The Help, and why we need some help.

[F, Calla & Luca]

I went to see The Help yesterday with my cousins and their friends, all significantly, if you ask me and who else could you ask, older than I.  My cousin had gotten $6 discount tickets through her cable provider. What more do you need to attract the older crowd?  And it was a 4 pm showing.  What more do you need to attract the older crowd? Looking around the audience I could see that maybe 2% of the people were under 50.  A few adolescents were there, which strangely pleased me. There were certain advantages to the demographics.  There was no need to see over anyone, they were all short.  There was no raucous behavior, whatsoever.  I did find it somewhat amusing that a sweet young woman, who worked for the theater, stood up front before the show began. She explained where the exits were and that the movie staff was ready to help with any problems. It reminded me of the preflight routine the stewardesses   cabin crew go through on flights. The lovely gentleman to my left, a friend of my cousin’s who is 80 something, commented that clearly the staff knew their audience.  He also remarked that they should have had ambulances standing by. This did not seem quite so funny since I know he has an implanted defibrillator.

I was trying to ignore all of this and watch the movie. The movie was great. However, I kept thinking of my mother. She used to complain that this very same cousin and I were always mumbling to each other. We responded that we were not but she never believed us. I still don’t understand why people readily wear glasses but refuse hearing aids. But I digress. At times the actors either were mumbling, the music or background noise was too loud, or my hearing is not what it once was. Well, I know the latter is true and probably both of the formers too. From time to time, my cousin who was on my right asked what had been said. So I missed a little more dialog.  At home I often use subtitles. I say this is because I want to know every word, and I do. This often doesn’t help because the subtitles and closed captions sometimes don’t resemble what is being said. This becomes most apparent to me when the original movie I’m watching is in English : ) At any rate, all of this is one reason why going to the movies has become a rarity for me. Netflix is my friend. Now if Luca didn’t attack all creatures big and small on the screen life would be beautiful. In almost every other way I prefer movies at home. I do think this is one reason someone invented crates though.

[Sally, Ditzy Mitzi & Sgt. Pepper]

Thanks for that comment, I don't hear mosquitoes anymore, either, but when I see them I get

crazy!  (er).....

[April Cliber]

I saw The Help for the second time last night.  The first time was with friends and last night was with my husband.  I'm 34 and my hearing is still good (At least I'm pretty sure it is!)   Seeing it the second time I picked up things I missed the first time.  So don't feel bad!  There are some times in the movie you have to listen very closely and will still miss what was said!   See it's not YOU at all!! It's the movies fault! :o)

[F, Calla & Luca]

You make me feel  much better!! : )

[Michael Gurley]

I just went to see this movie the other night with some friends!  We were the only ones in the audience since it was 10:00 PM.

 

I left Sunny with my mother who LEFT HER OUTSIDE at 11 and went to bed. Sunny was very panicked and threw up as soon as I got home at 1:00 AM.

[F, Calla & Luca]

Oh, poor Sunny. Did Mom forget her?

[Leslie and Halas]

There was an elderly couple next to us when we saw The English Patient in the theater, however many years ago that was. The man kept asking, very loudly, "What did he say?!" about every 15 minutes. Then, when credits started rolling, he asked, again very loudly, "Is it over?! Did he die?!" It was kind of funny, but it did distract from the movie a little bit.

Another time, when we were getting tickets to a movie, I saw one of those little flyers advertising the hearing devices that you can get for the movie. I picked it up, held it really close to my guy's face, and very slowly yelled, "DO YOU WANT ONE OF THESE?!" I thought it was hilarious.