By Kyle Lee
Berthoud Recorder

Shhhhh. … There’s a movie on. It’s right there on the giant screen that everyone else is so attentively watching. This isn’t actually going to be a complaint column but it’s been happening more and more often, so I thought I would open up the discussion.

I’ve always wondered why people bring a certain attitude into the theater. As I was waiting for “District 9” to start in a sold out showing, a couple passed in front of me and said, “Oh gosh, I hate movie theaters!” Not to be rude but why are you here then? And why are you yelling out at the screen at every moment during the movie? I know you’re more comfortable in your own house but that doesn’t mean you get to provide your own commentary to the proceedings while you’re in a public setting to make yourself calmer about stepping out of your shelter.

But I want people to laugh, scream, oooh and aaah at the movie. By all means react! But I draw the line when you repeat a joke just told or explain what just happened loud enough for everyone to hear. The attitude you approach a movie with will often affect your opinion on the quality of that movie. It can come close to ruining it for others as well.

“Walk the Line” was almost ruined for me because of a couple that was old enough to know better. I was also told about an experience at “The Dark Knight” midnight showing. A father and son were watching it together, but the dad decided he’d rather pay more attention to his phone than one of the best movies of the decade. His son pleads him to turn it off and he couldn’t even manage that.

With ticket prices going up and home theater systems improving, it’s getting tougher to get people to take the plunge at the multiplex anymore. So why is it that the inconsiderate ones still find time to distract those that still enjoy the theater going experience? If you ask me we need constant vigilance.
 
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