Thinking of going to the cinema this weekend? Here’s a tip: If it says the programme starts at 9.30pm, IT MEANS THE PROGRAMME STARTS AT 9.30PM!
Who are these people who cannot work out how a film screening works?
I went to see Drag Me To Hell recently at the Odeon cinema in Telford. It’s a pretty good film (see Shropshire Star film critic Carl Jones’s review here) but it was ruined somewhat by the selfish gits who turned up nearly 30 minutes late.
Yes, there are trailers to sit through, and yes, those Orange ads aren’t funny any more, but if it says 9.30pm on the door then that’s the time for you to be in the cinema. IT STARTS AT 9.30PM!
But apparently that’s a bit hard for some people to understand. So they turn up late, waltzing into the cinema armed with most of their local Tesco’s snack department.
And then they make people move so they can sit down.
And then they remove their coats and jackets
And then they open the shopping bag.
And then they open the crisps.
And then they start eating them.
And then they start talking to each other.
And I sit there, filling with hatred.
Meanwhile, apparently if you’re a teenager these days you’ve been taught that you cannot watch a film without texting someone.
That’s what they do. They sit there texting each other DURING THE FILM!
So this this is what we’ve produced, is it? Youngsters with the attention span of a dead lettuce.
If they can’t cope with a 90-minute horror film they wouldn’t stand a chance with some of the classics.
And what annoys me is the fact I’m paying good money - and if you’ve been to the cinema recently you’ll know it isn’t exactly cheap - to be distracted by other people’s selfishness.
Personally, I’d introduce a James Bond villain-style trapdoor and shark tank for anybody entering after the lights go down.
Think of it: Cinema door opens. Trapdoor opens. Brief shriek. Shark eats. Job done.
But even then they’d still be texting their mates: “AV FALLEN INTO SHARK TANK! NOW BEING 8TEN… LOL!”
Rant by Andrew Owen (who feels a lot better now that he’s got that off his chest, thanks very much.)
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27 Comments
I’m finding it difficult to come up with a way of saying how much I violently agree with Andrew Owen.
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Sorry Andrew, it won’t happen again.
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I have the same problem occasionally here in France. However it’s perfectly acceptable here to turn around and tell the person to shut up. I suggest you try it.
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No, you’re wrong!
The film doesn’t start at 9.30, the adverts do. Then you have the trailers.
10-15 minutes later the film starts.
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Not only do you get all the above but last time I went the yobs, sorry youths behind me thought it a good idea to use the back of my chair as a foot rest. Several slap downs of the annoying feet later and I kind of got my message across but the film was ruined. Pity these people cannot be asked to refund you for the inconvenience!
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Unfortunately it’s now the norm for people to be inconsiderate idiots in the cinema.
It’s what happens when a venue becomes a “cool” meeting point for the hip crowd. Far better to view films at the Old Market Hall in the Square, much better atmosphere.
I’m still baffled as to why cinemas don’t have mobile-phone signal blocking equipment in the screens. The technology exists and is relatively cheap.
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gd u r sw angry anyone spolis my film I swear I’ll do time… Bet it starts to affect hosue prices
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Mandy - couldn’t agree with you more!!
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So, the film starts 15 minutes later? And that excuses walking in a few minutes before and disturbing everyone else, does it? That’s nice of you.
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May I still go to the toilet, sir?
In all serious it’s checks and balances. Yes, the film doesn’t actually start at the advertised time (I’ve known up to 30 minutes afterwards!), so why bother getting there bang on time or early? But by not doing so, you don’t get as good seat. Depends what’s more important to you.
Until recently I had a Cineworld Unlimited card (cancelled it when they suddenly decided you were no longer able to book in advance for films - where’s the point of it if you have to queue? Or can’t get the decent seat in the Delux screen that my local one has where you book your seat number? I’ve taken my business to Showcase.), so I’ve seen a lot of films. Whilst I’ve had problems occasionally, it’s nowhere near as bad as this article suggests (unless Salop has some particularly bad cinemagoers), and I’d suggest to calm down, this article is ridiculous.
As to the texting… it’s the current generation. If you’re not in it, you’re meant to get annoyed by it. I’m 31, and occasionally text home during a film. Modern people can multi-task.
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I think I’m with Mandy on this one.
