Cinetiquette

My current fixation is the apparent lack of 'cinetiquette' across Singapore's cinemas. Almost every single cinema experience of mine has been unfortunate as I've been seated dangerously close to ignorant perpetrators.

Audacious cine sins include talking throughout the film (to others or on their phones); sleeping (and snoring!), texting (yes, a bright screen in a dark room is annoying and distracting to those 'trying' to watch a film!). Don't get me started on the dear cinema-goer with a penchant for mobile keystroke sounds - turn it off!) Lastly there are the 'pigs in the trough', face planting into enough popcorn to sate a party of 20, devouring their emergency supplies (read: snacks) with the ravenous ferocity of starved wild animals.

In case there's any doubt, the cinema is NOT the place for gossiping with your friends, getting amorous with your beloved and it's especially not the place for using your phone!!

Cinema angst washes away as soon as I step foot into the gilded walls of Gold Class - it's movie-going heaven but I can't afford $33 for every film I see (as I see a lot of movies!). Going to the cinema is a simple concept -  enjoy a new release film in a darkened room on a large screen with accompanying sound system that mere mortals could only dream of owning. The unspoken and seemingly golden rule is that people shut the hell up during the film's entirety, choosing to either wax lyrical and analyze the film post screening, or mince off into the shopping precinct without a second thought as to the film's premise or message.

Either way, the choice is yours but DO NOT ruin my 90 to 180 minutes of escapism. I'm tired of my film experiences being marred by incessant nattering of 'chatty' moviegoers (note 'chatty moviegoers' is an oxymoron - the two shouldn't co-exist!) To quote one of Hollywood's biggest stars, "Put your manners back in."