Your Movie Going Experience (SPOILERS Maybe)

[tomalak301]

Just got back from Force Awakens, and in the interest of SPOILERS, I'm not going to review the movie very much. I am going to say I really liked it, but thought it was a little slow in the early going and the main villain was not what I expected.

Now with that out of the way, I wanted to talk about the movie going experience. I went to Cinemark, for the XD 3D showing and it was pretty crowded but there were still a few empty seats. The trailers I saw before the movie were: Star Trek Beyond (Translates much better on the big screen), Captain America, Jungle Book, Gods of Egypt, X-Men: Apocalypse, and Batman Vs. Superman. I was actually a little surprised Pixar didn't try to latch onto the Star Wars craze and give us a Finding Dory trailer.

I also think that Pixar comment leads into the film, such as Disney was very hands off with this movie. As for the movie itself, this is why we go to movies. There were cheers a lot during the film, but it didn't bother me because this is a Star Wars film and the mood was right. In fact, there was a moment where I was reminded of Jurassic World and the reveal of the old command center. When things were revealed here, there was a dramatic urgency to it to the point where it set you up and then gets you in the feels. I remember when I went to see Star Trek: TNG's Best of Both Worlds (the two big Borg episodes for those who don't know) and it was like going to a mini-convention with like minded fans. That's the feeling I got here. We all gathered to marvel at what was on the screen and welcome back Star Wars. It was one of the better movie experiences I've had in at least a few years.

 

[Phily B]

I can't stand all the whooping and clapping etc, you're there to watch a movie not a soccer game. Thankfully it's not something common outside of the US, but I still avoided the midnight screenings like the plague.

 

[tomalak301]

I can't stand all the whooping and clapping etc, you're there to watch a movie not a soccer game. Thankfully it's not something common outside of the US, but I still avoided the midnight screenings like the plague.

I don't get why people clap to the screen either, but I think here it added to the emotion of seeing Star Wars on the big screen again. There were some parts of the film where I did feel that sense of awe and wonder and it made the movie better.

 

[The Wormhole]

I arrived 45 minutes early and walked into a theatre which was already over half full and had to hunt for prime seating. In the end, someone ended up sitting right next to me, which is the first time in years that has happened. And I mean years. Last time I know for sure there was someone sitting next to me was 2008, and that was someone who was accompanying me.

 

[tomalak301]

I arrived 45 minutes early and walked into a theatre which was already over half full and had to hunt for prime seating. In the end, someone ended up sitting right next to me, which is the first time in years that has happened. And I mean years. Last time I know for sure there was someone sitting next to me was 2008, and that was someone who was accompanying me.

Was there cheering or cell phones going off? I was surprised there weren't cell phones going off during my screening. It was a very quiet, but very motivated crowd.

 

[The Wormhole]

I arrived 45 minutes early and walked into a theatre which was already over half full and had to hunt for prime seating. In the end, someone ended up sitting right next to me, which is the first time in years that has happened. And I mean years. Last time I know for sure there was someone sitting next to me was 2008, and that was someone who was accompanying me.

Was there cheering or cell phones going off? I was surprised there weren't cell phones going off during my screening. It was a very quiet, but very motivated crowd.

No cellphones, the theatre staff are Nazis when it comes to that. There was cheering and applause when Han and Chewie showed up but otherwise it was a well behaved crowd. I thought the cheering a bit odd, but didn't mind. It's better than jackasses screaming out audio commentaries for the entire theatre to hear.

 

[Kor]

I really don't mind cheering, clapping, etc. at the right moments. It means the audience is having a rip-roaring good time. I don't see what the big deal is.

Kor

 

[tomalak301]

I arrived 45 minutes early and walked into a theatre which was already over half full and had to hunt for prime seating. In the end, someone ended up sitting right next to me, which is the first time in years that has happened. And I mean years. Last time I know for sure there was someone sitting next to me was 2008, and that was someone who was accompanying me.

Was there cheering or cell phones going off? I was surprised there weren't cell phones going off during my screening. It was a very quiet, but very motivated crowd.

No cellphones, the theatre staff are Nazis when it comes to that. There was cheering and applause when Han and Chewie showed up but otherwise it was a well behaved crowd. I thought the cheering a bit odd, but didn't mind. It's better than jackasses screaming out audio commentaries for the entire theatre to hear.

There was cheering during that scene, the crawl, the first site of the Falcon flying on Jakkuu (Great scene by the way), R2's appearance, and the end scene. Also, agreed with you about the audio commentaries. The last film I went to (Hunger Games) there were a couple idiots sitting next to me talking the whole time. Near the end, I kinda blurted a whisper shut up to them, which I don't regret.

