Our date to the movies last night...what is up with people?

[ellairiesmom]

Sooo...DH and I had been talking about trying to get out for a few hours & do a movie on Valentine's Day. He loves movies, but we have only been to the theater once since DD was born 17 mos ago & I thought it would be nice just to sit next to eachother in the dark .

My Mom came to babysit & we were off...

I guess I should preface this with the fact that we sat in the back & could see most of theater in front of us...

The movie was cute & funny. And we had such a nice time holding hands . BUT...what I couldn't believe was what went on in the theater. First of all, it took 10 mins for anyone to close the theater doors, so during that time, there was lots of noise out in the lobby coming into the movie. Then, a woman's cell phone rings & she just lets it ring with her earpiece flashing in her ear. Then a few minutes later it rings again. By the end of the movie, her phone had rang 3 times, maybe 4 & she really made no attempt to silence it or react.

The other thing I noticed was that someone was constantly exiting & entering the theater. There was never a moment when someone wasn't up walking around or opening the door to come in or out.

It was a full theater & when a large group of girls came in late during the 1st 20 mins, they stood in the back talking in their normal voices about where they might find a seat.

And then there was this whole weird thing during the last 30 mins or so...a cop came in, walked up & down the aisles & then stood back by the door for awhile watching the movie.

None of these things impacted our night or anything...they were just things I was noticing around me that were making me kind of laugh. I had a whole stand up routine on the car ride home for Dh about it all which cracked him up too...

But what is up with people? Can't we just take 2 hours out of our lives to sit & chill anymore? Can't we just stop & enjoy a 2 hour movie? When you are going to a movie, don't you know to turn off your phone, hit the bathroom ahead of time & especially on a date type night/holiday, get there close to on time???

Anyway-thought it was something else & I guess you kind of had to be there...but wow.

[katmann]

that's why i love netflix - it just isn't worth the money to go out to a movie anymore!

[Mamax3]

DH and I rarely get to the movies but when we do, I notice the same things.....I thought it was only me and that maybe it was because now I am a mother. I thought that maybe it has always been this way at the movies but before kids I was too self absorbed to notice.

I often wonder if people are getting more rude, but then I just think that it is because I am getting older.

I do enjoy Netflix, because I can just stay home with noise and chaos going on around me during a movie....and I can pause the movie.

[meemee]

i love the movie theater experience and try to treat myself once in a while.

interesting that has never been my experience.

or maybe i was so engrossed in the movie that i had no idea what was happening around me.

i really havent noticed that much chaos. but then i didnt go on very busy day but i have been to full houses.

[_betsy_]

Other people is most of the reason I haven't been to a movie theater in, uhm, about 3 years. Maybe even longer?

If you want to watch a movie uninterrupted inthe theater, I think you have to go one a weekday, during the day, on a day when school is in session.

[pumpkin]

People talking to one another or chatting on their phones is the main reason we just don't go to movies very often anymore.

When we do go out, we almost always spring for the special reserved seating. In addition to getting nice comfy leather chairs and not having to worry about seeing around someone's head, for some reason people tend to be a little more respectful in that area.

[Catubodua]

it's funny - i ask that question to myself in so many situations, not just at the movies.

society is getting more rude in general and seems to be losing all empathy for others. so sad, really.

[journeymom]

I think the newer theater in town blocks cell phone signals. So even though they have the Please Turn Off Your Cell Phone intro to the previews, you can't receive a call anyway.

I've never had such an extreme experience as the OP described. There have been times where I think a parent should have removed their noisy child sooner. There was the time a large man sat down next my husband, spread his legs out, dropped popcorn and laughed at every. single. joke.

[Dahlea]

that's why we only went on my husband's day off, early in the am. too frustrating otherwise!

[AutumnMama]

Originally Posted by journeymom

I think the newer theater in town blocks cell phone signals. So even though they have the Please Turn Off Your Cell Phone intro to the previews, you can't receive a call anyway.

NaK

Good idea for the annoying cell blabbers, bad idea for Mommies of little ones. I wouldn't go there for that reason alone; I never want to be unreachable with young children. Especially babies!

[Ophelia]

Originally Posted by AutumnMama

Good idea for the annoying cell blabbers, bad idea for Mommies of little ones. I wouldn't go there for that reason alone; I never want to be unreachable with young children. Especially babies!

I completely agree. I hope that if any theater does this, they make it well known (is it even legal?). On the rare occassion we go out, I always tell my Mom I have my cell phone on in case of emergency and I would not attend a theater if she could not get a hold of me.

[Verity]

As a practical matter, I wouldn't be surprised if you were unreachable in a movie theater anyway. I can't make or receive calls from movie theaters, grocery stores, or other large buildings.

Obviously, YMMV depending on where you live and your cell phone carrier, but I'd definitely try a call before the movie starts if you want to make sure you're reachable. (I don't mind being unreachable because my husband always has the kids who aren't with me and they are not babies or toddlers.)

[Storm Bride]

The phone thing doesn't surprise me, as having a cellphone ringing doesn't seem to strike very many people as rude. I haven't figured out why.

The other stuff? As long as I can recall (I'm 40, and went to movies regularly from about age 6 until my early 20s), people have been in and out of their seats during the movie, both for bathroom breaks and to refill popcorn and drinks. There have always been people who trickle in late and have full-voiced conversations about where to sit. It's kind of annoying, but I don't think it's anything new.

[mata]

I hate going to the movies, but will tolerate it-my dh refuses! the last time he was in a movie theater was on our first date, over ten years ago, at the Angelika theater in NYC (which we made exceptions for.)

[Owen'nZoe]

I worked in a movie theater 20 years ago and I really don't think people have gotten any ruder in that time. The behavior we had to deal with (or overlook) really was just as bad as what I see now. Cell phones weren't an issue then, of course, but the talking, the moving around, throwing things, and *ahem* having sex in the theater - it all went on then.

[russsk]

Originally Posted by journeymom

I think the newer theater in town blocks cell phone signals. So even though they have the Please Turn Off Your Cell Phone intro to the previews, you can't receive a call anyway.

Ours does this, too, so the one time we've gone to a movie since DS was born we went to a different theater, even though that meant not getting to see the movie we wanted to. I just couldn't imagine not being reachable in case of emergency. It was hard enough leaving him for two hours!