Movie Theater Experiences

[beamish14]

I’ve never seen any serious drama with phones at the New Beverly. The craziest thing I’ve been witnessed there was a guy apparently masturbating during In the Realm of the Senses

[Professor Wagstaff]

Alamo Drafthouse Goes Mobile, Getting Rid of Pen-and-Paper Food Orders to ‘Protect the Moviegoing Experience’

[Monterey Jack]

They tell you to put your phones away before the movie...yet want you to order food with an app?



Maybe they should just stick to Popcorn & Coke.

[Lowry_Sam]

Supposdly the food orders are supposed to stop when the movie begins, but I've had staff walking in front of me delivering food and clearing tables for the first half of a movie, they also prefer you paying/tipping by phone. At the same time they play those cheeky PSAs about not talking etc. during the movie, but I don't see consistent messaging about anything anymore these days.

[hearthesilence]

I had coffee spilled on me the last (and I mean LAST) time I saw a movie at the Alamo. Fucking hate food service during a movie.

[hearthesilence]

Just saw someone's post about this Q&A from a month ago:

6:15 screening at Walter Reade. The movie was excellent and the Film Linc moderator asked Oliver Laxe wonderful questions, but once they opened it up to audience Q&A it all turned. Two people in the front row were nearly ripping the mic out of the hands of the theater worker, then at one point several folks in the front section yelled at him about filming in a war zone.

Us folk in the back were all looking at each other in bewilderment. Laxe is not a native English speaker, so he was largely befuddled. But come on, be a little more amenable.

[jazzo]

Went to the TIFF Lightbox last night to see Sirât, and about halfway through, a younger man in his late twenties pulled out his phone a row in front of me and decided to answer a few texts. Then he switched apps and began checking videos on his social media feed. Then he went back to his texts and switched between the two for about fifteen straight minutes. Even with the new dimmed lighting feature, it was all I could see, especially when he had trouble reading something and held it closer to his face.

The person beside me leaned over and touched his shoulder and asked him to politely to stop. He looked at her like she was an alien and went back to it. After another minute, I tapped his shoulder and him top please put his phone away.

He asked what the problem was.

I told him his screen was all anyone sitting behind him could see, and that it was ruining the vibe of the film. He nodded and put it away, then sighed heavily for the remainder of the film. He was first out as the credits rolled.

Afterwards, I found him waiting with his girlfriend at the Lightbox's King Street exit, and when he saw me coming and kind-of stepped in front of me, and said, "Hey, man, that was rude."

I said, "Dude, you were on your phone for half the movie."

He said, "It was on silent and dim."

I said, "You're not supposed to be on it at all. It's a movie. That you paid for. At the only art cinema in the city."

He said, "I didn't like it."

I said, "Then you go wait in the lobby with your phone or leave. It isn't your living room."

He said, "Whatever," and in what was maybe my most brilliant retort of the exchange, I said, "Yeah, whatever."

At least I didn't get punched in the face.

[ballmouse]

I had gone to MoMa a few months ago for a film screening. At some point, there's a stuffy sort of a scent in the air. I chalked it up to poor ventilation. But it just continued to concentrate and concentrate. And it occurred to me someone might be vaping in the audience. Being in the first 2 rows, I couldn't see anyone myself. But it got to a point the smell was very noticeable.

Then, in a quiet passage of the film, I heard a voice in the audience. It sounded like a middle aged or older gentleman in the makings of a reprimand of the individual in question. Unfortunately, not even one second in, there also arrived dialogue in the film. And a quite lengthy one which completely drowned out what was being said behind me.

It's possible the perpetrator ceased vaping as no other words came from the audience. But the scent lingered for the rest of the film.

[Monterey Jack]

I said, "Dude, you were on your phone for half the movie."

He said, "It was on silent and dim."

I said, "You're not supposed to be on it at all. It's a movie. That you paid for. At the only art cinema in the city."

He said, "I didn't like it."

I have sat through some HORRIBLY bad and boring movies at the cinema, yet have never opened my phone to pass the time. You know why? Because I'm not an asshole.

