I don't know if this was discussed before.
List the mmost memorable theater experiences of your life.
The second time i went to see magnolia there were only 4 people in the room (myself and my friend included), no phones ringing, no coughing, no popcorn, the most peaceful I ever was watching a film.
A couple of years ago there was this portuguese film out, O delfim (the dauphin), I went to see it with my brother. There were few people in the room and one of them was Virgílio Teixeira one of the greatest actors of portuguese cinema! He's old and sick, he had the occasional cough-attack. But there he was, this forgotten god, watching the biggest portuguese film of the year in the same shitty room as I was(bastards didn't even invite him to the preview). I felt special
some other experiences, I will not share 8)
My early preview of Magnolia, packed to the brim. Grand!
And right up there is when I drove across the city (which I generally never did because I hate driving) in Vancouver to this old theatre when it was playing Apocalypse Now Redux. It was also packed. They were playing Buckets Of Rain by Dylan as I sat down. Right as the movie started, some bastard began to talk, and his hot girlfriend grabbed him, and hauled him out, telling him to shut up and that he's gonna ruin it for everyone else. He wasn't into even seeing the movie, and she wouldn't let him come back in the theatre. She left with him so the rest of us could see the flick in peace. Now that's a woman! Needless to say, the rest of the screening was wonderful. Since it was so long, and it was quite late at night, and I was so tired, I had my head in just the right near-surreal state of mind for everything to feel just perfect.
Third would be the time I finally nutted up and asked the girl I was in love with in highschool to a date. Here was me, with this popular, super-hot chick, on a date. Her friends didn't want her to go with me, and my friends coulnd't believe it. Anyway, we went to the godawful Varsity Blues, and I've never talked during a movie, but it sucked balls so bad, her and I sat in the back and made fun of it together. It was classic. Then, when she got up to go to the bathroom, she almost tripped over me and fell. It seemed so cute and awkward in such a nice way.
Too bad the rest of my relationship with her was breakneck-speed downhill from there...
Seeing "Ikiru" with an intellectual crowd of filmgoers during the Toronto International Film Festival was a very fulfilling experience for me. Only a handful of people out of approximately 250. Near sellout crowd. When there was comedy, there were big laughs, and when it came near the end, there were the tears.. it was a great experience to be apart of.. just feeling that film passion in the room.
Well, while not a euphoric experience, a funny thing happened when i went to see "Attack of the Clones", it was the first show on opening day, but my second time seeing the film as I got into a speacial screening the night before. Anyway, we'd all been in line for three hours outside, and after storming the front of the theater (tha manager was scared shitless) we're all sitting there, excited as hell, and the movie starts, people cheer, it's all good (I actually enjoy the film, but that's not what we're discussing here) and about ten minutes in a cell phone goes off, and everyone yells and bickers, for the next few minutes it continues to go off, we assumed that whoever is too embarrased to pick it up, after a bit people get really irritated. Eventually a guy runs downthe stairs, finds the phone in a jacket on an empty chair (the guy must have been taking a piss) and smashes the phone on the ground. The whole theatre bursts into applause and cheers, "...as if a millions of voices suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced." It was pretty cool.
(https://xixax.com/images/avatars/11734570913f68c5c1d4745.jpg)
Is that Colin Mochrie?
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Quote from: SoNowThengodawful Varsity Blues
I liked Varsity Blues. :(
Anyway, good experiences in theatres:
Punch-Drunk Love, first time. And second time. And the two times I've seen it on DVD. :D
Orange County. Only me and one other guy in the whole room at a matinee. Another film I like that doesn't seem to be highly regarded. Along with Finding Forrester. I guess I just have a soft spot for those writer themed things.
Bad experience: Chicago. Bleh. A whole bunch of teens sitting in the back talking to each other and on cell phones. Don't go to mainstream theatres on Friday or Saturday night. Lesson learned. Almost ruined the movie for me, which I thought was pretty good, but of course no best picture.
I was alone in the theatre when I watched "Man On The Moon" and "Old School". Was quiet nice.
I'm having 'Best Cinema Experience' flashbacks from the C&C board.
Quote from: Walrus, KooKookajoob(https://xixax.com/images/avatars/11734570913f68c5c1d4745.jpg)
Is that Colin Mochrie?
Or Churchill.. one or the other, I guess..
Quote from: OnomatopoeiaQuote from: SoNowThengodawful Varsity Blues
I liked Varsity Blues. :(
yeah that was one of the best teen films of its time
most recently, seeing Scarface at the cinerama dome on sunset (part of the arclight)... i live in california...
other experiences that i wont forget:
Lawrence of Arabia
2001: A Space Odyssey
They Live By Night
Raging Bull
The General
Battleship Potemkin
Aguirre, The Wrath of God (Herzog retrospective... he was there for the screening)
Punch-Drunk Love
Talk to Her
Adaptation (LA premiere at the Egyptian)
The Right Stuff (10th anniversary cast and crew reunion)
Mulholland Drive
Lost in Translation (sneak preview w/ Sofia Copploa and Bill Murray)
The Night of the Hunter (Festival of Preservation at UCLA)
The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly - restored cut
Apocalypse Now Redux
Star Wars: A New Hope rerelease
I am so jealous of you that it's disgusting.
seeing PDL with a crowd of people who actually like it as much as i do, and sitting about three feet to the left of PTA, and later hearing him tell me he liked my shoes....(the rochester screening)
attack of the clones, everyone burst out laughing during the romantic scenes....
going to a theatre and seeing a sign that said "we DO NOT give refunds for adaptation"....
when i saw AI a big big big guy behind me was crying his eyes out....
my stories kinda suck.
