9 Ways to Save on Movie Tickets

A night at the movies is now a much pricier proposition.

Blame it on the popcorn. Skyrocketing commodity prices for corn are jacking up costs at both the concession stand and box office. AMC Theatres, for example, recently raised popcorn prices nationwide by 25 cents a bag. Now, the smallest 32-ounce container costs $4.75. And, in certain markets such as Kansas City, ticket prices for shows after 4:00 p.m. now cost $10 instead of $9.

High oil prices and increased demand for ethanol, an alternative fuel produced from corn, are the culprits behind the rising price for corn, says Richard McKenzie, a University of California, Irvine economist and author of “Why Popcorn Costs So Much at the Movies, and Other Pricing Puzzles.” The corn used for popcorn is a separate variety than the one used for ethanol. So food manufacturers have to keep increasing their bids for the popcorn crop to keep farmers from switching to the more lucrative fuel crop.

As a result, moviegoers will see ticket price increases of $1 or $2 this year. But it’s at the concession stand where they’ll be hardest hit. “Theaters want to keep the margin on concession items as high as possible, and on tickets, as low as possible,” says Wesley Hartmann, associate professor of marketing at Stanford University. If $7 for a bag of popcorn shocks consumers, they’ll most likely go without. But if ticket prices are too high, they may decide to skip the movie altogether and wait to see “Get Smart” when it comes out on DVD.

Don’t resign yourself to a summer of TV reruns and microwave popcorn quite yet. Here are some ways to make a trip to the movies a lot more affordable:

Seek Out Freebies

Many theaters offer free showings of family movies, especially during the summer, says Mary Hunt, founder of Debt-Proof Living, a consumer advocate web site. Regal Entertainment Group, for example, hosts a Free Family Film Festival every Tuesday and Wednesday morning through the end of August, showing flicks like “Curious George” and “Alvin and The Chipmunks.” Clearview Cinemas’ Kid’s Club kicks off an eight-week series of free movies starting June 26.

Clip Coupons

Your local Entertainment Book typically offers reduced-price movie tickets of $5 to $6 apiece. Also, keep your eyes peeled for special promotions at places like the grocery store.

Head to the Drive-In

If there’s a drive-in in your town, then get behind the wheel. Even though these theaters are considered old-fashioned, they mostly show new releases — and at the bargain price of about $7 a person for a double feature, says Jennifer Sherer Janisch, co-creator of Drive-ins.com, an online directory. (The Laurel Drive-In in Hazelton, Pa., for example, is currently showing “Kung Fu Panda” and “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull” for $6 per adult, $3 per kid.) Some drive-ins don’t even charge for kids, while others offer bargain per-car pricing. Concession fare is often cheaper, too, adds Janisch.

Check Out Independent Theaters

Wait a month or so for new movies to show up at a local independently-owned theater, and you can save more than 70%, advises Tawra Kellam, founder of frugal living newsletter Living on a Dime. The Kleeburg Marketplace Cinemas in Winston-Salem, N.C., is showing features like “Nim’s Island” and “Dr. Seuss’ Horton Hears a Who” for just $2.50. Prices at Cinemark Movies 10 in Plano, Texas, range from $1 (matinee) to $2 (prime Friday and Saturday evening showings).

Buy in Bulk

At AMC Theatres, avid moviegoers can buy tickets in increments of 50 for $6 to $7.50 each. The tickets don’t expire. “It’s a substantial cash outlay, but boy, is the per-ticket price a good deal,” says Hunt. There is one catch, though: The cheaper tickets cannot be used for special engagements (i.e., the first two weeks of a movie’s release.)

Avoid Reservation Sites

Go online and you’ll end up paying more for your ticket. Movietickets.com charges a $1 surcharge; Fandango.com tacks on 75 cents to $1.50, depending on the area.
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Trade Up on Snacks

If you’re going to buy popcorn or soda, go big. “Per ounce, the smallest size of popcorn is twice the price of filet mignon,” says McKenzie. Trade up for the larger size and you’re paying less per ounce — plus, many theaters still offer free refills. While it’s not much of a deal for a solo viewer, larger groups will find it more cost effective than buying individually.

Go at Off Times

Heading to the theater on a Friday or Saturday night is the most expensive time to go, notes Hunt. In San Francisco, Cinemark charges an extra $0.50 per ticket on those nights. Theaters are also shortening their matinee hours, she cautions. New York’s AMC Theaters offer matinee pricing ($6 instead of $12 for an adult ticket) only before noon on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays and holidays.

