Cinema Etiquette

event

d@rk l0rd wrote: »

or even better why don't any cinemas have signal blockers?

I think its against the law cos it blocks out beepers for firemen etc

Duggy747

When I saw the 1st Transformers movie a 6ft, 1000 pound woman sat in front of me litteraly blocking the entire screen. All I could see was the 2 corners of the screen. (My row and her row were on the same level)

The fact that the screen was more or less empty and she had entire rows to choose seats from but decided to plonk herself in front of me.

Anyways, I had to move a few seats to the left where a random guy sat beside me. Again, a near empty screen and he chooses to sit beside me. It wasn't a big deal though....

...until the laughing started. It wasn't his over-zealous roar of a laugh that was disturbing but the fact that he kept looking at me to see my reaction while putting his head inches away from me at every single "funny" moment.

Then there were a bunch of knacker kids down a few rows who didn't know how to sit and sat on their seats with the cushion raised up.

So I had a guy laughing into my face and silhouettes of little knackers in the bottom left of my vision for 2 and a half hours. Horrible.

Popcorn tasted like dried out flies, too.

ArphaRima

the only thing that really annoys me about going to the cinema is the fact that most people there automatically turn into some sort of black hole for whatever greasy food crosses their path. for once i would love to be able to watch a movie on the big screen without it descending into feeding time at the zoo

Nachos with cheese and jalapenos are the only reason the UCI/ODEON cinemas ever get my custom. Amazing, amazing filth.

krudler

one of the most bizarre experiences I've ever had in a cinema was going to see The Departed on a wet monday afternoon, being the only person in the screen to begin with, this guy arrived and in an empty cinema with well over 200 seats sat RIGHT BESIDE ME. I got up and muttered about getting a drink and moved someplace else, freak.

Tayleur

Iv found Movies@Swords to be fine. The odd minor incident over the years but 9 out of 10 times there are no problems.

leakyboots

Dunno how long ye'd last before going postal over in cinemas in America lads

e_e

johnny_ultimate wrote: »

Oh I've had some infuriating tech incidences. My two worst, both in the IFI.

1. Le Havre a month or two ago, when the film would just shut down every few minutes, and then boot up again around thirty seconds later. Kept going for half the film almost.

2. Arrietty where the film shut down half way though. They got it working again, but only the dub after watching the first half in Japanese. Now there I was genuinely tempted to walk out but I suffered through it at that point, after the projectionist had one or two false starts restarting at the wrong scene. Reminded me how much I hate dubs. Still, was the only screening in Ireland as far as I know that was actually even partially Japanese. Success?

As much as I don't like to put down a small independent cinema, the only time I've had shockingly bad technical problems were in The Screen.

1. Kill List starting about 15 minutes late and then when it did come on there was no sound. Meaning they had to play back the first five minutes (they actually begun to think that it was silent on purpose! :rolleyes: ) multiple times until it eventually worked.
2. Being in a near empty screening of Black Dynamite and the film being about as quiet as my TV at mid volume. Meaning I was straining to hear what was being said and the film's brilliant soundtrack was pretty much lost on me.
3. The "classic" screenings there consisting of terrible picture (in the case of Big Lebowski and Dawn of the Dead white lines across the top of the screen proving it was just a DVD and not even a particularly good looking one at that) and the aforementioned sound problems. Killing all immersion with films I happen to love. :mad:

e_e

leakyboots wrote: »

Dunno how long ye'd last before going postal over in cinemas in America lads

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0_9UtZnNk80

Phoenix Park

krudler wrote: »

one of the most bizarre experiences I've ever had in a cinema was going to see The Departed on a wet monday afternoon, being the only person in the screen to begin with, this guy arrived and in an empty cinema with well over 200 seats sat RIGHT BESIDE ME. I got up and muttered about getting a drink and moved someplace else, freak.

Reminds me of this wet Monday afternoon years ago when i went to see The Departed, hadn't spoken to a human being in weeks, must have been 200 empty seats but there was one other poor soul there, all i wanted was a bit of small talk, anything to take the pain away, i sat beside him....and he got up and left, muttering something about going for a drink. I quietly sobbed my way through the rest of the film....