Amusing and geeky: I went and saw Mulholland Dr. opening weekend at the Vista on Sunset, a nice old-school 1 screen theatre. And who should sit right in front of me? Quentin Tarantino. I had seen the movie already thankfully, so I did a very Quentin-thing and watched him watching the movie. He whispered to the chica he was with during some moments (I snickered when he pointed out that Robert Forser was in 'Jackie Brown') and his enthusiasm for the film was evident. He howled at the botched 'hitman' scene, was totally with it. After the film was over he was the first one clapping. I decided to not harass him after the movie (it was hard to resist), but it still was an experience I won't forget.
2nd place: Seeing 100 people walk out of Boogie Nights during Dirk's gay-trick scene.
3rd place: Seeing Magnolia and an advance screening w/ 250 people who had no idea what they were getting into.
When I went to see The Order, the mayor of my town was there. And in the middle of the movie, he got up and screamed (literally screamed) : "BLASPHEMY !" and got out almost running. The whole theater started to laugh and laugh and laugh. It was hysterical. That was awesome.
Quote from: Weak2ndActAmusing and geeky: I went and saw Mulholland Dr. opening weekend at the Vista on Sunset, a nice old-school 1 screen theatre. And who should sit right in front of me? Quentin Tarantino. I had seen the movie already thankfully, so I did a very Quentin-thing and watched him watching the movie. He whispered to the chica he was with during some moments (I snickered when he pointed out that Robert Forser was in 'Jackie Brown') and his enthusiasm for the film was evident. He howled at the botched 'hitman' scene, was totally with it. After the film was over he was the first one clapping. I decided to not harass him after the movie (it was hard to resist), but it still was an experience I won't forget. .
Oh man that's just an awesome story ! I wish stuff like that happened to me... that must've been great.
Quote from: Weak2ndAct2nd place: Seeing 100 people walk out of Boogie Nights during Dirk's gay-trick scene..
Hahaha ! More than half the theater got out before the end when I saw it too...that means like 4-5 people though.
You know what's sad? Most of my memorable theatre-going experiences are for movies that suck. Titanic is one because it was the first date I went on w/ this girl who I really liked. Star Wars Episode One is another because I saw it with my dad, whom I don't actually see very often anymore.
28 Days Later was going on in the background of my grope fest with my X. Isn't it weird to say X afterwards, because when you refer to them as X, it sounds like they were your X at the time, and that's just confusing...
When i went to watch Rainman, maybe it was the happiest day of my life, simple but beautiful, that day i could have three things i loved with all my soul and my heart: my mother, my brother and a movie, all in the same place, at the same time...
The first time i watched Magnolia. For first time in my life i felt identify with a sricpt, for first time a scriptwriter said many things i always thought about life, world, or love, someone wrote things as "Life isn't short", or that beautiful "i love you and i'm sick" i remember that day as the day i fell in love with the mind of a filmmaker called Paul Thomas Anderson...
When i watched 12 Mokeys, i went to an old theatre what was almost derelict, and i was the only one in the room, the afternoon was sad (i don't remember why), you but everything was strange, since the movie still the man who open the exit door, still now i wonder if that was a dream or it really happened, anyway i loved the movie and the memory...
once, i was on my own (but the thaeter wasnt empty) and i noticed that my shoe was untied. this was before the movie or previews had started. so i bring my foot up and try to tie it but i had some trouble with it (i had to get it right, or else it undoes itself very easily, stupid weird show lase). anyway, so while fiddling with my show lace for 2 minutes i thought to myself "gee, this must look weird to the people sitting in back of me." indeed people were whispering and gasping, finally someone comes down and looks into my alley, then walks back up and says to the others "oh, hes just tying his shoe lase." there was a collective sigh of relief
that was you!?
yes
Seeing Ghost Ship was great. people were completely into it, screaming in terror, "whoa"-ing at the appropriate times.
Seeing PDL both times in the theater was terribly depressing. All senior citizens snickering during the entire movie. I felt really defensive of the movie.
Bowling for Columbine was memorable if just for the fact that I dropped a whole package of Lemonheads and they scattered down the aisle.
Far From Heaven just because I really felt like the audience "got" it. Afterwards, I was talking to an old lady about it. She was moved to tears by how accurate the social constraints were to her experiences in the 50's. Very interesting.
...Watching Requiem for a Dream on my tiny tv with my friend who moved away...
Watching Magnolia with my brother, whose opinion I really respect and seeing him enjoy it.
Watching Donnie Darko at my bday party and seeing that this weird esoteric movie could appeal to my mainstream friends.
Definitely the worst viewing experience I've ever had was watching Deliverance with my male friend. The rape scenes were terrible.
At a film festival I saw "The Real Old Testament". It was the funniest movie I had ever seen and I'm still hoping it someday gets a dvd treatment. The filmmakers were there and I talked to him afterwards, very nice guys.
Edit:
Clip of film.
http://www.ifilm.com/filmdetail?ifilmid=2421264
Well..I have a couple..
1.0 seeing Pulp fiction..i went in thinking it was bruce willis action film.. :roll:
2.0 star wars -a new hope and and empire.re-releases
3.0 gangs.
4.0 hudson hawk..i t was the only time the entire theatre was empty besides me.
5.0 south park..the first 20mins.. I have never heard an entire theatre laugh so much
I forgot Pulp Fiction, thanks for the reminder, Neon. I saw it the first night it was out in a packed house. I was still not old enough to but the tickets at the time, so I had my dad do it. The crowd reaction was beyond belief. They got it-- and loved it. I walked out of the movie in a daze. When my dad picked me up, he asked how the movie was. I said it was one of the greatest movies I've ever seen and it was gonna change everything. He laughed and said I hadn't seen that many movies yet.
i had sex with two girls in a cinema once.
with the lights so low, who knows WHAT you had sex with
Watching the midnight showing of Attack of the Clones was quite an experience. The theater was packed and everyone was really really liking it. It even received a standing ovation at the end. I don't know why everyone decided to hate it a couple weeks afterwards...
