Ever since surround setups and subwoofers became part of the theatrical experience audiences have loved room-shaking sound. Why stop there? Theatre technology exists that adds extra dimensions to your movie experience, and we have it here at Cinemark!
There are extra-large screen presentations like XD and extra-extra-large versions such as ScreenX, but D-BOX takes a different approach to put you right into the middle of a movie. Unique seats and an array of speakers create an overwhelming envelope of sound and motion that turns a movie into a physical experience.
Here's how D-BOX works its magic.
Sound and Motion
D-BOX seats are engineered with two big extra features: A set of speakers that turns sound into a visceral part of a movie, and motion actuators that can provide enough movement that action-packed movies actually feel like rides.
Both the movement and speaker systems are calibrated to provide sound and motion that are precisely timed with action in the movie. This isn't a general algorithm that moves the seat based on a vague analysis of the movie — it is a detailed, programmed routine of perfectly synchronized movements and vibrations that translates what's happening on screen to your seat.
A Customizable Experience
Because we know that not everyone wants the same level of physical and aural intensity, D-BOX seats have a user-controllable response level. With four levels of control, you can dial in a fairly gentle ride — or turn the controls all the way up for an eye-widening experience.
No matter how intense you'd like the sense of motion to be, however, D-BOX offers one other great benefit to audiences: All D-BOX seats are placed in premium locations in theatres.
D-BOX Origins
Unlike many theatre technologies, D-BOX actually has roots in home technology. In 1998, the Montreal-based company began by making subwoofers for home theatre use. When they learned that customers were buying multiple woofers to create the illusion of motion for their seats at home, the company realized that spine-shaking sound could redefine the theatrical experience.
The first D-BOX seats, which were also aimed at the home market, were introduced in 2001. The company soon started to look at the theatrical market. In 2009, Universal looked to D-BOX to program motion for FAST & FURIOUS. That was the real starting gun for the company's race into theatres.
One neat thing about D-BOX is that the seats can be programmed in such a way that they're useful for more than movies. NASA and Formula One, for example, are two organizations that use D-BOX in training systems.
The Differences Between D-BOX and 4D Technologies
While it may be tempting to classify D-BOX as a 4D experience, they are anything but. 4D options usually use mist, smoke, scents and other effects to create a sense of immersion — but they can also distract from the movie experience. While those are fun ideas, you might not want water mist on your clothes or other scents competing with your popcorn. D-BOX uses a unique combination of movements, vibrations and textures that have been hand-encoded by haptic designers to enhance the content on-screen and further immerse you into the movie.
New D-BOX Movies in Theatres This Season
Captain America: Brave New World
After meeting with newly elected U.S. President Thaddeus Ross, Sam finds himself in the middle of an international incident. He must discover the reason behind a nefarious global plot before the true mastermind has the entire world seeing red. Read more about CAPTAIN AMERICA: BRAVE NEW WORLD here.
Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force
Helmed by visionary director Wuershan, Creation of the Gods II: Demon Force continues the epic Fengshen Trilogy adapted from the classic 16th-century Chinese novel Investiture of the Gods. Taishi Wen Zhong led the army of Shang Dynasty including Deng Chanyu and four generals of the Mo Family to Xiqi. With the help of Kunlun immortals such as Jiang Ziya, Ji Fa led the army and civilians of Xiqi to defend their homeland.
Dog Man
Part dog, part man, all hero. From DreamWorks Animation—creators of the beloved blockbuster franchises Kung Fu Panda, How to Train Your Dragon and The Boss Baby—comes the canine-crime-fighting film adaptation of Dav Pilkey’s New York Times bestselling literary phenomenon: Dog Man. When a faithful police dog and his human police officer owner are injured together on the job, a harebrained but life-saving surgery fuses the two of them together and Dog Man is born. Dog Man is sworn to protect and serve—and fetch, sit and roll over. As Dog Man embraces his new identity and strives to impress his Chief (Lil Rel Howery, Get Out, Free Guy), he must stop the pretty evil plots of feline supervillain Petey the Cat (Pete Davidson; Saturday Night Live, The King of Staten Island). Petey’s latest plan is to clone himself, creating the kitten Lil Petey, to double his ability to do crime stuff. Things get complicated, though, when Lil Petey forges an unexpected bond with Dog Man. When Lil Petey falls into the clutches of a common enemy, Dog Man and Petey reluctantly join forces in an action-packed race against time to rescue the young kitten. In the process, they discover the power of family (and kittens!) to bring even the most hostile foes together. Read more about DOG MAN here.
Heart Eyes
When the Heart Eyes Killer strikes Seattle, a pair of co-workers pulling overtime on Valentine’s Day are mistaken for a couple by the elusive couple-hunting killer. Now they must spend the most romantic night of the year running for their lives.
Love Hurts
A realtor is pulled back into the life he left behind after his former partner-in-crime resurfaces with an ominous message. With his crime-lord brother also on his trail, he must confront his past and the history he never fully buried.
Paddington in Peru
PADDINGTON IN PERU brings Paddington's story to Peru as he returns to visit his beloved Aunt Lucy, who now resides at the Home for Retired Bears. With the Brown Family in tow, a thrilling adventure ensues when a mystery plunges them into an unexpected journey through the Amazon rainforest and up to the mountain peaks of Peru. Read more about PADDINGTON IN PERU here.
Find the D-BOX theatres near you!
All images courtesy of D-BOX.