By
Ryan Finley
I'm starting to sound old at the age of 20, but ·
I remember when I could go to the movies without having to take out a mortgage. I remember the days when I could see a movie without having to pay at least $8 for less than two hours of sub par films.
Oh, wait. That wasn't years ago. That was December, when - while at home in California for the holidays - I saw "Dude, Where's My Car?" for an even five bucks. Sure, I paid five bucks too much to see the film itself, but at least it wasn't the $7.75 to $8.25 you can expect to pay at any Tucson movie-house.
There are certain advantages we have when it comes to being a student.
Why is it that I get a discount when I buy football and basketball tickets, but I have to pay full price when I go to a movie?
In every other college town in the world, students flock to movie theaters, primarily because - unlike most attractions - a film is an affordable and entertaining way to spend an evening.
Everywhere, that is, except Tucson - where we'll all see coastal fog rolling down Speedway before we'll see students being treated fairly by local businesses.
Most of the time, the movie theaters win by default. In the summer, there's not a whole lot to do. It's about 300 degrees out. There are about 300 people in the city. And, most importantly, all movie theaters are air-conditioned.
So we, as students, cave. We shell out the extra two bucks to see some of the crap that studios are passing off as movies (I'm talking to you, Rob Schneider!).
And we wonder why we can't pay the rent or have to settle for Old Style Beer instead of Bud Light? It's the little things, people. Little things add up.
I won't even mention the date factor. It would be just as financially sound to take a girl out to the nicest restaurant in town (what is it, anyway? Caruso's?) or at least to Greasy Tony's as it would be to go to a movie. A friend of mine took a date to see "Bridget Jones' Diary" and shelled out $35 bucks on tickets, snacks and sodas. I didn't think movies would be so elitist, especially when they suck that bad.
Why won't some of Tucson's most popular movie houses give UA students a break? According to Miguel Soto, manager of Catalina Cinemas, 2230 N. Campbell Ave., students are too much of a valuable commodity to be given discounts. Even at Catalina, which is located just a half-mile from campus, students can expect to pay $7.75 to see regular showings, though midnight movies and early-afternoon matinees can be seen for $5.
Soto also claims that it's the national chains - not the local theaters themselves - that dictate discounts.
"It's questioned all the time, but it's company policy," he said. "Who is going to be the first one to do it? AMC (Theaters) was in town for a bunch of years and they had it, but then they left Tucson completely."
In AMC's place, the Grand Cinemas on Valenica Road offer old movies at cheap prices. Not the cool old movies, though. If you hurry, you can see Sly Stallone in "Driven" or David Spade in "Joe Dirt" for less than five bucks.
So we essentially have no choice
We, as students, can do only one thing - don't go.
If you're looking for air conditioning, go to the Center for Creative Photography. If you're looking to see a movie, go to DeAnza Drive-In, located at 1401 S. Alvernon Way.
And if you do cave and go see "Memento" or "Shrek" at any of Tucson's 11 movie theaters, complain. Roll your eyes when you pay for your ticket. Ask why there isn't a student discount. Tick off an employee here and there.
Even Soto said that it will only be a matter of time before a Tucson theater decides to start offering discount rates for shows. Once one theater goes, the rest will switch over, too.
To hell with world peace. I'm protesting for student discounts.
