$16 for Two Fandango Tickets (Upto $26 Value) on Groupon

Let Fandango help you celebrate the summer. Right now you can buy a deal on Groupon for two Fandango promotional codes. The deal costs $16 and will give you two promotional codes worth upto $13 each ($26 total). If your local movie theater costs more than $8 for a ticket, this is a great deal.

Promotional value expires Dec 31, 2015. Amount paid never expires. Starting on Jan 1, 2016, the Promotional Code will be valid for 2 movie tickets ($8 per ticket, up to $16 total value), and there will be no expiration date for the Promotional Code. Limit 1/person. FINAL SALE; no returns. Cannot combine with other promotional code, gift code, or Groupon Bucks. Only valid for purchases made at www.fandango.com or via the Fandango app for Fandango partner theaters in the U.S. and cannot be redeemed directly at any Fandango partner theater box office. Offer valid in U.S. and valid for 1-time use only. See additional fine print. Promo codes not valid on this offer. Merchant is solely responsible to purchasers for the care and quality of the advertised goods and services.

Free Screening of Spy (Select Cities)

Regal Crown members can currently get passes for a free screening of Spy, the new movie starring Melissa McCarthy. Remember, membership is free for Regal Crown. It looks like most screenings are on May 27, 2015 at 7pm but check because your city might be different

 At the time of this posting free passes to Spy are available in the following cities:

• Atlanta, GA
• Birmingham, AL
• Carmel, IN
• Cary, NC
• Charlotte, NC
• Chicago, IL
• Columbus, OH
• Westlake, OH
• Denver, CO
• Dublin, CA
• Eagan, MN
• Gilbert, AZ
• Greenville, SC
• Hazelwood, MO
• Houston, TX
• Hunt Valley, MD
• Irving, TX
• Kansas City, MO
• King of Prussia, PA
• Las Vegas, NV
• Live Oak, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• Mason, OH
• Miami Beach, FL
• Nashville, TN
• New York, NY
• Orlando, FL
• Pinellas Park, FL
• Renton, WA
• Royal Palm Beach, FL
• Sacramento, CA
• San Diego, CA
• Silver Spring, MD
• Tigard, OR
• Walled Lake, MI
• Washington, PA
• Waterbury, CT

Free Passes to See The Duff (Select Cities)

It's been a while since we've seen a mass posting of free screenings but right now Gofobo has available passes to see The Duff for free. The times and dates will be different based on the location. As of this posting, their are still 87 locations available.

Free Tickets to Selma for Middle School Students (Select Cities)

Do you know anyone in 7th, 8th, or 9th grade? In honor of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, middle school students in select cities can see Selma for free.    

7th, 8th and 9th Graders can show their student ID or report card at the box office of any participating theater in these new cities, to receive their free tickets.
Starts JANUARY 12TH through JANUARY 19TH (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day) or while tickets last.

The following cities are currently listed. Each city has specific theaters that are participating in the program. If you are a teacher and can schedule a trip quickly, group tickets are available. Each theater has a contact person listed.

• BOSTON, MA
• NASHVILLE, TN
• NEW JERSEY
• PHILADELPHIA, PA
• SAN FRANCISCO, CA
• SARASOTA, FL
• WESTCHESTER, NY
• NEW CITIES COMING 1/14

Why I Love the Public Library

It's a new year and I'd like to remind everyone about my favorite source for free entertainment: your public library. Every library offers different programs but there are some generic offers that most libraries across the country will have. Remember, libraries are funded through a combination of government funds, private donations, and grants.

BOOKS
Obvious I know, but all public libraries house books. You will be able to find everything from classics to new releases. If your library doesn't offer the book you would like to read, you can always ask your librarian to order the title. If the title is popular enough, they will likely order the book.

EBOOKS
Many libraries now offer eBooks, but not everyone knows where to look for them. Ask your librarian where the eBooks are offered on the website. In Philadelphia, there is a pink icon on the library's homepage labeled "Digital Media" where you can download eBooks.

DVDS
You can borrow all types of DVDs from your local library. From new releases, to classics, and everything in between. Libraries will also carry a variety of how-to DVDs, documentaries, and other educational films.

