I don't really get a chance to see many movies but when I do I go in expecting that people are going to be rude and talk, text, have their phones ring etc.

I expect to have my chair bumped repeatedly and expect the person next to me or in front of me to whisper plot lines and what they think is going to happen...

But because I have low expectations for the experience..I usually can just let go and watch the movie.

Honestly I've learned which theaters to avoid + times to go to make my experience best. There's a few theaters near me where I know I have a 90% chance of watching the movie undisturbed. There's a few were I'd bet money someone will bring a baby at anytime of day or night to watch an R rated blood bath. I just make the right choice.

Once I went to a movie, I think Underwolrd (lol!) it was my wife's birthday and it was late, we had finished dinner and just wanted to see some crap and were making fun of the previews all month, the perfect storm! So we went to a semi ok theater we knew. We're walking in, tickets bought, and the guy is taking the stubs. Behind us as we enter is a gent with a baby...at 10pm....to see Underworld. I know it's not a scary movie really, but just the loud noises etc. that late. Anyway, the ticket guy, get this, STOPS HIM AND SAYS! "Sorry sir, we can't let you in with the baby." My brain nearly imploded so I hung around the corner to listen to the rest of the most amazing theater clerks conversation.

"What the hell dude, I paid!"
"Sorry, after 9pm we don't allow children under 18 into rated R movies with or without a parent, at all. If you go upfront they'll refund you and give you a coupon for your next visit."

WHAT!? I've only went there when I lived in the area. Novel idea, huh? Only tick off 1 customer (mr. baby) and still give him a deal to come back cheaper and make a whole theater full happy. How weird ALL theaters don't do that.

One of the last times I was at the theater was to see "the dark knight" with my girlfriend. We thought the movie was awesome, but...

1. the seats were uncomfortable and funky and custom made for people with long backs and no legs. think "wall-E".

2. the floor was sticky

3. motherfuckers were texting and shit

4. the asshole couple behind us were going on and on about how great an actor christian bale is, and how much they agree about how great an actor christian bale is, and how he's gonna be in the new terminator movie, and SHUT THE FUCK UP ALREADY! (the movie had already started at this point)

5. and the girl behind us laughed like a jackass at everything the joker did. I couldn't see her, but by the way she sounded she reminded me of this only with the eyes OPEN: Notice how the hands are raised. get the fuck out of here.

6. and no offense to the mentally challenged, but there was this dude who sat one row down to the left of us who rocked back and forth in his chair every time batman hit the scene--which, for those of you who haven't seen the movie--was a lot. I mean, he was rocking so fast and hard that I thought he was trying to flip over the people in front of him. He'd yell, "yay, Batman!haha" or, "WOW, Batman!" whenever Batman pulled something off...no wait...the dude was actually alright by me. at least someone was enjoying the movie, right? My girlfriend couldn't stand his ass though.

7. oh, and it was like a million dollars to get in. prices are crazy. I thought maybe Christian Bale was gonna be there or something. NOPE. no red carpet. just a bunch of noisy morons.

Blockbuster is our new best friend.

Personally, I like movie theaters. I dont own a big screen or surround sound speakers, so a theater is a good spot for the best quality viewing. And personally, i think the crowd can enhance the experience....

....BUT!

What grinds my gears the most are the douche bags who need that "buffer" seat in between them and the person sitting next to them.... Unless your someone of hefty size and girth or if you have broad shoulders and elbows, then sure. But most Ive seen are normal sized human beings who still need that extra seat space so they dont need to sit next to someone. WTF, youre not gonna catch some cooties; aint nothing bad gonna happen if you dont have your security seat. A person buys 1 ticket, yet it actually accounts for 2 or 3 seats?! Thats why you have people wandering around the theater still looking for seats all the time, cause theres peeps who dont watch to scooch over and let go of their buffer seat. They be putting their jacket on their seat that theyre "saving." BS! Or when you ask them about their empty seat they sigh and give an attitude. Blah! Why go to a theater in the first place if your such an introvert. The whole point is watch a film in a community atmosphere. No shit theres gonna be people there who want to watch the same movie as you, so let go of that buffer seat.

End rant

For me that's not the point, AT ALL. The point of a theater is to maximize the visual/aural impact - I most certainly don't go to the movies to be around rude assholes.
And regarding the empty seat - if the theater's not gonna be full, don't crowd me. I can understand your point during opening night or when it's going to be a packed house. But there's no reason to sit directly next to someone if it's a loosely filled theater. Not only do I like my elbow/leg space (I am fairly tall), but it also gives a slight buffer to all the annoying stuff you (not YOU, TK. The general "you".) do.
I'm looking forward to buying a 46" plasma so I can go to the movies even less than I currently do.

If Movie Theatres closed up shop tomorrow my life would be just about over. Nothing I look forward to more then the movies, however I will say I do prefer a half full theatre to a packed one. But I guess it depends on the movie, sometimes it more enjoyable to laugh as a group. However, getting stuck in the middle of a sold out show with lots of inconsiderate people ruins it completely. Since I work from home I tend to go to matinees during the week, so nice and peaceful when you want to see a seriously good movie and enjoy every minute of it. And if weekend is your only choice try sunday early evening, or night.

