Wish List

Thank you for your Top 10 things the film industry is clueless on, especially that previews (trailers) should “entice and intrigue, not give away the entire plot” (“10 Movie Wishes for 2000,” by Kathleen Craughwell, Jan. 2).

Previews suck. The studio heads, producers and stars must think we’re a bunch of morons who need someone to pat our hands and tell us everything will be all right, that Julia Roberts will fall in love, that Harrison Ford will win the day and that the beautiful killer will meet yet another incredible end. Almost every plot point is given away in scene after scene in less than a minute, so to hell with suspense, surprise and audience participation.

Getting there, from that first look to the moment of consummation or revelation, means everything, is everything, in the movies. Previews deflate those exciting possibilities.

From now on, when I see previews come on TV, I’ll just change the channel.

DONALD SOMMERFIELD

Barstow

*

Craughwell pinpointed several good pet peeves. However, the one example she did not include were people that put their feet up on the backs of theater seats. This has become an annoying and inconsiderate habit.

There is nothing more irritating than getting comfortable in your theater seat and have someone sit in the row behind you and kick or move their feet about on the seats in your row. You sit there determining whether to move to another row or stay where you are and be distracted and jolted throughout the movie.

Theaters should post a visible sign warning “seat kickers” against this nuisance to their patrons.

IRIS TATRO

Irvine

*

I heartily disagree with Craughwell’s wish No. 2, which read: “The Academy Awards ceremony should never be longer than two hours. (For those who really care about who wins best sound effects editing, the technical awards could be shown separately on cable.)”

The Oscars are shown one evening a year to honor all of the equally important contributions to the art of filmmaking, sound effects editing included. If it takes longer than two hours to honor them all, you can be sure that I will still make time to see it. And I strongly object to the viewpoint that any of the winners’ accomplishments are less important than the others’.

BRIAN FOYSTER

Los Angeles

*

I could not believe that you did not include the removal of the commercials shown at movie theaters these days. I am so sick and tired of seeing the NBA All-Star Ballot and Hollywood.com advertisements. If I wanted to watch commercials, I’d stay at home.

But the worst commercial (and the longest) is the mock news program about a little boy whose foot is trapped in a gopher hole. On second thought, I guess I do understand why this topic wasn’t included in your list, being that the advertisement was for latimes.com.

KENNETH CHU

La Habra