Theatrical exhibition is bouncing back and there’s no better evidence than the new seven-screen Event complex at Queensgate in Lower Hutt.
Event Cinemas screened more than 100 Indian titles in 2023. Photo: Supplied
The cinema business has been in a perilous state during the last few years, especially in Wellington where earthquake induced closures and demolitions were already a problem even before the pandemic reduced theatre capacities, movie releases and the public’s appetite to be in enclosed spaces with strangers.
Some were even questioning whether there was a future for theatrical exhibition as the picture theatre sector’s troubles coincided with the rise of streaming and the growing size of home screens.
Then, last year, Tom Cruise roared back to save the day with Top Gun: Maverick and – all of a sudden – there was optimism in the air once more. In Ōrākai, Wigram, Nelson and Ponsonby, Silky Otter have been charging ahead with their boutique offering that includes fine food and beverage selections, an emphasis on comfort and a belief that smaller cinemas closer to the customer were the way of the future.
We don’t have a Silky Otter in Wellington but we do have our own venerable chain of boutique picture theatres, the Light House. They don’t deliver food in the middle of a screening (thank goodness) and they eschew reclining leather (or leather-like) seating in favour of their own custom-made two-seater couches, but they have been flying the flag for a quality cinema experience during a time when our choices were limited.
In 2016, following the Kaikōura earthquake, the 9-screen Event Cinema complex at Queensgate was immediately marked for demolition. It had only recently been refurbished but the perilous state of the carparking building that leant up against it meant that it was for the chop. Readings on Courtenay Place suffered similarly – although that building hasn’t yet been taken down, it continues to sit there as an ugly boarded up post-modern scar on the cityscape until the game of chicken between the owners and the Wellington City Council (and their insurance companies) can be resolved.
That’s 19 screens removed from the Wellington region in less than a heartbeat. (Actually, that’s not quite correct. Readings soldiered on until 2019 but probably shouldn’t have been allowed to.)
Photo: Event Cinemas
Now, after years of development – and no doubt some chewed up fingernails – Event has opened a brand new Queensgate complex. This time there are fewer screens (seven) but they are bigger and they have brought the famous IMAX brand to Wellington for the first time.
Also, something called VMAX – a Event-only brand – and when I walked in it reminded me instantly of the big old Cinema One (“Titan”) at Readings. Instead of entering from the bottom and walking up to your seats, you enter from the top and walk down but the effect when you are in your seats is similar – a huge gently curved screen fills the entire width of the two (or is it three) storey wall in front of you.
Unlike Readings Titan – but like every proper cinema should – the preferred aspect ratio for this screen is wide. It’s a high gain ‘silver’ screen, too, designed to reflect more light than usual (because 3D glasses) block so much of it out.
Many years ago, I went to the opening of Hoyts Sylvia Park where the main auditorium reportedly had the biggest screen in Australasia. That was still in the days of 35mm and it simply wasn’t possible to shine an adequate amount of light through the film without it buckling because of the heat. As a result, everything there was pretty dim.
For a while, digital projection had this problem. Readings Titan got around this by having two projectors running simultaneously to double the light on the screen. The latest technology appears to have gotten around this problem and VMAX seemed perfectly bright. (Not as bright as my DolbyVision TV screen at home but your eyes soon make the necessary adjustments.)
VMAX also sports Dolby Atmos sound – only the second screen in the region since the Embassy had it installed a few years ago. Atmos is becoming a standard format, even in home environments – Netflix, Apple, Prime all insist on it for their own productions – but I had forgotten how much it adds to an immersive experience.
As you can probably tell from the photographs, picture and sound aren’t actually the big selling point for VMAX. Event want you to look at those comfy reclining seats and dream of all that luxury.
I was sceptical (and also worried about falling asleep). But it was, indeed a very comfortable experience. As anyone who has watched a movie or play with me will know, I am a terrible fidget – constantly shifting around, crossing and uncrossing my legs. Firstly, I didn’t feel the need to move around so much in those seats and, secondly, nobody will have noticed if I did, we were that far apart.
Right in front of the screen there is an even more ‘relaxed’ option – daybeds. That may be an attraction for some patrons, but I never like being that close to a huge screen, especially so low down.
My favourite cinema experience remains the Embassy at the head of Courtenay Place in Wellington. The proportions just feel so right and technically it remains outstanding (occasionally too loud?). But it is showing quite a few signs of wear and tear. The carpets desperately need a clean and the leather on quite a few of the seats is cracking. I hope Event can turn their attention that way now Queensgate is open.
Mainly, though, I’m thrilled that the cinema arms race has begun again and there’s no way that can’t be good for audiences.
Photo: Event Cinemas
Dan Slevin was shouted his first experience of the VMAX screen at Queensgate courtesy of Event Cinemas.
