Talking During Movies?

[3113]

It could get you shot!

A man enraged by a noisy family sitting near him in a movie theater on Christmas night shot the father of the family in the arm, police said. James Joseph Cialella, 29, of Philadelphia, faces six charges that include attempted murder and aggravated assault. He remained in custody Saturday. Police said Cialella told the man's family to be quiet, then threw popcorn at the man's son. The victim, whom television reports identified as Woffard Lomax, told poice that Cialella was walking toward his family when he stood up and was shot.

Detectives called to the United Artists Riverview Stadium theater in South Philadelphia found Cialella carrying the weapon, a .380-caliber handgun, in his waistband, police said. Lt. Frank Vanore called the incident "scary that it gets to that level of violence from being too noisy during a movie." Lomax, 31, of Yeadon, was released from a hospital after the shooting.

...Police could not confirm what movie was playing in the theater, but The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that it was "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

I know I shouldn't sympathize with the guy with the gun but sometimes....

 

[Boxlicker101]

It could get you shot!

Quote:
A man enraged by a noisy family sitting near him in a movie theater on Christmas night shot the father of the family in the arm, police said. James Joseph Cialella, 29, of Philadelphia, faces six charges that include attempted murder and aggravated assault. He remained in custody Saturday. Police said Cialella told the man's family to be quiet, then threw popcorn at the man's son. The victim, whom television reports identified as Woffard Lomax, told poice that Cialella was walking toward his family when he stood up and was shot.

Detectives called to the United Artists Riverview Stadium theater in South Philadelphia found Cialella carrying the weapon, a .380-caliber handgun, in his waistband, police said. Lt. Frank Vanore called the incident "scary that it gets to that level of violence from being too noisy during a movie." Lomax, 31, of Yeadon, was released from a hospital after the shooting.

...Police could not confirm what movie was playing in the theater, but The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that it was "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

It could get you shot!

I know I shouldn't sympathize with the guy with the gun but sometimes....

I know what you mean, but that might have been an overreaction.

 

[slyc_willie]

I know I shouldn't sympathize with the guy with the gun but sometimes....

I think many of us have felt an urge to shut somebody up in a theater. I know I have.

Many years ago, fresh out of the Army, I was on a date with a girlfriend. We took a seat in the middle and ended up in front of a group of kids who simply could not shut up throughout the movie. They acted like they didn't realize they were in a theater, going on about the latest drama in their lives as if they were at home.

First, I tried to give them the "annoyed look" over my shoulder. That worked for about five minutes.

Then I tried the "do you mind? We're trying to watch the movie" approach. That got a few scoffs and indignant looks, but it worked for, say, ten minutes or so.

Finally, I stood up and turned around and told them to "shut the fuck up!"

After the movie, the only guy in the trio confronted me and offered some choice insults while the two girls he was with stood back, glaring and making comments about my date. He jabbed my shoulder and ended up on the floor.

Alas, my machismo didn't earn any further dates from the lady I was with. In hindsight, I should have been the better man and walked away.

 

[Lady_Guenivere]

Throwing popcorn at someone...sure.
Shooting them??? Hmmmmmmmmmm, maybe not such a great idea. And what the hell is someone doing carrying a weapon into a movie theatre anyway?
WTF? Just goddamn stupid if you ask me.

 

[Miss_Misaki]

If you ask me (which people rarely do, for good reason), that man went in there with either the intention, or the inclination to get into it with someone. It's possible that he was just a scorned moviegoer who'd been annoyed too many times, but I'm sure it's much deeper than that. I have to agree with the last poster who asked what kind of person would bring a gun to a movie theater. That in itself tells me that he went in expecting or at least anticipating a fracas.

 

[slyc_willie]

If you ask me (which people rarely do, for good reason), that man went in there with either the intention, or the inclination to get into it with someone. It's possible that he was just a scorned moviegoer who'd been annoyed too many times, but I'm sure it's much deeper than that. I have to agree with the last poster who asked what kind of person would bring a gun to a movie theater. That in itself tells me that he went in expecting or at least anticipating a fracas.

Methinks he lives most of his days looking for a fight.

There are too many people like that in the world, unfortunately.

 

[kromen]

I had a trio of hillbillies chewing tobacco behind me last night when I went to see The Spirit. Ever tried stuffing popcorn in your ears? Not cool, Cletus. If I was armed, I certainly wouldn't have shot them.

