Before I start, let me preface this post by saying: I have not seen this film. This is not regarding the quality of the film, it is regarding the effect of the film. Anyway, I hope you enjoy my rantings!

Lately, "Paranormal Activity" has been pissing me off to no end. What is the reason for my vitriol towards this film? it is TOO popular. Let me explain. I am not one to hate on a movie just because it's popular *coughcoughMDScough*. I work at a movie theater. What has been happening in the weeks since "Paranormal Activity" has been released, is that everyone and their mothers have been going to see this film. While it's good for the filmmakers and I can appreciate what they've done, people are ruining it for those like who work in theaters showing the film. On Saturday night, I was working box office, selling tickets. That job can be frustrating enough, with all the people complaining about ticket prices. But with the release of PA, there was a line stretching at least 15 feet out the door of obnoxious, noisy teenagers. And it wasn't just one big group of people I and the three others in the box had to contend with. That line maintained its length for at least 3 HOURS! I am not exaggerating. I got to work at 6 pm, our first night rush starts at 7 because that's when the matinee shows end. I worked 5 hours that night. I left the box once for an hour. The line never let up for the whole time I was in the box.

Other than that, I had to deal with every simpering idiot who couldn't comprehend the fact that their showing of PA was sold out, and would sit there, repeatedly asking, "Are you serious? It's really sold out?" This in itself wouldn't be that bad, if people weren't already wasting time, by standing there, so enraptured in their own conversations that they couldn't hear me or the girl next to me, shouting into our microphones, "I CAN HELP WHOEVER IS NEXT, PLEASE MOVE THE LINE ALONG." We would have to yell that at least 2 or 3 times before anyone would even acknowledge that we could in fact, sell them tickets.

Finally, there's the matter of those that didn't get their tickets before they sold out. It's obnoxious enough that they stood IN FRONT OF THE BOOTH trying to figure out what to do, slowing the line up even more, but even more obnoxious was that you got people who said, "Okay, I'll see 'Where the Wild Things Are' instead," even though I knew damn well that they were just going to sneak into PA, thus taking seats away from people who actually paid for them. This causes the customers to complain, and maybe not come back. Plus, most of the people who snuck in were douchey little teenagers who were probably really loud and obnoxious through the whole thing, further agitating the people who acquired their tickets through fair means.

So, I'm hoping that you can see why I take issue with this movie's popularity. And nobody come out and say "It's your job to deal with customers." Yes, it is. I have no problem with that. But I enjoy my job to some degree. And I tend to get pissed off when asshole customers take that enjoyment away from me. It also pisses me off when they deprive other people of the filmgoing experience that they paid for. I'd be able to handle the long lines if people would just pay attention and help move the lines more quickly. Well, I hope that, at the very least, I've given you all something to think about the next time you go to the movies. If it's busy, help the employees out a little bit. Thank you, and have a nice day.