People at the Theater

kberg · April 2006

I've seen quite a bit of reference to stupid, inconsiderate people encountered at the theater in other posts, so I thought I would dedicate a thread to it. My bet is that just about EVERYBODY has at least one or two stories to tell. Here's one of mine:

While seeing The Village with a buddy (I thought the movie sucked but didn't know it at the time, of course), some stupid **** pulls out a cell phone in the middle of the movie and starts yacking away, while her friends sitting by are yacking and laughing as well. Effin' people! If you're not there to see the movie, save your bucks and quit bugging other people trying to watch it! I walked out of the theater and one of the theater employees said "Hope you enjoyed the show!" I said, "It was the worst movie-going experience I've ever had" and just kept on walking out of the theater.

Ya know, theaters should install some sort of communication device so that you don't have to leave the movie to hail the attention of a manager to get some **** to shut up or leave. Just press a button (like in a hospital room) and somebody at the theater will be summoned.

All other stories are welcome!

steveinaz · April 2006

I haven't been to a theater in 10 years, and don't plan on going anytime soon.

Willow · April 2006

steveinaz wrote:

I haven't been to a theater in 10 years, and don't plan on going anytime soon.

I hear ya there Steve.....last movie I saw was finding Nemo only cause we were sitting the nephews and they had started to destroy our house, so we needed to get out of there.

Shizelbs · April 2006

I hate going to the movies. But I am too stupid to learn from my mistakes. If there was anything worth watching, we might actually go more often.

I for one think there should be an adult hour, like at the swimming pool. No damned idiot teenagers futzing with their cellphone the whole time and giggling like totaly brainless morons at every little damned thing.

Skynut · April 2006

This thread reminds me why I spent so much for my HT set up.
My last movie was with my niece and nephew and we saw Spongebob.
And yes the people there were annoying.

wodom1 · April 2006

I go to the theater maybe once a year. The last time I went was last June to see Mr. & Mrs. Smith in Cambridge, MA. There is a theater in Chicago called the "Brew & View" that you have to be 21 + to get in. It's a pretty fun place and the girlfriend and I go every now and then. I don't have any theater horror stories worthy of mention -- just the common distractions like what's mentioned above. I'd rather rent the DVD when it comes out and watch it at my place.

zombie boy 2000 · April 2006

Okay...
I just recently shelled out $7.50 per ticket for a 40 min screening of Deep Sea IMAX in 3D at the local skiniplex. The matinee price was a bit steeper, and the viewing time obviously shorter, but this was more of an "event" for chrissakes than a movie -- so me and the wife were willing to shell out the ducets. Yeah, it was awesome and 3D has come a long, long way since last time I was exposed to it (JAWS 3 in 3-D to be specific, what is it with the "underwater theme"?).
SO WHY DID EVERY SINGLE MA, PA, AND KETTLE JOE WITH THEIR CHILD AND THE NEIGHBOR'S INSIST ON BARRELLING THROUGH A YEAR'S RATION OF POPCORN EACH WHILE DOUBLE-FISTING KEGS OF COLA OF CHOICE!!!!!!????!!!!:mad: :mad:

45 minutes people -- you're not preparing for the forty-year famine
Needless to say, we could barely hear the film over the indescribable cacaphony.

jakelm · April 2006

Shizelbs wrote:

I for one think there should be an adult hour, like at the swimming pool. No damned idiot teenagers futzing with their cellphone the whole time and giggling like totaly brainless morons at every little damned thing.

Most of the time its the adults doing the distracting..

I only go to the nudie theaters....everyone keeps to themselves....sometimes:D

okiepolkie · April 2006

I go to a movie about every two-three weeks with some guys from church. We go on a Sunday or Wed night and hit the 7:30 or later show. I can't think of an occasion within the last 6 months where we have had more than 15 people in the theater with us. This is in downtown Memphis(which really isn't that bad), and at newer/nicer Muvico theater. The popcorn is worthless, but most of the screens are still in decent shape and the sound is fine.

Reasons I still go to the movies:

1) Very rarely do I get annoyed by other people in theater-most of the people either don't make noise, or I can live with. Remember, I teach junior high students, so I can ignore almost anything.

2) It is a guy's night out. I don't go drinking or other similar activities, so it works for me.

3) Since we had a little one, we can't turn up the television very loud at home. If we watch movies while he is awake, it gets even worse than the theater.

4) For one person, the price of a ticket isn't unbearable. I usually get something to eat/drink before the movie, so I don't have to pay the high prices for drinks/food ect.

There are things I don't like about theaters, but they aren't that bad over all for me.

aaharvel · April 2006

if you tell someone to shutup in a crowded theater, chances are they will.
if you just sit there and sulk in your misery, chances are they won't.

Demiurge · April 2006

I don't do the movie theater anymore unless my friends really want to go, but they are all in the same boat as me now and we just watch them at home on DVD.

The main reason I don't go is because I buy most movies I have a great interest seeing on DVD, and it ends up being cheaper in the long run. Especially if you have a family. Plus I feel my 'theater' is better, plus you can sit there in your boxers and you won't get hauled away in handcuffs.

As far as the inconsiderate little a-holes...well, all I can say as they are more bold than I ever remember. They mouth off to people they really shouldn't mouth off to -- which is kind of scary. Especially if they do it to the wrong person.

All in all the theater experience is something I try and avoid at all costs.

brettw22 · April 2006

Demiurge wrote:

As far as the inconsiderate little a-holes...well, all I can say as they are more bold than I ever remember. They mouth off to people they really shouldn't mouth off to -- which is kind of scary. Especially if they do it to the wrong person.

The key here is to BE the 'wrong person'.............:D

dorokusai · April 2006

It would have to be something that HAD to be seen in a theatre for me to go again....needless to say, it's been awhile. I have much more fun at home....and I can watch it naked.

