Turn off your phone!
I just got back from seeing a movie, and I was sickened by the number of people that were using their cell phones while the movie was on. There were 17 people (older movie, not popular at all), and at least 4 of the people were either talking on their phones, or using them for text messaging. What's wrong with these people?! Can't they go 2 hours without talking/messaging people? Apparently not. I was so frustrated with the girls behind me that I turned around and asked them fairly nicely to shut their phones off. Had I actually seen the phone I would have grabbed it and tossed it as far, and as hard, as I could. I rarely go to the theaters any more, and it seems as though I always meet inconsiderate people talking on cell phones in a theater where the projector isn't in focus. ARGH!
Gord
posted by Gord Lacey @ 7/06/2006 12:08:00 AM
18 comments
18 Comments:
I can't say cellphones (or mobile phones, as we call them over here) have been a problem for me in cinemas - in my local one, they're strict about turning your mobile phone off before you enter - but pretty much everywhere else is a nightmare, sometimes even shop assistants are attempting to text message their friend whilst ringing the cash register up!
I went to the movies saturday and that theater did not play commercials! At exactly the time the movie was supposed to start, they started the previews and i think there were only 4 or 5 of them. It was great. There were a bunch of people talking and using phones before the movie, but I didn't notice it much after it started. But this is a new theater, probably just a couple months old.
BUT there is another one I go to sometimes that is TERRIBLE! People just drop off their kids there! And then the whole time the kids are getting up and down and running down the stairs and being loud. It drives me crazy!!! People expect movies to be their babysitters now. It's so stupid. (these are mostly middle school age kids I'm talking about)
In my town, we have a small amusement park, not sure how long it's been there other then A LONG time!! But they now have to have police patrolling because people would just drop of their kids and leave them all day! I don't understand it.
Don't get me started on cell phones, but another thing that bothers me, and this may sound a little discrimanatory, are the senior citizens who go see movies because they talk throughout the whole thing. But it's not the talking that bothers me, it's the volume at which they talk. They are practically screaming. When I saw Munich, I actually had to ask two elderly people to stop talking cause they were talking louder than the movie half of the time, and I'm not one to do that. I wouldnt mind so much if I didn't pay almost 10 bucks to see it.
This is *exactly* why your site is so important to me. I cannot stand the modern experience of going to a movie (the cell phones, the kids at R-rated midnight showings, the hooligans, the huge audiences--many of whom like the provide they're own early DVD commentary throughout the pic, the commercials and idiotic trivia before the movies), so I prefer to watch things on DVD at home. When you're at home, I think the tendency is to want a longer, more connected experience. Watching a television series on DVD extends the pleasurable experience more than a movie and allows you to follow continuining storylines and characters you come to love. Screw the movies--TV shows are usually so much better.
In other words, thanks for your site!
Why would the person using the phone want to use the phone? Didn't that person fork over some dough to watch a movie?
For me the home theatre experience as surpassed the theatrical experience and did so a long time ago.
Inexpensive home theatre systems, cheaper food, less jerks, less ads, etc.
Like others have said, I'd rather buy the DVD then go to the movies, which explains why my DVD collection recently topped 400, (including almost 150 TV on DVD releases).
There ARE some films that are epic enough in scope that they are well worth seeing on the big screen. But I cannot believe that there are people who pay their money to come into the theater and then waste it chatting on the phone when they should be sitting back and enjoying the flick! My local theater chain has started posting a slide prior to the start of the trailers that reminds folks to turn off their cell phones. Most do. I would start with complaining to theater management every time this happens, so that they know that they need to take steps about cell-phone users. If they won't at least post a slide like the one I mentioned, then they don't deserve your business. If they won't start chucking these people who use their cell-phones in non-emergency situations, then it's all over for them as more and more people stop coming!
Last year, my girlfriend and I took a trip to the cinema to see a new release movie. About thirty-five minutes in, the teenage girl sitting next to us actually interrupted the film to ask us to throw some popcorn at one of her friends, for her.
I'd rather she'd been texting...