Be Loyal

Joining the loyalty club at your favorite theater can pay off, even if you don’t go to the movies that often. AMC Theaters’ AMC MovieWatcher Rewards offers coupons for a free small popcorn each week, plus two points per ticket purchased. After you’ve earned 30, you’ll get a free ticket. The Regal Crown Club awards one point per $1 spent. Rack up 120 points and redeem them for a free ticket.

The above article was originally posted here.

Sex in the City: (the movie) (2008:R)

Sex and the City (the Movie) (2008: R)
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt1000774/
Director:Michael Patrick King. Sarah Jessica Parker … Carrie Bradshaw; Kim Cattrall … Samantha Jones; Kristin Davis … Charlotte York; Cynthia Nixon … Miranda Hobbes; Chris Noth … Mr. Big; Candice Bergen … Enid Frick; Jennifer Hudson … Louise, and many more.
Alright, one of my favorite HBO tv-series, and I was collecting the series, but at some point, don’t remember why, I stopped buying seasons after Season 3 … perhaps the shennanigans of the four girlfriends in the search of love was becoming too predictable. Perhaps I got distracted by Lost, Charmed, Angel, Buffy, Roswell, Veronica Mars, Smallville, and Heroes and just didn’t have funds to buy the dvd sets of anything new. I will have to resume my collection, because this movie just emphasized that I really do love and adore “Sex in the City” and how relevant their stories are with my life’s adventures with dating, love, and romance. Here we visit back to New York, where single women move to NYC for career and the search for love. We find Carrie still dating Mr. Big and deciding to move in with him, stumble upon a “lets get married” situation that goes awry but later leads to a happy ending after much distraught. Samantha had moved off to LA to live with an actor and start settling down and reducing her sexisodes as she starts to focus on being a housewife of sorts. Charlotte becomes pregnant and is living a very happy love life, and Miranda finds infidelity in her relationship which destroys something good that she just didn’t see. Many of the situations in the plot were of course similar to things I’ve gone through in life and had me thinking about love and relationships. It was action and drama packed - and while kinda weird to see one of your favorite tv shows get turned into a theatrical 2 hour + movie, it worked and I was very pleased. Rating 4 1/2 stars out of 5. viewed 6/12/08.

Wanted

I saw a trailer of this film the last time i watched a movie. It stars really sexy Angelina Jolie. I think I’m gonna watch this when it opens in theaters. Hope the movie is great as the trailer showed real great action-packed scenes!

Synopsis:
25-year-old Wes was the most disaffected, cube-dwelling drone the planet had ever known. His boss chewed him out hourly, his girlfriend ignored him routinely and his life plodded on interminably. Everyone was certain this disengaged slacker would amount to nothing. There was little else for Wes to do but wile away the days and die in his slow, clock-punching rut. Until he met a woman named Fox. After his estranged father is murdered, the deadly sexy Fox recruits Wes into the Fraternity, a secret society that trains Wes to avenge his dad’s death by unlocking his dormant powers. As she teaches him how to develop lightning-quick reflexes and phenomenal agility, Wes discovers this team lives by an ancient, unbreakable code: carry out the death orders given by fate itself. With wickedly brilliant tutors–including the Fraternity’s enigmatic leader, Sloan–Wes grows to enjoy all the strength he ever wanted. But, slowly, he begins to realize there is more to his dangerous associates than meets the eye. And as he wavers between newfound heroism and vengeance, Wes will come to learn what no one could ever teach him: he alone controls his destiny.

Also Known As:
Wanted
Wanted (Universal Pictures)
Production Status: In Production/Awaiting Release
Logline: The tale of one apathetic nobody’s transformation into an unparalleled enforcer of justice.
Genres: Action/Adventure, Drama, Science Fiction/Fantasy, Thriller, Crime/Gangster and Adaptation
Release Date: June 27th, 2008 (wide)
MPAA Rating: R for strong bloody violence throughout, pervasive language and some sexuality.
Distributors:
Universal Pictures Distribution
Production Co.:
Kickstart Productions, Marc Platt Productions, Top Cow Entertainment
Studios:
Universal Pictures
Filming Locations:
Prague
Chicago, USA
Produced in: United States

Sex and the City: The Movie

Rising from the many devoted fans of the famed HBO television show Sex and the City, is finally meeting fans’ request for a full feature length film.
The movie picks up four years later with the main characters of Carrie Bradshaw (Sarah Jessica Parker), Samantha Jones (Kim Cattrell), Miranda Hobbs (Cynthia Nixon), Charlotte York Goldenblatt (Kristin Davis), and Mr. Big (Chris Noth) living life in the New York Big City.

