Reel Cinemas Dubai to launch 3-screen cinema experience

Dubai’s Reel Cinemas will launch a three-screen cinema experience, a Middle East first, to tie in with the release of Star Trek: Beyond on July 21.

Called Barco Escape. the set-up features three screens ­­­­­­­­­— one in the traditional front and two panels angled from the sides — creating a nearly panoramic view. The technology made its global debut last year with the launch of Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials. Roughly 22 minutes of the science fiction was converted for the technology, resulting in an ultra-wide screen experience for cinema goers.

Barco, which specialises in digital cinema, signed a deal with director and producer J.J. Abrams’ Bad Robot Productions, to have 20 minutes of the Star Trek sequel converted for the technology.

Reel Cinemas is the only one in the Middle East, and one of few in the world, to have the Barco Escape multi-screen system installed.

Although ticket prices have not been confirmed, they won’t be much higher than regular tickets for 3D movies, says Adon Quinn, the senior director of Reel Cinemas at Emaar Entertainment.

The launch of Barco Escape is part of a refurbishment at Reel Cinemas in The Dubai Mall, which has seen all of the 22 screens fitted with laser projectors, also made by Barco. The result means crisper and sharper pictures and an overall better movie experience, says Quinn.

“In laser projectors, the light source no longer requires the lamp as in digital projectors. There is higher light output which translates to better image quality,” he says. “This is especially for 3D movies. A lot of them are very dark with digital projections. With laser, they will be much better.

Quinn said he hoped to fit out all the screens in other Reel Cinemas around the UAE. Besides The Dubai Mall, the company operates in City Walk (10 screens), The Beach, JBR (10 screens) and Dubai Marina Mall (six screens).