Horrible LOEWS Alderwood Theater Experience (Seattle, Lynnwood: homes, neighborhoods, movie theater)

[seattleite2007]

My wife and I recently repatriated after living abroad (in Japan) for almost seven years. We hand selected Seattle because of its strong Asian influence and the relatively high education levels of its citizens. For the first week while we were here we had a relatively smooth transition, that is until we decided to watch a movie in Alderwood last night.

The facts: Aderwood Loews theater 10:40 showing of "I am Legend"

Entering: We arrived early and picked up our tickets from the kiosk. The doorman greeted us, gave us directions to the correct theater, tore and returned our ticket stubs, and bid us a nice movie.

Previews: This is where we suddenly became very uncomfortable. Shortly after taking our seats in the second to last aisle, a flood of 18~25 year old "kids" came in and monopolized the center seats, started cracking jokes, exchanging fist blows to the back, throwing popcorn, etc. Basically harmless behavior until the movie began. I just kept reminding my wife that certain Americans aren't as considerate as their foreign counterparts when it comes to maintaining proper public behavior.

The movie: Basically on and off raucus behavior, especially right after suspenseful scenes when the theater suddenly would go quiet. People would yell out sarcastic comments like "Whoa, wasn't that scary!?" or use profanity and openly flatulate loudly. One guy even answered his cell phone and started talking about a party that everybody would be attending after the show.

Other adults seated around us were just as preterbed by the obnoxious mischief, but because of the large size of the group, were also equally intimidated.

After the movie: The same group pulled their tricked out Hondas up to the curb near the entrance. They thumped their stereos and loitered in front of the theater with their sagging baggy pants and low baseball caps. Some even had the audacity to whistle lewd comments at other moviegoers as they exited.

Now here is where I get a bit frustrated. Isn't Alderwood supposed to be an upscale shopping center that deters such obnoxious patrons? If not, where, regardless of price, can a professional couple go in this town to sit down and comfortably enjoy a movie without feeling threatened? One thing is for certain, and that is we won't be returning to the a Loews theater anytime soon.

[LordBalfor]

One of you should have complained to management. Considering the size of the group and the possible intimidation that they poised it's possible that nothing would have happened, but at the very least you would have had grounds to get your money back - and possibly encourage the theatre to increase it's security in the future.

Ken

[St.Croix to Seattle]

You could have walked out and demanded tickets for another showing or notified management....You can't blame one bad experience on Seattle as a whole...some people just have no respect and they would do the same anywhere anytime. In this era of Sue happy americans the last thing a movie theather can do is refuse entry to certain types as they might cause disturbances,but if they did cause loud enough disturbances they can be kicked out...you should have did your part and notified management...

[gallacus]

I have had similar experiences in Pittsburgh and Denver, but only on rare occasions. It is annoying to have to get up and go to the front office and miss some of the movie, but when you do complain about kids causing a disturbance, they always send an employee into the theater for the rest of the movie to make sure no one is making a peep.

I don't think it has anything to do with good neighborhood or bad neighborhood, kids will be kids, especially when you get them in a large group.

[Fat Freddy]

That's exactly why I have a big screen TV and a NetFlix subscription.

[jwb123]

Bah Alderwood. People are trying to pin it as upscale now... it's still in dingy and depressing Lynnwood. Upscale isn't upscale when the outlying neighborhoods are lower income. That's an issue all over the Seattle suburbs though... million dollar homes next to a rundown old neighborhood....

[Bakergirl]

There are teenagers in every neighborhood that act stupid in public, regardless of their socioeconomic status or ethnicity. The Loews theater is at a mall and malls attract all kinds of different people. Just because the mall itself looks nice, just drive around the surrounding neighborhoods-they are not upscale.

[wannabeaTexan]

I wouldn't think you could avoid this problem by going to an "upscale" movie theater. Teenagers behaving badly is not limited to lower income neighborhoods. Maybe the service you get from the employees would be better, but probably not even then if you don't say anything about it.

[seattleite2007]

Thanks for the feedback everyone, I wasn't expecting so many responses.

Well, after talking it over with a close friend who lives in Mill Creek, we have come to the following conclusions: (1) It could have been the time of year. Most college kids are on winter vacation now. (2) The late showtime. At 10:40pm, many people, especially those who have have been drinking, may have been prone to behave more obnoxiously than usual? (3) The nature of the movie. Because "I am Legend" is rated PG-13, perhaps many of the loudmouths could have in fact been high school students??

Either way, we are still looking for a nice(r) theater on the East Side. Any recommendations would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

[lifes2short]

If you don't mind going this far east, Monroe has a nice theater.