The first time I saw Bowling For Columbine I saw it with two friends. We went into the theater on December 31st 2002, came out of the theater on January 1st 2003.
why did you stay in so long? got lost, huh?
mine was probably the first time i saw pulp fiction. i was thirteen, and had my mother drop me off at the theater. she bought my ticket for me. i saw it alone.
after that, everything changed. that was the movie that made me realize how great movies can be.
after that...eh.
as for a great experience, in terms of how fun the audience was...it would have to be the third time i saw panic room [yes, i loved it that much].
this was at the dollar cinema. now, normally, i hate the types that hang out at the dollar cinema. a bunch of mexicans and junior high kids with nothing better to do than hang out there with their entire families and have their babies cry all through the screening. normally, this is a bad thing, but this time it was awesome.
everyone was so vocal about the movie; they weren't talking to eachother or anything. they were just so into the movie. like when foster knocked over the lamp, everyone was like "gghghdsddaaaaaaaaaaawwwwwwwwwwwwdddddd!11111111111".
it was so wierd, and funny. throughout the movie, it was nothing but oohs and ahhhs. bottom line: it's fun being with an audience that's into the movie, and nothing else.
unfortunately, i don't get to experience things like this. i'm sure you guys that have the luck of living near arthouses get to do this all the time.
Quote from: Cecilwhy did you stay in so long? got lost, huh?
I should have been a bit clearer on that. The movie started at about 11:00 pm on the night of December 31st, and ended at about 1:00 am January 1st.
I've got tons. Let me see...
-- Pulp Fiction, at the age of 13, having ridden to the dollar theater on my bike, changed my life. Same old story.
-- Going to a midnight show of A Clockwork Orange and coming out of the theater to discover a world blanketed in snow (this story reminds me that we've had a thread like this before), in Texas, in November. A snowball fight ensued.
-- The Sixth Sense, cause it was with a girl I really really liked and it just ended up being a really good memory.
-- Seeing PDL on opening night, right before I hopped on a plane for NYC.
Memories like these have ended up being more special than the times I've seen movies with directors in attendance (no one as cool as Tarantino or PTA, though) or seeing super advance screenings or anything. Like seeing 'Bounce' was really cool, since I went with John Pierson and he took me and my friend out for dinner afterwards. But man, 'Bounce' sucked bad, so that's not at the top of my list.
I turned a potentially bad experience into a great one...
I was watching Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon in a packed house. Some young punks snuck in and started laughing at the (foreign language) dialog (with English subtitles). The crowd was too conservative (and too scared) to say anything. I yelled out: "It's okay, they don't know how to read!" Everybody in the theater laughed and cheered as the wasted youths left the building. We enjoyed the rest of the film in peace.
'Fellowship of the Ring'. Brilliant atmoshpere. Packed cinema. Group of friends. Perfect seats. Came out feeling completely refreshed, incredibly happy and in total admiration of the film.
First time seing 'Pulp Fiction' at about 9 at night, alone in my room. Quite an experience. When it was over, I couldn't believe all the stuff I had just witnessed. Like a lot of people, it opened a new cinema door in my head.
First time seeing 'Jaws' when I was about 8. LOVED it.
'Jurassic Park', completely blown away.
Watching the final 20 mins of '8 Mile' in a packed cinema is an experience itself. We felt as if we were IN the shelter with the rap battles.
'The Blair Witch Project', in the first few minutes I felt like 'How could I ever feel involved in this, its so cheap looking, I feel like I'm observing whats going on'. Half an hour later, I was singing a whole different tune.
There would be heaps of others.....
Two years ago, they played Visconti's "The Leopard" here in Porto. It was the last day of the..... uh.... festivities of "Porto 2001 - European Capital of Culture". The theater was packed, everybody in the mood for some great cinema and, when we thought the film was about to start, 3 people enter the room... João Benard da Costa (a famous film critic and, I believe, director of the portuguese cinemateque), Jorge Sampaio (you may not know, but he's like The President of the Portuguese Republic) and then... Claudia Cardinale, the female lead of the film. They went on about talking how much they loved the film and how great Visconti was and all... It was a funny moment. I even kind of felt like a real person for beeing there with those celebrities and all.
Quote from: Ghostboy-- Going to a midnight show of A Clockwork Orange and coming out of the theater to discover a world blanketed in snow (this story reminds me that we've had a thread like this before), in Texas, in November. A snowball fight ensued.
-- The Sixth Sense, cause it was with a girl I really really liked and it just ended up being a really good memory.
Scary, two of mine are almost identical to these.
Seeing Fellowship of the Ring with my crush was incredible, and every time I watch it I just get hit by this wave of nostalgia, putting me back in that theater (Row 4, seat 9, on the balcony).
Then a year later, seeing Two Towers, and sadly beeing very underwhelmed (this time without my crush). Thing is, it's December 18th, and it hasn't been snowing all year. It's Christmas for Christ sake! I've never had a snowless Christmas in my life! My God, rarely have I been happier than when I discovered that snowy blanket covering the streets. In fact, my neighbour whom I walked home with, must've though I was nuts, as I semi-somersaulted on the street, and started making an angel in the snow where I lay, proclaiming my love for all things Christmas.
The Special Edition of The Empire Strikes Back is also forever burned in me, as I saw it alone at eleven. The showing was late, so the manager wasn't sure if he'd let me in, then he saw I was on the verge of crying, and let me in. Walking home alone from the theater that night, is one memory that'll forever,
forever stay where it is. That day I noticed the beauty in the small things.
Quote from: RoyalTenenbaumTwo years ago, they played Visconti's "The Leopard" here in Porto. It was the last day of the..... uh.... festivities of "Porto 2001 - European Capital of Culture". The theater was packed, everybody in the mood for some great cinema and, when we thought the film was about to start, 3 people enter the room... João Benard da Costa (a famous film critic and, I believe, director of the portuguese cinemateque), Jorge Sampaio (you may not know, but he's like The President of the Portuguese Republic) and then... Claudia Cardinale, the female lead of the film. They went on about talking how much they loved the film and how great Visconti was and all... It was a funny moment. I even kind of felt like a real person for beeing there with those celebrities and all.
