Are all 4D movies really exciting?

Moviegoers sit in vibrating chairs in a 4D theater, watching a movie with 3D glasses at CGV Chungdam in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul. The theater is installed with equipment to support 4D effects, including seat vibration, jets of air or water, mist, smoke, lightning, aromatic vapors and bubbles.
/ Courtesy of CGV

By Baek Byung-yeul, Park Ji-won and Nam Hyun-woo

Thanks to advancement in technology, people can now enjoy movies at four-dimensional (4D) cinemas, equipped with vibrating chairs and other physical effects that synchronize with the film.

More movies are being released in 4D, but the high ticket prices _ twice as much as that of regular movies _ makes some people wonder, is it really worth it?

How do 4D movies work in a three-dimensional (3D) world? Actually 4D refers to a marketing term for an entertainment presentation system, not to spatial coordinates.

In 4D, the fourth "dimension" refers to the physical effects added to 3D movies. The physical effects include simulated rain, wind, lightning, explosions, fluorescent lights and movements. High-tech kinetic seats spray water or aromatic vapors and tremble in an attempt to make viewers feel they are actually in the movie.

Because of these complicated effects, the price of a 4D movie ticket stands at 18,000 won ($16), compared with only 9,000 won for an ordinary movie.

However, some moviegoers say paying double does not necessarily mean you get double the amusement.

Kim Jung-soo, a 30-year-old Seoulite, described his recent experience of watching a 4D movie as awkward.

"It felt as if a person sitting in front of me was pouring his or her soda on my face. In other instances, it was like someone sat beside me blowing disgusting breath near my ear, and another guy is behind me kicking my seat. That went on for the entire time I was watching the movie," Kim said.

"It was nasty. I remained on my seat all through the movie simply because I paid for the ticket," he added.

Like Kim, other moviegoers have decided not to watch 4D movies after going through these unpleasant experiences.

People get the mist effect from the front seat in a 4D cinema at CGV Chungdam in Sinsa-dong, southern Seoul. / Courtesy of CGV

Yu Ja-yeon, who recently watched "Man of Steel," the latest Superman movie, had a similar experience as Kim.

"It was very disappointing. Especially, the water-spraying thing was very uncomfortable. The 3D glasses also hurt my nose. I will not watch 4D movies anymore. Why would I want to pay additional fees for an unpleasant experience?" she said.

"Such 4D effects only distract me from understanding the movie," she added.

Many movie experts advise against watching a movie with a complicated story in 4D because it's bound to be more unpleasant.

According to an employee at CJ CGV, Asia's largest multiplex cinema chain, excessive physical effects reduce the pleasure of watching. He also said 4D technicians should try to limit the amount of effects.

Christopher Nolan, director of "The Dark Knight Rises," is one of those not keen on using 3D or 4D technologies. In an interview with Salon, the online news and entertainment website, he said nobody likes 3D films.

"The question of 3D is a very straightforward one. I never meet anybody who actually likes the format, and it's always a source of great concern to me when you're charging a higher price for something that nobody seems to really say they have any great love for," said Nolan.

The failure of 4D to take to impress is indicative of the validity in Nolan's view.

CJ CGV introduced the 4D format in its multiplexes in 2009 when it featured "Avatar." 4D was initially used for rides in amusement parks.

The first known use of physical effects in movie theaters was in the 1950s and 1960s in a movie format called "gimmick movie." Theaters used electrical devices to deliver low current electricity to shock viewers.

Gimmick movies were popular in the first several years of its introduction only moviegoers began to shun it in no time.

Even though the physical effects amused moviegoers, it has the downside of interfering with understanding the plot.

A common distraction was the screams and giggles from other viewers because of the special effects. Most of the movies using this format relied heavily on the effects with little to offer in terms of the quality of the plots and the story lines. It explains why they were taken away from the cinemas into amusement parks.

In 1984, a U.S.-based amusement park, Six Flags Power Plant, screened the first 4D movie, "The Sensorium," in its specially built kinetic theater.

"However, that was more focused on a theme park ride or attraction than a movie. That was the conclusion made by Western entertainment industry," said culture critic Lee Moon-won.

The CJ CGV multiplex cinema chain is proud of its achievements. It has 18 4D-theaters nationwide and has started expanding to other countries such as China, Mexico, Thailand, Brazil and Israel. However, movie fans and experts still have mixed reactions about the format.

A movie reporter at a local news media, who asked to be identified only by her surname, Kim, said the format is simply not fun while watching movies. The effects simply bothered her.

"When I watched ‘Woochi' (‘The Taoist Wizard') in the 4D format, I couldn't concentrate on the movie because something was crawling on my legs. I was so distracted. It seemed the movie was made without considering the 4D effects, which did not fit the story line."

However, not everyone is disappointed with 4D. One moviegoer said watching a movie in a 4D-theater was one of the best experiences he has ever had.

"I watched ‘Man of Steel' as soon as it was released at a 4D theater in Wangsimni, Seoul," said 30-year-old office worker Park Jong-ho.

"It was exciting. Whenever Superman flew in the sky, the air around my seat started to blow as the seat itself vibrated. I could exactly, well not exactly, let's say about 80 percent, identify with Superman."

Park said adding physical effects to 3D action films like "Man of Steel," which has many dynamic scenes, can double the impact of the movie on audiences.

To better enjoy 4D movies, he advises wearing thicker clothes to avoid becoming cold from the water and wind effects.

"Superman flew way too many times for two hours. I was freezing because I had to watch the movie with the cool wind blowing. Also, I felt a little dizzy because of the frequent movement of my seat," Park added.

Meanwhile, another CJ CGV employee said, "You don't have to do anything else to maximize the effects. Just enjoy the movie as it is."