MUSIC
While some libraries participate in Freegal to allow members to download free music, most libraries will still loan CDs. New or old, the library will most likely have the music you want to listen to. Just borrow a CD, crank up the speakers and enjoy.

RETRO
Many libraries will still have older items in stock. For example, you might be able to borrow VHS tapes and vinyl records. These older formats are often stored in the back room, basement, or other out of the way location. Use your library's database to search for these items and then ask your librarian for help with finding them.

CLASSES
Do you want to learn a new craft? Want to improve your chess game? Many libraries offer community programs and free classes. Ask your librarian for a schedule of events.

ADDITIONAL COMMUNITY SERVICES
Some libraries offer programs such as career guidance, homework help, notary public, and more. I recommend you check out your local library to see what they offer before you spend money elsewhere.

Free Screening of Kingman (Select Cities)

It's been a while since we've seen a film with so many screenings available. Kingsman The Secret Service is currently running a promotion which includes free tickets to see Kingsman in select cities throughout the country.

Check the map on the Become a Kingsman website to see if your local city will be having a free screening of Kingsman.

This Weekend Get Free Passes to See Laggies

This weekend, you can get a pair of passes to see Laggies for free. From December 12-14, 2014 you can see Laggies for free at participating AMC theaters.

This is the same promotion as when they offered free passes to Begin Again. It looks like AMC is trying to help independent films reach the mainstream market. I enjoyed Begin Again so I hope that I will enjoy Laggies as well.

Original Tweet:

‏@AMCindependent Get 2 FREE tix to @LaggiesTheMovie Fri - Sun w/ this coupon in select AMCs! Find locations! http://m.amcurl.com/0D0rf

Free Screenings of Dumb and Dumber To (Select Cities)

The long awaited sequel to Dumb and Dumber is almost here. Regal Theaters will be hosting pre-screenings of the new film before it opens to the public. Dates and times will be different depending on what location you select. As of this posting you can get free passes to Dumb and Dumber To for the following locations:

• Austin, TX
• Beavercreek, OH
• Colorado Springs, CO
• Columbus, OH
• Greenville, SC
• Harrisburg, PA
• High Point, NC
• Irving, TX
• Las Vegas, NV
• Live Oak, TX
• Omaha, NE
• Richmond, VA
• San Marcos, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Swansea, MA
• Washington, PA
• Waterbury, CT
• Wilder, KT
• Williamsville, NY

See Begin Again For Free This Weekend

If you're looking for something to do this weekend, I recommend checking out Begin Again at AMC. The coupon for four free tickets to see Begin Again is valid from August 29, 2014 through September 1, 2014. The following tweet was published by @AMCindependent:

Get 4 FREE tix to #BeginAgain from 8/29 - 9/1 with this coupon! RT the news & find showtimes! http://m.amcurl.com/05nbw

I have sent a tweet to AMC to confirm that AMCindependent is a legit source of coupons, but AMC's main page does follow them. If I learn otherwise, I will update this post.

Free Screenings of As Above/As Below (Select Cities)

Universal Pictures is currently offering free screenings of As Above/So Below. Dates and times will vary based on the location. As of this posting, the following cities still have passes available:

• Atlanta - Morrow, GA
• Baton Rouge, LA
• Boston - Braintree, MA
• Charlotte - Concord, NC
• Chicago - Schererville, IL
• Cincinnati - Newport , KY
• Dallas, TX
• Dallas - Mesquite, TX
• Denver - Westminster, CO
• Detroit - Dearborn, MI
• Hartford - Plainville, CT
• Houston, TX
• Indianapolis, IN
• Kansas City - Independence, MO
• Las Vegas, NV
• Madison - Fitchburg, WI
• Milwaukee - Wauwatosa, WI
• Minneapolis - Edina, MN
• Minneapolis - Roseville , MN
• New York City - Middletown, NY
• Norfolk - Hampton, VA
• Orange County - Orange, CA
• Philadelphia - Cherry Hill, NJ
• Phoenix, AZ
• Phoenix - Glendale, AZ
• Pittsburgh - West Homestead, PA
• Raleigh - Durham, NC
• Sacramento - Manteca, CA
• San Francisco - Santa Clara, CA
• San Jose, CA
• Seattle - Lynnwood, WA
• Washington, DC - Alexandria, VA
• Washington, DC - McLean, VA

Free Redbox Rental Today Only (August 22, 2014)

Today only (August 22, 2014), use the promo code DELETED to get a free movie at any Redbox machine. This code is good once per account.

