Movie Etiquette, Observations and Other Experiences

[Booko]

With a sharing friend who is a movie aficionado, you may never have to pay for your favorite flicks again and who knows, they may just have something you never seen before, so don’t be timid or stubborn, try experimenting.

One of my best friends is a movie freak, and while we sometimes don't have the same taste in movies, we often do. We often plan which movies we are gonna buy.

Some things she wants that I'd just like to watch once -- she buys it and I borrow it. And vice versa. It saves a lot of money that way.

Since signing up with Netflix, I find I'm also saving a lot of money by NOT buying movies I probably don't want to watch multiple times.

They recently raised the price of matinees (!) from $6.50 to $7.25. We're now reevaluating how and when we see movies in the theatre. They only just jumped it from $6 around a year before.

I don't know what they're thinking. It's getting to the point where I can just wait to buy the movie a few months later for less than the price of our two tickets, and if I don't like it I can give it away or sell it or swap it at the used movie store.

We went to see Casino Royale on Friday at 5 (!) not realizing that that isn't a matinee any more (!) and it cost us as much to see the movie as it did to eat at the nice steak and fish place afterwards.

And the weird things was, I have a corn allergy, and an hour into the movie I got the hives. I've never had that before. I may have to just hit the first showing and maybe bring my own wet wipes so I can afford to sit in the seat. I may have to stop going to theatres altogther.

 

[cardero]

Some things she wants that I'd just like to watch once -- she buys it and I borrow it. And vice versa. It saves a lot of money that way.

Since signing up with Netflix, I find I'm also saving a lot of money by NOT buying movies I probably don't want to watch multiple times.

They recently raised the price of matinees (!) from $6.50 to $7.25. We're now reevaluating how and when we see movies in the theatre. They only just jumped it from $6 around a year before.

I get about 32 movies a month from Netflix and it costs me about $.75 a movie. Pop Secret is only a $1.79 for three packages if I want popcorn (at Aldee’s Grocery). I get to smoke in the privacy of my own home/toll-booth and I do not have to worry about going to see a Pixar movie and listen to children crying. In fact since the Eragon movie, the theater experience has left a bad taste in my mouth and Blockbuster movie rentals are just too expensive for a weekly rental (and who needs a movie for a week?)

 

[Booko]

I get about 32 movies a month from Netflix and it costs me about $.75 a movie.

Are you on the 5 at a time plan?

I'm 3 at a time, but lately I haven't been going through them very fast. It's still cheaper than the theatre and Netflix has stuff I can't find elsewhere.

Pop Secret is only a $1.79 for three packages if I want popcorn (at Aldee’s Grocery).

Get even cheaper, Cardero -- get a decent air popper and use real butter. Pop Secret has nasty fat and too much salt, and really isn't tasty. I use white (not yellow!) popcorn I get at the grocery store, nothing fancy, and use my Orville Redenbacher air popper. It's fast, it's clean, and it's so tasty that I used to provide popcorn for my friends for them to smuggle into the theatre.

Since Ellen and I have the corn allergy, we're off popcorn, probably forever. If you want my popper -- it's yours. Just PM me and address and I'll send it. I hate to see the poor thing go to waste like this!

I get to smoke in the privacy of my own home/toll-booth and I do not have to worry about going to see a Pixar movie and listen to children crying.

We go when there's often no one else there -- that's a real help.

In fact since the Eragon movie, the theater experience has left a bad taste in my mouth and Blockbuster movie rentals are just too expensive for a weekly rental (and who needs a movie for a week?)

Oh my...what happened during Eragon? I missed that!

I'm really getting tired of sitting through advertisements at movie theatres. Previews are fine. But seriously, I paid enough for my tickets -- no ads, please. We have to smuggle in all our food anyway (there is literally nothing in a movie theatre I can eat except water), so we just sail in at the last minute.

Some movies don't really need to be seen on the "big screen" and we're being awfully picky about when we actually go to the theatre.

 

[cardero]

Booko writes: Are you on the 5 at a time plan?

I got the 4 out at a time plan and I usually give them a run for the money. If they send you e-mails asking you if the films have arrived-don’t answer them. Like I mentioned, if there are no postal holidays and everything is running smoothly I can get 8 films out of them a week.

