I used to go to the movie theater A LOT. The experience you can get at the theater is unique from the one you can get watching a movie at home. But in today's day and age the experience has been greatly diminished by the need of people to get their mobile devices out and in turn irrevocably distract other people in the vicinity who are trying to enjoy the film.
In my peak I was going by myself to the movies every other week, sometimes even watching 3 different movies (each paid for separately of course) in 2 different theaters (by car) in 1 day. My grades suffered, but I didn't care as much, the "magic" of the movies had me in their grip and didn't let go. Two stretches per year took the bulk of the dates: from late August to early December and from late January to early May (I actually think of fall as the beginning of the movie "year").
For reasons (school, money and "other forms" becoming more readily available to watch) I started to see fewer and fewer movies at the theater. But probably the principal one was the fact that people were becoming more and more inconsiderate in how they behaved inside the movie-theater. Nothing, except probably people talking during a movie, ground my gears more than someone taking out their cellphone, full brightness on of course, during a movie to do WHATEVER. This included anything from ANSWERING CALLS in the middle of movie, even if it was just to say "I'm in the theater, can't talk now", to texting or having to send a tweet, to simply a phone ringing at the worst moment (which is ANY moment for those keeping score at home). Mind you, this was at least 5 years ago, who the hell knows what it is happening in 2019. As far as I'm concerned there is no excuse for this.
I won't apologize for this, if you were waiting for an important call that couldn't wait then maybe you shouldn't had been at the theater in the 1st place. I don't care that you feel the need to share will your friends your experience; face forward and shut the **** up. But I don't control other people and ushers are fucking useless and I shouldn't have to stand from my seat to ask an usher to take action or worst, having to do the policing myself.
I don't see this as an "old man yelling at the cloud" type of thing, just common courtesy. But with the near universal ubiquitousness of mobile devices this is not only to be (sadly) expected, but frankly, close to impossible to stop. Someone will always have a call that's too important to not answer, a forgetful mind that doesn't set their phones to silence, or some little brat that can't spent 2 hours of their lives without checking their phones and always always always IN.FULL.BRIGHTNESS.SETTING.
So I decided to quit, which is a damn shame because you can't replicate the movie-theater experience at home. The trailers advances (I always get to my seat before they start since I have to sit at center row, center column, of course, why you ask?), the air of anticipation, the crowd laughter at a joke that landed, a thundering applause after a perfectly executed sequence or the classic "I'm not crying, you are crying" at the end of a tearjerker. One of the most affecting experiences during those days was seeing this lady in his late 50's/early 60's trembling and sobbing after the end to Pan's Labyrinth. At first I scoffed at her (internally) but quickly, after glancing at her face and seeing her 3 friends seat by her side consoling her I actually got affected and instantly just wanted to go up to her and give her a hug and say: "what a great movie, right?".
But it wasn't meant to be. I eventually had to graduate, money was (is) tight and I got my 50 inch, 1080p, Panasonic Plasma. That and a laptop turnout it was all that I needed to have an intimate movie experience. Now I can pause a movie if I want to finish it later and can cry all I want without having to feel all embarrassed :P.
The last 3 years I have seen a combined total of 1 movie in theaters (Star Wars: The Last Jedi, opening day!). I did this because, aside from my high anticipation, I didn't want the movie to be spoiled to me which was a clear and present danger with a film of that nature. Now not even that will get me to the ticket line, this year regretfully Avengers: Endgame got spoiled to me: Iron Man dies at the end. It bothered me but that's the risk you run in da' internet if you don't see a popular movie right away and wait for it to hit Blu-ray. I accepted that, the only Marvel Universe film I have seen in theaters is...Iron Man 1 so it wasn't like it was A HUGE DEAL but it irritated me enough to acknowledge my current system isn't perfect.
And having decided not to see Star Wars: Rise of Skywalker in theaters (a one man strike!) I know it will probably go the same way. But that series isn't worthy of my money (whole other blog could be written about that) plus nowadays I expect people with full blown iPads in their side seats so like Michael says, "that's the past Connie".
My suggestion would be for theaters to designate "no electronics" specific rooms in which people would leave their cellphones, iWatches etcetera in a designated space so everyone can enjoy the showing in peace. If privacy and security concerns arise then I wouldn't object to an honor system in which everyone agrees to the rules beforehand (0 tolerance policy) in which offenders are never allowed in those rooms again. But I don't own any theaters and I'm not aware if said idea would be in enough demand to be implemented. But I doubt it, people want their phones and I haven't heard much about the subject in any mainstream publications (or any publications for that matter).
So now I'm just head deep in my eccentricities, I have become so accustomed to watching movies by myself that it's now inextricably entwined in my nature. The good times where much more numerous than the bitter ones even if the bitter-to-sweet ratio was heading to wrong way at the end. So I wish to remember the fond memories and accept this different approach that I have adopted as a necessary evolution. And that's that.
Log in to comment