it is very possible that TheNomadicCircle is being rude to people who may, relatively easily, be wealthier than he is.
On mass? Hardly. Let me know when you can go to university without paying for it because your saved wealth pays for it itself without working. Sure, one or two might be more wealthier, but they don't have the social class.
I'm not being rude, its just how I am. Social class means a lot. And I don't maintain my own sources of wealth. They get maintained for me by people who work under me. In this case, the caretaker takes care of the dates. I get the profits and he gets his share working under me.
So you are some Turkish prince or something? Shouldn't you be in the VIP booth anyway?
No he's saying he's third in line to be the leader of his tribe. Like being a condo owner in a condo co-op who is next in line to be head of the board. It's culturally significant to him but virtually meaningless elsewhere - particularly in this conversation. While I do find his attitude to be a bit off-putting it's only relevant in so far as our theatre discussion goes - ie: his stance on texting in the theatre. We should probably drop everything else in the interest of staying on-topic.
edit: NM Jeffe said exactly that as I typed this out.
I will weep the day ElJeffe stops being a mod. His "mod" posts are just things of beauty. Even when they happen to be aimed at me I find myself appropriately chastised yet entertained.
I think he meant that, while theaters will generally let kids below 17 into R movies when accompanied by a guardian, they won't let one into an NC-17 movies regardless of a guardian (assuming they're following the MPAA guidelines).
Right, but theaters don't show NC-17 movies. I guess maybe some local/arthouse/porno-centered ones might? Your common and garden multiplex isn't going to devote a screen to any NC-17 release.
Obviously AMC/Regal won't show them as a matter of policy, like how Wal-mart won't stock "bad" music or whatever it is. I imagine it's a business decision, as showing a questionable movie would bring a lot of bad press and much smaller revenue. They'd much rather devote that screen to something that's going to make them a lot of safe money. I've seen art-house theaters screen NC-17 movies; there's no law saying they can't.
Some of this is that Mall theaters are usually prohibited from showing NC-17 flicks by virtue of their lease agreements. There isn't really a decision to be made, it just isn't an option. This then extends to the whole "franchise" thing, meaning it might not be worth their time to acquire showing rights at all.
Part of the reason that theaters don't show NC-17 movies is that they're relying, partially, on adults taking their kids to see movies and thereby getting more ticket sales; if kids can't go to an NC-17 movie then you're not only losing out on tickets for kids, but tickets for adults who don't want to get their kids a sitter so they can go see American Psycho: Director's Cut Remix With the Goat or whatever. (edit: that is, in contrast to parents dragging their kids along with them to see whatever R-rated movie it is they want to see and paying $7 for the kid-price ticket instead of $10 for the babysitter)
So, since we're talking about ratings now (and not full blown date farming), what's the common opinion on kids in R-rated movies? And I don't mean kids as in minors, but kids as in, like, 5 year olds and stuff. I understand that if I go see anything PG or G at any time of day or night I have no position to bitch about there being kids too young to behave in the theater, but is it really that unreasonable of me to expect that if I go to see an R-rated film there will, generally, not be small children in there who will run up and down the stairs and whine loudly about whatever or cry at the scary/loud parts? I think I've been called out by parents as being unreasonable about that in the past, but I still feel like it's poor movie etiquette to take your young progeny with you to such things.
Anyone interested in seeing the screwed up nature of the movie ratings system should see "This Film is Not Yet Rated" on netflix instant watch. Great documentary about the ratings system.
and I wonder about my neighbors even though I don't have them
but they're listening to every word I say
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amateurhourOne day I'll be professionalhourThe woods somewhere in TennesseeRegistered Userregular
Anyone interested in seeing the screwed up nature of the movie ratings system should see "This Film is Not Yet Rated" on netflix instant watch. Great documentary about the ratings system.
That's the one I was talking about earlier. It's an interesting watch. Hearing about how the first cut of Kevin Smith's "Jersey Girl" was given an NC-17 rating because the Liv Tyler talked about pleasuring herself was ridiculous, especially since American Pie got an R rating and the dude was fucking baked goods. (although I guess they did have to do a different scene to make it R rated)
are YOU on the beer list?
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AtomikaLive fast and get fucked or whateverRegistered Userregular
Anyone interested in seeing the screwed up nature of the movie ratings system should see "This Film is Not Yet Rated" on netflix instant watch. Great documentary about the ratings system.
