StarBulletin.com

Jonas Brothers in Hawaii—via the silver screen


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POSTED: Tuesday, February 24, 2009

The new IMAX theater at Regal Entertainment Group's Regal Dole Cannery Stadium 18 multiplex has been operating for awhile, but it will make its IMAX-formatted movie debut Friday to a potentially loud-squealing crowd of young Jonas Brothers fans—and their long-suffering parents.

It's sort of the nowadays version of a parent taking a certain tween-aged columnist to see a certain all-family pop act in real life back in the day. Near the nosebleed section, she and Donny did not get to make eye contact.

It will be the first time since Consolidated Theatres' IMAX Waikiki closed down in 2003, that Oahu will have a second IMAX theater. The first one, opened in 1990, is still operating at the Polynesian Cultural Center in Laie.

“;Jonas Brothers: The 3D Concert Experience,”; will screen in Iwilei for a one-week engagement beginning at 10:30 a.m. Friday.

Tennessee-based Regal officials did not return calls, but in a nationally distributed news release, officials of Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures and IMAX Corp. discussed release of the movie.

“;Seeing the Disney Digital 3D Jonas Brothers film in IMAX 3D is the ultimate way to experience the excitement and exhilaration of the group's sensational 'Burning Up Tour,'”; said Chuck Viane, president of distribution for the Disney unit.

IMAX officials believe the Jonas Bros.' on-screen gig “;will help transport IMAX audiences right on to the stage with the Jonas Brothers and into their high-energy performance,”; said Greg Foster, chairman and president of IMAX Filmed Entertainment.

“;We're delighted to be a part of Disney's next big 3D film, which looks incredible in IMAX 3D.”;

In 2005, Cirque Hawaii moved in to the former IMAX Waikiki location for its high-flying acrobatic act, a la Cirque du Soleil—but the show closed in December of last year.