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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

to walk out of a cinema due to the volume?

69 replies

FernieB · 12/08/2013 14:57

Is it just me or are the volumes far too loud? We went to see Despicable Me 2 this morning at a Cineworld cinema. Made it through the tedious number of adverts - so far so good - but were then blown away by a huge increase in volume when the film started. Several hours later, my ears are still ringing and we only stayed 15 minutes. My DD's had their fingers in their ears.

The member of staff we complained to, said that it was the normal volume. We went to see something else (can't remember what) a month or so ago and it was fine. What's happening? We did get a full refund but only because we insisted on it.

Surely this can't be legal to impose that kind of volume on people, particularly the children that such a film is aimed at.

Or am I just old?

OP posts:

VileWoman · 12/08/2013 17:20

I find the cinema too loud and delayed taking the DC for years because I wasn't sure how they would cope, DC2 doesn't like loud noise. Sure enough she spent her first trip to the cinema with her jumper over her head complaining how loud it is.

I think it's surround sound that makes it so loud, it certainly wasn't this loud when I was younger and going more regularly (old gimmer alert). Maybe we should all start complaining and then they will realise that some people don't like it.

TroublesomeEx · 12/08/2013 17:22

I don't go to the cinema partly because they are just so loud. I find it really uncomfortable it's like a sensory assault.

And don't even get me started on 3D

or the fucking IMAX!

Beaverfeaver · 12/08/2013 17:22

I often go to the cinema and love a good action film. The loudness is fine for this.

However, I saw Dispicable me recently and agree with you, that it was too loud.
It seemed louder than normal, and that type of film didn't need to be as loud.

I wondered at the time if they make children's films louder so to drown out any annoying noises from the larger amount of young children that go and see them.

I was thinking at one point that some of the children might not like it.
Their ears are more sensitive than ours

Hopasholic · 12/08/2013 17:25

Thought it was just me! YANBU. I can't stand it!

ShowOfHands · 12/08/2013 17:28

I've been to the cinema when it's been too loud. Usually it's just a bit boomy but I've seen a couple of films where my ears actually hurt at the end of it. DH agreed.

I like to go to sleep in the cinema though. I think they should mute it, stick subtitles on and provide duvets but they never adopt my idea from the comments box.

Fillyjonk75 · 12/08/2013 17:29

Films did get noticeably louder 15 years ago, nothing to do with old age. Unnecessary.

EauRouge · 12/08/2013 17:29

Ha, it's not just me then. It's always too bloody loud at my local cinema (also a Cineworld). If there's a quiet moment in the film, you can hear the film in the next room.

I might start complaining about actors mumbling all the time now just so that I can complete the transformation into my mother.

Original poster

FernieB · 12/08/2013 17:38

So it's not just me. We saw a couple of films at the same cinema a month or do ago and they were a bit loud but okayish. Today it was exceptionally loud. The adverts were much quieter which is not normally the case.

I have emailed Cineworld to complain. There weren't many people in the cinema this morning but I did see a couple of others leaving just after us.

OP posts:

lovestogarden · 12/08/2013 17:46

It's not the sound of the film that bugs me (although it is definately on the loud side) it's the sound of guzzling, cackling, general yapping and telephoning (oh yes, talking on the phone in the cinema) that bugs me.

Chelvis · 12/08/2013 18:03

My local Vue cinema does 'Xtreme' showings with even louder sound than usual! I find their usual showings more than loud enough, so the Xtreme showings must make your teeth rattle!

DrHolmes · 12/08/2013 18:21

The volume in cinemas is actually legally not allowed to reach higher than 85 decibels.

Tantrums - what you said is just plain ignorant. We have all been to the cinema before and are aware the cinema is louder however, obviously on OP's trip and my trip and fluffy's trip we have all experienced louder than normal cinema volume.

I went to a Cineworld cinema a few weeks ago with my brother and bf and we all had to close our ears with our fingers it was just so loud! My brother found a pair of ear plugs in his pocket so that was good for him at least.

He then e-mailed Cineworld to complain and he got a standard response basically saying their equipment cannot go above 80 decibels. What a lie! It was definitely louder! So we have all got an app now on our phone that reads decibel levels. Our ears were ringing for days.

I have just read that Fluffy's film was Pacific Rim and that was the one we went to as well. You aren't in Aberdeen are you, fluffy?

DrHolmes · 12/08/2013 18:22

oh and OP YANBU!!

gazzalw · 12/08/2013 18:32

I actually have the feeling that one's hearing can become more sensitive as one gets older. DW is forever complaining at the volume at which the DCs have the TV etc....she listens to it on about 20 and they have it on about 75!!

ItsAFuckingVase · 12/08/2013 18:47

Oh no! I like it very loud - to drown out the sound of people shovelling food into their mouths as though they haven't eaten in years.

Who decided popcorn and crisps were good cinema foods??? And there can't be a worse sound on earth than that awful scrape of the straw on the drinks lid.

Hissy · 12/08/2013 18:48

I went to see Monster's University yesterday and I thought it was uncomfortably loud.

Despicable Me, I saw back in June, same cinéma and it was fine.

Next time we go i'll see if it's still as loud as it was yesterday.

candycoatedwaterdrops · 12/08/2013 18:48

I like it loud and I like popcorn. I also like a big coke but I don't slurp.

OnTheBottomWithAWomensWeekly · 12/08/2013 19:02

I saw Despicable me and it was fine, the volume doesn;t normally bother me, but fuck me Man of Steel nearly deafened me in the action scenes. I had a headache for the rest of the day. And it was in one of those screens nor much bigger than my living room....

Chipstick10 · 12/08/2013 19:03

I wanted to leave zizi's last week due to the noise, banging and crashing of plates. Awful. So I'm with you. The last time I went to the cinema it was way too loud.

Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 12/08/2013 19:15

I find it impossible to see a movie without shoveling a ton of popcorn in my face.

h0lym0ly · 12/08/2013 19:24

YANBU. when it got to the point that i was taking painkillers in advance to prevent the inevitable headache i knew something had to give. DS is 6 and has been a couple of times and doesn't enjoy the loudness either (really hoping i haven't projected on him...)

BrianButterfield · 12/08/2013 19:28

Why do people get annoyed at people eating in the cinema? It's been absolutely standard practice for as long as I've been going (over 25 years) and it's part of the fun! Of course I can go 2 hours without eating but I want popcorn, Coke and sweets at the pictures and so do 90% of the rest of the audience.

Alliwantisaroomsomewhere · 12/08/2013 19:37

BrianButterfield: I agree! Coke and popcorn at the very least :)

Pixel · 12/08/2013 19:37

I only get to Autism friendly screenings nowaday and it's bliss I tell you. Perhaps you should all go .
Ok so it's a bit strange at first watching a film with the lights on but the volume is normal and they've even come round on occasion to ask us if it is ok or too loud. And there are no adverts.

It's like these people starve themselves all month and then go to the cinema to pig out Yeah sorry that's me . I'm not noisy though, promise.

Saffyz · 12/08/2013 19:45

YANBU. There's no reason for the volume to be up so loud.

MsJupiterJones · 12/08/2013 20:09

We do parent and baby screenings. We used to do them with the volume lower and lights up but the parents complained as it didn't drown out the noise and the lights kept the babies awake!

Try your smaller independent cinemas... Tends to be better volume control and kids films have no or fewer ads.

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