# Jerks in a Theater **URL:** \ **Category:** The BBQ Pit\ **Created:** [August 19, 2006, 5:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319 "2006-08-19T05:27:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![nameless](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/779978/32.png) [@nameless](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nameless)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 5:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/21 "2006-08-19T17:27:55Z")
[QUOTE=Carlyjay] I believe someone shouted that in my theatre, too. Hmmm. You weren’t in Oakville, Ontario, were you? [/QUOTE] Nope. Great minds think alike, I guess 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/22 "2006-08-19T17:43:27Z")
[QUOTE=ParentalAdvisory] I’m not sure if this is something you truly believe and participate yourself in, but if any audience member was being loud and used this as an excuse, they’re getting slugged. [/QUOTE] Normally I agree with you. It’s a big part of why I put a movie theater in my house, so I don’t have to deal with the yutzapalooza that is your typical public screening: “\ Hello? Yeah, I’m in the movie. Bout three quarters of the way to the front, off to the left. Call me again when you get here and I’ll wave to you.” “Oh, who’s that? Is that his wife? Why is she crying? Is it because she just found out her husband is a baby raper? Mmm, tsk tsk.” “Don’t you tell me to shut up. You shut up. I’ll shut you up.” But with this one, I knew what I was getting into, and I made the mental adjustment. The only problem was, the attempts at wisecracking and shout-outs weren’t very funny. Maybe I just got unlucky with a cinema full of doofuses, but the jokes and observations were kind of lame, so I tuned them out. Didn’t really impact the movie much, to tell you the truth. It just could have been better. That’s why I made the comparison to Rocky Horror, which has had the advantage of lots of screenings so people could get familiar with the material and the beats and Darwinian selection has worked to weed out the non-amusing bits. (“Roll out the cripple” still cracks me up.) Of course, it has to be said that Rocky Horror eventually became more of a calcified ritual than a straightforward experience, so regarding _Snakes_, I’m looking forward to its middle period when the jokes are (a) polished but also (b) still somewhat fresh. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 6:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/23 "2006-08-19T18:39:12Z")
[QUOTE=saoirse] Two teeny tiny hijacks: 1. I remember a couple bringing their infant daughter (I believ, becuase she was all in pink) to _Silence of the Lambs_. 2. My ex-wufe’s baby sister’s first word was motherfucker. She was listening to her sisters playing cards at the time. [/QUOTE] One wonders what Zoe Jackson’s first word was. (Sam Jackson’s daughter). 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Spoke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/a88e57/32.png) [@Spoke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spoke)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 6:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/24 "2006-08-19T18:48:00Z")
> [@](#): > > Jerks in a Theater Interestingly, this is Paul Reubens’s Indian name. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/25 "2006-08-19T18:53:26Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] Interestingly, this is Paul Reubens’s Indian name. [/QUOTE] OK, ya got me. Almost busted a gut. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 7:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/26 "2006-08-19T19:47:03Z")
Okay, color me stupid, but I just have to ask, why was everyone waiting for what has been called “The Line”? There’s obviously some joke I’m not catching. I mean, I’ve seen Jackson in several movies, but not every one. Is “The Line” a takeoff from some other film? ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 7:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/27 "2006-08-19T19:57:14Z")
[QUOTE=Baker] Okay, color me stupid, but I just have to ask, why was everyone waiting for what has been called “The Line”? There’s obviously some joke I’m not catching. I mean, I’ve seen Jackson in several movies, but not every one. Is “The Line” a takeoff from some other film? [/QUOTE] At some point in the movie he says “All right. I’m tired of all these motherfucking snakes on this motherfucking plane!” It sort of identifies the moment when the tide will turn. It also echoes other moments in other films where he plays a (self-described) badass motherfucker. ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 8:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/28 "2006-08-19T20:31:21Z")
[QUOTE=Rigamarole] There’s a thought. They should make Choose-Your-Own-Adventure style movies… [/QUOTE] Looks like “Final Destination 3” [beat you to it.](http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000FC2HS6/sr=8-1/qid=1156019372/ref=pd_bbs_1/102-6193450-0004115?ie=UTF8) > [@](#): > > **DVD Features:** > “Choose Their Fate” feature: --New interactive feature lets YOU decide the fate of the characters ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 8:42pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/29 "2006-08-19T20:42:54Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] Interestingly, this is Paul Reubens’s Indian name. [/QUOTE] Excellent! ---
**Author:** ![AwSnappity](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/a3d4f5/32.png) [@AwSnappity](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AwSnappity)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 8:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/30 "2006-08-19T20:46:11Z")
[QUOTE=Baker] Okay, color me stupid, but I just have to ask, why was everyone waiting for what has been called “The Line”? There’s obviously some joke I’m not catching. I mean, I’ve seen Jackson in several movies, but not every one. Is “The Line” a takeoff from some other film? [/QUOTE] I believe The Line was suggested online by some of the rabid fans. Someone involved with the film heard it and the line was included when they decided to add scenes. ---
