My favourite cinema at the moment is GSC Signature at The Gardens Mall in MidValley City. I know! I know! I have criticised it in my post last time, but after I went there early this year, I totally changed my mind. In fact, I was hooked!
Although it costs at least RM20 per ticket, which is almost twice the amount of a ticket at a normal cinema, it is worth it. For one, you get a bigger screen, more comfortable seats and less crowd! Besides, the crowds are the more civilised one, if you know what I mean.
You don't? Well, then let me tell you some of the less "civilised" things that I encounter in the normal cinemas that irritate me to no end!
1. Talking loudly on the handphone
This is the most irritating thing that one can do in the cinema, and let me tell you in case you are not an avid cinema goer, this happens a lot in Malaysian cinemas! Don't these people have any consideration for others? How am I going to concentrate on the dialogues spoken in the movie if they are interrupted and mixed with dialogues on the handphone?
I even have a friend who is like that! Sometimes she would receive a call in the cinema, and she would whisper into her phone. But when she could not hear the person at the other end, she would say "Hello? Hello?" a few times with increasing volume each time. I would get irritated and said "Shhhhh!!" but she would just ignore me!
When I tell her she is not supposed to talk on her handphone in the cinema, she would say it it is a very important call and she had no choice. Well, what can I say? Is the call so important that her life depends on it? And how come ALL her calls were so important, I wonder?
After a few times like that, I knew there would be nothing I could do short of arguing with her. So no more watching movies at the cinema with her! Good riddance!
2. Chit Chatting
Do you believe if I tell you that there are some people who go to the cinema not to watch movies but to catch up with their friends? Yes, you better believe it! I have encountered this before, and it really made my blood boil!
There was once I was watching a movie in the cinema and there was this couple just right behind me who could not stop chit chatting. Let me tell you, if I had just sat there and not intervened, I would have learnt enough about their private lives to write a tell-all book!
I told them very nicely that it was difficult for me to concentrate on the movie if they keep chit chatting like that. Well, they stopped. For a while. Maybe 5 minutes. Maybe 6. Then they were at it again!
For goodness sake, if you want to chit chat, why bother going to the cinema? Just sit at a nice restaurant or at a beautiful park and you can chit chat till kingdom come!
My friend who were with me gave them a mouthful and then we stood up and sat at two empty seats further down the hall!
3. Giggling all the time
Oh, let me tell you about this one! One time I had the unlucky experience to sit next to two girls who kept giggling non stop from the moment the movie started. And mind you, the movie was a serious drama. Definitely no comedic elements in the script whatsoever.
I really did not know the reason why they kept giggling, but it just got onto my nerves! I guess they were just chit chatting like case No.2 above and not really watching the movie. I just told them, "Excuse me, are you in the wrong hall? This movie is not a comedy!"
Luckily, they got it and they actually left after that. Phew!! At last, I got to have some peace of mind for the remaining part of the movie!
4. Laughing for no reason
OK, this is not as bad as the giggling above, but it still irritates me. I don't know why there are people in the cinema that laugh aloud at the most unfunny jokes. And they can even laugh at advertisements before the movie proper. I mean, what is so damn funny that you need to laugh aloud like that? It's as though they have never been to the movies before. Maybe they are from some kampong some where and this is their first time watching a movie in the city?
I honestly don't know! Some of the scenes in the advertisements - we have seen countless of times before, and even if we have not seen them, we would just merely smile and not laugh aloud like some idiots! I cannot understand why they need to laugh like that. I even think it sounds fake! Anyone can enlighten me on this crappy behaviour?
5. Sneezing or coughing all the time
Have you been to the cinema where someone sitting close to you kept sneezing or coughing? I mean it's OK to sneeze or cough once in a while, but not every few minutes!
If you are sick, for goodness sake, please don't spread your germs around in the cinema hall! At least have the decency to excuse yourself and leave the hall. Or suck a cough drop or something to stop yourself from coughing like someone with a terminal disease.
6. Kissing and making out
Have you ever seen couples kissing and making out in the cinema hall? I have to admit the dark environment in the cinema hall is just perfect for such actions! But come on! You go to the cinema to watch movies, not practise French kissing!
I mean, if you can't control your raging hormones, there is one simple way to overcome it. Just go to a cheap hotel, book a room and do whatever you want to do in there, for God's sake!
