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Personally I don't find the theater patrons annoying -- it's the "pre-theater entertainment" that bugs me -- all the ads, noise, etc. before the movie starts.
that's another thing about Alamo Draft House - they don't show the normal ads before the ovide. It will often be a movie trivia theme or something to go along with the movie.
 
I hear ya. I usually only go to festivals to see movies, because people are there expressly to see them and are respectful.

I've found this is only sometimes true with the Chicago festival, and it's a real shame. Put your damn cell phones away, don't talk to your seatmate during the film, and if you can't go two hours without getting up to pee, don't bring a gigantic drink. Problem solved.
 
I think the age restriction helps but doesn't solve the problem entirely. As others have mentioned, jerks come in all age ranges though 99% are from the 30-below crowd (relax, I'm in that group!).

I don't have a problem with someone's phone going off or even if they take the call, just say "wait a minute, I'm at the movies" and have the person hold while you take the 30 seconds to talk outside of the theatre room.

I will say that the majority of the people that annoy me at movies are those under 21. I'd even go as far as to say those under the driving age. It is usually a group that giggles at everything, talks during the movie or consistently gets up, leaves, gets up, leaves, etc.

The biggest age group that annoys me? The babies. Parents, just because you can't find a babysitter doesn't mean that the rest of us have to put up with your crying baby. You say you don't get to go out anymore and enjoy movies? Not my problem.

Okay. /rant :)
 
I've found this is only sometimes true with the Chicago festival, and it's a real shame. Put your damn cell phones away, don't talk to your seatmate during the film, and if you can't go two hours without getting up to pee, don't bring a gigantic drink. Problem solved.

Ditto.

Talking during the movie is a crime in my book. Also, all those people texting throughout the whole damn movie....The glow of a cell phone screen is unbelievably annoying and distracting. I mean, if something is so important that you constantly have to be texting back and forth with someone, why do you even bother going to a movie? You're obviously not watching it.

I wish theaters would put cell phone jammers in to stop people from using their phones. Though, they'd probably stupidly still keep checking their screens for their precious text messages.

If I owned a movie theater, this is what I'd do:

1. Post a warning at the ticket counter saying that: You will be ejected from the theater, without refund, if management recieves a complaint about you 1) talking during a movie or 2) you are caught using a cell phone during a movie...including but not limited to: talking on a cell phone, text messaging on a cell phone or lighting up a cell phone screen.

2. I would also have an usher announce these warnings before the start of every movie.
 
I've had 10-year-olds sitting next to me in R-rated movies - kind of embarrassing.

Picked-up some pointers, did you?
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I gave up on theatres a while ago.

Too loud (for the soon to be deaf kids in the audience) and the damn commercials.

Drinking would soften that, but you would need a DD.
 
The biggest age group that annoys me? The babies. Parents, just because you can't find a babysitter doesn't mean that the rest of us have to put up with your crying baby. You say you don't get to go out anymore and enjoy movies? Not my problem.

I feel the same way about this at restaurants. It ruins my night when I see a family with 2 or 3 kids under the age of 4 being seated at the table next to me.
 
As a teen, I think it's a great idea. I hope the concept still has a viable market when I turn 21. I enjoy movies, and so do my friends. We might laugh a lot, but we usually are pretty good about not ruining it for other people.

No movie theater would ever totally ban anyone under 21. IIRC, teens are the biggest demographic that watch movies at the theaters today.
 
The theater here has a 18 yr old restrictions but they never enforce it. So the rule is only as good as they enforce it.
 
I saw Saw V on opening night, and there were some high school kids sitting next to me with their girlfriends. Some big black guy, I'd say he was 6'5 about 300 lbs, came up and asked if the girls seats were taken( the kids girlfriends went to the bathroom or something.) The Teen said sorry but these are taken, and the big guy said I dont se anyone sitting there, well this started an argument, and the girls ame back and called the big guy some names and he threatened to kill them and said the girls suck you know for quarters....it was kinda funny, especially when the guy walked down the stairs where a police officer had been standing. Guy got arrested or whatever, but shows that kids arent the only ones causing problems.....some of the adults do to.
 
The biggest age group that annoys me? The babies. Parents, just because you can't find a babysitter doesn't mean that the rest of us have to put up with your crying baby. You say you don't get to go out anymore and enjoy movies? Not my problem.

Okay. /rant :)

I'm with you there... and I have 2.5 kids...