[yoloswegmaster]

Went to the TIFF Lightbox last night to see Sirât, and about halfway through, a younger man in his late twenties pulled out his phone a row in front of me and decided to answer a few texts. Then he switched apps and began checking videos on his social media feed. Then he went back to his texts and switched between the two for about fifteen straight minutes. Even with the new dimmed lighting feature, it was all I could see, especially when he had trouble reading something and held it closer to his face.

The person beside me leaned over and touched his shoulder and asked him to politely to stop. He looked at her like she was an alien and went back to it. After another minute, I tapped his shoulder and him top please put his phone away.

He asked what the problem was.

I told him his screen was all anyone sitting behind him could see, and that it was ruining the vibe of the film. He nodded and put it away, then sighed heavily for the remainder of the film. He was first out as the credits rolled.

Afterwards, I found him waiting with his girlfriend at the Lightbox's King Street exit, and when he saw me coming and kind-of stepped in front of me, and said, "Hey, man, that was rude."

I said, "Dude, you were on your phone for half the movie."

He said, "It was on silent and dim."

I said, "You're not supposed to be on it at all. It's a movie. That you paid for. At the only art cinema in the city."

He said, "I didn't like it."

I said, "Then you go wait in the lobby with your phone or leave. It isn't your living room."

He said, "Whatever," and in what was maybe my most brilliant retort of the exchange, I said, "Yeah, whatever."

At least I didn't get punched in the face.

This reminds me of the time I was at a screening of Kika at the TIFF Lightbox and there was a guy who was recording the screen and was on his phone for most of the time. Someone asked him to get off his phome and he yelled "Shut up!" at him, which made the other quickly leave the theater. He forgot to grab his stuff, so an employee had to come and grab his stuff and apparently the guy was trying to defend himself to the employee, who ultimately didn't even bother kicking the guy out. I winder if this is the same guy that you're talking about.

I’ve never seen any serious drama with phones at the New Beverly. The craziest thing I’ve been witnessed there was a guy apparently masturbating during In the Realm of the Senses

Soeaking of the TIFF Lightbox, apparently there was a guy masturbating in the middle of a screening of Cries and Whispers years ago. I don't know what the film about a woman dying of cancer has in it that causes one to start jacking off in the middle of the screening but I do suspect that drugs are somehow involved.

[The Elegant Dandy Fop]

I had gone to MoMa a few months ago for a film screening. At some point, there's a stuffy sort of a scent in the air. I chalked it up to poor ventilation. But it just continued to concentrate and concentrate. And it occurred to me someone might be vaping in the audience. Being in the first 2 rows, I couldn't see anyone myself. But it got to a point the smell was very noticeable.

Then, in a quiet passage of the film, I heard a voice in the audience. It sounded like a middle aged or older gentleman in the makings of a reprimand of the individual in question. Unfortunately, not even one second in, there also arrived dialogue in the film. And a quite lengthy one which completely drowned out what was being said behind me.

It's possible the perpetrator ceased vaping as no other words came from the audience. But the scent lingered for the rest of the film.

I had someone trying to sneak vapes next to me the last time I saw One Battle After Another. Him and his girlfriend were blowing it into their sweaters. I literally just moved my head to him and said “Are you seriously vaping”? He said “sorry” and then stopped. This was before the scene Bob vapes in the school.

[Maladroit Aggregator]

They don't call it the douche flute for nothing. If someone was vaping in a theater while I was watching a flick, I'd simply walk over, place my ass next to their ear, and release a moist and hefty Bronx cheer. Vapers are animals, almost uniformly "downmarket" as J Wells says. They're the type pf person to wear pajamas in public. It's an act that is somehow simultaneously more effeminate and cruder than smoking cigarettes, and certainly less elegant. Nothing says classless like being lined up at a traffic light and seeing a cloud of noxious Mountain Dew-flavoured mist billowing from the windows of the 1984 Ford Escort in front of you... KEEP IT REAL, AMERICA!

