I haven't been to the movies in almost two years. Of course, I've seen many recent movies courtesy of Netflix, but since moving to Philly I haven't actually gone to the theater.
We went Friday to see Rise of the Planet of the Apes. Decent movie, but what was even more painfully entertaining is how I forgot partly why I hate going to the movies. People seem to lose all sorts of etiquette. Now, granted it could have been much worse but here are the lowlights of my movie-going experience.
1. My pet peeve is when there are a plethora of seats yet a group of people decide to make you get up to let them in so they can sit in the middle of your row. I always choose an end seat because I don't want to have to climb over people's laps if I need to leave the theater - some people don't seem to mind that. With dozens of rows left and empty, a couple (who were nice and courteous) proceeded to excuse themselves as they moved their way through to the middle of our row. I wasn't mad, just confused. I like my space, and don't understand why others want to be all next to a stranger.
2. Then fifteen minutes later a group of older women do the same thing only this lady has the nerve to not ask us or say "excuse me" like the couple but the lady stops near our row and says. "I guess we'll have to get in here", then says something else I can't recall of the same nature. Yes, I stalled on letting them in because COMMON courtesy is to say excuse not say some vague sentence in hopes I'll spring up to let you in. All four of y'all were old enough to have manners. Shame on you all.
*Also, I don't know if the lady next to the empty seat in between us was scared of us or what. Usually women leave their purse on the floor (or tucked between their feet, as I do), or casually put it in their lap. This woman was holding onto her purse for dear life. Poor woman, she could not have possibly enjoyed the movie if she felt the need to clutch her purse the whole time.
3. This older man was sitting in front of us the whole time. At one point before the movie began the previews were on so he goes up to a row of dudes that had seated in front of him and apparently tells the guy to put his phone away. When the man returns to his seat he's mumbling something, so I presume he thought the guy was trying to record/bootleg the movie. I don't know if the man worked for the theater or was just nosy. I hope he worked there because if not he really should have minded his business. The guy had a cell phone not a camera, I doubt he was going to capture a master bootleg. Oh, and the other guy told him to mind his (won't right the word on my blog) business. I wasn't hoping it wouldn't spill into drama, it didn't.
4. Sorry, but every time I see a large group of inner-city youth I think flashmob. I live in Philly so I preserve the right to have that thought. Of course the large group of teens enter the theater, loudly so that everyone knows they've stepped in the building. Luckily, they sat nowhere near us. Hey, they're entitled to go to a movie and have fun, but in recently events in this area you do have to be somewhat wary of a large group of teens swarming around.
5. I hate when people clap during the movie at a pivotal moment, or when it's over. I'm not saying people can't show their reaction but I find it kind of cheesy.
All in all, not a bad movie, not a completely bad experience.
