Moviegoing Is Not What It Used to Be

M. Night Shyamalan’s take on “the collective moviegoing experience” is years too late (“Director Warns of Big Screens’ Extinction,” Oct. 28).

Currently, that experience begins in an under-ventilated auditorium sticky underfoot and smelling vaguely of popcorn; 20 minutes or more of ads that feature cars exploding and people screaming at jet-takeoff sound levels, followed by 126 minutes of three-act predictability.

Meanwhile, cellphones tinkle, chairs are kicked and plots and problems are loudly discussed while the movie unfolds.

Pity.

Walter Carlin

Del Mar

*

I fail to see how the artistic integrity of moviemaking is diminished by the simultaneous release of a movie on the big screen and on DVD, as Mr. Shyamalan claims.

Also, I wonder when was the last time he went to a local theater (as opposed to a screening room), searched for parking, stood in line, bought a $10 ticket, tried to find a decent seat, then sat through 10 excruciating minutes of commercials and trailers before the film started?

And I wonder if at the movie’s conclusion he entered into a discussion of its merits with the stranger sitting next to him?

Fran Yariv

Pasadena