That's the one I was talking about earlier. It's an interesting watch. Hearing about how the first cut of Kevin Smith's "Jersey Girl" was given an NC-17 rating because the Liv Tyler talked about pleasuring herself was ridiculous, especially since American Pie got an R rating and the dude was fucking baked goods. (although I guess they did have to do a different scene to make it R rated)
Especially given that the only difference is that in the R cut, you see Jason Biggs from the front, and in the DC you see him from behind.
Guy butt: Exactly the same as porno.
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VanguardBut now the dream is over. And the insect is awake.Registered User, __BANNED USERSregular
it is very possible that TheNomadicCircle is being rude to people who may, relatively easily, be wealthier than he is.
On mass? Hardly. Let me know when you can go to university without paying for it because your saved wealth pays for it itself without working. Sure, one or two might be more wealthier, but they don't have the social class.
I'm not being rude, its just how I am. Social class means a lot. And I don't maintain my own sources of wealth. They get maintained for me by people who work under me. In this case, the caretaker takes care of the dates. I get the profits and he gets his share working under me.
Anyone interested in seeing the screwed up nature of the movie ratings system should see "This Film is Not Yet Rated" on netflix instant watch. Great documentary about the ratings system.
That's the one I was talking about earlier. It's an interesting watch. Hearing about how the first cut of Kevin Smith's "Jersey Girl" was given an NC-17 rating because the Liv Tyler talked about pleasuring herself was ridiculous, especially since American Pie got an R rating and the dude was fucking baked goods. (although I guess they did have to do a different scene to make it R rated)
It also points out how really tame gay scenes in movies would get NC-17 ratings while almost porno straight scenes would get R.
Also, you aren't allowed to cite precedent to contest a rating. You aren't even really allowed to argue. Basically you say, I don't agree with the rating and then they basically slap you with the same rating again. And the get money from religious groups. and they keep all the raters secret.
and I wonder about my neighbors even though I don't have them
but they're listening to every word I say
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KalTorakOne way or another, they all end up inthe Undercity.Registered Userregular
Anyone interested in seeing the screwed up nature of the movie ratings system should see "This Film is Not Yet Rated" on netflix instant watch. Great documentary about the ratings system.
That's the one I was talking about earlier. It's an interesting watch. Hearing about how the first cut of Kevin Smith's "Jersey Girl" was given an NC-17 rating because the Liv Tyler talked about pleasuring herself was ridiculous, especially since American Pie got an R rating and the dude was fucking baked goods. (although I guess they did have to do a different scene to make it R rated)
It also points out how really tame gay scenes in movies would get NC-17 ratings while almost porno straight scenes would get R.
Also, you aren't allowed to cite precedent to contest a rating. You aren't even really allowed to argue. Basically you say, I don't agree with the rating and then they basically slap you with the same rating again. And the get money from religious groups. and they keep all the raters secret.
I thought Kevin Smith cited precedent when he was arguing down the NC-17 rating that Zack and Miri got (for the 12-frame-long poop shot). I don't remember which movies he referenced specifically, but I know he's talked about it.
Phone companies really should be working on this. There's no reason in the 21s century that a phone can't use OLEDs or e-ink to give you low-light messages when need be.
I set my settings profile to "bed" when I'm in a theater. Super-dark screen, impossible to even see unless it's really dark in the room (which sucks if I forget to switch it back and then I'm out in the sun and need my phone).
I don't understand the date trees thing. Sure, it's an important matter, which means you need to leave the movie and go handle your shit.
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KalTorakOne way or another, they all end up inthe Undercity.Registered Userregular
I think my phone (i assume other models can do it too) automagically adjusts the screen brightness based on ambient light. Meaning in a dark movie theater, it's about as dim as it can be.
However, that doesn't mean a mostly white screen won't still be pretty damn visible. Black screen with a few white lines, probably OK. I'm still not taking it out of my pocket though.
True, and that's why every movie has said "Please silence your cell phone" and not "Please turn that shit off." Sorry to say, I'm not turning that shit off. I'm still not going to be an inconsiderate jackass if it vibrates at me though and answer it because I need to make an extra $50 off some dates or my daughter didn't get to bed at 9:30.
