What is your most annoying movie going experience?

[tygrus2000]

No. 1 of mine has to be when people in the theatre think they have to actually talk to the characters on the screen. Some people think its Mystery Science Theatre 3000 where you are supposed to wisecrack the screen every 30 seconds. God some people are so stupid and I can't tell you how often this happens. So rude.

A close second is when you see people bringing little children to movies that are not appropriate for them. Where are the theatre people? You should be horswhipped if you try to bring your 2 year old to some movie like Hulk or even worse, some horror movie.

I can't wait until they pipe new releases right into your home via fibre or satellite then I can just invite friends over to watch and not have to tolerate 250 others in the theatre.

[pacmania_2001]

People who don't turn off (or put on silent) their mobile phones. Also people who stay in the theatre whilst taking a call they may get.

People who sit right in front of you despite the rest of the theatre being completely empty.

Young teenagers/kids who talk during the movie and explain stuff to their friends which most of the time is wrong anyway.

[i_am_dave]

Teenagers that talk throughout the entire movie

People that must have already seen the movie and alert their friends to upcoming scenes by saying 'Get ready, here comes a good part'

Tall people that sit in front of my children when there are plenty of other good seats they could have sat in.

[TBoneit]

Slightly tongue in cheek reply, but much truth too.

Annoyances in the order they occur in not by priority.

Searching for what theatre to go to (Use my sat interactive app. these days)

Driving to the theatre (tired of driving too)

The blankety blank prices of admission

Price of refreshments, What's a movie without popcorn and soda?

General ambience, seating, other audience members, often a sticky floor, gum under the seat gets on clothes, etc.

Then the final straw! Movie is a loser, can't trust adverts & coming attractions or reviews these days.

Some idiot banging up your car with his car door.

Note: these do not all happen every time but they do happen to often. I've pretty much given up and just wait for the video release. Unless I feel a need for the big screen high power surround sound that wil beat out my little home theatre. Anyone remember the movie (earthquake?) where they used low frequency sound to add to the feeling of the earthquake? Or 3D?

And yes I would pay a dollar more for self destructing DVDs that didn't need another trip to be returned. That's why I netflix the few rentals I do.

Cheers
Roger T

[tygrus2000]

Oh, I totally forgot about the long running stupid advertisements that start every movie. I want to throw my coke at the screen when they start.

[pacmania_2001]

http://maddox.xmission.com/adaptation.html

One way to get rid of teenagers in a theatre.

[arcorob]

Definately the chatty ones and the ones who have to sit right in front of you in an empty theater BUT my all time pet peave

People who have to constantly kick the back of seats in the row your sitting. Especially if they have childern !! Arggggg.....

Cutting off legs is ofetn a crime....

[Tommyknocker]

Just one experience comes to mind: I was sitting watching the movie, and this "cowboy" sits right behind me and puts both of his booted feet on the back of my chair and the chair next to me. Who raises these children to adulthood anyway?

[VCDHunter]

I don't do the movie thing anymore - too much hassle for mediocre movies.

What's a movie without popcorn and soda?

Never got that - what is the connection between food and film ? I hate people eating oversized bags of popcorn or whatever when I'm trying to listen to a movie.

Also people who stay in the theatre whilst taking a call they may get.

I've never experienced this - thank god - had the occasional beep beep before some idiot turns off their phone but never heard a mobile conversation in the theatre.

Mostly its just crap movies that put me off the idea. I've never been a huge cinema goer but nowadays its a max of 2 - 3 times a year and out of that I'd say 1 or 2 of them have sucked (AOTC being one - can't even remember any more - oh Blair Witch another).

Bad overpriced films and idiots make the cinema a place to avoid nowadays.

[flaninacupboard]

going to a multiplex cinema. they're awful.
Went to see Catch me if you can, presented in the wrong ratio. saw 8 legged freaks (nothing else to do) and it was really out of focus and tilted about 5degrees AC, saw saving private ryan and the projector chewed up the film 10 minutes before the end. the staff didn't know until people came out of the screen and started moaning.

i really want to run my own cinema, with decent equipment, good films, nice seats, an eatery/bar and just an all round nice crowd of people. i wouldn't mind paying say £15 ($22ish) to watch a film like Alien on a big screen, on a leather sofa with a coffee table, through a nice surround set up, and with some pleasant and polite people to talk to aferward.

maybe i'm just dreaming.....

[orbital517]

Don't you guys ever say anything to the people who are doing these things(talking on the phone, feet on the back of your chair, etc....)??? There are always inconsiderate and rude people in the world, but most of the time if you say something.....it'll put them in their place. Whenever some idiot steps out of line while i'm watching a movie, i'll let them know. Especially a couple of times people would put their feet on my chair, I had to actually beat them down after the movie because they wouldn't stop. NO LIE. I asked the guy once, then twice, but he thought I wasn't serious when I told him that if he doesn't stop, then he'll have to see me outside.

