Welcome to the future of film: How Hong Kong cinemas are going high-tech and gastro-crazy
Cinema operators are offering movie-goers an enhanced viewing experience in state-of the-art venues, writes Bernice Chan
Cinema-going is no longer just about the movie. It is an experience - one that is special enough to lure people away from their homes to the big screen.
Local cinema operators are pulling out all the stops - as well as the rocking seats and the tiramisu jelly - to attract an increasingly demanding moviegoing audience.
The latest arrival on the local cinema landscape shows how this experience has evolved. Launched at the Kowloonbay International Trade and Exhibition Centre (Kitec) last month, The Metroplex is a nine-house, 1,100-seat multiplex that has Dolby Atmos immersive sound systems and state-of-the-art projection technology in all auditoriums.
Designed to be a venue for star-studded film festivals and premieres - it is a partner of this month's Hong Kong International Film Festival - the multiplex also features three green rooms, and a shower stall for celebrities to freshen up.
The best seats at The Metroplex are in the three special VIP houses. These can be rented out for parties, each with a maximum capacity of 20 people. The purple leather, electrically powered seats recline fully, and the concession stand's food and drinks offerings include truffle fries, panini, and alcohol.
The Metroplex is run independently, so it competes with established cinema chains. Senior programme manager Bede Cheng promises that, despite beginning operations with an entirely commercial film slate, this new multiplex will screen a mix of mainstream and art house films.