2008 Woodie Awards
A Quick Guide to reel entertainment on the cheap
By: April Wynn
Issue date: 2/28/07 Section: Entertainment & Features
- Page 1 of 1
April Wynn
Staff Writer
With all the stress of being a college student, sometimes it is nice to just sit, relax and zone out to a good movie. Movies, which are a favorite past time with college students, used to be an inexpensive way to hang out with friends on the weekends.
Bbhq.com reported that the average price for a movie ticket in 1962 was around 50 cents. My how things have changed since then with the average price of a movie ticket in 2004 being eight dollars. As the country has seen the ticket prices skyrocket, people are attending the theater less and less. With prices right now around nine dollars for a matinee and with the student ID price being seven dollars, going to the movies is almost out of the question for most students.
The cheapest way to watch a good movie is to rent. Since the sudden inflation of theater prices, renting movies has become the newest trend and has become very popular with the college generation of today. Here are some quality videos or DVD rental companies that are more in a student's budget range.
One of the new ways to rent movies is with an online company that will deliver them to a person's home. Try Netflix.com or Blockbuster's Total Access online at Blockbuster.com. Both offer a two-week free trial and shipping both to and from the company as well as both are received within one to two business days. Another added bonus is that there are no late fees and a person can pick out all the movies they want from classics to new releases online. Both companies most popular plans are for three DVDs at a time and as many as you can watch each month for $17.99 plus tax. The only difference between the companies is that with Blockbuster, the customer is able to take a DVD back to the store and pick up a new one the same day, all the while waiting on one in the mail as well.
Like going to the video store? Try going to Movie Gallery. Membership is free at the store and to rent a DVD the cost is a little under five dollars and is due back either within the next two days or a week later, depending on the type of rental. The store is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., Friday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, noon until 10 p.m. there are Movie Gallery locations in Travelers Rest and Greer.
Hollywood Video is similar to Movie Gallery but stays open later, has more of a selection in older films, television series and new releases and offers lower rates. The closest location is at Cherrydale Point in Greenville.
Totally strapped for cash? DVDXpress is a DVD kiosk, usually found in Bi-Lo's, that has new DVD releases available to rent for only $1.49. DVDXpress only has one-day rentals, but late fees are only a dollar a day.
Another option is if one enjoys keeping some favorite movies is to head to Wal-Mart and browse the bargain DVD section, where older movies are only $5.50.
Movies do not have to be a no-go for a person without the funds. Just go rent it and enjoy it in your pajamas with some cheap candy and popcorn in the dorm, because it's not like one can wear those to the theater anyway.
Staff Writer
With all the stress of being a college student, sometimes it is nice to just sit, relax and zone out to a good movie. Movies, which are a favorite past time with college students, used to be an inexpensive way to hang out with friends on the weekends.
Bbhq.com reported that the average price for a movie ticket in 1962 was around 50 cents. My how things have changed since then with the average price of a movie ticket in 2004 being eight dollars. As the country has seen the ticket prices skyrocket, people are attending the theater less and less. With prices right now around nine dollars for a matinee and with the student ID price being seven dollars, going to the movies is almost out of the question for most students.
The cheapest way to watch a good movie is to rent. Since the sudden inflation of theater prices, renting movies has become the newest trend and has become very popular with the college generation of today. Here are some quality videos or DVD rental companies that are more in a student's budget range.
One of the new ways to rent movies is with an online company that will deliver them to a person's home. Try Netflix.com or Blockbuster's Total Access online at Blockbuster.com. Both offer a two-week free trial and shipping both to and from the company as well as both are received within one to two business days. Another added bonus is that there are no late fees and a person can pick out all the movies they want from classics to new releases online. Both companies most popular plans are for three DVDs at a time and as many as you can watch each month for $17.99 plus tax. The only difference between the companies is that with Blockbuster, the customer is able to take a DVD back to the store and pick up a new one the same day, all the while waiting on one in the mail as well.
Like going to the video store? Try going to Movie Gallery. Membership is free at the store and to rent a DVD the cost is a little under five dollars and is due back either within the next two days or a week later, depending on the type of rental. The store is open Monday through Thursday, 10 a.m. until 10 p.m., Friday to Saturday, 10 a.m. to 11 p.m. and Sunday, noon until 10 p.m. there are Movie Gallery locations in Travelers Rest and Greer.
Hollywood Video is similar to Movie Gallery but stays open later, has more of a selection in older films, television series and new releases and offers lower rates. The closest location is at Cherrydale Point in Greenville.
Totally strapped for cash? DVDXpress is a DVD kiosk, usually found in Bi-Lo's, that has new DVD releases available to rent for only $1.49. DVDXpress only has one-day rentals, but late fees are only a dollar a day.
Another option is if one enjoys keeping some favorite movies is to head to Wal-Mart and browse the bargain DVD section, where older movies are only $5.50.
Movies do not have to be a no-go for a person without the funds. Just go rent it and enjoy it in your pajamas with some cheap candy and popcorn in the dorm, because it's not like one can wear those to the theater anyway.
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