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

[amethal]

I had a funny incident in a movie I was watching on a train in Sweden. (Kiruna to Gothenberg in a mere 23 hours!)

One of the audience had drunk too much at the train's bar, and passed out during Hannibal. His friends carried him out of the cinema, while the rest of us continued watching the film.

However, when the friends returned the projectionist courteously re-wound the film to the point it had been at when they left. I therefore had the dubious pleasure of an action replay of Anthony Hopkins feeding a guy his own brains.

 

[BOZ]

i almost passed out while watching that scene, but i wasn't drunk.

 

[sniffles]

Meh, when I went to see Kong there were several phone conversations during the film. After the movie was over, I commented on how rude it was to my girlfriend. Someone else responded, "Well, I run a business on mine, so I can't really turn it off."

Well, then don't come to the movies!

I would've wanted to say, "What business is so important it can't wait for 2 hours?" (well, 3 if it was Kong, but you know what I mean). Even doctors get time off occasionally!

My fiancee once had the experience of having the person behind him kick his chair back repeatedly during a movie, then start yelling and cursing at him when he asked her to stop.

When I went to see the most recent Star Wars film, a woman behind us kept chatting loudly to the children with her. Finally one of my female friends, who's usually a very retiring soul, turned around and asked the woman to be quiet. Unfortunately it only worked for a few minutes before she started yakking again. She seemed to be explaining the movie to the kids, although they looked old enough to me to be able to understand it on their own. Even if they hadn't been old enough (in which case they shouldn't have been there) she could have told them she'd explain it later.

I also shared the theatre during Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban with a couple and their young daughter, who looked to be about 4. The little girl never sat down. She wandered up and down the aisle during the entire movie. Then the whole family left about half an hour before the movie finished. I wish I could afford to waste money like that.

And once we sat next to a father with two kids in a crowded theatre. He kept the smaller child in his lap. They were sitting right next to my fiancee, who wasn't very happy about having two people in the seat next to him. When the child started complaining of being ill the father kept shushing him. Finally when the child continued complaining, Dad picked the kids up and left. I can understand that he didn't want to waste the money he spent on tickets and refreshments, but I kept being afraid his kid was going to throw up on my fiancee. :\

 

[jester47]

Glad I wasn't in your place - I hate to think what sort of trouble snatching the phone out of his hand and smashing it up against the theatre wall would have gotten me in.

P.S. to WmRAllen67: It isn't an ethnic thing.

You could join the phone-throwers club with Russell Crowe

 

[jester47]

I think the reason manners at the movies have gotten worse is that as time has gone on theaters have stopped employing ushers. In the past, when someone was disruptive, the usher would usher them out. Since most theaters are on a shoesting budget (duh, lower your consession prices and we might buy some morons) they no longer have the ushers.

One thing you can do is wear a white collared shirt to the cinema, and bring along a MiniMAG lite with a Red Filter.

When someone becomes disruptive, get up, if they are in front of you, move up to their row, and point the light at them inform them they are being a disturbance and politely ask them to leave the theater. If they are in front, go out the door and then turn around and come back. Follow the above instructions. You will be surprised at how many people will think you are a theater official. Ussually the light is enough, but the shirt helps.

Another thing is true- Most people will go to great lengths to avoid a fight. When a phone rings in a theater I stand up, look at the person with the phone, and (if its a dude) say "Put the phone away or we are going to have a talk..." Phone ussually goes away real quick.

People with disruptive kids get a short lecture on parenting.

 

[Sidekick]

Ahh movie madness

Here's a couple of good ones.

I was watching MI:3 at the local cinema in West London (shepard bush for those who know it) & low and behold there was a group of 6 12-13 year oldds in the row behind me. I was to say the least filled with trepidation. Then they spoke - their public school, pre-pubescent, virginal chatter gave me the confidence to turn around to them 10 mintues into the film when the hadn't shut up and give the the SHUSH and the evil eye.

Luckily they still had enough respect for others that they were actually quiet. Generally in London, I deem the risk of geeting abuse back from inner city teens not worth the grief - those London teens sure know how to swear and threaten with the best of them

The only other time I've experienced loads of talking and general ill-placed cheering is during all of the LotR films in opening weekend. Every time I watched them some-one would shout "THERE'S ME!!!!!!" And them and their friends would cheer, but I didn't mind, 'cause they were in Lord of the Rings - you can't knock that.

And coming from Wellington, NZ you kinda have to expect that - many of my friends were extras and did that too

 

[delericho]

I try to go to the cinema at 'odd' times, to get a screening with as few people as possible. Tuesday and Thursday evenings are generally good. (Thursday less so, now that most big movies seem to open on a Thursday.)

I think part of the problem with cell phones is that the availability of them has advanced far faster than the etiquette surrounding correct usage. Fifteen years ago, no-one had a cell phone, and now everyone does. But society has not developed a consensus on when it is and is not acceptable to use them.

Very few people will start a call while in the cinema - after all, they want to watch the film. But if someone calls them, it's another matter. We're conditioned to believe a ringing phone must be answered, so people do. Of course, it doesn't occur to them to either switch of their phones before the film, or to leave the threatre when involved in their call.

Frankly, I'm in favour of cinemas bringing in and using mobile phone jammers. I would pay more for a cinema that did that.

(Incidentally, I have a mobile phone. The only times I switch it off are when I'm in a public performance or when I'm in an area instructing me to do so. But I'm also quite happy to reject an incoming call, if it isn't convenient.)

 

[JoeGKushner]

My last few experiences in the theater have actually been pretty good. The worst one I had was The Two Towers some years ago where I almost beat a mother who decided after being on a cell phone half the movie and her kick kicking me, that I shouldn't have told the child to stop and that if I had a problem with him, I should speak to her, who left several times on the cell phone. Yeah, getting kicked for two hours didn't put me in the mood for her speech. Thank god I didn't beat her silly. Not only would've been bad for the kids to see, but I'd be in jail!

 

[glass]

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).

They could not eat!

I've never understood why people sit in the cinema filling their faces, when (at my local cinema at least), there are four perfectly good restaurants within 200 yd where you could get much better food and drink (and for less money).


glass.

 

[glass]

I was to say the least filled with trepidation. Then they spoke - their public school, pre-pubescent, virginal chatter gave me the confidence to turn around to them 10 mintues into the film when the hadn't shut up and give the the SHUSH and the evil eye.

Luckily they still had enough respect for others that they were actually quiet. Generally in London, I deem the risk of geeting abuse back from inner city teens not worth the grief - those London teens sure know how to swear and threaten with the best of them

Well, you kinda lucked out if they were public school kids; as I understand it, they are very strict about discipline and respect.

If they'd been from a state school, that would have been a whole other kettle of fish.


glass.