We need to have a serious conversation about the stigma against movie talking. Movies are usually between 90 to 180 minutes or more. They are much longer than other forms of entertainment we interact with. This is simply too long to go without discussing some aspect of what you’re viewing.
Far from being a distraction, being able to engage with the people around you who are consuming the same media helps you engage more deeply with not only the content, but the people you are with. I have opinions, questions, and often jokes or references that come to mind when I watch movies. My friends and others have their own and I want to hear them. I want to be heard.
I find it bizarre that we have normalized having some sort of relevant commentary with the way we watch everything from sports to television, but for movies it is considered “wrong.” Movies are fantastic and tell some amazing stories, but I see no reason why they have to be watched in absolute silence. As though we, the plebeian masses have been gifted this almighty sacrifice from Hollywood. It’s a movie. Something to be watched, enjoyed and shared. Not only afterwards when you must consider every bit of the movie that you liked or disliked. But during the film, when it’s fresh and happening before your eyes.
Keep in mind that I am not in favor of ruining the time of someone who wants to peacefully watch a movie. In fact, I am quite firmly against it. It’s rude. What I am saying is that there should be a space for it. Because not everyone can watch every movie that comes on every streaming service. And when it comes to theaters, there needs to be a space where people can talk without disturbing others who want to watch their movie silently. I propose two solutions to this problem.
There is the easy solution, and the good solution. The easy solution is simply to have “talking allowed” showtimes where talking at a low level is implicitly accepted. The good solution involves changing how we look at theaters.
We could add small semiprivate areas with seating arrangements designed to encourage a small group to be able to lean in and quietly talk among themselves. Or another idea is to have several private screening rooms with a nice screen and seating where a group can come in and watch a new movie comfortably knowing that they can talk at any volume and not have to worry about disturbing anyone else. Movie talking is not a bad thing and those of us who like to engage with our movies socially deserve somewhere we can do that.
Craig Thomas can be reached at [email protected]
Danny Hall
In the seventies, in most bigger cities, there were many neighborhood theaters. Some were well known to be “ talk back” houses, where the audience talked back to the screen. If you liked that, you went there. If you did not, you went to the neighborhood where theater it didn’t happen. Today, we have to house all our screens in one building instead of scattering them around the city to hold operating costs down. I miss the old way. One if my favorite talk backs “ don’t open that door. I was here yesterday and you opened it and you were never the same. Damn, you just won’t listen will you? You done and gone an opened it again today….”