Facing Your Movie Complex : So Many Screens, So Many Choices

Going to the movies isn’t as simple as it used to be.

Theaters have multiplexed across the suburban horizon.

From Universal City to Lancaster, the night skies flicker with no less than 21 different complexes. Imagine dozens of Sylvester Stallones pulling the trigger all at once.

The result can be dizzying. Which theaters are cheapest? Which ones have THX sound? When are the matinees? So many choices.

But variety is not always the spice of life.

It’s no secret that movie houses have lost their soul. No more stylish marquees or grand lobbies. No more panoramic screens. At least not around here.

Instead, modern theaters have transmuted to blend with their tract neighborhood. They stand boxy and stamp-cut with smallish rooms and smaller screens.

And this new breed seems to evolve exponentially. The Pacific 4 begets the Mann 8, which begets the Burbank 14, which begets the Universal City 18. The family resemblance is striking. Flat faces and pale color. The architecture of right angles.

So we ventured forth in search of glimmers, glimpses of originality. Or simply a way to discern one theater from another. The Movies 12 in Lancaster sells pickles for a dollar at the snack bar. The United Artists complex in Granada Hills plays old rock ‘n roll tunes before each show.

We hoped for simple comforts and conveniences. Is the parking free? Is the popcorn fresh? Do the chairs have cup holders?

And we discovered more than a few pitfalls. The lobby at the General Cinema Corp. Northridge can turn as noisy and smoky as a high school playground on Friday nights. If you go to the women’s room at the Century 7 in North Hollywood, it wouldn’t be a bad idea to bring your own toilet paper.

No one promised it would be pretty. Consider this a basic guide to surviving Valley cinemas. Use at your own risk.

Charge It AMC: (310) 289-4AMC Cineplex Odeon: (213) 779-CINE General Cinema: (213) 480-3232 Mann: (310) 289-Mann Pacific: (213) 757-4-PAC

Prime Seats

General Cinema offers preferred seats at some showings for $1 extra. Ushers rope off the middle section of the theater for customers who order in advance over the telephone charge line. *THEATER / SCREENS: AMC Burbank 14 (14), 140 E. Palm Ave., (818) 953-9800 PRICE: $6.75 Adult; $3.50 Child;$3.50 Senior MATINEES: Daily $4.75 before 4 p.m.; $3.50 4-6 p.m. POPCORN: $2-$3.75 freshly popped SOFT DRINKS: $2-$3 CANDY: 75-$2 EXOTICA: Pizza, soft pretzel bits SOUND: All Dolby BEST: Nearby restaurants and night life. WORST: Long snack lines. *THEATER / SCREENS: AMC Media Center 4 (4), 201 E. Magnolia Blvd., Burbank, (818) 953-9800 PRICE: $6.75 Adult; $3.50 Child; $3.50 Senior MATINEES: Daily: $4.75 before 4 p.m.; $3.50 4-6 p.m. POPCORN: 2-$3.75 freshly popped SOFT DRINKS: $2-$3 CANDY: 75-$2 EXOTICA: None SOUND: All Ultra BEST: Next door to IKEA WORST: Claustrophobic

