Posted by: Christine on Jul 7th, 2009

Leave a Comment »

We recently wrote about two new sites that are super helpful for frequent movie-goers: RunPee.com and MovieStinger.com. One of them just got a whole lot more useful.

RunPee is now available as an iPhone App. The App, like the site, allows users to view the best time to run to the restroom without missing anything important. It even tells you what you’ll be missing while you’re, *ahem*, doing your business. It even has a timer so you know exactly how long you have.

It’s frequently updated to have the latest movies, so you don’t have to worry about not being able to use it on opening weekend. The App is $0.99 and can be downloaded through iTunes by clicking here (this link will open iTunes on your computer).

The MovieSnobs are going to test out the App soon, and will also be testing out how good their pee-time advice is. The app currently has four-and-a-half stars. If you’ve bought the App or used the site, what do you think?

Posted by: Christine on May 31st, 2009

Leave a Comment »

MovieStinger.com

Have you ever been to a really suspenseful movie, and you just have to pee, but you don’t want to miss anything? We all have. When Scream 2 came out, I thought there was a lull in the action and it was safe to pee. [SPOILER ALERT] It wasn’t safe to pee – I missed Dewey’s “death” and spent the next ten minutes wondering where he went.

Now you don’t have to wonder when is the best time to pee during a movie. Before you go, visit RunPee.com. RunPee gives you an approximate elapsed time and scene cues and even tells you how much time you have to get back to your seat. There’s even a summary of the action you’ll miss. It looks like the site is frequently updated as all the recent movies – Up, Terminator: Salvation and Drag Me to Hell, for example – are available.

RunPee was found on Lifehacker. If only it were available as an iPhone application…

Update 7/7/09: Now it is available as an iPhone App! Click here for more info.

The other really useful site – also found on Lifehacker – is MovieStinger.com. MovieStinger answers the pesky question that plagues every hardcore movie fan – to stay or not to stay? Sometimes movies have post-credits scenes (like Iron Man and the recent 3 endings on X-Men Origins: Wolverine), but it’s hard to guess if a movie will have an extra scene or not.

MovieStinger is kept up-to-date and lists movies and if they have scenes after the credits, extras during the credits, or nothing. Now you don’t have to sit in your seat and look for funny names in the credits waiting for a cut scene that will never come.

Posted by: Mike on Jul 17th, 2008

Leave a Comment »

Will Ferrell is not funny. Please stop spending money to see his movies.

The trailer for this new Step Brother movie borders on insulting to the population of the world. I don’t get how studios keep letting him make movies.  I’m speechless.

Posted by: Christine on Sep 19th, 2007

Leave a Comment »

Being a Google fanboy/girl, I loved reading this story about a marketer who thinks Google should own movie theaters. The writer talks about how the previews shown before The Bourne Ultimatum weren’t targeted to the audience. I don’t even remember what previews were shown before the movie, so that tells you something’s wrong with their audience targeting right there.

Since the previews are one of my favorite parts about watching movies in theaters, I agree with the author in part, and think that movie theater advertising should take a play from Google’s AdSense playbook and start better targeting their ads.

To be fair, sometimes they do it well, such as with Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix they showed The Golden Compass and that other kids’ movie that was very Harry Potter-ish, but not Lemony Snicket. I’m not interested in either film, but I’m sure all the kiddies in the audience were.

Posted by: Christine on Jul 17th, 2007

1 Comment »

1. Young kids at PG-13 and R-rated movies, or at 11pm or later showings. I’m talking about the 12-year-olds at 1408 who talked throughout the first fifteen minutes of the movie and kept saying how scared they were, the 6-year-old that sat next to me at Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire and insisted on asking who everyone was and was that really a dragon, and the crowds of pre-teens and young teens that somehow manage to get into R-rated movies every weekend.
2. The loud chewers. These people annoy me in any situation, but at the movies it’s particularly obnoxious. I know you paid $10 for that bag of popcorn and you feel the need to wolf down every last kernel, but I’d really appreciate it if you’d take the time to close your mouth while you’re chewing.
3. Large groups. Not only do they take up entire rows, but they talk louder than anyone else. They yell back and forth before the previews start, loudly crinkle massive popcorn bags, and generally just seem loud, even when they’re not talking.
4. People who bring their own food. I’ll admit it, I’m guilty of sneaking in a bagel on Saturday mornings, but I don’t show up with a plastic bag full of soda cans and M&M bags. Do you know how loud the pop of a soda can opening seems during a quiet part in a scary movie? How about the constant rustling of the plastic bag as you try hide your illicit food from employees? Either cough up the $4.00 for a small soda at the concession stand, or be considerate enough to sneak in soda bottles in a non-rustling bag. They’re much quieter.
5. Adults who should know better. If you’re over the age of 18, you shouldn’t talk in a movie theater. You shouldn’t kick the seat in front of you. You shouldn’t tap your feet on the disgustingly sticky floor. There will be no singing along with the songs in musicals. There should be no applause at the end of the movie (the director and actors can’t hear you, no matter how loud you clap). Clapping because you’re laughing so hard is also not acceptable. Stop talking. Stop acting like a child. Grow up.

I’m sure I’ve overlooked a few. Share your own movie theater annoyances in the comments!