Booko writes: Get even cheaper, Cardero -- get a decent air popper and use real butter. Pop Secret has nasty fat and too much salt, and really isn't tasty. If you want my popper -- it's yours. Just PM me and address and I'll send it. I hate to see the poor thing go to waste like this!

That is a beautiful incentive and I want you to know that your giving nature is appreciated. I would be more than happy to accept it if mrscardero didn’t get an old fashioned hot air-popper for Christmas this season. It is shaped like the old fashioned popcorn carts seen at the baseball games and street corners and I am glad she got it. I prefer my popcorn hot-air popped and I like the white corn lightly salted. We have just a few bags left of Pop Secret microwave popcorn (blecch!!) we got from Sam’s Club that we are finishing up then we are braking out the popper. I will keep an eye on the Orville Redenbocker white corn.

Booko writes: Since Ellen and I have the corn allergy, we're off popcorn, probably forever.

I friend of mine has a corn allergy as well but we turned him on to Robert’s American Gourmet Pirate Booty which is a mix of rice and corn puffs with a light cheddar cheese coating. It’s healthy, expensive and addictive and is what we smuggle into drive-ins and theaters. It seems to agree with his diet requirements.

Booko writes: We go when there's often no one else there -- that's a real help.

When I decide to go to theaters, I usually wait for the crowds to die out. There is one friend who we go with who has to be an opening night movie-goer. I think he likes the experience of having a live studio audience there when he watches the film.

Booko writes: Oh my...what happened during Eragon?

It stunk. And I over-paid for all that stinkiness.

Booko writes: I missed that!

That’s okay, you can catch it from Netflix when it comes out in a couple of months. The stinkiness shouldn’t sting that much if you are an enrolled member.

Booko writes: We have to smuggle in all our food anyway (there is literally nothing in a movie theatre I can eat except water), so we just sail in at the last minute.

http://www.religiousforums.com/forum/showthread.php?t=45577&page=3

The same thing with mrscardero, she looks like Wonka’s Violet Beauregarde in her last gum chewing scene when we get through with her. She’s packed for bear! It is all healthy snacks and waters.

 

[RaceKitty]

I enjoy movies, actually much more than my hubby.

One of our latest movie going experience happend, geeze, It seems like forever ago but I took him to see Batman Begins ( :hearts: Christian Bale) and sitting next to us was a man with two children, girl about 5 and boy about 3. The bat scene at the beginning freaked out the little girl and then the kids spent the rest of the time squirming in their seats in order to avoid the seeing the screen. Certainly not pleasant!

I felt sorry for the kids, he should have thought about their needs a lot more and waited to see it another time.

Okay, now time for one of my pet peeves...and this is during ANY movie...
If you're unlucky enough to be watching with someone who has already seen the movie, he or she (she in every case for us) has to narrate with "You have to watch this part" or "You will not understand if you don't pay attention" "Do you really not see me watching the same movie?" or someone who asks questions during the entire movie, "who", "why", "how", etc...

I've even yelled at a friends kid because she was beginning to tell me what happened. Call me cruel...I don't like spoilers!

Secondly, we enjoy seeing the midnight showing sometimes. DO NOT BRING YOUR BABIES OR SCREEMING KIDS INTO THE THEATER! If you don't have a babysitter, stay home. They shouldn't be up that late anyway.

kay, off my soap box.

Peace,
Brandy

 

[Circle_One]

Ooh, I'm prone to doing this:

If you're unlucky enough to be watching with someone who has already seen the movie, he or she (she in every case for us) has to narrate with "You have to watch this part" or "You will not understand if you don't pay attention"

I honestly can't help it. Anyone who knows me knows how excited I get over movies and how excited I am to share the ones I love with my friends, so I always do that. It's a terrible habit, and one that I've tried to stop, but it's hard, haha.

 

[lilithu]

Especially with a movie like Memento. I’d hate to show up five minutes into the movie just to find out that I missed the ending.

Which brings us to movie observation Number 5.
Attention Directors, if the story of your movie sucks while being played forward it is not going to be any better shown backwards.

:sarcastic

I loved Memento. It was gimmicky but it was well done. His next movie, Insomnia, was even better.