I wish theaters would put cell phone jammers in to stop people from using their phones. Though, they'd probably stupidly still keep checking their screens for their precious text messages.

As a parent I do see a legitimate reason for a cell phone at the movies, sitter needs to call in an emergency, etc. But I always turn my phone to vibrate only, and if it goes if a discrete check of the caller ID to determine if I want to take the call and if I do want to take it I exit before answering.

I feel the same way about this at restaurants. It ruins my night when I see a family with 2 or 3 kids under the age of 4 being seated at the table next to me.

I'm a little more tolerant of kids at restaurants but for the most part our kids aren't making too big of a nuisance and we remove them if necessary.

The one thing I've never been able to wrap my head around is Cinemark's warning about kids under 6 (look at the red text under the "Don't let your movie sell out!" warning).

Note: No Children Under Age 6 Will Be Admitted To Any R-Rated Feature After 6:00 PM. Valid IDs will be required to attend Rated "R" movies. You must be at least 17 years of age or have your parent accompany you to view the movie. IDs will be checked at the theatre.

I'm sorry but kids under 6 shouldn't be admitted to R movies anytime. Hell, I'd put it at kids under 13 even if supervised. If PG-13 is the supposedly for teens without supervision it should stand to reason that it should be the lower age limit for R with supervision.
 
I think it's a great idea if they also open a bar on premises. I've never understood why a theater with bar is not more common... I'd love to enjoy a nice cold brew with my movie! Obviously you might run into some problems with people drinking too much and stuff, but I figure a theater/bar would be a more casual place anyway, and not somewhere you'd go if you wanted the "sit down and shut up" experience.
 
Now I just need to be able to afford a movie ticket...

Don't worry, I hear there's plenty of easy credit to be had.
I've never understood why a theater with bar is not more common...

That really is a good idea (and some small theaters out here in the Bay Area are trying that-ID required :p), but I think the reason most theaters didn't do this is because they were originally viewed as "family" destinations.

With the amount they charge for a single ticket, they should be handing you a drink as you step onto that perpetually sticky floor. :rolleyes:
 
That really is a good idea (and some small theaters out here in the Bay Area are trying that-ID required :p), but I think the reason most theaters didn't do this is because they were originally viewed as "family" destinations.

There was a good one in Oakland that served beers. The seats were recliners too. I'm not sure if it's still around though.
 
There was a good one in Oakland that served beers. The seats were recliners too. I'm not sure if it's still around though.

I remember seeing a news story about a new one in Napa or somewhere in that region, but I didn't know there was one around Oakland.

It's time for some Googleing. :p
 
I think movie theatres should be like real theatres - all electronic devices off, no talking during the show, bathroom during intermission only and a bar outside :).
 
Personally I don't find the theater patrons annoying -- it's the "pre-theater entertainment" that bugs me -- all the ads, noise, etc. before the movie starts.

That is why I stopped.

Forget about the prices for tickets / popcorn. First the local-ad slides with "trivia" (for those who show up early for good seats), then Mt. Dew, Skittles, Honda Ridgeline, Netflix, QwikTix, and whatever barrage of film ads. Then Upcoming movie trailer - Pepsi Ad - next trailer - reeses ad - next trailer (wash, rinse and repeat)..

The first time I had to sit through that - was my last time.

Ring... Beep... Ringtone....

Oh, then the annoying teens, and others who won't ****.

I should pay 40 bones for me and one other to sit through this, or wait 3 months and do it all for much less, comfortable, better sound, and without distractions.

No brainer here.
 
I think that's a good idea, since people under the age of 21 can be quite ignorant during the viewing of a movie, even though I'm under 21. I went to the movies this week with my bf and someone sitting near us (who was under 21) was trying to get someone's attention from the other side of the row, deliberately calling the person's name until she gave up a minute or so later. :rolleyes:

On the other hand, I did see Shark Tale when it was in the cinemas, and some woman in her 40's was laughing quite hard at just about everything the characters were saying.
 
Even though I'm a teenager, I see how others might like this. As long as there are still many other showings, then there should be no problem, but hopefully its not the only Friday night movie. But its not only teenagers, the people that piss me off the most in movies are adults. Since many adults see movies more than once, when they go with a new friend, they constantly have to say "oh my favorite part is coming up really soon" or "you're gonna love it when ___ does ___ to ____." I think that the movie theater industry is dying anyways.
 
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