Loud kid at Wall-E matinee

[aprilgail2]

I would not have been happy if there were kids talking at a movie no matter what time of day it is. If they can not sit quietly (an occassional whisper is fine) then they really are not old enough to be at the movies. Take them to a drive in if your area has them or wait for it to come out on DVD.

 

[tasha99]

If it was a big deal, and I was an adult, I would make an effort to go to the latest showing. That way there should be no children at that showing.

Weeeellllll . . . I took my kids to the midnight showing on opening night. They're older (10 and 15) but my 10-year-old was far from the youngest kid in the theater. It was much quieter than a matinee, but there were kids. During the school year it would be different, I'm sure.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

Weeeellllll . . . I took my kids to the midnight showing on opening night. They're older (10 and 15) but my 10-year-old was far from the youngest kid in the theater. It was much quieter than a matinee, but there were kids. During the school year it would be different, I'm sure.

First of all, a midnight showing on opening night is quite different. I am pretty sure that WALL-E did not have any midnight showings on opening night.

Secondly, I agree, I would expect my 10- and 15-year-old to be much better behaved in a quiet theater. They better know the rules by then or they would never be allowed to go to a theater by themselves or in a group!

 

[Scurvy]

First of all, a midnight showing on opening night is quite different. I am pretty sure that WALL-E did not have any midnight showings on opening night.

It actually did! We went to one. It wasn't announced until the day before, though. Apparently enough people in our town were asking about it that they decided to add midnight showings after all.

 

[bumbershoot]

How is the deep theme of "Bambi" (circa 1942) different from the deep theme of WALL-E (circa 2008)?

They are both pretty deep, IMHO. And yet children of all ages around the world 'got it.'

Well to be honest I don't feel that many (if any) Disney-related films are "kid's" movies. Just didn't want to get into all that.

Not saying they aren't pleasant for kids, I'm just saying they are pleasant for everyone (OK not Bambi, that's not a pleasant movie for me at all), they have something for everyone. They aren't just children's movies. They are movies.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

Well to be honest I don't feel that many (if any) Disney-related films are "kid's" movies. Just didn't want to get into all that.

I agree, and me either.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

It actually did! We went to one. It wasn't announced until the day before, though. Apparently enough people in our town were asking about it that they decided to add midnight showings after all.

Just out of curiosity, what is the population of your 'town'?

 

[Scurvy]

Just out of curiosity, what is the population of your 'town'?

I'm not sure, but I believe it's around 160,000 or so.

 

[Califgirl]

Our local theaters all have "Mommy & Me" movies one morning a month. They have a movie, leave the lights slightly up, expect talking, or even some movement or playing in the isles with the toddlers They even allow in snacks. It's very small child oriented and is advertised as such. It has caught on too, because I know of 3 theaters near us that do it. Good for the theater owners to fill this need - I think they realize that loud and active toddlers have a difficult time sitting for movies and can be disrupting to other patrons and this is their solution to the problem.

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

I'm not sure, but I believe it's around 160,000 or so.

Our definition of 'city' and 'town' are two different things.

If a population of 160,000 persuaded a movie theatre/s to show a midnight viewing of WALL-E, then all the power to you!

 

[ZipaDeeDooDah]

Our local theaters all have "Mommy & Me" movies one morning a month. They have a movie, leave the lights slightly up, expect talking, or even some movement or playing in the isles with the toddlers They even allow in snacks. It's very small child oriented and is advertised as such. It has caught on too, because I know of 3 theaters near us that do it. Good for the theater owners to fill this need - I think they realize that loud and active toddlers have a difficult time sitting for movies and can be disrupting to other patrons and this is their solution to the problem.

I like this idea a lot.

This is a matinee (most likely) during school hours, no?

 

[Scurvy]

Our definition of 'city' and 'town' are two different things.

Oh, well, not really. If asked to define the place I live I would call it a city, but in casual conversation about other things I tend to call it my town rather than "the city where I live". It certainly has more of a small town feel than the last place I lived. I hadn't realized it was important to the subject of the midnight showing whether I lived in a city, town, or booming metropolis. I'll be more specific next time!