 

[mostly harmless]

If you really love a movie (like Space Balls or Super Troopers) (my 2 favorite movies of all time) feel free to watch it over and over again. Not only will your prolonged bouts of laughter keep you healthy, but the movie makers will benefit each time you wear out your DVD or Video and have to buy a new one.

 

[Booko]

I got the 4 out at a time plan and I usually give them a run for the money. If they send you e-mails asking you if the films have arrived-don’t answer them. Like I mentioned, if there are no postal holidays and everything is running smoothly I can get 8 films out of them a week.

I'm doing 3 films a week, but finding I'm on RF too much to avail myself fully of their services. I'm might up to more a week when Mom has her surgery, though. I can change my address and keep the movies rolling in that way. There isn't a lot at the local video store that she'd really care to see, though I've been known to rent something and watch it on my PC with headphones, just to avoid watching CSI or XYZPDQ or whatever those cop shows are she watches.

I prefer my popcorn hot-air popped and I like the white corn lightly salted.

Yes, I prefered mine lightly buttered, no salt. Ah, the days or yore. Now I smuggle in a baggie of almonds and some Triscuit and baby carrots (only much the carrots during the LOUD parts of the movie!).

I will keep an eye on the Orville Redenbocker white corn.

Oh, no it was the popper that is the OR brand. The white corn is Jolly Time and comes in a bag.

Grocery stores are notorious for putting the *expensive* popcorn in the chip aisle, and hiding the stuff that's cheaper (and just as good) in the produce section tucked behind the dried fruits somewhere. Just when you've finally manage to locate the stuff, they move it again. :149:

I friend of mine has a corn allergy as well but we turned him on to Robert’s American Gourmet Pirate Booty which is a mix of rice and corn puffs with a light cheddar cheese coating. It’s healthy, expensive and addictive and is what we smuggle into drive-ins and theaters. It seems to agree with his diet requirements.

He can actually eat corn puffs? I can't even get near a long list of corn-derived things. Tomorrow I have to make my own ketchup, mustard and mayo. I can't buy anything anywhere I can eat. I imagine once you do it a few times, it becomes really easy.

Well, the cheese would send me off to a lengthy migraine anyway. Sometimes I stick bite sized shredded wheat in a baggie. I really don't care for sweets at a movie anyway.

When I decide to go to theaters, I usually wait for the crowds to die out. There is one friend who we go with who has to be an opening night movie-goer. I think he likes the experience of having a live studio audience there when he watches the film.

About the only movies I'd see on opening day are the LOTR films. I'm not much of a nighttime moviegoer. I dislike crowds.

It stunk. And I over-paid for all that stinkiness.

I saw Eragon in the theatre and it was okay, but then, I never read the book either.

The same thing with mrscardero, she looks like Wonka’s Violet Beauregarde in her last gum chewing scene when we get through with her. She’s packed for bear! It is all healthy snacks and waters.

I got a container I smuggle hot tea in. The movie theater I used to frequent had a coffee and tea bar. It wasn't normally staffed during weekdays (no surprise), but I would go a few minutes early and get someone to go over and make me a cup of tea.

They've since closed that area.

Now there's nothing at all I can eat in any movie theater anywhere.

I have a Regal card that I get points with. I just got a free popcorn ticket last week, and gave it to the first small child in line behind me. If I get a drink ticket and my friend wants a Coke, I give it to her, but I'd have to give that away to someone else as it has corn syrup. At least someone is getting something out of my points, which is fine.

 

[gnomon]

Don't laugh out loud and giggle when watching a movie like "American Psycho". People will look at you funny.

And it's thoroughly appropriate to go along with the general mood of the crowd in showing exuberance after a great scene. When dozens of people jumped up and yelled during the fight scene at the end of The Fellowship of the Ring after sitting during an intense silence during the fight that experience alone was worth as much as the movie.

However, heckling a movie is just wrong. And very stupid. Poor renditions of the Christmas Carol at the Woodruff's Art Center in Atlanta. Perfectly acceptable to heckle there.

 

[MaddLlama]

I understand you want to be comfortable for the next hour and a half, but for the love of god, don't put your feet on the back of the set in front of you. People generally don't like being kicked in the head, and I personally don't want whatever crap is on the bottom of your shoes in my hair. Put your feet on the floor, and act like a civilized human being.