How's Claudia looking these days?
Quote from: SoNowThenHer friends didn't want her to go with me, and my friends coulnd't believe it.
Lol, that's horrible and funny at the same time. I love it. That's what it would be like for me. That's great. I love that whole situation. Good for you. I mean, even though it went downhill, it must have been cool for a little while. I've never been on a date so I can't say for sure but this reminds me of this one thing I always dream about...it's one of those ads they sometimes play before the previews. Most of them suck but I think this particular one might actually be cool...it's the one with the guy sitting in a movie theatre with a girl and they're just all motionless and bored...a subtitle comes up and says "worst movie ever" or something like that, then the girl puts her hand on his knee and another subtitle comes up saying "the best movie of all-time". I think that's cool. I think that might be true but as I said, I can't be sure. I have no way of knowing...some movies are so bad, I'm not sure that would improve the experience.
Oh heavens you have no idea. Happy Sean. My balls felt like they were 50 pounds for about a week, I'll tell ya...
And then the rest was like my 2nd favorite title card: Long Way Down.
2001- space odissey in a special session that started at midnight of january 1st, 2001....
Cradle will rock it was in in the afternoon of a wednesday...and i don't know what happened but the audience got the vibe of the end of the movie and everybody clapped...it was so nice.
PDL mostly because i was so nervous and excited to (finally)watch ...and i was (i confess) scared with the possibility that i could hate...and became my fav PTA flick!
Quote from: Pas RapportQuote from: Weak2ndAct2nd place: Seeing 100 people walk out of Boogie Nights during Dirk's gay-trick scene..
Hahaha ! More than half the theater got out before the end when I saw it too...that means like 4-5 people though.
During the many times that I saw Magnolia in the theater, a lot of people walked out, and it was always at the same moment... in the wiping the frogs off the car scene.
My parents said that a lot of people left the theatre during Linda Partridge's swearing at the drugstore. They to this day feel that the movie didn't do very well in the theatre because people couldn't take women swearing like Claudia and Linda do in the flick. I dunno, if that's the case, it just makes me hate the world that much more...
Quote from: SoNowThenit just makes me hate the world that much more...
I understood memorable moments as good ones so i tried to avoid the "Magnolia Theatre moments" of my life cuz i hated the world in all of the four times too... the ones who left, the ones who slept :shock: , and the others who just looked to each others face like "I wanna my money back".
That's terrible.
I was very lucky to have 4 1/2 out of 5 great Magnolia theatre experiences. I say I only half enjoyed one because of a lady who gasped constantly, but it was slightly amusing (when Mackey said "cunt" -- big gasp, when the dog ate the pill -- scared gasp).
It was awful because it was the first movie in years which I didn't "just liked" but TRULLY LOVED and i felt like an alien for left the theatre with a grin in the face while everybody else was complaining.
How old were you, and where did you see it?
QuoteHow's Claudia looking these days?
Man, she's getting old :cry: but still, she has the charm and class, I think. But old...
Quote from: SoNowThenHow old were you, and where did you see it?
21 and unfortunatelly the first time i saw was in a theatre inside a mall (maybe that was the problem)
My best movie theater experiences were:
1) That movie with Brandon Frasier, School Ties...or school something when I was like 12 or 13, I can't remember. But it was great because I spent the entire night feeling up the girl next to me.
2) Pulp Fiction, just amazing. Went with 2 friends, and only 2 other people were in this huge theater so we basically had it all to ourselves. Then the movie started and I left all :shock: .
Quote from: AKQuote from: SoNowThenHow old were you, and where did you see it?
21 and unfortunatelly the first time i saw was in a theatre inside a mall (maybe that was the problem)
Hey, yeah, me too (in a mall I mean). But it was a sneak preview crowd, so they were pretty good.
Well, at least you were a decent age. I was thinking if you were in your teens, and you saw such a beautiful film that nobody else responded to, it would be rough and pessimism-enhancing experience. At least when you're a little older, you can just say "fuck 'em, they missed out" with more conviction. :wink:
i wish i was older when i showed it to my friends then, only two of them liked it. the others were offended or didnt understand it.
every single one of em loved boogie nights tho, so, theyre not that bad i guess....
weird, all my friends liked Pulp Fiction...
but none of them liked Boogie Nights...they all thought the prosthetic penis was gross. I'll make them watch it again...hopefully they'll get it next time :lol:
Most memorable theater experiences:
1. I saw my first ever Scorsese movie on my 14th birthday (though of course I had no idea who he was). My friends and I saw Bringing Out the Dead, and I always kinda liked it because I think I was justifying are reasons for paying money to see it, they all thought it was weird. But we're just kids, didn't know any better. I just remember the last shot with Cage and Arquette thinking, "This is the ending?" It's my favorite Scorsese movie now, though.
2. I remember seeing Independence Day and couldn't over how cool the sounds and special effects were. Once again, I was just a kid.
3. During Liar, Liar, I literally fell out of my seat from laughing so hard. Once again...
4. Recent experiences would be seeing Memento, that was my first glimpse at how cool movies could be on a technical level, that's when I really started to get into movies. Requiem revitalized and then Magnolia did later on.
Oh, and seeing Attack of the Clones at midnight, well that was just an eventful day for unsaid reasons.
Quote from: SoNowThen
Well, at least you were a decent age. I was thinking if you were in your teens, and you saw such a beautiful film that nobody else responded to, it would be rough and pessimism-enhancing experience. At least when you're a little older, you can just say "fuck 'em, they missed out" with more conviction. :wink:
And i think that if i was younger and had showed it to youngers who didn't get it wasn't going to be a big deal as it is for me now in Film School has to listen that Magnolia is bullshit and indulgent
Quote from: AKQuote from: SoNowThen
Well, at least you were a decent age. I was thinking if you were in your teens, and you saw such a beautiful film that nobody else responded to, it would be rough and pessimism-enhancing experience. At least when you're a little older, you can just say "fuck 'em, they missed out" with more conviction. :wink:
And i think that if i was younger and had showed it to youngers who didn't get it wasn't going to be a big deal as it is for me now in Film School has to listen that Magnolia is bullshit and indulgent
Ahhh... film school, or as I call it: going to a class with 9 out of 10 people who have no business being in cinema.
