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Through the four previous installments of my reflections of a theater seat involving my immersion in the movie experience, none compared to the one I’m about to describe. Back in 1999, my family took a trip to Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida in search of a relaxing and thrilling vacation. This is where I found my favorite attraction, which I will never forget. It was called Back To The Future – The Ride.
Back To My Future
As we strolled through the entrance, an entertaining video introduction of a plot based on the Back To The Future theme, played out. My wife, the two girls and I finally walked into a room containing a usually wide vehicle. We were then instructed to sit in the front row of a stainless steel, eight seater DeLorean. As the safety bar closed across our laps, I noticed that a few feet from the front of the car was what appeared to be a garage door. I laughed to myself at how simplistic and corny this would be. The garage door was going to rise and a movie screen would be revealed. But as the lights dimmed, something entirely different occurred.
Suddenly, the entire vehicle rose high into the air until it moved into a position where we were swallowed up by a huge wrap around movie screen. There seemed to be other DeLoreans around us but because of the way the side windows were positioned, other cars were difficult to see. For the next 4-½ minutes the vehicle bobbed and weaved through time and space in perfect unison with the adventure that was being played out in front of us. This is how Wikipedia described what was really going on:
The ride was a motion simulator with the DeLoreans located under a 70-foot (21.3–m) OMNIMAX Dome screen. Each of the 24 vehicles (12 per dome) was mounted on three pistons, allowing it to rise, fall and tilt, following the motion on the screen. The vehicles were arranged on three tiers and are staggered to prevent guest riders from seeing the other vehicles in the theater. The front section of the cars rose eight feet (2.4 m) out of the "garage" when "flying". The actual range of motion from the simulator base was about two feet (0.6 m) in any direction. The motion and the visual input from the screens images, as well as physical effects like wind, water and smoke, combined to make the guest riders feel as if they were in a high-speed pursuit. 
The ride was actually composed of two OMNIMAX Dome screens with vehicles arranged around them. The experience of both was identical, but the ride enjoyed a very reliable in-service record as a result.*
Through my travels, I’d never been more impressed than when I sat in this flight simulator (I mean movie chair). Unfortunately, my favorite attraction, Back To The Future – The Ride, no longer exists. It opened at the Orlando theme park on May 2, 1991 but sadly closed to the public on May 31, 2007. The ride is still available at the Disney theme park in Japan, if you’d like to take the trip. Hopefully, sometime in the future, a theater near me will have a similar remarkable experience. Promo for Back To The Future - The Ride The entire experience:
Wikipedia credit:
*https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Back_to_the_Future:_The_Ride
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D-Box – My Obsession Might Be Complete
My search for a movie chair that could truly immerse me in the motion picture experience has finally Ianded me in Bayonne, New Jersey. This is where I found the closest theater to my location that carried D-Box type of chairs (hydraulically synchronized chair movements that match the actions on the screen). Since this location is more than an hour drive from me, I was not happy about the long drive just to check a seat. Then I discovered that the only feature being shown with the use of the chair was War Dogs. The reviews have not been that great for this flick but I decided to give it a try and hoped there would be the volatile action sequences which would supply a good example of how the chair works. 
There are 32 reserved D-Box seats (16 in a row) in an auditorium that holds a total of 220 seats. By choosing a D-Box chair, I was adding $8.00 to the price of admission (making the total $20.00) so this had better be worth it. After I sat in the center front row seat, it became obvious that I would be the only patron in the auditorium but enough about the theater and the lack of popularity of the movie.
D-Box
In The Theater
Here are three examples of my D-Box chair experience:
1. When the main character was walking through a hallway, I could ever so slightly feel the chair moving forward and when he finally stepped in front of the door of his choice, I could feel the chair back up a bit. 2. The entire chair trembled while the actors on the screen were driving in a car. When the actors were riding in a military vehicle, the chair gave a much bumpier ride. 3. During a fight sequence, when the actor was being struck in the mid section, the center back area of the seat would give a jerk. When he was punched in the face, the same type of bump was felt in the head rest area. The movement was a bit startling but there was no chance of getting whiplash from this motion. Overall opinion: The shifting of the chair up and down, tilting from side to side and the vibrations sent to certain areas of the chair at the specified time in synch with the actions on the screen makes for a very interesting ride. Unfortunately, War Dogs was not a good movie to use as a test project. I suppose a more action-packed feature would have thrown me around in the chair a lot more of the time. In terms of what I experienced, watching War Dogs in this chair was more of a distraction than anything else and did not add to my enjoyment of the movie. The D-Box chair has potential but it did not immerse me in a new kind of movie-watching experience. I guess my quest for a fantastic movie chair has not yet finished. To be continued… If you are interested in the D-Box chair, check out my previous post about it: http://endlessperceptions.com/my-reflections-blog/category/movie-chair-part-2 
movie chairTurbo Ride
7D Turbo Ride – My Alternate Obsession?
