Novelist/screenwriter Scott Harper’s official blog

Desirée Lee and I were fortunate enough to be able to attend a pre-screening of the new Superman movie, “Man of Steel”, yesterday evening. While Desirée has been able to see several films in theaters before those movies were open to the general public, “Man of Steel” was my first time for that. While we both wanted to see the film, the real reason we were there was work. Both Desirée and myself are writers for the website “Nuclear Winter Entertainment”. We attended the advance showing of “Man of Steel” in order to have a review on the Nuclear Winter website today—the day of the film’s general release. I’ll be posting a blog announcing when the review is up. It has been written and submitted to Nuclear Winter for review. Much as I truly loved “Man of Steel”, the entire theater experience would have been so much better if the people around us would have been more courteous.

Several people whipped out cell phones around us, and started texting a few times. Older children and young teens kept getting up, walking out, and coming back in with fresh drinks and popcorn—the same few over and over and over and over and over—walking directly in front of us, blocking the screen. These same children had taken seats a few rows away from their parents, and kept getting up even more to go back and talk to them.

Another issue was with the smaller children. Yes, “Man of Steel” is a Superman film. It’s also rated PG-13, and for good reason. Read the review of the film that Desirée and I wrote for more on that. Parts of the film caused Desirée to tear up a bit. One part of the film was so intense and dramatic that I simply went into shock and cried a little. Again, the film is PG-13 for a reason! That rating means a film isn’t suitable for small children. Young children shouldn’t be in the theater for a PG-13 film. Know what happens? The same thing that happened during “Man of Steel” last night—the young children are overwhelmed by what they’re seeing on screen. They freak out. They cry. They shriek. They disturb everyone around them who is trying to enjoy the movie.

Please pay attention to theater etiquette when you go to a movie:

-Keep you cell phone OFF.

-Don’t talk.

-Be in your seat BEFORE the movie starts.

-Once the film has started, STAY IN YOUR SEAT until the film has ended if that’s at all possible.

-Don’t take children to films with ratings inappropriate to their ages.

All of these bits of etiquette were violated numerous times during “Man of Steel” last night. This is why I’m not often to be found in the theater for a film. Please use some common sense, and allow everyone else around you to enjoy the movie.

Thank you.

Scott Harper

www.scottharper.net