Den of Geek

Confused Views: Avatard

Matt Edwards


Matt's not got much to say about Avatar. But he did go and watch Inglourious Basterds...

Published on Aug 26, 2009

There's an obvious talking point for this week's column. The tricky part is finding something to say that hasn't already been said, because there's already been a whole lot of talking. It seems to be a subject that people can only have extreme views on. So, Avatar, then; what's the Confused View of it?

Nope. There isn't one. I haven't seen the 15 minutes on the big screen. I haven't even watched the trailer. I seem to be alone in this, but I don't care about Avatar at all. I've not followed the production, not been excited by it and I don't know if I'll go to see it when it comes out. I know nothing about it; I'm an Avatard.

In the quest to stay relevant I'll be prattling on about Inglourious Basterds for a bit this week, meaning that I'm only running a week or two behind the entire rest of the Internet. Then I've got a bit about terrorism in multiplexes. Anyway, when I went to see IB this week I experimented with something called live-tweeting. Basically, it's commenting on something as it's happening on the website Twitter. I thought I'd share those live-tweets here so you can all enjoy them as well. You're welcome.

Before we kick off I just wanted to mention that there are a few things that definitely aren't responsible for my cutting and pasting something I've already written for this week's column. It's definitely not because I'm one of the laziest men on the planet, nor is it because I have another Mystery DVD Club review to write. It's also definitely not the case that I want to show everyone how very bloody hip I am by using the coolest modern time drain that all the kids are down with.

Anyway, this is what happened:

Will be live-tweeting Inglourious Basterds.  

Just buying a ticket. Don't like the ticket-sellers eyes. They're so close together they're practically on top of each other.

Don't understand why people sit down so early before a film. I need to get past. Move!

Didn't miss the Orange ad. Phew. Haven't seen this for a while.

Whoa, what the fuck is this? Subtitles? I didn't come here to read.

I just shouted that out and I didn't get a single high five. Losers.

Seriously, though. Why are the Nazi's speaking German?

Just had to take a quick call. I'm back. They're still just talking. Booooring!

Apparently people aren't happy with me using my phone to talk or update Twitter during the film. Told them to fuck off!

It's like, deal with it. Just watch the film.

Oh, and apparently I can't smoke either.

Someone ratted me out to the staff. Now they're whining at me too. It's not my fault that they only get minimum wage.

Does anyone know any good techniques for calming an angry mob? Please respond immediately.

They've turned on me. I'm being attacked. These films do make people violent. Please get help!

Managed to escape. Will have to see the film another time. Should probably wait for my eye to heal.

Of course, this didn't actually happen (incidentally I thought IB was brilliant). I'd never have gotten away if an angry mob were to set upon me. My response to being confronted is always the same: I curl up into a ball and hope that whatever the threat is loses interest. If it's people I usually sob loudly as well so that they know that I pose no threat or in case they might consider me too pathetic to physically harm. It's a surprisingly effective defence. When a wasp flew into my flat at the weekend I was able to use this technique to avoid being stung for over four hours.

Plus, I might be an arrogant, stupid bastard but even I would never text all the way through a film. A self absorbed prick I may be, but a self absorbed prick with a decent sense of cinema etiquette. Because it really is annoying when someone is pissing about on a mobile phone in a cinema. The screen lights up, it's like a little torch being waved around. Things are getting so bad with mobile phones in cinemas now that extreme action is called for. I've got just the trick.

‘Snipers for Cinemas' is a program I've been working on for a little while. The idea is to install a discreet booth next to the screen in popular multiplex cinemas. Inside the booth would be a sniper. Before the film starts a strict warning would be issued about being a selfish cock once the film has started. Once the film has kicked off, there's a zero tolerance policy. You're just checking your text messages? Well, now you're missing the top of your head. You're loudly repeating a joke you've just heard to try to impress your girlfriend? Well now she's picking pieces of your skull out of her popcorn... and she looks unimpressed.

Assuming that this idea is as successful as I think it would be, it could be rolled out into other cinemas until the problem is eradicated. Then we could pull it back, with just a few snipers popping up at random to silence any rowdy idiots that can't help ruining everything for everyone.

In fact, I think this is where Avatar has gone wrong, if it has. What's the point in making films look so spectacular if you're sat next to a self-important tosspot that can't bear to put their phone away for a couple of hours? ‘Snipers for Cinemas' is the way forward. Perhaps if Cameron had been pioneering this kind of technology then I'd be able to muster up some care.

 

Tags

Users Comments

Re: Confused Views: Avatard
Posted By James-Clayton 1 August 27, 2009 08:49:49 AM

Snipers for Cinemas is a genius idea. This could be a bolder innovation than all the stuff that Avatar is ushering in...

Re: Confused Views: Avatard
Posted By cordas 1 August 27, 2009 09:31:27 AM

Snipers for Cinemas - I am happy to be the Newcastle Sniper, not shot in a few years but I did used to be a crack shot with my air rifle when I was a kid. I would also add constantly rustling loud bags and wearing to much perfume (I would need a sniffer instead of a spotter for that, but after having sat behind some perfume drenched mut when watching the latest Potter movie I know how important it is) to shooting offenses.

Re: Confused Views: Avatard
Posted By Mangoose 1 August 27, 2009 10:46:23 AM

Perhaps a scale of varying grades of offence could be implemented with repurcussions to match. For example, my girlfriend has the hugely irritating habit of loudly and - more importantly - correctly guessing the ending of every film we go to see, but I would not wish her to be coldly slain by sniper. The ensuing splatter would ruin my popcorn and later on my conjugal desires would take on a decidedly sinister edge. I suggest seats that administer punishments. For slight infringements of etiquette the seat could secrete warm liquid, prompting a sheepinsh dash to the latrine. For persistant, annoying cumjars a DR Evil-esque chair chute leading to a Running Man theatre of violence, at least giving offenders a fighting chance, with a highlights reel of violence shown at the interval. That'd learn em, and also provide opportunity to have a cheeky punt at someone elses expense.

Re: Confused Views: Avatard
Posted By cordas 1 August 27, 2009 06:57:29 PM

Sorry Mangoose, but I don't think that would work... it only create more disturbance as people headed for the toilets to relieve themselves (itself offensive but it is understandable and therefore excusable) or screams as they felt themselves into some torturous death. The advantage of a sniper is that it would be near silent and therefore not disturb the enjoyment of the film for others. In regards to your GF you obviously aren't controlling her properly so would either have to take that in hand or suffer the consequences, I am sure the threat of a .22 slug to the back of the head will help you in explaining appropriate cinema etiquette to her. Also a .22 calibre slug should be sufficient to kill at the short ranges required without creating enough mess to ruin the popcorn of those unfortunate enough to be sat near/beside the offender.

Re: Confused Views: Avatard
Posted By lillibetlovesyou 1 December 17, 2009 05:45:50 PM

Really you can't remember to go for wee wee before a film starts? What are you five? I'd like to add: People who don't understand what time a film starts. Then shuffle about trying to find seats together, the whole first 20 mins of the film I went to see last night was spoilt by this, then the rest by people with weak bladders. A tranq gun could be used for a slightly less violent & equally quiet solution though. Mainly as I would want to be super tough, so a milder punishment might be best for the survival of the human race.
Post a Comment
 
Inglourious Basterds

Meet the Inglourious Basterds...

Follow Den of Geek on

Related Articles

SEARCH

Broadband

Mobile Broadband

Compare over 100 mobile broadband & broadband deals online!

Mobile Phones

LG ArenaHTC Magic

Compare over 250 mobile phones &
52,000 deals!

Click Here