Experiencing Malta in virtual reality
A new attraction in Valletta offers an innovative and exciting way to experience the island’s history.
Malta 5D combines 3D with new generation 5D cinema effects, allowing the audience full immersion into the world portrayed on screen.
The 5D motion chairs have features such as water spray, vibration and leg sweeping while the auditorium has equipment that simulates the environment projected on the screen, helping to blur the boundary between reality and fantasy.
The multilingual cinematic experience boasts some visually stunning shots. The figures depicted in Caravaggio’s masterpiece The Beheading of Saint John the Baptist are thrust out of the canvas as you watch.
Viewers can follow a Maltese falcon as it flies through historic sites and landmark events that shaped Malta. The smell of humidity filling St Paul’s Catacombs is substituted by the salty tang of the sea as the spectator soars over the waves.
Two major battles are recreated through visual effects.
The audience is plunged into the midst of the Great Siege of 1565 to experience the toil of battle and celebrate the victory of the Knights of Malta over the Ottoman Empire. The falcon then transports one to World War II to witness the moment when the Royal Opera House in Valletta was blasted to shreds and to feel the jolts of aircraft as they swoop over Valletta to drop their bombs.
Malta 5D is located in Old Bakery Street, corner with South Street. Admission rates are €8 for adults and €6 for children.
It will be open during Notte Bianca tomorrow at half price.
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23 Comments
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Monica Muscat
Sep 28th 2012, 16:54
I think it really is a must to view this film. Although Notte Bianca is out of the question for me, I hope to find a quiet time to go up the road, (I live on Old Bakery Street), and watch the show.
Victor Pulis
Sep 28th 2012, 16:10
The only fault I could find with this show is that it is much too short! just 15 minutes. You would wish it could go on and on. A truly unique experience.
Joe Buttigieg
Sep 28th 2012, 15:51
wow this film looks promising!
Rodrick Azzopardi
Sep 28th 2012, 15:11
Massive. This clip should be used to promote Malta. Thumbs up!!!
Joseph John Camilleri
Sep 28th 2012, 12:52
I'm sorry, you're wrong about the Royal Opera House. It was not blasted to shreds. Only part of it was in ruins and it would have easily been built after the war with not much expense. But somebody decided otherwise and tore the whole thing down.
fred sammut
Sep 28th 2012, 11:09
ftahtli il feritta tat teatru bla saqaf... Kemm kien sabieh !!!
Charles Vella
Sep 28th 2012, 14:15
It is a BIG shame that the government didn't listen to what the people want, and went on with the plans of a foreign architect... however, it's a deeper sadness that the opposition, led by Joseph Muscat, said NOTHING about it, and only critisized!!
If I was the opposition, the party who in a couple of months, will govern these beautiful islands, I would have said that if I am elected, the opera house will be built AS IT WAS!!!!
But we only heard critisism, and no solutions, to what is really hurting us as Maltese. a PROJECT MADE TO THE LIKING OF A FOREIGNER, not a local! US TAX PAYERS!! Shame on the government, and the Labour party for not coming up with a solution on how to solve that mockery of a theatre in Valletta.
Jean-Michel Azzopardi
Sep 28th 2012, 11:02
awesome
Norman E Grech
Sep 28th 2012, 10:49
At least the Maltese cross has been given prominence in the video! That's a positive thing!
The agonising truth is that this same majestic theatre will remain without a ceiling and therefore will sustain the following consequences:
1. It will always be subject to the elements, dirt and pollution
2. Activities will be limited to those months where weather will permit
3. The theatre area will become noisy whenever any activity in the theatre takes place!
Norman E Grech
Sep 28th 2012, 10:44
What nonsense!
This deceiptful pro British propaganda never seems to stop!
The German targets were the British fleet in our grand harbour because their convoys crossing from Europe to Africa were being attacked by the British vessels which were unfortunately stationed here in Malta!