Don't do it while I am trying to enjoy my movie! I prefer to see my favourite stars making out on the screen, not you!
7. Sms-ing
Some people think that sending text messages on the phone is OK as long as they are not talking aloud on their phones. Well, how wrong they are! I don't know about you, but when someone sitting in front or by my side start sms-ing, the bright light from his or her phone would distract me from my movie watching.
I really think people should switch off their phones completely if they are addicted to texting and sms-ing.
8. Bringing a noisy or crying kid
I really hate it when the movie I'm watching is interrupted by noisy or crying kids! Why do parents like to bring their kids to the cinema if their kids are not disciplined enough to keep quiet during the movie? It is just so inconsiderate of them!
If they still want to watch the movie, simply get a babysitter to take care of their kids. Don't bring the kids into the cinema! If they do not have a babysitter, then don't watch the movie in the cinema. Get the DVD and watch it at home!
In fact, I think kids younger than 6 years old should be banned from the cinema!
9. Bad breath and body odour
Some people have stinking breath that I can smell two seats away! And some people have body odour that seems to suffocate me and makes me gasp for fresh air! Oh, these are the nightmares that can happen in the cinema if you are unlucky enough!
What would you do if the person sitting next to you have the strongest, most foul smelling body odour that would threaten to make you faint? Would you leave or would you struggle to watch the entire movie in that condition? Or would you tell that person he has body odour and could he please leave?
Well, I was lucky enough one time when this happened to me because there were many empty seats and I just simply changed seat. I can't imagine what I would do if the hall was full!
10. Revealing the ending aka spoilers
I don't know why but there are some people who go to watch the same movie twice or thrice or God knows how many times! I'm OK with that actually. If you want to watch the same movie 100 times, that's your God damned business! I'm sure the cinema operators welcome you with open arms!
But what I am not OK about is when these people start telling their friends loudly in the cinema the movie's storyline, what's going to happen next and worse, how the movie is going to end.
I mean, don't they know most of the people in the cinema were there to watch the movie for the first time? We don't need you to spoil it all for us, thank you! I am not going to pay RM10 for a movie that I know the ending to even before I watch it!
Imagine knowing what's going to happen in the next scene. If I were to watch horror movies, I would absolutely hate it if someone were to say "Oh, look out! The ghost is going to appear here!" Or if I were to watch a whodunit movie, someone were to say "There he is! He's the killer! You just can't guess it right?"
I think I would go and strangle that person! Wouldn't you?
FIRST COMMENTER
woo hoo it's Friday!!
I dislike people talking on the phone and noisy children...especially during those all important moments where you're concentratng on the movie. Another irritant are those people who can't keep their feet on the ground and keep propping or bumping their feet or legs into your seats.
I am somewhat surprised too that some parents bring their kids to watch inappropriate movies as in not in their age groups...those kids would likely be bored!
Mei Teng,
I hate those people who kept bumping their legs to my seats too!
Gosh, so long haven't been to movies. Trying to avoid the noisy kids scenario, that's why. :D
HAHAHA...they are people like that? Geee...luckily i have never encountered anyone who falls into any one of the categories.
mei teng, yes it's Friday! Always like the weekend, don't you? : )
Oh yes! People like to bump their feet onto the back of your seats - that's irritating too!
And parents who bring their noisy kids along are simply inconsiderate!
lina, maybe the leg room is too small so most people want to stretch their legs and end up bumping on the back of your seats.
If you want to go watch movies without noisy kids, I highly recommend GSC Signature. Less crowds and more comfortable seats : )
willie, you have never encountered people like that before? Wow! You are so lucky! : )
I don't call them "uncivilized". I called them "barbarian". That is why i rather download movies and watch it at the comfort of my own home
I know exactly what you mean but RM20 I can watch 2 movies somewhere else. The 1 Utama crowd is ok. Not that bad.
borneo falcon, barbarian? Haha! You are even more "vicious" than me! But it's not that bad lah. I don't experience these things all the time, just once in a while. I still enjoy watching movies in the cinemas : )
eiling, yeah I enjoy watching at GSC 1Utama too! It's just that I like some extra luxury watching at GSC Signature. And they do have discounts on certain days which can be as low as RM15, if not mistaken : )
i hate all u hate too.. but now, i wont even enter a cinema due to the H1N1 virus.. but then again.. i've not been to the cinemas since ethan was born.. so what the heck? LOL...
u know, if i have ppl kicking on my seats, i'll just throw the popcorn to them (hoping i wont get killed there n then!)
Sneezing and coughing can't be controlled lah...
I'm guilty of watching a movie countless time ... LOL!
But I agree with you on the rest. I have in the past stood up and screamed at a few idiots using the phone during a movie though.
i cannot tahan ppl who talk on phone in cinema, i feel like killing them all the time!
What I hated most is people talking!
You are the same with me....I enjoy watching movies in the cinemas too. My wife and I have been going to the cinemas like..almost once per month. :D
Wow! You watch your movie at what...GSC Signature? RM20 our ticket? My wife won't go such places but...well..why not if there are more civilised people there right?
The most annoying thing I believe its the person in the back keep on kicking the seats whether it is intentional or not! Sometimes I feel like standing up and hit them after they repeatedly kick the seats. Man...as if their legs are like 2 metres long!!!
I thing about bringing the kids or baby is still ok. After all they are still "tiny" and I'm sure their parents just wanted to have some quality family time together. :D
Hi foong! Goodness I am busy for a while and there goes FC! hahaha
Ah yes I would agree with you on the whole list of things that irritate me in the cinema!
I need to add another too! How about a person sitting behind you and he keeps shaking his leg and keeps vibrating you chair! How annoying is that? I mean I want a massage chair, I won't be in the cinema! sheeesh!
Alos the people who can't hold their "toilet business" in for that moment! I mean come on! It is the best part of themovie! Stop blocking the screen by walking about in front of me! Least wait until there isn't any important parts then go... besides if this person were to go to the restroom at that moment, won't he be missing the good part too? *rolls eyes*
Giggling non-stop from the moment the movie started even though its a serious drama.
Maybe they came from a different planet.
Lol
11. eating food with strong smell
12. taking off shoes and poluting the cinema with unpleasant smell
13. kicking the seat of others, or shaking legs and make me feel his shakes
14. fashionably late and blocking on the screen
15. do not follow seat number, and like others make the mistakes when asking them about their seat number
Yep! It's Friday. Take it easy, yeah?
My pet peeve is the same as Mei Teng's. People should keep their legs to themselves or perhaps have shorter legs? Oops!
The three of us ie Perky , you and fabulous "moi" would make wonderful partners-in-crime in the cinema. We'll curse and stare at all those lousy buggers.
Oh...you forgot about those idiots who have shaky disco legs and smelly Singapore feet. Simply hate them!!!!!!
+Ant+
OMG!! i tell...the BAD BREATH some of them have .......i cant even breath .............and enjoy my movie
merryn, wow! Throw popcorn at them? Don't waste your popcorn! Give me instead. haha!
Haven't been to the cinema for so long already? It's time you go but don't bring Ethan along if he makes noise! LOL!
khengsiong, if can't control, then don't enter the cinema hall! : )
nick phillips, I also watch movie countless times but only at home with DVD player. haha! Except for movie Lord Of The Rings and Jurassic Park - I watched LOTR twice and Jurassic Park 3 times in the cinema. LOL!
xin, yeah! They are just so irritating right? : )
che-cheh, yeah, I hate people talking loudly in the cinema - so disturbing! : )
tekkaus, watching movies in the cinema is a really enjoyable pastime, yes? Next time you come to KL, give GSC Signature a try - who knows, you and your wife would be hooked!
Yes, people kicking the back of your seats are really irritating!
Bringing small kids to the cinema is a big NO to me! The kids crying will disturb everyone in the cinema hall! Besides kids can't sit still and they are bound to make noises. If want quality family time, spend it at home or somewhere else, just NOT in the cinema. A better option is go for open air cinema : )
ladyviral, oh yes shaking legs and making your seat vibrate is very annoying indeed!
But talking about massage chair, I don't mind if the cinema chairs are equipped with massage facilities.
You are right about those people who can't wait and must go to the toilet at the most exciting or crucial part of the movie. Maybe they are not there to watch the movie so they don't really care what is happening, but at least they should be considerate to those who are watching the movie!
rej, come from a different planet? Haha! Either that, or they have problems with their brains! : )
SK, thanks for adding 5 more to my top 10 list! : )
Eating food with strong smell? I think nowadays they don't allow you to bring outside food, but I guess some people manage to slip the food in!
Oh, taking off shoes and polluting the air - that's definitely irritating!
happysurfer, have shorter legs? Haha! That's not possible. You want them to amputate their legs before going to the cinema? LOL!
anton, oh thanks for reminding me about shaking legs and smelly feet : )
lisalicious, tell me about it! : )
Hi Foong! I love going to Premier Class at The Gardens too! Been there once but I'm going there again real soon! No one kicks my seat there, which I totally despise!
I totally hate everything you listed, but for number 4, maybe it's funny to them but not so funny to us especially if we've watched the same advertisements countless of times? ;)
And then I came across some people who'd laugh louder than everyone else for reasons only known to him!
That being said, nice post! :)
haha very elaborate entry!
i too dislike it when people make noise in the cinema.. or talk alot.. giggle..
but i've yet to see couple making out! =P
another thing i dont like about being in the cinema is...
sitting at the few front rows.. lol i know its irrelevant.. but it kinda irritates me too =P
For goodness sake, bad breath really remind me of a helluva experience. This particular guy whom I know not of his origin sat beside me, everytime he laughed the stinking creature/molecule inside his mouth came alive. It dispersed into the air. I wanted to throw up so bad.
*Hi-5* You are just damn right!
Bad breath goes to the top of my list. Nothing beats bad breath. If you want to occupy some extra seats, wear a smelly mouth and drive everyone away so that you can have all the seats.
Once I went to a movie with my wife, then girlfriend. I kept asking her to drink water. At the end of the show she asked me why I kept making her drink. I told her she has bad breath I cannot tahan. Then she laughed out loud and told me it wasn't her lah, it was the guy a few seats next to me!!
Talking about movies at the cinema, I haven't been one for ages. I get my latest released movies from the vending machine nearby. Only A$2.99 per movie overnight. Going to the cinema costed A$13 (about RM36) per person. That was the last price I know. Maybe right now it costs more. How much is it in Malaysia now these days? I remember when I was at school it costed only RM3.00.
Haha! kissing & making out in the cinema huh? You should shout "ooi, get a room!"
when i was in cinema im always shivering in cold hehe
I think you can be my very good cinema buddy, Foong! I also dislike all the things you mentioned above. But I hate the most when the parents explain to their kids throughout the movie! Kids ask what happens, who this is, etc. And the parents keep explaining! Holy shit, just buy a DVD and go back home to watch la!
Actually if one is skilled enough the LED lights from handphones won't disturb other cinema patrons. :D
haha...foongpc, i seldom go for cinema movies but when i did, i didnt hear all those esp the french kissing part.. next time must open my ears to the background instead of the big screen.. hehee...
perhaps ipoh more conservative? hahaa.. anyway, thanks for the info, i will keep my eyes and ears alert this time..
phatelara, going to GSC Signature soon? Enjoy yourself yeah?
I love that cinema cos less crowd, and yes definitely no one kicking your seats from the back!
I know some ads are funny and some of us laugh loud too but there are those people who laugh at every single tiny details, which I think is well, weird : )
kenwooi, yet to see a couple making out? Well, try going to the cinema at a less crowded time and maybe you'll get to see if you are lucky. Or is it unlucky? LOL!
Oh yes! I can't stand sitting in the front row too. The last time I did that, I suffered from neck pain as a result! Nowadays if movie hall too full and left only the front row seats, I would give that movie a pass : )
daniel, that's a horrible experience. Did you tell him off or did you sit somewhere else? Or you just suffered for the entire movie sitting next to him?
AsX, yeah, hi-5! : )
I don't visit the cinema often due to the high prices of the tickets. :P
I would rent DVD. Yes, I would have to wait some time for the new movie to be available. :(
a common singaporean, sitting next to a person with bad breath in the cinema is a horrible nightmare! You thought your gf had bad breath but it actually turned out to be someone a few seats away! Gosh! That's horrible!
Other reasons for not visiting a cinema often are highlited in your post. hehe.....
I can't stand the chit-chatting, bad smell, body odours and irritating habits of some movie-goers.
ai shiang, RM3 only last time? Gosh! When was that? Now it costs about RM10 for a ticket.
Wow! You can get movies from vending machines at only A$2.99 per movie? That's a good deal! Better than watching in the cinema, but then again I normally like to watch movies in the cinema especially those that require good sound system and big screen to fully enjoy : )
bluedreamer27, next time bring along a jacket! : )
jam, yeah, next time you come to KL, let's watch go watch a movie yes? : )
Oh, yes those parents who keep explaining to their children in the cinema is really disturbing. Most children also like to ask lots of questions!
daydreamer, unfortunately , most people don't care whether the light from their handphone is disturbing others or not! : )
reanaclaire, I doubt Ipoh will be more conservative, maybe you should go during those non peak hours where the cinema hall is not full. Good luck! haha!
eastcoastlife, you can still get to watch latest movies on DVD illegally. No illegal DVD on sale in Singapore? LOL!
I guess it's more comfortable watching movies in your own home. No need to put up with all those irritations I mentioned. But I still like the cinematic experience especially the sound system. Usually there's a lot of distractions at home and cannot fully focus on the movie : )
i love watching movies but i dislike going to the cinema these days. i prefer renting the DVD and watch it with my family.
i agree with everything u said. there are many irritants and morons that are so annoying and disrespectful to other movie goers.
of coz I love watching movies at the cinema!! ;)
I can't stand bad breath and body odour...yikes!!
i am guilty myself at least on one occasion. it was dark and the seats were full and my seat was in the middle of the row. on entering the row, i tripped on a bag that was left on the floor and landed up on somebody's lap. It was for some modern life drama show. quite expensive too. i expected to b scolded but the matron whose lap said. " My pleasure ", instead of scoldong me and her friends brought the house down in laughter. so embarrassing :)
Massage chair original type I don't mind :P but not those done by those pathetic people sitting behind me! haha!
Yea not there for the movies.. they are probably there for the kissing :P. I have seen a few before too.. I think because dating without permission or something.. so must go inside cinema hide lah.. cheaper and got air-cond and it is dark so can't see who is it lah. haha
Hi, you have highlighted most of the bad habits that people do in the cinema.
In cinema, Some feel cool and like to put their hand close to us.
we can not sit comfortably because someone put thier legs behind our seats.
For me I watch mostly comedy show , so all these seem like never affecting me much because I am fully concentrate on the comedy show.
Have the nice day.
You and I definitely share the same list. However, need to add smelly feet to the list too. That's worst that body odour and bad breath coz you don't know from who the smell is coming from.
Foong, you're pretty observant with your surrounding. I hardly enter into cinema, only two times in the last ten years :D
RM3 was back in 1990 or 1991. Almost 19 years ago.
I think this vending machine for latest releases originated from the UK (www.instantdvd.com.au)
Oh yeah, I understand the big screen and sound systems. I don't have a big screen but the sound system is pretty good, we stacked it up ourselves :o)
haha yeah i think that is a good idea
life ramblings, watching DVD at home will or course solve all the problems you might encounter at the cinema : )
monica, yeah, I can't stand it too, so I really don't know what I will do if the cinema is full!
bengbeng, haha! That's funny and embarrassing! I'm sure you would be more careful next time? Haha!
ladyviral, wouldn;t it be nice if GSC Signature seats also doubled as massage chairs? Then I think won't be RM20 anymore, maybe as expensive as Gold Class RM60! LOL!
Yes, those who kiss and make out are taking advantage of the cinema's dark and cool environment : )
coolingstar9, thanks for dropping by! You watch mainly comedy shows? If I watch comedy shows, these irritations will still affect me cos how to laugh and enjoy myself when someone laughing next to me has bad breath? LOL!
perky, oh we share the same list? Haha! Smelly feet is definitely another irritation! : )
benedict, it's not that I'm observant. Those things just simply irritate me and prevent me from having a good time in the cinema!
Wow! 2 times in the last 10 years? You are really not into cinema are you? Watch DVD all the time? : )
ai shiang, your sound system must be really good! Too bad I don't have a good sound system, so have to go cinema to enjoy : )
bluedreamer27, I never feel cold in the cinema hall maybe because the air conditioner is never turned down too low here. The cinema operator tries to save on expenses : )
I would not like sitting at the very front row in cinemas. Once I kena this and it was so excruciating having to lift up the chin to the screen just to watch the show. I swore after that incident I would never watch movies during the initial release (or weekends) cos it's too crowded! :X
Those are cinema bummers! Hate the same things but you know it's a public place and we can't expect everybody to behave "ethically" like how you or I do.