**Author:** ![Kamino\_Neko](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kamino_neko/32/34_2.png) [@Kamino\_Neko](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kamino_Neko)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 8:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/31 "2006-08-19T20:50:39Z")
[QUOTE=Baker] Okay, color me stupid, but I just have to ask, why was everyone waiting for what has been called “The Line”? There’s obviously some joke I’m not catching. I mean, I’ve seen Jackson in several movies, but not every one. Is “The Line” a takeoff from some other film? [/QUOTE] ‘The Line’ (‘Motherfucking snakes on this motherfucking plane’) was added because it had become an internet meme as soon as ‘Sam Jackson is going to be in a movie called Snakes on a Plane’ came out. ---
**Author:** ![Baker](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/bb73d2/32.png) [@Baker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Baker)\ **Post date:** [August 19, 2006, 9:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/32 "2006-08-19T21:40:51Z")
Thanks for the replies to my question! ---
**Author:** ![Boyo\_Jim](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/b/87869e/32.png) [@Boyo\_Jim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Boyo_Jim)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2006, 1:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/33 "2006-08-20T01:06:11Z")
**jhinman** , did they give you your money back? If not, they should be boycotted. ---
**Author:** ![elelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/f0a364/32.png) [@elelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elelle)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2006, 3:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/34 "2006-08-20T03:49:18Z")
Most Vipers polled , though, have just agreed to go on strike. ---
**Author:** ![Dijon\_Warlock](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/a9a28c/32.png) [@Dijon\_Warlock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Dijon_Warlock)\ **Post date:** [August 20, 2006, 11:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/35 "2006-08-20T11:59:57Z")
[QUOTE=spoke-] Interestingly, this is Paul Reubens’s Indian name. [/QUOTE] Damn, that was brilliant! ---
**Author:** ![Engineer\_Dude](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/9fc29f/32.png) [@Engineer\_Dude](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Engineer_Dude)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/36 "2006-08-21T04:16:21Z")
For a minute, I thought this thread was going to be about Pee-wee Herman. :eek: ---
**Author:** ![Ogre](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/ecb155/32.png) [@Ogre](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ogre)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 4:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/37 "2006-08-21T04:24:19Z")
Too late, Engineer! spoke got to it before you did. 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Marley23](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/45deac/32.png) [@Marley23](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Marley23)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 4:32am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/38 "2006-08-21T04:32:27Z")
[QUOTE=Bryan Ekers] Man, I _was_ looking forward to seeing this, but I absolutely hate theatre jerks. I’ll wait a few weeks and catch a lightly-attended afternoon show, if possible. [/QUOTE] I can’t imagine wanting to see this movie in an empty theatre. If I had thought the crowds would take it seriously, I would have stayed home. ---
**Author:** ![Contrapuntal](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/e274bd/32.png) [@Contrapuntal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Contrapuntal)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 10:18am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/39 "2006-08-21T10:18:47Z")
[QUOTE=Ogre] Too late, Engineer! spoke got to it before you did. 😛 [/QUOTE] And then three posters commented on it. ---
**Author:** ![Interrobang](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/interrobang/32/17463_2.png) [@Interrobang](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Interrobang)\ **Post date:** [August 21, 2006, 4:46pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319/40 "2006-08-21T16:46:19Z")
[QUOTE=Cervaise] That’s why I made the comparison to Rocky Horror, which has had the advantage of lots of screenings so people could get familiar with the material and the beats and Darwinian selection has worked to weed out the non-amusing bits. [/QUOTE] I’m skeptical this will reach that kind of longevity. I saw it Friday night at the Cinerama (Seattle’s biggest movie screen). People in line were dressed like airline employees. Every third person was wearing a rubber snake or ten. A guy dressed like a snake chased a woman dressed as a stewardess through the aisles just before the film started. It reminded me less of _Rocky Horror_ and more of a DIY William Castle film – the audience brings its own inflatable skeleton. Or rubber snakes, as the case may be. And everyone in the theater laughed uproariously at the “please don’t spoil the film by adding your own soundtrack” promo after the trailers. I can’t remember the last time I’ve enjoyed attending a movie so much – I’m not usually one for big noisy crowds, but this movie would not have worked without it. That said, I hope the OP got his money back. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/jerks-in-a-theater/369319.md?page=3)