GastroBoy

Ever since a Mexican couple behind me decided to provide a running commentary to "The Descendants", I leave any movie I want to see in the cinema to pretty much the last week its there. Barely anyone but yourself in the theatre, bliss:D

caff

Have a cineworld card and go there quite often must ust be lucky to have avoided any bad experiences!

Solair

d@rk l0rd wrote: »

I don't see why cinemas can't have someone there to tell people to shush or switch off their phones (not just texting but actually having phone conversations), or even better why don't any cinemas have signal blockers?

Because you cannot guarantee that the signal blocker will only impact upon signals in the auditorium of the cinema itself. It could block signals on the street outside or in nearby buildings.

Essentially, you're illegally jamming a licensed mobile network. So, for those reasons the mobile networks will absolutely not agree to signal blocking.

That_Guy

Cineworld would be my cinema of choice when I'm in town as I've an Unlimited card and to be honest, I've never encountered any problems and I've been there an awful lot this year and mostly in the evening timeduring the week.

There's been a few times when people have been talking loudly during the ads/trailers but were silent during the film which is the main thing.

The only thing I've noticed and is bloody distracting, is the flash of a mobile phone screen a few rows down from where you are sitting. Annoying as hell and if you can't go two hours without checking your phone, then you have a serious problem.

If I had the luxury, I'd gladly go to mid morning/early afternoon screenings. Just an all round better experience in the cinema when there's only a few people scattered about on their own. Bliss.

A mate of mine is quite big into animation and I was rather intrigued by 'Pirates, in an adventure with scientists'. Trick with going to see these type of films is to go during the week at a late-ish screening... Little or no kids and if there are kids, they're of the age that they don't get distracted easily.

hollypink

Among the things I like about the Lighthouse cinema is that there doesn't seem to be any mobile phone reception, I assume because the screens are underground? I'm not keen on Cineworld although I can't recall any real issues with noise or scummy behaviour there. I do remember lots of loud munching and paper rustling during the first half of The Artist which was a bit annoying but as it's a silent film, there was probably always going to be audible background noise and once people finished their popcorn/nachos/coke it got nice and quiet

Solair

You can actually build a structure with a grounded mesh in the walls that will block out signals, without jamming them by interfering with them.

A lot of new very heavily thermally insulated buildings accidentally do this already due to foil in the walls.

Underground venues like the Lighthouse, or some underground university lecturer theatres also inadvertently block signals due to the structure of the building.

I think perhaps this is a good way of addressing mobile phone usage, by naturally blocking signals, rather than using some illegal jamming device.

Tipsy McSwagger

I hate when the film is just about to start and someone comes in and sits right in front of you. I put my feet up and a bit over the seat to stop this from happening.

Faith+1

Solair wrote: »

You can actually build a structure with a grounded mesh in the walls that will block out signals, without jamming them by interfering with them.

A lot of new very heavily thermally insulated buildings accidentally do this already due to foil in the walls.

Underground venues like the Lighthouse, or some underground university lecturer theatres also inadvertently block signals due to the structure of the building.

I think perhaps this is a good way of addressing mobile phone usage, by naturally blocking signals, rather than using some illegal jamming device.

Didn't the Savoy do something like this a few years ago but had to stop the practice due to people complaining??

juan.kerr

Skinfull wrote: »

BOTH his hands down the front of his pants (not still...moving) for the majority of the movie. He snorted, grunted and sniffed

F*** sake, was he sniffing his hands of just general 'sniffling'?

juan.kerr

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

I hate when the film is just about to start and someone comes in and sits right in front of you. I put my feet up and a bit over the seat to stop this from happening.

Anti social behaviour to prevent poor behaviour by someone else...interesting.

El Diablo Blanco

Cinemas don't seem to actively discourage anti-social behaviour these days (phone use, talking during the film, etc.) There are certainly no signs up, or ads before the films, asking people to show consideration for other patrons.

I wonder is it a case- much like restaurants that will allow parents to let their kids run wild and disturb other diners- that they are so terrified of offending or alienating one core group of people (inconsiderate a$$holes) that they will just turn a blind eye, and expect everyone else to just grin and bear it...

duckysauce

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

I hate when the film is just about to start and someone comes in and sits right in front of you. I put my feet up and a bit over the seat to stop this from happening.

what if they booked the seat infront of you ????