I can GUARANTEE you that he won't be putting his feet up on anyone's chair again. lol

[spiderman2k1]

I one time almost got in a fight at the movie's. These people would not stop talking I ask them nice no talking. They said I'll do what I want . Still talking. I ask them again to stop. They said again i'll do what I want. Still talking. I ask again please no talking. they said no talking. I got up and was going to beat the crap out of one of them. Then my friend grabbed my arm and said sit down. After that they did not say a word. This was when I went to see the hulk LOL

[tgm4883]

I saw saving private ryan in the theater too and it ate the film about 1hr20min in. I heard that almost every theater had that happen to that movie. What was wrong with it anyway?

[Marco33]

Most of these are the reasons why I don't bother to go to movie theaters.

Why bother, I can rent just released movies for $4. That's $10 less than going to a theater, last time I checked. That doens't count the $3 soda & $4 candy they jack you for at the theater.

I can sit home with my 43" Widscreen with 5.1 surround in my cumfy chair and get up to pee any time I want.

The only movie I had seen in the last 6 years at a theater was SW the SE version. THAT was the final nail in the coffen. After having to sit through that abortion for 2 hours I was totaly turned off alltogether by the whole movie going experience.

[flaninacupboard]

the projectors would rather commit suicide than play another second of the film?
either that or the celluloid couldn't cpoe with the sheer amount of american pomposity contained therein.
/joke

[mkelley]

Without a doubt it was going to the "Special Edition" version of "Close Encounters" almost 20 years or so ago. This was in a small non-theater stadium seating theater and we sat in the back so we could enjoy the movie in peace away from the kids in the front of the theater.

Two high school age girls sat in front of us -- I was with a group of 8 and there were no other places in the theater for us to go. They then proceeded to talk, quite loudly (in order to be heard over the film), through the entire two hours of the film.

No -- it wasn't MST3k (that would have been asking a lot of these girls to have that kind of intelligence). Indeed, it wasn't even about the movie at all, but about their boyfriends (mainly), cars, music, family... indeed, everything and anything in the world that did NOT have to do with the film.

I asked them politely to be quiet. I repeated my request. I begged, cajoled, pleaded with them to remain silent. Finally, after two hours (and right before the climatic scene) I leaned over and said "Would you two c___s *please* shut up!"

Well, that did the trick -- they promptly left the theater. Nowdays I'd probably be arrested (there was, indeed, an almost identical situation about ten years later where the man in question who did use profanity *was* arrested and the annoying people were not even warned). In retrospect (and 20 years later) I think I would have gone to the manager (maybe even their boyfriend, considering the age) and complained and gotten my money back -- almost nearly all the way through the film -- and then gone seen it somewhere else. If I had only been with my wife it would have been much easier, but as a group (and it was my idea to see the film so I was the defacto leader) I felt more helpless.

I've never again experienced *quite* so annoying but I have had some minor ones recently that make me question whether going to the show is worth it at all. People seem to feel the theater is their own private living room -- but my experience 20 years ago shows this hasn't gotten worse, it's always been bad.

[lordsmurf]

I always have to question what kind of dumbass it takes to bring a toddler to a movie like "Hulk" as if he wouldn't get scared or cry. And when the little kid starts screaming, the stupid parents just pretend nothing is wrong or whisper "sshhh" as if the kid understands or even cares.

Several of us (and I mean people all over the theatre, not just me and my friends) had to yell "get out" before the people left. And it happened about 3 times with 3 babies. Yep, when I saw Hulk opening night. It almost started a fight with one thug that looked like he was still in high school, with his whorish-looking underage woman and fugly baby.

Either get a babysitter or just resign yourself to the fact that you're married (or just have kids since marriage is apparently out these days) and cannot go out if you're unable to provide a proper alternative environment for your child. The movies ain't it.

I paid to hear Hulk's talent, not junior's screaming talent.

I'm not married yet, but when I am, I'll at least remember common courtesy when it comes to places where you should and should not go with your kids.

I remember seeing "Pumpkinhead" when I was younger, I guess 10 or so, with an older sibling, and the thugs up front had to comment. All the time. Throughout the movie. I wished several times the monster would have jumped out the screen and taken care of them too. I do not care what you think. Talk later, when I'm out of earshot.

And keep the movies clean! I remember getting a refund because my Phantom Menace viewing was obliterated by crap on the film. I walked out after 15 minutes. I'd had enough of that.

And the best way to keep a person's feet off your chair is to take there shoes away and toss them across the theatre. May start a fight, so just be sure you're bigger.

And keep your college ID. I'll keep using it until somebody eventually calls BS on me. I may be out, but nobody else has to know it, especially if your years-old picture saves you money. And I can still wear the old fraternity hat, just to make it look believable.

