SUMMER IS HERE! and with it, the next Reel Pizza schedule which runs July 4 - July 24. Please note that on Friday July 4, we will not show a later evening show of either film in deference to the fireworks display. If the fireworks are cancelled due to inclement weather, we will show our films at both their regularly scheduled times. We have wonderful new art gracing our lobby walls. Some of you might also be interested in our new summer Friday night Late Night Series; read all about it below. Plus, the Island Explorer bus is now up and running if you want an alternative way to get to the cinema. From our parking lot this summer you can also catch a free shuttle out to tour the Bar Harbor Winery at Sweet Pea's Farm and the Bar Harbor Brewery in Town Hill every afternoon at 2:30, returning you back to town between 4:30 and 5pm. Wednesday is Farmer's Market Day from 9am - 1pm. and there's lots of great local produce and products to choose from. And finally, don't forget that you can watch everything we show in air-conditioned comfort. Ahhhhhhhh....
See you soon at the movies (or at the lake),
-Lisa and Chris
Lobby Art NAN ULETTE Sea Change Gallery Town Hill
"Growing up spending summers in Northeast Harbor, one of my favorite activities was combing the beaches for "treasures." I now live here year-round and can comb the beaches of MDI and other points DownEast in all seasons, discovering whatever gems: sand dollars, sea glass, shells, driftwood and other fascinating objects, the ocean deposits on the shore. I am also now realizing a dream – to create art with the 'found' objects. As a collector of folk art for years, I finally decided to try creating fish and other sea creatures from the pieces of flotsam and jetsam that have for years filled jars and boxes in my house. I mostly use these "sea changed" objects, but sometimes I find perfectly suited ornaments at the dump or at yard sales. Actually half the fun is finding the bits that can be combined into a new creation. It makes each piece different and each piece unique."
AND NOW FOR SOMETHING COMPLETELY DIFFERENT
Are you feeling the summer doldrums although it's barely even July? Have no fear, preventative measures are being taken. On Friday nights at 11 pm through July and August, Reel Pizza Cinerama will be offering several expanded program options to distract and entertain you. These late-night events are all movie-based, but will widen the scope of movie viewing (and allow us to have some fun with friends) by including collaborations with the talented performers of ImprovAcadia, musical performances from several local bands, and the opportunity for community members to submit their own work.
The Friday Late Nite program will kick off on July 11th with an ImproVision screening of the 1958 sci-fi B-movie Queen of Outer Space staring Zsa Zsa Gabor. The movie, showing a rebellion of boy-crazy Venusian women, will be played silently – allowing the ImprovAcadia crew (who have not seen the film) to improvise the dialogue, music, and sound effects live in the theatre. Who knows what unexpected turns the plot could take?
This event will be followed on Friday the 18th by a session of Rock & Reel, in which local bands provide contemporary accompaniment to classic, unique silent films. This week's pairing features The Shakes – Caleb Davis, Carl Davis, James Pike and Gage Villere – performing with the 1929 Russian feature Man with a Movie Camera. This fast-paced, kaleidoscopic film is an attempt to capture the full beauty and chaos of life, and uses a stunning variety of trick photography to position its heroic cameraman in every possible place necessary to achieve this (including inside a glass of beer!).
July's final event, on the 25th, will be our open-submission Program-O-Rama. Have you or your friends made a film or video? Have you found something online you think everyone should see? Here's your chance at the spotlight! (No copyrighted material, please, unless it's yours.) Zany, bizarre, thought-provoking...any style or topic is welcome. Make your submissions now via our website or in person, and then come see them on the big screen.
With this new series we are excited to offer the community a variety of entertaining events and new ways to experience the vast world of cinema we all love...and of course our concession stand will be open so that you can explore that world with a beer and some of our famous pizza or new specials. August will feature two more sessions of ImproVision, Rock & Reel performances by Romulus Rex and The Slacks, and a second opportunity to be involved in the Program-O-Rama. More details on all events are available at www.reelpizza.net along with directions, our diverse movie schedule and more.
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Friday June 29 - Thurs July 3 5:30 and 7:45
Friday July 4 - Thurs July 10 5:15 and 7:45
WALL-E (PG) 97 min *no later shows on 7/4 in deference to the fireworks.
In this most wonderful and BRAND NEW Pixar film, director Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo) moves into space: the final frontier. On an Earth abandoned by humans centuries ago, where trash has taken over, Wall-E is a lonely robot who spends his days collecting trinkets and compacting the garbage, one cube at a time. Eve is a sleek robot probe on a mission who realizes Wall-E has inadvertently discovered something important about the planet's future and takes off into space to return to her base and report her discovery. Wall-E, smitten with his new friend, follows her across the universe, and his fantastic journey is an exciting, hilariously comic adventure.
Friday July 4 - Thurs July 10
SEX AND THE CITY (R) 142min 5:45 and 8:30
*no later shows on 7/4 in deference to the fireworks.
Carrie Bradshaw and her friends Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda satisfyingly continue their glamorous lives and loves (all the women, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall, and Kristin David, and their men, Chris Noth, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler and Jason Lewis, reprise their roles) in Manhattan four years after the end of the beloved HBO series. These four urban friends share their comically ribald observations about life and love in the city, celebrate growing older even when it means big-time change, and show off designer clothes, shoes and accessories. Romantic, very funny, emotionally resonant and great to look at, this is summer escapist fun as an alternative to the superhero action movie. Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) joins the cast as Carrie's assistant.
