At a horror film, do people in the audience scream? Usually not, right? Today, I screamed three times -- out loud -- seeing "Land of the Dead." Each time, I felt embarrassed, because no one else screamed.
So, what do you think: is it idiotic to scream? Do you like when people scream or is it annoying? Or is it good if a lot of people scream but annoying if only one fool is a screamer? In my case, it was genuinely involuntary. I was not trying to be cute.
(Go back two posts for my comments on the film itself.)
June 24, 2005
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18 comments:
You get a pass. You're a girl.
I have no problem with people reacting to a film in whatever way. Going to the theatre is about the communal experience. Your screams are part of that. They wouldn't bother me. Talkers however deserve a slow painful death.
I see you liked it but have you seen "Night, Dawn, or Day of the Dead?" How does it compare?
Dirty Harry: I've seen "Night" and "Dawn" but not "Day." I also greatly enjoyed the outside of the series zombie movie "From Dusk 'Til Dawn."
And I agree that a guy as the only one screaming would be just pathetic.
Often I'm the only one laughing. I feel I'm performing a service as a laugh leader.
I'm often the only one laughing. Like at everything George Clooney said during "Solaris."
The remake of "Dawn" is actually pretty good and "28 Days Later" is clever as well.
I watched the first half of "28 Days Later" and liked it for a while, but I was watching it on DVD, took a break and never bothered to finish it -- just had my son tell me the ending.
"Shaun of the Dead" was a classic! I can't believe I forgot about one of four films I actually loved, loved, loved during last years disastrous movie season.
You are definitely not alone Kathleen.
Ann, you watched "28 Days Later" perfectly. Last half was a bit of a dud.
Dave: I find nearly all movies boring. This one wasn't. It had good story, good characters, and great looking cinematography.
The comment about talkers reminded me of an 'incident' at the movies. Five friends and I went to an Imax presentation of Matrix III. There was guy in front of us who had obviously seen the movie before and was telling everyone in earshot what was about to happen. We asked him three time very nicely and diplomatically to quit talking. He ignored us. About two minutes after our last request I could not take it any longer. I stood up, bent over right next to his ear and screamed at the top of my lungs: "SHUT THE HE## UP!". Then calmly sat down. He did not speak again throughout the movie. Or possibly ever, I'm not sure. I don't normally do things like that and did not think about it - it was totally spontaneous. Even got a decent round of applause...
I forgot to comment on screaming in context with the movie. I think it's fine. It is part of the movie experience, just like laughter, and sighs.
But not talking... :)
Ann: Good of you to scream! Honest emotion is wonderful! You weren't thinking about Kelo, were you?
and if it makes you feel any better I find most lawprofs boring. But I'm here, and having a fine time...
f15c, you need to be careful doing that, especially if you've got a good pair of lungs. You can cause actual pain and possibly permanent damage to people's ears if you're not careful.
Not to say they might not deserve it.
in regards to screaming, I don't mind others screaming, but I don't think I ever have, though there have been moments when I've covered my eyes, before I was sufficiently inured to horrible sights( ie the girl in the closet in the ring, or the one in the attic in the grudge).
As far as laughter goes, I often find myself the only one laughing at jokes that noone else gets. I'm not sure if I'm just more attentive, but an example includes in "Be Cool", at the beginning when chili is talking about movie ratings, he goes "You know you're only allowed to say the F-word once if you want to keep a pg-13 rating? You know what I say to that? Fuck it. I'm done"
or maybe I'm just the only one that enjoys self-rerential jokes.
Drethelin, you are right of course and after the 'moment' I fully realized that and would have apologized to guy if he would have stuck around. I am normally very easy going and am usually the moderator in uncomfortable situations like that. I did feel guilty later as the thought crossed my mind that I might have startled him into a heart attack or something. While he was fully deserving of a public dressing down, he was certainly not deserving of any physical harm.
The sentiments expressed in the comments so far generally seem to be it's ok to scream - if you are female. Sane enough, as it acknowledges some attributes that are basic to humans.
But it made me think about how this discussion would flow on say, the Democratic Underground, or similar far-left board. Would the responses be in similar veins, or would political considerations reign, skewing the responses away from a common human experience.
This may sound silly and trite, but I am concerned about the seemingly growing ideological divide between left and right in our country. And, I look forward to the time when the common beliefs and values binding us together as Americans are once again stronger than the forces pushing us apart.
Hence my wondering if this subject if discussed at DU would reflect the common ground or ideological split.
Sadly, I suspect the latter.
f15c: I think some lefties read this blog and participate in the comments. Anyone out there have a problem with the double standard for screaming?
At rock concerts, it's always the men screaming, isn't it? Back in the 60s (and 40s and 50s) the girls screamed out of sheer sexual love for the male singers. But beginning in the early 70s or so, screaming -- or yelling, if you insist -- became a male thing.
Men may attractively yell but not scream.
I'm a liberal, and I have no problem with screaming, clapping or gasping in movies so long as it's a rational and appropriate response to what's on screen. If, on the other hand, it's for the purpose of being an asshole or drawing attention to yourself, it's not appropriate, period.
I always scream rationally.
How about the disgusted outcry sound: "ugh!" Is that one okay? I did that a lot at "The Fly" -- the one with Jeff Goldblum. Afterwards, the person I was with told me I was being ridiculous. But she was one of these people who would make all sorts of noises indicating her disapproval of decisions the characters made -- as if they were real people and they could hear her and might reconsider their foolish ways.
Then there's hissing. Do people still do that? That was big amongst college students in Ann Arbor years okay. It can be really amusing or idiotic -- depending on the film.
A reaction that's authentic (be it grunting, hissing, cheering, screaming, or gasping) is almost always going to be OK. But I can't stand people who talk for talking's sake. When I saw "The Ring," behind me were two women who spent the entire movie saying "Oooh! This is so scary! Girl don't go in there!" This did not, in fact, make the movie more scary.
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