Okay, I went to see Attack of the Clones again yesterday afternoon, and I did indeed find it much better the second time around than the first. Maybe I was just in a better frame of mind, or maybe, because I knew what to expect, the pacing of the movie seemed a bit smoother. I was more moved by certain scenes this time around, and even the love story - which is still strained at best - didn’t make me cringe. Thumbs up from me.

I would like to briefly discuss the subject of going to the theater. Now normally, I’m not into big groups or crowds or being forced to spend extended periods of time in close proximity to complete strangers. But there is something to be said for the communal experience of the movie theater. There can be a terrific sense of camaraderie in a theater, particularly when there’s something like a midnight preview taking place. It’s quite fun to be in the company of so many like-minded people. When the Star Wars opening titles came up on the screen and everyone cheered, then it boosted my own excitement and really added to my experience of the film.

Jeremy mentioned the "titters, chortles and…inappropriate comments" of the other audience members. It is indeed horrible if you’re sitting near someone who is either not really into seeing the movie in the first place and wants to let everyone else in the theater know it or who feels compelled to talk through the whole film - and Jeremy and I actually changed seats when we went to see Attack of the Clones yesterday because we could tell right away that the group of guys behind us were not going to be able to keep their mouths under control during the movie.

Having said that, I have to commend British moviegoers on being the most well-behaved lot I’ve ever seen and not heard in a theater. Going to films in Germany was generally sheer hell. German audiences insist on making their feelings known throughout the duration of a film, either by talking through the whole thing, or yawning loudly, or making remarks addressed to everyone else in the theater, etc.etc.

They also laugh. Constantly. Loudly. No matter what kind of film is showing. If there is just one single humorous episode in an otherwise tragic film, everyone will assume that the whole film is actually a comedy and will chortle and guffaw through the most appalling, unfunny scenes. I am not making this up and I am not exagerrating - it’s utterly horrible. German audiences managed to completely ruin the movie Contact for me, they made watching Dead Man a thoroughly miserable experience, and they generally made me dread setting foot in a movie theater for fear that I would wind up hating the movie, the theater and every single person in the audience.

I haven’t gone to see too many films in theaters here, but every single time I have gone, the audience has behaved impeccably. I mean, I sat through the entirety of 2001: A Space Odyssey and there was not so much as a peep from the audience - and that is one long, long film. I’m really impressed by the British audience’s ability to sit still, shut up and watch the film. I can deal with a few "inappropriate" titters and chuckles here and there if it means I can watch the rest of the film in relative peace.

Thank you, England!