Walking Out of the Cinema: A Candid Look at Movie Disappointment

Have you ever left the cinema hall before finishing off the movie because you found it so bad? It's a common experience, and for a seasoned moviegoer like me, it happens more often than I'd like to admit. In this article, I'll share some of my most memorable instances of walking out of theaters in the middle of a film, and why these movies were just not worth the time and money.

Lessons from "There's Something About Mary"

Back in the late 1990s, I was eagerly anticipating the release of "There's Something About Mary," a movie I had heard quite a bit about. Sadly, even though it gained some popularity, it's not one of those to-die-for comedies I was hoping for.

Not funny at all. The movie was crass, vapid, and poorly acted, much like a botched attempt at making a joke about high school. The lead actress, Cameron Diaz, was anbone-chilling presence, and the movie's attempt to be a comedy fell flat. It was just a lame excuse for a movie.

Absolutely Unbearable: "Planet of the Apes" 2001

As an animal lover, I take great issue with the way humans treat other sentient beings, especially primates. This perspective made it impossible for me to continue watching "Planet of the Apes: Rise of the Planet of the Apes." The scenes involving ape experimentation were horrendous, and I couldn't handle it. I walked out during one of the worst acts of animal cruelty in cinematic history, and I left in tears. Despite knowing it was CGI and that the story premise would ultimately lead to a vengeful apes, the ethical implications were too much for me to bear.

Early Memories: Annie and the Saturday Double Feature

My earliest cinema experience, at the tender age of 8, was a bit of a doozy. My mother took me to a Saturday double feature, with one movie I was desperate to see: "Annie." However, that was just the second film in the week's lineup. The first movie was a complete mystery to her, as she apparently knew nothing about it and assumed it was rated R. This turned out to be "Home Alone" (1990), which I largely enjoyed, but the teaser clips of the first movie left me underwhelmed. As a result, I walked out before the first movie even began. In retrospect, the experience was rather anticlimactic and disappointing.

Disappointment: "The Devils" and "Star Wars: Episode IX"

One of the most significant cinematic disappointments came decades ago when I watched Ken Russell's "The Devils." The film was supposed to be a historical drama, but it failed to deliver on its promise. However, "Star Wars: Episode IX" in 2019 was the one that truly broke my heart.

As a fan of the original trilogy, I was bursting with excitement about the next installment. Yet, "Episode IX" was a disappointing mess. The script was poorly written, and the attempt to incorporate CGI elements in an intellectually insulting manner was evident. The movie's logical inconsistencies, such as the "dagger-compass-McGuffin-thingy," made no sense, and the death/rebirth of Chewbacca was particularly egregious.

I couldn't sit through the rest of the film. Taking a break to go to the toilet and have a think, I realized that Disney's acquisition and subsequent handling of the Star Wars franchise had destroyed it for me. The sale of the franchise to Disney was the final nail in the coffin. I texted my group that I wasn't returning to the theater, and I went to a nearby bar for a better experience. The lukewarm beer and bad karaoke in the bar turned out to be much better than the movie I had just watched.

This marked the beginning of my disinterest in Star Wars IPs. I didn't engage with any of the subsequent releases, especially not the Boba Fett series, as it further destroyed the legacy of this beloved bounty hunter. My son is now 4, and I don't plan to introduce him to Star Wars. The franchise is a bitter memory for me, and I see no point in passing it on.

The Bright Side: Modern Sci-Fi

However, not all is lost. Hollywood is still churning out incredible Sci-fi content. I can't wait for my son to be old enough to join me in enjoying the recent Dune movies, which are a far cry from the disappointing Star Wars sequels. These films demonstrate that there's still hope for quality Sci-fi, and I eagerly look forward to revisiting the genre with a clear conscience.