 

[michchick98]

I haven't been to see a movie in the theater in ages. I do remember when I used to go on a weekly basis and no matter where I sat, I'd always get the "Chatty Cathy's" and "Chatty Chuck's" behind me. Or I'd get someone practining their kickboxing.

When I asked one teenage couple to please keep their voices down, they told me to move if I didn't like it. So I did. I moved to the row behind them and promptly began kicking the backs of their chairs throughout the rest of the movie.

Earned me a few glares and I'm sure a few choice insults, but oh well, kept them quiet for the rest of the movie.

I dunno where I'd get angry to the point of shooting someone though, although with ticket prices the way they are....

 

[3113]

Alas, my machismo didn't earn any further dates from the lady I was with. In hindsight, I should have been the better man and walked away.

Not a'tall, not a'tall! The fault was with the faint-hearted lady, not you. Had you been with me, I would have swooned, linked arms with you, laid my head upon your muscled shoulder and sighed, "My hero!"

 

[Boota]

Maybe shooting the guy was a bit too much. Even in the arm. But he, at the very least, had something coming. The best thing would have been for the shooter to have gotten the manager and had them thrown out. Nothing like throwing away half a car payment so your kids can talk through a movie you don't even get to finsh.

A few years ago I just about got myself in trouble for getting into it with a cellphone talker during a movie. I asked him once to stop. On the second phone call I got up and grabbed the cellphone out of his hand and threw it against the wall and said, "One more fucking word and I'm beating your ass." I expected him to get the manager or call the cops or something, but he just sat there fuming. If he had done anything like that I would have dropped him right in front of whoever he called.

I didn't always do what was best for me back then, but I did get to finish the movie.

 

[trysail]

A man enraged by a noisy family sitting near him in a movie theater on Christmas night shot the father of the family in the arm, police said. James Joseph Cialella, 29, of Philadelphia, faces six charges that include attempted murder and aggravated assault. He remained in custody Saturday. Police said Cialella told the man's family to be quiet, then threw popcorn at the man's son. The victim, whom television reports identified as Woffard Lomax, told poice that Cialella was walking toward his family when he stood up and was shot.

Detectives called to the United Artists Riverview Stadium theater in South Philadelphia found Cialella carrying the weapon, a .380-caliber handgun, in his waistband, police said. Lt. Frank Vanore called the incident "scary that it gets to that level of violence from being too noisy during a movie." Lomax, 31, of Yeadon, was released from a hospital after the shooting.

...Police could not confirm what movie was playing in the theater, but The Philadelphia Inquirer reported that it was "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button."

*spooked*
I've been in that theater.

I've also been in a movie theater when half the audience "took cover" as a figure ran across the proscenium and bolted through the emergency exit with the police in hot pursuit.

 

[jomar]

I appreciate people who sync unwrapping candy and crunching noises with the action scenes.

 

[Liar]

There's a movie theatre in my town, that has the best seats, top of the line screen and award winning sound system. And best of all, NO NOISY SNACKS. No bags of chips, no wrapped candy, and no slurpy straw for your drink. They wanted to install a cell phone jammer too, but I think the police said no. Some safety issue. But if your's go "bleep" in the middle of the movie, you're promptly booed out of the room.

I go to the movies to watch movies.

 

[OhMissScarlett]

Where I grew up, we only had one theater. You did not mess around in that theater because everyone knew the manager, Mr. G, would yank you out of your seat and give you the boot.

 

[Katyusha]

I think Boota was the only one who said it; going to get the manager is the best thing that guy could've done. Shooting the one guy was a gross overreaction, but some of the things that other people are saying they've done are, IMO, just as wrong as that was.

My husband and I have dealt with our share of noisy and rude people in the movie theaters and that's always what we do. If a simple, "Will you please be quiet," doesn't work, one of us goes to get the manager. At that point a stern, "You're disturbing other people and one more complaint will get you thrown out," usually works, as in it makes them either shut up or leave, but when necessary a second complaint has always gotten them thrown out. All anybody does by getting belligerent is make the situation worse for themselves. Believe me, I've wanted to throw my nachos on some of these people, I've been sorely tempted to dump my 44 oz soda over their heads, I've considered actually taking their cell phones/pagers and throwing them against the wall or crushing them under my boot, but I also know that if I do any of that I could wind up in trouble too.

