Bleeding Edge

Bleeding Edge

by Carlo Longino





This Movie Still Smells Like A Stinker

from the big-in-Japan dept

We've written a lot about what movie theaters need to do to compete these days is improve the theater-going experience, rather than complain about piracy or shrinking release windows. In Japan, two theaters are offering an exclusive new service: smells synchronized to certain scenes of a movie. This idea really isn't new, going back to the 1960s for Smell-o-vision, or the scratch-n-sniff cards that accompanied the "Odorama" version of John Water's 1982 film Polyester, and it's hard to see how the idea's got any more appeal these days. The film in question is the Colin Farrell vehicle The New World, which was released in the US at the end of 2005 and despite an Oscar win, generated an anemic $12.7 million in US box receipts, and moviegoers will be hit with a "floral scent" during a love scene, a mix of peppermint and rosemary during a sad scene and other aromatics. Theaters will also be able to download additional smell-tracks, and NTT Communications, the company behind the service, also sells a home version. Wonder if they complain about rogue smelltrack-sharing sites where pirates download hijacked copies?

15 Comments | Leave a Comment..

 

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  1. by GoogleGuy - Apr 12th, 2006 @ 2:13pm

    Every time I attend the movies, I'm amazed how we've advanced with digi cartoon movies, action movies with blazing effects, yet we still watch movies from a film projector? I can see dust/hair spots on the screen!! What year are we in!!?!?! WHERES MY DIGITAL MOVIE THEATER AT? Is there one I don't know about?

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  2. Re:

    by Mikester - Apr 12th, 2006 @ 2:25pm

    Indeed there is. There are quite a number of theaters that have gone digital - maybe you need to stop going to the $3 matinee theater? :)

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  3. Digital theaters

    by Bob - Apr 12th, 2006 @ 2:32pm

    www.starwars.com/episode-iii/release/theater/digital_list.html

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  4. by Anonymous Coward - Apr 12th, 2006 @ 3:07pm

    Even the theaters that use digital still have the dust spots, the reason is that the Movie Industry puts them into the digital finished product so that it provides a "nostalgic" movie going experience. They don't think we can handle having a clean image on the movie screen.

    Just like they think they know what's good for us. The movie industry needs to stop thinking for us and start listening.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  5. by Anonymous Coward - Apr 12th, 2006 @ 3:10pm

    you're gettin holed, I can watch rocky horror for a dolla fitty...

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  6. This is stupid

    by Mik3_D - Apr 12th, 2006 @ 3:13pm

    I couldn't care less about what a movie scene "smells like." What I do care about is seeing a GOOD MOVIE without commercials, being overcharged for bad food, and interupted by morons. Thats all they need to provide.

    Its a team effort between theaters and movie makers. They both have to get their act together if they want to succeed.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  7. Dietary Habits

    by John W. Bunce - Apr 12th, 2006 @ 4:17pm

    More than anything in the whole world, I love eating my own poop.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  8. by David Mcleod - Apr 12th, 2006 @ 5:44pm

    smellivision sounds cool but please keep it out of the porno's rotten tuna doesnt sound like a plus if you get my drift!!!!!

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  9. Dietary Habits

    by Anonymous Coward - Apr 12th, 2006 @ 6:18pm

    I wonder if the scatman knew what he was actually singing about...

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  10. Stinker

    by J-Man - Apr 12th, 2006 @ 6:22pm

    Most of if not all movies smell like stinkers with Hollywood in control

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  11. Beer

    by 4771cu5 - Apr 12th, 2006 @ 6:54pm

    I just want to go to a theatre that sells beer and lets me smoke, or at least has some upstairs smoking balcony.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  12. WTF?

    by Cheney the Dick - Apr 12th, 2006 @ 7:41pm

    I bet The New World smells as shitty as it was to watch! The Oscars never fail in sucking.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  13. by Darknet - Apr 12th, 2006 @ 11:09pm

    Well I'll be skipping the movies with shit and vomit smells thanks.

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  14. 3D Smellorama!

    by Beany - Apr 13th, 2006 @ 10:52pm

    At last! I can fart in a theatre and everyone will think the movie stinks!

    "It must have been the chille!"

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

  15. umm

    by annie - Mar 5th, 2007 @ 4:50pm

    OMG im soooooooo bored http://www.grossnames.com/

    (reply to this comment) (link to this comment)

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