By Staff Writer: Julia Simmons
Recently, I went to the movies for the first time in over a year. I used to love going to movie theaters as a child, but with the number of streaming services available now, I haven’t felt the need to go. The movies have become much more expensive, and I already pay for streaming services. However, when I finally returned, I noticed many, many changes to the culture in the theater.
People are loud! Of course, as I went to see a kid’s movie, I expected some noise. However, I noticed adults around me having full conversations about the movie, during the movie. They didn’t discriminate whether it was an action scene or a touching quiet moment. I’m not used to this, as I was taught to be silent in the theaters.
Young children were being left alone. This theater had recliner-style seats and had to be reserved, so I understand that sometimes, there aren’t enough seats together to accommodate a family. But, leaving a five-year-old and a three-year-old in seats surrounded by strangers while you go multiple rows away seems dangerous. Not to mention, the children being loud, rowdy, and disruptive toward those strangers.
Patrons had their phones out constantly, causing a distraction to others in rows above them. The light was frustrating, and the dings! of phones not being silenced broke the famous theater immersion.
On the theater’s end, the movie I saw was extremely loud. It was a musical, so anytime an actor hit a power note, my ears started ringing and it felt piercing. Also, the blue lights on the walls never turned off- I swear the theater used to go pitch-black beside safety lights on the floor. These blue lights cause issues for people with astigmatism and were also distracting.
Maybe I’m getting old, but I felt the movies were not what I remembered. The culture is changing, and moving toward what I feel is a rude direction. In the future, I’ll probably stay home and save my money.