Hold on before you get ahead of yourself and think you will be in charge of pouring your own “bottomless” drink, and eating popcorn until you’re full and then filling it up a few times before even starting the movie. Think a little more technologically. How long does it really take you to go to a movie, get your tickets, waiting in line after line? Ster-Kinekor have come up with a revolutionary, custom designed system to provide an easy and time saving way to reduce the amount of time wasted in long cue’s by subconsciously helping everyone decide what they want in a more speedy fashion by providing them with the power of choice, one touch screen at a time.

With the help of the well-spoken and friendly staff at each terminal there is no need to panic. If you are movie goer who hasn’t quite “kept with the times” or feel that you and the new age of technology just don’t get along, the staff will assist you. With or without the complaints, the inevitably growing demand from audiences continuing to visit cinemas to watch the latest releases is getting greater and greater. However, Ster-Kinekor has decided to make going to the movies feel effortless, amazing and as simple as counting to one, two and three. Step one: you get to the cinema and go to the ticket terminal to purchase your ticket then move on to the snack terminal. Step two: you select what you would like and then receive a printed coded slip. You walk over to the Snack bar, scan your encoded slip and the clerk receives it on a screen and starts preparing your order. Step 3: after throwing some flavours on your popcorn and claiming a straw, you scan your ticket and in you go.

Fiaz Mahomed, CEO of Ster-Kinekor Theatres has stated “When we introduced our unique self-service ticket terminals more than eight years ago, we noticed an immediate and significant reduction in queue times for our customers. We are hopeful that the catering terminals will have as great an impact in offering our customers a seamless experience when buying their tickets and snacks, before entering the cinema to sit back and enjoy the latest blockbuster on the big screen”. Ster-Kenikor does not seize to amaze as they provide the very latest in digital projector technology with surround sound speaker quality, eight state-of-the-art cinemas and seats you wish you had in your lounge. The cinema house includes two 3D-ready screens with that “produce a larger-than-life format”. A statement with which I heartily agree.

There is a certain type of expectation I have when going into a cinema and the Ster-Kinekor at Thorn Hill Mall not only lives up to that expectation, but is leading the way in setting new standards which put it ahead of other cinemas available at the moment

What better way is there to launch a premier event then to showcase the new Transformers Age of Extinction?

Carpet rolled out, open bar and floating cuisine decorated in blue cocktails, the finest red meat, fried prawns and chili chocolate deserts. After indulging in everything I could, the suspense set in and was dually shared with a few acquaintances. It was time for us to head into the cinema

“This cannot be, is it real, am I going to watch a movie off of that?” These are the thoughts running through your mind when you step into the IMAX theatre. Shocked and even more anxious you find your seat, where I must say there is no perfect seat because it is one massive screen. IMAX theatres are all customized and have patented the screen and seating design to ensure you’re always in the center of the action no matter where you’re sitting. The seat was one of the most comfortable seats that I have sat in and let me tell you that I have fallen asleep in a few.

[quote_center]“This cannot be, is it real, am I going to watch a movie off of that?” These are the thoughts running through your mind when you step into the IMAX theatre.[/quote_center]

Your anticipation is relieved and every wish of having the best is met. The picture is bigger, better, higher. The quality is crystal clear. You are no longer watching a movie; you are experiencing it first hand!

The new 3D glasses you wear are lightweight and do not give you a head ache, although tilting your head to the side does blur the image slightly. However this is quickly forgotten as you reset and take in everything that IMAX has to offer you. The use of the world’s highest resolution cameras and projection lights; quality so amazing, IMAX claims that you can see from the moon. And then a sound system so clear it begs the questions, “do the world’s largest music festivals know about this?”.

The theatre itself is fascinating and a spectacle to look at in its own right, but once the lights are out everything comes to life and you are in it and nothing else matters.

For their continuous dedication to creating a movie experience so great and for giving us something we didn’t even know we were missing, we salute you IMAX and Ster-Kinekor.