HONG KONG (AFP) -- Movie-goers flocked to see what is billed as the world’s first 3-D porn film as it opened to packed cinemas across Hong Kong on Thursday, with some screenings selling out completely.

Loosely based on a piece of classical Chinese erotic literature, the $3.2-million Cantonese-language movie “3-D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy“ features orgies, swinging and some very graphic sex scenes.

Curious movie-goers from all walks of life -- office workers, retirees and students -- formed long queues outside cinemas in the southern Chinese city, eager to catch an eyeful of steamy 3-D action.

Many in the crowd were women and were not shy about watching the movie.

“I’m not normally much of a movie-goer, but this one is just too good to miss,” 32-year-old Justin Lai told AFP as she waited at a cinema in Causeway Bay, one of the city’s busiest entertainment districts.

College student Yan Shek, 21, was also among the first to see the movie in a morning screening. The 113-minute film has been rated Category III in Hong Kong, which bars anyone under 18 from watching it.

Set in the Ming dynasty, the film chronicles the story of a young man who, after being introduced to the erotic world of an aristocrat, realizes his ex-wife is the love of his life.

The film stars Japanese adult actresses Yukiko Suo and Saori Hara.

The movie will open in Taiwan on Friday and has sparked strong interest in many Asian markets, including Japan and South Korea, as well Europe and the United States, according to the producer.

Travel operators were reportedly organizing moviegoing excursions to Hong Kong and Taiwan for tourists from mainland China, where strict censorship rules prevent any screening of the film.

South China Morning Post film critic Paul Fonoroff was left rather underwhelmed by the romp, describing it in a review as over-long, one-dimensional and short on real passion.

“Perhaps the most ironic element is the script’s ostensible moral that sincere love is more satisfying than wanton promiscuity, a concept which, if truly put into practice, would cause ticket sales to go flaccid,” he wrote.

The movie is a remake of the 1991 film “Sex and Zen”, which is still the highest-grossing Hong Kong adult movie of all time.

“3-D Sex and Zen: Extreme Ecstasy” opens ahead of reported plans by other filmmakers to produce similar 3-D porn movies.

Italian director Tinto Brass has announced he is to produce a 3-D remake of his 1979 erotic film Caligula, while Hustler plans to release a pornographic spoof of 3-D science fiction film Avatar, the top-grossing movie of all time.

<한글 요약>

세계 첫 3D 성인영화 홍콩서 개봉

세계 첫 3D 성인영화가 목요일 홍콩에서 개봉했다. 많은 사람들의 주목을 받고 있는 이 영화는 바로 홍콩 고전 에로티시즘을 대표하는 ‘옥보단’이다.

고전 성인영화의 3D 개봉 첫날 관람객들이 영화관 밖에 긴 줄로 늘어설 정도였으며, 관람객들은 회사원, 은퇴자, 학생들까지 다양한 사람들로 이루어졌다.

또한, 관람객들 사이에서는 여성도 많았으며 그들은 성인영화를 보러 왔다고 부끄러워하지 않았다.

32세 여성 저스틴 라이는 AFP 통신과의 인터뷰에서 평소 때는 영화를 많이 보러 오지 않지만 이번 것은 놓치기에는 너무 아까운 영화라고 말했다. 21세 대학생 얀 쉑은 아침 첫 영화를 보러 온 첫 번째 관객이었다. 그녀는 “매우 궁금합니다. 성인영화가 영화관에서 개봉하기는 처음인데 매우 흥미롭습니다.” 라고 소감을 말했다. 옥보단 3D는 홍콩에서 18세 미만은 관람 불가인 3등급을 받았다.

다른 관객은 영화를 보기 위해 직장에서 몰래 나왔다고까지 말했다. 데이비드라고 이름을 밝힌 그는 개봉 첫날 첫 상영을 보게 되었는데 친구들 중 처음 보는 것 이라고 말했다.

옥보단 3D는 일본 성인영화계의 스타 하라 사오리와 유키코 수오가 주연을 맡았으며, 한국에서는 5월 12일 개봉할 예정이다.