[tygrus2000]

With the skyrocketing costs of producing a movie these days, and the theatres taking 50% of the profits, its only a matter of time before everything will be pay per view at home, new releases included. The only thing holding Hollywood back now is that people could record it and distribute it to friends or whomever, but they will someday have an encryption for that too.

Some die-hard enthusiasts say that people go out to movies for the social aspects and dont want to sit at home watching movies. I totally disagree, when was the last time you met somebody or had a conversation with someone at a movie that you didnt already know? You go with your friends or significant other, not to interact with strangers. Wouldnt it be much better if you could have them over to your own comfy house, only invite the polite ones and be able to pause the movie and serve refreshments at 1/10 of the cost?

[mh2360]

The fire alarm going off half way through Ghost... (My girlfriend dragged me there) I was sort of glad really, didnt get a refund though

[g_shocker182]

When I went to go see Dumb and Dumberer. I walked out 20 minutes in. Period.

[adam]

Having a cell phone ring is bad enough, but one time a woman actually pulled out her phone and made the call herself. She, very loudly, was explaining to her husband how bad the movie was. A number of people kept asking her to be quiet and she kept responding that, "the movie sucks anyway so why do you care?"

I just left and got a refund anyway because the rear speakers were blown.

I used to love going to the movies. Now I think the average person's intellect/education has just decreased so much, that you can't even leave the house without getting frustrated with idiots, much less sit in a room with them for 2hrs. I still go to the theatre for the really important movies, but once I build a big enough home theatre I'll stop doing even that.

[tygrus2000]

Even the drive-ins have their share of annoying "others". People driving in at all hours, honking, drinking etc etc.

Another time I was in the theatre, someone about 2 rows back dropped their super duper size orange pop, the ones that are like 2 gallons or something. Well, it ran down under the seats ahead and under peoples shoes, very gross.

[g_shocker182]

I used to love going to the movies. Now I think the average person's intellect/education has just decreased so much, that you can't even leave the house without getting frustrated with idiots, much less sit in a room with them for 2hrs.

Oh, too bad, I feel so sorry for you. You must think your better than everyone else. All hail adam the moderator, full of himself.

[Tommyknocker]

G_Shocker, was that really called for?

[g_shocker182]

Well read what he said. He thinks everybody else is an idiot. I hate when people thing they are better than others.

Sorry if I sounded rash, but I'm not taking out that post.

[Solarjetman]

They then proceeded to talk, quite loudly (in order to be heard over the film), through the entire two hours of the film.

A few years ago, I was a manager of a movie theater. And I once had a very memorable experience close to this. A customer came out and told me a pair of boys were being loud. I snuck into the auditorium and observed them before confronting them. I politely asked them to be quiet. They said OK and I left. About two minutes later, I got a complaint about them again.

I go back into the movie to threaten them this time. I said "Be quiet or I will have to ask you to leave." After giving me some lip, they replied saying they knew me (I did not know them so I think they were lying) I yelled out at the top of my lungs "I don't care if you know me, if you will not be quiet, I will have you removed by a police officer". The entire audience of the movie started to applaud me About 4 dozen people in total.

I went to get the off-duty cop we had hired for security (I was afraid of legal consequences if I had to physically touch them to get them out). When I returned they were gone.

[MOVIEGEEK]

On a Sat. my brother and me went to see LOTR:Two Towers and it was sold out...next day we got in and as we were watching the previews some punk hit the fire alarm and we were escorted out...following day we finally got to see the movie.
Going to the theater was fun when I was a teenager/20's but now I prefer to wait til it's out for rental or pay-per-view.

[tygrus2000]

Actually, Adam has it mostly right, lots of people in the movie theatres and other similar venues are extremely rude and insensitive, bordering on idiots.

Its true the intelligence of our culture seems to be sinking. This is easily proven by the millions who go see the worst Hollywood has to offer cause they have nothing better to do than tune out for a night.

Its not a matter of thinking you are better than someone, its an honest observation of the way a lot of people can act.

[g_shocker182]

Adam put it like he thought everyone was an idiot. Not just the movie-goers.

[adam]

I didn't say everyone is an idiot, I said the AVERAGE person is an idiot. I didn't really mean this literally, but if it offends you that much than feel free to take a look at some statistical evidence such as census polls and you will see that my statement is sadly not far from truth. Before you accuse me of being richeous just look at some statistics and realize that there is nothing conceited about believing you are of above average intelligence. That's really not saying much at all. The fact that I can even type this post probably automatically lifts me above the bottom quarter.

It's a pessimistic statement, so shoot me. Everytime I pull up to a four-way stop and see two cars repeatedly flinch cause no one knows who has the right of way, it just reminds me how many idiots there are out there, and when you take a sample of 30-50 individuals and throw them into a dark room and expect them to be quiet and follow the rules for 2hrs, chances are you are going to get a few of those insensitive idiots in the bunch who are going to ruin the experience for everyone else.