There’s no excuse for arriving after the film has started, and there’s a certain nostalgic attraction at the thought of the Pearl and Dean music, adverts for Kia-Ora and a home made advert for the local curry house (apologies to those that don’t remember such things), but the endless trailers & adverts these days - often for more than half an hour before the film actually gets underway - are an imposition most are happy to avoid.
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Cinema Regular: Why on earth do you need to text home during a film? What is so important that it cannot wait an hour until the film ends? Why do other people have to be distracted by you and the light from your phone? You have paid to watch the film, so why not watch it?
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Just another case of ageism against teenagers today, ‘apparently if you’re a teenager these days you’ve been taught that you cannot watch a film without texting someone’ I have seen people use their phone in the cinema, but most of the time its the older generation that cause distubance in the film, toliet breaks every ten minutes and moaning after the films about swearing, cross cutting and the plot.
Seems silly to say that the good old days of cinema have passed, when years ago the cinema was known for its illicit behavour.
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Why go to the cinema if its so much trouble. If the film is any good it will be on TV soon enough.
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“I’m still baffled as to why cinemas don’t have mobile-phone signal blocking equipment in the screens. The technology exists and is relatively cheap.”
Probably because it us illegal to operate radio transmitting equipment without a licence. Which is what phone jammers are.
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Why go to the pictures when you can watch the latest films on sky cinema.
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I really do not like having to sit through all those adverts and trailers so do tend to turn up later but BEFORE the film starts. I also do not like queuing for my ‘oh so expensive’ tickets and the Q does seem to get longer and slower particularly at Telford. They have now moved it all so you don’t feel the Q is so long. I tend to arrive earlier in the day for my ticket and it’s worth the 50p I have to pay to park. I feel that sometimes it’s the slow service that makes people late for the start and this needs dealing with. Although some courtesy on the part of those arriving late wouldn’t go amiss.. Maybe the back 2 rows should be saved for them?
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Precisely the reason why I gave up going to the cinema !
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As far as I can see you don’t actually put forward any argument as to why people should arrive before the actual film starts. I don’t get annoyed if my husband goes to the loo and makes a drink whilst the adverts are on before a film at home whilst the adverts are on so why would I be annoyed at anyone wanting to avoid the adverts at the cinema - especially when paying money! Why should we have to pay to be advertised to?! I mean what’s next - advert breaks during films?! No way! You have made no sensible argument other than it annoys you. Tell us why we should sit through the adverts and maybe we’ll consider showing up earlier….although I don’t think there’s anything you could say to convince me.
As for texting - if the sound is on then yes it’s annoying, if they are doing so in silence then why don’t you watch the film instead of those around you?
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I pay my hard earned cash to see the film not the adverts, which annoy me as they seem to go on for over 15 minutes these days.
So I turn up 15 minutes late but I don’t talk, eat noisily, text or ask anyone to move seats!
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Cinema? lol
Stay at home and watch movies online its what i do and so far…. Its worked perfectly.
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I don’t go to the cinema very often as it is expensive (just can’t resist the cheesy nachos!)I recently went to see Angels & Demons on it’s release. Now I don’t mind people turning up durind the adverts becuase they do go on a bit and I’ve not had to move for someone after the film has started. However I was sat next to a young girl who was texting during the film whereby the light from her phone kept distracting me and yes there were people talking all the way through the film behind me again youngsters. Now I don’t think youngsters are idiots but i know for a fact these kids will not have understood the story because it has a complicated plot line which required concentration to follow. Can nobody sit in a cinema and watch a film in darkness and quiet anymore? And I will admit it makes me extremly angry because I did not pay £10+ to listen to someone else’s conversation! I value my time at a film as a treat and some me time.
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why don’t the cinema put aeroplane seats in so you can plug earphones in to listen to the film and not be distracted by ‘chatting’? You would be guaranteed perfect stereo sound regardless of where you sit.
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I tell you what I hate, people not sitting in there allocated seats and then moaning when you make them move, if we sit somewhere else, it can cause a chain reaction of people moving.
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Stereo ? Which cinema are you going to Lucy? Headphones cannot deliver surround sound.
And, that is missing the point, which I believe is to encourage a little respect from fellow film goer’s.
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Andy pandy, you big girl, How miserable are you?????
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Smellie, I carefully chose my word, yes stereo, I know headphones can’t deliver surround sound.
I don’t think art films are in surround sound.
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