So far the reported plot has been that Carrie is suppose to wed Mr. Big, but something grand occurs and the wedding is called off. Samantha is still up to her sensual antics of continuing to shock the audiences, Miranda’s husband Steve (David Eigenberg) allegedly cheats on her, and Charlotte after adopting her Asian daughter finally gets pregnant as per the movie trailer. The plot has been kept very secretive between cast members and directors. However, the approach the directors have taken for it to be an exciting movie with a dramatic ending. There have already been talks about a sequel to the movie, if this first movie proves to be a smashing success.

This movie is planned to open late May which will give the start of the summer movie season off with a big bang.

21

21 is another Las Vegas gambling movie that is based on a true story. It is another movie of a wave of movies coming out in conjunction with the medias recent obsession with poker and blackjack gambling. Based on an MIT professor grooming several of his math geniuses in the art of counting cards and using statistics to game the system. As successful as they are, they receive a lot of unwanted attention from a security chief who is out to make a point before losing his job. 21 has the potential to be a great blockbuster hit with all of the bright lights of Vegas and casino chips. However, it fails to live up to the hype. With cliche after cliche, 21 is a poorly put together movie of all glamor and very little substance. If you’re looking for a mindless action movie that plays to your most basic senses, 21 is a decent movie to watch. Just don’t expect Ocean’s 11.

Water Horse Movie Review

Water Horse is a great family movie. It is based on a young lad finding an egg. The egg hatches the one and only Water Horse. According to legend only one Water Horse can be in existence at a time. They are hatched orphans and very loyal to their owners.

Intrigue and mystery follow this story. It is an excellent story line and not gruesome. It is light enough that the kids can enjoy it. It has some hilarious parts that will keep everyone laughing. The adults can enjoy some of the humor that kids might miss.

I’d give this movie 5 stars out of 5 stars.

The Ruins: R - 2008

The Ruins (Rated R)
Director: Carter Smith; Writers: Scott B. Smith; Starring: Johnathan Tucker, Jena Malone, Shawn Ashmore, Laura Ramsey, Joe Anderson, Sergio Calderon, and many more. Filmed in Australia.
Release: April 4, 2008. Genre: Horror / Thriller. web site: http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0963794/

It’s a tale about two couples who went on a Mexican holiday and being a little bored by doing the “tourist” thing sheltered under the resorts, on their last two days meet a German tourist who has an offer to excite their holiday. The German tourist has a friend who hasn’t come back yet from checking out these un-marked ruins with a local archaeologist. He invites the couples and the next day they set off to go explore the ruins and look for the missing friend. Before they know it, they run into a Mayan tribe who won’t let them leave the ruins because they touched the sacred vines. Before long they learn the secrets to the ruins and why the Mayans are so afraid of the pyramid and the horrors within. They get plucked off one by one with skin crawling terror as they fight to survive. Man against nature. It’s an interesting movie with twists sharing elements from “Cabin Fever” and “Turistas”. Very interesting twists. Rating: 3.75 stars out of 5. Viewed 4/4/08.

88 Minutes Movie Review

“88 Minutes” is riveting, thrilling and very suspenseful. There were several times in the movie that I was almost certain who the caller was. Yet, I was wrong. You will be pleased and I think surprised by the ending.

This movie is based on the main character receiving phone calls, messages and everything else with only 88 minutes to live. The number of minutes is significant to his life.

I give this movie 5 stars out of 5. Be sure to get your popcorn and soda first because you will not want to miss a minute of this.

The Bucket List

“The Bucket List” is about two men that find out they are terminal. It is set up as a comedy. I was actually quite disappointed in this movie. The humor I found to be extremely distasteful. The sensitivity of the subject was handled poorly.

I did have friends that found this movie to be a riot! I guess I should’ve known from the title and the expression “kick the bucket” that this was not going to be one of my favorites.

I give this movie 2 stars out of 5

21 Movie Review

The movie, “21″ is based on a true story. I am always captivated when I get to see a movie that is actually based on someone’s life. While I’m watching the movie, I find myself thinking “What would I do if that happened to me?”

The movie, “21″ is based on a young man that has to find a way to pay his way through college. He happens on a club of card counters that are taught and led by a math professor at the college. On the weekends, the group goes to casinos and make a fortune counting cards.

I won’t give away the ending. It was very fascinating to watch. It was also very realistic. Nothing in life is perfectly easy to do and this true story definitely proved that.

Get your popcorn and drinks early before you sit down. I give this 6 stars out of 5 because it was that good!

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