I don't get what is being argued now, that one shouldn't even use their cell phone in a theater period? That's a silly position. I mean we can start spouting statistics about how rare it is to get an important phone call but that does not take away from the fact that no, I'm not going to turn my cell phone off for that 1 time every 2 years I get a call and no, it really isn't a distraction if someone gets up to leave... I mean I guess, but do you get angry at people who get up to take a piss? If you do you are the silliest of geese, I'm sorry to say.
I am not disagreeing that the others here don't have a valid use, but the notion that one should just completely turn off their phone because "statistics!" is a non-sequitor.
I don't think anyone rational is going to draw a distinction between "on silent" and "completely off", provided that if you do get a call you get up and leave to answer it. At least, I sure wouldn't argue that. I put my phone on silent, and I put it in a pocket where it won't buzz against the seat or something that would make it loud enough to hear more than 2 seats away. And if I'm expecting an important call, I get up and leave to take it. I'm pretty sure that the "you should just turn that shit off!" rhetoric is coming from people frustrated by arguments like TNC and the guy with the 2 year old. They're not getting up to go handle business, they're sitting there flashing shit at people and then saying how everyone else in the theater should just deal because they're important.
I'm a pretty rational person and I draw that line. Your phone should be off, full stop. If you're expecting an important call don't go to a movie. You checking your phone periodically is an annoyance and you getting up to take that call when it comes in is also an annoyance. It should be off, it's the rule of the theatre. They know phones go on silent so if they wanted you to put your phone on silence they'd say that.
Despite my arguments against cell phone use, I won't turn my phone completely off and I don't think people should be obligated to.
I put my phone on silent (no vibration), lock it, and put it in my pocket. Why? Because if I *do* get a phone call while I'm in the theater, I'll probably never know unless the person calling leaves a voicemail.
I'd rather see any missed calls I get.
There is no functional difference between a locked, silent phone you never check and a turned off phone you never check.
it is very possible that TheNomadicCircle is being rude to people who may, relatively easily, be wealthier than he is.
On mass? Hardly. Let me know when you can go to university without paying for it because your saved wealth pays for it itself without working. Sure, one or two might be more wealthier, but they don't have the social class.
I'm not being rude, its just how I am. Social class means a lot. And I don't maintain my own sources of wealth. They get maintained for me by people who work under me. In this case, the caretaker takes care of the dates. I get the profits and he gets his share working under me.
a) The idea that you represent a "classy" person by any definition makes me laugh.
b) Rudeness is a passive and active behavior. Just because you aren't actively trying to annoy or piss people off, you are being excessively selfish (and not just with regard to this topic). Being excessively selfish is "rude."
it is very possible that TheNomadicCircle is being rude to people who may, relatively easily, be wealthier than he is.
On mass? Hardly. Let me know when you can go to university without paying for it because your saved wealth pays for it itself without working. Sure, one or two might be more wealthier, but they don't have the social class.
I'm not being rude, its just how I am. Social class means a lot. And I don't maintain my own sources of wealth. They get maintained for me by people who work under me. In this case, the caretaker takes care of the dates. I get the profits and he gets his share working under me.
I have studied on student visa. Usually, one of the stipulations of holding such a visa is that you not engage in criminal conduct. You're really held to a higher standard than the locals. I am not saying actively asserting your dominion over another by birthright is a crime in North America, but it can lead to you being confronted and possibly in an altercation, which will put you into the ever-critical gaze of law enforcement if it escalates.
Put simply, being a dick in public increases your chances of being kicked out of the country. Even if that chance is small, is it really worth it?
I was actually witness to a loud shouting match in a movie theater when I went to go see Deep Blue Sea (however many years ago that was). It was before the movie even started and these two groups were about ready to fight.
I was actually witness to a loud shouting match in a movie theater when I went to go see Deep Blue Sea (however many years ago that was). It was before the movie even started and these two groups were about ready to fight.
So at least you were entertained for a few minutes that night. 8->
I was actually witness to a loud shouting match in a movie theater when I went to go see Deep Blue Sea (however many years ago that was). It was before the movie even started and these two groups were about ready to fight.
