for your beverage in the holder as well as a side table on which to place the food, Halaal in this case.

However, there is a flaw as the lights on the side table shine directly on to the screen. Once the house lights have been dimmed, these lights remain on and illuminate half the screen, essentially creating a whitewashed effect which is distracting. For the ticket prices being charged, such flaws are inexcusable.

Both chains need to also ensure that their staff are up to speed with the requisite information on all their cinemas and not just default to a technical person who may or may not be available to provide answers to patrons.

For the most part, cinema audiences are certainly spoilt for choice with a range of movie-going experiences on offer.

In my next article on Digital Technology in cinema, I will review Nu Metro’s unique 4DX cinema and look at other changes in local cinemas.