Egyptian 24

The Egyptian motif for this megaplex is a sight to behold. My relatives love coming here to enjoy the ancient atmosphere from the heiroglyphic wall paper to the enormous sphinxes.

Presentation wise the place is a mixed bag. At times, it can be spectacular especially in the largest auditoriums and then at other times, its underwhelming due mostly to the low sound levels and lack of surround. If you don't feel enveloped watching a movie, then you're not experiencing it the way you should.

What prevents me from coming back regularly is for the fact they do not regularly advertise that they have digital projection movies booked either on their website or in the Washington Post newspaper. Now, when its a 3D Digital movie, its obvious because usually the title is a giveaway. I've called and spoken to someone who didn't know the difference or gave erroneous information. A letter sent to their office yielded a manager response to find out what is showing in #7 and #18; their digital theaters. Bah! Supposedly Muvico was to move to all Sony 4K projection systems, I suspect this has not happened yet as there have been no announcements.

There is an interior photo here:
http://www.gstroop3131.com/muvithon

This theater debuted one of the first RealD digital 3D systems in Maryland (along with Bow Tie Annapolis Mall 11, which was owned by Crown Theatres at the time) when they showed Chicken Little in 2005.

Here is a 2008 photo.

This megaplex is split into two halves. The left side houses auditoriums #1-12 and the right side houses auditoriums #13-24.

I have only been in two of the four largest auditoriums, #13 and #14, which are on the right side of the plex and adjacent to each other. The screen in #23 is quite small for the auditorium's size and will require you to sit closer to the front for best sightlines. Also, the screen in #18 is not a wall to wall screen. So if you are seeing a 3D movie, be sure to get a seat closer to the front for best viewing experience.

Valet parking is available on weekends and holidays. However, I do not how much it costs, as I've never used the service before.

Jodar, I believe only the upcoming Muvico theaters will be getting the Sony 4K projectors--at least initially.

Is there any Egyptian decor in the auditoriums?
I am very impressed by the faded bits of color on the cornice of the facade. In actual Egyptian temples where color survives on the exteriors, this is exactly what you see, and it is typically the red and blue pigments which have survived the ages best. Someone did their homework!

Gary, to be honest, I don't exactly remember. The last movie I saw there was "Happy Feet" in DLP and that particular large auditorium didn't have the Egyptian decor inside. On the other hand, I haven't been in the rest of the 23 to know with certainty. The hallways do carry on the decor though to an extent.

I have to say Muvico's website supremely sucks. I thought I had heard Muvico was looking to open a theatre somewhere closer or actually in DC proper. I'd love a theatre similiar to Rosemont's where all the theatres have 4K Sony digital projection.

Gary, there are Egyptian murals on the side walls at the front of the auditoriums. They're exactly the same on both walls (mirrored on opposite walls). Not sure if they've been placed in all of the auditoriums though.

Giles, the closest Muvico theatres to the DC area are planned for Fredericksburg, VA (Spotsylvania Towne Centre) and East Rutherford, NJ (Meadowlands Xanadu).

I saw "The Nightmare Before Christmas 3D" in auditorium #18 today and the 3D presentation was not that great. I also saw the movie last year at AMC Columbia 14 and 3D projection looked a lot better. Although the sound was better than last year's viewing (especially the surround channels), I did not enjoy the visual experience as much. The 3D didn't seem to pop off the screen as it did at AMC Columbia last year.

This was also the case when I saw "Journey to the Center of the Earth 3D" in the same auditorium earlier this year. I also noticed that an additional charge was not added as it was when I saw "Journey 3D." This time, I was charged standard matinee pricing ($8) instead of the 3D matinee pricing ($11).

The other digital auditorium (#7) is currently showing "High School Musical 3: Senior Year" in DLP.

The total number of seats in #18 is 285. The seat totals are posted at the entrances to the auditoriums.

I forgot to mention in my previous post that there was sound leakage from "Saw V" in the adjacent auditorium. It was only noticeable during the Screenvision pre-show, not during the movie.

a side comment regard MovieTix86's comment on 'Nightmare' of the two presentations I saw last year at AMC Tyson's and Regal Gallery Place, the latter was by far the best presentation I've seen of the 3D version - the imagery was bright, resulting in details I've never noted before, and the 5.1 sound was enveloping and more aggressive than Tyson's presentation, which oddly at one point an audio dropout occured.

Here are some photos.

This theatre is now a Cinemark theatre.

when did that happen? and why?

The theater is still listed under Muvico.

Cinemark bought 4 theatres from Muvico on 3/18/09 so Muvico can avoid bankruptcy. These include the Paradise 24 in Davie, Palace 20 in Boca Raton, Boynton Beach 14 (All in Florida) and the Egyptian in Maryland. Cinemark took over officially on 3/19/09. All Muvico passes and programs are supposed to continue until the end of May, 2009, and employees were offered positions with the new company. (All information from the Miami Herald)

Here is the article about the Cinemark acquisitions: MiamiHerald.com

Hmm. I didn't know this plex was one of the top four performers given that it has no IMAX or deluxe theaters with restaurants that some of the other, newer Muvicos have. I also surmise that we won't be getting the much talked about 4K Sony projectors that the previous chain was to have installed in their theaters.

