Free Films? Yes please.

I'm sure there are more than enough of you intrepid cinema fans out there who are always looking for a new film to watch, right? I know I'm absolutely correct, 'cause I've been doing exactly the same for a very long time now. So I figured that I'd share with you some great sources of cinema without having to risk getting in trouble and destroying the film industry by downloading movies, can't be bad now can it?

YouTube Logo
Courtesy of firepowerministry.org

1) YouTube Movies (http://www.youtube.com/movies)

When someone mentions YouTube it is understandable that you'd be unable to shake the thought of bizarre rants from internet junkies, videos of monkeys defecating on one another, the most ridiculous community of commenters and all sorts of other user-content. But one thing that people often neglect is the Movies section of the ever popular video site. Presenting us with several categories to choose from (from Bollywood to Horror) there is a wide array of free-to-watch films on offer after only a few clicks! Now selection of films is predominantly weak*, but with enough looking there are some real gems on offer such as Night of The Living Dead and Animal Farm. Plus there are some great documentaries too, a particular favourite of mine being Bob Dylan - 1966 World Tour: The Home Movies. 


2) National Newspapers

One of the Elvis movies on offer.
Original image courtesy of dailymail.co.uk

One for the Brits, though I'm sure there are plenty of similar offers overseas. It's always worth checking the national newspapers for any decent film giveaways. Most of them only require taking a token into somewhere like Tesco or WHSmith and some will just give you the movie flat out free in the supplementary magazine or when you pay for the paper. If you're a Daily Mail reader they're in their second week of free Elvis movies, which I've been making sure I get a copy of despite my hatred for the paper. Though there's plenty of other papers giving similar offers at different times, through this method I have picked up copies of the Buena Vista Social Club, Brassed Off, Take The Money and Run and Highlander to name but a few of the wide variety of films you can pick up if you look around. So check out the national papers for anything that might tickle your fancy!

ShowFilmFirst
Image courtesy of cultureseekers.org

3) ShowFilmFirst (http://www.showfilmfirst.com/)

Websites like SeeFilmFirst are a fantastic way to get hold of tickets to advanced screenings of movies before everybody else. They offer their members chances to get absolutely free tickets to films at cinemas up and down the country, and as far as I know there are similar services offered to the US. They operate on a members-only basis, and after a quick sign up they will e-mail you screening codes for prereleases that are being screened at cinemas in your local area. You then head onto the website, enter your code and book your tickets. Codes can also be claimed from magazines and other websites too, and with past screenings of Alice In Wonderland and recent Mark Kermode DVD pick Legion then there's a chance you'll have some great opportunities to see some really great films before they hit the mainstream. The site also offer competitions, a review section, a VIP membership option and a preview guide. All in all it's a great, user-friendly system with some real worthwhile opportunities and is well worth a look at for you avid cinema goers!


So there you have it, my three top choices for ways to get hold of cinema new and old, when you can't afford a movie ticket or a new DVD. I'd recommend checking out all of the above at some point in the very near future, and it will barely cost you anything, which in these times of recessions, credit crunches and everything else, a film might be just what you need to lighten your spirits, enjoy!



*by weak, I mean absolutely bloody terrible.