Trainspotting. I saw it at a film festival on a very undergroundish artsy theatre. I used to go there a lot and there would never be anyone, usually the place was empty, but that day, I got there and saw the whole thing packed. There was a line going around the block and they had to make two extra showings for the evening...everyone was incredibly responsive to the movie...it was an instant classic...
Batman. That was huge. People were clapping in key moments as when the bat aerial ship or whatever is called positions on the moon silhuette...and when the Joker did something cool and funny...
Fantasia 2000 on the IMAX theatre at La Cité in Paris...do I have to say more?
Apocalypse Now Redux...I saw it on opening night with a packed theatre and it was amazing, just amazing...but then I saw it again like three weeks later, on LSD...one of the most intense movie going experiences of my life.
alright i saw the heading and i couldnt resist. this happened to me a few weeks ago in filthadelfia. this is the letter i sent to the theatres corporate office when i got back. its me trying to sound like a rational adult. this is long, so probably nobodys gonna read it.
I went to your theatres tonite in Philadelphia at 40th and Walnut Street to see 2 films with my friend and girlfriend. We had during the first film (the only one we ended up seeing any of), the absolute worst experience in a movie theatre of our entire lives. I cannot even begin to describe what it was like sitting there in your theatre. But I will try.
Since we had planned to see two films back to back, and knowing it was Friday, opening night for both films, we arrived about an hour early to make sure we got tickets. When we arrived at around 7 o clock we were able to get tickets to the 8pm Once Upon A Time In Mexico and the 9:50 Cabin Fever. Although we arrived an hour early, due to the assigned seats policy, we were told we had a choice between the very front or the very back, so we chose the back. (Also, we had not been in a few months and were informed that now, there were no longer student discounts on Fridays nor Saturdays, and that the price for a ticket on the weekend was 10.00 and not 9.25.) But, regardless we got our tickets and began to wait outside the theatre till the previous showing had ended.
We were eventually let in and took our seats in the next to last row in the back of the theatre. As the theatre began to fill up the area around us began to fill up with a group of young black urban males and a few females. During the previews, a group of teens behind us were talking loudly, one of them on their cell phone. My girlfriend turned around to see who was making the noise, and was told "Don't turn around at me. The movie hasn't started yet." She turned back around and did not say anything. Then, someone behind us said "White people are already giving me shit." Since it was only the previews, we tried to ignore it. Hoping, that once the movie started the noise would calm down. Unfortunately it was almost the opposite.
After the movie started, during the first twenty minutes of the film we endured the loud talking of people in the row behind us, next to us and in front of us. Laughing during silences in the film, and responding to any bits of action by stomping and shouting things like "oh shit!" There were also two girls behind us at that point who were giggling loudly and incessantly through long stretches of this part as well. My girlfriend had had enough, so she went to exit the row to inform the management of what was going on in their theatre. on her way out of the row, one of the teens put his leg up in front of her as to not let her pass, said "Hey sexy, where you going", and attempted to touch her butt, although she managed to plow through the group anyway. When she was outside the theatre, she informed the usher of what was going on. She also said that she did not want, for fear of any trouble, the usher to escort her in, but to come in later, listen for any noise, and handle the problem accordingly. So she came back to her seat. A minute later or so an usher came in for about 20 seconds and left without doing anything. Then the noise got worse.
After that, we heard the loud clanking of, what turned out to be a 40oz bottle of alcohol being passed around next to us. In addition the sounds of a young child (in a Rated R movie), and more talking without any regard to the rest of the audience. And finally not one, but two cell phone conversations. The conversation next to us on the phone lasted no shorter than 5 minutes. He did little to keep his voice down, raising it every time there were problems receiving him on the other end of the phone. The entire time, sitting there trapped in our seats all I could think were that 1) I cant believe this is happening. I really cannot believe it. and 2) I cant believe no one ELSE has said anything to them either or gone to complain or leave! Then, after no shorter than 5 minutes on the phone the phone rang in the seats directly behind us and someone else began a conversation, again doing little to keep his voice hushed or leave the theatre till the call was over. Finally I couldn't even believe my frustration anymore, realizing I was probably halfway through the film, and had absolutely no idea what was going on because I hadn't seen any of it.
I walked out of the isle as none of the teens lifted their feet and finally reached the outside where a security guard and usher were present. I was so furious with what had happened with my night of movies, I could hardly get out the words to explain what was going on. But I did. I told them what was going on, that I couldn't stand it any longer, and the security guard decided he would follow me back into the theatre as I made my final attempt at just getting over it and watching the film. I pointed out the rows of people making the noise to the guard who stood by and said he would stand there to wait out the rest of the film.
When I returned to my seat, I was immediately taunted by a teen in the row in front of us, who told me to "Just go home. You're mommys not here." The noise now came in spurts in front, behind, and next to us in the forms of taunts. And that was when I decided I had had enough, and that I just wanted to leave at this point and come back some other day for a matinee. So I told my girlfriend and friend and we got up and left. We were followed by one threatening teen who followed close behind us on the steps and said "What do you need a baby-sitter? Do you think you can go and talk about my cousin like that?" He then circled around my friend in the restroom and disappeared, but did not go back into the theatre.
