My chair got kicked.....thread 2

[Moderator]

Here is thread 1:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2003019


DU Moderator

[redqueen]

1. Mods here are too cool

I thought that last got locked for being confrontational.

Mods :yourock:

[greenbriar]

2. awesome job!

thanks

I wish there was a way to mark individual posts as read...it was getting really confusing

[redqueen]

4. Oh and I forgot to say this in the other thread...

Great job w/ your bro!

:thumbsup:

[greenbriar]

5. thanks

I just can't believe he turned from a bush backer to thinking that September 11th was done by bush...

i am glad, but I am suprised


I never even spoke that way.

[qanda]

3. For some reason that title just cracked me up..

Anyway, I'll weigh in here. I read some of thread one and I think people were a little too hard on the school teacher. I mean if you don't want any noise, go to mass or the library. But for goodness sake advocating violence against someone who says Amen during an emotionally charged movie? Give me a break! Some of you all need to lighten up some.

[sangh0]

6. I support bad behavior

when it has the potential to wake people up

[Misunderestimator]

7. As long as the bad behavior you mean is the Amen and not the chair kicking

I agree with you. (I think that's what you meant.)

[JanMichael]

11. DU'ers are losing their collective minds. It's like the Sexism threads...

...all over again.

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=104x2003019#2005667

I agree 100%.

Any fool that expects a movie like this to be stone cold silent is barking up the wrong totalitarian tree.

Sheesh.

[Ducks In A Row]

8. I think F911 should be shown in two different kinds of showings

There should be showings for first time viewers (or those who want to watch it again in a quiet setting). Those viewings should be quiet, no talking, so you can get the inital impact.

Then there should be showings for the rest of us. Those showings are for people who've already seen it once. These viewings will be interactive ala "Rocky Horror"

Eventually we can have people dressed up, at the front, acting out the parts. :)

[mellowinman]

9. I actually came back to this thread a day later.

I was SO pissed off about this last night!

1. It has always been my position that in 99% of movies, shows, orchestra concerts, plays, etc, people should learn to keept their mouths shut; not rattle their damn candy wrappers, etc, in direct correlation to how "artistic" the event is. For example, when you're seeing a live orchestra, in an acoustically perfect hall, that candy wrapper is BULLSHIT, man! You're destroying the power of the music.

2. That rule HAS GOT to be set aside for this particular movie. In F911 you should do what you want. Again, they play this thing LOUD; people laugh; cry; shout out; and basically emote due to how the film expresses things they've held inside for almost FOUR FUCKING YEARS. Every person who wrote their little "behavior code" posts, and anal tight-assed bullshit is DEAD WRONG.

I don't usually characterize arguments as "right" or "wrong," but in this case, people, you are WRONG.

This shouldn't be a big deal, but to see other lefties, or liberals, or Democrats or whatever acting like judgmental Right Wing loons over an "Amen," (did someone actually call it "premeditated? What was this a fucking MURDER?) and equating kicking someone's chair as an "equal and opposite reaction" FUCKING SICKENS ME.

Here's the bottom line:

If you told a poster to "grow up," because their attitude is that Schoolteacher Pam shouldn't have said "amen," or "deserved" to have someone kick her chair and tell her to shut up, then YOU ARE THE ONE WHO NEEDS TO GROW UP.

That's right, YOU are so sure YOU are the adult that YOU are being a child.

I will NOT apologize for what I posted here.

I am ABSOLUTELY right, and anyone who disagrees is ABSOLUTELY wrong.

Got a problem with that?

Well, fuck you.

[FeebMaster]

10. It's one thing to see a movie

and be shocked or whatever and yell out "my god" or whatever because you get emotionally overwhelmed. That's still pretty annoying and I won't defend it since that sort of thing bothers me. But that isn't what the original poster did, it's not even close. The original poster went to the movie theater planning on shouting "amen" at a specific point in the movie. It's revolting behavior and it is inexcusable. How is not premeditated anyway?

Film is not a participatory medium.

[mellowinman]

14. You make a lot of absolute statements:

1. Film is not a participatory medium.

NOT TRUE! Usually it isn't. Sometimes it is. I refuse to provide examples. Use your imagination.

Not premeditated? NOT premeditated? My dear fellow, words mean things. I'm not saying it wasn't "premeditated." I'm saying that to describe it as such is ridiculous. You don't find the concept of a "premeditated amen" absurd? What jury is going to find a person guilty of such a thing.

"Your honor, I intend to prove that the defendant did NOT attend the church in good faith, but had every intent of shouting 'Amen' just as soon as it was convenient for her..."

2. It's "inexcusable."

No it's not. I excuse her; every single person in the theater except for ONE person excused her, and a clear majority at this board excused her. Excuse me? It's a difference of opinion, and you're wrong. I mean, I'm sure you've been a little wrong before, and perhaps, another time in your life, you may be wrong again, but never will you match this one particular time for wrongness, or to use the proper term "wrongitude."

Someone even went so far as to say that it took some of the emotion out of the scene. All I can say is, if you're making love, and forgot to turn the TV off, and that one commercial that annoys you comes on right when you're about to climax, does it ruin it for you? And if so, shouldn't we all feel sorry for your partner? Nothing personal, this is hypothetical, after all. "Man, I was almost there, and then those damn Doublemint Twins had to sing that song..." (by the way, is THAT an OK time to shout out "my God?")

3. Yelling "my God" is pretty annoying.

Are you just easily annoyed? Again, if you're in an acoustically perfect hall, and you missed several notes from the Oboe because of a moron unwrapping a Reisen's, I can see being annoyed. But during "Spiderman 2" if that Octopus guy suddenly appears in the window when you weren't expecting it, and the guy seven seats back and two rows to the left sayd "my God," does it really take something away from your experience?

The thing I keep seeing on this thread is, "if you want to talk back to the screen, get it on DVD."

I counter with, "if you want total silence, and have a hard time concentrating, get it on DVD."

Remember the scene in "Jaws" where the dead, eyeless head pops out? That's WAY cooler in the theater, where the audience gasps, then at home, where nobody does. These rules are a bit more fluid than you are trying to say.

If I were at a screening of "Schindler's List," and someone shouted out, "hey watch out for those Nazis!" and convulsed in a fit of schoolboy laughter, I would beat them within an inch of their life, and rightly so.

If I were watching a really gripping mystery, and someone who'd seen the film before shouted out, "the killer's behind that curtain, and now they're going to kill Humphrey Bogart, and its his sister Frieda," I would beat them within an inch of their life.

If I were watching "White Chicks," and several of the audience members cranked up some Ted Nugent on a tunebox and danced naked in the aisle, I'd probably watch that instead of the movie.

So you see, your absolute statements are ALWAYS wrong.

That's a joke, son.

Anyway, I boldly went against something that has been taught to me since I as a child, and talked back to the screen during F911.

I recommend you try it. It's like smoking a joint on the bus, or slipping your tongue into Mary Lou's ear while her parents sleep in the next room. Strangely satisfying; even liberating.

This is your chance.

Take what life has to offer.

(caution: I've shown much better humor than you in this exchange. Proceed with great care, or you will only hurt yourself.)

[FeebMaster]

15. Shall I put a disclaimer at the end of all my posts

*any absolute statements made in this post are solely the opinion of the poster making them*

"1. Film is not a participatory medium.

NOT TRUE! Usually it isn't. Sometimes it is. I refuse to provide examples. Use your imagination."

I disagree.


"Not premeditated? NOT premeditated? My dear fellow, words mean things. I'm not saying it wasn't "premeditated." I'm saying that to describe it as such is ridiculous. You don't find the concept of a "premeditated amen" absurd? What jury is going to find a person guilty of such a thing.

"Your honor, I intend to prove that the defendant did NOT attend the church in good faith, but had every intent of shouting 'Amen' just as soon as it was convenient for her...""

I didn't say it was a crime. It was clearly premeditated, the original poster said as much in the first post.


2. It's "inexcusable."

No it's not. I excuse her; every single person in the theater except for ONE person excused her, and a clear majority at this board excused her. Excuse me? It's a difference of opinion, and you're wrong. I mean, I'm sure you've been a little wrong before, and perhaps, another time in your life, you may be wrong again, but never will you match this one particular time for wrongness, or to use the proper term "wrongitude."

Someone even went so far as to say that it took some of the emotion out of the scene. All I can say is, if you're making love, and forgot to turn the TV off, and that one commercial that annoys you comes on right when you're about to climax, does it ruin it for you? And if so, shouldn't we all feel sorry for your partner? Nothing personal, this is hypothetical, after all. "Man, I was almost there, and then those damn Doublemint Twins had to sing that song..." (by the way, is THAT an OK time to shout out "my God?")"

It's an exaggeration at best to say that every person in the theater except one excused her. Only one person did anything about it. For all you know the entire theater was pissed off at her.


"3. Yelling "my God" is pretty annoying.

Are you just easily annoyed? Again, if you're in an acoustically perfect hall, and you missed several notes from the Oboe because of a moron unwrapping a Reisen's, I can see being annoyed. But during "Spiderman 2" if that Octopus guy suddenly appears in the window when you weren't expecting it, and the guy seven seats back and two rows to the left sayd "my God," does it really take something away from your experience?"

I thought I had made it clear that people who talk in movie theaters annoyed me. People who go to a movie planning on shouting out things annoy me even more.


"The thing I keep seeing on this thread is, "if you want to talk back to the screen, get it on DVD."

I counter with, "if you want total silence, and have a hard time concentrating, get it on DVD."

Remember the scene in "Jaws" where the dead, eyeless head pops out? That's WAY cooler in the theater, where the audience gasps, then at home, where nobody does. These rules are a bit more fluid than you are trying to say."

As I said in my last post, it's one thing to gasp out in surprise and whatnot, but that is hardly what the original poster did.


"If I were at a screening of "Schindler's List," and someone shouted out, "hey watch out for those Nazis!" and convulsed in a fit of schoolboy laughter, I would beat them within an inch of their life, and rightly so."

Why? That's basically what the original poster did, minus the laughter.


"So you see, your absolute statements are ALWAYS wrong.

That's a joke, son."

Yes, it was hilarious.


"Anyway, I boldly went against something that has been taught to me since I as a child, and talked back to the screen during F911.

I recommend you try it. It's like smoking a joint on the bus, or slipping your tongue into Mary Lou's ear while her parents sleep in the next room. Strangely satisfying; even liberating.

This is your chance.

Take what life has to offer."

I think I'll pass and avoid being a rude asshole at the theater.

[mellowinman]

16. Please do from now on.

As I said in my last post, it's one thing to gasp out in surprise and whatnot, but that is hardly what the original poster did.

I am very annoyed by people using the term "whatnot."

Why? That's basically what the original poster did, minus the laughter.

So it is your position that yelling out "Amen" during a film with a lot of audience participation is on the same level as yelling out "watch out for the Nazis" during "Schnidler's List?"

Well, there's no doubt about it.

I've been arguing with the FeebMaster.

I think I'll pass and avoid being a rude asshole at the theater.

Just wanted to re-iterate that for you, shouting or yelling "Amen" makes a person a "rude asshole."

Could you please also re-iterate whether or not you've SEEN F911?

[FeebMaster]

17. OK.

*any absolute statements made in this post are solely the opinion of the poster making them*

"I am very annoyed by people using the term "whatnot.""

Good for you.


"So it is your position that yelling out "Amen" during a film with a lot of audience participation is on the same level as yelling out "watch out for the Nazis" during "Schnidler's List?"

Well, there's no doubt about it.

I've been arguing with the FeebMaster."


It's my position that people who go to the movies with the intent to yell out comments and whatnot are rude jackasses.


Just wanted to re-iterate that for you, shouting or yelling "Amen" makes a person a "rude asshole."

You got it. Especially when it's premeditated.


"Could you please also re-iterate whether or not you've SEEN F911?"

As I said in the first thread, no I haven't.

[merh]

41. For anyone who becomes annoyed with talking or comments or noise

made while they are watching a movie it is suggested that you do not bother to go to the movie at a theater. Wait until it comes out on DVD or VCR or pay per view.

Notice when you enter a theater there is the absence of any sign or posting that states "No talking or noise making during the feature film", thus the theater appreciates the fact that it is impossible to stop such talk, noise making, et cetera.

We have become a society with short attention spans. We are accustomed to our programs being interrupted ever 7 minutes for 3 minutes worth of commercials. The majority get their news from programs aired for approximately 17 minutes, with the majority of that time being used to show the "fluff" pieces, sports and weather.

Is it sad? Yes, it is. Is it a reality? Is it a reality? Yes it is.

So your option is not to attend a movie in a theater. The odds are some patron will talk to his/her neighbor, laugh a laugh that grates on your nerves, make stupid comments, cough excessively, forget to turn off the cell phone and/or some other distraction that will annoy, disturb or simply piss off the other patrons.

All posters that fuss about noise should try to develope better focus. If you focus on the events on the screen you can train your mind to ignore outside distractions. It can be done. If you can't do it. Do go to the movies (or try the drive ins).

[FeebMaster]

44. At theaters around here

they play a short before the movie starts that basically says stfu and don't smoke and if there's a fire exits are located at the front and the rear of the auditorium.

[mellowinman]

46. Yeah?

Well at theaters around here, they have naked dancing girls strutting through the aisles passing out gallon jugs of fucking vodka.

[FeebMaster]

47. We don't have that around here. (nt)

[Mr_Spock]

48. LMFAO!!!!!!! Thanks do much for the levity.

There are miserable rotten spoilsports everywhere - sometimes you just have to laugh - thanks!!!!!!!!!!

[merh]

49. They don't play those mini reels at any theaters around me. Maybe I just

live in a) a tolerant community; or, b) a polite community. Maybe focusing on what is on the screen is the answer. Focus is an incredible tool, if we put our mind to it we can do anything and/or ignore all.

[FeebMaster]

51. The lack of a reel telling people to shut up

is no excuse for rude behavior.


on edit: spelling

[Mr_Spock]

53. Yawn, another repetitive post. YAAAAAWWWWNNN!

Getting like a broken record here.

[merh]

56. You call it rude, I call it expected. I expect human beings to

be human. If behavior offends you and you know that the behavior happens at a place or event you consider attending, then it is rather stupid of you to attend the event knowing that you will be offended.

Also, for your information there have been studies made by sociologist related to movie goers, their reactions and outbursts and the way they are brought up and the churches they attend. Some churches encourage, loud outbursts and vocal and open responses to the messages preached. The folks that grew up in that type of environment often respond to the actions on a movie screen and they do not see anything wrong with it, that is the way they were brought up.

Don't go to the movies -- you will save yourself a lot of heart ache.

[FeebMaster]

57. Heart ache, right.

Obviously my life will be ruined if I encounter some rude jackass at a movie theater.

[merh]

60. The way you have responded here, it would appear so. (n/t)

[RetroLounge]

19. "Film is not a participatory medium"

coming from someone who has never seen Rocky Horror?

Get a clue...

RL

[FeebMaster]

20. I have a clue.

Someone went to a movie, decided to act like a jackass, and got called on it. Seems pretty clear to me.

[mellowinman]

22. You're wrong again.

Someone went to a movie, and irritated a person who was easily irritated, who kicked her chair and told her to shut up, and LEFT before it was over.

Sounds kind of like a person who didn't really want to SEE Fahrenheit 911 in the first place, doesn't it?

You're calling this poster a jackass, and yet you are TOTALLY IGNORANT of what goes on at screenings of this film, and I'M calling you on it.

[FeebMaster]

23. Call me on whatever you like.

Someone went to a movie intending to yell "amen." It was uncalled for. Whether the person who was offending was easily irritated or whatnot is irrelevant.

Sounds kind of like a person who didn't really want to SEE Fahrenheit 911 in the first place, doesn't it?

Obviously that person did want to see it, or they wouldn't have been there to see it.


You're calling this poster a jackass, and yet you are TOTALLY IGNORANT of what goes on at screenings of this film, and I'M calling you on it.

Regardless of what goes on at screenings of this film or any other film, the original poster went to see the movie with the intent to yell out. That is simply rude.

[mellowinman]

24. Regardless of what you post

you have not seen the film, and been able to guage audience reactions for yourself.

And here's a newsflash for you:

Whether someone is "rude" (by your standards) or not doesn't add up to a hill of shit in what is known as "real life."

"Oh how rude," the snooty waiter said, right before I kicked his ass.

"How rude," said the Republican, as I called him on stealing money from children.

"That was terribly rude," said the killer, as I beat him with a club and took his knife away.

Do you get it?

This person did what a record number of Americans have done, including myself. She expressed herself honestly over something she's been upset about for a long time now.

And it wasn't rude, anyway.

You're the one being rude, by continuing to see she "acted like an ass," and criticizing her.

Now, apologize.

(I'm fucking JOKING! I KNOW you're not going to apologize.)

[FeebMaster]

25. I get it.

Regardless of the audience reactions this film generates, the original poster went to see the film with the intent to yell during the movie. It was rude and uncalled for.

[mellowinman]

31. How can you say that?

Regardless of how the audience reacts it was rude and uncalled for? I hate to break the news to ya buddy, but the poster WAS part of the audience. Your statment is NONSENSE.

"Intent" to yell.

"Premeditated" Amening.

You are using terms best left to criminal court in regards to a matter of opinion.

It is your OPINION that this poster was rude.

It is MY opinion that you are rude.

I have done a far better job than you of laying out a carefully constructed argument.

YOU simply keep saying the same thing over and over again.

Your last post made no sense.

None at all.

[FeebMaster]

37. That the original poster's action was premeditated

is not my opinion. She said as much in the first post of the first thread. The words 'premeditation' and 'intent' aren't exclusive to criminal courts.

"It is your OPINION that this poster was rude."

It is my opinion that the poster was rude. I've never claimed otherwise.


"It is MY opinion that you are rude."

Good for you.


"I have done a far better job than you of laying out a carefully constructed argument."

