I'm just going to skip over the part where I proclaim my
love for film and get straight to the point: going to the movies today sucks.
There could be a million discussion points for this topic - high
admission/concession prices, poor projection/sound quality, uncomfortable
seating, texting, crying babies, etc. - but there is one consistent annoyance
that causes at least myself, someone who averages over 1 movie a week at the
theaters, to reconsider my movie going habits: obnoxious patrons. It has become
habitual now that in most every film I've attended, at least one (and
usually more) GROWN patron will provide his/her running commentary during a film, while pretending that they are completely invisible and in the
confines of their own living rooms. It became so bad a few weeks back during a
picture, I actually asked a patient to keep it down, and he continued talking
while I was addressing him! Having to do this is so uncomfortable, so much so that while in
a theater today, as several parties chirped away continuously, I was too
chickenshit to say anything to them, let alone management. I thought about
voicing a complaint, but what really can be done to curb this selfish behavior?
The attention deficit problem in this country extends way beyond people being
attached to their mobile devices, so much so that when they are forced to be without them, they still can't shut the fuck up. In my
experience, and maybe its just the films I attend, it is NOT unruly, text happy
teens spoiling the movie going experience. It is grown ass men and women, of
all colors and creeds, who think that their opinions are so important they
cannot wait for the end of the film. Grow up, you are not important, respect
those around you, and again, shut the fuck up.