Outside, the security guard informed us that my girlfriend had been sexually assaulted and was calling the police and that he wanted her to point out who had done it. We hadn't planned on kicking anybody out, making a scene or having any of this done. At this point, we just wanted our $60 back for the 6 tickets we had bought that night, so we could come some other time during the day and see the film. He insisted, and called the police anyway. When they arrived we told them we were uncomfortable with them dragging anybody out to be identified by us, since we don't want to make trouble with anyone who could potentially follow us outside the theatre. We felt extremely uncomfortable and were told to wait outside the theatre. I asked the security guard if we could wait somewhere else, and he said "No, we needed to be there to point them out." Again, I suppose. Our friend, Aaron who lives a few blocks away from the neighborhood, was so uncomfortable with the situation he wanted to leave right then.
The police arrived and were asking us what had happened. When we
told them, they said that these were theatre issues, besides the sexual assault. We asked if they could be ejected for bringing in their own alcohol and drinking that, since they were quite obviously underage. The police said that the theatre served alcohol and there was nothing they could do about it. When the manager corrected him and said it was not permitted in the theatre. They were pretty insistent on going in there and getting this group so the whole group of police (4 or 5) went in. We were now standing right outside the theatre directly in, what if any would become harms way. We again, told the manager we only wanted our refunds and asked if we could wait somewhere else. He told us that we couldn't, and that we had to wait there. He would issue the refund after the police issue had been sorted out. Another manager was told to issue our ticket refunds, and so we followed him to the front of the building. We were all too glad to get away from the entrance to the theatre.
Once up front we were approached by the security guard who told us that when the group was approached and asked only to be "spoken with outside," they all got up and left the theatre. The police let them leave, and they presumably did so. There would be no questioning, no sexual assault charges, and no punishment whatsoever. The manager, gave us our refund amount in cash with the exception of one ticket which was a voucher. He did not, however, tell us he was sorry for what had happened. That it was unusual. That if we came back, it would not happen again. Nothing. In fact, when informing the manager at all of what had happened, he seemed to treat us as more of a nuisance than anyone to care about. At the front counter we met 4 other people who we asked what their refunds were for. They told us, someone had their 5 year old kid in their theatre, and was on their cell phone talking loudly. We said, "Once Upon A Time In Mexico?!" They said "No, Cabin Fever." We couldn't believe they had had the exact same experience in a different theatre.
This experience has been, without question, the absolute worst movie theatre experience I've ever had. The security guard meant well, and tried to remedy the situation. But the theatre staff, who had been informed shortly after the start of the film by my girlfriend did little to nothing to help us out besides ultimately refunding our tickets. That doesn't begin to measure up to the inconvenience of the evening. We had been anticipating the films tonight for a while, paid for the transportation to get to the theatre, and expected to have a nice time. Which, I think I am entitled when I am paying $10 for a movie ticket. The bar in the lobby and assigned seats may make the place seem ritzy, but do little to the movie experience when you have to put up with that. I'm still so frustrated about this whole thing, with our night wasted, and it now nearly midnight I can hardly believe this ordeal. I am having a really hard time telling myself I ever need to come back to this theatre. I have been multiple times in the past and thought, with its slick appearance, that you wouldn't have to put up with this type of behavior apparent in the cities lesser theaters. But now, I realize, without a staff that keeps an eye on the patrons inside the theatre, it's no different.
Oh shit, man. That sounds terrible. I've yet to have something like that happen to me
Holy Shit, modage, I can't even imagine how you felt. I doubt it, but did the corp. office get back to yet?
I'm glad you wrote to the theatre, modern. We need to start saying something.
Like I've said before, I've had such shit experiences that I rarely go anymore, and only to movies I know will be unpopular. Like the two flicks you saw, I've been dying to see those. But I knew the kind of crowds that I hate would be there, so I'm waiting 'til dvd. Unfortunate, yes, but I don't have the time or money to waste on this shit anymore.
The bad thing is, teenagers can be the biggest assholes, but usually if you get up and tell them to shut up (if you're over 20) they most of the time do. It's the middle age couples now that are starting to get to me, as they think that they can have a fucking ongoing whisper-conversation the WHOLE movie. I almost felt bad when I had to yell at a frail woman in her 40's to "SHUT UP" during the opening off PDL, but I wanted to set a precedent. It probably ruined the first third of the movie for her. What can you do?
Like I emailed to Ebert answer-man column, I'd like to see theatres put in bouncers to police noisey folks. They should firmly establish a "make noise, you're out" policy.
Quote from: MacGuffinHoly Shit, modage, I can't even imagine how you felt. I doubt it, but did the corp. office get back to yet?
they emailed me asking for my phone number and address so they could contact me more directly, but i havent heard from them since. my dad said i should try to sue the theatre for allowing this to go on, even after we had complained. so i called around to a few lawyers who said that only if my girlfriend had been assaulted further AFTER they had been informed would the theatre be responsible. that same lawyer also proceeded to tell me he doesnt go to the movies in philadelphia for that reason. i said, so basically you dont go to the movies because you know that something like this will happen? and he was like "yeah". i was like, dont you think thats kind of fucked up? he was like "oh i symphathize". but wasnt about to do anything about it. i figure my only chances at this point is finding a lawyer who still has ideals and is probably fresh out of law school. otherwise everyone else is just looking for an open-and-shut case.
I first have to say that the closest theater to me has 4 screens and they are small. The largest screen has gum stuck in the left corner of it and one of the other screens has a spot on it where someone tried to clean it and made it worse. The floor of the theater is always sticky and half the seats are broken. This is my (unchosen) movie haven.
The most memorable moments in this theater are:
When I went to see Drive Me Crazy and they messed up the reels (my friends didn't even notice, the movie was that bad), so we saw the film in the wrong order. And, no, they wouldn't give us our money back.
During The Little Mermaid, the film went crazy and in the middle of "Kiss the Girl" the film burned up. They had it running 10 min. later, but we missed the rest of the song.
Went to see Chicago and sat down only to be told that the movie wasn't working. Yes, I got my money back
One good thing that happened in that theater is I got to see Finding Nemo with two friends of mine. We were the only ones in the theater and we could laugh as loud and as hard as we wanted to.