I guess I should add - the three theaters closest to my home had midnight screenings, though I think they each only had one screen showing it that night. I don't know about any of the other theaters in town.

 

[Califgirl]

I like this idea a lot.

This is a matinee (most likely) during school hours, no?

It is always the first showing of the day (10am or so) and always during the week. One theater is Monday, one is Tuesday and I think the other is Thursday. It's fun for the parents who want to get together. A lot of them go to lunch after the movies together as well.

I just think it was brilliant of the theaters to designate a time for "Mommy & Me" type movies. And they are always first run, and recently out movies. No need to wait for weeks to see the (kid friendly) movie you've been looking forward to. I think 'Mama Mia" was offered as a Mommie & Me movie the first week it was out.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

I disagree. If anything, it's comparing apples to bigger apples. Whether it's too much loud talking or a tantrum, if it disturbs others around you, it disturbs others. And why does it matter if the two men were together? If one group complains about something my kid is doing, I should blow it off until another group complains?

FTR, I, too, expect children to be at children's movies in the middle of the day. I also expect the parents to quiet--or remove--those children if they're being disruptive (whether they are throwing a tantrum or being loud and overly talkative).

THis is where we get to agree to disagree. I do not see the two behaviors as the same.

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

A well behaved nine year old has more of a right or privilege to be at a childrens movie in the middle of the day than a loud two and a half year old.

However. . . I think that everyone at a movie, regardless of age, should be as quiet as possible so they don't interfere with others' enjoyment of the movie. If a child can do that then they deserve the privilege of going to see a movie in a theater. If a child (or adult) can't do that then they should see the movie at home or at a screening intended for louder audiences, where it is stated up front that noise is to be expected.

Whatever your age, whether you are a child or an adult, you don't have the right to disrupt the theater because you can't (or won't) be quiet. In the case of the OP, he did the right thing by leaving once he realized that his expectations were different than those of the other patrons. Hopefully he can find a theater that has screenings intended for talkative people or babies. And given that he was considerate enough to ask if perhaps his expectations were not the norm, I'm sure he will talk to his daughter and she will be a great movie patron before too long.

I do not see any person as having more of a right to be at the movies than another. As has already been pointed out to me on this thread going to the movies is privilege and a luxury not a right. So really your 9 year old has no more right to be there than the 2.5 year old.

I can't believe that this would upset you. Instead of getting upset about it. I would enjoy it! Instead of seeing an annoying child I would see a child whose parent cares enough about them to take them out into the world to experience life instead of letting life pass them by.

 

[tasha99]

First of all, a midnight showing on opening night is quite different. I am pretty sure that WALL-E did not have any midnight showings on opening night.

Secondly, I agree, I would expect my 10- and 15-year-old to be much better behaved in a quiet theater. They better know the rules by then or they would never be allowed to go to a theater by themselves or in a group!

It did--we were there because no one was tired (the summer drift from 8 to 9 to 10 to . . . whenever bedtime).

 

[Tinkerbelle's Mom]

nope not insane. just asked someone else and they agreed with you too. for me it's not so uch the matinee part, it's the fact that the movie is six weeks old. I would probably say that if you're going to take a 2.5 yr old to a movie that that is the most appropriate time. and I think kids need to be exposed to those kinds of situations to help them learn proper behavior.

We need to let our kids experience life!!! This is how they learn.

Well to be honest I don't feel that many (if any) Disney-related films are "kid's" movies. Just didn't want to get into all that.

Not saying they aren't pleasant for kids, I'm just saying they are pleasant for everyone (OK not Bambi, that's not a pleasant movie for me at all), they have something for everyone. They aren't just children's movies. They are movies.

I agree that Disney Pixar movies are not just kids movies but until they are marketed to only adults they will have a huge childrens following!! My dd loves the dreamworks movies as well, shrek especially. She hardly gets it but she enjoys it none the less!!



