The horror! The horror! A rant about morons at the movies. (1 Viewer)

[Charles Zammit]

A funny story I have is, that on our first date, my girlfriend (who is now my wife) had this guy who kept talking and ringing his friends to tell them that he was at the movies!! BIG NEWS! Not to mention body coughing etc.
Anyway, he had his feet on the armrest next to her, so she tied his shoelaces to the seat! He didn't notice because he was too busy talking.
At the end, he went to stand up and fell over! He was incredulous as to how it happened. Needless to say, my wife and I still get a laugh out of it.

 

[Kimmo Jaskari]

Both in Finland and Sweden when I've been to the movies there have been short movies at the start of the actual feature to make people turn their cellphones off. I remember one especially, a nicely done little short movie where a vampire is about to bite a young lady in the neck and suddenly a cell phone ringing is heard. The vampire gets distracted and starts looking around etc and turns to the audience and tells them to make sure to turn off their cell phones.
Still, that won't work for the truly inconsiderate. I really do feel cell phone jammers is a good idea for theaters. Inconvenience for on-call doctors etc I really don't care about; let them rent their movies while they are on call!
------------------
/Kimmo

 

[John Thomas]

quote: I don't know about Toronto but in America, you never know who you're messin with. You never know just how crazy that other guy is or who he's with[/quote]
Ah yes, for example, one of the HTFers here, who carried a concealed weapon into a theater and eventually got into a fight with a local poice officer.
Sheesh.
------------------
Link Removed My Top 10 of 2000 My Top 10 of 2001
[Edited last by John Thomas on August 31, 2001 at 06:05 AM]

 

[Matt_Stevens]

Many years ago a Showcase in North Haven CT had a pretty bad incident because somebody decided to tell the person in front of him to shut up. The guy turned around and shot him. The victim lived, thank God.
As a result of that incident, the theater stopped showing, what THEY called, "Black" films, because every time they did, there were fights, stabbings, riots, seats ripped, soda thrown at the screen, etc. etc. Most of this behavior was due t teenagers who should not have been allowed in to begin with. After numerous Gansta rap type films went unplayed, the theater was accused of racism, so they had to cave. Now they have a shitload of security every time a so-called "black" film is shown AND, they finally CARD the kids. That right there cuts down on stupidity in R rated films. It also cuts down on the grosses.
I knew one of the managers at the time of the incident and he would dread getting the gansta rap films, because there would be just one assault after another.
What this says to me is that our society has pretty much fallen apart. I actually skipped mostof the films this Summer. Most because they were going to stink, but some because I knew I would just get pissed off at the presentation, or the idiots in the theater, who are from all walks of life and all colors.

------------------
www.deceptions.net/superman

 

[Bob McLaughlin]

EVERY time I have gone to a movie theater in the past few years, it has been a negative experience: either the film itself is bad, the sound is bad, the projection is too high/low/out of focus, and of course the lovely audience members...well, you know.
I believe that it is not a coincidence that I am more sensitive to these issues since having a home theater. Once you see how good a quality, peaceful movie experience can be, it's hard to go back.
What I would like to see is ENFORCEMENT on the part of the movie theater's staff. If people were thrown out for disrupting the movie, then those obnoxious boobs would just have to go somewhere else.
I would gladly pay a premium price for a guaranteed excellent movie experience: good sound, good picture, quiet audience, and a security staff. Anyone out there want to start a business?

 

[Steve Zatkoff]

I remember a time when the theater was patroled by an usher and you would get a flashlight waved in your face and told to be quiet or remove your feet more the seat. I don't understand why this has stopped? I don't think they need to employ someone to babysit each theater, but having a couple or people doing a random sweep would probably help.

 

[Todd Hochard]

I think the problem is even more fundamental than that. Things in the culture have degraded to the point where too many people simply have no shame about various things, such as being rude in public.

Hey! You don't know me! F**K you! There is no way I'm going to...hold on... Hello?

I couldn't agree more. From driving, to theaters, to live performances, to my dumbass neighbor working on his old Mustang at 11pm the other night (no exhaust!!).
Courtesy seems a lost cause. How did we get here?
Todd

 

[andrew markworthy]

FWIW, we get exactly the same problems in the UK. I know this sounds fanciful, but I think that since colour TV has become widely available and we know that a movie will be out on DVD/VHS a few months after its been in theaters, cinemas have lost the aura of magic they once had, and the hard of thinking of this world simply see a movie theater as an extension of watchign TV at home.
To avoid the company of morons, I always go to the earliest screening of the day. Often there's nobody else there and you get to watch a film without cretins drowning out the dialogue laughing at a joke you got half a minute earlier, etc.
The only revenge I've ever got on mobile phone users was when I was interviewed by BBC radio about the psychology of phone use (I'm a psychology professor and get asked to do weird stuff like this). I was asked why people like speaking in loud voices on the phone in cinemas, restaurants, etc. On the spur of the moment I hypothesised that over-use of mobile phones indicated severe sexual inadequacy and that users are compensating for being lousy in bed. I don't think it had any effect (and alas I doubt there's any truth in it) but boy it felt good.