A week ago, I found that the closest theater that carried the hydraulically controlled D-Box types of chairs was in Bayonne, New Jersey. This location is more than an hour drive from me. I was not happy about the long drive just to check on a unique kind of chair. I then discovered that the only movie being shown there (with the use of the chair) was Suicide Squad. The reviews have not been that good for this flick so I decided to give a closer theater (and type of seat) a try. At the Palisades Mall, there is not one but two showplaces where you can experience what is called the 7D Turbo Ride. The first one I visited was on the second floor of the expansive mall. 
There were eight different features available which were no more than five-minutes long. I settled on Panic House because the attendant said this was the scariest. I picked up my 3-D glasses and was escorted into a theater that held only five seats. After a minor feeling of claustrophobia, I chose the center seat, which was fairly comfortable. I was then given instructions by the staff on what to expect and I was even asked to wear the attached seatbelt. Was the chair and I about to take off?
Overall, the hydraulics greatly added to walk through the haunted house and at times, I really felt as though I was moving forward. The entire row of seats moved in unison but I soon figured that sitting in one of the end seats would have provided a bumpier ride. The Panic Room had a few “Watch out, it’s jumping out of the wall” moments but overall I was not impressed with the combined effect of the chair and screen 3-D. Considering the $15.00 charge, I’d have to give this “ride” 3 out of 5 stars.
Once I landed, I was curious to find out why there were two of these types of theaters in the same mall. I walked up to the fourth floor in order to see the other version. 
This time I choose the feature called Tomb of the Pharaoh. I was happy to hear that this movie would be about seven minutes long. Again, I was the only one in the theater. Again, the place was set up for small groups (seven persons at the most).
Once in the room, my first big problem was the seats. The chair-seat was extremely close to the floor. I had to lower myself to the floor in order to sit down on their special chair. There was no need for a seatbelt. As I sat with my legs outstretched, I could not figure out why the seats were configured so differently as compared to the previous room. 
The second problem was that there was an issue with the 3-D effect coming from the projector. The moving images are set up so that your right eye gets a separate image than the left eye and once combined, that’s what makes the 3-D effect. Half of the time, during the ride, the two images were not synchronized. Images that my right eye saw were getting stuck on the screen for ten seconds while my left eye saw continuous moving images. This kept happening all through the feature. To say the least, this became distracting and I was feeling continuously disoriented. After I climbed out of my chair, I told the attendant that I did not enjoy the movie and what my issues were. He offered to give me a full refund, which made me feel a bit better. Of course I accepted it.
If the groups you intend to take to the 7D Turbo Rides are children or teenagers looking for a laugh, these presentations might be good for a short and scary thrill. The majority of moviegoers would only feel teased and then dissatisfied because of the shortness of the features. In other words, I guess I will be taking that ride to Bayonne, New Jersey to check out the D-Box chairs. Hopefully, seeing a full-length movie with a hydraulic chair will be a more fulfilling experience. To be continued…
D-Box - My Obsession is Almost Complete. Let me simply say that I do not impress easily. It took about twenty years to get it right and its time has finally come. 
Ever since the advent of the VHS and Betamax videocassette players (remember those?), moviegoers have been slowly drifting out of movie theaters and into the privacy of their homes. Complex surround sound and even 3-D has certainly added to the enjoyment of the home-theater experience but what's next? Seems like replicating the theater experience at home will always be close behind if you are just a little patient but I think not this time.
The simple red chair that you see here is revolutionizing the movie industry and bringing thrill seekers out of their homes in droves. What better way to enjoy a 3-D movie than with a 4-D chair, which will envelop and move you to the action, which is surrounding you. Can you imagine the speed and the thrill of race-car movies? Can you imagine how your skin will crawl as you are watching a 3-D horror movie sequence and you are suddenly throw into the action? I can. Presently this reality is available in more than 50 theaters across the nation and the number is growing. I love my larger than life LCD television and my powerful sound system but they will soon not be complete without the chair. There's not much chance to realistically own one of these chairs at home any time soon so if you want the experience you must go to the theater. Take a look at this three-minute video if you have any doubts that you are seeing the future. After all, why do you think they call them "movies." D-BoxChair
All that's left now is an actual review of D-Box at the theater. I'll volunteer to take the risk and see you next week.