 

[Commander Richard]

I bought a ticket for Thursday night at 10:30 and had reserved seating, so I was secure in the knowledge that I'd get a good seat and wouldn't have to arrive early. I did anyway though, at about 10:00. On my way in, people from the previous show were talking about the movie and I was afraid of being spoiled but I wasn't. I then sat down and read the Trek BBS on my phone to pass the time. Read some stuff on Winona Ryder too. Fascinating woman.

Saw the trailers for Star Trek Beyond, Batman v Superman, The Jungle Book and Captain America.

Then the start of the movie caught me by surprise because it didn't have the 20th century Fox intro.

The guy next to me checked his phone twice. I thought he might do that throughout the movie but fortunately he didn't.

The experience was great. I got a good view and the crowd wasn't wild. They cheered and laughed in the right places, I'm sure you know which parts. Someone near me made some kind of overly enthusiastic irritating sound but that was a one-off thing fortunately.

When the movie was over, about two thirds of the people, including myself, sat until the end of the credits. Some were waiting to see if there was a bonus scene.

One thing I took note of was that people were satisfied. When I saw The Phantom Menace in '99, people looked at each other after it was over as if to say... "That's was it?!" Not here.

I then went home to post my comments.

 

[Cutter John]

Pre-ordered tickets a few weeks ago along with three friends. We saw it at a small local theater as opposed to the local metroplex, so it was more of an intimate event with maybe 200 people. The theater caters to a more adult, filmlover crowd so it was almost exclusively grownups. I don't think I saw a single child.
No costumes either sadly, though I suspect the cold and rain may have had something to do with that.

We were first in line and waited about 2 hours before being let in. The theater apparently had a whole box full of staff t-shirts made up, which they handed out to the first 50 or so in line. Probably the best theater swag ever.

We got all the big trailers. Star Trek, Batman vs Superman, Captain America, Zootopia, and a couple of meh dramas.

Audience was enthusiastic, but not overly loud. Gasps, laughter, and soft 'squee's in all the right places. And applause at the Lucasfilm logo, and the closing credits.

I really don't mind cheering, clapping, etc. at the right moments. It means the audience is having a rip-roaring good time. I don't see what the big deal is.

Kor

I agree. I like an enthusiastic audience. That why we made sure to go opening night. As long as nobodies talking during the movie, its all good.

 

[theonering]

As someone who grew up during the age of the Star wars Prequels, LOTR trilogy, Harry Potter movies and Star Trek Reboot, I'm no stranger to passionate fan-bases inhabiting a movie screening.
But I can safely say this is the first time I've been to a movie where people actually cheered, and frankly, I think it only served to enhance the experience. It wasn't just excitement but joy the crowd felt to see this happen again.
You have to remember, for many people in my generation (I am 27) this wasn't just a movie our parents made us watch as kids, it's one of the definitive stories of good vs. evil we grew up on. So it's really not that surprising that people would be that exuberant over it. Most of us wanted to be Jedi or swashbuckling smugglers saving the princess at some point of our lives. Sadly the prequel trilogy just wasn't where it needed to be to bring that magic back. This movie was.

 

[MacLeod]

I really don't mind cheering, clapping, etc. at the right moments. It means the audience is having a rip-roaring good time. I don't see what the big deal is.

Kor

I agree. I like an enthusiastic audience. That why we made sure to go opening night. As long as nobodies talking during the movie, its all good.

I guess it all depends on what you are used to, what behaviour is considered normal in one country might be considered abnormal in another. i.e an enthusatic audiance.

 

[The Wormhole]

Most of us wanted to be Jedi or swashbuckling smugglers saving the princess at some point of our lives.

I've always dreamed of being a space admiral. When I was a kid, I just associated the job with being someone who had authority over spaceship captains. As a grown up I invariably think about how much work actually goes into the job, the hours stuck at a desk, how large my staff would be and what responsibilities the job entails.

There's something to be said for the innocence of youth.

 

[Mark_Nguyen]

You'd THINK my experience would be ruined by the two rather vocal Down Syndrome people sitting next to me, but you'd be wrong. It was the adolescent moron two rows back who thought that popping open his M&Ms tube every two minutes regardless of who was giving him the stinkeye.

One of the above can't help their behavior. It's the one that purposefully didn't that pissed me off.

Mark

 

[WarpFactorZ]

I've seen it twice. The first time (on Friday), the audience was surprisingly passive and disengaged. I was expecting sentimental applause and cheers for the title sequence, the introduction of the Falcon, Han, Chewie, etc.... But they were pretty silent.

