Listener Rant – Movie Theater Rules
Our listener and Audioholics contributer Jim has a bit to say about rules for movie theaters:
I don’t visit local theaters very often, but last night I saw Doomsday, a movie you might appreciate. It had plenty of the 3 Bs, if you consider people with flesh eating viruses as “Beasts”, that is. It had plenty of the other 2 Bs, in any case. The only thing spoiling my enjoyment of this over-the-top movie was the teenagers with their stupid cell phones… little lights going on and off over the theater, people giggling at times that didn’t match what was happening in the movie… Why do kids think they need to text each other during movies!! Do there need to be new rules for theaters? I think banning teenagers from R movies should be the first step. Wait a second, isn’t that already the rule? Stupid theater… I don’t think they even ask. Second, I’d love to see cell phone jammers in theaters. The only problem this may cause is for Adults who have babysitters at home and might need to get a hold of them in some strange emergency. Then again, it would be nice to know that you can’t be contacted, as well. Third, bouncers. Yeah, if someone is playing with their phone, or being excessively annoying, then the bouncer will just come and remove them. I want a bouncer that inflicts physical harm if someone starts smoking, as well. Have you or the AV Rant listeners got any good ideas to deal with this? Thanks!
funny, when our parents went to the movies and left us home with babysitters, they didn’t have cell phones…. and we survived the “emergencies!”
Nice post Jim – couldn’t agree with you more. I make it to maybe ONE movie in a theater a year. What a shame. This is why….
Yeah, I don’t think I make it to one a year. When I do go, I go to the latest possible show. Nothing earlier than 10:30pm. That way any kids that would try to sneak in are only 30 minutes from passing out anyhow. Either from exhaustion or skimmed liquor. Either way, I win.
I’ve completely sworn off going to movie theatres myself – which is a shame because I love movies! But it simply just isn’t fun or pleasant anymore. My biggest pet peeve is people using the seat infront of them for a foot rest. I remember going as a kid and getting a talking to by my parents if I put my feet up on the seats. For one, all of the seats in a row are connected, so if you kick one chair, you kick ALL of them in that row. But second of all, whatever happened to “don’t put your feet up on the furniture. It’s rude!”
I’ve actually daydreamed many times that if I had the money, I would open a theatre specifically for well-mannered people. There are actually a lot of us, but we just avoid movie theatres now because there are so many rude and obnoxious people every time we go! I would like to open a theatre where you have to have a membership. I’d post and state the rules clearly (which only amount to what used to be considered common courtesy and manners!) and if you break the rules, you get one warning and after that, your membership is revoked.
I think we should all have the right to enjoy a movie with an audience made up entirely of other well-mannered people. I know that if someone else were to open up a membership only theatre, I’d go there in a second and see at least 2 movies a month! As it is, I don’t ever go to the theatre, so tell me how that is helping the theatre owners?
Cellphone jamers. I just hate the fact the people talk during movies.
Not to mention the fact that people stick their freaking elbow of feet towards you in a crowded theater. Thats why I try to go during the afternoon when there isn’t a lot of people.
I’m a huge Lord of the Rings fan so of course I was super amped up to see The Return of the King in the theater as soon as it came out. Well, some chick behind me talked and laughed through the entire movie. I wanted to crawl under her seat and punch her in the spine.
I’m with Ahab…Last film I’ve seen was RotK..and before that It was The Patriot. I’ve sworn off the theater unless I’m taking my 3 and 6 yr old girls to a matinee!
My blood is still boiling from my experience at the movies last night! It just never ends! What is with people’s rudeness! Why in the world would you place your dirty feet behind someone’s head! What bothers me the most is that it is always happening now and I am SO SICK of it! The worst thing was my 10 yr. old son, kept it to himself and tried to ignore the fact this teenaged girl had her dirty boots right above his head and kept kicking his chair. Only after highway through the movie he told his 18 yr. old sister who was sitting right next to him… immeidately she politely told the girl to please put her feet down…. this was the only time I was aware of what was happenning… I happened to look back as my daugther was saying this… and this teenage girl rolled her eyes and moved her feet only a little bit. I tell you…… my heart started to race…. the anger in me was boiling…it took all my strength to let it go. I looked at my son and asked if he was okay…. as I continued glancing at her. Of course this completely ruined the movie for me as I was getting into attack mode! Only after the movie was over.. my son told me she had continued to kick the back of his chair… he did not want to tell me to avoid trouble. I waited for the movie to end… stood up and stated out loud: “Some people have no manners and need to be taught a lesson!”… I waited for some remark… but nothing… I just stared at her and her friends……. nothing. I was shaking from anger… to spend all this money to try and enjoy a movie with my children.. only to have to deal with RUDE people with no sense. Now I wished I knew earlier and I would have switched seats with my son…..or I wish I would have sat behind her and placed my dirty shoes on her head!!!
Luv5 – I feel ya. Time to upgrade that sub and display and stay home I say. Plus, the popcorn and candy is way cheaper!