The Problem with American Theatres

Yeah, they are all fancy and dandy.with their multiple screens, digital dolby , game parlours and over priced pop corn with extra butter. While they will not blow you away , it certainly is a pleasant experience for someone whose serious theatre experience began with the Kairali theatre in Thambanoor, Trivandrum.
Anyway, The first time I went for a movie here was all alone. Coming from a hostel where everyone would start jumping up and down and singing badly, off tune everytime a new film released, it was most disappointing for me to come across a lot who were more interested in watching the camera print on some crack website. So I decided to hire a taxi and go all by myself ( who goes to a movie alone?? I guess it was something I had to do). I landed at AMC and bought myself a ticket for Eastern promises (This was in 2007) , then I asked the guy at the counter ( who by some quirky twist of fate was also named Arjun) if there was an intermission. The guy didn't understand what I said. So I did what every other desi MS student fresh from the airport would do. I repeated the question this time with as good an accent I could put on. He said sorry he didnt know what that was. After a lot of explanation on how theatres worked in India, I was told that unfortunately this was not India. So that meant there would be no breaks for the loo or to drink water, and if you had to go, it would be at the peril of missing out important plot points. The Americans really do overestimate the average Indian males capacity to hold it. Towards the end of my movie, with my bladder knock knock knocking on heavens door, I decided the experience would be more comfortable if I relieved myself and came back. I ran out and did my business and hurried back only to be stopped by the usher. After frantic searching through my pockets I realized I did not have my ticket stub. But for some reason, the usher realized that I was not the conniving kind. I was let in, I scrambled to my screen, took my place and prepared myself for the end of the movie.Within 5 seconds the credits rolled. What the.... My mad dash for glory had made me miss the ending. I decided to watch another movie - The Kingdom- for closure's sake. This time, I held it in.