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Things are pretty quiet this week so we have a mellow discussion about Part 1 of the Doctor Who “End of Time” story, Better Off Ted, the new John Hughes documentary on Encore called Don’t You Forget About Me, and we make a trip to the movies to see Sherlock Holmes and Up in the Air. Plus, movie theater manners!

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I have not listened to the episode yet, but is there any such thing as manners in movie theaters any more?

I attended Where the Wild Things Are earlier this year and there were two boys playing catch in the main aisle with a football. Being the “mean old man” that I am, I reported these kids….needless to say the parents started throwing the football after they discovered I had reported them, and theater management was perplexed as to what to do….Welcome to America…..and why is piracy an issue again?

I feel there is an entire generation of kids that will never appreciate the theater going experience and I cant blame them if this is what their parents let them do….my mother and father would have been aghast….and saddened.

I treat 3 kinds of handicapped children.  The physically handicapped, the mentally handicapped, and the parentally handicapped.  The last group is often the worst off.  None of us are perfect parents, however the complete lack of parenting that many “parents” think is the right way to raise children is so socially destructive.  I feel very sorry for those kids.

I agree with you Doc, there is no perfect way to raise a child. I feel sorry for those kids as well, I dont know when our culture became so invasive and without proper social behavior….but I dont like it much…

I dont long for the “olden” days, I just wish some parents would stop thinking that everything a child does is cute even when its to the detriment of a social experience…I have yet to meet a parent who doesnt think everything their child does is the greatest thing ever, I just think there is a time and place for that….

I’m reminded of this behavior by my wife often, I used to be a big drinking/partying type of gentleman…one time we were at a public event and I got completely hammered on booze….needless to say I was yelling, spit flying outta my mouth….I was rude and insensitive and then my wife pulled me to the side and said….“Look behind you”...I did and it was a child about the age of maybe 7 or 8….the look of fear and confusion on this child’s face broke my heart….I quit drinking as an Olympic event after that….and I grew up alot that day….A LOT….

If only I had a father who had taught me that, but at the time of that event I was acting just like my father would on an almost daily basis….it was a real eye opener…

Seems to be a bit of a “pandemic” now, this lack of social skills….I have faith that things will change, just not a lot of faith….on a funnier note…

At a screening of Avatar, I sat next to a 10 year old young gentleman, we were talking cinema having a good time….kid was a bit of an enthusiast. We watched the film and about midway through the film he leaned over to me and said this simple statement….“this movie is made for kids”...I found this hilarious….after the film he said it was okay and pretty to look at but that he thought the film was kind of a waste of time….this kid is a bright one.

Ooh - my forum exploded with activity!

Thanks, fellas.

So for Sherlock Holmes, the primary talkers with the parents. We were at a mall cineplex on Christmas Day. So it was packed… I guess this is what happens.

The parents (I’d place at late 40s early 50s) were modeling bad behavior and eventually their early teen children participated as well - so that by the third act they were just talking and talking. Luckily, that movie is kinda loud so it was only like… half annoying.

I did hear a baby crying at one point but someone quickly hustled him/her out. I still don’t know why people bring babies to the theater. It’s just expensive - especially if you don’t think you’ll be able to watch the movie.

The second talking problem was at an art house theater where you’re going to drop at least $10 a person on a ticket plus pay another $4 to park.  We saw Up in the Air (sold out) which isn’t like a super loud movie. The people behind us talked a little through the first 2/3rds of the movie and then just unleashed by the end. I would say they were at least 65 years old. In fact, a lot of the audience talked during the movie and we were among a handful of people in the 30-something set. Most people were probably over 55.

The Samurai - 28 December 2009 05:29 PM

At a screening of Avatar, I sat next to a 10 year old young gentleman, we were talking cinema having a good time….kid was a bit of an enthusiast. We watched the film and about midway through the film he leaned over to me and said this simple statement….“this movie is made for kids”...I found this hilarious….after the film he said it was okay and pretty to look at but that he thought the film was kind of a waste of time….this kid is a bright one.

Aww - I like this story. I can see why you’d have faith!

I will never understand why people talk to the screen at the cinema, I just dont understand.

Where I come from you do that at home because you dont want the locals to think you are not “all there”.....

I was at a theater once and saw The Grinch with Jim Carrey…there was a rather large African American woman that kept saying “Oh No He Didnt”....it may have ruined Christmas that year….

At the screening of A christmas Carol this year a group of tweens was in the row in front of us.  Mom/chaparone was at the end of the isle reading a Kindle and doing nothing to control them.  They were playing with a bottle of perfume and spilled the thing.  The reek gave me a horrible headache and made it hard to enjoy or even pay attention to the film.  And I was trying to really give it a fair shake for our podcast.