Saturday was my hubby’s birthday and to celebrate we took the big kids to see The Muppets. Bobby and I were really excited about it because we looove the Muppets. We have some of the episodes on DVD and the kids have seen a few, but it had been awhile since we’d watched any. They were a little nervous about it, Joshua because he’s always a little nervous about ev.er.y.thing. and Sophie because she was being a total booger and had just decided she was going to be difficult that day (Happy Birthday, Daddy!).
But, by the time we got into the theatre and began plying them with candy, everyone was in a pretty good mood. Until the opening little ads for whatever-the-hell company that invented surround sound and digital picture and all that started – you know – the ones where they play theater-filling musical, vibratory tones as LOUDLY as possible so that all your seats shake and your eardrums beg for mercy? Yeah, we were doing great until those. My kids didn’t enjoy thinking that there was an earthquake happening in the theater.
And then.
The previews.
Preview after preview after preview after preview.
I remember when the previews were the best part of the movie. Well, those days are gone. Because back then, there were three previews max, and now, there are 487 and they are all so loud you want to crawl under your seats. Both of my kids had their hands covering their ears during many of the previews. It was ridiculous. And then, there are of course the commercials that run before the previews, the friendly message about turning off your cell phone, and the short cartoon that precedes the main event. By the time we got to the Toy Story cartoon, which was admittedly cute, I was so pissed, and so tired of the kids fussing about the previews and asking if NOW the movie was going to come on, I wanted to break Buzz Lightyear’s neck just to get the story overwith.
When the movie finally started, Bobby held up his cell phone so I could see the time. It was 1:19. The movie start time was supposed to have been 12:55.
Twenty-four minutes of previews. Twenty-four minutes of a fidgety five-year-old’s attention span GONE. Twenty-four minutes of stress for the two parents who were just trying to show their children a good time. Twenty-four minutes of torture that we paid for.
UGH. I am pretty unhappy. The MPAA should be ASHAMED of themselves.
Thank God the movie was great, or I probably would have gone all MacGyver, made something spark-y out of the contents of my purse, and torched the place on our way out!
PREVIEW MY RAGE, people!!
The 8,000 previews per movie don’t bother me as much as the 8,000 advertisements per movie. And, I’ll not get started on the price!
With all that said, when they remember the experience, they will remember “the time when we went to see the Muppets.” and be glad they spent the time with you and the Bobster.
UP
I actually don’t mind the extra previews or the commercials. I’m super weird that way, though. My husband works in film and television and I know that his better pay has a big something to do with the extra plugging.
SO glad to hear the movie was good! I’m pumped to see it but my six year old could sadly care less about the Muppets. 🙁 He’s totally our Alex P. Keaton that way.
Thanks for the “heads up” about all the previews. I’ll keep that in mind when I take Audrey this weekend.
i know – commercials and previews that go on and on – it’s ridulous!
You’d think with all those additional ads and previews, the cost of tickets would be coming DOWN rather than soaring. Redbox gets my dollar…and a quarter. 🙂
I totally agree with you. I know Grace is only 3, but she usually “done” the last 15 minutes of any movie. If the previews were cut back, I think she would do so much better. I have though about going in later to find a seat, but it can be stressful enough to find a seat guiding a 3 year old ( and a husband) in the dark.
If your kids will wear them, maybe you could get them each some earplugs to take to the movies. My husband wears earplugs at the movies and the movie is still so loud that he can hear it!