Why also be the one in the wrong? Not all reactions are correct no matter how inconsiderate and asshatish someone is being and in a situation like that, at least for me, it's far more gratifying to take the high road and see them escorted out in front of everyone else than it would ever be to take matters into my own hands like that.

 

[AchtungNight]

I *was* the rude noisy person in the theater once. Then a guy about the size of Hulk Hogan told me to shut up or he would drag me out of my chair. I complied.

 

[Hooper_X]

I don't go to movie theatres anymore. They've always skeeved me out, with the coughing and sneezing and peoples' snotty, urine soaked and fecal-contaminated hands all over everything.

I prefer to stay home and watch a DVD screener. That way, not only do I avoid the pathogenic cesspool that cinemas are, if the movie turns out to be a dog (e.g. The Dark Knight or Seven Pounds) I can abort in favor of something better and I'm not out of a dime.

 

[Belegon]

All I can think of is the special hell...

If you take sexual advantage of her, you're going to burn in a very special level of hell. A level they reserve for child molesters and people who talk at the theater.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

I haven't been to a movie in a theater since . . . uh . . . maybe the original Jurassic Park. Maybe there's a reason for that.

I do know that at least once a week, when driving around town and encountering a complete idiot, I say to myself, "It's a damned good thing I don't drive around armed!"

Some people just don't understand how thin their grip on life really is.

 

[Guest]

Who brings a "black Kel-Tec .380 caliber handgun" to a movie theater in the first place? And wears it clipped to the inside front of his sweatpants like some ridiculous gansta cowboy?

Here's the picture of the guy's mugshot. Jesus.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/sweetsubsarahh/theatershooter.jpg

Anger management issues.

After he shot the victim, who stood to protect his family, the shooter sat back down and continued watching the movie until the police arrived.

I think that's more frightening than the rest of it.

 

[voluptuary_manque]

Who brings a "black Kel-Tec .380 caliber handgun" to a movie theater in the first place? And wears it clipped to the inside front of his sweatpants like some ridiculous gansta cowboy?

Here's the picture of the guy's mugshot. Jesus.

http://i22.photobucket.com/albums/b318/sweetsubsarahh/theatershooter.jpg

Anger management issues.

After he shot the victim, who stood to protect his family, the shooter sat back down and continued watching the movie until the police arrived.

I think that's more frightening than the rest of it.

My guess would be that he is a ridiculous gangsta cowboy, honkie division. What? You didn't think there were such? Spend enough time in front of the idiot box watching idiots and you will eventually turn into one!

And his taste in weaponry is pathetic. Anyone want to bet he held it sideways so that he could look cool?

 

[midwestyankee]

I hate to get into the whole "they don't make the good old days like they used to" shtick, but being shot for talking during a dumbass movie is a huge shift in societal responses to incivility.

I was once tossed out of a movie theater for making a ruckus. Apparently the girl seated next to me wasn't quite as willing to have my arm around her shoulders as I'd imagined. Had to miss the last 7/8ths of Cleopatra, too, dammit.

 

[Guest]

My guess would be that he is a ridiculous gangsta cowboy, honkie division. What? You didn't think there were such? Spend enough time in front of the idiot box watching idiots and you will eventually turn into one!

And his taste in weaponry is pathetic. Anyone want to bet he held it sideways so that he could look cool?

I'll bet he did.

 

[Guest]

I hate to get into the whole "they don't make the good old days like they used to" shtick, but being shot for talking during a dumbass movie is a huge shift in societal responses to incivility.

I was once tossed out of a movie theater for making a ruckus. Apparently the girl seated next to me wasn't quite as willing to have my arm around her shoulders as I'd imagined. Had to miss the last 7/8ths of Cleopatra, too, dammit.

I completely agree about the incivility.

There is no excuse for the shooter's behavior, no matter how much the young son was talking to his dad during the show.

The shooter does not own the theater, it's not his job to quiet the crowd. He if had a problem, he needed to contact a theater employee.

He was looking for a reason to get angry, to flash or to even use his gun.

 

[Hooper_X]

Who brings a "black Kel-Tec .380 caliber handgun" to a movie theater in the first place?. And wears it clipped to the inside front of his sweatpants like some ridiculous gansta cowboy?

I know, right? What a piece of shit gun. a Glock 22 (.40 S&W) in a shoulder rig would have been a much better choice.