Demiurge · April 2006

I try!

There's just something about "Dude, you just beat the hell out of a 15 year old," that doesn't sound good to me.

daniel_paul_ · April 2006

It's $9 in south Jersey and the picture quality Blows!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! The sound sucks too. I love hearing the drop ceiling shift with the explosions.

The last thing I saw was Imax in Atlantic City. First it is a Giant Screen, not the rap-a-round "true" Imax. $14 for Harry Potter is steep but it was pretty bad-****. Picture was cristal clear and I could not hear people talking because it was so loud. I hope they have POTC II.

daniel_paul_ · April 2006

pour a drink on the 15 year old. when he takes a swing it's self defence;)

Skynut · April 2006

Already mentioned is the cost and sound quality.
1. For the price of admission I can buy a previously viewed movie from blockbuster.
2. I can control the volume if the sound engineer got carried away at some point in the flick.
3. My popcorn is better than their popcorn.
4. I can lay on my couch without the armrest poking me in the side.
5. And if I want to I can watch naked. (already mentioned)

Beekyman · April 2006

Arm yourself with Milk Duds and a sling shot

The best solution I ever witnessed was when some guy who repeatedly asked the offending party to take their conversation outside finally had enough and shined a tactical flashlight on the A-hole and called for the ushers! The movie stopped promptly and both parties were escorted outside. A few minutes later "flashlight man" returned to his seat accompanied with well deserved applause and with apologies from management, the movie restarted. Gutsy guy and it illustrates the fact that when dealing with unreasonable people the best action is immediate and aggressive reaction. You cannot reason with the unreasonable... reason is for folks that have manners and etiquette. It was cool how he singled this dude out, very cool indeed!
BTW...I hate to spend the $ at a cineplex but sometimes its cool to see a film in the theater...its tough to compete with that size of a screen!!

neomagus00 · April 2006

the only horror story i can share is from about a year ago... i don't remember the movie, but the back row was filled with ususually noisy highschoolers; i eventually deduced that they had tried shrooms and/or acid recently and were enjoying it very much... as expected, they giggled the whole way through, which wasn't that bad, but they kept leaving for whatever reason... every 10 minutes, the door would open, and light would leak in the side of the theater... eventually one of them couldn't handle it any more and managed to fall down the ENTIRE flight of stairs, from the top row to the last step. he managed to walk out, to laughter from the entire theater, and the group sorta kept to themselves after that

.

danger boy · April 2006

jakelm wrote:

Most of the time its the adults doing the distracting..

I only go to the nudie theaters....everyone keeps to themselves....sometimes:D

:eek:

danger boy · April 2006

I still go to the movie theater about once a month or so. I can't stop going completely. I find that I should be able to watch a movie without interruption from noisey people in a theater. If not... i complain to the management.

Sometimes management does something.. often times they don't. But I let them know I was unhappy with the service at any and all levels. The old saying goes.. the squeaky wheel gets the grease. Plus i'll kick some one's **** if I have to.. i'm not afraid of girls anymore.

Demiurge · April 2006

haha

schwarcw · April 2006

For all the reasons above, I've been thinking that if Entertainment groups would offer their new releases as pay per views, movie theaters would go under. More and more people are buying big screens, surround sound systems, etc. If given the opportunity, many would pay per view and stay home. Invite friends over, prepare food, etc. Theater owners would be outraged by a plan like this, but I think a lot of people would go for it. How about you?

Demiurge · April 2006

It's coming in one form or another, Schwarcw, whether they like it or not. I am just not sure when.

Looking forward to when every movie ever made is completely on demand.

Shizelbs · April 2006

Demiurge wrote:

It's coming in one form or another, Schwarcw, whether they like it or not. I am just not sure when.

Looking forward to when every movie ever made is completely on demand.

Agreed. All signs point that way. The smart money is on HT.

brettw22 · April 2006

Don't the movie theaters have to pay the studio's for the rights or ownership of the film they have in house? I can't imagine the studio's would willingly get rid of revenue if that's a source.

Demiurge · April 2006

Some studios are actually proposing that they eliminate the 'video window' all togther by releasing everything in all formats at once. Meaning, DVD, Movie Theaters, Rental, and PPV. The DVDs have a higher profit margin anyhow, so...not really a loss there. They don't think this will destroy the movie experience, and neither do I. There are still people who like to go to the movies.

I like this idea the most because it spreads it out a bit, but I don't think it's too thin. One of the things that keeps people from the theater now is just how packed they are for new releases.

venomclan · April 2006

Demiurge wrote:

Some studios are actually proposing that they eliminate the 'video window' all togther by releasing everything in all formats at once. Meaning, DVD, Movie Theaters, Rental, and PPV. The DVDs have a higher profit margin anyhow, so...not really a loss there. They don't think this will destroy the movie experience, and neither do I. There are still people who like to go to the movies.

I like this idea the most because it spreads it out a bit, but I don't think it's too thin. One of the things that keeps people from the theater now is just how packed they are for new releases.

I think eliminating the window will destroy the theaters. While some people will still go to the theater, I find that watching at home is so much more enjoyable and much cheaper in the long run. DVD rentals and purchases will increase significatly if that happens. Blind buys will also rise a lot. Remember that if the theater-dvd window is shortened or eliminated, the theater-cable window will also be.
Venom

Demiurge · April 2006

At this point it doesn't matter because it's all going that way anyhow. That option will either work or it won't. Same result, just faster, if it doesn't. I'd like to see the window eliminated, but that's a selfish desire on my part.

venomclan · April 2006

What they need is a theater dedicated to Tool music and videos only. That will get my business.

Demiurge · April 2006

lol!

People at the Theater

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