What Is The 4DX Experience?

First, a little history.  “4DX” is a fairly new movie-going technology that was developed and introduced in South Korea by CJ 4DPLEX in 2009.  The first movie to be presented using this technique was the Dwayne (The Rock) Johnson starrer “Journey To The Center Of The Earth”.  However, it was the presentation of James Cameron’s blockbuster extravaganza “Avatar” that saw the next step in movie-watching’s evolution really take off in popularity.

The 4DX experience uses 3D and other technologies to augment one’s movie-going experience by appealing to the other senses besides sight and sound, though sight does get quite a boost through 4DX as well.

4DX theaters are equipped with wind machines, fog emitters, bubble machines, intense strobe lights, scent producers, and modified seats to elevate the viewers’ experience.  The seats themselves are mounted on motion control devices that allow the seats to go up and down, and tilt in all directions.  Your individual seat also has devices built inside it that vibrate the whole seat or parts, poke you at various points in the back, and tickle your legs and ankles.  Air and water jets are built into your own seat and the one in front of you to deliver specific effects aimed at your face and neck areas at appropriate times.  I would describe the experience as something akin to a Universal Studios Theme Park ride ala “Back To The Future”.

It takes about a month to prep a movie for the 4DX experience to ensure that all the various effects line up properly with the action.

As this was my first experience in a 4DX theater, I asked a friend about it who had been there many times.  Overall, he told me, the experience was enjoyable, though like the 3D movies that most of us are used to, it can be good, bad, or mediocre.  He cited “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance” as being his worst experience and “Prometheus” as his favorite.

As I have already reviewed “Mad Max: Fury Road” in its 2D, non-vibrating form, I will veer away from commenting on story and character points and zero in on my 4DX experience alone.  No spoilers for the film itself will follow, this is simply detailing my experience seeing this film in 4DX.

As I entered the theater, everything seemed pretty normal at first: nice, big screen and plush seats.  However, it only took a moment to realize there seemed to be less seats than usual, and their arrangement was a bit odd.  They looked to be in blocks of four, and upon closer scrutiny, there were chains separating them from the other blocks.  Big chains.  The seats looked a lot more substantial than their 2D counterparts, and each was equipped with a barber chair like footrest.  As I sat down, I looked around and noticed the fans on the walls.  There were a lot of them.  Beyond that, everything else looked pretty normal.  The theater was already pretty dark, and I couldn’t really see where the more localized air and water spouts were hidden.  Oh well, I was sure I’d notice them soon enough.

After the theater filled up and the lights went down, we were treated to the usual previews and commercials.  Then, something new appeared.  An animated clip played informing us that – like a theme park ride – there were height restrictions (young children) for the show and pregnant women, the elderly, and individuals with broken bones weren’t permitted.  I guess if they hadn’t gotten you at the ticket booth, you had to just boogie on out of there right then.  Also, you were strongly advised not to leave your seat during the show.  Gotta pee?  Do it now!  I quickly learned why that rule was in place.

Oh boy!  I was getting excited.  There’s nothing like the threat of bodily harm to get the old juices flowing.  I love this movie, and was in real anticipation of how some of my favorite scenes would play out in 4DX.

Lights went down.  Seat started to tremble.  Showtime.

CUT TO: Two hours later.  I walk out of the theater on shaky legs.  My butt is a bit sore, there is spilled coke on my shorts and t-shirt, and there are small, red marks around my ankles.  What happened, you wonder?  Here’s a breakdown of some key effects and moments in the film.  Again, no spoilers.

DRIVING SCENES:  As soon as the key was inserted into the ignition, my seat started to vibrate.  If the vehicle was idling, the vibration was minimal.  As engines were revved, the vibrations got stronger.  If the action was rocking, so was I.  When a car or truck peeled off, my seat went back and I was hit with a blast of wind.  When the brakes were hit, I shot forward and the wind stopped.  As long as the vehicles were in motion, the wind was constant.  If there was a turn happening, I was turning to the left or right with it.  It was during a particularly sharp turn that I lost my grip for a moment on my drink and ended up spraying coke over myself.  As I dabbed at the spilled beverage, a gas tank on screen was punctured.  As the liquid shot forth in glorious 3D, I was blasted in the face with water.  I spilled a bit more drink in shock.  I must have looked pretty funny at that moment.  As this was a Mad Max movie, these effects were pretty much constant throughout the entire running time.  Seatbelts should have been installed for this.

AERIAL SHOTS:  There are moments in the film where the camera swoops down from the sky, flies into the action, and rises up again.  And guess what?  You’re swooping right along with it.  There’s not much vibration.  The movement is very fluid as you are tilted forwards, backwards, and to the sides in time with the camera as the wind washes over you.  I really got a kick out of this.  Very effective.  My favorite was a shot that goes up from the ground, over the crest of a hill, and then back down again, zooming in on the action.  Butterflies.