When I finally get to go to a new theater, about 30 more miles away, the theater is packed and I'm loving it. Halfway through the movie, someone in the front is talking. Someone gives them a 'shhhhhhh.' The person in the front row stands up and says loudly "Who shushed me? Was it you?" this woman was pointing at someone I couldn't see. "You better not be shushing me. I paid to be here too, ya know." Thankfully, the person sat down again and shut up. I was scared there was gonna be a brawl and I would miss the rest of the movie.
Quote from: GloriaDuring The Little Mermaid, the film went crazy and in the middle of "Kiss the Girl" the film burned up. They had it running 10 min. later, but we missed the rest of the song.
That happened to me at "High Crimes"...and right at the ending when the killer is revealed. The entire audience was in an uproar. The theater gave us free movie passes, but there were some people out to lynch the projectionist. They were that angry. My friend and I didn't mind, we snuck into another movie, then went back to the same theater just to watch the ending. But you could see where they spliced out the burn because of the mismatched shots.
Another time was when I saw "Short Cuts" and the film broke right in the middle of the Julianne Moore bottomless scene.
Quote from: MacGuffinQuote from: GloriaDuring The Little Mermaid, the film went crazy and in the middle of "Kiss the Girl" the film burned up. They had it running 10 min. later, but we missed the rest of the song.
That happened to me at "High Crimes"...and right at the ending when the killer is revealed.
Believe it or not, that happened to me the very last time I saw Magnolia in the theater. Swear to God. The end credits were rolling and a burning hole appeared on the screen. I told the concessions guy, who jumped over the rope barrier and sprinted into the theater.
First of all, I will never bitch to anybody about any disruptions I have put up with at the movies after reading modernage's fucking situation...wow man....just wow. That is...not good. The most I've put up with is some talkative people amongst themselves. I don't think I've ever been spoken to directly...surely not mocked or taunted. That's not even right. I mean, not even considering what happened with your girlfriend or with the bad managment, it's worse than anything I've put up with. That scares me.
I had one relatively recently experience that was more funny and weird than annoying. When I saw Adaptation...right after a very awkward moment when Kaufman's agent is talking about fucking some girl or something...just all of a sudden, the film cut and this red strobe light turned on in the theatre and just started flashing very slowly. My honest initial reaction was that this was some interactive part of the film that Spike Jonze had intended for every audience that sees it. I guess I was a little spaced out that day. Anyway, there was no instruction at all at first, it was just silent...there was no announcement, there wasn't even like a siren or anything like that. It was fucking eerie. Finally some usher came down and led us outside and told us nothing about what had just happened. A bunch of old people (that were already pissed about the recent vulgar scene) demanded to know what was up...apparently some trainee almost lit the whole concessions place on fire with a popcorn machine. I know we got tickets but I don't think we ever used them. That's probably the weirdest thing I've ever went through in a theatre, it's not that great, I know...I'm still young though. There will be plenty of opportunities for weird situations.
Quote from: ebeamanMy honest initial reaction was that this was some interactive part of the film that Spike Jonze had intended for every audience that sees it. I guess I was a little spaced out that day.
What an unusual thought, but I might've easily come to the same conclusion.
I've never really had a bad theater experience (knock on wood) and hopefully I'll never have one as bad as modernage. I tend to find the more, I guess, "artistic" part of town to see movies. The small theaters that play the limited releases that none of the 16 plus screeners show. They tend to be nice.
Quote from: Gamblor
I've never really had a bad theater experience (knock on wood) and hopefully I'll never have one as bad as modernage. I tend to find the more, I guess, "artistic" part of town to see movies. The small theaters that play the limited releases that none of the 16 plus screeners show. They tend to be nice.
Oh yea, I've never had a bad experience at my art theatre, not one. And I've gone there many times over the past two years. I mean, not only has everybody kept quiet...it's all yuppies, college kids, and senior citizens...but the sound and picture have never even been askew either, it's great. I mean, the people can be annoying before and after the movie with how arrogant they are but at least they're good during the movie. I'm always more at ease going to that theatre cause it's a much more comfortable atmosphere. I mean, I love the commercial theatres (always will) but there is a certain amount of anxiety going into certain films at those theatres (the popular ones mainly)...you never know what kind of people are going to be there. Especially at the dollar theatre...ugh.
Quote from: GamblorI've never really had a bad theater experience (knock on wood) and hopefully I'll never have one as bad as modernage. I tend to find the more, I guess, "artistic" part of town to see movies. The small theaters that play the limited releases that none of the 16 plus screeners show. They tend to be nice.
unfortunately philadelphia doesnt have an artistic part of town. it all sucks. the theatre i went to where that happened i thought was the "nicer" part of town. 10 dollar tickets, assigned seats and like a fancy bar in the lobby, i thought i would be okay. it had been the only (non-arthouse) theatre in the city that i still thought was okay. i was wrong about that. so usually whenever i want to see a "regular" movie, i have to drive about 40 minutes outside of the city deep into the suburbs just to see a fucking flick. i tried seeing them in the suburbs "just outside" the city about 20 min. but abandoned that one too, cause it way too close.
excerpt from the matrix preview before x2: "ooooh. he matrix. he fly. he bad." etc. before myself "SHUT UP."
so the arthouse theatres are great, but unfortunately when a mainstream movie like kill bill comes out i have to plan a whole day around getting out to a theatre.
Another funny experience: back home, a brand spanking new 12 screen theatre was erected solely for the purpose of showing dollar movies. I would venture out there for all day marathons with friends. But what made the place interesting was that it was... um, an 'urban' area (that sounds incredibly racist I know, but it's true-- we were the only whiteboys there). At one show of Three Kings, a woman stood up in the back during the middle of the movie and started yelling about the government and republicans-- totally out of nowhere. Several huge guys stood up in front us and yelled 'bitch! shut the fuck up!' She yelled at the guys, other chimed in, and when one of them chased after her, she bolted out of the theatre. Applause erupted and the movie resumed quite peacefully.