To be continued...
CINETROPOLIS
Okay, I will admit it. I've been obsessed with movies all of my life. I desperately enjoy the big screen, the sound effects and the feeling that for a short while, I can lose myself in the fantasy flickering in front of me. Little did I know that on a lazy Saturday morning, I would be pulled in a new direction. 
It was August 26, 1995 and I sat watching some geeky technical show. The commentator spoke about a place in Ledyard, Connecticut, which is the home of the Foxwoods Casino. Within this structure was constructed an amusement center called Cinetroplis. He explained that inside was a theater with a 360-degree screen, which could totally immerse you in the movie. But what interested me the most was the movie seats that would move and bump with the action on the screen. By the time the television spot for the attraction had ended, I was hooked.
I mapped out this area and found that it was only 2 1/2 hours away from the Bronx. The wife thought I was nuts because of the sudden need I had to visit Connecticut but I stressed on how much fun the kids would have in a place like this (I was kind of referring to myself also when I said "kids" but I think she knew that). I figured the best way to enjoy this extravaganza was to drive up there and stay at a hotel for a few days. Yes, I felt like it would be that much fun. Sort of like a mini-Disney World.
As we drove up to the casino entrance, I was certain that we would soon begin days of an innovative movie-going experience. It was difficult for me not to jump out of the car but I calmed myself long enough for us to park. Once inside the casino, there seemed to be an awful lot of gambling machines and a lot of people spending money unnecessarily. Didn't they know where the "real" fun was? Obviously not.
As we got to the section called Cinetropolis, I was a little disappointed that the "amusement park" was not bigger.
As we got to the section called Cinetropolis, I was a little disappointed that the "amusement park" was not bigger. We moved directly to the enclosed theater and climbed into the specially made seats. Through a series of hydraulically controlled programmed maneuvers, the chair bobbed and weaved with the actions on the screen. Yes, the motion seats were exciting but the entire movie feature could not have been more than ten minutes long. After the show, we found the one or two other attractions in the immediate area. Some interactive virtual reality games (games that use computer imagery to create artificial environments) but nothing to write home about. What I discovered was that after about one hour, we had gone through all of the attractions in the place. Dizzy Dad had to agree with the rest of the family. I too was bored. We returned to the hotel, refunded our money for the other two days and found our way back home.
Don't get me wrong. I really liked the motion chairs but the most exciting part of the experience wound up being the anticipation I felt about what I might find in Cinetropolis. Seems that the IWERKS company had invested mega bucks in putting the center together but then found it was a great deal of trouble to keep up with the dream that they had envisioned with only the 1990's electronics. This place was ahead of its time and could not draw the interests of the public. The Foxwoods Cinetropolis IWERKS Theater closed down by 2002, as did it's sister complex in Japan. This now brings me to my new obsession. It seems that the experience of Cinetropolis has finally come of age. To be continued.... Movie Chair
You never know when you’re going to experience something that makes sense to you on a thoroughly deep level and changes things forever. Always be on the lookout for unexpected life-lessons.
I was about fifteen and I was in the movie theater watching “Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner.” The guy playing Sidney Poitier’s father (Roy Glenn) was on a tirade about how as a mailman, he had carried his heavy bag for long hours and then years, in order to help Sidney to be the man that he had become. His father demanded that Sidney should be appreciative of his efforts. Take Some Responsibility
Mr. Poitier interrupted his father and pointedly said, “You did, what you were supposed to do. I did not ask to be here. From the time that I was born, you owed me. All that time that you carried that bag and all of your hard work, you did for yourself.” Prior to hearing this speech, I truly believed that as the child, I was obligated to ensure that I made my parents happy because I owed them (I still felt that that was the right way to feel but I guess that’s part of being a good kid). After hearing Mr. Poitier’s speech, I suddenly understood that when a person makes a decision that a child might be conceived, the obligation begins with them and not the child. But actually, I said all this in order to tell the story of the birth of my first daughter. Towards the end of the nine months, I was frequently speaking to my daughter and calling her by her name often. After all, it wasn’t too soon for her to get to know her daddy. As she was being born, I could first see her hair. I was touched and amazed. Regardless of all the conversations she and I had had (which were a bit one-sided), I still could not believe that she was really going to be here. After she had been cleaned and had this little pink wool cap placed her head, a strange event occurred. There had been many not so easy times for my wife, so I felt that the least I could do was to make certain that she was comfortable. In addition, I found that because of these trials, my devotion and love had grown stronger towards her over the past year but that's a story for another time. 
