Now it's 4D film: The high-tech cinemas which will make you feel sick, damp... and punched

By Daily Mail Reporter
From: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/
Hollywood is converting blockbuster films into 4-D because cinemagoers are shunning pricey multi-dimensional 3-D versions


But the experience has left some fans feeling sick, damp and pummeled after watching movies like Kung Fu Panda 2 and the latest Pirates of the Caribbean box-office hit.

A Korean company has built cinemas with seats which rock and special effects like wind, fog, strobe lights and scents are synchronised with the on-screen action.

Success in 4-D: Kung Fu Panda 2 with the voice of Jack Black as panda Po

The company, CJ 4DPlex, has opened an office in Los Angeles where computer programmes are written for the action films.

It plans to build America's first 4-D screen multiplex in New York and if it is a success, they will expand into Europe.

The biggest 4-D film in Seoul last week was Kung Fu Panda, the martial arts cartoon adventure with the voices of Jack Black, playing panda Po and Angelina Jolie.

 

A Korean blogger called Prof Miscreant reported in the Sunday Times: 'The seats have massage chair motors so that they punch you (lightly) in the kidneys or bottom when Po gets hit or falls down.

'At the end bubbles floated down from the ceiling to simulate fireworks - hilarious and well worth the 18,000 won (£10) ticket price.'

Blockbuster Avatar: Special 4-D audience effects were a huge hit with Korean movie fans

But not every movie fan is happy with the physical effects. 


Some customers complained of feeling damp from the water effects after watching Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides but 'smelling sweet' like Captain Sparrow star Johnny Depp.

And there were reports of people becoming nauseous and going temporarily deaf after watching Transformers: Dark of the Moon where the major smell is the scent of burnt rubber.

CJ 4DPlex was the first company to make a 4-D version of James Cameron's 3-D futuristic blockbuster Avatar. 


Audiences lapped up the smell of explosives and the howling wind effects so much so that the company is opening another three 4-D cinemas with seats that bend backwards and fly into the air.

A Seoul film distributor told Variety magazine: 'They are in a niche right now, like Imax giant screens a decade ago.'

Bike Hanger: Vertically Rotating, Multi-Level Bike Parking By Manifesto Architecture

by Kimberley Mok

from: http://www.treehugger.com/

Images: The vertically-hung, space-saving Bike Hanger by Manifesto Architecture

It's a scenario familiar in many cities: ugly, unwieldy and badly-designed bike racks, with the worst of it being that there's never enough bike parking to go around (meaning messy clumps of bikes in public spaces, for example). And with space in urban areas usually at a premium, it makes sense to stack things vertically. The intriguing Bike Hanger from New York-based Manifesto Architecture does the vertical trick, but takes things a step further by hanging off the side of buildings in those underused, residual spaces between them.

According to ArchDaily, Bike Hanger was designed and shortlisted for the 2010 Seoul Cycle Design Competition, which called for ideas to improve the city's bike-friendliness and infrastructure.

The idea is to keep pedestrian flow of traffic free from bike interference, and public spaces free of unsightly globs of locked bikes that look like cycling disasters. Each rack unit can hold anywhere from 20 to 36 bicycles, and the units themselves can be agglomerated, creating rows of neatly stacked public bike racks.

The canopy and frame would use recycled plastic, stainless steel and carbon frame. The hanger's rotation mechanism would be powered by good old-fashioned elbow grease, by pedalling a stationary bike hooked up into the hanger system, thus keeping energy and maintenance costs low.

On top of that, Bike Hangers could be designed as urban landmarks in their own right, creating another means of wayfinding for city dwellers.

One question that comes to mind is how a system like this could be protected from vandalism and theft -- after all, we've seen how public bike programs like Paris' Velib have been dealt a blow by irresponsible use. And what about long-term parking? But overall, the Bike Hanger's space-saving virtues, sensible structural format which allows for easy visual identification of each person's bike and its use of recycled materials makes it a pretty clever proposal for solving the bike parking dilemma.

The Kings' Dessert - or, how to create 16,000 honey strings in two minutes

Kim Jong-il Owns Some Cool S*#t!

By cdu827

From: http://www.ranker.com/

Kim Jong-il, the leader of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea, has been well-known for spending billions of dollars to strengthen his military power in hopes of maintaining control over North Korea. But of course, that’s never enough for Kim. He must surround himself with things that don't remind him of work. During times of economic despair and devastating famine, Kim managed to find the time to buy a ton of pretty cool sh!t.. Since we can't have a Lifestyles of the Rich and Famous episode about him, this list of his funny, crazy, even awesome collection of belongings will have to do

1

His Own Personal Armored Train(s), Filled With Luxury Cars

We expect world leaders to have armored CARS. Homeboy has (multiple) armored TRAINS. He has a collection of 6 private well-furnished trains, 2 of which are decoys -- 3-train Monty!

Kim's trains are equipped with conference rooms, an audience chamber and bedrooms, along with a necessary pair of Mercedes-Benzes on standby (cause you never know).

Due to his fear of flying, Dear Father uses the private trains to travel abroad and makes stops at military bases, factories and farms for internal inspection missions.

