Mesmerica 360

Mesmerica was more than a one hour screensaver. And it's not necessary to be a baby boomer high on mushrooms to enjoy it.

Yes, it's New Age. However, you don't have to be a proponent of New Age to take in the panorama of beautiful images and the virtual reality experience.

I also found it very relaxing as you can lie back and absorb the images, the music, and the color. We had no idea what to expect, but seeing it at the planetarium was amazing.

I liked the rhythm of the music and found it a very immersive experience.

I grant you this kind of thing - - obviously, from the reviews - isn't for everyone.

Mesmerica has an interesting concept, combining audio and visual art in a 360° dome projection. However, the execution feels incomplete, and the high price isn't justified.

What I didn't like:

1) The Movie and Price:

The visuals, while beautiful, were repetitive and lacked a storyline or variety. At 50 minutes, it felt too long for this format.

The background music was pleasant but nothing extraordinary. It was relaxing to the point of being sleep-inducing. In fact, I actually fell asleep in the middle of the movie.

I've experienced a similar type of film in another country, and it lasted around 20 to 30 minutes. It had a storyline, visuals with meaning beyond beautiful patterns, and the content was more dynamic. That film was part of an interactive exhibition that included other zones, activities, and artworks. I liked that experience much more! Since the film was part of a broader experience, it felt richer, more engaging, and more diverse. It was far more impactful. Here, however, it's just a short and monotonous experience stretched over too much time. The entire film lacks variety, yet the price is excessive.

2) Organization in Canada, British Columbia:

Check-ins started 45 minutes early, but we weren't allowed into the theater until 5 minutes before the show. This meant standing in a hallway for 40 minutes, which was frustrating and unnecessary. I don't understand the reason for asking people to come so early, and I don't understand why we were not allowed in.

VIPs were let in first, but there should be clear time slots for them to avoid long waits. Plus, all seats are equally good, making the pricing tiers pointless. So, there could be just general admission for all with check-in starting 20 minutes earlier.

Despite the strict no-latecomers rule, the show still started late to accommodate them.

It turns out we spent 2 hours commuting and 45 minutes waiting in line just to watch a show that lasted only 50 minutes. And the movie itself left us a bit disappointed. Overall, the show needs improvements in content, organization, and pricing to truly live up to its potential.

So, our impression was that it is not worth it (time and money spent).

I gotta say, this was pretty disappointing. We spent $220 on tickets for two adults and two seniors. For 40 minutes of so-called entertainment, it was a poor investment. The sound was quiet and mediocre quality at best. All of the marketing videos show a live performance, but they were pre-recorded. The video resolution is something you would expect from a 1990s Windows screensaver. I can't believe this has any rating above a few stars. Don't waste your time. I love the sound of a hangover, but this sounded like the same song was on. Repeat for 40 minutes. I literally fell asleep. It was relaxing, I'll give it back.

If you think this has any value, you're wrong. It's a glorified Windows 98 screensaver with a hippy narrator who says you should be more happy, bro. Look at these 3d pipes, aren't you happy yet? Thanks for paying me $80 and letting me waste hours of your life.

At one point, there were literal bongos and detached 3d pixelated hands of whom I assume was James'. No, it was not as fun as bongos should be.

He said at one point, that people struggle so hard to find happiness in life, but he did it so easily by recording the screensaver and making us pay $80 for it. I will never feel the same about planetariums. Their legacy is forever stained by this hippy garbage.

If you're into visual music, meditation or want a relaxing, restorative experience you'll probably love it. The 360 visuals from various artists are pretty cool. And the music is easy to chill out to.

There is an occasional poetic voice-over by the artist in the opening that invites participants to take a journey into their own mind. Interestingly, the abstract visuals allowed me to project my own meaning onto the experience, The artist's voice is very soothing and encourages participants to forget about their worries and be happy. It worked for me.

It won't take you on a roller coaster ride or a dramatic story, but it's a highly immersive and full of interesting visual spectacles including fractals, tunnels and different virtual worlds.