I love movies. I grew up loving them, and I will probably never stop going to the cinema. I constantly regret not having been born early enough to go to a drive in movie. That being said, the cinema wreaks havoc on my wallet. Pleasant havoc, but havoc nonetheless. And so, find below the cheapest ways to watch a movie (the Dark Knight Rises was just to draw you in. It would have certainly worked for me. And besides. It’s out. So the title isn’t as misleading as it looks after all)

1. IMAX. Now, I realize IMAX is not cheap. But it really is freakin’ awesome. It makes everything else look…well, a lot less awesome. Like Riverwood. Or America’s Funniest Home Videos (remember that show? Hahahahahahaha). So, this is how you can get the best deal: GO FOR THE EARLY MORNING OR THE MIDNIGHT SHOW. Those are both 400 bob (instead of the usual 800 bob) which is a preeeetty sweet deal. If you save up 800, you can go for the early morning The Amazing Spiderman (although I think they are showing Avengers now, they started showing it again on August 10th) and the midnight Dark Knight Rises! Alternatively, you could go with your student ID (or cop an unsuspecting young’uns, BWAHAHAHAHA) and pay 500. I hope you look like the picture (be warned, TDKR is IMAX 2D, not IMAX 3D, so no glasses, but still…awesome).
2. Prestige Plaza. Now, last I checked, movies here were 400 bob, but management has changed so many times, I am not even sure anymore. When it was Century Cinemax, they were 400, but now at Starflix, they should be 350. Also, I don’t think they are showing TDKR…not that this post is all about TDKR… *ahem*
3. Any cinema still owned by Fox. I grew up in cinemas like these. The nostalgia is overwhelming. My first movie in a cinema (unlike the entire Kenyan populace) was The Lost World at 20^th Century. I was heartbroken when they closed down Kenya Cinema. I wanted to buy it myself. Do you think they will turn it into a church?...but I digress. Fox Sarit still has its special offer on Tuesdays for 250 bob (as well as Indian movies for 350, an offer which I am anxiously waiting to take advantage of, as 3 Idiots is one of my faves of all time), and Fox Capital’s special is 200 (*cheers*). You could literally watch 4 movies instead of going to IMAX. Talk about a cheap (and extensive) date.
4. Your local illegal DVD place. A place very close to our hearts located in the heart of town (not the liver, or the spleen – GEORGE, GEORGE, GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE, WATCH OUT FOR THAT - ) was shut down recently, leaving a hole that seems impossible to fill. To be fair, it was sweaty and always packed, but it was HOME – I mean, DVD heaven. And now, we are left, loose and aimlessly wandering about, in search of a place to call our own den of internet downloaded criminal activity. *sigh* The copies of TDKR – and…you know…other movies that people want to watch – may be slightly unclear and nowhere nearly as awesome as if you had just gone big screen, but hey. I watched Men In Black 3 on possibly the worst camera copy ever – you know, those ones with people walking through? – and I still liked it. 50 BOB, WHOOP WHOOP!
5. When KTN finally decides to bring the movie (or NTV) and does so on repeat, (remember Face Off?), you can watch it then. It’ll take years…but it’ll be FREE. What’s cheaper than FREE??!! Unless Kenya Power – or lack thereof – screws you over.