I'm not sure if it will work or not, but I heard that this code will take the value of a regular DVD off a higher costing rental such as Bluray or games.

Update: Sorry everyone. It seems that this promotional code was accidentally released online. It was only meant for a select customers through a text message. Redbox has removed the code from their system and it will no longer work.

Free Movie Rental from Redbox Today Only

Does Redbox need a reason to release a one day only free rental code? Nope. Today on Facebook, Redbox posted an image with the promo code SUNSHINE to get a free movie, which is valid today only (August 4, 2014). The code is valid once per credit card.

They're captioning the image as "Free Movie Monday" so hopefully this promotion will be continuing for a few weeks, similar to when Redbox machines were first popping up everywhere.

Free Screenings of The Purge: Anarchy

Universal Pictures want you to attend a free advanced screening of The Purge: Anarchy. This film is the sequel to last years, The Purge. There are screenings all over the country with over 20 locations still available. The dates and times of the screenings will vary depending on your location, so check out the landing page and see if your local area is still available.

$5 Instant Reward for AMC Stubs Card Holders (New and Current Members)

From now until June 30, 2014, sign up for AMC Stubs text message alerts for a bonus $5 loaded into your rewards.

Bonus Bucks promotion is a limited-time offer. Limit of one $5 AMC Stubs Bonus Bucks reward per member during the promotion time period. AMC Stubs members who are already opted in to receive AMC Stubs SMS are not eligible for this offer. AMC Stubs Membership must be active during promotion to receive Bonus Bucks. Offer valid through June 30th, 2014. AMC Stubs Bonus Bucks will be available for redemption within 48 hours of opt in, and will expire at the end of the promotion, at 12:01am on July 1st, 2014. AMC associates are not eligible for this offer.

If you aren't currently a member of AMC Stubs, membership is $12 for a year. The $12 fee seems high but it gives you free upgrades at the concession stand and a $10 reward for every $100 you spend. Additionally, AMC is always running specials for their members including free screenings. The free movies are normally worth more than the $12 fee. If you join AMC Stubs and then sign up for text messages, the instant reward will bring membership down to only $7 for the year.

There's a rumor that membership has been reduced to $8 until August 31, 2014, but I can't find that on AMC's website. If true, your actual cost would be $3 after the instant reward.

Source: Slick Deals

Wizard World's Philadelphia Comic Con - Day 2 (Saturday)

Day two of Comic Con began much different than day one. First, I arrived in the morning, instead of later in the day. Second, the crowds. I thought Friday seemed busy but it was a ghost town compared to Saturday. When I got off the train, it was like cattle being herded. It seemed that every person at Market East was heading to the convention center. Upon arriving, volunteers were yelling directions for those ready to enter and other people that needed to first register. I already had my bracelet from Friday so I was set to walk directly in.

As I walked with the crowds, I noticed that booths that were crowded yesterday were actually blocked off due to over-popularity today. For example, Norton had a great exhibit about X-Men while subtlety advertising their technology. Yesterday I could walk in and take a picture with the cardboard cutouts as a X-Men, but today the tent was so full that they had to wait for it to empty before allowing the next group of people in. Other areas had similar problems.

While yesterday I just wore a Mario themed t-shirt, today I thought I'd brave a little cosplay. I didn't want to dye my hair though so people didn't really get it. If I said something first, then I would get "oh, I see it now." While others didn't get it, I thought my River Song looked great in the Tardis.

Yesterday I walked around and got the lay of the land, today I decided to take in some panel discussions. I went to Sean Astin, Whoopi Goldberg, David Boreanaz, and Jason David Frank. The first three were in the ballroom, while Jason David Frank was in a smaller room. I also saw panels for Christopher Lloyd and Nathan Fillion listed but there was too much to do and some times overlapped.

