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AIBU?

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Original poster

To think you shouldn't take a small child to the cinema if the child is going to talk all the way through the film?

55 replies

Bluebell99 · 21/02/2011 13:41

So yesterday took my kids to see Voyage of the Dawn Treader which was excellent. But our enjoyment was marred by the woman next to us who had brought her 2 or 3 yr dd to the film, who talked through the entire film and her mum didn't ssshhh her but said things like "What's that darling? You want to see the talking lion? Yes he will be on soon. Yes he is a lovely big dragon" Blah blah. The film was completely beyond the comprehension of the child, who was crying to go home, and saying things like "mummy I want to see the dragon" After an hour and ten minutes, they decide to leave. But wtf, do people have no consideration for the rest of the audience? It was a kids am showing, so I guess you can expect a bit of extra noise, but thought talking non stop through the film was over the top. And also it is a scarey film for small children.

OP posts:
worraliberty · 21/02/2011 13:44

YANBU I also hate parents who let their kids run around during a film. If they can't sit down for the duration, don't take them til they're older.

saffy85 · 21/02/2011 13:46

YANBU I wouldn't have taken my 3 year old to see that. Mind you if it hasn't been animated by Disney or Pixar she isn't interested.

alicet · 21/02/2011 13:47

I think if it is a kids showing you have to suck it up I'm afraid although I understand it was annoying.

Was it at the Odeon by any chance? I know they are showing this film as their kids showing this week. As far as I have seen this is always advertised as especially for children. Plus it only costs £2.50 with a free adult ticket so don't think you can moan too much!

Having said that I have decided not to take my boys (3 and 5) since I think they 3 year old is too little for that film

MissJanuary · 21/02/2011 13:47

YANBU - agree said child was also too young for this film.

Last Sept I took my 3yo to see Toy Story3, he was very good, didn't make a sound, last 20 mins he was a bit up and down from his chair, but we had made sure to sit right up the back of the cinema, so as not to annoy others.

Had he been noisy he would have been told off and given a chance to be quiet, otherwise we would have left.

But the behaviour your describe is VU, the mother should have known better.

bloomingnora · 21/02/2011 13:48

I really, really hate bad manners in the cinema. I sit and seethe in a very English way, totally unable to say excuse me, could you be a bit quieter, thank you.

I went to see the King's Speech the other day and two women in front of us ate rustly pick and mix all the way through. And that is not all. You could hear them masticating. And then their hands would get sugary so they would brush them off in a very loud way. As in clapping. My sister was incandescent with rage. And they said "Oooooh, it's the King" and other such helpful things.

Sorry, rant over.

I actually really, really hate it when people take children who are too young to anything. There is plenty of time for things like cinema and theatre. Don't ruin their experience and ours. And don't take three year olds to shows that say seven and over. They will be bored.

Gemsy83 · 21/02/2011 13:49

YADNBU. But sadly ive encountered such arrogant people in real life having worked as an usherette, where one delightful mother complained to the manager about me doing my job and asking for queit when her PFB bogey faced wee wee poo poo child screamed throughout the film and she did now- just told the manager she wanted to 'punch me in the face'

thumbwitch · 21/02/2011 13:49

It might have been the child's first time, the mother might not have known how well the child would behave in a cinema - but she could have managed it better and picked a more appropriate film, IMO.

I took DS on his first cinema trip to see Tangled the other week - he is 3.2. Luckily for us, there were very few people in the cinema (early morning show) - us, one old lady and another couple who came in about halfway through. DS was pretty good but did find it difficult to sit down through the whole film - since we were the only ones in our row, it wasn't too much of a problem but it has highlighted that he isn't quite ready for a busier cinema trip yet. At home, he can sit quietly on the sofa for the entire length of a DVD - but clearly the novelty value of the cinema sent him a bit "giddy".

Live and learn, hey.

FreudianSlippery · 21/02/2011 13:52

YANBU, this is why I've never taken DD to the cinema. I'm not paying 20 odd quid to have other DCs talking, or to have to get stressed making sure SHE is quiet! Mind you we aren't cinema fans anyway. If they did specific baby and toddler screenings here then I might. But I'd rather wait until she's definitely old enough to really concentrate.

BristolJim · 21/02/2011 13:53

YABU. It's a children's film. You should expect children to be there.

ChippingInNeedsCoffee · 21/02/2011 13:53

YANBU

We go to the KidsAM fairly often and it's usually really good, a bit of kiddie noise, but not persistent like that. I think it's reasonable to expect kids to ask questions, state the bloody obvious Grin and things like that, but in my mind, it's an opportunity for children to be taught how to behave at the movies and should be spoken to quietly and told they need to be quiet while the film is on.