This reminded me of another thing I witnessed; of which I am unsure about the proper etiquette protocol. It was opening day for a movie (don't remember which one) and a dude was trying to save 16 seats, in the middle of the theater, for a sold out film. Then when a couple sat down in two of his seats (the couple clearly didn't understand that this dude was claiming all 16 seats for himself) the guy went apeshit; yelling and screaming until the couple moved. I mean I'm down with the whole saving seats scene. It happens, I've done it, not a big deal. But 16 seats, in the middle of the theater, for a sold out film just says "I'M A HUGE GOOSE" to me. I was very very tempted to take some of the dude's seats just on principal.
"The world is a mess, and I just need to rule it" - Dr Horrible
I was actually witness to a loud shouting match in a movie theater when I went to go see Deep Blue Sea (however many years ago that was). It was before the movie even started and these two groups were about ready to fight.
This reminded me of another thing I witnessed; of which I am unsure about the proper etiquette protocol. It was opening day for a movie (don't remember which one) and a dude was trying to save 16 seats, in the middle of the theater, for a sold out film. Then when a couple sat down in two of his seats (the couple clearly didn't understand that this dude was claiming all 16 seats for himself) the guy went apeshit; yelling and screaming until the couple moved. I mean I'm down with the whole saving seats scene. It happens, I've done it, not a big deal. But 16 seats, in the middle of the theater, for a sold out film just says "I'M A HUGE GOOSE" to me. I was very very tempted to take some of the dude's seats just on principal.
If he had 16 people coming, then why was he a goose? Going ape-shit on the couple sure, but if the show was already sold out, then those seats were all going to be filled by people that had tickets.
I was actually witness to a loud shouting match in a movie theater when I went to go see Deep Blue Sea (however many years ago that was). It was before the movie even started and these two groups were about ready to fight.
This reminded me of another thing I witnessed; of which I am unsure about the proper etiquette protocol. It was opening day for a movie (don't remember which one) and a dude was trying to save 16 seats, in the middle of the theater, for a sold out film. Then when a couple sat down in two of his seats (the couple clearly didn't understand that this dude was claiming all 16 seats for himself) the guy went apeshit; yelling and screaming until the couple moved. I mean I'm down with the whole saving seats scene. It happens, I've done it, not a big deal. But 16 seats, in the middle of the theater, for a sold out film just says "I'M A HUGE GOOSE" to me. I was very very tempted to take some of the dude's seats just on principal.
If he had 16 people coming, then why was he a goose? Going ape-shit on the couple sure, but if the show was already sold out, then those seats were all going to be filled by people that had tickets.
No, I have to agree that one person saving 16 prime seats is excessive. If the other 15 people were that concerned about where they sat at least some of them should have shown up earlier. I'd arbitrarily set the max # of seats that one person can save at 3 (not including the one they are in). If it is that important that sixteen people sit together and they can't show up on time, they should pay the theater extra to mark the seats as reserved.
Tomanta on
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AtomikaLive fast and get fucked or whateverRegistered Userregular
I think seat-saving should be limited to two places per person saving them, meaning one person can save two additional seats.
Theater Commandment 11:
- Get to the show on time. Not what time you think the trailers will end, not whenever the hell you feel like it. Should you somehow arrive late, don't be an ass. Choose the least-disruptive seating option available.
I like assigned seating. Queuing up for spots just leads to trouble.
I attended the midnight opening for one of the LotR movies and had been standing in line for 45 minutes. The theater had screwed up their line so that several other showings were blocked. So they chose to reorganize on the fly. In doing so they reversed the order of the queue. I tried to explain to the staffers why all the dressed up nerds got pissy all of a sudden, but they didn't seem to grasp the problem. I was in the middle so I didn't care that much.
Anyone interested in seeing the screwed up nature of the movie ratings system should see "This Film is Not Yet Rated" on netflix instant watch. Great documentary about the ratings system.
That's the one I was talking about earlier. It's an interesting watch. Hearing about how the first cut of Kevin Smith's "Jersey Girl" was given an NC-17 rating because the Liv Tyler talked about pleasuring herself was ridiculous, especially since American Pie got an R rating and the dude was fucking baked goods. (although I guess they did have to do a different scene to make it R rated)
It also points out how really tame gay scenes in movies would get NC-17 ratings while almost porno straight scenes would get R.