During his travel there are two trains that act as decoys. The proceeding train takes off to make sure that the tracks are safe and if anything goes wrong his dummy train takes the bait. The second train carries little Kim and his gangsters while the third train follows along for security purposes... wait... did this article just blow his cover?...

Of course, he also has satellite phone connections and flat-screen TVs so that he can be briefed and issue orders, or just enjoy the latest season of Desperate Housewives. Even Kanye doesn't roll like this powerful "Communist" leader, but more on that later...

The Jonger ain’t a gangsta if he’s got no hoes, so he travels with broads and fancies them up with fine dining and hard liquor (see below) every time he goes out.

2

5-inch Platform Man-Heels

North Korea's Supreme Leader is very self conscious about his height. Not only does he spike up his hair to compensate for his short stature, but he also owns some pretty snazzy 5-inch platform shoes, a-la Bart Simpson from that one episode where he's trying to grow an inch overnight.

Kim Jong Il says screw his starving country, he needs to get a little respect around here and he can't do that with everyone looking down at him, now can he?

Besides, Gene Simmons wears 'em in public regularly, and nobody questions his manhood.

3

17 Bachelor Pads (Not Bad For A Communist)

Lifestyles of the Rich and Tyrannous!

Dude's got 17 different palaces, some of which have underground tunnels leading to other homes or offices. From his office located in Central District in Pyounhyang to his vacation home in the Potae Rodongja District, he’s got a pad for every occasion.

If he wants to hunt guillemots and Jet Ski during the winter, he will be visiting his Wonsan Chalet. For late night parties with the officials, he resides in his official home in Pyounhyang where the second floor is fully equipped with entertainment.

And of course, almost every person knows that when you’re doing something risky, like, say… building a nuclear bomb, you should have a backup plan in case something decides to backfire. Or if you happen to be insanely paranoid that another country will nuke you.

With the Youngsung 21 Complex, complete with iron rods and concrete covered with lead to protect the headquarter, Kim is sure to be safe - so please, nobody worry about him.

4

20,000 DVDs

When Dear Leader isn’t busy shopping for a new castle or posing nuclear threats to The World, he is comfortably kicking back in one of his home theaters watching a movie from his massive collection of 20,000 DVDs.

Since there is a time lag for word coming out of North Korea, our sources have not yet confirmed whether the il-Father has upgraded the collection to Blu-Ray. We're pretty sure he stays out of the torrent scene, though.

He's actually considered to be a bit of a movie buff. In fact, he’s incapable of sitting in front of his TV screen without being able to interfere with the production in some way shape or form.

We're not exactly sure how this works in practice.

According to sources, he revolutionized Korean Fine Arts by integrating history, political ideology, and movie-making into the art of film and cinema, all while ensuring North Korea's national security, spending time with his family, and partying with his officials. Sounds like the man could teach Steve Jobs a thing or two about multitasking!

He also has a collection of "James Bond" movies, and "Friday The 13th" series. Loves "The Godfather" and collects all of Elizabeth Taylor's movies (did we mention he also wears high heels? Yeah...).

With every single Oscar-winning movie within reach, we take this time to formally invite the Kimster to make a Top 100 Films on Ranker. Mr. Jong-il, we promise to give you a prime spot on the homepage. Add a link from the list to your blog or MySpace! You've declared yourself an "internet expert" ( http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,299757,00.html ), so we're sure you are savvy to the value of a backlink on Ranker.

5

Largest Consumer of Hennessy Cognac In The World

In the early 1990s, trade figures leaked to the media revealed that Kim was the largest single consumer of Hennessy cognac, importing more than $650,000 worth of top-of-the-line stock per year for his private collection.

Yes, a love for top-shelf cognac is another thing KJi has in common with the rap community.

This particular liquor sells for $650 in Korea. However, the average Korean worker earns about $900 a year. So... yeah...

So what’s a little guy like Kim doing with so much Hennessy? A man who consumes that much liquor in a year probably won't live to see his son’s next attempted escape to Disneyland, let alone his next liver biopsy. If all this is just going to him and his bitches, we're talking about a Keith Richards-level constitution. The man's a roller, no question.

6

A Wine Cellar That Puts Aureole To Shame

He has a wine cellar containing nearly 10,000 bottles. Think there's any "2 buck Chuck" in the mix?

He also has a library filled with thousands of cookbooks and texts on gastronomy. Needless to say, Kim Jong Il is a bit of a "Foodie".

Sure, the quality of life in his country is going down the tubes every single minute, but Supreme Leaders have to able to wind down too. With all the touring on private trains, to Hennessy consumption, to DVD-watching and Pee-Wee Herman style Platform-shoes dancing, the man deserves a break.

So many fun things to do, so much country/freedom to destroy, so little time. Good to know that one of the world's most feared and watched tyrants likes to forget his troubles bingeing on truffles and Cabernet.

Bon Vivant!

68 Rare Pictures Taken Inisde North Korea

Published by djmick
From http://www.djmick.co.uk/

Photographs from North Korea are restricted and hard to come by – the few pictures that do come out of the last Stalinist state in the world, lead by Kim Jong Il, are either state-produced or state-approved.

Still, one can get some idea of everyday life in North Korea from the 68 pictures featured in the gallery below which are a mixture of photos taken from the borders of neighboring South Korea and China, whilst others were provided by North Korea itself, and several by freelance photographers.