The Saturday viewing was the opposite. EVERYONE got into the cheering for the pivotal scenes. To be honest, it made the emotional impact that much more evident.

 

[Mr. Adventure]

I feel bad for all the people annoyed by their theater experiences. Knock on wood, I can't remember the last time I had a bad experience, certainly not due to the audience.

 

[Makarov]

Got there at 7 for the 8:30 showing, it was sold out. So we tried to get tickets for the 9:00 and that was sold out too. Ended up buying tickets for the 10:00 showing and just waiting three hours there, on the bright side being so early we were the first to get in and got the best seats in the theater imo, so it worked out well. Not that much clapping but a good polite crowd.

Had some bad theater experiences in the past couple years, rude people arguing over seats, kids acting crazy etc... glad this time it was a good one.

 

[Greylock Crescent]

I can't stand all the whooping and clapping etc, you're there to watch a movie not a soccer game. Thankfully it's not something common outside of the US, but I still avoided the midnight screenings like the plague.

I don't get why people clap to the screen either, but I think here it added to the emotion of seeing Star Wars on the big screen again. There were some parts of the film where I did feel that sense of awe and wonder and it made the movie better.

Cheering and clapping is an opening night (and weekend) phenomenon. These are (generally) the most avid, excited fans. So the experience is much more like a sporting event, or a concert, than a simple movie-going experience. The most vocal, intense experience I've had was the midnight release for AOTC at the AMC Empire in Times Square - it was closer to a rock concert than anything else.

Not coincidentally, when I saw the LOTR films at Lincoln Center last spring (with the full orchestra and chorus performing the score live), there were ample cheers and applause for memorable cues and performances. It was a sign of appreciation ... which is not unlike to opening night (and weekends) for films.

Fortunately, if this thing is a turn-off, it generally dissipates by the second weekend of a release.

As for my TFA experiences ...

I've now seen it three times. The first two were 3D (reserved seating), albeit from non-ideal side angles. I'd say my 2D experience was the best. The audio provided a clearer version of the dialogue and the 2D images weren't as dark and muddled as the 3D versions.

The worst part was the incessant popcorn chomping, even during the most quiet, emotionally charged scenes. But considering the packed theaters, that wasn't much of a surprise (the only time I've been in a completely silent, packed theater was during the opening scenes, on opening night, for Saving Private Ryan - and, for that film, there was silence in the theater for Obvious Reasons™).

But yes, there were cheers and applause in all three TFA screenings.

 

[Guy Gardener]

No one took my tickets.

No one was guarding or monitoring the doors.

I have no damn idea why we paid for our tickets other than habit, fear and honesty.

As the movie finished, it looked like people from the movie next door were sneaking in to our theatre to catch the next screening of Star Wars.

Logically the "manager" who gives a shit about these things is already left the city on holiday.

...

But this seriously pissed me off.

I bought two icecreams.

"Um, it says 10 bucks for two ice creams on the large poster behind you, why'd you charge me 11.50?"

"Tax isn't included in those prices."

!!!???!!!

Miserable fucking liars.

 

[Trekker4747]

I can't stand all the whooping and clapping etc, you're there to watch a movie not a soccer game. Thankfully it's not something common outside of the US, but I still avoided the midnight screenings like the plague.

Psshhht! People expressing emotions and joy! Regardless of what you're viewing, when you're emotionally invested in something and something happens that shocks you, excites you, or whatever it's hard to not want to express that emotion in some way or another. Being bothered by "whooping and clapping" is like being bothered by people laughing at a joke, or crying during an emotionally tugging scene.

It's an expression of excitement.

My theater experience, shockingly enough, wasn't as bad as I thought it was going to be. I was expecting it to be utterly fill and packed and unable to get good seats but that turned out to not be the case.

Usually my buddy and I do the "Fork and Screen" showings where you get an assigned seat and they're much more comfortable and more leg-room but the theaters don't hold as many people so those sell out quickly. So we bit the bullet and went to a regular showing.

Granted, we went to a 4:30 PM showing so not a "busy" time for the theater. There was a pretty good-sized line when we got there at about 3:45/4:00. We chatted with the group line ahead of us about various things Star Wars related and what we've seen of up-coming trailers on other movies. The theater forced everyone into the theater single-file but once you were past the doors you were free to move about as you felt. We were still able to get seats up in the "Stadium Seating" area and in the middle. About where we normally sit, so, not bad.

Good bits of cheering, clapping, and expressions of emotion during the movie, which I shared in because they were all good moments. Came out of the movie having highly enjoyed it.