Cinema scores a ‘first’ and breaks a record

The IMAX Cinema in Birmingham has pulled off a major festive coup – over the Christmas period it will be showing the first full-length feature film ever to be converted into 3D.
For six weeks starting on December 3, the IMAX will be filling its giant screen with the big budget adaptation of ‘Polar Express’, the children’s tale based on the classic children's book written by Chris Van Allsburg.
Starring Tom Hanks it tells the story of a young boy‘s journey to the North Pole on a magical steam train, where he meets Father Christmas.
The IMAX 3D version brings the characters so much to life that for 96 minutes the audience feel they are part of the story on the 22 metre wide and 16.5 high screen.
Enid Huggins, manager of the IMAX at Millennium Point, said: “This is a major step forward for the cinema and a wonderful experience for children and adults alike.
“In 3D and on our giant screen, the film comes to life in a huge way. It’s another first for Birmingham.”
And it follows hot on the heels of a major success for the IMAX – a record-breaking run for ‘Mystic India’.
The film, providing an in-depth look at the culture, history and geographic diversity of the natural beauty of India, was shown throughout September, and played to huge audiences every day. Seven performances were completely sold out and for the remainder of the run the 375-seat cinema was on average three-quarters full.
And it means that Mystic India will be returning to the cinema by popular demand in January.
Derek Todd, Deputy Chief Executive at Millennium Point, said: “The film broke new ground for the cinema and attracted a new audience across all generations. Besides the record-breaking attendance figures it created a great deal of goodwill in the region for the cinema.”
(GB)