The truth is that this was not Malta's war and the Maltese suffered because of the British military base here. I urge historians to put the facts right!
What we need to have is documantaries explaining why, after using our dear country, the British gave us their backs and never helped us re-built Malta in any way!
John Portelli
Sep 28th 2012, 11:23
I fully agree with you Norman,even Hitler himself didn't want war with Britain ,but still Britain declared war on Germany on the pretext to defend Poland which Britian never did.But when The Soviet Union invaded Poland Britain didn't declae war on the Soviet Union,I wounder why was that??
W Cassar
Sep 28th 2012, 11:24
I think you need to get your facts right, Malta would have still been invaded by the Italians. Plus there were funds made available to rebuilt Malta, such as funds for the Opera house!
What NONSENSE!
M Cachia
Sep 28th 2012, 11:43
What is wrong with your argument:
1) Come what may Malta would have been in the war. If the British were not here Malta would have been annexed by Mussolini and we would have had the Kriegsmarine in our Grand Harbor instead. And don't tout the neutrality rubbish - look at the Neutral states of Norway, Belgium, Netherlands, Switzerland, Denmark etc
2) Malta had plenty of repartition from the UK. Granted we were not party directly to the Marshall Plan but we did get funds indirectly. The picture you're painting would have Malta in ruins up to 1964 (Independence) which is blatantly not the case!
I suggest you read up about the Axis alliance and their politics before you make any more ludicrous comments.
Norman E Grech
Sep 28th 2012, 11:49
@W Cassar!
And if Malta would have been invaded by the Italians, which I very much doubt, the British would have bombarded us! Such was the British love for Malta!
And what funds are you referring to? this is news? If there were funds, the theatre would have long been built to it's former glory
What NON SENSE indeed!
James Tyrrell
Sep 28th 2012, 12:16
In a way Norman it would have been better if the British had pulled out and left your ancestors to the Nazi's. That way you wouldn't be around now to talk cr*p!
W Cassar
Sep 28th 2012, 10:21
The opera house was truly beautiful and imposing.
Victor Laiviera
Sep 28th 2012, 09:49
Beautiful pic - soon tom be replaced by a tennis court (or a gorilla cage, depending on your perspective)
A Trapani
Sep 28th 2012, 10:11
Usual nonsense... What if they told you and people with our same mentality that in order to rebuild this majestic opera house bask as it used to be would have costed us tax payers some 10 million euros? I'm sure that you would have still grumbled because it's a lot of money spent fom our pockets.
C Cassar
Sep 28th 2012, 10:27
@Victor Laiviera:
Yes, sure, let's look back 70 years rather than look forward to the future. Great cities evolve, they don't stagnate by trying to recreate the past.
Damian Testa
Sep 28th 2012, 10:37
Not very strong on logic are you? The Royal Opera House was replaced by a ruin when it was damaged by the Luftwaffe and subsequently demolished by Dom Mintoff when it could easily have been rebuilt. You give the impression that it still stands and will be pulled down. The project underway will simply see those ruins repaired and lightweight structures added to allow for open air performances.
E. Mifsud
Sep 28th 2012, 10:47
@V. Laiviera
Kemm int negattiv man! Naturalment kif jitla' l-PL tibda tara kollox posittiv. Ara kieku l-MLP bnieh mill-ewwel it-teatru, hekk kif kellu l-flus f'idejh, kieku ma kontx tghaddi l-kumment li ghaddejt!
Joe Felice-Pace
Sep 28th 2012, 11:28
After WW II, the German priosners-of-war offered to rebuild the Opera House 'they' had destroyed. But Reggie Miller, Gen. Sec. of the GWU, objected claiming that this would deprive Maltese workers of their livelihood!
Dave Alan Caruana
Sep 28th 2012, 12:35
A Trapani :
I guess rebuilding the opera house for 10 million euros would be a LOT more popular than the parliament we're getting for 80 million .. at least actors at the opera put a bit of soul into their performance!
Please choose the reason of your report below: