I saw some interesting audience behavior Sunday when I went to see "Monuments Men"

[gordianot]

Three older ladies sat next to us my guess was late 80's maybe older. One lady did not put her cell phone away and goggled art work and artists mentioned in the movie. She shared her phone with other ladies along with whispered discussion. I was impressed at her mastery of her smart phone. One scene Bill Murray got a record from home with his daughter singing "i'll be home for Christmas" very quietly she started to sing the song along with her friends. Several older people in the audience joined in. Looking around you could see much younger people with tears. By the end of the song the audience applauded.

I was moved the audience was moved. Another audience the reaction could have been different. We are all in this journey together and need to be tolerant of others.

I have a new favorite movie.

[Sheldon Cooper]

1. Why didn't you take out your gun and shoot her?

[DisgustipatedinCA]

3. I think popcorn is the catalyst for gun play in theaters. nt

[yeoman6987]

5. lol.

I went to see Nebraska and this older couple (probably late 50's) spoke through the entire film. I was so damn pissed off that I was going to mention it to them after the movie, but I was so pissed off that I was going to say or do something that I would later not be happy with myself that I just left the movie in a hurry….had I brought a gun……sometimes you just have to brush it off even though you are pissed beyond belief.

[murielm99]

36. My husband and I got up and moved in a theater

when the people behind us were loud. They were offended by OUR behavior! We said nothing to them, simply moved.

Sometimes it is best to be careful. People can be volatile.

[bluestate10]

73. I was thinking about the theater killing in Florida, that case is coming up.

I was thinking. What if someone didn't like something you were doing, like, maybe sucking on your soda cup accidentally. Now, let's say that person is really upset for some reason. Couldn't that person take you simply getting up to move as threatening, and shoot you dead? The scenario that I pointed out isn't far fetched at all. The upshot is that a person that brings a gun into a movie theater or other public place and does not have good self control can kill a person for nothing in Florida and walk free. The insanity of the SYG law is stunning.

[uponit7771]

8. It has to be phone and popcorn or no dice

[jmowreader]

29. And in Florida

[bluestate10]

74. In Florida, it can be anything. Your hair can be spiked and some fool will get upset and play God

with you life, knowing that he or she will likely walk free after murdering a person who represented absolutely no threat to them.

[uponit7771]

81. +1

[blackspade]

10. Fuck, dude.......

[treestar]

17. DuZY

[arely staircase]

22. I was aboutbto say that nt

[Dr Hobbitstein]

30. You win the internetz!

[Enthusiast]

33. Fine suggestion.

But only if the lady was black.

[dickthegrouch]

34. I found a different way to stop bad behavior

When I was in a choral concert many years ago the two guys next to me were chattering all through the (rather short) pieces being sung. I was infuriated. It eventually dawned on me that they had become part of the performance and therefore they deserved some recognition.
At the end of the next piece, I stood up and faced them and applauded them.
Not another word out of either of them.

I sometimes carry bookmark-sized cards printed with "I've paid to listen to the people up front, not to you", which I'll pass back to someone on occasion.

I have a really hard time separating voices when there are more than two of them around me. Other people commenting to their friends/colleagues/partners in any situation is a major distraction to me and gets a reaction that will hopefully educate them and shut them up.

[Texasgal]

56. wow... you must be a blast at parties.

:0

[Earth_First]

69. Has it ocurred to you that your signature tagline may be in need of an update after this response?

Violence takes on many forms outside of physical confrontation.

Violence can also be perpetrated on it's victim in the form of verbal altercation as well.

You choose to verbally assault people surrounding you on multiple occasions, yet maintain a position which decries violence perpetrated by the incompetent.

Some food for thought, friend...

[cui bono]

80. I wouldn't call that verbal assault.

If I'm at a concert and the people behind me are talking and interfering with my enjoying the music I paid to see I ask them to be quiet. There's a lobby they can go to if they're not interested in the music.

[dickthegrouch]

82. My reaction to rudeness and selfishness is violent

And the instigator's rudeness and selfishness is not?

I do not consider calling someone out violence. Violence is the stupid idiot who'd use a gun to 'solve' the problem.

[msongs]

2. cellphones are pretty much a curse in theaters nt

[gordianot]

4. Theaters give a mixed message encouraging use before the movie.

I turn my cell phone off before I enterthe movie.

[CTyankee]

9. they tell you in no uncertain terms that they will remove you from the theatre if you are using

your cell phone where I live.