In a way, this is good that Cinemark is moving into the DC Metro area. More competition for AMC and Regal, the stalwart behemoth chains of this area. While Hanover is quite a large venue, I look forward to their newer plex scheduled to open in southern MD in the not-too-distant future.

As evidenced by the Cinemark Tickets and Showtimes page, this theater is now known as Cinemark Egyptian 24.

Jodar is there a 'new' Muvico opening in soutthern, Maryland, where? I know there's one opening in Virginia in late spring/early summer

No. Cinemark. Its opening near where the new Costo has just opened.

where's the new Costo?

Waldorf, MD. LOL

actually I'm answering my own question - I found out it's Hagerstown Maryland.

Oops, my mistake, its NOT Cinemark but Kerasotes Theatres will open a new 16-plex in the Brandywine Crossing shopping complex where Costco just opened.

Cinemark has installed a DLP system with RealD 3D in auditorium #11. I saw Up 3D in this auditorium, which looked much better than my previous 3D viewings in #18. Like the other large auditoriums in this theater, the sound was good. Auditorium #11 has 483 seats. I have yet to see a 3D film in #7. All three digital auditoriums are currently showing Up 3D.

There is a sign in the box office window notifying patrons about the operator change from Muvico to Cinemark. Another sign tells patrons that the theater will be accepting Muvico passes and gift certificates until May 31 (tomorrow).

All Muvico signage has been removed (except for the logo above the automated ticketing kiosks) and replaced with Cinemark branding. According to the official ticketing web site (http://www.cinemark.com/muvico_showtimes.asp?muvico_id=205), Muvico passes and gift cards will be accepted until September 18.

One of the largest auditoriums is to be converted to large-format Cinemark XD by the end of the year. It seems that Cinemark is trying to compete with the IMAX Digital theatres in the area.

More info and other planned XD locations: Cinemark XD

Comparatively speaking, is this better than IMAX-lite at the AMC's? AMC and IMAX have diluted the IMAX branding with the installs at AMC. Sound is not so great either as the best THX certified theaters deliver better sound. I think twice about patronizing an AMC IMAX-lite presentation unless its a matinee where the price is more reasonable.

Online ticketing has been moved from the Muvico web site to Cinemark.com and Fandango

Cinemark is now showing live and prerecorded events at this theatre via NCM Fathom. The first event shown was "Mayweather vs. Marquez Live in HD".

Saw Astro Boy in #23 (one of the smaller auditoriums), which I enjoyed both presentation and plot-wise.

Cinemark appears to be refurbishing the theatre, as I noticed that the carpeting throughout the theatre seems to have been replaced recently. The carpeting in the auditorium was also replaced. Lower lighting was moved from the top of the steps to the bottom quarter of the side walls.

Good digital presentation of 2012 in auditorium #11 over the weekend. The screen in #11 has side masking, which expanded the screen width to match the film's aspect ratio after the NCM FirstLook pre-show.

Large-format Cinemark XD is in auditorium #12 and has not yet opened.

According to the Cinemark web site and Fandango, the large-format Cinemark XD auditorium (#12) opens Thursday at midnight with The Twilight Saga: New Moon.

I saw The Twilight Saga: New Moon in the Cinemark XD auditorium this weekend.

Auditorium 12 was completely redesigned to be distinguishable from the other auditoriums within the theater. Like most IMAX MPX systems, the auditorium features a ceiling to floor, wall to wall screen. However, the screen is noticeably larger than most IMAX MPX screens (at least compared the local IMAX MPX Digital theaters) as it appeared to fill more of my field of view from the center of the auditorium, which I thought was more immersive. The picture is masked but does fill the width of the screen. The picture quality is similar to any DP system though on a larger screen. What I thought stood out about XD was the sound system - i.e. feeling the rumble of the bass during the action scenes.

Other aspects of the auditorium were also changed. The red seats were replaced with new black leather seats, the walls have new lighting fixtures and red curtains. XD signs have also been added to the outside of the theater and the XD auditorium entrance.

XD pricing is not based on surcharges (like AMC's 3D and IMAX surcharges) but fixed XD admission that applies throughout the day - similar to Regal's IMAX admission, except Regal doesn't charge extra for 3D. Also, like Regal's IMAX admission, Cinemark's XD prices differ by theater. In comparison, AMC has fixed surcharges for Digital 3D and IMAX, which adds on to the applicable AMC admission price (A.M. Cinema, Matinee, Evening, Child, Senior, etc.). Like Regal, AMC does not charge extra for IMAX 3D.

I wanted to see Twilight here in XD, but opted for A Christmas Carol at AMC Colombia 14's IMAX-lite theater. The XD seems to be Xtra Large Digital Projection. I hope to catch it there this holiday weekend.