Best theatre experience ever: The Exorcist (VYNS, of course). After every demonic scene when the movie went quiet someone would suddenly yell out, "Oh my God." in a funny way. But the real great part was at the end when Damien finally grabs Reagan and punches her. Everyone was laughing and cheering, it was just the greatest thing ever. I think it might've been Halloween or Devil's Night, too. Not sure. But it was definatley October.
Quote from: Weak2ndActAnother funny experience: back home, a brand spanking new 12 screen theatre was erected solely for the purpose of showing dollar movies. I would venture out there for all day marathons with friends. But what made the place interesting was that it was... um, an 'urban' area (that sounds incredibly racist I know, but it's true-- we were the only whiteboys there). At one show of Three Kings, a woman stood up in the back during the middle of the movie and started yelling about the government and republicans-- totally out of nowhere. Several huge guys stood up in front us and yelled 'bitch! shut the fuck up!' She yelled at the guys, other chimed in, and when one of them chased after her, she bolted out of the theatre. Applause erupted and the movie resumed quite peacefully.
hahaha. Man, I wish I could have some of the experiences you people here have had...except for themodernage's...eww.
I think Almost Famous was the best time I've ever had watching a film. I was with my godparents and this one girl and it was just on the last legs of its second run. We were in the theater all by ourselves almost, and no one knew much of what the film was about. Man, it was amazing just sitting in the stadium seats, the four of us, and watching magic. I got a lot of goosebumps, over everything. I remember getting the DVD that year and just watching the shit out of the DVD.
Return of the Jedi, 1983 -- My first theatre memory and probably my first memory period. I was almost four and so excited to be going to the movies with my dad. I don't think I will ever again feel the pure overwhelming joy I felt while watching that movie that day. I went back several times and reportedly had the movie memorized after two viewings.
Chasing Amy, 1997 -- The new Kevin Smith movie was coming out and I was not going to wait and hope that the "art" theatre in town would get it. We drove 75 miles to see it in Schaumburg, IL. I was a Smith fanatic at this time. Seeing Clerks the previous year had ignited a new found love for the movies and opened a world of indie films. We made this feel like an event and it was a great day.
Star Wars, 1997 -- Seeing Star Wars on the big screen brought me back to childhood. My days as a kid were spent obsessing over Star Wars and now to see it as a "young adult" was truly magic. Despite the fact that Lucas messed with a few of my favorite parts, the sheer experience of seeing that film up there the way it was meant to be seen completely outweighed my problems with it. The Star Destroyer, my god...
Boogie Nights, 1998 -- I saw this on a one-screen arthouse theatre in my college town called The Egyptian. I had seen Hard Eight but didn't know who made it and was pleasantly surprised, after being captivated with Boogie Nights, that it was the same filmmaker. I loved the style, the music, the characters, the everything. Great fun and it didn't even matter that the sound cut out at the tense blowjob scene.
There's Something About Mary, 1998 -- First date with a girl who I'd end up dating for 4 years. She had already seen it and suggested it. I wasn't much of a screwball comedy guy at the time but I went and laughed like crazy. I don't know if I had ever laughed so hard in a theatre before. It was a great time and a beginning to a new phase of my life.
Eyes Wide Shut, 1999 -- Seeing a new Kubrick film on the big screen, you can't beat that feeling.
Magnolia, 1999 -- I've been reading up on PTA for a bit now. Still didn't know what to expect by this, the small amount of reviews I've allowed myself to skim through have been very mixed. Needless to say, I was wide-eyed the entire running time and completely immersed in every moment. My companion said that people were walking out. I certainly didn't notice. It was all I could talk about for weeks after. Oddly enough, I only saw it in the theatre once.
Nice thread, thanks.
the two most recent best have to be Adaptation and Confessions of a Dangerous Mind. In my small little oklahoma town we had two theaters...the AMC which was under construction for an entire summer and the shitty Cinema Twin. It just so happened that the Twin played two incredibly great movies while they were the only theater in town and i was the only one (of two, the two being the girl i went with) in the fucking theater. Having an entire theater to yourself to see two great Charlie kaufman movies? awesome. I was in tears at the end of Adaptation and I didn't care because no one else was in the fucking place.
Alright, here we go. A fun little trip down memorable theater experiences lane..
Mulholland Drive:
The smoking hot girl in our office asks ME out on a first date. Because back then I was a total pussy and wouldn't ask her. Let's do dinner and dessert I suggest. And what movie do I take her to? I later find out that she's not a big movie fan. So this had to be like nails on a chalkboard for her. Naomi Watts masturbation sequence? Yeah, AWKWARD!
Crimson Peak:
This is a recent memorable movie experience story. My wife went into labor and texted me just as the credits were rolling. I was with a couple of her friends while she stayed home. I had to hustle out of the theater but couldn't explain to anyone why. And then drive 80 mph home. Not the best movie. But it's forever connected to my son now.
The Matrix:
Saw it 5 or 6 times before my theater pulled it. This was before all of my friends were married and moved away. All of us were in our early 20s, hanging out together every weekend. I still remember the first time I saw it, that opening sequence where Moss goes bullet time on those cops. I think I seriously said "holy shit" out loud. LOL! It was that cool. Nobody was doing that stuff at the time.
Magnolia:
I'm sure most of us have it on our list. I saw it once by myself and then dragged 2 more friends and saw it 2 more times with them individually. It affected me that much. It still seems like PTA's "Ok Computer" film. I don't know that he'll be remembered for anything better.
Nightmare on Elm Street 6: Freddy's Dead:
So I'm 15 years old but don't get carded buying my ticket. Saw it in 3D by myself! Totally burned into my memory. My mom would later find out I saw it with this horrified look on her face. I love horror films.