The Movie Interruption

I recently read over some blog posts in our class, and Henry’s blog post inspired me to write this. I originally considered commenting on Henry’s post, but found my first comment to be too long, and slightly off topic. The key idea in the post that I agreed with was the way movies are being watched like TV. In fact, movies are often shown on TV. Watching a movie on TV, for me, is close to impossible because of the constant distraction of endless commercials. To take the distractions a step further, commercials have recently begun to be shown while the movie is being played on TV on the bottom of the screen. This not only blocks what the filmmakers originally intended the audience to see, but it draws attention away from the screen to see the advertisement.  Also, some TV movies actually delete scenes to fit in more commercials, which completely ruins the integrity of any movie. I do watch movies on TV, but when any movie is remotely serious, I make sure to watch it on DVD or in theaters.

When I think of talking during movies I specifically think of the TV series, Seinfeld. In one episode, "The  Restaurant", the three main characters wait in a restaurant before the sixth movie in a famous series. When two of the three characters, Elaine and George, comment they may not go to the movie, the main character, Jerry Seinfeld, expresses that if they don't go to the movie, then he cannot go, because he would not have nobody to talk to during the movie. This reminds me of our conversation in class where we concluded that there are certain movies you cannot talk through at the theater, and others, like "The Hangover", that are actually complimented by talking during the movie. The Seinfeld episode also makes fun of not paying attention during movies, as Jerry and his girlfriend are called out for "making out during Sophie's Choice", something that clearly should not be done. 


 To me, there are boundaries when watching movies, and although some movies beg for open discussion, most do not. By talking during movies, specifically at the movie theater, people are ruining the experience not only for the people around them, but themselves as well. To be confronted with unsolicited interruptions caused by another audience member as he responds to the movie is distracting and interrupts am individual's experience. In the end, being interrupted during a movie by an advertisement, or a friend, is not much different than making out during "Sophie's Choice".