Liked the movie-- hated going to see it...

[Imruphel]

My experiences in Singapore are much the same as what you have mentioned here.

Despite all of the government "courtesy campaigns" (I am not kidding you), cinema audiences here are profoundly ill-mannered and ignorant. Cellphones (aka handphones) and talking during the movie are de rigeur.

Of course, this is also a country where the best place for a cyclist to avoid pedestrians is on the pedestrian-only path that runs parallel two metres away from the bike path so let's just say that Great Leader and Dear Leader still have some work to do when it comes to inculcating good manners and common sense....

 

[Morrus]

I don't have those sorts of problems. However, I find it very hard to sit in a cinema seat for 2 hours. After an hour or so, I'm looking at my watch, which kind of detracts from the moviegoing experience.

 

[Nac_Mac_Feegle]

I think were all just getting old, we value our free time more, because its so rare, we notice when people interrupt it.

I have a slight advanatge in that I have a very intimidating look because I have large eyebrows, and an almost constant look of being p****d off (according to the wife) so when I look over my shoulder and say "SSHHH" they tend to sshh, and if not I stand up and tell them to be quiet, usually loud enough for everyone else to see what I am doing, amazing how many people bottle it when the entire audince is staring at them.

Of course in england, we are still quite conservative, so its tends to be the young who are mouthy in cinemas, at can be intimidated quite well when someone actually stands up to them.

Feegle Out

 

[glass]

More recently, I had something of the opposite happen--I went to a show on a non-holiday Friday afternoon and was completely alone in the theater. Hardly knew what to do.

I love it when that happens!

Actually, it's only happened to me the once, but it has been me and one or two others a fair few times. Especially back when I was a full time student, and went to matinees a lot. These days I don't go to the cinema nearly so much, partly I have to go when everyone else is there.

Although I did see M:I:III yesterday afternoon.


glass.

 

[buzzard]

Went to see United 93 this past Sunday (great movie BTW) and I don't recall this happening before, but an usher at the start of the movie came in and requested that everyone turn off their cell phones. I already liked that theatre because they put real butter on their popcorn. This is just another nice feature of the establishment.

buzzard

 

[Nyaricus]

Well, piping up for some of the younger folks at theaters, I personally try to never talk during films - except at those WOW moments where everyone is muttering the same thing.

But here in Winnipeg, there are tons of idiot teens. It's actually pretty funny, becasue I'm a metalhead and look pretty intimidating, and a lot of peoepl sometimes give me funny looks like I'm "trouble" or something, and yet I'm usually one of the first who'd stand up and say "TURN OFF YOUR CELL PHONE" to the jerk who, ahem, "forgot" to turn it off. I can't stand putting up with that crap - it's so disrespectful and disruptive.

And yet the odd looks continue...

 

[gray stranger]

I Hate it when people talk during movies, or go like 'IEEEEH' or 'OEEH' during key moments, I also dislike it when there's far too much popcorn/chips/crackers in the cinema and you hear CRUNCH all the time (not that the people can do much about that, but meh)

I've never witnessed the cellphone incident, and I'm glad I haven't

 

[Treebore]

I've been pretty lucky the vast majority of the time.

Of course back in my early Navy days I was one of those loud mouthed jerks that were way too noisy in Rocky 3 (or was that 2? Whichever one had the russian dude). I made the mistake of getting drunk in the nearby bar while waiting for the showing that we got tickets to. Nearly got in a fight that day with a guy who didn't appreciate my drunken enthusiasm.

So I don't drink alcohol before I go to the theatre anymore. Course I don't drink much alcohol anymore. Haven't been drunk in at least 10 years. I just go for the "relaxed buzz" stage and just try and stay there.

 

[Starman]

I went to see Inside Man a few weeks ago with my brother. Their were two old ladies sitting behind us and we had to endure loud comments during the whole movie. Things like:

"I really like Denzel Washington."
"He has such a great smile."

"I really like New York."

"He's not very nice."

"What did he just say?" followed, of course, by a repeat of the last five minutes of dialogue

"What just happened?" followed, of course, by an explanation of the entire movie

It was very aggravating to say the least. The only time I've ever been that mad at old people is when they've nearly killed me while driving, but that's another rant.

 

[horacethegrey]

Well where I live people don't get away with such rudeness in a theater. Folks here are pretty respectful, but on occasion we do get some occasional wankers, especially those jerks without any damn sense to shut off their friggin phone while the movies is playing.

BTW, I can relate to those who had troubles while watching Narnia. Though my experience was a bit different, in that my friend who was seated beside me kept on asking me questions while I was watching! :\ It got to the point that I just couldn't take it anymore, so on the occasion he queried me whether the White Witch was the antagonist I said to him, "Dude, watch the movie."