Angus, I hope you're on the improve but if you need any 'fresh country air' recuperation time you'd be welcome to escape the city as far as Bendigo anyway.

As to enthusiastic audience reactions at the cinema, I've actually experienced this watching The Rocky Horror Picture Show, Dudley Doolittle/Dooright? (the Mountie bloke), Galaxy Quest, and much dancing occurred during the screening of The Buena Vista Social Club.

A few very lively evenings have been had at The Theatre Royale in Castlemaine (the oldest, continuously running theatre restaurant in Australia) and The Star Cinema in Bendigo. Mind you the fact that I am good friends with a couple of projectionists/cinema operators and the aforementioned occasions were all private screenings for a dozen or so friends probably renders the point pretty moot.

Sorry Leigh I'm not much help!

Sorry Leigh I'm not much help

S'cool, it's all very interesting anyway. Someone must have written a sociology essay on this stuff, if only for a good tax-deductable excuse to go the movies.

Thanks for the offer Moonlit! That Star Cinema looks brilliant--kind of like the Astor in Melbourne, but with sofas... lovely.

Health vibes for Angus.

Yeah it is. We did a Galaxy Quest private screening there (of which the pre-show entertainment included sliding-in-your-socks -on-the-wooden-floorboards races.

I did a heritage study of the building and cinema which still has the original bio-box.

Angus, health health health health.

I don't know about films, but certainly in rock and roll, bands like the Who used to prefer touring the States to touring some of the more sedate parts of the world. It wasn't just the money; Pete Townsend once said he liked the way screaming enthusiastic cheering felt going up and down his back.

I have to say, the last time I cheered at a movie? Really cheered? Far too long ago: it was Sigourney Weaver in Aliens, clunking out in a loader to face the Big Bad Alien Queen, snarling "Get away from her, you bitch!"

I admit it. I cheered. But the entire audience did, as well.

I've been to the cinema in the US, Britain and several other European countries - though not, sadly, in Australia. IME, US audiences are much more participatory as a rule, regardless of the film, though some genres do seem to bring it out more than others. I actually think it adds to the viewing experience, if the audience is in the same kind of mood as I am. If they're not, it bugs me.

All the best, Angus. Keep us posted.

Will do. Thanks for the health vibes everyone! Actually they seem to be working; I almost feel like I could eat something.

I like the talking to the screen thing. I'm a freak, but sometimes the people are just as funny as what's onscreen. Feel better Angus!

I actually think it adds to the viewing experience, if the audience is in the same kind of mood as I am. If they're not, it bugs me.

This is me. I have to be in just the right mood for a particular movie anyway, so perhaps I'm a wee bit picky. I saw The Matrix with my sister, right when it came out so the theatres were full, and it was great. She's one of those who jumps at every quick cut, gets all wriggly and nervous when the ominous music comes on, etc. And it was so much better having her there reacting to every little thing they threw at you.

But ususally that stuff would really annoy. I think I don't like other people that I don't know reminding me that they're there too. Gosh I'm friendly, aren't I?