Home Entertainment IMAX finally returns to South Africa

IMAX finally returns to South Africa

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If there’s one aspect of movie-going culture that you won’t hear us not complain about, it’s the lack of IMAX theatres in this country. We’ve often bemoaned that international blockbusters, movies so big that their budgets can only be appreciated on a screen the size of a rugby field, won’t pop up here because we no longer have an IMAX capable cinema.

Wait. What’s that? IMAX is coming back to SA? GET THE CHAMPAGNE KERVYN! THE GOOD ONE!

IMAX (1)

At a press event today, Ster Kinekor CEO Fiaz Mahomed revealed that the bigger big screen was on the way back. According to Tech Central, the first such screen will be built at the Gateway Theatre of Shopping north of Durban, with another on the way to Gauteng in the near future.

“It’s time to bring it back,” Mahomed said at the event. “In the past, we weren’t happy with how it was presented in South Africa but we think the opportunity now has become a sustainable one.” Nu Metro was in control of IMAX in the past, but poor sales and returns saw all of those cinemas closed down several years ago.

Along with the new IMAX screens, films will now also be shown digitally, a big move away from the standard 70mm format that had been used previously. “Unless it was offered at a ridiculous ticket price, the 70mm format was not sustainable,” Mahomed said. “Also, the quality and quantity of content is now in place and, I stand to be corrected, but roughly 30 films have been green-lit for next 12 months as IMAX content.”

The Gateway IMAX screen will be up and running in November. That’s some damn good news for cinema buffs, and I’m glad to see IMAX back. Now if we can get Ster Kinekor and Nu Metro to do something about forcing audiences to watch 3D films, then I’ll consider this an early Christmas gift.

Last Updated: August 28, 2013

18 Comments

  1. Not CT?! WTF?

    Reply

    • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

      August 28, 2013 at 13:03

      LULZ, you have mos a mountain.

      Reply

      • Grant Hancock

        August 28, 2013 at 13:13

        What does PE have ?…

        Reply

        • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

          August 28, 2013 at 13:20

          Brenda?

          Reply

          • Grant Hancock

            August 28, 2013 at 13:29

            lol … how did that Brenda thing start with Darryn ? @Admiral_Chief:disqus ((arriving late to the party))

          • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

            August 28, 2013 at 13:37

            Some say, it was his first encounter with a female. Some say that he secretly dresses and does business as her. Some say that Darryl is the fake persona.

            All we know, is that they call him/her, Brenda

          • Major Commodore 64 Darryn B

            August 28, 2013 at 13:52

            Some say that some people are just dicks! But I love you all anyway.

          • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

            August 28, 2013 at 14:01

            So are you saying you love dicks?

            O_O

          • RinceThisdripdripdripdripdripd

            August 28, 2013 at 14:03

            o-O lulz

          • Major Commodore 64 Darryn B

            August 28, 2013 at 14:07

            SHURRUP!

          • Sir Rants-a-Lot Llew

            August 28, 2013 at 14:08

            Whahahahahahahahahahaha

          • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

            August 28, 2013 at 14:08

            😉

            I did nothing, you set it up. I HAD to knock it down. Like a tower of wooden building blocks.

            (although I like building those, and not breaking them)

          • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

            August 28, 2013 at 14:10

            Have you ever wondered why I give you so much grief?
            Cuz TEGATO man.
            I NEVER FORGOT THAT.

          • RinceThisdripdripdripdripdripd

            August 28, 2013 at 14:03

            forgot /it

          • Admiral Chief Raider of Tombs

            August 28, 2013 at 14:04

            ahhhh

          • HvR

            August 28, 2013 at 14:50

            I also thought it was a welding accident.

          • RinceThisdripdripdripdripdripd

            August 28, 2013 at 13:34

            SNAP!

  2. GalacticLordCaptainAwesomeness

    August 28, 2013 at 12:56

    Woo Hoo… Yells Yes

    Reply

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