I think this cinema should come with a warning:…read more
HEARING DAMAGE EXPECTED.
The seats were comfortable, but I still suggest bringing a pillow and a blanket because sitting there for three hours straight can get pretty rough.
Honestly, this was one of the LOUDEST cinemas I've ever been to in my life. If you're sensitive to loud sound, I strongly suggest bringing earplugs, noise-canceling headphones, or serious hearing protection.
The theater itself, however, is very well maintained, and the screen is absolutely enormous. It's one of the largest screens I've ever seen, and it's seriously impressive. In fact, it's so large that if you sit too close, the image in front of you can float just OUTSIDE of your peripheral vision.
My suggestion? Sit in the back third of the theater. Unless you enjoy feeling like you're physically inside the movie, sitting too close may make the sheer size and movement of the images overwhelming, and possibly even nauseating.
There is a limit to what the human body can take.
During The Odyssey, one of the newest technology IMAX movies to hit the market in some time..., the combination of flashing black-and-white lights, constant pulsating imagery, and extremely heavy, heartbeat-style music had me feeling genuinely tense. At one point I was thinking, "Do I need to see a cardiologist after this?"
The volume was so incredibly loud that I felt like I was sitting next to a rocket launch. The vibrations coming through the seats were actually pretty cool, and I enjoyed that part. But the combination of the constant pounding heartbeat soundtrack, flashing imagery, seat vibrations, and extreme volume was a LOT for my stress level.
Now, having said ALL of that...
The Odyssey itself was fantastic. I genuinely had no idea what was going to happen next, and that's rare. It felt like a combination of science fiction, Jurassic Park, and a massive historical period piece, and it was extremely well done.
Hollywood deserves serious applause for creating something this ambitious. The movie kept me guessing, and visually, it was spectacular.
My only hesitation is the theater experience itself.
The filmmakers clearly knew exactly how to keep an audience on the edge of their seats. Unfortunately, between the pounding soundtrack, flashing imagery, seat vibrations, and what felt like rocket-launch-level volume, I spent a good portion of the movie wondering whether my ears and nervous system were going to survive the experience.
So yes, I loved the movie.
The theater? Impressive.
The screen? Incredible.
The sound system? ABSOLUTELY INSANE.
One final warning:
If you don't want to leave this theater with permanent hearing loss, bring serious ear protection.
I'm talking earplugs AND over-the-ear hearing protection, or "cans," over the earplugs if you really care about protecting your hearing.
Seriously. Protect your ears.
Because there is a limit to what the human body can take.