The Movie Theater Dilemma

This weekend, I finally got to the theater to catch the latest installment in The Twilight Saga. I was really psyched to see this one, as it was my favorite out of the four books. Also: TEAM JACOB 4 EVA.

Anyway.

I’m not particularly fond of the movies, mainly because of a few casting decisions that, oh, let’s say, ruined them? (KStew, I’m looking at you. Pinocchio was less wooden than you. For serious.) This particular film was the best of the three in my opinion, because there was less time spent just zoomed up RPattz’s nose, and more time concentrating on some of the other characters’ backstories. Dakota Fanning is creeptastic, Bryce Dallas Howard was perfectly devious as Victoria, Billy Burke’s dry delivery makes me crack up and Taylor Lautner? Is Jacob Black. Stubborn, immature, cocky- all the things that made Edward seem more perfect (re: BORING).

My issue wasn’t with the movie itself, it was with the other patrons of the movie theater. Army Boy and I make no pretense of the fact that other people are a pain in the ass, and we’ll go to the earliest possible showing just to avoid them. This Saturday, I went to an 11:40am showing with my Mom, hoping to escape the tween crowd who would surely spend the whole film texting and giggling.

We got there early and got our seats, then settled in for a little girltalk before the film. As the lights went down, the mood in the theater was one of hushed excitement. The previews didn’t disappoint- the very first one was for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows, and it was completely epic. I literally got goosebumps.

Yes, I’m a fan of Twilight. But I am a Harry Potter nerd to the core. 13-ish years of reading the books, and thousands of pages later, my love for the story hasn’t dimmed.

And you know what ruined that preview for me? A group of about 12 people who came in together after the previews had started, and immediately began YELLING to each other.

“I can’t SEE!”

“It’s too DARK!”

“They should have WAITED TO START THE MOVIE until we got in!”

“WHERE ARE YOU?!”

Unfortunately, I hadn’t prepared my mental filter quickly enough, and I retorted (quite loudly, according to Mom), “Here’s an idea. GET HERE ON TIME.” Mom was mortified. I… didn’t care.

They “settled in,” and continued to talk at a decent volume through the rest of the previews. We got up and moved across the theater so as not to have to listen to them.

From our new seats, we had a good view, and were about 45 minutes into the movie before the family behind us started talking. It was two “grown-ups” and a boy who looked to be about 8 or 9. Not surprisingly, whenever the film would switch to a conversation revealing backstory or a steamy makeout scene, he would start yakking. And rather than shushing him, his parents conversed with him.

My usual response to this would be to shush them, but Mom could tell that I was getting irritated and kept saying “just ignore them.”

When the lights came up, everyone sitting around us turned to stare daggers back at the threesome, who as expected, didn’t even notice.

“You know, you really shouldn’t go to the theater to see a movie. You get too upset,” Mom suggested.

What never fails to amaze me is that the theater is becoming a less and less courteous place. People talk loudly, show up late, text each other, etc… Since when did this become ok? And what should be done about it? A friend told me about a theater closer to the city of Lancaster that gives its patrons pagers. If there’s a disturbance in the theater, you press your pager and a staff member will come in right away to investigate/deal with the offenders. Good idea? YES. Should all theaters move to this system? I think so.

I personally feel that by ignoring it and moving YOUR seat, which you got by arriving on time, you’re further enabling people to continue their assholish behavior. You end up sitting in a crappy seat up front with your neck twisted in unholy positions, so that you don’t have to listen to people talk.

I’m a shusher. If you’re going to be a jerk, I’m going to treat you like the child you are and tell you to be quiet. If it pisses you off? Oh well. Learn to behave like an adult. Parent your child and let them know that it’s not ok to talk through an entire movie.

I was frankly depressed after the experience Saturday. I can see a point where I’ll no longer have any desire to go to the movies, which I enjoy. Going back to Harry Potter, it’s a treat to me to see the impeccable translation of those books to the big screen. The only thing that ruins it is that people are becoming less and less courteous to each other. In time, less and less people will feel compelled to leave the house to go to a movie only because they have to put up with the people who have absolutely no sense of appropriate behavior.

That’s what it all comes down to- at what point in our development are we taught what’s correct behavior for being out in public? And who is responsible for this? In the case of the family behind us, the parents SHOULD have told the son that they could talk about it AFTER the movie. With the loud obnoxious women, I’m stumped. Did they receive a “special” pass that excuses them from courtesy? If so, I’d like to know where they’re being distributed so that I can set it on fire get one. Er, yeah.

And why should that be the case- why should people who know how to shut the hell up  behave appropriately be unable to enjoy going out in public? Shouldn’t society be holding itself up to a higher standard? It’s no wonder that the rest of the world looks down on Americans.

What about you? Are you bothered by people’s behavior in public? And what (if anything) do you do about it??