Oh, and I agree on the issue of people arriving late. I just dont get how you can walk in 20+ minutes late and not give a shit. Those are the people who I know are simply going to be trendy or to say they did something without really giving a shit about the movie. "well everyone else is seeing it so we should too, lets have drinks first and get there whenever".

Yea totally, if its an empty theater, by all means do so, heck I do it too if it is. But I usually watch movies on Friday nights, and man, so many unnecessary buffer seats.... its just a waste of space

yes. i really do. when horror pretty much died in the late 80's to early 90's, i got hooked on a lot of SOV. Sub Rosa Studios (b-movie.com) put out some pretty good stuff, and i love all the Tempe Entertainment stuff (The Dead Next Door & Bloodletting, which was a joint picture with Sub Rosa, are 2 of my favorites, though the short film version of Bloodletting titled "i"ve Killed Before" was waaaay better). I like a lot of Todd Sheets stuff. Also titles I frequently watch that are SOV: Video Violence, Woodchipper Massacre, Psycho Sisters.....i could go on for awhile. There is just something genuine about SOV horror in my head....

I would hardly say that horror "died" in the late 80s/early 90's.

Maybe in the U.S....but you just have to look elsewhere and there's been plenty of great horror films since that time.

i did look elsewhere, and i found SOV.
and i am happy with that....

We just don't go out for movies anymore. Too many kicks to the back of the seat, loud talking, crying babies, sneezing, and rude behavior. Same reasons we don't go a lot of places anymore. Plus, for the price of a trip to the movies, I can pick up a nice little new vinyl.
Yet, it was nice to read that some people still go and enjoy the experience.

I enjoy International film festivals in Hong Kong more than normal Hollywood flicks. People behave also...and the films are much more enjoyable.

I don't mind seeing movies in a group setting, if you sit next to me when there is open seats though get ready to be my new bestfriend and I will be doing more commentary than john madden during that shit. I don't know where you go to movies but at costco you can get tickets for 16 bucks AND a coupon for a free large drink at our brand new AMC here in irvine. Sneak in some dollar movie box style candy (sour patch kids or reeses pieces preferably) from target and you are golden. I rarely go to movies on opening nights unless I really want to see them, looking forward to the new friday the 13th. We got a few theatres that play 80's movies every tuesday or thursday too and those are always fun to go to since I never even had the option to see some of those on a big screen.

The worst group setting movie I went to was Cloverfield at an IMAX first showing at 12am on friday morning. Not only did EVERYONE talk, I think everyone was hammered in the theatre, it was ridiculous. People threw stuff, screamed, yelled jokes like it was a rocky horror picture showing and EVERYONE booed and threw drinks at the screen at the end of the movie, half the theatre walked out covered in soda. Talk about rude.

Some movies I pass and see at home but there is some movies where a home theatre just doesn't cut it, and bluray discs are still ridiculously priced. Plus I can still remember almost every movie I have seen in a theatre and I can't say the same for dvds. Its like buying records, I don't know half the shit I download at my house, but my vinyl I can tell you where I bought, how much it was and when I got it. Its just more of a "complete package" for me to go out to a theatre.

So you're admitting that you talk during movies?

I hate you now more than ever.

If someone sits right next to me in an open theatre, yeah, I do, to annoy them so they move. You don't even know me to say you hate me, and I have moved past your chick calling me out for not being sensitive to girls even though I used her own words, just with bang out before them, and she later has posted hairy vag ties and naked girl stuff. So whatever dude. I'm not unreasonable or anything nor do I hold grudges or care what you think but I have never even talked to you and I apologized to Missy because I realized I had offended her and tried to make peace. I even helped someone that repeatedly called me out due to that whole post to find a figure and he continued to say stupid shit about me.

Take your dork drama back to high school.

wow, i don't know y'alls drama, but i'm amazed at how the beginning of this statement and the end are on totally opposite ends of the topic spectrum....

The beginning of that statement and end used to be a lot more coherent (on the negative side), I just edited it before posting. The "drama" was over a year ago. I meant my apology to Missy that I sent to her through PM's even though she never saw being in the wrong for publicly calling me out when a simple message could have sorted things out. I sarcastically say stuff to be taken with a grain of salt, but understood where she was coming from. The audacity to publicly call people out or say you hate them is beyond me when you haven't even talked to someone or met them. I don't see why some people feel like they can say or do whatever they want because they have been here longer or have more "friends" here or baby whine about the "old skullbrain". I support and buy from s7 as much as possible and contribute here and help other members out when I can. I think I just need to start avoiding the whatever section again.

"old skullbrain" huh?
is that at all similar to when my dad used to complain about "music these days"?

My new reason for hating movie theaters is CHRISTIAN BALE.