I would not use a smart phone to look up the paintings during the movie. I saw it, and most of the ones they dwelt on I already knew as they are very famous. I was unsure that they were correct about the Raphael they said was torched but later I checked its fate online and it is entirely possible it was destroyed by the Germans.

Despite its bad reviews, I thought the movie was thoroughly enjoyable. Ars Omnia Vincit and all that...

[Nevernose]

12. One theater chain we go to

(I can't remember which one) has an app for quiet phones. You turn it on at the beginning of the movie, and if you don't use your phone for the duration, it gives a coupon for free popcorn or drinks. People respond better to bribery than they do warnings, plus I've got free popcorn the next time I go

[SheilaT]

39. Not fair!

I have a dumb phone and I turn it off. No popcorn for being a good citizen. Darn.

But that actually is a pretty good idea for those who can make use of it.

[DebJ]

87. Wow. That's a lot of moula these days. Small popcorn/small soda here is $10. n/t

[Scuba]

6. I'm glad someone enjoyed that movie.

[itsrobert]

11. My wife did

I enjoyed some parts. It was a little too cartoonish for me.

[cyberswede]

52. My 13 y.o. wants to see it...

I thought it looked like an interesting mix of fluff/star power/history that might be appropriate for his age.

[pscot]

70. Sounds like my kind of movie

[progressoid]

25. Yeah,

I'll be waiting for the DVD to arrive at the public library. I have a feeling, I will be underwhelmed.

The hype seemed, well, like hype.

[dorkzilla]

32. If you're interested in the subject but not the hype watch "The Rape of Europa"

Its a wonderful documentary…factual and moving, no hype.

Here's the trailer:

Updated to remove second link - it wasn't the same movie. Its on netflix now though if you have it.

[progressoid]

38. Thanks.

I just checked and our Library has a copy of that. Will check it out.

[hwmnbn]

50. Yep, I watched it on Netflix streaming...

it was a very thorough account. It's imaginable how twisted the Nazis were back then.

[Brigid]

40. But . . . but . . .

George Clooney! That's gotta count for something!

[progressoid]

47. He's sooo dreamy.

Actually finally saw 'The Descendants' last weekend. I pleasantly surprised by it.

[FSogol]

42. I liked it. George Clooney made himself an honest-to-god Frank Capra movie. n/t

[CTyankee]

59. what was it that you found so terrible?

The subject was fabulous, the actors were top shelf...I don't get why it was so awful for you...it wasn't supposed to be an Ingmar Bergman think piece. It was an action movie about a bunch of art historians, curators, artists etc who were thrown together to pool their artistic intelligence and save the art of Europe. I don't get why that made for such a terrible movie...

[Scuba]

60. Here's my post on it ...

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1270&pid=439

[CTyankee]

61. I did see that. i thought it was pretty thin gruel as a review. Hoping for something more insightful

but OK.

I disagree. I don't know what you were expecting, but it was more than I was expecting and I have pretty high standards of art.

[TransitJohn]

7. I would have asked her to put her phone away.

I absolutely hate when people are so selfish and inconsiderate that they'll ruin the cinema experience for everyone in the theater behind them by using a cell phone. I leave mine in the car. But that's just me, I follow the rules.

[Logical]

26. Same here, flat out rude behavior! nt

[tblue37]

43. And yet that was part of what the OP found so touching in the. experience of

this movie.

People should be considerate, sure, but just looking up references from the film is not the same as carrying on a coversation (though their quiet talking did not other the OP either, it seems.

I wish people would be more aware of others' rights and comfort when in public spaces, but I also wish I could share my own perhaps unusually robust ability to *filter* such minor disruptions with people who are easily disturbed by the behavior of others.

I believe that nowadays people insulate themselves within a bubble created by their iPods, cell phones, tablets, e-readers, and laptops, etc. As a result, many who do not mean to annoy anyone do end up really pissing people off when they forget they are in a shared space. I think mostt are just being thoughtless and forgetful, rather than deliberately rude or obnoxious, so I try to give them the benefit of the doubt rather than getting too riled up.

[TransitJohn]

49. It's not the noise of talking on a cell phone in the theater that sucks, it's the phone's screen.

It's bright and piercing and pulls your eye away from the movie. It's sucks big time.

[Fumesucker]

57. I hardly bother watching movies any more, I can't hear half the dialogue anyway

My hearing is damaged enough that it's tough to hear someone speaking over noise, visual distractions are a lot less bothersome to me than audible ones.

Having someone speaking on a phone nearby in a theater would be more distracting to me than a lit up phone screen.

