Isn't audience participation part of the theater experience?
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For stage shows that have some audience participation as an element, sure. For most other cases, it just seems like people who don't know how to behave themselves in public. Like, sure, go for it if you're at a Rocky Horror Picture Show screening, or the theater advertised it as a sing along screening, but otherwise, it's inappropriate and inconsiderate.
How did TRHPS experience become what we know it as today?
Imagine hearing about TRHPS in 1976 or 1977 and going to see it and experiencing it especially without knowing fully what you were walking into?
What is different about the emergence of participatory memes for Minecraft vs. the established memes for TRHPS? The quickness of the behavior? The documentation of it? The fact that it’s new for us now and not something we inherited?
Quite Frankenfurtively, I’d rather be in the theater with a bunch of people enjoying it as opposed to people sitting there rigidly watching what amounts to be a very silly movie.
And besides, if people are so upset, ask for a refund or comp ticket and leave the theater. The same raucous behavior happened every Friday night when a horror film was screening back in my day.
Eh, if I knew it was permitted going in, that's on me. If it's a new movie and there's no notice that they'll allow that behavior, and they allow some guests to be loud and obnoxious for the whole showing, I wouldn't go back to that theater unless I heard things changed. That was more than enough to avoid teenagers being insufferable at Friday night horror films when I was growing up. Some of them allowed it, and they had ongoing problems with teenagers being little monsters (breaking stuff, causing fights, bothering other patrons outside the theaters, etc), and gained reputations for being dumps not worth going to. Others required teenagers to be accompanied by parents, to control them a bit and shame them into behaving. Others just didn't indulge in it at all, and would just straight up kick out disruptive people.
I'd prefer more places had a system like Alamo Drafthouse's, where they post on the site when it's going to be a screening with audience participation, or a children's screening, or whatever. Everyone is free to choose the sort of screening they want to attend, and those who opt for a quiet theater experience without some muppet feeling the need to scream "Oh no! He's gonna get you bitch, run!" or similarly obvious outbursts, don't have to put up with it.
Honestly, 9/10, I find the people shouting and carrying on really only add something to the experience for the friends that went with them and find them funny. Save that for when you're watching at home with them, or when there's a screening that explicitly allows it.
Same thing happened with the emoji movie and the minion movie. As a former teenager I can attest that screaming at a mediocre movie with friends is a good time
As long as it's a thing just for shit/mediocre movies, seems fun. Might even be a fun new subgenre.
But I be fucked if I wanna see it at "real" movies where I'm invested in the actual film.
It happened with Snakes on a Plane too. Everyone was waiting to cheer when SLJ said that one line. Cool vibes.
Are there absurd transvestie aliens in this movie?
I think there’s much worse things going on in the world than audiences having fun at a silly movie. If it bothers you too much, just wait to watch the movie at home in like 3 weeks.
Yeah, nobody is gonna go into your own house just to say the line loudly.
I saw it yesterday with the kids and I though it was gonna be boring but then it wasn't. I shouted at the screen in unison with the kids. Its a kids movie, they will shout.
The people complaining about that movie would have heart attacks and die at a screening of Rocky Horror.
I don't even know what's real anymore
People go to kids movies, and complain about the kids. Huh.
Isnt the Minecraft generation in their 30s now?
Not at all. New young kids are joining every day. 7 year olds playing it are common (sadly).
Minecraft has only been around for 15 years, so I would think the generation that never knew a time without Minecraft would be about that old, as well.
The crowd and reactions are one of the biggest parts of the theater experience that's actually positive.
The crowd and reactions are the exact reasons I usually stay in to watch films. Severe anxiety, and all that. I love the theater experience minus that, tho.
I hate the trend of films leaving theaters so quickly now because I used to wait several weeks to catch a film past it's peak and be one of like 3 people in there and it was bliss. Get the best seat, get to enjoy the film without children crying or people on their phones, or the constant shuffling of jackets. Hyper vigilance is a curse.
But... Catching the 10yr anniversary of Interstellar was the second time I'd been at a packed theater where no one spoke and it was amazing. But it was slightly ruined by the guy next to me stinking of beer and cigarettes.
And catching the R-rated release of the animated Killing Joke was the first time. The film with the original voice actors? It was phenomenal despite the packed theater but it was slightly ruined by the guy next to me constantly using his napkin after every bite and every sip of drink. He'd wipe his face, then his hands, then his cup and toss it somewhere. Rinse and repeat for an hour and a half, every few moments. Drove me nuts. The ending being true to the comic was pretty funny to see the crowd, and specifically him, be so disappointed, plus the quick rushes out the theater for parents to take their kids was satisfying too when they realized R-rating meant R-rating.
Catching mystery films at regal or cheap films at AMC are about all I can do because the experience is cheap enough to outweigh my anxiety, but even that's been a while with money being tight.
To me the theater is now a place for collective enjoyment. The home viewing experience is good enough if I want to watch something in silence, not that I have even a modest set up. The theater is now about having that energy and cheering because it's all that's really left.
That's valid, for sure! I just can't do it no mo'.
I just get so anxious and nervous in theaters packed with people. Like, it's against the rules to make noise or exist. So when people "break the rules" I keep expecting everyone to get into a big fight or screaming match about it and I can't focus on the film without focusing on the people, waiting for the shoe to drop. That and anxiety about breathing the air of sick people?? That's only since '20, though.
The B.O. booze/cigs guy was rough. But the napkin dude was driving me nuts because it was the final showing of a two day limited theatrical release that wasn't chrap. Drove me nuts to spend so much to listen to that dudes napkin wipes lol.
I wish I were built different, but I try every so often to go. I usually stay in with my headphones to get a similar sound feeling.
I imagine it varies between countries. In the UK I would say I'm happy for laughter, and the odd gasp. Anything more such as cheering, singing or clapping is not on to me personally.