Good news for movie fans?
On my way to work this morning, the local news/talk radio station was reporting that "disruptive people in movie theaters could be a thing of the past". Apparently, a pilot program in Antioch, CA (East Bay Area) has installed "call buttons" in the arm rests of the seats which signal a pager on the manager's belt. Instead of having to deal with talking morons yourself, the manager would come and handle it...
Now, as a pretty big guy, I usually don't have much problem quieting someone being discourteous, but once and a while I have actually had people get mad at me over the fact I have asked them to be quiet. This boggles my mind.
One of the DJ's postulated the reason people talk in movies is they have become so used to their TiVos and DVRs they simply forget they can't rewind what is missed when at the movies. Personally, I am not inclined to agree with this. I think we have managed to spawn a generation of kids and young adults who have no sense of consideration. It is a "Me" generation, one which believes they are entitled to automatic respect and anything contrary to that is tantamount to "fighting words." And of course by contrary I mean someone who would have the "righteous indignation" of asking them to be quiet during a movie.
Get real people! Simply turn off the cell phone and don't be annoying. You aren't any more important than anyone else in the room, so be considerate.
Movie memory (to change the subject): The first PG movie I was allowed to see without Parental Supervision was Jaws. I was 11 years old, and my best friend and I went to the local base theater (Air Force Brat) to watch it. I enjoyed this independence and me and my friend were really digging the movie -- until...
Now, I should preface this by saying this movie experience wasn't without its challenges, primarily in the form of a young couple (Teens) sitting directly in front of us. My friend and I were constantly having to adjust our position to see around these "giants" whose heads appeared to be so big they probably had their own orbits, complete with circling satellites.
Back to the movie...
Now Steven Spielberg didn't get to where he is without knowing how to get a reaction out of an audience. Jaws is full of these memorable moments, but none as intense as when the head rolls out of the bottom of the boat. As was appropriate, the audience - every man, woman, and pre-teen moviegoer -- jumped several inches. Well, remember the Jupiter twins (a.k.a. big head teens)? Well as it happened, She was holding a box of popcorn in one hand and a soda in the other (sans lid). She jumped and apparently threw her arms straight up in the air, dousing me with coke and a heavy sprinkling of popcorn. Nice.
I didn't get up to clean myself (the movie was too good), so when I left the popcorn was fused to my clothes with dried soda. I think I actually chafed on the way home.
posted by Roger C. @ 8/03/2006 01:21:00 PM
2 Comments:
IMO this doesn't solve anything. You have alredy been disturbed, you just don't have to deal with it yourself if you want something done. The only thing it will help with is on going rudeness (which is good, don't get me wrong). But at least this will put the responsiblity of managing patrons back with who it belongs with.
The problem is, yes, people today are self-centered asshats that have no regard for those around them. Thanksfully I have not had a huge problem with people like this (talking during the movie...being rude in general).
I agree with both Roger and Drew on this. It's a nice touch, but it probably won't help. And yes, Roger, most of it has to do with the selfishness of people these days, but I read someone (Ebert, I think) who said it was also due to VCRs - people get used to being at home watching films alone, and then forget to be courteous when they go out in public.
What *really* irks me, though, is asshats who bring their much-too-young kids to movies. My wife and I saw Pirates a few weeks ago in Solvang, and some bitch actually brought her four daughters, with ages ranging from about 2 to about 10. I mean, COME ON! As a parent, I have had to make a lot of sacrifices, and one of them is not seeing so many movies anymore. Not only is it rude to the other patrons, but do you really think that this movie is appropriate for your kids? This, by the way, is something the theaters could absolutely do something about: "I'm sorry, ma'am, but we do not allow children that young in non-rated-G movies."
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