For all the complaining students do about the high cost of living in Exeter, they sure do go to the cinema a lot. How can you bewail a £3.50 sandwich when you’re spending £7.50 on popcorn? It’s just popped corn. Not to mention being charged for 3D glasses; I remember the bygone days where you got the snazzy cardboard ones for free, and now instead you’re forced to shell out your hard-earned, grubby little pounds for glasses that make you look like a blind hipster.
Rant over. For now.
What I really want to talk about is Campus Cinema. It’s one of the best and most well-executed ideas we have on this campus – £1.80 for a film? 59p for popcorn? And it has a decent screen?! Really, kids, there’s nothing to lose here.
But for some reason, every time I go to see a film at the glorious establishment that is the M&D room, the seats are less than half-full. Even for fan-favourites like Twilight. Why on earth are people not coming?
Last week alone, I’ve seen Silver Linings Playbook (amazing), Seven Psychopaths (incredible) and a German film called Barbara (…slightly weird). Even better, I got to see them with my friends because we were all on campus anyway, I spent less than a fiver each time including food, and I could laugh as loud as I wanted because, quite frankly, I’m not as fussed about offending all of 15 students as I am about offending an entire 300-seat cinema.
There really is no better place to find out about films you might not have otherwise seen, for less than a cost of the Lunchables they inexplicably sell in the Marketplace. The best thing to do, I find, is to turn up to whatever’s on, on any night you’re free with an open mind, a couple of friends and maybe some cake to bribe the bouncers with (I’ve heard they’re vicious).
But in all seriousness, the Campus Cinema committee are among the friendliest people you’ll meet at this university, always ready to discuss what you’ve all just seen, and probably willing to give you a hug if it was particularly emotional – just don’t tell them it was me that told you.
I can’t think of a decent reason why anyone wouldn’t take advantage of such an awesome, friendly, and best of all, cheap society. There’s never a better time than the present to try out something new – and think of all the money you’ll save. That’s a lot of Jungbombs.
Kate Gray
exeposedev 