 

[Brian_J]

Anybody else get pissed off during Jurassic Park III when the cell phone went off...only to figure out that it was part of the movie?
But the things that totally ruin a movie for me:
1. Baby and small children in R rated film. Where are social workers when you need them?
2. Teenagers in back rows of theater gabbing away. I recently threatened several recently by the way (at Planet of the Apes). I was seriously enraged. I think we need a new term like "road rage" for movie theaters.
3. Cell phones.
4. People who think I want to listen to there own personal commentaries. Like "Damn girl, why you doin that?" or "Dont get with that skank ho!"
5. Improperly framed movies.
6. Poor sound systems.
The latter two are the easiest to deal with.
Later,
Brian
------------------
Zed's Dead Baby...

 

[Timmy]

Public embarrasment works every time I have used it. I have always received support from the other movie go-ers; usually in the form of applause or shouts of "yea".
Since I am not weak, I will not just sit there and be a well manor'd victim.
One time only have I had a real problem with speaking up. An arse behind me reacted badly to my complaining of his constant kicking of my seat; saying he'd see me after the movie. I got up and notified the manager about the incident; especially relaying the "threat" after the movie. The Manager and two ushers escorted out the arse (and his ugly girlfriend/wife), banning him from the premisis and told me they notified the police asking them to make a presence as the show was letting out. He gave me free passes too !!! It was nightfall by the time the movie was over. I didn't notice any police, but left feeling good that I had dealt with the situation.
I believe this bad behavior is on the rise because no one confronts these "types" anymore.
Risky on my part? Probably; but I refuse to be a quiet, well manored vicitm.

 

[Keith_R]

I guess I can consider myself lucky because I rarely have problems like this. One time though at "Pearl Harbor" there was a guy that looked a lot like Carrot Top who acted like a jerk through the movie. I just tried to ignore him. Rarely though do I have these kind of problems.
-Keith-

 

[ryan_m]

Now you kind of expect teenagers to be annoying and talk at the movies but when I saw Swordfish this summer I had to tell a group of senior citizens (who were atleast 60yrs old) to be quiet. First they came in late so they couldn't see each other and were like "where are ya bob", "I'm right here Betty" and OF COURSE they sit right behind me. They take about a minute to get settled in (this is during Travolta's monologue in the beginning) and then the old one person doesn't understand what's going on so they constantly ask the person they're with what's going on thing took place. THEN when the topless Halle Berry scene happened the 3rd person they were with got disgusted (loudly) and walked out (loudly) while the other two discussed it. So I couldn't take it any more and had to tell them to shut up (though I did it in a nice but you're really annoying me kinda way). I really hope they felt pretty lame that they had to be shushed by a young person.
I really think people need to speak up and tell people to shut it at the movies though I guess I understand not doing it. I usually just judge it by what I perceive the person to be like. You can USUALLY tell if they are going to be the type to actually start something with you.
I really think theaters need to pay people to patrol the theaters. Like one person could watch after like 4-6 theaters. Most theaters aren't more than like 24 screens so that's only about 6 people. And even if they're minimum wage earning teenagers, it's better than nothing.
After going to movies during the day for so long now, I just can't imagine what it's like at NIGHT when the theater is crowded. Like the subject says, THE HORROR!!

 

[Chris Beveridge]

After my wife had our firstborn (now 18 months old), we pretty stopped going to movies for awhile. Now we only go maybe once or twice a month, always Sunday matinees. And we never bring our daughter. Ever. Won't happen.
When I'm on call, I don't go to the movies. If your job is a situation where you're likely to be called, don't go to the movies or to places where you'll distract people while being on call. It's part of the gig.
I have a cell phone as well. It never enters the theater with me when I go, but sits in my glove compartment.
On behalf of others like me, all I want to say is that we do try Not all of us with babies, pagers and cellular phones are assholes. (not that I think anyone said that)
------------------
Chris Beveridge
Webmaster, www.animeondvd.com
Animation and stories for those who like to think outside of the Disney box

 

[Dwayne]

I completely sympathize with this post. The absolute worst experience for me was going to see The Exorcist: TVYNS. It was disgustingly horrid. I talked to the manager afterwards and suggested that he should send in ushers every fifteen minutes or so just to keep an eye on things. He issued two passes for my girlfriend and I.
It's just incredibly ironic that the true lovers of cinema are being outnumbered by the inconsiderate degenerates that frequent the local theaters. Who's raising these people?
------------------
-Dwayne
"And vidi films I would."