On the idea of the mommy & me movies --- I love this idea. The only problem with it (in my area at least) is that it is during the week. For the working moms this poses a major problem!! Also the movie choices are more for the moms than the kids and there is an age limit (in my area at least).

 

[Scurvy]

I do not see any person as having more of a right to be at the movies than another. As has already been pointed out to me on this thread going to the movies is privilege and a luxury not a right. So really your 9 year old has no more right to be there than the 2.5 year old.

I can't believe that this would upset you. Instead of getting upset about it. I would enjoy it! Instead of seeing an annoying child I would see a child whose parent cares enough about them to take them out into the world to experience life instead of letting life pass them by.

When I see a quiet, well behaved child at a movie, even if they are occasionally a bit louder than perhaps they should be, I see a child whose parent cares enough about them to take them out into the world and teach them the proper way to behave there. If I am at the theater then the thing I want to enjoy is the movie, not the conversation of someone else's child. If a child is overly enthusiastic and they forget to be quiet - or at least whisper - in the theater and the parent quiets them quickly then I won't be annoyed. If there is a parent with such an entitlement mentality that they think the whole theater should enjoy hearing their child instead of the movie then of course I will be annoyed. I am there to hear the movie, not the child. The same goes for teenagers or for adults. Again, it has nothing to do with age. A well behaved, quiet 2.5 year old belongs in a movie theater more than a loud nine year old, nineteen year old or ninety-nine year old. It's not the age, it's the behavior.

It is rude to be loud and disrupt a movie for the other theater-goers. It doesn't matter how old you are, it doesn't matter whether you are talking or throwing a tantrum. If you are loud enough that others have trouble hearing the movie because of you then you don't belong in the theater.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

Here's my perspective on the situation:

I am a graduate student, and on a graduate student budget. I teach half days for no pay and then take class half days, so I don't have a whole lot of time to work and earn money- the majority of it goes to bills. Our theatre's student rate for the university only applies on school nights, but with my current schedule that isn't possible for me. I go to matinees because it is cheaper and more within my budget.

Regardless of the time, I expect a children's movie to have children who are going to be noisier than what you would find in an adult movie. However, no one child should be a constant disruption. I expect your child to ask questions in their regular voice, but I expect them to be few and far between, and for you to either address the "theatre voice" issue or take your child and skedaddle.

The thing that bugs me the absolute most about the isutation was the "go get the manager" comment. I'm sorry, a movie is maybe a once a month treat for me at the moment. I should not have to miss apart of the movie that I payed for to get get a manager because somebody cannot control their child. Whatever happened to controling a child in public? I am appalled by some of the attitudes that it is okay for a child to constantly disrupt. It's this entitled attitude that is the downfall of this current generation. I see it all the time in the schools- kids don't think they have to behave because their parents never bother to teach them behavior expectations and just have the "kids will be kids" attitude.

What about the people who are trying to enjoy a movie on a limited budget? What about the parents who have worked hard to teach their child to be quiet in the theatre who then have to explain why it was okay for your child to be disruptive? What about the person behind you who cannot hear half the dialogue (or "noises" in Wall-E's case) because your child won't hush up? Last time I went to a matinee, they had the exact same "Take noisy children to the lobby" screen that they show in every other movie.

OP- This is not directed entirely at you, but at the attitude that it is okay for any child to be disruptive in a movie. I applaud you for taking the responbility and taking your child out of the thatre. Have you tried maybe practicing at home and reinforcing the "theatre voice" with your daughter? Once she has shown some progress with that you might be able to try again. I would also like to second the idea of looking into the free or reduced matinees that are geared specifically to families with young children (and advertised as such).

 

[swilphil]

We've been taking our kids to the movies since they were 2. How are they supposed to learn how to sit still in a movie theater if they don't have an opportunity to experience it?

I do expect kids to ask some questions, but if our kids were getting too loud or disruptive we just take them out to the lobby for a few minutes until they are ready to go back inside and sit quietly.