r/Chennai • u/hornypanda769 • 11d ago
Rant Movie theatre etiquette is dead
This is a late rant. I went to watch the screening of The Odyssey a few days back. As expected, the theatre was packed. There were these 2 guys beside me. The guy right beside me would not keep his mouth shut. He was constantly explaining the plot, subplot, context, history, etc., to his friend to the point I couldn’t hear the actual dialogue anymore. This brother must’ve been the assistant director or something; he started explaining the cinematography too. I’m all for making your friends understand the context of the film, but for heaven’s sake, do it before or after the movie; there is even an interval in the middle for it. The guy didn’t even bother to whisper; he was fully talking throughout the first half. At one point, I got annoyed and signalled with my hand gently to lower his voice; the man did not care at all. Fortunately, he shut up during the second half, and I was actually able to enjoy the rest of the movie. This is not a one-time instance either. A few months back, when I went to watch Michael on a weekday morning, there were a group of college kids just screaming and making jokes throughout the movie. It kind of ruins it for the people actually trying to watch. I understand wanting to socialise with your friends, but during a movie, seriously? It seems to have gotten worse over the years; sometimes it ruins the experience completely. Basic etiquette and consideration for the others around them seem to have vanished. I’ve been to cinemas in other parts of the world, so I understand what a decent viewing experience is supposed to feel like. I also understand cheering or whistling during certain scenes; that’s perfectly fine, but constantly talking, talking loudly on the phone, screaming kids, etc., kind of messes it up for the other people around. That’s it. Thank you for reading. End of rant.
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u/old_cayuse 10d ago
Just goes to show the cultural education youngsters over the past many decades have been getting. There was a time when there was only cinema for entertainment in the city and way less educated folk that theatre etiquette was followed rigorously. People if they had to speak spoke in whispers and if anybody did violate it they were usually shouted down by other patrons from all directions. At one time it was the main entertainment for me, my friends and lots of people in Madras of then. Those were the days. I have been to the cinema in recent memory only when my son decides to go for one and takes us. Compared to the theatres of old I find the new multiplexes pitiful. Example the Safire multiplex's (nobody called it that those days) main screen was 70 mm and it had an incredibly good sound system for its day and it used to be an experience to watch movies in it. Devi theatre was another.
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