Jun 14, 2009

One of these days...

There are days that are... well, just irregular. I went to the movies yesterday to see Moon. As I took my seat, some self-important type was extolling his own virtues in the row behind me, but thankfully turned quiet before the trailers were over. The Scarecrow to the left of me couldn't sit still. Fatty, two seats to my right walked out 5 minutes into the movie, then back and started talking to his companion. He made no effort to whisper, nor was he bothered by the shushing sounds from behind. He finally shut up, but then his phone rang. Not only that, but he answered it! At which point I audibly remarked: "For goodness sake!" He hang up. Twenty minutes into the movie Young Punk - apparently friend of Fatty - walked in and sat down in the one empty seat to my right. He proceeded to unwrap a sandwich of some sort, douse it with some stinky dressing from a plastic cup. He munched, slurped his soda and laughed at the movie at all the wrong places. I felt like an extra in a bad sitcom, minus the laugh track (not counting Young Punk).


Fortunately I was sitting in row 3, with the walkway in front of me and could just stand up, and pick an unoccupied seat at the far end of the row, and finally enjoy the movie. Moon is a small, but thoughtfully crafted movie directed by Duncan Jones - formerly Zowie Bowie, son of David Bowie. The main character(s) in the movie is played by Sam Rockwell, and the voice of the computer, Gerty, is Kevin Spacey. It is a science fiction of sorts. At the beginning there are flavors of Silent Running and Solaris, but it ends up being a more conventional story, and I don't mean that in a bad way. There is a touch of mystery, suspense, drama. It's a fine film, I'm glad I went to see it despite all the bedlam.

40 comments:

Cafe Pasadena said...

Wow!, sounds like you & a brunch of blogger's went out together to the movies!

One of these daze I'll find the time to line up & attend more of these.

Mesina said...

Ahhh, one of ''those'' days. I think we can all relate to that one. My partner and I are great movie goers and it winds us up to no end to get all the rudies in the cinema making our movie less enjoyable. Glad you finally got to enjoy the film though!

Chris David Richards said...

These horrible Other People always try to ruin film watching. I try to stay away from them entirely. But yeah, Moon has been a while coming. Even longer for me and my European ways. Looking forward too it.

Anonymous said...

I like your, "For goodness sake." You're so polite.

Diligent Daydreamer said...

I love the way you describe the people that were around you. I know there is nothing that infuriates me more then people with no movie ettiquette

Kulguy said...

this always happens to me as well. im young, but personally, i cant stand it when people behave improperly in a movie. it drives me insane. i would have done the same thing you did...oh, wait, i have...

Margaret said...

How frustating! My theory is that now that people can watch movies so easily at home, they don't really distinguish between viewing spaces so they treat movie theatres like living rooms.

Amy said...

I know I shouldn't let them get to me, but this is why I mostly watch movies at home...

-K- said...

This post should be purchased by Netflix and reprinted in its entirerty for as long as there are moviegoers.

FYI - I was perfectly happy with Saturday's Billy Wilder Weekend on TCM.

soozzie said...

About 15 years ago I became so infuriated with rude audiences that I stopped going to movies altogether. Then I started going in my new home, Maui, where the theaters are not well-attended, and people were better behaved. I have now told two managers -- and one at our cultural center that shows independent movies once a week -- that I will not longer patronize them. Period, end of story. The crowning touch was when one manager asked if it was a group in the center about 1/3 of the way into the theater that was the problem. When I said yes, she said, "yes, I could see they were disturbing people." And what did she do? Zip. So I am outta there....

S.A. said...

Theatre etiquette (or lack there of) really bothers me. While seeing the Broadway Across America tour of "Wicked", the girls right in front of me talked in loud voices, sat with their feet on the backs of the seats and texted during the whole show. It really took alot of effort for me not to ask them to turn off their cell phones.

I'm glad your movie was good, though.

SFF said...

Finally a Blog Of Note up my alley. It's been awhile to find one I enjoy. Look forward to Moon minus the buffoons, but your rendering of their appalling theatre behavior is classic and far too familiar. Cheers.

Vanda said...

I stopped going to regular movie theaters in favor of Arclight mainly because of viewer behavior. This incident actually happened at Arclight, but such behavior is a rare occurrence there.

There is something for the communal experience of movie watching, plus the giant screen, that I like very much.

-K- Billy Wilder is my rock. One of my absolute favorite directors. Ever. A couple of months ago I was going to see Some Like It Hot on the big screen (Arclight AFI series), but was so pooped from painting the kitchen cabinets that I didn't make it. I still regret it. I hope it comes around again.

