Not a pretty picture at the movies

Re “This Just in: Flops Caused Box Office Slump,” Oct. 1

You left out an important reason why people aren’t going to the movies: commercials. After reading the favorable Times review of “Duma,” I took my family to the AMC, which cost $36. We were subjected to commercials for 15 minutes, then the requisite previews before the glorious “Duma” began. But the effects were lasting, and at the end my husband fumed that he resented having to pay to watch commercials; it made him not want to go to the theater.

When you add this to the ticket price and the price of gas, you better have one fantastic movie, and let’s face it, you can’t knock it out of the park every time you step up to Bat(man Begins).

KAYE KITTRELL

Pacific Palisades

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If vomiting in the face of the 40-year-old virgin is not an assault on the intelligence of moviegoers, what is? Is this the sort of vulgarity that elevates a movie from “mediocrity” to “blockbuster”?

TODD CLOANINGER

San Diego