3D Porn Film at IMAX?

Well, ain't technology grand, a 3D porn film at IMAX, sort of. The film, Sex and Zen 3D: Extreme Ecstasy, has made its long awaited opening in Hong Kong. The tickets for the film are selling fast and there are plenty of theatres that have sold out all of their screen times. In all, some 70% of tickets have been pre-sold. The film is a sequel of sorts to an earlier film, Sex and Zen, which was first screened in 1991 and is still the highest grossing adult film in Hong Kong's history.

The film has a Category III rating for Hong Kong which means that no one under 18 years of age can get in and watch it. However, a Category III rating is not the same as an X rating.

The film is being screened in regular theatres is Hong Kong, but is destined for an IMAX theatre once it hits the shores of Taiwan.

Interestingly, Hong Kong seems to have adopted the Indonesian approach of using famous foreign porn stars to take the lead in a locally produced film. Sex and Zen 3D stars Japanese porn stars Yukiko Suo and Saori Hari. But, it seems a little strange to be following the Indonesian lead as Hong Kong has an "ample" supply of home-grown Hong Kong talent to choose from.

The film itself is based on classic Chinese erotic texts, particularly The Carnal Prayer Mat. According to the executive producer, Stephen Shiu Jr, of the film it is a little more erotic than 9 1/2 Weeks but not nearly as erotic as Tinto Brass' Caligula. Yet, the producers were proactive in preempting any  problems the Singaporean censors might have had with the film by self-editing some 18 minutes out of the version currently screening in Hong Kong.

However, it is likely that the die-hards in Singapore will be able to get a hold of a director's cut of the film which will include all the scenes cut out for public release. So, what are the Singaporeans missing out on? Apparently they will not be seeing scenes including group and oral sex, sadomasochism and anything that links sex and religion.

3D porn films appear to be a growing niche market with Tinto Brass looking at re-doing his classic film, Caligula, in 3D. Not to be outdone, Hustler has also indicated that they are looking at doing a 3D spoof of James Cameron's Avatar as a porn film.

I wonder whether the film will get a screening in Indonesia, or will it just be a pirated DVD version that does a brisk trade on the footpaths with the street-side vendors? There is one thing that I can be sure of, there is no chance of me being able to watch this where I live as there is no theatre in the town in which I live.