Dinner and A Movie (No Really!)
16 Jan 2012 10 Comments
in Musings Tags: Chinese food, Dinner, Movie, Potato chips, Smells, Take-away
Hubby and I went to see the new Sherlock Homes movie today. We both enjoyed it, but were a little disappointed that it was very similar to the first movie. But what really chapped my hide was the two young women who literally took dinner to the movies. Right as the movie was getting into the opening scenes the girl next to me pulls out a big white (thick) paper bag. The rustling of that bag alone was enough to throw my crazy-woman switch. She then proceeded to haul out a large styrofoam take-away box.
Next thing I know I’m being gassed by the stench of Chinese food. Now, I know that lots of folks love Chinese food, but I am not one of them. I hate the smell of Chinese food. By this time I’m trying my best to concentrate on the movie. Then her friend starts the pulling up of her big white paper bag and hauling out her styrofoam take-away box. I could have cheerfully killed both of them. Then the waft of french-fries comes floating past my nostrils! I LOVE me some french-fries, but I am on my starch/carb free diet so I couldn’t have any even if I wanted to. But as you can imagine it was now near impossible to concentrate on the movie.
I manage to keep my hands to myself and keep a tight lock on my tongue, and I’m fully concentrating on the movie when the boys on the other side of hubby pull out a big bag (think Sam’s club or Costco size) of potato chips! The rustling from the bag of chips and the white paper bags, (cause the girls on my side were finishing-up their dinner) was excruciating! On top of all that everyone could hear my stomach rumbling and the air-con was down to 10 below zero.
It was not an enjoyable afternoon matinée, but it sure was a noisy one. What do you think, should take-away type of food be allowed in the movies? Should patrons who have paid good money to watch a movie be free to mollicate other people who seem to think they can treat the theater as their own living-room? Would you have said anything to the Rustlers? Should I have asked for my money back? Or is this the new movie-house experience we are expected to accept in these live and let live days?
Actually it was quite funny. Hubby said the boys on his side were being furtive about bringing out their bag of chips. 
Jan 16, 2012 @ 08:29:15
OMG how you kept your cool ! Put in a complaint get a refund and why on earth where they allowed to take in theyre own food? Angie x
Jan 16, 2012 @ 08:50:29
LOL Angie, don’t you think it was a cosmic challenge because I’d just written a post about how WONDERFUL teenagers were?
Jan 16, 2012 @ 17:46:22
How rude! I don’t know how you kept your cool Elizabeth because I sure would’ve lost mine. I don’t mind a bit telling people like that how I feel about their behavior, (often embarrassing my poor hubby – he’s one who holds his tongue no matter what). I’m glad you were at least able to concentrate on the movie, more than I could say for myself.
Jan 16, 2012 @ 21:34:14
I normally would have said something Deanna, but for some reason I kept thinking they are just teenagers and really what are they doing wrong. I guess God gave me a measure of grace
Jan 16, 2012 @ 19:07:20
It is not OK to take food into a theater and most don’t allow it – hence the furtiveness of the boys. I’ve never seen someone bring actual foods in – just candy type stuff. I think I would have walked out and asked for my money back, coming back another time when the rudesbies were not there. Wow! Angie
Jan 16, 2012 @ 21:35:22
You know, you are absolutely right Angela, no one is allowed to bring in outside food to the movies. I forgot all about that rule. I think if i’d had remembered it I would have gone and complained.
Jan 16, 2012 @ 19:45:54
I think it is against the rules to bring a meal or even a snack to the movies. And though I am a rule breaker at heart I would have wanted to slap them up the side of the head for breaking the rule!
Jan 16, 2012 @ 21:36:12
LOL, not you Patricia
A rule-breaker!
Jan 17, 2012 @ 09:09:22
I would have moved to another seat rather than let them wreck my enjoyment of the movie.
I probably would have reported them to the theater manager, too, since I believe people need to be responsible for their actions. They were not only breaking a theater policy but infringing on the rights of others who had paid to watch the movie without unnecessary distractions. Getting away with this type of behavior may encourage them to repeat it in the future.
Jan 17, 2012 @ 09:15:06
You are right Carol. I don’t know why I didn’t report them, but I am thinking there may have been a divine cause not to? Normally, I would immediately have told them to take it outside. ??? God only knows