Prime Seats

THEATER / SCREENS: Century 7 (7), 12827 Victory Blvd., North Hollywood, (818) 508-6004 PRICE: $6.75 Adult; $3.75 Child; $3.50 Senior MATINEES: $3.75, Mon.-Fri. before 5:45 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., before 2 p.m. POPCORN: $1.90-$3.49 freshly popped; real butter SOFT DRINKS: $1.65-$2.75 CANDY: $1.50-$1.99 EXOTICA: None SOUND: Not Available BEST: Video arcade for the kids. WORST: Shabby restrooms *THEATER / SCREENS: Cinemark Movies 12 (12), 44790 Valley Central Way, Lancaster, (805) 945-3887 PRICE: $5.50 Adult; $3 Child; $3 Senior MATINEES: $2 all day Tues. $3 daily before 6 p.m. POPCORN: $1.35-$3.25 freshly popped SOFT DRINKS: $1.35-$2.25 CANDY: $1.25-$1.75 EXOTICA: Pickles SOUND: 2 THX 10 Dolby. BEST: Efficient snack lines; comfortable seats. WORST: Harsh decor. *THEATER / SCREENS: Cinemark Movies 8 (8), 2210 E. Palmdale Ave., Palmdale (805) 274-0284 PRICE: $5.50 Adult; $3 Child; $3 Senior MATINEES: $2 all day Tues., $3 daily before 6 p.m. POPCORN: $1.35-$3.25 freshly popped SOFT DRINKS: $1.35-$2.25 CANDY: $1.25-$1.75 EXOTICA: Pickles SOUND: All Dolby BEST: Efficient snack lines; friendly personnel WORST: Sound leaks between theaters. *THEATER / SCREENS: Cinemark Movies 5-7 (3), 43943 15th St. West, Lancaster (805) 945-0888 PRICE: $5.50 Adult; $3 Child; $3 Senior MATINEES: $2 all day Tues., $3 daily before 6 p.m. POPCORN: $1.35-$3.25 freshly popped SOFT DRINKS: $1.35-$2.25 CANDY: $1.25-$1.75 EXOTICA: Pickles SOUND: All Dolby BEST: Friendly personnel. WORST: Slow-moving snack lines. *THEATER / SCREENS: Edwards Valencia 10 (10), Town Center Mall, 24201 W. Valencia Blvd., (805) 287-1740 PRICE: $6.75 Adult; $3.75 Child; $3.75 Senior MATINEES: $3.75 before 6 p.m. and all day Tues. POPCORN: $1.80-$2.95 freshly popped real butter SOFT DRINKS: $1.75-$2.75 CANDY: $1.45-$2.50 EXOTICA: Pizza, cakes, espresso & sandwiches SOUND: All Dolby BEST: Edwards Cafe with fountains, umbrellas & carousel. WORST: Slow-moving lines. *THEATER / SCREENS: Fallbrook General Cinema (7), Fallbrook Mall, 6733 Fallbrook Ave., (818) 347-6091 PRICE: $7 Adult; $4 Child; $4 Senior MATINEES: $4 Mon.-Fri. before 6 p.m.; Sat. & Sun., first show only POPCORN: $2-$4 SOFT DRINKS: $2-$3 CANDY: $1.25-$2.25 EXOTICA: None SOUND: 1 Dolby 1 THX BEST: Nearby restaurants. WORST: Long outdoor lines. *THEATER / SCREENS: Granada Hills UA (7), 10801 Zelzah Ave. (818) 366-0032 PRICE: $7 Adult; $4 Child; $4 Senior MATINEES: $4 first two shows daily POPCORN: $1.75-$3.75 freshly popped SOFT DRINKS: $1.75-$2.75 CANDY: $1.25-$2.25 EXOTICA: Bottled water SOUND: 2 Dolby 1 THX BEST: Lines move quickly. WORST: Parking lot crowded on weekends. *THEATER / SCREENS: Mann 8 (8), 29045 Agoura Road, Agoura Hills (818) 707-9966 PRICE: $7.50 Adult; $4 Child; $4 Senior MATINEES: $4 daily before 6 p.m. POPCORN: $2.25-$3.75 SOFT DRINKS: $1.85-$3 CANDY: 75-$2 EXOTICA: Bottled water, fruit juice coolers SOUND: All THX & Audex BEST: Johnny Rockets and Ben & Jerry’s nearby. WORST: Upstairs restrooms. *THEATER / SCREENS: Mann 10 (10), 23415 Cinema Drive, Valencia (805) 255-3966 PRICE: $6.75 Adult; $3.75 Child; $3.75 Senior MATINEES: $3.75 daily before 6 p.m. POPCORN: $2.25-$3.75 freshly popped SOFT DRINKS: $1.85-$3 CANDY: 75-$2 EXOTICA: None SOUND: All Dolby BEST: Lines move quickly; restaurants nearby. WORST: Parking lot behind theater is poorly lighted. *THEATER / SCREENS: Mann Valley West (6), 18632 Ventura Blvd., Tarzana (818) 996-1300 PRICE: $7 Adult; $4 Child; $4 Senior MATINEES: $4 daily before 6 p.m. POPCORN: $2.25-$3.75 freshly popped SOFT DRINKS: $1.85-$3 CANDY: 75-$2 EXOTICA: None SOUND: All Dolby BEST: Tempo Records next door. WORST: Dirty, cluttered lobby *THEATER / SCREENS: Northridge General Cinema (3), Northridge Fashion Center, 9301 Tampa Ave., (818) 993-0111 PRICE: $6.50 Adult; $3.75 Child; $3.75 Senior MATINEES: $3.75 Mon.