 

[Mark Cappelletty]

I'll agree that most of Los Angeles isn't that bad for movies-- in particular, misframed picture and/or messed-up sound (like when I saw "The Deep End" in Manhattan Beach last week) is usually dealt with by angry audience members venting their frustration at the theater owner and fast.
Impolite people, on the other hand, have to be dealt with. The last "crazy guy" I ran into was at a screening of -- of all things -- "Requiem For a Dream" at an art-house theater in Santa Monica. Apparently this beefy guy sat down in front a shorter person and when the short guy asked Beef to move over, Beef reacted badly and began haranguing this poor bastard. I went and got the manager, who dealt with the situation.
Worst was sitting through "Pitch Black" in Redondo Beach. A woman and her thuggish gangsta boyfriend brought the whole extended family -- all kids -- into the show. Naturally, as the movie is scary as hell, the kids started crying. Mom and her idiot beau didn't seem to give a good goddamn. If you either can't or won't get a babysitter, don't go to the damn movie.
That's why I like paying the extra buck to take in a matinee at The Bridge in Westchester. The theater is comfortable, the screens huge, the sound great-- and the management is so concerned about their patrons that any problems are likely to be dealt with (I'm gathering; I haven't had any problems with the three films I've seen there) harshly.

 

[andrew markworthy]

I would be very very careful about complaining directly to someone in a movie theater, since you don't know how violent they might be. I've always been very careful about this type of thing since an incident about 15 years ago. I'd just moved into a new apartment and the phone hadn't been connected. Luckily, there was a public phone booth nearby, and waiting to make a call, a guy pushed in front of me. I started to protest, and then saw the look on his face, and thought better of it. I'm no coward, but the phrase 'psycho' immediately came to mind. He finished his call and then I took my turn. A couple of days later, this guy did the same thing with someone else at the same phone booth and the man he pushed in front of *did* protest. He was stabbed to death.
The moral of this is - unless you are really certain that you know how potentially dangerous the situation is (and how easy is it to tell this in a dark theater?) then either move or call the management - they are paid to deal with awkward customers. It's just not worth the risk.

 

[Kimmo Jaskari]

The most annoying thing about these inconsiderate people is the fact that sharing the movie with an audience can and often does improve on the experience. Comedies, especially; that sense of shared fun when the entire theatre erupts in laughter does add a great deal that you don't get when you are at home, no matter how nice your gear.
Fortunately, gun and weapon control laws and traditions in this part of the world are much more restrictive than in the US so the likelyhood of running into a psycho with a gun is far reduced... but even so, it's uncomfortable having to shout at people to shut up, especially to us shy and introverted scandinavians.

------------------
/Kimmo

 

[Gui A]

Aaron, I stopped going to the movies on tuesdays a long time ago. low prices tend to bring the wrong kind of crowd. if you want affordable movies, try the eglinton town centre, west of victoria park. if you're a student, they only charge 7.50 with ID (any kind- college, high school).
... i watched apocalypse now:redux at the paramount imax, and ten minutes before the film started, this guy brings his kids in with him, they looked to be 10 and 8. i was afraid they would start crying during the movie, but luckily for me and everyone else, they fell asleep with about an hour to go.

 

[Patrick McCart]

I think we need that device from "Stay Tuned"...
SILENCER OF THE LAMBS!
Heh heh...
I see some jerks at the theater I work at, sometimes. One time, this man yelled at the theater manager for showing Scary Movie and he was disgusted at it....
Why? HE BROUGHT HIS KIDS TO SEE THE MOVIE! The manager kindly told Mr. Jerk about the nice posters, signs, and ads for the movie that all show the movie is rated R. He walked out obviously embarassed...
Another time, I went to see AI at a house theater in my town...and the apature plate had some goo on the side...so there was a huge blob on the side of the picture for 2 hours! Oh...it gets better...
One time, one of our customers returned our popcorn for being "stale" (We just popped it fresh before he bought it.) So, we fixed up a new batch right in front of him and he still said it tasted stale. He also asked us to turn up the contrast for the theater screen because it was too dark...that jerk thought the theater screen was TV!

------------------
P.S.: There's no P.S.

 

[DaveF]

unless you are really certain that you know how potentially dangerous the situation is

I've commented that I've had no real problems out here (Rochester, NY). But talking with friends yesterday I heard about a recent incident at a local multiplex.
A teenage girl asked another girl, who was talking during the movie, to be quiet. After the movie, outside, the talker pulled a razorblade, and sliced the shusher's face! The girl needed 400 stitches along her cheek. At least the assailant was apprehended.
I cannot comprehend someone who would do that. It boggles my mind.