[Lowry_Sam]

It's an act that is somehow simultaneously more effeminate and cruder than smoking cigarettes, and certainly less elegant. Nothing says classless

Attributing vaping to gender or class is a stretch. A majority of the people I see vaping out in public places are Millenials or Gen Z, people who were not around during the whole movement to ban smoking in public places & they definitely skew more male. On the other hand, I do find them to be very passive agressive, a sign of the times where the young folks don't feel bad about the way in which their behavior affects other people (jaywalking in front of cars, putting your feet up on the seat in front of you even when there is someone in the next seat...I could go on ad infinitum)..which I have noticed is stronger in countries that are more laissez faire/deregulatory (US/UK) than in countries with a strong social safety net (DK/NO).

[bearcuborg]

Before efore every movie or concert, I'm pretty sure I carried that "pot" smell with me. As unique as the smell is, cigs in any form fucking reek, especially the flavored ones.

Awhile back I switched to dry herb vaping - so nowadays I'll fire up my portable dry herb vape, or Puffco Pivot before the film. Both have freed me from that weed smell. I would love to light up inside, but unless it's nearly empty theater (using that sweater cheat) I'll give it ago, when nobody is around. While inside, I'll take some RSO which is just an extract. I don't fuck with vape carts or combustion smoking anymore.

[yoloswegmaster]

Not sure where to put this but according to in70mm.com, there are plans to re-release Batman '89 and La La Land on 70mm in the summer and fall respectively. Universal is also planning on releasing Disclosure Day on 70mm (IMAX and regular).

Looks like the studios are starting to realize that there is a lot more money to be gained by utilizing premium formats.

[hearthesilence]

Anyone else ever experience a solitary loud and purposeful clapping? Usually happens at an otherwise pin-drop quiet screening.

Just reminisced about it with someone because I've seen it happen twice. First time was during high school when we all filled the gymnasium to watch Schindler's List and one person started clapping loud and hard when the fate of Ralph Fiennes's character was revealed.

Second time was at MoMA during the Tim Burton retrospective in 2009 and they screened Edward Scissorhands to a completely packed theater. When it got to the final scene with Anthony Michael Hall's character, again, one person in the audience started clapping loud and hard in stern approval.

Anyway, have yet to experience it a third time.

[Lemmy Caution]

In Shanghai, there are three movie theater themed hotels. One called Caption by Hyatt is somewhat fancy. For a while I thought that was the hotel's themed restaurant. Took me a while when biking past to realize it was the whole hotel.
Another near me is simply called Movie Hotel, and biking past I can see the lobby has a movie theme. And I forget where I saw a 3rd.

Was wondering if this is a trend elsewhere? Shanghai tends to copy trends.
Haven't gone in either hotel to check how extensive the movie theme runs.

[The Curious Sofa]

In Shanghai, there are three movie theater themed hotels. One called Caption by Hyatt is somewhat fancy. For a while I thought that was the hotel's themed restaurant. Took me a while when biking past to realize it was the whole hotel.
Another near me is simply called Movie Hotel, and biking past I can see the lobby has a movie theme. And I forget where I saw a 3rd.

Was wondering if this is a trend elsewhere? Shanghai tends to copy trends.
Haven't gone in either hotel to check how extensive the movie theme runs.

There is the Hollywood Media Hotel in Berlin. I've passed it many times because lived no far from there, but I've never been inside.Looks rather underwhelming.

https://www.filmhotel.de/en/

[Black Hat]

One weekday morning, I went to see the long since forgotten Jennifer Lawrence flick, Passengers, in Times Square. Not a soul to be found, or so I thought, when I began to hear bouncing over my right shoulder. I turned, and up on the back right, a young couple was going at it because why else would anybody go see this terrible movie in Times Square on a weekday morning? This went on for a studly 45 minutes with them leaving soon thereafter and me, for the first and only time at a movie theater, wondering what the fuck I just watched behind me.

[Lowry_Sam]

Not sure where else to post, but IMAX is for sale.