In Philly, we had a shooting at a Christmas night showing of “Benjamin Button.” Annoyed patron put two shots into some loudmouth who was talking over the picture. Shooter then sat down with his popcorn and resumed watching the flick.
My wife and I had not gone together to the movies for a long time, simply because there is not that much out there to see. We used to go once every few weeks or once a month, but for the last few years, not much at all.
We did go to see the most recent James Bond movie, and after paying $9.50, had to sit pretty close to the screen.
During the movie, we had three eight year old boys (a guess) sitting in front of us, and they were carrying on the entire time. Not just a little, but fully vocal constant grab-assing, using their cell phones and so on. No parents there. Looking around, I could see other people looking over in their direction, so I was sure it wasn’t me. I thought they would settle in eventually, but they didn’t, so about 15 minutes into the show I pulled my head between them and said quietly and politely “Hey...you kids want to keep it down?”
They looked at me, then did quiet down for about 30 seconds, then began up. It went on for about five minutes, then I stood up and leaned over and said in a fairly loud, gruff adult voice: “Knock it off. If I hear one more peep out of you guys, you are going to be out of here.”
They kept it down. But lo and behold, more loud talking and cellphone usage came from behind me. And again, folks, this wasn’t a little whispering or giggling, this was full normal tone conversation! I looked over and it was what I guessed was two twelve year olds on a date. This went on for a while, and even my wife began looking in their direction.
I got up, walked the five seats over and told them to keep it down!
What the hell is this? It pissed me off completely that I paid $20 to get in and had to put up with this.
But what blew me away was the look on their faces...those two kids seemed completely surprised and baffled that someone would actually tell them to be quiet in a movie theater! I couldn’t figure that out...didn’t they notice there wasn’t a lot of conversation going on?
When we left, my wife said she didn’t want to go back to that theatre. I am certainly not inclined to. I paid a lot of money to have to put up with that crap.
Not guilty. (pending picture)