BopNiblets

Instead of showing the stupid "Red Bull gives you wings" ads before the film, they should show short clips of people talking in a cinema and then being violently murdered
by the rest of the people around them.
It should be as gory and horrifying as possible to make you fear the people near you so you stay the feck quiet.

Tipsy McSwagger

duckysauce wrote: »

what if they booked the seat infront of you ????

I only put my feet up as a distraction, if someone wants to sit there then fair enough.

d@rk l0rd

Yes, I have noticed this lately in particular in Vue and UCI/Odeon that they don't have any message before the movie asking people to be quiet and switch off phones.
In UK cinemas I've been in they do play this message, usually a cartoon type thing sponsored by one of the mobile companies that they're always there for you but not in the cinema so switch it off.

I think if you're unhappy with your cinema experience, go and request a refund, ask for the manager if necessary and take names if they start humming and hawing, telling them that you need their name for following up your complaint in writing - always scares the sh1t out of them and usually works! Do it nice and calmly though, assertive but calm.

FloatingVoter

Phoenix Park wrote: »

Reminds me of this wet Monday afternoon years ago when i went to see The Departed, hadn't spoken to a human being in weeks, must have been 200 empty seats but there was one other poor soul there, all i wanted was a bit of small talk, anything to take the pain away, i sat beside him....and he got up and left, muttering something about going for a drink. I quietly sobbed my way through the rest of the film....

Are you Jack Nicholson ? Were you wearing a trenchcoat and was the other guy a copper ?
Sorry I missed you but approaching me with lad in hand is not a good intro.

Skinfull

Deleted User wrote: »

Here's an idea...

Next time someone annoys you in a film, leave, and ask for a refund and explain why. If enough people do it, cinemas would have to take action as it's costing them.

Well Cineworld is my local and I have the unlimited card, so I'm not entitled to a refund. I approached the manager about this before when a family of itinerants went to see War horse and proceeded to have a family fued in the cinema.

And as for being able to go during the week day, there is the small matter of my job being mon to friday 9 - 5. Makes that a little tough. Also... went to see The Inbetweeners on a wed mornign and there was a bunch of scumbags in there. Reckon they just collected their dole. :rolleyes:

People just dont realise how bright their phone is in a cinema. Its like because its in their lap then they must be the only ones that can see it, when in actual fact its like a lighthouse beacon!!

I dont think its too much to ask. turn off your phone, keep your hands off your crotch and shut the eff up.

kryogen wrote: »

So....................................... The Pact? Worth checking out or?

Eh...no. It wasnt horrible, but if you dont have the unlimited card and are gonna end up paying a tenner then I'd give it a miss.

Birneybau

I know I was being a bit if an arseh0le here, but was in Cineworld, watching 'Cabin in the Woods' and there was a guy sitting to my right, with an empty seat between us, checking his phone and texting intermittently.

Every time he put his phone down I proceeded to point my phone at his face, out of my eyeline, and hit the hang up button thus casting light in his face, moreso towards the climax of the film.

Fcuk it, Cineworld gets on my tits sometimes.

mikemac1

I would happily pay Cineworld a €2 surcharge to have one or two of those STT heavies that Irish Rail use to be in the screen with us

Any messers, feck them out

I'll pay, I don't mind paying

Birneybau

leakyboots wrote: »

Dunno how long ye'd last before going postal over in cinemas in America lads

Oh, I'm in New York at the moment and saw a film in a cinema just off Times Square, never again.

SirDelboy18

Birneybau wrote: »

Oh, I'm in New York at the moment and saw a film in a cinema just off Times Square, never again.

Is it worse over there?

Toby Take a Bow

SirDelboy18 wrote: »

Is it worse over there?

Many years ago, in America, visiting the cinema was a very unique experience. Lots of people standing up, shouting at the screen. Exaggerated reactions to everything. It was very strange, and amusing for that one experience, but I'd say it'd get really, really annoying if you lived there long term.

The Mad Hatter

Birneybau wrote: »

Oh, I'm in New York at the moment and saw a film in a cinema just off Times Square, never again.

Irishman Goes Postal Outside Cinema in Times Square

Sesudra

I've gotten to the point now where I generally avoid the big cinemas, because otherwise I just have a sick feeling in my stomach waiting for someone to start talking or using their phone or whatever. The Screen, the IFI and the Lighthouse are the only way to go, with occasional trips to the Swan for the "bigger" films.

