Anyone else experience drama at the Eclipse premiere??

[MinnieFlute]

I was wondering if anyone else's theater was quite as dramatic as ours!

We arrived at 5:45 for the 6:30 "Twilight Experience" - all 3 movies in a row (now I am NOT a Twi-Hard, but I've read the books... it just seemed kind of fun). There was a row of seats with 9-10 seats in a row (and a few more in the row behind it) that was open and as soon as we went to sit down the man behind us tells us they were saved. Well, you really can't save 10 seats, and my friend points that out to him. So he goes on to tell us that they left to go to the bathroom (9 people?!). Well, we sat down anyway and came back after about another 20 minutes (mind you, I have no idea how long they had been gone to begin with, so it could have been considerably longer in total).

So then these folks come back in a huff saying that they had been there since 4:00, their kids were going to be so disappointed (the kids turned out to be teenagers, incidentally) and they all went to the bathroom together and had to go outside to smoke a cigarette. Leaving that many seats that long in a crowded theater is ABANDONING your seat! By the time they got the manager involved, the manager said that you couldn't save that many seats, and boy were they mad. He took our side (along with the 2 other small groups that took the seats along with us!) but did ask if we could move basically to make peace with the other group. By that point the only seats were in the very front of the theater. So no, we were not moving.

Now during all of this, I felt a little guilty - I kind of wanted to just move to keep the peace (but let's face it, the 2 other groups that sat in the "reserved" seats would have sat down there without us!) but their behavior DURING the movie quickly reassured me that we weren't wrong in standing up for ourselves. They proceeded to kick our seats repeatedly, spray water on the girl next to me, put their sock feet right next to my face... it goes on... one of them loudly went up to the part of her group that was still behind us and started asking them what snacks they wanted - leaning into the girls' faces next to us. It was borderline harassment. Well, someone finally had enough of it and reported them (I was inclined to leave them alone since it looked like they got a kick out of people engaging them) but they finally left. I don't know if they got kicked out or got a refund or what. I know one of them bragged about getting comped some gift cards at one point before they left (and it makes me sick people getting free stuff out of being jerks, but that is another story). Oh, I forgot to mention that one of them stood up very loudly to announce she was changing her, uh, sanitary item! That was our favorite!

I'm glad it didn't ruin the movie! The only other thing was the hooting and hollering as Taylor Lautner took his shirt off (which I may or may not have been a part of... um...) People tried to be all "shhhhhh!!!!" but you know, it's the opening night of a Twilight movie, there's only so quiet it's gonna be!

Anyone else? I mean, I thought the teenage angsty drama was supposed to be ON screen!

 

[bluesaturn]

While they shouldn't have left their seats, I think you were kind of obnoxious for sitting in them. They should have stayed in their seats, you should have gotten there earlier. You annoyed them by sitting there, they spent the rest of the movie annoying you. Sounds kind of even to me.

I do realize no one else will agree with me.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

While that didn't happen at the showing I was at, I do agree about the saving of seats. We got to the theater over an hour early, which was not full yet, but a lot of people were saving five or six seats each.

I have no problem with someone running to the bathroom or going to get popcorn or whatever, but I do think it's wrong for one person to save a whole row of seats for a large group for a long period of time.

 

[Darsa]

The only other thing was the hooting and hollering as Taylor Lautner took his shirt off (which I may or may not have been a part of... um...)

OMG, don't you know he's only 17??? He's only a CHILD, you should be ASHAMED... jes' kiddin'

I wonder if you were at the same one my friends from Houston were; I'll have to ask her if there was a particularly obnoxious group there. I don't blame you AT ALL for not moving; I wouldn't have moved either.

 

[disneyfav4ever]

And when we're on the topic, I hate people that use their phones during the movie. Even if it's just texting, which isn't as bad as actually calling someone, but the lit up screen is still annoying.

 

[MinnieFlute]

While they shouldn't have left their seats, I think you were kind of obnoxious for sitting in them. They should have stayed in their seats, you should have gotten there earlier. You annoyed them by sitting there, they spent the rest of the movie annoying you. Sounds kind of even to me.

I do realize no one else will agree with me.

And see, while I kind of get what you're saying, they were gone as a LARGE group for a LONG time. The seats were abandoned. 1-2 seats and a quick trip to the restroom - sure! I'll be glad to look elsewhere. But leaving en masse to basically get up and walk around the theater - nope, sorry. When we walked in they said initially they were "saved" - leading me to believe that some of them weren't actually in the theater yet. Just an assumption.