That's questionable at best. You're still claiming that the original poster didn't go into the movie with the intent to yell when that clearly isn't the case.


"YOU simply keep saying the same thing over and over again."

As do you.


"Your last post made no sense.

None at all."

What about it was unclear? I'll be happy to attempt to clarify things for you. People who go to the movie might very well have emotional reactions perhaps to the point of exclaiming things vocally, but that is not what the original poster did. The original poster went to the movie with the intent to yell out at a certain point in the movie. I think that action is extremely rude and quite simply uncalled for.

[Mr_Spock]

45. Yawn

I am wondering if this thread is being taken over by "arguers" who have no concept of society, just some bizarre set of "perfect" behavior settings in their head that cannot be violated. Hmmm, maybe I should let someone else have my Mr. Spock user name!!

[Mr_Spock]

38. You didn't see the movie - YOU DON'T GET IT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Amazing, simply amazing. What kind of miserable rotten person would be so prejudiced that they can comment on something they haven't even experienced. Absolutely amazing.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

27. How would you have known

if you were there, whether it was premeditated or not? You wouldn't have. And for some people, film IS a participatory medium.

[FeebMaster]

28. Maybe because

the original poster said she planned to do it in the first post of the original thread.

"And for some people, film IS a participatory medium."

Yes. Rude people.

[mellowinman]

30. Maybe you should go back and read that thread...

She didn't say she was "planning" on saying "amen," as in "today I'm going to go see F911, and when it gets to that Lila Lipscomb part, I'm going to yell 'Amen,'"

She said she knew that part was coming, and when it did, she felt the urge to say "amen."

So that's another thing you're wrong about. (it just isn't your day, is it?)

As for your contention that only RUDE people consider film a participatory medium, you've already been shown to be wrong. There are two very notable exceptions to what you say; that is two films where most audiences EXPECT the film to be a participatory medium:

Ready?

1. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
2. Fahrenheit 911

And again, you're the one who's being rude.

[FeebMaster]

33. I have read the thread. Have you?

From the first post of the original thread:

"My chair got kicked at F9/11 when I yelled Amen during the reading of lipscombs son's letter.

I knew it was coming and had planned on saying it."

As you can see, I clearly wasn't wrong.


"As for your contention that only RUDE people consider film a participatory medium, you've already been shown to be wrong. There are two very notable exceptions to what you say; that is two films where most audiences EXPECT the film to be a participatory medium:

Ready?

1. The Rocky Horror Picture Show
2. Fahrenheit 911"

I'll grant you The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but not Fahrenheit 9/11. I have no reason to believe that most audiences expect the film to be participatory. It is simply your personal opinion that it is or should be.


"And again, you're the one who's being rude."

If you say so.

[Mr_Spock]

40. You are SO absolutely wrong - IT IS PARTICIPATORY!!

Admit you are just so wrong. wrong, wrong. You just can't admit it and you will argue a wrong point forever. Pathetic.

[Mr_Spock]

34. Well, I see some people have no sense on community - sounds

to me like a freeper attitude. Hey, wanna be disliked, lets continue with the incredibly naive and nerve-splitting examination of an emotional experience. Very disturbing - very very disturbing. It's like a sickness with some folks and they feel like we should all be considerate of their sickness. People with certain mental disabilities should stay out of public arenas.

[scarletwoman]

12. Yes, you ARE absolutely right!

ABSOLUTELY right, that is!

I hadn't seen the original thread but clicked on the link that the mod provided. I gave up waiting for it to load (slow dial-up here), but just reading some of the subject lines got my dander up.

Good grief, when I saw F911 on opening day EVERYONE in the theatre was reacting vocally, and it was GREAT! It made the experience even MORE powerful!

This film is not some fictional drama, with whispered dialogue and intricate plot line, it's our REALITY -- if people WEREN'T reacting: gasping, crying, laughing, muttering AND shouting, I'd be truly disappointed.

I'm with you -- fuck those prune-faced tight-asses!

sw

[Mr_Spock]

36. Here here!! If there was one experience I was SO looking forward to

it was seeing this movie. I wanted to and DID have a very enjoyable emotional AND YES, VOCAL experience with complete strangers. It was a blast and any miserable FREAK who can't understand this experience must have a MISERABLE existance and should stop trying to push their misery ON EVERYBODY ELSE!!

[sleepystudent]

18. wow, how open-minded and articulate...

