Tonight, I thought I’d take the opportunity of being in Liverpool to watch The Odyssey, as Christopher Nolan intended: in IMAX. The film was as good as can be expected. A bit timey-wimey, very crashy-bangy and somewhat loosey-goosey with the accents and language (but that wasn’t the point).

Call me old fashioned, but a cinema experience should be one of venerance for the film makers, respect for our fellow viewers and recognition of the art of film. There’s even a code of conduct. But when I went, those immediately both sides of me had no respect.

• Kept checking mobile phone, with brightness
• Eating, crunching, that was not the surround sound I want
• Taking shoes off and getting his sweaty feet far too close
• Mobile phone notifications going off

I’m frequently hating the ‘cinemas’ in the Isle of Man. One is filthy and needs knocking down (but which seems to get all the big films) and the other is an uncomfortable, small screen with noisy air-conditioning and poor sound.

We have a development area that is constantly in a state of flux on Lord Street. Is it going to happen? Will it be a cinema? No it’s not. Yes it is. Somehow, it looks to be happening … for now.

I’d love it if it did, but if this is what it’s going to be like having a proper cinema in The Isle of Man, then I don’t want one.