[Skittles]

63. thank you

as a movie buff I absolutely agree - I find that tiny bright screen distracting no matter where they are sitting and I detest people who cannot stay off their handhelds long enough to watch a movie - they should stop being rude and wait for the DVD

[Vashta Nerada]

46. That's one of my biggest pet peeves.

I spend $12 on a ticket to watch a movie, not to be blinded by some asshole's cell phone.

These kinds of stories don't make me all "awwww" and mushy inside. I find them rather irritating.

[lindysalsagal]

84. I would have gone out and gotten an usher to get her to stop.

Movies are expensive, and I want to immerse myself in the film, instead of being distracted by bad audience behavior. If you want to sing along, wait until you can get it at home on netflix.

[DebJ]

88. I'd be afraid to leave mine in the car now...might have to dial 911. n/t

[mikeysnot]

13. Can't wait to see this movie.

I had the chance to meet Harry Ettlinger a couple of years back right after the book came out. He was very happy that this story was coming to light. My wife and I hung out with him and his girlfriend the whole evening.

Coolest guest at a wedding I ever met.

m

[IAmKirak]

14. I found the movie to be rather boring.

I also quickly tired of the Russian bashing and the German bashing. Frankly, if we need to go back seven decades to show how great we are, we're not that great.

In today's world, we wouldn't give a damn about art.

I do think your observations were cool, though.

[calimary]

19. Welcome to DU, IAmKirak!

Glad you're here! Gotta ask because of your screen name - "Star Trek" fan? And you're probably correct - we don't care much about art - at least to go to those lengths for its sake, although one would hope otherwise. This is one movie I would like to go see, though. And I enjoy caper movies anyway. LOVED the whole "Ocean's fill-in-the-number-here" series!

[IAmKirak]

24. Nice catch on the name! I was a big fan of the original and next generation series.

Just a need, I guess. I was a big fan of Ocean's 11, so I was really disappointed when I saw the movie. There are certainly a couple of characters that are engaging, but it seemed like the rest mailed it in.

Having said that, I never listen to critics. If you felt compelled to see the movie, by all means go see it!

Something grabbed your attention, so run with it!

[calimary]

51. We were binge-watching the original "Star Trek" over the weekend and the Miramanee one

was among them!

[IAmKirak]

64. Well done!

I can identify with Kirak during the scene when he can't re-enter the oblisque:

I don't really have the power to effect change, so all I can do is scream to the Gods.

[calimary]

75. LOL!!!!!!!

Live long and prosper!

\\ //,

[3catwoman3]

77. That is one of my...

...very favorite Star Trek TOS episodes.

[calimary]

83. Mine, too. I gravitate toward the romance ones.

The Miramanee one.

The one where Spock falls in love with Jill Ireland (the planet with the spores).

"AMOK TIME"!!!!! OH YEAH!!!! And also the one with Mark Lenard and Jane Wyatt as Spock's parents.

The Edith Keeler one.

"The Menagerie."

And of course, "The Trouble with Tribbles."



And did I mention "Amok Time"?

[3catwoman3]

85. And, the Voyager episode...

...where Captain Janeway and Chakotay are marooned on a planet together. Mmm mmmmm.

[calimary]

86. Aw man… didn't you always hold out hope that they'd find a way toward each other?

That was a pretty yummy one.

Don't really wanna hijack this thread but I could go on about "Star Trek" episodes all day…

\\ //,

[7962]

23. It was a WW2 movie, what would you expect?

And plenty of people have been trying to save some of the ancient monuments and art in Afghanistan for several years. Apparently the Taliban thinks they're an affront to allah or something and have been destroying them. Tough job, but good luck to them.

[IAmKirak]

28. This wasn't a WWII movie.

This was a movie about event that occurred in WWII. The bashing and bravado did not add to the storyline. For me it devolved it into the tiresome we are great and "they" are not.

As for the monuments we try to save from the Taliban today, great. In the mean time we guarantee that no great works will arise from this country as we destroy any remnants of art and music education for our youth.

[DebJ]

89. Part of me agrees with you, the historian in me disagrees.

The movie should reflect the attitudes of the time.

[Blue_Tires]

15. I read a maybe-true, maybe-not story years ago

about Wolfgang Petersen and his producers/distributor/etc. test screening the first English-language version of Das Boot to an audience of American WWII Navy veterans...(This was still when the prospect of successful movies in U.S. theaters showing wars solely from the 'other' side was an iffy proposition at best, so they wanted the 'toughest' audience)...

The film starts off with the text something like "XXX German submariners were KIA during the Second World War" and the audience gave a long, hard, stadium-sized cheer...Supposedly by the time the final credits came, there wasn't a single dry eye in the theater...

[TexasProgresive]

16. My Dad a WW II vet

Loved that film. He fought the Germans but when the war ended he was in charge of some German ex-prisoners. He came to know them as human beings and he gave my friends and I a live lesson when we were playing war. I've never forgot it. What he said is that the average German soldier or sailor was not much different than the average America soldier or sailor. They were not monsters but were fighting for their country and many not by choice.

[7962]

21. Very few German soldiers were Nazis; many were forced into service in 1 day.

Although that was mostly later in the war. They had to pledge an allegiance to hitler, but only about 10% were nazis. Even most of the SS were not nazis. Of course, being a member of the Nazi Party was not required to commit atrocities.
Edit: From what I've read, anyway. Can't guarantee it.

[rdharma]

53. And you "know" this how?

Sorry, but that's just not true. That's post-war revisionist "history".

Where did you read that?

[7962]

66. Did you notice I said I couldn't guarantee it?

Here are a couple links that mention what I was talking about.
http://www.wisegeek.com/were-there-non-nazi-german-soldiers-in-wwii.htm
http://www.humanities360.com/index.php/the-difference-between-the-nazis-and-german-soldiers-60531/

And I'm not trying to defend the germans either. Just as I wouldnt defend the Russians either. Then or NOW.

[rdharma]

68. Nazi ideology was prevalent in the Wehrmacht.....

The claim that only about 10% were Nazis is not true.

Think about it....... If you were a German soldier after the collapse of the Reich, would you claim to be have been an ardent Nazi? I think not!

[TexasProgresive]

18. I've dreamt of having a bookstore/pub combo

that had a Faraday cage built into its construction. Inside would be 2 or 3 British or Irish phone booths that allow cells to work with the door closed.

In Europe there are cell phone jammers that are in use in churches, halls, theaters and other such places. But we Americans must have our phones 24/7 so these jammers are not allowed here.

[Liberal_in_LA]

20. i usually dont like talking durung movies but would have tolerated that experience

[BeyondGeography]

27. Love a group cry

There was a whole group of older people around me when I was watching The Book Thief and we all lost it when Liesel died. They were so dignified, dabbing their eyes...

[Bongo Prophet]

78. Ouch - nice spoiler there. n/t

Last edited Tue Feb 18, 2014, 05:42 AM - Edit history (1)

In a thread about consideration of others, no less.
Maybe try something like this"

"There was a whole group of older people around me when I was watching a movie recently and we all lost it when one of the characters died. They were so dignified, dabbing their eyes..."


See how easy that is?

(Edited to take the movie title off the reply here, so you can edit your post without mine giving it away.)

[EileenFB]

31. The movie was just OK

Might watch it again in a few years but nothing that I'm going to buy or rent on DVD.

There is one part that is inconsistent: The scene where "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" plays. Those particular lyrics didn't exist until Frank Sinatra recorded the song in the 1950s.

[gordianot]

35. My first reaction to the cell phone was annoyance and I thought the movie was Ok.

In this case for me at least the audience made the movie. I am not even particularly a fan of of the song. I am sure there are many historical inaccuracies as a work of Art for this audience on this day it worked. The Grannies will be lucky to see many more movies.

[brett_jv]

41. An 'anachronism', to be precise ...

I've heard that the recent biopic on Masters and Johnston (think it's called 'Masters of Sex' or some such) is absolutely riddled with anachronisms in terms of the dialog. For example, there's scenes when a character uses the term 'nuke' as a verb, as in 'the Reds will Nuke us if...' when in reality that term wasn't coined until around the 1980's (whereas the story takes place in the 1950's mostly).

Downton Abbey, while otherwise a pretty great and authentic-feeling show, commits this offense I'd say on average at least once an episode, wherein someone says something I absolutely KNOW would not have been said by a person in that era.

It's frustrating when filmmakers go to great lengths to get the 'visual' aspects correct, but then pay no heed to an accurate depiction of the vernacular of the time period in which their production is occurring.

I suppose such anachronism's go largely overlooked by most film-goers, who probably prefer to hear things phrased in a way they can 'relate to', even if it's not technically accurate in terms of the time period, but for me ... it just annoys me and makes me feel like the production is being 'dumbed down'. I consider it a major 'flaw' when filmmakers do this.

[marlakay]

37. We saw movie first day

So bigger crowd than normal for our area. It was mid day on a Friday was filled with retired folks like us. Everyone seemed to enjoy the movie and as I walked in they were showing credits from first time everyone said they loved it.