 

[CaptainXeroid]

...I honestly can't help it. Anyone who knows me knows how excited I get over movies and how excited I am to share the ones I love with my friends, so I always do that. It's a terrible habit, and one that I've tried to stop, but it's hard, haha.

Oh, I understand the excitement, and I'm guilty as well. The problem with the 'she' to whom RaceKitty:hugkiss: refered is that she has done that on almost every movie we've seen with them, and when we watched 'Ghost Ship' with her & her husband, she narrated almost the entire movie. :banghead3:

I enjoy movies, actually much more than my hubby...

My problem is that I used to work at a theatre, so I saw just about every movie that came out for a year & a half back in 1987-8. Sure there are some great movies, but so many of them are just crap.:sorry1: I'm a tough movie critic, and I especially don't like to be glued to the chair staring at the screen for 2+ hours if the movie isn't any good.

Call me cruel...I don't like spoilers!

I concur 100%! I like to be surprised, so if someone spoils it or I can guess the ending, that ruins the fun for me.

 

[uu_sage]

Cinema in my neck of the woods is mostly commercial with a few exceptions in the artisan based communities like Pasadena or Claremont. As in my home domain of Theatre the following should be considered:
1. willing suspension of disbelief- push to the side your experience and perceptions, and allow the film take you away. Do not level a criticism, judgement or observation until the show has ended.
2. Exercise discretion with children. Do not take young children into a film that they do not understand/or is inappropriate at their stage of life. Sometimes they may grow restless, and disruptive. Most people do not want a restless child spoiling a "good time" out. If the children are old enough, or mature, and ready by all means take them.
3. Cell phones: Turn off, or set to silent. In case of emergency exit the theatre with little hassle or disruption possible.
4. Entering and exiting (espec. when late) see last part of #3

Pet Peeves
1. Paying outrageous money for tickets, and/or concessions
2. 30 or so minute previews
3. Overhearing somebody's cell phone conversations
4. Random people running through the theatres

 

[cardero]

If you really enjoy a particular movie, if a movie really turns your head or makes you stand up and take notice, be especially attentive to the people involved in that film and research their other endeavors. You never know what kind of cinema treasures you may uncover by examining let’s say, a director’s other films.

 

[cardero]

I couldn't help but notice the onslaught of animated movies that have been coming out. Three years ago we were lucky to be treated to such Pixar, Disney, Dreamwork endeavors about four times a year. Now it seems that we get about 2 animated movies a month and these products seem inferior and unforgettable.

 

[cardero]

Sometimes you come across those movies that are so incredibly bad they are agonizing, patronizing, unintelligent, falsely advertised or just plain difficult to get through. Try to hang in there until the end. There is usually some tiny type of reward or consolation that you weren't expecting. This could come in the form of a song in the soundtrack that you must have, or a cameo of someone cool you haven't seen in awhile or a line of dialogue that just hits you over the head at the right moment.

 

[BFD_Zayl]

It stunk. And I over-paid for all that stinkiness.

the stinkiness...it...follows me....AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!! *twitch twitch thump* and, if you value your life, do not

1.announce what is going on in the movie, during the movie, very loudly (or at all for that matter)
2. if your kid insists on running around and or screaming, take them out, do not just tell them "go on the other side of the theatre, I don't wanna hear it"
3. if its a mostly empty theatre, and your tall, do not sit in front of short people, especially the ones who complain loudly, constantly, during the movie.
4. a scary movie is just that, a movie, no need to **** yourself over it. seriously, thats what bathrooms are for.
5. eat your snacks with your mouth closed, especially during a quiet scene, last thing I wanna hear is "oh...I lov-" *SMACK SMACK SMACK SLURP SPLOOSH SMACK BRAAAAAAAP*
6. if you have a very annoying, loud, constant laugh...do not go and see a crowded funny movie.
7. finally, do not kick the seat in front of you, or lean all the way back to crush the person behined you.

if you follow all of these rules, you can avoid me gouging out your entrails with a spork and hanging you by the lighting fixtures with them.

 

[cardero]

When it comes to movie sequels, the third time is not always the charm.

 

[cardero]

How can you tell when a movie rates in excellence? You cannot stop thinking about days after you have seen it.