The Mathäser is a cinema complex which opened in 2003. It is located half-way between the Hauptbahnhof and Karlsplatz Stachus. They have 14 screens and can seat more that 4,000 movie-goers. Some of the films are shown in the original version (OV), which generally means English. Cinema nr. 6 is the largest one and can seat more than 700 persons.
Mathäser Cinema
Bayerstrasse 5, City Center
U/S-Bahn Karlsplatz
Tel. 089 515651
Website: www.mathaeser.de
Often different versions of the same film are show simultaneously in two different theatres - i.e. one in the original English, and one in badly dubbed German. Unfortunately the English language showings tend to be at awkward times, such as mid-afternoon or very late in the evening. The showings at peak times such as 7 or 8pm are always in German.
This cinema kind of lacks the atmosphere of the Cinema Muenchen or Museum Lichtspiele but the chairs have all the comforts you would expect of a modern cinema. Plenty of leg room and no danger of your view being blocked by the tall bloke sat in front of you.
With the Mathäser being located where it is there are plenty of bars in the immediate neighbourhood if you want a pre- or post-cinema drink. Recommended are Lounge 2 which is actually in the Mathäser complex itself or Annabar on the street opposite.
The good - I saw Matrix Revolutions here recently. I must say that the Mathaeser is very convenient, since you can reserve your tickets online AND choose your seat reservation (reserved up to 30 min prior to movie start). This is better than The Cinema (Nymphemburgstr) since you can only reserve online there, but must show up at least 1 hour in advance to choose your seats - and then you will probably be sitting in a fold down seat with someone's head in front of you. Also, the Stadium seating is VERY nice for petite folks. FInally, the Mathaeser has some very cool bars handy. I sampled the Lounge 2 on the first floor (behind concessions), and it is very cool with water tanks on the walls with bubbles coming up.
The bad - the sound is not comparable to The Cinema. I guess it gets lost in the nice spacious theatre, and the adverts were absolute crap.
Posted by: Bee at November 12, 2003 12:52 PM I went to see Spiderman2 in there recently and the sound was absolutely fantastic. Indeed the whole theater was shaking everytime Doc Ock was approaching...I think soundwise it is comparable if not superior to Cinema. Confortwise, there is not even a doubt, Mathäser is at the top of the game. The show times in English have also been improved and are not anymore exclusively mid-afternoon or late-evening.
Still the choice of movies in O.V. is very small, typically 2 per week. But I guess that if they do business with the O.V. movies, it may improve too.