I saw F 9/11 too, the week after it opened at the Lincoln Plaza Cinemas on the UWS of NYC-the theater that Moore visited to gauge opinion on opening weekend since it's the closest to his apartment. The theater was full ( no surprise there ) and full of believers. We were quiet and respectful and applauded at the end. Only. Yes, there were audience-wide gasps and people *quietly* weeping, but no one screaming loudly at the screen like a buffoon, like the people on the screen were going to react to you if you just yelled at them. It's possible to react emotionally to something and not broadcast it to the people around you whether they want to hear it or not. It's disrespectful to the movie-going experience and if you say this movie is an exception, what about people who worship Star Wars movies or a certain action star? Do they get the right to whoop it up because they are more excited than you and you have to accomodate them?

That guy should not have kicked your chair, but he had every right to ask you to shut up. I've done it in theaters before, I have had people tell me to be quiet and they were in the right.

I swear sometimes the arguments on DU ( like the one I'm responding to ) fill me with despair. Both sides are so uncompromising and inarticulate and vulgar. They are obviously worse because they are in control, but my feelings still stand.

[mellowinman]

21. I don't believe you.

Honest!

I don't believe you saw the movie, and everybody was quiet.

I don't believe that's EVER happened.

What do you think about that?

Incidentally, you've changed the paradigm of this thread. Here's how:

"but no one screaming loudly at the screen like a buffoon,"

At NO POINT on this thread has anybody said they "screamed loudly at the screen like a buffoon."

The original poster said they "yelled" Amen, and later softened that statement. When someone says "Amen," they tend to say if forcefully, but the poster didn't mean "yelled" as in "yelled as loud as I could," more like the standard "yelling" of "Amen."

If this thread fills you with despair, you are in for a lifetime of despair.

It is mostly a few people who haven't seen the film saying no one should talk during movies, and those of us who have saying that in MOST showings of this film, MOST everybody had things to say.

Again, for the millionth time, this is one LOUD movie, at least that appears to be the consensus.

Your comparison to Star Wars or "certain action movie stars" is not relevant either. This film seems to inspire an almost UNIVERSAL reaction in audiences, like "Rocky Horror Picture Show."

I have seen Star Wars in the theater many times, both in its original run, and when they re-released it a few years ago, and never seen any extended audience reaction.

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

29. Wait a SECOND

you say you saw F 9/11 the WEEK after it opened in New York City and people just applauded at the end and a few sniffles in between?

Nope. Nothing doing. Sorry, not swallowing THAT whopper. No laughter? No howling with laughter? No Oh my Gods?

I've seen it three times now in three different Dallas-area theaters and it has NEVER been quiet. And this last time there were probably only fifty people in the theater. Loud and rollicky.

[sleepystudent]

32. Yes, that's what happened

People whooped it up at the *end*. That's it. I'm not making it up. Sorry to burst your bubble. It had been out for more than a week, it had been in the papers, we all knew what it contained going in, everyone agreed with the basic message, there was no loud anything until the end. I saw it July 4th weekend, 9 pm. Seriously. I know nothing I will say will get you to think that there is more than one way to take in a movie, but there it is. That's what happened. Sorry if it bothers you.

There was one audience wide gasp when the Taliban rep insulted the female reporter. That's it.

[mellowinman]

39. That's not what happened.

This film was widely reported on. It dominated the media for two weeks. It was reported on on this forum on thread after thread. I've read damn near everything ever written about this movie.

I am an information junky. You are either exaggerating, or you're not remembering correctly, and both of those scenarios are giving you the benefit of the doubt.

There is no way an audience watched this film in stunned silence, only to gasp at the Taliban's insult and applaud at the end.

That DIDN'T happen. The volume may have been so loud that you didn't HEAR what some people said, or something else, but the reports have been consistent that this film drew a lot of audience reaction.

[troublemaker]

58. You tell people they are lying

because their real world experience doesn't jibe with what you READ somewhere?

[Mr_Spock]

62. Uh, oh - here's trouble. Name speaks for itself.

lol

[Mr_Spock]

42. I don't believe you either!

Are the pukes right when they call liberals "pansies"? I am beginning to wonder - I've never seen such hyper sensitive people in my entire life. I really dislike people who, just because they are incapable of experiencing life to it's fullest, are ready to interupt and judge other people who are. What a miserable existance.

[sleepystudent]

55. You guys just don't want to believe me

there's a difference. That's fine. I was there, you weren't, and I am telling you what happened. Not every audience is going to react the same way. Perhaps you can get so emotionally overwhelmed that you can't scream at the screen and demand Bush's head. And not talking back to the screen is different from being incapable of experiencing life to it's fullest and having a miserable existence.

[tnlefty]

13. Wow! The first time I saw F-9/11 I thought that I was in a Rocky Horror

movie and I was expecting to see tomatoes hurled at the screen. It was a rowdy crowd, but you could hear what was going on. It was at 2:30 in the afternoon on opening day.