Each panel had microphones set up for fans to ask questions. After a brief introduction, the moderator would point to a microphone for you to ask a question. I only asked a question to David Boreanaz. Sorry for the shaky filming but it was hard to keep the camera steady and bend down to the microphone at the same time.


After the panels, I went back to the main floor to walk around again before leaving. My first Comic Con was a great experience and I learned tons of stuff. First, avoid Saturday if possible. It seems that everyone goes on Saturday. Even people that paid for pictures and autographs had to wait twice as long. The celebrities are there the entire weekend, unless specifically noted. You're better going on Friday or Sunday when the crowd is smaller. Second, cosplay is not important. It's fun to see all the costumes but it doesn't make the convention. The final thing I learned was bring cash. While some vendors have credit card readers on their phones, many of the vendors didn't take plastic. I only bought one thing, but the guy's credit card reader broke and he became cash only.

Although the convention is continuing on Sunday, I decided to skip the final day. There were a few more interesting panels but there was another event this weekend here in Philadelphia that I decided to check out. So Sunday I will be at the Manyuank Art's Festival.

If you want to see more photos from Wizard World Philadelphia, check out the Making Cents of It Facebook Page. I've created an album with the pictures that came out decent.

Following the convention, I will be writing a full post on how to attend Comic Cons for cheap, possibly free. Keep an eye out because with ticket prices starting at $45 for a single day's admission, and autographs costing another $50, Comic Con can quickly add up to a huge expense.

Wizard World's Philadelphia Comic Con - Day 1 (Friday)

From the moment I stepped off the train at Market East, I could see that the convention was indeed in town. People all around the train station were in costumes, carrying yellow "Wizard World" bags, and heading towards the convention center. Once there, I was a little disappointed when I walked in to see the ground floor almost empty. Surely a convention of this size would take up the entire convention center. I checked in, got my bracelet and headed to the escalator. I can now say that they didn't need the ground floor. Unlike the car show which needs space, Comic Con was tight packed into the second floor. Break out sessions were held on the first floor (more on those tomorrow).

I walked around and took in my surroundings. The middle area was full of booths. There was a lightsaber booth, a classic video game booth, a tower of t-shirts booth, and more. This was a geeks dream flea market. Booth after booth of geekdoms. To the left were tons of artists selling prints and signing comic books.

The back was where the autograph opportunities took place. I walked by to check it out and was blown away. Autograph prices ranged from $30 for some lesser known celebrities to $195. I didn't get any autographs but that didn't stop me from checking out the lines. Karen Gillan (Doctor Who, Guardians of the Galaxy) was starting her signings when I walked by so I was able to see the beginning. Karen came in from the back of the curtain, said a few words to the crowd before sitting down to sign autographs.

I continued on my journey of Comic Con and saw some awesome stuff. There was a full size Tardis for photo-ops. I took a picture but I'm going to wait until tomorrow to retake them in my costume. Yes, for my second day of Comic Con, I'm going to cosplay as River Song. Perfect costume for a Tardis picture. Other photo-ops included the Delorean, a Jurassic Park Jeep, becoming an X-Men, and more. Some cost money, others ask for donations, and a few were free. Most of the more extreme cosplays are also more than willing to take pictures. I saw both Loki and Arrow taking pictures when asked. I met a doppelganger for Silent Bob and he was more than willing to pose for pictures, just don't ask him anything that can't be answered with hand gestures. The guy was really in character and didn't say a word.

I finished off day one with a little speed dating, Comic Con style. Over an hour period, I met about thirty guys. Did anything come from it? That's for me to know. I will tell you that it was an interesting experience and you can tell that it was easy to spot the posers vs the hard core fandoms.

Tomorrow I will take the journey back to the convention center for another day of geeks and fandoms. I will try to update on Twitter but I needed to make a choice between good pictures or instant uploads. I choose to take the pictures with my camera and upload them when I get home. Otherwise, you'll just be looking at cell phone images and where's the fun in that? I am also planning to attend some panels and Q&As. Today was about learning the setup, tomorrow is to actually experience the convention.