Also, you aren't allowed to cite precedent to contest a rating. You aren't even really allowed to argue. Basically you say, I don't agree with the rating and then they basically slap you with the same rating again. And the get money from religious groups. and they keep all the raters secret.
I know when they made Texas Chainsaw Massacre they went "by the book" to create a PG movie. The entire movie is pretty much implied and impending torture, you don't witness anything. Still, it got an R.
Gee.
I think seat-saving should be limited to two places per person saving them, meaning one person can save two additional seats.
Theater Commandment 11:
- Get to the show on time. Not what time you think the trailers will end, not whenever the hell you feel like it. Should you somehow arrive late, don't be an ass. Choose the least-disruptive seating option available.
I could give far less than half a fuck whether or not I interrupt the fifteen minutes of cell phone and coca-cola trailers that play before the actual trailers that play before the movie I paid for.
We talk during the commercials. Once the honest to goodness trailers start up we'll quiet down but there will still be some commentary to discuss what we think of what it was we just saw.
Talking during commercials is expected. There are often a shitload of them, and honestly I really don't need to pay much attention to the latest Zoom Zoom commercial. I get it, you love your cars/beer/whatever the fuck you're selling.
During trailers isn't really a big deal to me, but I'm a big fan of trailers, so most of my chatter is limited to 'yay's or 'booourns' at the close of said trailer.
Saving seats is something I'll often do, but generally stick to a handful unless I have another person there, then I don't feel it's unreasonable to sort of cordon off a section. I'd never dream of trying to snag 16 in one clump anyway. Better idea is to aim to have 2 groups of 8 stacks anyway. Center seating often being the best seating (barring a potential need to flee the theatre to save a person or democracy, etc, etc).
Forar on
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AtomikaLive fast and get fucked or whateverRegistered Userregular
I think seat-saving should be limited to two places per person saving them, meaning one person can save two additional seats.
Theater Commandment 11:
- Get to the show on time. Not what time you think the trailers will end, not whenever the hell you feel like it. Should you somehow arrive late, don't be an ass. Choose the least-disruptive seating option available.
I could give far less than half a fuck whether or not I interrupt the fifteen minutes of cell phone and coca-cola trailers that play before the actual trailers that play before the movie I paid for.
By law, the posted start times of a movie have to be the start time of when the lights dim to initiate the studio trailers. Private adverts are expressly not allowed during that time. If your theater does this as a practice, they're probably in violation of one agreement or another.
This is not a problem here. We have numbered seats and if somebody shows up with a ticket with that number... You best move buddy.
His behavior was dickish though and somebody should have put him in his place.
Some theaters in the U.S. do this now. When I saw X-Men: First Class in San Francisco, the theater had assigned seating. It was the one attached to the giant Japanese shopping center whose name escapes me.
So, since we're talking about ratings now (and not full blown date farming), what's the common opinion on kids in R-rated movies? And I don't mean kids as in minors, but kids as in, like, 5 year olds and stuff. I understand that if I go see anything PG or G at any time of day or night I have no position to bitch about there being kids too young to behave in the theater, but is it really that unreasonable of me to expect that if I go to see an R-rated film there will, generally, not be small children in there who will run up and down the stairs and whine loudly about whatever or cry at the scary/loud parts? I think I've been called out by parents as being unreasonable about that in the past, but I still feel like it's poor movie etiquette to take your young progeny with you to such things.
Well, there's two aspects to this. Firstly, if you're taking your five year old to see Basic Instinct or Natural Born Killers you are probably a terrible parent, case closed. Beyond that - let's say it's a fairly mild R and we're talking slightly older kids, or it's one of those movies where it's rated R because they say "fuck" 2.5 times and seriously who cares if your kid hears the sort of language he probably uses at grade school all the damned time anyway when no grown-ups are watching. If that's the case, you still have the obligation of ensuring that your kid obeys the same sort of etiquette you would expect of an adult. If he's going to be yammering about things or going potty every ten minutes or texting orders to maintain his make-believe Facebook farm then he has no business at a movie with adults.
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AtomikaLive fast and get fucked or whateverRegistered Userregular
I think it's also time dependent. If I'm paying top-dollar for a suite with table service at peak hours on a weekend and your kid starts acting the fool, I'm probably going to ask the manager to remove both of you if you can't handle it.
