Bratty kids, a mission to save the world, a sexy female spy and the motley group from the previous Spy Kids series — now wouldn't that be quite enough to entertain you through the fourth sequel? Director Robert Rodriguez didn't think so. So he not only added 2D and 3D to the drama but also decided that Spy Kids 4 better live up to its name with 4D. On August 19, as Spy Kids – All the Time in the World from the stable of Dimension Films and Troublemaker Studios gets a worldwide release, audiences will be able to not just see and hear but also smell the movie! You read that right.
Though it has been attempted several times, getting fragrances during the course of a film has largely failed to impress. However, Rodriguez was determined to bring in the aroma with this one. Hence, in a first for a movie, audiences will be handed out Aroma Scope cards along with their 3D vision glasses to enhance their movie-going experience. These are scratch-and-sniff cards which will be used during eight particular moments in the film. As each of these scenes comes on the screen, a number will flash before the audience which has to scratch the corresponding one on their individual Aroma Scope card.
It is definitely a first for India, and Avinaash Jumani, Film Acquisitions & Sales at Mumbai-based PICTUREWORKS which is distributing the film in India, is excited about the concept. “When we picked up Spy Kids 4 , we weren't aware it would go 4D. But Robert is known to be inventive. He got 3D into play in the third of the series. The 4D effect is yet another dimension,” he says. Of course, the challenge lies in reaching such a film to audiences. Though not hampered by 4D technology as they are simply scratch cards, the cost of these cards is definitely a hindrance as is getting it across to theatres with 3D. “Not many theatres even now have the technology to support 3D. Hence we are releasing not just 4D and 3D but also 2D for regular theatres. The Aroma Scope cards are made in the U.S. and it is a huge cost to ship them and make them available throughout the country. But we want to give our audiences this unusual experience,” he explains, adding there will be no extra charge on tickets in theatres offering 4D Aroma Scope. While the scenes selected for aroma are under wraps, there is a hint of what one can expect with a baby and a dog forming part of the screenplay, he adds.
The movie tells the story of Marissa Cortez Wilson (Jessica Alba), an ex-spy with twin step kids and a small baby. When duty beckons once more, her rebel kids jump into the fray to save the planet, and the Organisation of Super Spies (OSS), along with its Spy Kids division, foils the enemy plans. It is releasing in Hindi as Chhote Dabangg– Spy Kids 4D , as Spy Kids 4D – Chutti Ulavaligal in Tamil and as Sahasa Valuru – Spy Kids 4D in Telugu.
