3D is coming to Sunset Cinema in Pequot Lakes

Sunset Cinema in Pequot Lakes is bringing 3D to the lakes area this summer, just in time for the summer blockbuster season.

The 3D system will be the first in the area and will be up and running in time for the premier of "Shrek Forever After" on May 21.

"We're very excited to bring 3D to Sunset Cinema," said Shane Martin, president of Town Theatres, Inc., which also owns and operates a theater in Forest Lake that has the 3D system. "We're even more excited to be the first theater in the area to bring 3D to life on the big screen. It's a great new way to watch a movie, and it just adds another whole level of fun to the movie going experience."

To show 3D films the theater has had to add a special silver screen, instead of the traditional white screens typically used by theaters, as well as a new lens system for the projector.

The silver screen reflects more light than the white screen does, a component that's important to a 3D presentation. The lens system is used to simultaneously project two images on the screen giving the picture the look and feel of "depth."

The glasses worn by audience members filter the two images separately for each eye so that the right eye views one image and the left eye views the other. With each eye viewing a different image at the same time you get the "3D" effect.

Currently, St. Cloud is the nearest option for a 3D screen.

Sunset Cinema is located off of Highway 371 and County Road 16, about a mile north of downtown Pequot Lakes. Showtimes and information can be found at their Web site at www.thesunsetcinema.com or by calling (218) 568-4341.