The second time that I saw it the crowd was more subdued, but people were still commenting, groaning, etc. I thought that the person that I took with me was going to throw up during the greedy pigs at the trough segment and she still gets sick and angry when she thinks about the neck of the champagne bottle being cut off.

I don't know how anyone could watch it and not make a noise of some sort. Jeeeze

[Moonbeam_Starlight]

26. I'm wondering if this isn't a city thing

I mean, I live in the Dallas/Ft. Worth area. For someone to yell out "HA!" or AMEN! during a movie (granted, there aren't many beyond F 9/11 in which an amen would be very appropriate) wouldn't be any big deal. A little "Oh my GOD!" happens all the time. Scary movie? Screams, jumping, screams at moments when nothing scary happened but the person THOUGHT it was going to be? Normal. People "talking to the screen"? (Think: "GET UP!" and "RUN!") Very normal. When I go see The Village soon, I FULLY expect a bit of audience participation. Hell, when we saw Signs, the girl next to my husband kept jumping, screaming and GRABBING his arm! He just laughed it off.

People's heads might turn in the direction of the loud word, but that's it. Now if it CONTINUED, and it was NOT a movie like 9/11 or Rocky Horror or something equally rollicky, they would be shushed and if they didn't shush an usher would be brough post-haste.

But I read the entire first thread and now this one and am wondering where I can see movies in which the people in the audience are stone silent.

We have FAR less patience for talking in a normal voice when it DOESN'T have to do with the movie. For instance, when I saw the third Lord of the Rings movie, a guy and his date came in late, at the part where Gollum is whispering while looking at his own reflection in the water. VERY quiet, very important scene. He said loudly, "CAN YA'LL MOVE DOWN TWO SEATS SO WE CAN SIT HERE?"

Well first of all, bad movie etiquette. People don't move down around here. Find your own two seats together or stand up, buddy. Then when they sat down, the guy asked his girlfriend in a loud voice if she wanted popcorn or a coke or something. I mean a loud, normal street level voice. He got violently shushed, but no one kicked his chair. I'm sure he would have turned around and screamed if anyone had. He started yelling at the people shushing him and a woman got up to get an usher. He realized this, turned around and shut his trap. THAT kind of thing detracted from the movie (plus you just DON'T mess with hard-core LOTR fans and it was OPENING NIGHT).

But if he were reacting verbally to the MOVIE we'd have had a hell of a lot more patience with it.

Does this make sense? Maybe it's a regional thing, but a little interaction with the movie is not really a big deal here.

[CaTeacher]

35. I hate it when people talk during the movie,

but I also hate it when someone kicks my seat. The way I figure it--you and the other person are even. You bugged them, they bugged you, no one was really hurt--no long term harm done.

Do I feel sorry for either one of you? NO. Am I really on either side? Not really, you and the other person both acted rude. I wouldn't go to the movies with either one of you.

If I were at the movies, I would be pissed if someone talked while I was trying to watch a movie I spent $9 to see. I would also be pissed if some a-hole purposefully kicked my seat.

So all I can say is Boo Frickety Whoooo.

[mellowinman]

43. You are wrong.

Have you seen this movie?

The audience tends to get involved.

You are dead wrong; couldn't be any more wrong; just plain WRONG.

Go see the film, and then see if you still are saying this.

It was NOT rude to say "Amen" about something she felt strongly about, and was fucking MOVED by.

It is RUDE for YOU to say otherwise.

For almost four years, the media, the freepers, and other assorted assholes have been forcing us to remain quiet while this president runs roughshod over the bill of rights.

One of the first scenes in the movie is Gore, as president of the Senate, silencing the Black Caucus.

The whole fucking POINT of this film is to finally get this shit out in the open.

You folks simply do NOT get what the film is about. It is not the collected works of Goddard. It is NOT a dramatic/artistic statment that requires concentration and deep thought.

It is a film that expresses the TRUTH about the media compliciy in handing a piece of shit like GW Bush the keys to the kingdom, and the price we, and innocent people have paid for that.

The poster and the chair-kicker are most certainly NOT even.

Do you know what would have made them even? If this poster would've leapt over her chair, and pummelled the guy almost to death.

THAT would've been even.

Luckily for the asshole motherfucker, our poster is too much of a lady for that.

She fucking said "AMEN," people! That's her crime?

FUCK this shit!

[Mr_Spock]

52. I agree if you can't get riled up seeing this then find a knitting site

and sit there like a zombie. No wonder this party (Dems) has trouble getting people into action - bunch of pussies who are so neurotic they would explode if they had to question authority. My life is BASED ON QUESTIONING AUTHORITY - it's the only way to live.