Unexpectedly, the nurse then stated that she had to take my daughter to another area for whatever tests. I felt as if I was torn. I didn’t know whether to stay with my wife, as she lay there dealing with the aftermath of birth or to go with my helpless daughter, to make certain that she was all right. I stayed put in the delivery room but this would become one of the many marvelous life-changing events, which I could only attempt to get used to. In the long run, I found that I could only try to keep up with the ever-changing events of this new life.
I have always found it difficult to understand how any guy can just walk away from the life that he has helped to create. Whether by accident (yeah, right) or planned out to the last detail, once a child is conceived, it’s the responsibility of both parents (especially the father) to ensure that the kid has every chance for a happy life. At least that’s what I’ve always believed.
The time had come for the presentation to an eight year old that not only does she have some extra weight to lose but all the good times at McDonald's and the unrestricted ability to eat as she please was about to cease. It seemed like really scary experiences were ahead.
I was told a story from a friend at work about a similar experience she had gone through with her child. When she and her husband attempted to get their daughter to stop eating extra sugar, they found candy hidden in the oddest places around the house. When they were able to put a stop to this, they then got calls from the school about how the child was overeating and/or eating unhealthy foods since she could not do it at home. In other words, their daughter felt she was justified in lying and hiding food in order to continue fulfilling what she was missing. My wife and I could only pray that we did not have to deal with the issues that this couple did.
Food Fix
We sat our daughter down and explained that it would be better for her health if she cut out the sweets and the junk foods. We also made it clear that nothing else would change, like the weekend outings and the trips to the toy store when she and her sister were good. Her answer to all of this was "Okay". We waited for the "Willy Wonka" revolution but there was none.
As the months rolled by, we were amazed by the reaction of our daughter. She followed every food restriction without a fuss. She ran and played as she had always done and the new dietary routine that was set up for her simply became part of her life. By the time she was nine years old, it was amazing to see the difference in the way she looked. Another Factor
As much as I would like to take a big part of the credit for the weight reduction, there was another factor going on which was really driving the little guinea pig. As much as my wife and I wanted her to lose the weight for her health, our daughter wanted to follow through with the program because SHE wanted to look a certain way. She was headed towards teenage years and wanted to change her image. It seemed that the little darling had a master plan of her own.
I worried for a while that she would relapse and gain the weight back but that never happened. I guess she liked the way that she looked.
Here she is at age ten, then age eleven and then age twelve.
Last Word
By age thirteen there was no stopping her. The love and concern that she had gotten from her parents helped but the dream that she had and the love that she had for herself is what drove her across the finish line and beyond. Not only is she still my little cutey but she is a true inspiration for me. She made me as a father proud, that she was so determined and she succeeded. The End and finally, the...
Last Word
Also check out part 1 & 2:
Author Interview: Valerie Auguste-Partin, author of Mom Me: E-mail 2 Heaven
By Lloyd A. Green Welcome all! I’m thrilled to present the awesome Valerie Auguste-Partin. Valerie is a writer with quite an impressive resume. She’s written fiction and non-fiction books, where she has displayed a remarkable ability to blend her imagination and true feelings and pen them to paper. Recently, Valerie and I recently discussed how her writing career came to be.
LLOYD A. GREEN: Thank you for the interview. First of all, please tell me a bit about yourself, your interests and when you first decided to become a writer. 
VALERIE AUGUSTE-PARTIN: And thank you for allowing me the opportunity to do an interview for your blog.
I was a full-time Literacy Through The Arts teacher in the Bronx for numerous years. In 2012, a few months before she died, my Mom asked me to slow down my rigorous work pace. I honored her wishes two weeks before she passed away. I currently work part time as an Arts Specialist for Sports and Arts in Schools Foundation. I teach Dance as well as Spoken Word to children in Grades 6-8. I am also a Co-Director for fundraiser Talent Shows and Open Mic events. GREEN: On a personal note, you and I share a bit of educational background. We both attended the High School for Music and Art, which was located in Manhattan, New York. AUGUSTE-PARTIN: Those were among the most memorable days of my life. WOW!! After completing high school I immediately went on to college. By the age of 23, I obtained a B.S. in Elementary Education and M.A. in Dance Education from NYU.