If it's a 10 AM showing at a dollar cinema, well, fuck me for being poor, I guess.
I have actually sat in 'saved' seats and withstood the cussing, angry looks, and yelling that comes from doing that. I never taken a seat that was being held ight next to someone, but if you tell me the next four seats next to you are also saved, I'll sit down on one of them if they're the best seats.
I have also refused to move one or two seats over so a group of people can sif together. I would say I'm surprised I haven't gotten my ass kicked, but most of the times I done this have been opening night/midnight showings, so I'm basically battling fellow nerds
I think seat-saving should be limited to two places per person saving them, meaning one person can save two additional seats.
Theater Commandment 11:
- Get to the show on time. Not what time you think the trailers will end, not whenever the hell you feel like it. Should you somehow arrive late, don't be an ass. Choose the least-disruptive seating option available.
I could give far less than half a fuck whether or not I interrupt the fifteen minutes of cell phone and coca-cola trailers that play before the actual trailers that play before the movie I paid for.
By law, the posted start times of a movie have to be the start time of when the lights dim to initiate the studio trailers. Private adverts are expressly not allowed during that time. If your theater does this as a practice, they're probably in violation of one agreement or another.
The more I read your posts, the more I think how lucky you are to have such nice theaters. In my experience, the lights will go to half bright at start time. That's when the commercials start. The lights will then go dark once the trailers begin.
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AtomikaLive fast and get fucked or whateverRegistered Userregular
The more I read your posts, the more I think how lucky you are to have such nice theaters. In my experience, the lights will go to half bright at start time. That's when the commercials start. The lights will then go dark once the trailers begin.
That's actually not all that uncommon, especially with the independent theaters here. But after a lot of complaining from customers, rules were passed that stated that movie theaters are disallowed from charging you to watch commercials unrelated to their business and/or other movies being released. Ergo, the posted start time can only denote the time when the trailers start.
At the independent theater near where I grew up, start time meant fucking start time. The old man that owned the place never liked to run more than one or two trailers, so your ass had better be in the seat when the ticket said to.
I have actually sat in 'saved' seats and withstood the cussing, angry looks, and yelling that comes from doing that. I never taken a seat that was being held ight next to someone, but if you tell me the next four seats next to you are also saved, I'll sit down on one of them if they're the best seats.
I have also refused to move one or two seats over so a group of people can sif together. I would say I'm surprised I haven't gotten my ass kicked, but most of the times I done this have been opening night/midnight showings, so I'm basically battling fellow nerds
The last two times I have been generous and moved over so late ass fuck heads could sit together they fucking talked through the movie. This pisses me off because it is a reasonable request and all but I've started to believe it's an indicator you're a fucking asshole.
When I saw We Were Soldiers* the theater didn't actually dim the lights until halfway through the movie. I honestly did not notice it until they dimmed, but I wasn't really caring either.
* I had a film class in school that required me to see a movie in the theater once a week and write a paper on it. This was a class from between January and March. It was awful, I think ran out of stuff I was interested in after about 3 weeks... and one of those was rewatching Fellowship of the Ring. I saw way too many war movies.
At the independent theater near where I grew up, start time meant fucking start time. The old man that owned the place never liked to run more than one or two trailers, so your ass had better be in the seat when the ticket said to.
That old man would have had himself a repeat customer.
Theaters near me tried that about 15 years ago, and it pissed me off because there was no warning, so you ended up being several minutes late when all you expected was to miss a few trailers.
If you have a burning need to text in a movie then have the decency to get out of the theatre to do so. I'm not paying 12 dollars to be distracted by your jerk ass need to chat with your signifigant others.
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No he's saying he's third in line to be the leader of his tribe. Like being a condo owner in a condo co-op who is next in line to be head of the board. It's culturally significant to him but virtually meaningless elsewhere - particularly in this conversation. While I do find his attitude to be a bit off-putting it's only relevant in so far as our theatre discussion goes - ie: his stance on texting in the theatre. We should probably drop everything else in the interest of staying on-topic.
edit: NM Jeffe said exactly that as I typed this out.
Some of this is that Mall theaters are usually prohibited from showing NC-17 flicks by virtue of their lease agreements. There isn't really a decision to be made, it just isn't an option. This then extends to the whole "franchise" thing, meaning it might not be worth their time to acquire showing rights at all.