Following the convention, I will be writing a full post on how to attend Comic Cons for cheap, possibly free. Keep an eye out because with ticket prices starting at $45 for a single day's admission, and autographs costing another $50, Comic Con can quickly add up to a huge expense.

Philadelphia Comic Con

Have you ever been to Comic Con? I am very excited that I will be attending the Wizard World Comic Con in Philadelphia later this month. If you're in the Philadelphia area, tickets are still available. I will be Tweeting live from Comic Con so keep an eye out for some great pictures.

While it's too late to apply for a regular volunteer position, the Wizard World Comic Con is looking for people to be part of their digital team in Philadelphia.

Wizard World Comic Con is looking for a number of local assistants to work with our Digital Team at Philadelphia Comic Con. By assisting our social media team either Thursday, Friday, Saturday, and/or on a half day Sunday (June 19, 20, 21, 22), you will receive a FREE one day pass to the show!!

For future conventions, check out their volunteer information packet to see the benefits and locations. Basically you work a few hours doing simple tasks and you can enjoy the rest of the convention for free. Some volunteers actually claim the experience is even better because they feel apart of the event. Comic Cons are not the only conventions that offer free admission in exchange for volunteer hours. If there is something you're interested in, look at volunteering as a way to save money.

Free Screenings of Obvious Child (Select Cities)

If you watch the entertainment blogs closely, you might have already heard about Obvious Child. It's been getting great reviews from the movie festivals. Indiewire wants to invite you to a free screening of Obvious Child in select cities. All the screenings will take place on Tuesday, June 3rd, 2014 but might be different times based on the location. As of this posting, the following cities still have free passes available.

• Austin, TX
• Boston, MA
• Dallas, TX
• Denver, CO
• La Jolla (San Diego), CA
• Minneapolis, MN
• Philadelphia, PA
• Scottsdale, AZ
• Seattle, WA

Remember that all advanced screening passes have the following disclaimer on the bottom.

DISCLAIMER: Please note: ARRIVE EARLY! SEATING IS FIRST-COME, FIRST-SERVED, EXCEPT FOR MEMBERS OF THE REVIEWING PRESS. THIS TICKET DOES NOT GUARANTEE YOU A SEAT! THEATRE IS OVERBOOKED TO ENSURE A FULL HOUSE. THEATRE IS NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR OVERBOOKING. NO ADMITTANCE ONCE EVENT HAS BEGUN.

Free Screening of A Million Ways to Die in the West

Seth MacFarlane, the guy that created Family Guy and Ted has a new movie coming out in May. With a title A Million Ways to Die in the West, we can assume that this is going to be a comedic take on the classic western genre.

Regal Cinemas is offering a large selection of free screenings for A Million Ways to Die in the West for Regal Crown Club members. Membership is free, just stop by any Regal theater to sign up. Dates, times, and exact theaters will differ based on the city.

There are over fifty locations still available so head over to the Gofobo landing page to see if there is a screening near you.

Movie Review: The Other Woman

Imagine you go to surprise the guy you've been dating only to have his wife open the door. This is the basic story line of The Other Woman starring Cameron Diaz. Her character is unknowingly dating a married man.

This movie is the type of film that will leave you hurting from laughing so much. I thought the script was well written and it reminded me of a combination of The The First Wives Club and Bridesmaids. The story is about three women trying to get even with the man that scorned them, however the humor is for a younger generation.

I thought the acting was great because the characters all seemed believable in their roles. The scene stealer was definitely Nicki Minaj as the assistant to Carly (Diaz). Her character didn't fit into a law firm and yet was perfect for the comic relief when Diaz was more professional and less humorous. Afterall, her character was a lawyer so it couldn't be all laughs.

My personal opinion of The Other Woman is that it's a good film for a girls night out. Some of the things they did to get even with the guy seemed a little juvenile (laxatives in the drink) but I still laughed when it was happening. Overall, you will leave the film with an appreciation for your own significant other and a wary eye for any guys you meet at a bar.

The Other Woman will be released nation wide on April 25, 2014. Check out the Facebook pages for your local theaters to see about current promotions.

Movie Rating for The Other Woman

I received my passes to see The Other Woman on Gofobo. Check out my informational post for more information about free movie screenings.