"What'd he say?" "SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!"

I don't know what it is about movie theaters and people who feel the need to talk incessantly. The last few movies my wife and I have TRIED to enjoy have had a second soundtrack supplied by the people near us.

Usually, it's about what's happening on screen. Many times one will repeat what just happened to the other, as if one is blind and the other gives a running description of what's going on. Other times, we're stuck next to a couple of people who feel they need to repeat major pieces of dialog, as if translating for a deaf person.

The problem with both of these scenarios is that I can't ignore them. I've tried to up my concentration. I've tried to not-so-subtly turn my head as a signal to cut it out. I just can't 'not' hear them. I'm drawn in to their discussion and then I just might as well be watching a foreign film because with half an ear on the movie and half an ear on the heathens, I don't catch anything.

The one thing I haven't tried is moving to another seat. I've avoided that mainly on principal. Afterall, why should I be the one inconvenienced.

OK, just an aimless rant - but my fear is that no one but the buzzing bees will be able to stand going to the movie theater anymore. Maybe new releases will go the route of 'on-demand' in the home, then all I'll have to deal with is my two-year old, the cats, the neighbors mowing their lawn at 9:00pm, the Jahovah's Witnesses and the Avon Lady.