A reader continues the thread:
I'm wondering if why first-run movie theaters are so horrible isn't only due to the improvements in home theater; what if it's simply a question of age? If you're older than say 35, the first movie you saw was likely at a theater. If you're under 35, your first movie was probably viewed on a VCR in your home, where there was no one to object to your talking, where if you needed to take a break the film could be stopped for you, and if you missed a plot point or a line of dialogue, you were just a rewind button away from seeing it again.
Another writes:
I feel that it should be pointed out that it's not only kids and teenagers talking during movies these days. During a few recent movie outings, my girlfriend and I have been annoyed by older couples who also don't seem to understand the etiquette of watching a movie in a public theater. They'll either attempt to whisper guesses about what will happen to one another, or explain to their friend/spouse what just happened when the other doesn't understand. Then there are the elderly couples who have trouble hearing and ask for lines to be repeated.
Another joins the readers from Austin, Portland and Seattle:
My partner and I live in Greenwich Village, which is a movie lover's heaven. We live within walking distance of several megaplaxes and at least four independent cinemas. One of them is Film Forum, which shows a wild variety of movies, ranging from new releases to the most obsure vintage films. For example, last night I attended a screening of the 1924 silent epic Greed, and it was sold out. (The theater accommodates 250-300). Last week, a screening of The Cameraman, starring Buster Keaton, also sold out. I occasionally see a film on Turner Classic Movies, but, for us and for many other New Yorkers, the big screen still rules.
By the way, if you haven't seen it, don't miss the new Iranian film A Separation. It was acclaimed in its home country, but to my eyes, it lays bare the foundations of a society informed by a vision of justice that does nothing to help its people. It's also the most gripping drama I've seen all year.
The Dish 