And even assuming the three groups that took the seats were totally wrong (which I don't think we were, but again, my opinion) - it is no excuse to thoroughly harass people.

 

[MinnieFlute]

OMG, don't you know he's only 17??? He's only a CHILD, you should be ASHAMED... jes' kiddin'

I wonder if you were at the same one my friends from Houston were; I'll have to ask her if there was a particularly obnoxious group there. I don't blame you AT ALL for not moving; I wouldn't have moved either.

I think he's 18 now. We're in the clear

 

[PrincessKsMom]

While they shouldn't have left their seats, I think you were kind of obnoxious for sitting in them. They should have stayed in their seats, you should have gotten there earlier. You annoyed them by sitting there, they spent the rest of the movie annoying you. Sounds kind of even to me.

I do realize no one else will agree with me.

I assume you think this is okay on a ride line at Disney as well, maybe Toy Story Mania?

 

[laracroft]

Thank goodness we didn't have any drama like you did. We were just packed in like sardines for over 2 hours. I think that's awful that your movie experience was ruined by people that act like that.

About 1/4 of the way through it the film stopped and looked like it melted. Luckily after about 10 minutes they got it going again. People were starting to get rowdy.

 

[MIGrandma]

The ridiculous drama you experienced is exactly the reason why I wait for movies to come out on Netflix. Watch them in the peace and quiet of my home, on my big screen TV, with homemade popcorn and my sparkling water. Nobody messing on their cell phones. Nobody talking. Nobody throwing candy. And I can pause it if I have to pee.

 

[tiggger1]

We got there early and found out we could see Twilight/New Moon for $10 and not have to wait in the crazy lines. So we did. Unfortunately we got there around 9 and the said it ended at 11:30 so we figured New Moon was just starting...we got in was saw that it was already at least 40 minutes into New Moon.. but no big deal because we didn't have to fight the huge crowd for seats, it was worth it...... or so we thought. After the movie got out, they told us that we had to go to the back of the line..apparently when the lady told us we wouldn't have to wait she meant we would not have to wait as long..( but it would still be an hour) and at the end of the 400+ crowd. needless to say we were upset.Another couple was very upset because they had been there since 6 to see all 3 shows for 1 price..and were told the same thing we were..we would be let in first... A staff person heard us complaining and got us the manager. She was very nice and did apologize but said there was nothing she could do because the theater where Eclipse was playing had another movie playing till 11:30 and if she brought us to the front of the line, the crowd would freak. She ended up letting the 4 of us into Grownups and let us watch the last hour of that and stay in the theatre at the end. We did find out later that she let the 6 people who bought tickets to Grownups and Eclipse stay in too and we wished we did that instead of paying to see 1/4 of 2 movies I already own!!!
__________________

 

[Mickeyistheman]

Well, here is the thing...especially with a movie such as this with alot of teens and young adults(18,19,20,21) they go in large groups. Some may have been working late etc. If I had walked in and went to sit down and someone said we have x amount of seats reserved, I would move on....and sit somewhere else.

You had no where else that you could sit? What time did YOU get there? If you were only able to sit in the front of the theatre then you got there late. The other people were in a big group and they had people saving seats.

They should not have harrassed you but you really should have thought about where you were going to be sitting.

I love going to the movies and enjoy the big event films, I had to work today so I could not go last night.

When I went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter, I got there an hour and half before they even let us in and the lines were crazy but everyone got good seats and then about a half hour later it was mostly full except for the front of the theatre.

I do understand where you are coming from but someone was there trying to save the seats for their friends. Not a fan of smoking but they got there before you did.

 

[wendy46001]

By that point the only seats were in the very front of the theater. So no, we were not moving.

Sorry this is where you lost me
when you got there seats (non front) were available
if you wanted the "good seats" you should have gotten their earlier

Now if you said the only seats together was this "saved" section, i'd have agreed

 

[shortbun]

When we go to the movies, we get our seat and one or two of us go to get snaks. I never save more than two seat and it's for a very short time. I have absolutely no pity for 9 people who are so immature they thought they all had to leave together. You were right, they were wrong. Why oh why would you go to that kind of teen angst film on the first day anyway? Did you not get that you would be dealing with a very emotional crowd? lol! Glad you liked the film. I soooo think Taylor Lautner is UGLY!!!