Karin, I observed that people always have a comeback for the F word, but get blindsided by old fashioned outbursts. If all fails, cursing in a foreign language - East European of Slavic - works.

Juhanis M. said...

Aw man, I wish 'Moon' was shown here in SE Asia. Maybe I could download it from rapidshare...

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Anonymous said...

Very funny, I can definitely relate to what you must have felt in the cinemas. From now on I'm following your blog.

Anonymous said...

I was in a Target yesterday in the cleaning products isle. A woman on the other side was yelling over her cell phone. Over paper towels no less.

Sooo...Zowie is all grown up now

What's going on here? said...

Years ago, I went to one of those Burt Reynolds movies. It was not long after the famous Cosmopolitan photo. The place was full of good ol' gals swooning at every cheesy scene. Three in the front row had curlers in their hair. One laughed so loud everytime Burt opened his mouth it would have vibrated the windows if there were any

Driftwood and Pumpkin said...

People are so unbelievably rude, it blows my mind. Glad you found a quiet spot to enjoy it.

Petrea Burchard said...

I like your "for goodness sake." You were polite, showing a good example. The f-word only makes one as rude as the rude people. Not that there aren't times when it comes in handy.

Can't wait to see this movie.

Dialog Blog said...

I actually stopped going to the movies because of this. I rather Netflix a film like Space. On the other hand, I would still go to the theatre to watch something like Transformers because, well, we all know how its going to end and a big summer movie like that usually is low on the intelligence scale or on the thought provoking scale. So i could care less if kids answer their cells or if people munch very loudly during a film like that because half of the time there are loud explosions and hot girls who are talking...about something and the plot is very easy to follow.

But yeah, for more serious/artistic work, I'll just Netflix it, and even then I'll watch it alone.

surekha tangri said...

A bad day......I loved ur way of describing situations,felt like as if i was there

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SCREAMING FOR CHOCOLATE said...

Cool. I never heard of this film before now. I will have to see it.

Amer said...

Hey, First time to join you blog!
i think was so interesting.when you express the feeling

BedInABox.com said...

This movie looks like it could be promising. I first noticed it a few weeks ago on Apple downloads and its been in the back of my mind since.

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Joe Renaud said...

The other day I was in the theater and there was some guy that literally slept and snored through the whole thing. He must have been homeless or something because he had about 4 bags and a blanket or two. It frustrated me.

Andrew Glazebrook said...

Looking forward to seeing Moon when it opens here in the UK, just hpe I don't get the same sort of idiots you had to deal with !
Cool blog you have here !!

Jake said...

I feel your pain. I generally try to hit the movies when I think the audience will be smaller. At least then I can distance myself from yappers. The interesting thing is it's not just unruly teens or some other stereotype. I've seen all types yap away, completely aloof or willfully beligerent. Ug.
I'm looking forward to seeing Moon.

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Anonymous said...

Vanda, the Ennis house used in Blade Runner is on the market. Better hurry.

The Scrap Miser said...

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I love the photos! But I also like your narrative style.

J said...

I absolutely loathe people of the sorts you named. But, I guess because of my father, I have a tendency to keep my mouth shut and tune them out, or like you, move. My father would be the one to stand up and say something intimidating or just look like it.

I often refer to him as the gorilla who puffs out his chest at intruders. But he does not have much of a patience for ill-mannered beings, either. I don't blame him, I just prefer not to make the ignorant cause more of a ruckus out of defense.

It never solves anything.

Glad you were able to eventually enjoy the movie, though. Honestly, I have never heard of it. Maybe I should check it out.

Diederick Wijmans said...

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Whoa ! said...

well must say am pretty surprised that such things happen outside india too....but people in asia have,i believe, have such expierences freebies which come with watching a movie. a movie is supposed to entertain so i believe why not keep "manners" at home for a couple of hours and enjoy with the rest of the audiences.but that's just me.(Btw noises from behind,literally, can be quite disturbing)

JCharles Tomison said...

hehehehe XD I liked your descriptions of the rude people. One or two of those things have happened to me... Maybe karma will serve me more, WORSE scenarios.

I want to see MOON! =] Glad to hear it entertained you.

Unknown said...

This movie was really good, glad to see a plug for it here :]

JT (Tijuana) Thomas said...

As much as I hate to have a movie like Mooon marginalized by the the douche-baggery of people in a theater I look forward to seeing it myself but I'm glad to see that you got to enjoy the movie without having to your the reclining seat down Fatty's throat.