[wickerwoman]

61. We agree that F911 is an emotionally charged movie

and a great deal of that emotion seems to be spilling over into these threads.

I was reluctant to see F911 in the theaters because I was worried that I might not be able to handle it. I was very close to 9/11. The movie is a visceral enough experience for that reason.

If Michael Moore had wanted an amen at the end of the letter reading, he would have put it there. I am not religious and I have my own reactions to things. I don't need my experience guided by someone who was planning to say "amen" obviously just to get attention and affirmation. My reaction to that moment was quite different. If I had been in the theater with the "amen-er" I would have been annoyed and the experience would have been diminished for me. How do you argue that that was not rude? I don't have a big problem with reactions that are genuine and can't be helped. But when someone deliberately stages a reaction, even when their goal is to "help" other people have the same reaction they did when they first heard it, it is intrusive and manipulative. And I think that is what many posters here are responding to.

It's obnoxious to kick someone's chair and the other person should have just "Ssshh"d her and moved on but it _is_,despite your somewhat frothing denials, manipulative and rude to go to a movie planning to guide other people's reactions to it.

[Mr_Spock]

63. This place seems to be filled with ultra-sensitive folks

Not one person Shhhh'd anyone during the TWO times I saw the movie. Lots of people made comments, including me - I am pretty sure I was wound up enough knowing about the contraversy surrounding the film that I would've been ready to blast someone if they had dared to kick my chair. This was a participatory film and people who can't allow themselves to be a little more open to some disruptions are not people I want to be around. I think there are a LOT of revisionist people posting here too - I can't imagine any of these armchair quarterbacks actually saying anything anyway. Just high and mighty in your internet armchair.

[wickerwoman]

64. You're ignoring my point.

It's not about people make noise in a movie.

It's about people planning to make noise in a movie to guide other people's reactions to it (because obviously an Academy Award winning director can't be trusted to handle that on his own.)

If you had a genuine need to express your reaction, good for you. If you're going to ensure that I have the "right" reaction to the film, get stuffed. It's intrusive, manipulative and patronizing.

[Mr_Spock]

65. You're missing the point

Who the heck is there to judge someones motivations during an emotional movie?

Just more armchair internet quarterbacking from smarty pants people who know how every emotional situation should play out. I am agast at how incapable people are of putting themselves in the situation - simply think an analytical, intellectual analysis work here - IT DOESN'T!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Anyway, I'm Mr. Spock and I don't allow myself feel any emotions - so what do I know.

[wickerwoman]

67. And I'm aghast at the total lack of connection between your responses

and anything I said.

"Smarty pants". What are you, six?

We'll try it one more time.

I have no problems with people who go to a movie and have a genuine emotional response and express that verbally.

I do have problems with people who go to a movie the second time planning to "recreate" their wonderful first experience for everyone else with strategically planned interjections. Michael Moore doesn't need your help and neither do I.

[mellowinman]

50. Friz Lang's "M" is coming on

So I have to abandon this thread, while I focus completely on a masterpiece, with no talking or interruptions.

That is the fucking irony of this: At any OTHER movie, I would've been the FIRST to tell people to be quiet.

I stand by my comments that at F911 you SHOULD make noise!

And if anyone tells you to shut up, you tell THEM to shut up!

DO IT!

Don't let these Nazi Punk Rule-obsessed fuckers tell you how to live your life, man!

Think for yourself! Be who you want to be. FUCK anybody who says different.

That's what I've been doing for more years than I care to admit to, and that's what makes me one happy motherfucker.

Goodnight to my DU friends, and to the anal-retentive fools who should just go join the fucking GOP.

[Mr_Spock]

54. Excellent! I love the last line - I am feeling that way toward some

of these neurotic fools myself!

[rman]

59. People might get the idea they're not alone in thinking * is bad news

Before you know it people might like, unite or something.
There's no telling what they might do next.
We can't have that now can we?
So you lot better be quiet and sit still while you watch that movie,

or any of those other subversive documentaries and movies out there, like
The Corporation
Outfoxed
Manufacturing Consent
Chavez - The Revolution Will Not Be Televised
Despotism
Hitler, The Rise of Evil
Israel's secret weapon (BBC)
The End Of Suburbia - Oil depletion and the end of the American dream
Animal Farm
The Emperor's New Clothes
any of the 9-11 International Inquery recordings
and last but not least, Bowling for Columbine

[Tom Kitten]

66. Next time let's all talk about a different movie...

"Much Ado About Nothing"

sheesh!