 

[shortbun]

Well, here is the thing...especially with a movie such as this with alot of teens and young adults(18,19,20,21) they go in large groups. Some may have been working late etc. If I had walked in and went to sit down and someone said we have x amount of seats reserved, I would move on....and sit somewhere else.

You had no where else that you could sit? What time did YOU get there? If you were only able to sit in the front of the theatre then you got there late. The other people were in a big group and they had people saving seats.

They should not have harrassed you but you really should have thought about where you were going to be sitting.

I love going to the movies and enjoy the big event films, I had to work today so I could not go last night.

When I went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter, I got there an hour and half before they even let us in and the lines were crazy but everyone got good seats and then about a half hour later it was mostly full except for the front of the theatre.

I do understand where you are coming from but someone was there trying to save the seats for their friends. Not a fan of smoking but they got there before you did.

Umm, wrongo - stand in line, take your seat and stay there. Move your feet-lose your seat. We do not save huge rows of seats for irresponsible teens who are doing goodness knows what and depriving others who came right to the theatre and sat down in an orderly fashion. In other words, no reward-or seat saving-for bad behavior such as smoking or running around in the theatre.

 

[DizBelle]

Well, here is the thing...especially with a movie such as this with alot of teens and young adults(18,19,20,21) they go in large groups. Some may have been working late etc. If I had walked in and went to sit down and someone said we have x amount of seats reserved, I would move on....and sit somewhere else.

You had no where else that you could sit? What time did YOU get there? If you were only able to sit in the front of the theatre then you got there late. The other people were in a big group and they had people saving seats.

They should not have harrassed you but you really should have thought about where you were going to be sitting.

I love going to the movies and enjoy the big event films, I had to work today so I could not go last night.

When I went to the midnight showing of Harry Potter, I got there an hour and half before they even let us in and the lines were crazy but everyone got good seats and then about a half hour later it was mostly full except for the front of the theatre.

I do understand where you are coming from but someone was there trying to save the seats for their friends. Not a fan of smoking but they got there before you did.

I believe that these people weren't at the theater at all. They sent their friends ahead of them to save seats for when they showed up 30 minutes later. So, no, they did not get there before the OP.

 

[hereyago]

You can't save 9 or 10 seats. If you get up and stay away for 20 minutes, then snooze you lose. I have seen people call their friends and say they have seats.

Some of these posters are like, well you should have guessed they would act like that? How far does entitlement go? For example:

The other day at the grocery store, the sauce monster who all ready reaked of alcohol at 11 am on a weekday and was getting a 24 pack,moved out of the line from in front of me.

5 minutes later he returned, walked in front of me and moved my things and put his 24 pack in front of me. So was he right in telling me that he was there first so that made it ok for him to leave and come back? I went Julia Sugarbaker on him and he slinked back to the end of the line.

 

[smschex]

I went Julia Sugarbaker on him and he slinked back to the end of the line.

LOVE IT!

 

[brasswillow]

I think he's 18 now. We're in the clear

He turned 18 on February 11th. I feel less guilty now.

 

[MinnieFlute]

I believe that these people weren't at the theater at all. They sent their friends ahead of them to save seats for when they showed up 30 minutes later. So, no, they did not get there before the OP.

I will try to represent this accurately - they were not there when I arrived, but apparently had stepped out before I got there - a massive group of them all together, walking around, restroom, smoking, whatever, for over 20 minutes, more likely 30+. I'm pretty sure at least SOME of the party was not there at all since the fellow who (quite rudely I might add) told us that we couldn't sit there initially represented it as they were "saved" and then modified it to "they're IN the theater... somewhere... the restroom..." But I will say that this part is speculation. At this point, there were some consecutive seats up in the front left and a few behind me, but they were single seats. My point is that, IMO, you can't abandon your seats in a packed theater and realistically expect them back. Even if my friend and I had not taken them, someone would have, and I just can't believe they didn't think about that after supposedly planning to get there "early" (which as I said, I seriously suspect only part of their massive 20+ person group did).

In retrospect, should we have just sat in the front, necks craned? I might say yes, my friend would say no (with a colorful expletive in there! ). I'm not a fan of conflict, but I'm also not a fan of being walked on by people who think they own the place!

I can really see that some of you think we were wrong - I really can - but NOTHING would justify the type of behavior these folks displayed in return.