We were at the trilogy yesterday, and while I got up to pee midway during FOTR and TTT, I deliberately went to the bathroom twice in the half hour before ROTK, and started cutting back on my fluids an hour before the show started. And then I didn’t drink anything at all during most of the movie. To be honest, it’s so intense that I did not even want to have to consider getting up and missing even a second of the show.
Lifetime conditioning is meant to be broken when you go to ROTK. And if you’re convinced it can’t be, sit on the aisle or risk the wrath of your neighbors!
I’ve never noticed my neighbors being wrathful if I had to get past them. Actually I’m quite thin and deft on my feet and can get past them with minimal hassle on their part.
My boyfriend does the aisle seat thing because he has “the bladder of a small mouse” (his quote). He can pee pretty fast so he doesn’t miss too much of a movie. Years of practice, I suppose.
First, anyone who’s seriously saying that someone excusing himself to go to the bathroom is ruining his experience of the movie, needs to relax. Granted, being such a tight-ass might help you in regards to sitting through a 3.5 hour movie without needing to relieve yourself, but I think you’d be happier overall.
My experience: I left during the beginning of the scene where Aragorn, Theoden, and the riders of Rohan set up their encampment. It was a good halfway point, and I’m told I didn’t miss anything crucial. I wanted to be all emptied out for the climax, and I’m glad because I don’t think I could’ve held it.
There’s free ice served at the cinemas I frequent, so what I do is fill a cup full of ice and sip throughout. The ice is, of course, meant for the soft drinks.
Heh – didn’t drink anything for the three hours before the movie, and while I was parched during the last half, at least I didn’t miss any of the yummy goodness of the movie.
I’m flabbergasted that folks have their enjoyment of the movie ruined by other people getting up to use the bathroom, though. And you actually have the gall to suggest that, because your movie experience is so easily ruined, they should be the ones to wait to see the movie on DVD?
If you’re that sensitive to the biological needs of strangers, perhaps you should consider waiting to see the movie in the privacy of your own home.
During our showing, the first half-hour of the movie was accompanied by a loud, steady ticking from over our heads. Apparently an air conditioner fan was broken. THAT, my friends, was annoying – especially during quiet, tense moments.
Gotta chime in with the “Don’t buy the coke” crowd.
That’s one thing that’s so nice about DVDs… you can pause them.
But I am proud to say that I was successful yesterday – didn’t drink much of anything earlier in the day, just a little water. Made sure to have a trip to the restroom right before the movie started. And I lasted the full 3 1/2 hours, and didn’t even feel desperate to get to the bathroom afterwards… Woo hoo!
It’s those little victories that make life good… Well, that and the movie itself!
I am married to Tiny Bladder Man™ therefore our prebooked tickets for Saturday night are aisle seats. I would much prefer to sit in the middle, but I think that making sure that he doesn’t have to climb over other people is concession enough to those who believe he is ‘intentionally…ruining someone else’s experience by going to the toilet’. As for the suggestion that we should wait for the film to come out on DVD? Left Hand of Dorkness had it right when he said ‘If you’re that sensitive to the biological needs of strangers, perhaps you should consider waiting to see the movie in the privacy of your own home.’
It’s been good to see the recommended ‘missable’ bits though, as he is also Poor Judgment Man™ when it comes to picking his moment to up and go.
Recommendation: If you have to pee but you’ve been holding it and then the scene arrives with Frodo entering a cave full of spiderwebs, then it’s too late; dump your soda and pee in the cup. Otherwise, the next fifteen minutes will make you piss your pants.
Mellon, US theatres don’t have intermissions. And I believe they have been specifically asked not to add any by the studio for Return Of The King, unless their equipment can’t run for 3.5+ hours at a time.
I’ll pee when I need to, but I’ll sit near the aisle.
The first Arwen scene is waaaaaaay too early to take a leak. I’d recommend this spot:
When Rohan makes their encampment, Aragorn will wake from a dream and be summoned to Theoden’s tent, where Elrond gives him the sword. Leave right when he wakes up. You shouldn’t miss anything important at all (and you’ll miss the worst part of the film as well).
OP guy back with a report. Despite not having to go yet, I went when suggested to clear up room. Didn’t work so much. I had to go AGAIN
On behalf of tinkle monkeys everywhere, I salute you, sir!
I do sit on the aisle, not only as a courtesy, but because I hate people and don’t like touching more than one at a time. When my wife goes, I am happy because I have the aisle on one side and her (who I like touchin) on the other. With stadium seating (AMC), it honestly doesn’t bother me when people pass by.
BUT, that said, HERE is some abusive theater behavior I encountered at RotK (karma perhaps?)
Packed theather, right?
I am of course sitting on the aisle seat next to two teenagers (boy and girl). Every few minutes he’d lean over and they’d make out. I don’t even think they knew who won at the end. When he put his jacket over his lap, I got uncomfortable. He at least made the cursory “cold in here” comment to her (for my benefit). C’mon, man. I know she’s jackin’ ya.
But I am not gonna get in the way of this guy’s freak.
watsonwil, Esquire is NOT a cockblock!
So, I didn’t pay attention. It’s not like I saw motion or heard slapping. It was a very respectful movie theater hand job. I’ve been there. I’ve done that. I’ve ruined nice pants.
But I DID draw the line at him leaning up against me.
I guess either he was done and relaxed or he needed to lean back further and let her have some mobility to work it, but the dude started leaning back toward my chair. At first, I was uncomfortable with the contact. I mean, I don’t care that she’s rubbing the guy, but I was kind creeped that a man was being sexually pleasured while I was touching him. Call me old fashioned. Call me a prude.
But I don’t like to say anything to people next to me because there was still 2 hours to go and it would have made me uncomfortable.
But there came a point where I just had to speak up. The guy slid down a little more and it wasn’t just his shoulder leaning up against me. His freaking HEAD was laying on my shoulder.
I was practically having a three way with these people. WITHOUT THE COURTESY OF A REACH AROUND!
A looked over at the guy and said, firmly but politely, “Could you not lean on me.”
He was apolgetic and I really am not sure he knew he was doing it. When a man is getting his freak on, his mind is elsewhere.
He leaned back her way and didn’t even look at me as we left the theater.
I hope he at least “finished.”
So the next time a tinkle monkey passes ya by (I’m looking in your direction, Mellon) remember, “It could be worse!”
I also find it hard to sit through a movie without taking a pee break, and there is no way I will last through ROTK, so I am grateful this thread exists. Not that I’m too concerned about missing anything, because I’m guaranteed to see it again on Christmas day with the bf and his dad.
I am girl and I made it through the whole movie last night without having to take a washroom break. and I did have a drink during the movie. So suck it up you can make it!