I just don't get it - the cinema is really expensive, so why spend 12 or 13 euro just to sit in the dark checking your phone for 2 hours? I asked a woman beside me to stop checking her phone during "Up", her response? "I'm expecting a very important text, I need to check my phone" - then don't go to the cinema, wait for the text somewhere else!!

Myrddin

Jean-Paul Sarte hit the nail on the head..."Hell is other people"

This applies to the cinema so much, what is so tough about sitting easy for 90 mins, forget about your phone, don't feel the need to talk or over react to things, keep your feet to yourself, & not stuff your face with smelly food in noisy packets? Mouth breathing cretins.

Skinfull

I think I may have given the wrong impression... There is a group of us who have unlimited cards an we get way more than our monies worth. More often than not its not an issue but lately the etiquette has been slipping.
But ya know I was thinking, this isnt cinema etiquette, this is social etiquette. If I was out to dinner with a frien and they kept checking their phone every 2 mins, or had their hands down teh front of their pants the whole time I would be pretty pissed off too!

dirtyden

Sesudra wrote: »

I've gotten to the point now where I generally avoid the big cinemas, because otherwise I just have a sick feeling in my stomach waiting for someone to start talking or using their phone or whatever. The Screen, the IFI and the Lighthouse are the only way to go, with occasional trips to the Swan for the "bigger" films.

I just don't get it - the cinema is really expensive, so why spend 12 or 13 euro just to sit in the dark checking your phone for 2 hours? I asked a woman beside me to stop checking her phone during "Up", her response? "I'm expecting a very important text, I need to check my phone" - then don't go to the cinema, wait for the text somewhere else!!

Could not agree more.

You have paid to go see a film in the cinema, turn your phone to silent and sit back, relax and enjoy the film. I love the cinema but i only go now if there is a film I really want to see which is maybe three or four times a year. It really does spoil the experience having some twat/twats talking or texting right through the film.

I was actually in the Savoy in dublin many years ago and a young girl started a phone call with someone discussing how crap the film she was watching was (it was only 15 mins in, she stayed on phone for at least 10 mins making an empty pointless conversation). I dont remember what the film was so maybe it was rubbish but I mean give it a chance first! I blame attention spans amongst the 'yoof'. I wonder could cinemas block mobile signals? It is by far the most annoying ditraction at the cinema.

d@rk l0rd

Yes, this is very true. It's incredibly rude to be using a phone/texting when you're out with someone else like a restaurant or coffee shop or pub. It is a breakdown of social etiquette extending to the cinema and the people that do this do seem to have very short attention spans and not a clue whatsoever of when it is and isn't appropriate to be using a phone.

Using a phone in a cinema is incredibly selfish as it lights up the entire place and is really distracting. It sends the message that your need to check your messages is more important than everyone else's need to enjoy the movie in peace.

If you can't survive 2 hours without having to check for texts, then you really do have a problem. Even if people put them on silent, they start taking them out if it vibrates rather than leaving it until the movie is over.
Just switch the bloody thing off before going in and don't be an idiot!

Antar Bolaeisk

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

I hate when the film is just about to start and someone comes in and sits right in front of you. I put my feet up and a bit over the seat to stop this from happening.

I hate people like you, keep your feet where they belong, on the ground! Cinema I used to work in everyone, and I mean everyone, used to put their friggen feet up on the friggen chairs.

Bunch of animals!

Mr Keek

I can't understand why people think it's OK to leave their popcorn boxes and drink cups in the seats. Can people not just pop them in the bin, they are beside the door on the way out for god sake!

Late arrivals bug me, just be on time, it's easy!

....and what everyone else said about feet on seats, txting & talking.

Teenage girls can be a head wreck, especially at horrors.

Soby

Lot of you complaining bout disruptions in the film but sit through it.Find a member of staff (not your job i know but better than sitting through it) , boom problem (should be) sorted

Skinfull

Mr Keek wrote: »

I can't understand why people think it's OK to leave their popcorn boxes and drink cups in the seats. Can people not just pop them in the bin, they are beside the door on the way out for god sake!

Late arrivals bug me, just be on time, it's easy!