I thought it was a great feel good movie and well done.

As far as smart phone, my mom is almost 86 and I bought her computer and taught her email and simple computer stuff early 2000's...few years later we got her cell phone for emergencies, my granddaughter taught her how to text a few years ago and just this last year all on her own she went to sprint and got a iPhone, said we all had one she wanted one!

I had no idea, she wanted one! Lol. She had me set up Apple ID for her and add FB to see pics and words with friends which she has games with all of us...go mom!!

[Ichingcarpenter]

44. Jimmy Kimmel interviews the cast of the movie

plus Matt

Its very funny

This is part one be sure to catch all parts
Poor Matt ........LOL

[kwassa]

45. My parents bought a house from one of the Monuments Men.

The house was by a famous architect, very contemporary. The Monuments man in question went on to become a major museum curator, and museum director.

This was a house I lived in as a teenager.

[cyberswede]

65. Was that the George Clooney character?

Last edited Mon Feb 17, 2014, 11:49 PM - Edit history (1)

He was based on George Stout, who was a museum director at Harvard, I believe.

[kwassa]

67. Actually, no.

[linuxman]

48. I suppose we differ in that.

I really don't care how old someone is or how surprising it is that a senior citizen has manged to figure out the googles. Rude is rude. If I'm in a theater, I'm there to view the screen and hear the movie, not be distracted by your smartphone and annoyed by personal commentary and chatter. That said, I would probably give more leeway to a bunch of old ladies than I would to a few teenagers. Then again, it would baffle me that old people would be so damn inconsiderate. You can sing all you want in the car on your way home. Till then, shut it. There are only two or three things in the whole world that aggravate me to the point of publicly confronting someone. Being an asshole in a theater is one. Age is no excuse.

Alamo Draft House for the win.

[missingthebigdog]

54. I, for one, envy your awesome experience.

Cellphones have contributed to the current "every person is an island" attitude that we have. Everything has to be an individual experience.

It is a rare treat to go somewhere and connect with other people, if only for a brief time. You will remember these ladies long after you have forgotten the movie itself.

[gordianot]

58. Thank you, that is my main point in posting this thread you got to the heart of this.

I imagine there were others in the audience annoyed with the cell phone. I certainly had the opportunity to make an ass of myself and ask her to put the cell phone away before I listened to their conversation. These ladies were really old and the story was from their generation. What was a minor annoyance turned into mild amusement then became for me and others in the audience a moving experience and a rare encounter. I will not forget

[Nye Bevan]

55. I hate when rude and inconsiderate people shine their smartphones in a darkened theater. (nt)

[gordianot]

62. I feel the same way, this experience became something else.

I also do not care for people who have public disagreements.

[Doremus]

71. The movie was just okay.

Not one of Clooney's best but enjoyable for the artwork if nothing else.

Oh, and Rose. Loved the character.

[bluestate10]

72. That woman clearly wasn't in Florida, because some buffoon would have stood his ground on her. nt

[Dawson Leery]

76. I plan on seeing it.

[dlwickham]

79. very cool story

too many Americans are illiterate when it comes to art

I think it's cool that these women were googling the artists

I think that the audience singing would have put me over the edge and I would have started singing and I don't sing! LOL

[gordianot]

93. My wife and I joked we were among the kids in the audience and we are in our early 60's.

Those singing were definitely older more than a dozen. Several teenage girls behind us were crying I think more at the reaction to the singing.

I just sat there and took it in.

[dlwickham]

94. how sweet!

that must have been a great experience

[DebJ]

90. My 85 year old Mom saw this movie last week; her first movie trip in 58 years!

She absolutely loved it, because she could clearly remember living through that time,
and there is so much she can't remember anymore.

I am absolutely thrilled that Mom so thoroughly enjoyed herself. She's been confined to a wheelchair
the last 25 years thanks to a drunk driver, and her health is rapidly failing now largely due to the
injuries she sustained in the head-on collision.

So thank you, Mr. Clooney, for my Mom, you were a small and much needed miracle!

[DebJ]

91. Overall, would you say this movie is 'upbeat'?

We've seen about 10 films the past six weeks, trying to catch the Oscar nominees, and every single one
of them was a downer.... or felt that way after all the other downers so rapidly in succession...for example,
if I'd only seen American Hustle, I might not have thought that a downer, but it once again was a movie
about people with no scruples. I want something POSITIVE!

[gordianot]

92. It worked on several levels.

What do you consider important and worth sacrifice? Overall a good story.