-Fri. before 6 p.m.; Sat. & Sun. first show only POPCORN: $2-$4 freshly popped SOFT DRINKS: $2-$3 CANDY: $1.25-$2.25 EXOTICA: None SOUND: 1 Dolby BEST: Inside Northridge Fashion Center. WORST: Snack line is a disaster. *THEATER / SCREENS: Pacific 4 (4), Sherman Oaks Galleria, 15301 Ventura Blvd., (818) 990-4140 PRICE: $6.75 Adult; $3.75 Child; $3.50 Senior MATINEES: $3.75 first three show daily POPCORN: $1.75-$3.25 real butter SOFT DRINKS: $1.60-$2.75 CANDY: $1.25-$2.40 EXOTICA: None SOUND: All Dolby BEST: Snack lines move quickly. WORST: Long walk from parking lot to theater. *THEATER / SCREENS: Pacific Antelope Valley 10 (10), Antelope Valley Mall, 1247 W. Ave. P, Palmdale (805) 267-4940 PRICE: $5.50 Adult; $3 Child; $3 Senior MATINEES: $3 daily before 6 p.m., $2 all day Tues. POPCORN: $1.75-$3.25 freshly popped real butter SOFT DRINKS: $1.75-$2.75 CANDY: $1.30-$2.10 EXOTICA: None SOUND: All Dolby BEST: Classy presentation and pleasant surroundings. WORST: Nothing. *THEATER / SCREENS: Pacific Northridge (6), 19401 Parthenia St., (818) 993-1711 PRICE: $6.75 Adult; $3.75 Child; $3.50 Senior MATINEES: $3.75 first two shows daily POPCORN: $1.75-$3.25 real butter SOFT DRINKS: $1.60-$2.75 CANDY: $1.25-$2.40 EXOTICA: None SOUND: All Dolby BEST: Concierge-like “patron assistant” on hand. WORST: Not enough trailers. *THEATER / SCREENS: Pacific Topanga (3), 6360 Topanga Canyon Blvd., (818) 883-3300 PRICE: $6.75 Adult; $3.75 Child; $3.50 Senior MATINEES: $3.75 first two shows daily POPCORN: $1.75-$3.25 real butter SOFT DRINKS: $1.60-$2.75 CANDY: $1.25-$2.40 EXOTICA: Premium Ice cream; bottled water SOUND: All Dolby BEST: Large rooms with high ceilings; lines move quickly. WORST: Ugly lobby carpet. *THEATER / SCREENS: Sherman Oaks General Cinema (5), 4500 Van Nuys Blvd., (818) 986-9660 PRICE: $7 Adult; $4 Child; $4 Senior MATINEES: $4 Mon.-Fri. before 6 p.m., Sat. & Sun. first show only POPCORN: $2-$4 freshly popped SOFT DRINKS: $2-$3 CANDY: $1.75-$2.25 EXOTICA: None SOUND: 2 THX Dolby 1 Dolby BEST: Easy freeway access. WORST: Crowded lobby. *THEATER / SCREENS: Universal City 18 (18), 100 Universal City Plaza, Universal City, (818) 508-0588 PRICE: $7.50 Adult; $4 Child; $4 Senior MATINEES: $3.75 Mon.-Thu. before 6 p.m.; Fri.-Sun., first show only POPCORN: $2.50-$3 freshly popped SOFT DRINKS: $1.75-$2.25 CANDY: $1-$2.75 EXOTICA: Pizza SOUND: 10 Dolby 8 THX Dolby BEST: 18 screens to choose from. WORST: Finding your screen. *THEATER / SCREENS: Valley Plaza UA (6), 6355 Bellingham Ave., North Hollywood, (818) 766-4317 PRICE: $7 Adult; $4 Child; $4 Senior MATINEES: $4 first two shows daily POPCORN: $1.75-$3.75 freshly popped SOFT DRINKS: $1.75-$2.75 CANDY: $1.25-$2.75 EXOTICA: None SOUND: All Dolby BEST: Record shop across the street WORST: Bad sound in some rooms. *THEATER / SCREENS: Warner Center UA (6), 6030 Canoga Ave., Woodland Hills, (818) 999-2130 PRICE: $7 Adult; $4 Child; $4 Senior MATINEES: $4 first two shows daily POPCORN: $1.75-$3.75 freshly popped SOFT DRINKS: $1.75-$2.75 CANDY: $1.25-$2.25 EXOTICA: Premium Ice cream; bottled water SOUND: 2 THX Dolby BEST: A tree grows in Warner Center (in front of the box office). WORST: Long, slow snack lines; limited parking.