So, since we're talking about ratings now (and not full blown date farming), what's the common opinion on kids in R-rated movies? And I don't mean kids as in minors, but kids as in, like, 5 year olds and stuff. I understand that if I go see anything PG or G at any time of day or night I have no position to bitch about there being kids too young to behave in the theater, but is it really that unreasonable of me to expect that if I go to see an R-rated film there will, generally, not be small children in there who will run up and down the stairs and whine loudly about whatever or cry at the scary/loud parts? I think I've been called out by parents as being unreasonable about that in the past, but I still feel like it's poor movie etiquette to take your young progeny with you to such things.
but they're listening to every word I say
That's the one I was talking about earlier. It's an interesting watch. Hearing about how the first cut of Kevin Smith's "Jersey Girl" was given an NC-17 rating because the Liv Tyler talked about pleasuring herself was ridiculous, especially since American Pie got an R rating and the dude was fucking baked goods. (although I guess they did have to do a different scene to make it R rated)
Especially given that the only difference is that in the R cut, you see Jason Biggs from the front, and in the DC you see him from behind.
Guy butt: Exactly the same as porno.
Got it. You're just a dick.
It also points out how really tame gay scenes in movies would get NC-17 ratings while almost porno straight scenes would get R.
Also, you aren't allowed to cite precedent to contest a rating. You aren't even really allowed to argue. Basically you say, I don't agree with the rating and then they basically slap you with the same rating again. And the get money from religious groups. and they keep all the raters secret.
but they're listening to every word I say
I thought Kevin Smith cited precedent when he was arguing down the NC-17 rating that Zack and Miri got (for the 12-frame-long poop shot). I don't remember which movies he referenced specifically, but I know he's talked about it.
I don't understand the date trees thing. Sure, it's an important matter, which means you need to leave the movie and go handle your shit.
However, that doesn't mean a mostly white screen won't still be pretty damn visible. Black screen with a few white lines, probably OK. I'm still not taking it out of my pocket though.
Despite my arguments against cell phone use, I won't turn my phone completely off and I don't think people should be obligated to.
I put my phone on silent (no vibration), lock it, and put it in my pocket. Why? Because if I *do* get a phone call while I'm in the theater, I'll probably never know unless the person calling leaves a voicemail.
I'd rather see any missed calls I get.
There is no functional difference between a locked, silent phone you never check and a turned off phone you never check.
a) The idea that you represent a "classy" person by any definition makes me laugh.
b) Rudeness is a passive and active behavior. Just because you aren't actively trying to annoy or piss people off, you are being excessively selfish (and not just with regard to this topic). Being excessively selfish is "rude."
Like I alluded to earlier, it is flat out dumb to put this ideology into practice in a country that is fundamentally against it while on a visa. People do get in fights in movie theaters (http://www.foxnews.com/us/2010/03/09/man-stabbed-meat-thermometer-california-movie-theater/; yes I do live in that city).
I have studied on student visa. Usually, one of the stipulations of holding such a visa is that you not engage in criminal conduct. You're really held to a higher standard than the locals. I am not saying actively asserting your dominion over another by birthright is a crime in North America, but it can lead to you being confronted and possibly in an altercation, which will put you into the ever-critical gaze of law enforcement if it escalates.
Put simply, being a dick in public increases your chances of being kicked out of the country. Even if that chance is small, is it really worth it?
So at least you were entertained for a few minutes that night. 8->
This reminded me of another thing I witnessed; of which I am unsure about the proper etiquette protocol. It was opening day for a movie (don't remember which one) and a dude was trying to save 16 seats, in the middle of the theater, for a sold out film. Then when a couple sat down in two of his seats (the couple clearly didn't understand that this dude was claiming all 16 seats for himself) the guy went apeshit; yelling and screaming until the couple moved. I mean I'm down with the whole saving seats scene. It happens, I've done it, not a big deal. But 16 seats, in the middle of the theater, for a sold out film just says "I'M A HUGE GOOSE" to me. I was very very tempted to take some of the dude's seats just on principal.
Shame will eventually be the limiting factor.
If he had 16 people coming, then why was he a goose? Going ape-shit on the couple sure, but if the show was already sold out, then those seats were all going to be filled by people that had tickets.