I think they must have had a few issues over the past few months though, as now, before the film begins they have a member of staff reminding people of what's expected (basically what I said above) and also telling parents that anyone using a mobile phone will be chucked out asked to leave as it's fucking annoying distracting to others! (the light from the screens when texting/surfing the net).

blackeyedsusan · 21/02/2011 13:53

< shudders at thought of taking talkative dd to cinema, what nightmare>

was there anywhere to move to?

Original poster
Bluebell99 · 21/02/2011 13:53

I don't know what the woman was thinking as the child wasn't understanding the film at all or enjoying it. She was scared and bored. And the woman kept saying "let's see if we can see the talking lion".

Mind you last time I went to see a film, I had a young boy sitting behind me who was crunching crisps loudly for the whole 2 hours of Harry Potter. How can you eat for 2 hours solidly?!

I think I am better off watching a dvd at home!
And I agree it is better that I had only paid £5 for three tickets rather than the £18 it would usually cost, but I do think people should have consideration for others.

OP posts:
ChippingInNeedsCoffee · 21/02/2011 13:55

Freudian - if you have a Vue cinema near you, check out the KidsAM - they're brilliant and really cheap!

thumbwitch · 21/02/2011 13:57

Argh, don't talk to me about Harry Potter - I went to see the latest one with DH and there was a child of about 3 in the cinema, a few rows behind us! He appeared to be there with some teenagers so we guessed that one was his brother, who was on babysitting duties and had decided that he wanted to go to the cinema, dragging small sibling with him. The child was remarkably well behaved, considering - it's a completely inappropriate film for a child that age! He ate all the way through it as well... still, at least it meant he didn't scream through it.

bloomingnora · 21/02/2011 13:59

BristolJim - it is rated PG for frightening images.

manicbmc · 21/02/2011 14:01

I think 3 is too young for a child to be expected to sit still and watch a film. The guidelines used to be (not sure if they still are) age 5 and up. I remember taking ex bil's kids to the cinema when the youngest was 3 - he was a total nightmare throughout.

BristolJim · 21/02/2011 14:02

PG = Parental Guidance? The parent made a judgement that may or may not have been different to yours, but was still a valid and reasonable decision.

It's a children's film, of course there are going to be children there.

manicbmc · 21/02/2011 14:05

I also remember going to see Bambi in 1977 when an 8 yr old sat infront of me and whinged and moaned she wanted kiora/ice cream etc all the way through until Bambi's mother died - then she blubbed through the rest. I was evil and laughed at the silly cow.

I never took my ds to the cinema as I knew he'd struggle with sensory overload and wouldn't be able to sit and watch. He is severely autistic.

manicbmc · 21/02/2011 14:05

Not reasonable to spoil other peoples' enjoyment with a whingy child, imo.

bloomingnora · 21/02/2011 14:09

I can see we are not going to convince you BristolJim! I just thought if the child was 2/3 it would be a bit young to treat the film as though it is a U. I do think people sometimes confuse the two. DH has been caught out like that when buying films for our DC.

A PG film should not disturb a child around 8 or older according to BBFC - I didn't know this until I just googled it! I guess parents need to check, and you're right, they will make their own judgement.

MadamDeathstare · 21/02/2011 14:14

This reply has been deleted

Message withdrawn at poster's request.

not1not2 · 21/02/2011 14:18

I feel your pain

I once had trouble stopping myself from getting tetchy with the woman behind me who had taken a 3 year old to an evening ballet performance at the royal opera house similarly I've had a prom ruined by the brat behind me.
that was so bad I complained to the usher to see if we could be moved or they could speak to the parents
they just apologised

but really why did they let them in? child was about 5. talked all the way through Barber's adagio for strings!!!

Violethill · 21/02/2011 14:23

YANBU - did you complain?

I sometimes wonder whether more people complained to the management, and kicked up a fuss that the film had been spoiled for them, and demanding a refund, whether management would be quicker to intervene and ask people to leave if theyre causing a disturbance.

As for the poster who says, well it's a children's film - that's not the point, the point is, it was spoilt by incessant chatter. Spoilt for other children who wanted to watch the film, as much as for adults.

Violethill · 21/02/2011 14:23

if more people complained

alicet · 21/02/2011 14:23

not1not2 taking a small child to an evening opera / ballet performance is hardly in the same league as taking them to a designated morning childrens showing for £2.50 a ticket where parent goes free is it?

I do think the mum in this sitiuation was a bit inconsiderate but at the end of the day it is a childs film being shown for very cheap prices in a childrens showing during half term isn't it?

I would be annoyed outside of these specific circumstances but I think in the example in the OP it isn't that bad tbh!