Part of the excitement of a new cinematic format is the
discovery of its potential, and these are often dependent on the creativity and
innovation of their use. With 4DX, part of the expansion of limits comes with
the choice of films to pair the technology with. Before attending a screening
of John Wick: Chapter 3 – Parabellum
in 4DX, it occurred to me that four out of the four films I had previously seen
in the format had belonged to the superhero genre. This is certainly due in
part to the tendency to utilize the format with high-profile Blockbusters, and
the industry’s simultaneous obsession with the ever-profitable
comic-book-adaptation franchises. Whatever the reason, I had already spent a
great deal of time in the moving seats of 4DX theaters as they simulated
flight, underwater exploration, and spider-web swinging. In John Wick 3, I found an entirely
different experience; one that was much more grounded, even to the point that
the practice of being thrown to the ground was repeatedly simulated.
While the film itself was not my favorite of the franchise, I
will focus instead on the review of the 4DX elements alone. It is important to
note that not all 4DX theaters offer the same experience. Although each theater
is provided with the same coding for the movement and effects, created by
technicians to match up with the action onscreen, there may be variation from
theater to theater in terms of what effects are available. For instance, while
the CGV Cinemas I have visited have seats that move and vibrate, they do not
have the other interactive features, such as the leg ticklers and any moment on
the upper back, which are available in the Regal 4DX theaters.
For the full effect of 4DX, I would recommend Regal, both for
the inclusion of as many elements as are available and the overall design of
the seats (the movement is isolated to groups of four seats, rather than entire
rows). With that being said, it is also dependent on individual theater
maintenance, even within preferred chains. I have been to two public 4DX
screenings where the water function did not work in my seat (including John
Wick 3), and the snow effect was also lackluster in one screening due to a
shortage of the bubbles which create the effect. As with every film-going
experience these days, audiences must simply be aware that they are being
provided what they paid for, and rewarding properly managed theaters with
regular patronage.
Effect 1: Motion and
Vibration
Easily the most recognizable element of the 4DX experience is
the seats that move and even vibrate to simulate the experiences onscreen. The
vibration comes into play anytime we enter a vehicle, often paired with the
movement of the seats. There is some time spent in vehicles (or on them, in the
case of the motorcycle chase scene), but a majority of the movement in this
particular film is dedicated to the fight scenes. This means being tossed
around by the seats as John Wick is being tossed around by his opponents. It is
far less smooth of an experience as some of the other films I have seen in the
format, but it adds to the intensity of narrative. It also often helps us to
align more with our protagonist than we might in a more passive viewing
experience.
Effect 2: Back Attacks
Helping with that direct identification is the effect that
actually hits the back of the audience. It is more of a poke than a hit,
protruding somewhere hidden beneath the padding of the chair’s back, effective
not for the pain it causes but rather the shock from an unexpected assault.
There are times that this is used to simulate a blow, but more often John Wick 3 uses it to simulate the
impact of the protagonist being thrown to the ground. This would have been even
more effective if paired with a heavy pitch of the seats, but is still one of
the better uses of the format in the hand-to-hand combat sequences that
dominate the narrative.
Effect 3: Air Blasts
As one might expect in a John
Wick film, the air blasts located in the headrest of the seats are used throughout
the film to simulate bullets whizzing by your head. This was not nearly as
exciting as I imagined it, but that may be in part due to the excessiveness
that it was used. The novelty simply wore off over the two-hour (and change)
film. There is also an air burst that comes from the front, but I will talk
about that in the next section. It is also important to note that this is
another feature missing from some of the theater chains offering 4DX.
Effect 4: Leg Ticklers
The leg ticklers are a couple of moving tubes that hit your
legs to simulate movement. I can imagine they would be perfect for a horror
movie involving creatures moving around underfoot, but they have the unique and
singular purpose of simulating falling broken glass during the fight sequences
of John Wick 3. Our protagonist is
often being thrown into breakable objects, and the leg ticklers make it feel as
though that debris is hitting our legs as it falls to the ground.
Effect 5: Water
Elements
Another perk of the Regal 4DX is the option to turn off the
water features, for those who prefer not getting even marginally wet. It did
not matter for my John Wick 3
experience, as there was either a clog or water had run out in my seat (and the
seat next to mine). I was able to see the raindrops falling on others during
the rain sequences, but felt none myself. I was also told that the air blasts
coming from the front and hitting me in the face were meant to include water,
simulating blood splatter hitting your face. I simply had air blasts hit me,
which were not nearly as effective in the immersive experience.
Element 6: Floodlights
Used to simulate lightning and explosions, there are large
floodlights that flash on the sides near the front of the screen. There are
rainstorms that use this effect in John
Wick (which would have been even better if paired with water effects), but
even more effective than the lightning is the explosions. My only complaint
with the explosions was the missing smoke that is often paired with the flash
of light to simulate an in-theater explosion. I can’t be certain of whether it
was missing from the initial coding or was simply another instance of a poorly
maintained theater, but it was missed either way.
Element 7: Wind
The wind elements are used sparingly in John Wick 3, probably because much of the action takes place in the
form of hand-to-hand combat. But there are a few great sequences that use it
subtlety, such as to imply movement during the motorcycle chase scene.
Element 8: Scent
I’ve long had problems with this effect. Honestly, I’m just
never sure if I’ve smelled what I am supposed to smell. When I saw Avengers: Endgame in 4DX, I randomly
smelled something sweet during a scene outside. In John Wick 3, I think I smelled something once or twice, but it is
difficult when everyone around you is eating popcorn, nachos, and hot dogs.
Final Thoughts
While not as flashy as some of the comic book films which
simulate superhuman abilities, 4DX is the most immersive way to see the John Wick 3, for better or worse. Some
may find the experience of being tied to a character as he is beaten and beats
others off-putting and grueling. Certainly, there are more relaxing ways to
watch this film, but few as enjoyable. The 4DX elements are good, if only
lacking enough variety to keep the format exciting for the lengthy run-time. I,
for one, will be seeking out more non-superhero films in 4DX.
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