No, I have to agree that one person saving 16 prime seats is excessive. If the other 15 people were that concerned about where they sat at least some of them should have shown up earlier. I'd arbitrarily set the max # of seats that one person can save at 3 (not including the one they are in). If it is that important that sixteen people sit together and they can't show up on time, they should pay the theater extra to mark the seats as reserved.
Theater Commandment 11:
- Get to the show on time. Not what time you think the trailers will end, not whenever the hell you feel like it. Should you somehow arrive late, don't be an ass. Choose the least-disruptive seating option available.
I attended the midnight opening for one of the LotR movies and had been standing in line for 45 minutes. The theater had screwed up their line so that several other showings were blocked. So they chose to reorganize on the fly. In doing so they reversed the order of the queue. I tried to explain to the staffers why all the dressed up nerds got pissy all of a sudden, but they didn't seem to grasp the problem. I was in the middle so I didn't care that much.
His behavior was dickish though and somebody should have put him in his place.
I know when they made Texas Chainsaw Massacre they went "by the book" to create a PG movie. The entire movie is pretty much implied and impending torture, you don't witness anything. Still, it got an R.
Gee.
I could give far less than half a fuck whether or not I interrupt the fifteen minutes of cell phone and coca-cola trailers that play before the actual trailers that play before the movie I paid for.
During trailers isn't really a big deal to me, but I'm a big fan of trailers, so most of my chatter is limited to 'yay's or 'booourns' at the close of said trailer.
Saving seats is something I'll often do, but generally stick to a handful unless I have another person there, then I don't feel it's unreasonable to sort of cordon off a section. I'd never dream of trying to snag 16 in one clump anyway. Better idea is to aim to have 2 groups of 8 stacks anyway. Center seating often being the best seating (barring a potential need to flee the theatre to save a person or democracy, etc, etc).
By law, the posted start times of a movie have to be the start time of when the lights dim to initiate the studio trailers. Private adverts are expressly not allowed during that time. If your theater does this as a practice, they're probably in violation of one agreement or another.
Lights dim for commercials, go out for trailers/feature.
Some theaters in the U.S. do this now. When I saw X-Men: First Class in San Francisco, the theater had assigned seating. It was the one attached to the giant Japanese shopping center whose name escapes me.
Well, there's two aspects to this. Firstly, if you're taking your five year old to see Basic Instinct or Natural Born Killers you are probably a terrible parent, case closed. Beyond that - let's say it's a fairly mild R and we're talking slightly older kids, or it's one of those movies where it's rated R because they say "fuck" 2.5 times and seriously who cares if your kid hears the sort of language he probably uses at grade school all the damned time anyway when no grown-ups are watching. If that's the case, you still have the obligation of ensuring that your kid obeys the same sort of etiquette you would expect of an adult. If he's going to be yammering about things or going potty every ten minutes or texting orders to maintain his make-believe Facebook farm then he has no business at a movie with adults.
If it's a 10 AM showing at a dollar cinema, well, fuck me for being poor, I guess.
I have also refused to move one or two seats over so a group of people can sif together. I would say I'm surprised I haven't gotten my ass kicked, but most of the times I done this have been opening night/midnight showings, so I'm basically battling fellow nerds
The more I read your posts, the more I think how lucky you are to have such nice theaters. In my experience, the lights will go to half bright at start time. That's when the commercials start. The lights will then go dark once the trailers begin.
That's actually not all that uncommon, especially with the independent theaters here. But after a lot of complaining from customers, rules were passed that stated that movie theaters are disallowed from charging you to watch commercials unrelated to their business and/or other movies being released. Ergo, the posted start time can only denote the time when the trailers start.
At the independent theater near where I grew up, start time meant fucking start time. The old man that owned the place never liked to run more than one or two trailers, so your ass had better be in the seat when the ticket said to.
The last two times I have been generous and moved over so late ass fuck heads could sit together they fucking talked through the movie. This pisses me off because it is a reasonable request and all but I've started to believe it's an indicator you're a fucking asshole.
* I had a film class in school that required me to see a movie in the theater once a week and write a paper on it. This was a class from between January and March. It was awful, I think ran out of stuff I was interested in after about 3 weeks... and one of those was rewatching Fellowship of the Ring. I saw way too many war movies.
That old man would have had himself a repeat customer.