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This Koreatown Theater Extends A Movie Along The Walls For A Panoramic Experience
We've looked for ways to make the movie-going experience a more immersive one since the early days of cinema. Forms of 3D viewing have been around for more than a century, with multiple resurgences. And 4Dx, which garnered some fanfare a couple years ago, took it a step further and pretty much assaulted us withrumbling seats and mists of water that got sprayed in your face.
Now comes ScreenX, which may sound like Elon Musk's new venture in film, but is actually a South Korea-based product that uses a series of projectors to splash a movie across the walls along the side of the theater, generating a 270-degree viewing experience. The idea, as novel as it is, actually sounds like reasonable one. No fans blowing in your face; no need for clunky, plastic glasses that scratch the bridge of your nose; ScreenX simply surrounds you with the movie, further blurring that line between the fictional world and the black abyss of reality.
As noted at LA Magazine, ScreenX is now available at two theaters in Southern California: the CGV Cinemas in both Koreatown and Buena Park. The only other U.S. location with ScreenX is the AMC Town Square 18 in Las Vegas (according to The Hollywood Reporter, there are only 83 ScreenX screens worldwide, including outposts in Vietnam and Turkey).
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If you're intrigued by the idea of ScreenX, you should head out ASAP to catch a screening of Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales, which is the first Hollywood movie to be screened in this panoramic format; LA Mag says that Pirates will be on ScreenX until June 15. As for future ScreenX screenings, we've checked the schedule at both the Koreatown and Buena Park CGV Cinemas, both it seems like nothing is on the slate yet.
Before you rush out to get your tickets, we should warn you that ScreenX comes with a major caveat: only select scenes from the movie will be projected in the panoramic format. The rest of the film is confined to a regular, old-fashioned movie screen (which isn't a bad thing, really). LA Mag says that, when they went to catch Pirates, only an estimated 10% to 15% of the movie was given the ScreenX treatment.
As expected, ScreenX tickets are bit more expensive: they go for $18.50 a pop. Though, as one customer representative informed us, you can get them for $11 a piece on Tuesdays.
Speaking of unique theater experiences, you can also check out these theaters that come with jungle gyms (which are for your kids, not you). We'll stick with our ScreenX, thank you very much.
For tickets and info on future ScreenX showings, check the websites for either the CGV Cinemas in Koreatown or Buena Park. The locations are at 621 S. Western Avenue, Koreatown and 6988 Beach Boulevard, Buena Park.
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