GREEN: Has your education at M&A and beyond ever worked its way into your writing? AUGUSTE-PARTIN: My education at M&A and NYU has not worked its way into my writing. I began writing at a young age. My beloved Mom gave me a red leather journal. It contained two gold colored keys that unlocked and locked my book. I began writing poems and short stories at the age of 8 years old. GREEN: Your newest works touch upon your dear mother, who suffered from cancer and diabetes. You delved deeply into how you loved and cared for her and its affect on you. These must have been two really difficult books to write. What was the process like of putting it down on paper? AUGUSTE-PARTIN: The process of writing two books that delve into my diabetes, cancer and grief journey with my Mom was extremely raw, surreal, dark and filled with twilight zone anguish. The first book Mom Me: Soaring Through The Pain was quite disconnected in terms of the writing process. It was written on torn sheets of paper, which reflected the emotional pain that I was experiencing on a daily basis. I completed the writing of that book in (7) months. 
The sequel Mom Me: E-mail 2 Heaven was a bit more structured and written in a journal. I completed the writing of that book fairly recently in 2015. Writing through the pain allowed me to be EMOTIONALLY NAKED with my readers. Through this horrendous experience with my Mom, I learned numerous new lessons about life. First of all, I learned that diabetes and cancer are equal opportunity KILLER DISEASES that do not discriminate. They can strike anyone at anytime WITHOUT WARNING!!!!! Secondly, I learned that grief has no set timetable. Grief has no expiration date. Grief is like drifting in and out of consciousness.
GREEN: Who are some of your favorite authors and out of your published stories do you have a personal favorite? AUGUSTE-PARTIN: Some of my favorite authors are Maya Angelou, Langston Hughes, Judy Blume and Sidney Shelton. Out of my four published books my favorite one is Eye Was Blind...Now Eye See. This book is the sequel to an indie movie that I wrote entitled Eye Was Blind. The film won a BEST DRAMA award in the 2005 International Independent Film and Video Festival. Some of the other awards that the indie film EYE WAS BLIND won were: OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2007 Southern Appalachian International Film Festival OFFICIAL SELECTION: 2007 Macon Georgia Film Festival FINALIST: 2005 Arizona Black Film Festival GREEN: Do you have any advice to newer writers out there about ways to utilize their own real-life stories in their writing? AUGUSTE-PARTIN: My advice to newer writers is to dig deep and totally utilize your own life real stories in your writing. Share your life stories with the entire world. This is especially important if you have experienced traumatic events in your life, which you would like to share with the world. Unfortunately, life is not a happily ever after fairy tale. Bad events happen to good people. Diabetes and cancer are snatching people's lives daily. Those of us who have personally lived these horrific experiences owe it to other people out there to tell our stories. There is no sugar coating watching someone you love (especially your Mom) wither away like a dying flower from a terminal illness (s). I decided to turn my pain into purpose. My mission is to spread the word world wide and globally through my riveting story. My books were written with the sole purpose of creating an awareness about these devastating monsters named DIABETES and CANCER!! GREEN: And finally, any suggestions on how to get inside the heads of fictional characters and make them realistic? AUGUSTE-PARTIN: My suggestions on getting inside the heads of fictional characters is just to go with your inner voice of creativity. Write outside of the box. Don't be afraid to be a literary risk taker. Make your characters come alive. Create your characters as if you were watching a movie on the big screen. Now sit back, relax and enjoy the show, which you have created on paper. Huge thanks to Valerie Auguste-Partin for being our featured author! Interview with
Valerie Auguste-Partin
*Books:
Mom Me: Soaring Through The Pain / Cancer and Diabetes: The 10 Year Journey Mom Me: E-mail 2 Heaven Eye Was Blind Eye Was Blind ... Now Eye See * Available in softcover and e-book version on: Barnes and Noble.com Amazon.com Xlibris.com (888) 795-4274 You can also follow her on-line at:
Between the ages of five and six, my lovely daughter had gained some extra weight. Perhaps you can tell the slight difference.
I guess the problem was that my wife and I couldn't see it. Being so close to the angel caused us as parent to say things like, "She hasn't really gained that much" or "Her body is just going through a change" or the ever popular "It's just baby fat. She'll grow out of it soon." By age seven she was still growing but she looked so cute.
Life was going along smoothly with the whole denial thing. It was only mother nature we said to ourselves. We loved our daughter too much to possibly be responsible for her gaining. As loving and protective as we were, that just could not be so. Unfortunately, during the next visit to the pediatrician, we were in for a rude awakening.
Food and Weight
Usually the our visits were friendly and I tried to be humble with all the compliments being thrown in my direction but this time Dr. Bombay blasted us both for being inattentive parents. He said that her weight gain was too fast and we were not taking what was happening to her body seriously. Finally he said that there was no need for this kind of weight gain and we needed to seriously do something about it or what was happening might affect her for the rest of her life.
Also check out part 1 & 3
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