....and what everyone else said about feet on seats, txting & talking.

Teenage girls can be a head wreck, especially at horrors.

Not in Cineworld. More often than not you will be left holding onto it until you get to the street because the bins are either too full, or the opening is too small and the top of it is clogged.

Soby wrote: »

Lot of you complaining bout disruptions in the film but sit through it.Find a member of staff (not your job i know but better than sitting through it) , boom problem (should be) sorted

Well unless the disruption is simply unbearable I don't like to leave the movie. Also depending on what screen you are in you are looking at a bit of a walk to find someone, then the explanation, then the walk back and you've easily missed a chunk of movie. Missing by distruption vs Missing while looking for solution... each incident is weighted differently!

Tipsy McSwagger

Antar Bolaeisk wrote: »

I hate people like you, keep your feet where they belong, on the ground! Cinema I used to work in everyone, and I mean everyone, used to put their friggen feet up on the friggen chairs.

Bunch of animals!

Nope I will continue to do it, and putting my feet up doesn't make me an animal you ignoramus. I would rather people put their feet up than talk, be on their mobile, come in late, noisy kids, loud eaters, people getting up all the time, messers and having the back of my chair kicked constantly.

event

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

Nope I will continue to do it, and putting my feet up doesn't make me an animal you ignoramus. I would rather people put their feet up than talk, be on their mobile, come in late, noisy kids, loud eaters, people getting up all the time, messers and having the back of my chair kicked constantly.

no, there's no way you should be putting feet up on seats.
if there is dirt on your shoe, you're gonna transfer it to the seats and people could get clothes dirty. no excuse

The Big Red Button

Tipsy McSwagger wrote: »

Nope I will continue to do it, and putting my feet up doesn't make me an animal you ignoramus. I would rather people put their feet up than talk, be on their mobile, come in late, noisy kids, loud eaters, people getting up all the time, messers and having the back of my chair kicked constantly.

You're only paying for your own seat - it's none of your business if someone wants to sit in the seat in front of you!

That's actually pretty disgusting behaviour - would you like to put your head on a seat where someone had put their feet, having picked up all sorts of germs and crap from the streets?

I mean, I wouldn't put my feet up on furniture in my own home or in anyone elses (not while I'm wearing shoes anyways) - and I certainly wouldn't do it in a cinema or any other public place either.

It's an extremely childish and nasty thing to do, in my opinion.

MadsL

Bill Hicks wrote:

But I'll tell you this. Where's this idea that childbirth is a miracle came from. Ha, I missed that ****ing meeting, okay? "It's a miracle, childbirth is a miracle." No it's not. No more than a miracle than eating food and a turd coming out of your ass. It's a chemical reaction, that's all it ****ing is. If, you wanna know what a miracle is: raisin' a kid that doesn't talk in a movie theatre. Okay, there, there, there is a goddam miracle.

Thankfully, Challenge Achieved.

Birneybau wrote: »

Oh, I'm in New York at the moment and saw a film in a cinema just off Times Square, never again.

Come to the Southwest, very quiet in cinemas. Then again, people are well armed. The thought that the guy in the seat behind could be carrying a .357 S&W tends to shut people up.

bigslick

Was in Cineworld on Saturday night. Seems some girls were whispering through alot of the film. Suddenly I hear a man shout "WOULD YOU EVER SHUT THE F**K UP B*TCHES!!" Needless to say they stopped talking pretty fast.

Any Board memeber wanna take credit?

MadsL

I used to go over, and say in a low threatening voice only they could hear;

You have two choices either be quiet and let me and everyone else watch the film, or I will personally make sure you are thrown out. Your choice.

e_e

MadsL wrote: »

I used to go over, and say in a low threatening voice only they could hear;

You have two choices either be quiet and let me and everyone else watch the film, or I will personally make sure you are thrown out. Your choice.

I can't help but imagine this in Heisenberg's voice.

SirDelboy18

I've started being very pro-active about this but the cinema for me is a place of ultimate relaxation.

When I have to get agitated and into conflict with someone or get a member of staff I'm usually on edge for the next 15-20 minutes, not able to fully concentrate on the movie.

MadsL

"Warn em early" has always been my policy.

I'm not as proactive as my wife who once emptied her coke over a young wan's head who told her to **** off after being told to be quiet.