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Big screens for Midrand residents

JOBURG – IMAX is an experience and a half.

May 23, 2016

Thandi Ntobela 1 minute read

Brent Lindeque, Maryke Arran, Reese Arran and Andrew Ross take a night out at the Imax prescreening of X-Men Apocalypse.

The new Mall of Africa opening has brought a state of the art theatre to Midrand’s doorstep.

The Ster Kinekor and Imax venture is one of seven theatres in the country that promises the movie patron an experience like no other. It boasts two luxurious 3D-enabled Cine Prestige cinemas with their own VIP lounge and exclusive catering offerings; a further six cinemas of which two are 3D-ready; and self-service ticketing and catering terminals.

In his address to the media at the official launch of the cinema on the evening of 18 May, Wanda Matandela, CEO of Ster-Kinekor Theatres promised attendees, “Great moments brought to life.” He said that patrons will feel so immersed in the 3D action, it will be like they are part of the action.

And there is no better movie than X-Men Apocalypse to test Matandela’s claim. The action-packed movie is a thrill on its own, for die-hard fans. The addition of 3D to the superpowered characters in a world where mutants are feared is a welcome addition. At times, viewers will feel as though they could reach out and stop a building from falling.

WATCH: Shoppers have a ball at the Mall … Of Africa

Matandela, said that this is an experience to which they would like all Midrand residents to be privy. “Midrand people have in the past had to travel to [other areas] in order to watch a movie. Now we want this experience to be accessible, even for township people from Tembisa,” he said.

Giovanni Dolci, vice president of Theatre Development at Imax Corporation said, “The rapid expansion of the Imax format in South Africa is most encouraging.” There are only 1 066 Imax theatres globally and seven of these are now in South Africa.

X-Men Apocalypse will be released in theatres on 20 May, while the United States of America will only start seeing it in their cinemas a week later. “Let it never be said that South Africa comes second to America,” said Matandela.