THREE hollywood blockbusters will be released in Shenzhen next month, and there will be more than one way to watch them. In addition to standard definition, "Thor" (May 8) will be released in 3D and "Pirates of the Caribbean 4" (May 20) and "Kung Fu Panda 2" (May 28) in both 3D and IMAX.

"Bringing iconic characters to life is something that Marvel Entertainment and Paramount do very well, and we're confident that Thor will also come to life on the IMAX screen," IMAX chief executive officer Richard L. Gelfond said. "This highly-anticipated summer title is tailor-made for the IMAX audience."

The deal marks the continuation of the partnership between IMAX, Paramount and Marvel.

"Thor," the summer's first tentpole, is directed by Kenneth Branagh, produced by Kevin Feige, and stars Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman and Anthony Hopkins.

"Thor," a burly slab of bombastic superhero entertainment, is a universe-rattling spectacle full of sound and fury with a suitably epic design, solid digital effects and a healthy respect for the comic-book lore that turned a mythological Norse god into a founding member of the superhero team known as "The Avengers."

Marvel Studios chief operation officer Tim Connors said: "We're excited to continue our relationship with IMAX following the success we shared on 'Iron Man 2,' and we look forward to fans experiencing the thrill of 'Thor' in the immersive IMAX 3D format."

The Walt Disney Co.'s "Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides" brings back Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow and revives the franchise's original bad guy, Geoffrey Rush. It also adds Penelope Cruz as a beautiful trickster who tangles romantically with Captain Jack and Ian McShane as a fearsome new villain.

The Pirates name has proven itself one of the most lucrative film franchises of the 21st century, taking in a combined total of more than US$2.6 billion in box office returns worldwide. "Pirates of the Caribbean 3" was released in China in June of 2007, in the pre-3D era here. Nonetheless, the movie grossed over 120 million yuan (US$18.3 million).

Chuck Viane, president of distribution, Walt Disney Studios Motion Pictures said: "The incredible performance of our IMAX releases in 2009 and 2010 demonstrated that the combination of IMAX and Disney resonates with moviegoers worldwide. The IMAX Experience adds another level of impact and excitement to a movie, and with these new films, made by some of the industry's most innovative filmmakers, audiences are in for are real treat."

"Kungfu Panda 2" reunites Jack Black with a voice cast that includes Angelina Jolie, Dustin Hoffman, Seth Rogen, Jackie Chan and Lucy Liu. Gary Oldman joins the lineup to provide the voice of a new villain, a peacock who unleashes a deadly new weapon in the ancient Chinese realm that Black's Po and his comrades are sworn to defend.

The 2008 original took in US$630 million worldwide in just two dimensions. But the sequel due out May 26 in North America and May 28 in China will be in 3D, with the extra box-office revenue that generally follows as fans shell out a few dollars more to gain the illusion of depth.

Black said if any action hero deserves the 3D treatment, it's his pudgy panda with the martial-arts moves. He said the 3D action will make "King Fu Panda 2" more of a thrill ride, dropping viewers right into the heart of the battles.

"My feeling is that 3D with the right people, the right artists and technicians flying it, is amazing and definitely enhances the experience for the right movie," Black said. "'Kung Fu Panda 2' will make it more exciting and dynamic and amazing to watch."

Black said he's game to do a third "Kung Fu Panda" movie.

China's box office jumped 64 percent in 2010 to US$1.5 billion and Hollywood studios are ever more keen to get their biggest titles into the market that, with an explosion the sale of premium 3D and IMAX tickets, saw "Avatar" gross more than US$200 million in China alone.

(SD-Agencies)