State-of-the-art cineplex set to open in Thousand Oaks

By Nancy Needham  nancy@theacorn.com

JANN HENDRY/Acorn Newspapers SCHEDULED TO OPEN SOON--Muvico Thousand Oaks 14 at The Oaks mall, the new "digital destination" cinema center, is ready for business. A grand opening is slated for Fri., Feb. 27. Theater D features state-of-the-art Sony 4K digital projection, a sound system with 18 surround-sound speakers and an additional seven speakers behind the screen. It offers 202 extra-large seats. All auditoriums feature stadium seating, so nobody's view will be compromised by a large person sitting in front.

Thousand Oaks residents won't have to drive to Simi Valley or Camarillo to enjoy a movie with stadium seating once the 107,930-square-foot, three-story Muvico Theater opens at The Oaks mall, tentatively on Fri., Feb. 27.

All 14 auditoriums are equipped with Southern California's only Sony 4K ultra-high-definition projection, which means four times the pixels.

More pixels mean clearer pictures. Four auditoriums have 3-D capability.

Premier seating will be available in one all-premier 202-seat theater and two premier balcony seating auditoriums with 136 seats each. Premier seating features large, plush seats with tiny tables for food and alcoholic beverages available from Bogart's Bar and Grill.

Seat reservations can be made in advance for the premier theaters and for three of the general admission auditoriums at www.muvico.com.

Ground level offers access to 11 of the 14 theaters; level two is the premier level, including the bar and restaurant. Level 3 is exclusively for theater operations, with no public access.

Before 4 p.m. general admission seats for adults is $9.50; after 4 p.m. the cost is $11. For seniors age 55 and up and children 12 and under, the cost is $8.50 per ticket for general admission at any time.

For $1 more, movie patrons can have reserved seating that includes a giant screen, leather seating and more legroom in selected theaters.

For those 21 and over, premier admission includes reserved seating and popcorn for $16 before 4 p.m. and $20 after 4 p.m. All 3-D features will cost an extra $3. Premier seats are 74 inches wide: a dividing arm in the middle can go up or down for comfort or to make it into two seats.

Not all seats are the same. Those who aren't tall might find some premier seats in the balcony where the railing cuts across one's sight line to the screen.

Curbside valet parking is available.

The previously publicized child care won't be available when the cinema center opens, according to managing director Cynthia Smith, but Baby Tuesday will offer free admission for children 3 years and under and matinee pricing for parents.

Theater lights will remain on and the sound level will be adjusted with babies in mind, she said. Doors will open at 9:30 a.m. and the movie will start at 10 a.m.

Food choices at Bogart's Bar and Grill include grilled calamari, $8.95; bacon-wrapped dates, $7.95; mini crab cakes, $9.95; seared tuna, $21.95; roasted chicken, $19.95; battered fish tacos, $8.95; and Caesar salad, $8.95. Wine by the glass ranges from $10 to $16. Beer and cocktails are also available.

"We will prepare whatever food people want so that it can go into the theater—we'll cut up a New York steak, whatever the customer wants," said Paul Aciamanda, regional director for the Muvico restaurants.

Traditional movie favorites such as popcorn, soda and candy are available at the quick-meal concession area downstairs, which also offers chicken tenders, popcorn shrimp and pizza.

The theater's theme is turnof-the-century Paris.

The building's main architectural feature is the lobby rotunda space capped by a copper-like dome that Muvico officials said resembles that of the Paris Opera House.

The domed lobby contributed to the delay in opening the theaters, construction project manager Jeff Hicks said.

"The dome's steel was a challenge," he said.