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The capital's first "4D" cinema opens today at the London Eye.
The £5million installation allows visitors to experience a four-minute film featuring panoramic views of the city complete with unique sensory effects - dubbed the fourth dimension - which replicate wind, snow and rain.
An auditorium has been fitted at the rear of the London Eye tourist office by owners Merlin Entertainment for the new "pre-flight" show.
After buying a ticket to the London Eye visitors are ushered into the small theatre and given 3D glasses.
The London Eye 4D is the first live-action, 4D piece produced in the UK and contains the first 3D aerial photography of London. The film uses a combination of aerial shots, time lapse and live action and visual effects and features music by Coldplay and Goldfrapp. It was developed at Pinewood Shepperton studios.
It begins with a small girl and her father visiting the observation wheel.
The film follows a bird soaring up the Thames, taking in sights such as St Paul's and Big Ben, and then cuts to images of colourful parties and events inside the London Eye capsules including a Chinese New Year celebration and traditional Indian dancers.
The film ends with a fireworks display and snow falling in the capital - accompanied by small white flakes falling onto the audience.
The auditorium is fitted with sensors and panels which release dry ice, bubbles and water - and the floor shakes to match the fireworks.
Director Julian Napier said: "I was delighted to be asked to work on such an exciting and innovative project: bringing cutting edge cinematic techniques and technology to one of the country's and the world's most iconic landmarks."
One of the first visitors to see the show, Katie Fowkes, 24, from Nottingham, said: "It was great fun. There were bubbles on screen at one point and bubbles in the theatre. I enjoyed it."
Jessica Kyeremateng, 12, from Dagenham said: "The effects were brilliant. It made me jump a couple of times because it feels so real."
Reader views (7)
I booked online a month ago already and only went yesterday, the very day it opened! I cannot describe how happy I am that I left my London Eye ticket until yesterday. I don't care who the music is by, that show is AWESOME!! It does feel real, this is the first time I've been to a 4-d show. My daughter's and I LOVED it. I would say tentatively, even more impressive that the London Eye itself! Yeh , the London Eye was slightly anitclimactic after that fantastic show, wish it'd been longer!!!The best things were, the fire breathing dragon and the pigeons just coming out of nowhere, my youngest daughter tried catching several things , that's how real it was.
- Caprise, Kuwait, Kuwait, 13/08/2009 08:32
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Can't understand you Jock. Goldfrapp bland!!! They are one of our national treasures and the UK's most imaginative band.
- Pete, London, 12/08/2009 21:27
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Squiz - not at all. I just prefer to listen to music that isn't bland and has the masses nodding along to it like hypnotised sheep.
- Jock, London, 12/08/2009 14:50
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Thought: will there ever come a time when we can watch a 3D movie without having to wear special 3D glasses? I would have thought somebody would have been capable of inventing the technology involved by now.
- Graham Rodhouse, Helmond, Netherlands, 12/08/2009 12:28
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Jock you are Fuddy McDuddy.
- Squiz, Islington, 12/08/2009 12:08
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Music by Coldplay and Goldfrapp. Oh dear, guess I'll give it a miss then...
- Jock, London, 12/08/2009 10:51
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And here I was thinking the fourth dimension was time. Einstein would be astounded to be told that after all this time it was in fact some wind and rain!
- Matt Plummer, London, England, 12/08/2009 10:32
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