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Monday, June 25, 2018

Taking an Eight-Year Old to a 3D/ 4D Movie for the First Time




            Adventure guaranteed. The movie chosen is Jurassic World just because we like dinosaurs. “Are you scared? “ I ask. “I am more excited than scared.” he answers as he jumps up and down.
The first time we went to see a 3D movie (a motion picture that enhances the illusion of depth perception, hence adding a third dimension.) I believe he was around five. Since we are movie buffs and began going to the cinema together when he was very little, it is hard to pin point when he couldn´t keep the 3D glasses on his face. He has the habit of turning to me to see whether I am laughing, crying or asleep. So every time he did that, his glasses fell off his nose and he would say “Ma!” (That´s what he calls me “Ma”. Besides being his aunt I am his Godmother, “Madrinha” in Portuguese, therefore he calls me “Ma” for short.) And I would have to put his glasses back on. He always said thanks. But during a full 90 minutes I´d hear Ma at least 20 times.
90 minutes because that is how long an animated children´s movie usually lasts. I clearly remember the first time he put on those funny glasses and there were stones flying at us and he tried to catch them. It was fun to see his reactions to everything that was going on. For my Godchild I bend my rules about watching a dubbed film. I personally do not enjoy them, but they tend to grow on you.
As he is growing up, his taste for films is also changing and improving. The first time we watched an adult movie rated G of course, he was so proud of himself. The movie was called “Wonder” and after we saw it we talked a lot about it over lunch. There were so many questions and sometimes no answers.
This weekend we were going to watch an animated feature but then we noticed that “Jurassic World” was showing at the 4D Theater. WOW! Our eyes just lit up and we talked about it and decided to go. For those who do not know what it entails: 4D film or 4-D film is a marketing term for an entertainment presentation system combining a 3D film with physical effects that occur in the theatre in synchronization with the film. Effects simulated in a 4D film may include rain, wind, temperature changes, strobe lights, and vibration. Seats in 4D venues may vibrate or move a few centimeters during the presentations. Other common chair effects include air jets, water sprays, and leg and back ticklers. Auditorium effects may include smoke, rain, lightning, bubbles, and smell.
As he read all these features he started asking questions about the smells whether they were bad or good. We speculated whether a dinosaur’s breath would be a good smell or a bad smell. We laughed and came up with ways of covering our noses. “Ma, what if there is a part that I get scared about?” he timidly asked. “You can close your eyes. I close my eyes some times. ” I answered and saw the relief on his face.
Walking into the theater was a great emotion because you have to walk through a dark hall covers in red lights that make you a bit dizzy. B5 and B4, those were our assigned seats. Nice and comfy. There was a water turn on and turn off button on the seat. It was written in English. “Ma, What is this for?”  he curiously asked while pressing it several times.  “Oh ok, so let´s leave it on and if there is too much water we can turn it off, ok Ma?” “OK” I agreed. I didn´t want to get wet anyhow because it was very cold out.
As the lights dimmed the excitement rose. With the first movement of the seats, he grabbed my arm. “Ma, I think I am a little scared” he turned to me and whispered.
Then there was a spray of water because it was raining in the movie. “Ma, let´s turn this thing off. It´s too much water. Besides it got my glasses wet.” He said as he quickly pressed his button and mine too.  The rest of the adventure went well. For almost two hours the chairs shook, there were good smells and bad smells, there was puffing in the hairs and ticklers hitting us on our backs and butts;  and dinosaurs ripping people’s heads and limbs off. My eight-year old closed his eyes and turned tried to hide in my arm while he screamed.
As we were walking out he said that he loved it but he still thinks the movie was a bit too much for his age. The next movie he wants to watch is “The Incredibles 2” and, of course, at the 4D theater.

Written June 18, 2018 Todos os direitos reservados à Meire Marion

Photo by: Meire Marion

Photo by: Meire Marion

Photo by: Meire Marion


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