It's not just the movies where cell phones aggravate me. It's frickin' EVERYWHERE. In the car, in the aisles at Wal-Mart, at the next table in the restaurant, at the ball game... Geez, people, cut the phone OFF. I have a really hard time believing that every one of these people are dealing with emergencies or pressing business deals.
The ones with the earpieces REALLY get on my nerves. Y'know what they used to do to people who walked around talking to themselves?
I think a lot of people do it just so other people can see them doing it. News flash: everyone has a cell phone now. It's no longer a status symbol. Tell your friends.
And for crying out loud, hang up and drive!
Cellphones...ugh! I teach college and have to put up with constant "emergencies". Embarrassing the offenders doesn't seem to do any good anymore either. Maybe it's time for theaters to start providing headphone jacks in the seats so we can put on the Bose noise canceling headphones and enjoy the movie in our own little world.
i had a problem with 3 people near me at the theater when i saw Pirates of the carribean,
the guy beside me phone went off, then he text messaged, then every ten minutes after that he kept text messaging, and if that was not bad enough he knew he was annoying me, i hate that stupid blue light from the cell phone, it killed my enjoyment of the movie, cell phones are a new disease that needs a cure, oh WAIT there is one, CELL PHONE JAMMERS, they are around but are illegal currently.
Bose noise-cancelling headphones would be awesome to have at the theater. Not only to drown the others out, but also because I'd like to set my own volume level, as many of the theaters like to blast the sound at unbelievably high levels.
People like these are the reason I hate cell phones. People need to learn to be out of touch for a while. I don't have a cell phone, but I do have an answering machine. You want to reach me when I'm not home, leave a message. Maybe I'll call back.
As for the idea of jamming the cell phones, I think it's a good one. Jam them in places where they are not welcome, like movie theatres and libraries. i don't know why they're illegal, but I would support changing that. No one is important enough that they need to be accessible by phone all the time.
Yes, jammers are illegal, but no one has been charged with jamming a signal :D
Gord
Before cellphones, one can never know which theater is shaving cost by the various tweak the theater employs as policy or other reasons. Non are big enough to get a protest out the audience but enough to degrade the quality of the show. Projector Bulbs are expensive so they are slightly dimmed by using lower voltage, If the projector operator is lazy, things can be out of focus. Seating is never good. Exit lights can be broken with light coming through or just plain to bright. The screen can be dirty or just plain cheap. Plus all the other points mentioned before this comment. Theaters appeal is running on the memory of the great experience one would have. That will run out soon and no one will want to go. And home theaters can be built for 500$ or less using LCD and shinning a 400 sodium light at it for a big screen wall projection. i don,t go to theaters except for rare types like IMAX films shot in 70mm film shown in a round dome screen or any other unusual types.
I am SO in agreement with you here. I was in a much anticipated movie, enjoying the show when, at a tense moment of quiet a cell phone rings. The guy actually answered it and started having the following conversation (his half, obviously) Yo, what up?... I'm at the movies... Yeah, it's cool... Yeah, I can meet you after..." At this poing someone from the back of the theater (and just as I was taking a breath to do the same) yells "Shut it off you inconsiderate a--hole!" Half the audience cheered. But before the movie was over, two more people answered their cell phones and one let it ring about 6 times (no call answering apparently). Only one person (obviously a courteous professional) got up and left the theater after his phone rang once. And it gets worse every time. I'm not a big fan of the French, but I like their idea of installing jammers to block cellphone transmission inside theaters.
People suck, plain and simple. I agree with most of the comments here about some movies worth watching on the big screen but also I tend to wait for the DVD release and Netflix it cause at least I can insure that my cell phone wont go off in the middle of the film. I hate cell phones all together it bugs me listening to people's one-sided conversations. Seriously some people need to keep in mind they are in public when making some of the calls they make, i dont care about how hot that drunk chick was the night before or what color shirt Dan was wearing. I don't know these people and frankly i'm glad i don't.
Oh and ringtones are another thing! people have some of the most obnoxious ring tones EVER! seriously guys there's a vibrate and silent ringer for a reason!
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