LIQUIDS:  If water, gasoline, or blood was flying at the screen, I was getting sprayed in the face with water.  It wasn’t overdone and there was only one time I had to wipe the lenses of my 3D glasses.  I have to commend the programmers on their accuracy.  The gasoline tank punctures were cool, and provided some of the best shock moments in the movie.  The crowning moment though was when one character in the movie met a particularly bloody demise, and the subsequent rush of the red stuff splashed from the screen just as I was treated to a straight in the face blast of H2O.  Glorious!

WEAPONS:  Remember how I said I didn’t notice where the smaller air jets were hidden?  Well, now I know.  They were hidden in the back cushion of my seat surrounding my head and shoulders, as well as in the back of the seat in front of me.  They delivered very powerful and abrupt blasts at key moments, usually involving guns or projectiles.  The first time it got me – and the best – was when a character hurled a spear at the screen.  It came at me in 3D, and a blast of air at the right side of my head signaled it passing on by me.  It was perfectly timed and made me jump.  I would swear that spear actually came out of the screen and barely missed me.  When guns were being fired, rapid blasts of air were shooting from various directions, simulating bullets cutting through the theater and flying by me.  And I was dodging them; to add to the effect, when bullets made impact against a surface on screen, multiple hidden pokers in the back of my seat jabbed me in the back as they impacted flesh and steel.  I almost choked on my popcorn a couple of times at this.

THE TICKLER:  This caught me off guard.  Unbeknownst to me at the start, there were these things like little whips hidden under the seat.  From time to time, they would flick out and whip my ankles.  This usually happened when spikes were dropped on screen to blow out tires, or when somebody tripped over something like a chain.  As I was sockless and wearing shorts and sandals, these were the culprits behind the aforementioned red marks around my ankles.  There was no permanent damage, and they weren’t painful, but they made me jump.  It felt like there was something running around my feet.  Something not pleasant, but thrilling nonetheless.

FOG:  There wasn’t much that I saw, but since the movie mostly takes place in a brightly lit desert, I wasn’t expecting a lot.  I only noticed it during the sandstorm and maybe a bit during a foggy night scene.  Nothing to crow about.

SCENTS:  Again, not a whole lot.  A bit of smoke and gasoline maybe, but not too much.  It was pretty minimal.  It is a desert setting.  I suspect this effect is more noticeable in a movie with a lot of greenery or cooking.  Besides, the smell of smoke – combined with fog effects – could lead to a panic situation in a packed theater, I think.  I don’t blame them for toning it back.

LIGHTNING:  The sandstorm.  Oh boy!  I’ll get to that.

Now, these effects were cool to varying degrees on their own, but they were most effective when used in conjunction with each other.  For example:

THE SANDSTORM:  Wow!  If you’ve seen the trailer, you know the movie features a pretty magnificent sandstorm.  As the vehicles thundered into the tempest, my seat was quaking – whipping side to side and up and down – the wind was swirling all around me, and giant strobe lights set in the walls and ceiling burst blindingly in time with the lightning strikes.  It was breathtaking.  Literally.  When it ended, I was thankful the next scene was a calm one.  I needed a moment.

UNNAMED BATTLE SCENE:  I won’t say when or where, but there was a high speed battle scene (are there any other kinds in this?) where almost every effect came into play.  There was swooping, vibrating, gun fire blasts, spear throwing whooshes, gasoline spurts, blood spurts, ankle whipping, tilts, turns, leans, and so on and so on; all using the effects I described above together in a stomach churning few minutes of 4DX carnage.  DAMN!

Phew!…Take a breath.

Okay, I think that about covers it.

FINAL VERDICT:  I think you can tell from above that I had a lot of fun with my first 4DX theater experience, though it wasn’t perfect.  The vibrations and constant movement during the driving scenes got a bit old and repetitive after a while.  The standout moments tended to be the smaller ones: a thrown spear blowing by you or a splash of blood to the face.  You really do have to be careful during the more violent scenes with your beverages.  Wear dark clothes.  Your butt will take a beating with all the sliding around.  And for God’s sake, don’t try to stand up and move around.  The footrest is there for a reason.  The tickler is good fun, but you wouldn’t want to have your foot under the seat, or take a blow to the ankle from the edge of the footrest, when the seats are moving.

I think, like 3D, 4DX will have its supporters and its detractors, especially with a ticket price that is double that of a normal showing.  If you are prone to motion sickness or have a weak heart, it’s probably best avoided.

4DX theaters are very popular in Korea, and have spread throughout the world in the last few years.  They haven’t really impacted North America as of this writing.  I think there are a couple in Los Angeles and Mexico, but that’s it (according to Wikipedia, anyways).  Sorry, Canada.

All in all, it was good fun.  There were moments I won’t soon forget where I was shaking without the aid of a vibrating seat and grinning broadly.  I won’t be going to every movie using 4DX, but I will be returning.  I will definitely be seeing “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” in this come December.  I have a feeling that will really benefit from this technology.

And one final thing.  I really do advise you to make use of the bathroom facilities before watching this or any other 4DX movie.  It’s hard enough to keep that supersized coke in under normal circumstances, but it’s so much harder when your seat is constantly vibrating and you’re getting sprayed in the face with water.

If there is a 4D theater in your area, check it out.

And wear socks.

 

David McGrath
Contributing Reviewer
The Hollywood Outsider