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Friday July 11 - Monday July 14
BEFORE THE RAINS (PG-13) 98min [partly in Malayalam with subtitles]
Set in 1930s southern India against the backdrop of the growing nationalist movement, this lavish period melodrama from Merchant-Ivory Productions, is the English language debut of acclaimed Indian director and cinematographer Santosh Sivan (Asoka). An idealistic young man (Rahul Bose) finds himself torn between his ambitions for the future and his loyalty to the past, when people in his village learn of an affair between his British boss (Linus Roache) a wealthy man who dreams of a spice empire, and a village woman (Nandita Das) his boss's lovely married housekeeper.
Tues July 15 - Thurs July 17
SON OF RAMBOW (PG-13) 96min
Disregard the bad title. This charming and sweet British comedy from director Garth Jennings (Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy) is a feel-good coming-of-age story about two boys from difficult families. Set in the 1980's, Will is a withdrawn, lonely child who has grown up in a media-rejecting, strictly religious home; Lee is a latchkey delinquent being raised by his bullying older brother. When these two misfits meet while sharing detention, they bond. Lee introduces Will to movies with the first Rambo film, FIRST BLOOD, and they decide to enter a filmmaking competition with their own sequel. This eccentric and funny film inventively mixes farce and fantasy into a picture of innocence and creativity.
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Friday July 18 - Monday July 21
THE VISITOR (PG-13) 103min back by popular demand
Writer-director Tom McCarthy (2003's wonderful THE STATION AGENT) has no sophomore slump with his second film. An offbeat and humanistic fable set in post-9/11 Manhattan, it stars character actor Richard Jenkins (Six Feet Under) as a grumpy, widowed economics professor at a CT college who goes to NYC to present a paper. When he arrives at his rarely used condo, he finds it occupied, sublet in a realestate scam to two illegal immigrants, a Syrian drummer and his Senegalese girlfriend. He turns them out, only to invite them back in when he realizes they have nowhere else to go. This act begins a friendship that will change them all.
Tuesday July 22 - Thurs July 24
MY BROTHER IS AN ONLY CHILD (R) 108min
Set in a small Italian town, this breezily cinematic and memorable family drama tells the story of two brothers who want to change the world, but in completely different ways. The elder, Manrico, is a handsome, charismatic firebrand who becomes a prime mover in the local Communist party. Accio, the younger and more rebellious, finds his own contrarian voice by joining the reactionary Fascists. What starts as a typical tale of sibling rivalry becomes the story of the polarizing and paralyzing politics of turbulent times. The rift between the brothers is further intensified when Accio realizes that he loves his brother's girlfriend, Francesca. Bearing a striking resemblance to Best of Youth (same screenwriters) with involving, vividly drawn characters, director Daniel Luchetti has made a sharply humorous film about the dreams and disillusionments of the 60's and 70's.
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COMING SOON ON OUR SECOND SCREEN?
GET SMART (PG-13) 110 min
Based on Mel Brooks' and Buck Henry's 1960's cult TV series, this new spy-spoof comedy stars Steve Carrell (40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN) as eager analyst Maxwell Smart. He is promoted to agent after a security breach in the US Spy Agency CONTROL compromises the other agent's identities. Although this inexperienced yet enthusiastic new spy dreams of working with star Agent 3 (Dwayne Johnson), the Chief (Alan Arkin, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) instead partners him with lovely, lethal Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA). Together, with a few gadgets, they must foil the doomsday plans of the evil crime syndicate KAOS, headed by Siegfried (Terence Stamp).
HANCOCK (PG-13) 93min
In this new action comedy, Will Smith stars as a well-intentioned superhero who saves countless lives, but feels misunderstood. He is definitely becoming increasingly underappreciated by the public as he leaves a phenomenal trail of damage and destruction in his wake. But, this sarcastic, bitter superhero doesn't really care about what the citizens of his city think about him, until he saves a Public Relations executive (Jason Bateman), who thinks he can improve the guy's image, …and maybe Hancock does have a vulnerable side after all. But the PR exec's wife (Charlize Theron) insists he is a lost cause.
THE INCREDIBLE HULK (PG-13) 112min
One of the most popular superheroes of all time comes to life in this fun summer popcorn film. Edward Norton (The Illusionist) breathes life into the role scientist Bruce Banner, poisoned by gamma radiation which unleashes a big green rage inside of him. Sequestered in remote Brazil working on controlling his urges, he tries keeping hidden from his obsessive nemesis General Thunderbolt Ross (William Hurt) and the military machinery that seeks to exploit his power, while missing his true love, the general's daughter (Liv Tyler). Then he realizes he must make a choice, either to accept a peaceful life or find heroism in the creature he holds inside and confront The Abomination (Tim Roth).
THE DARK KNIGHT (PG-13) 152min
In this highly anticipated summer sequel, Batman Begins director Christopher Nolan (Memento) reunites with star Christian Bale (I'm Not There, 3:10 to Yuma), returning to continue Batman's war on crime. With the help of Lieutenant Jim Gordon (Gary Oldman) and District Attorney Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Batman sets out to destroy organized crime in Gotham for good. The triumvirate proves to be effective, but they soon find themselves prey to a rising criminal mastermind known as the Joker (the late Heath Ledger), who thrusts Gotham into anarchy and forces our Dark Knight ever closer to crossing the fine line between hero and vigilante.
KIT KITTREDGE: AN AMERICAN GIRL (G) 104min
Oscar-nominated Abigail Breslin (Little Miss Sunshine, Nim's Island) stars in this delightful, family-friendly film based on the historically accurate American Girl Doll series. Kit, the girl of 1934, is a budding young reporter in Depression-era Cincinnati. When Dad loses his job and must leave home to find work, Mom (Julie Ormand) takes in boarders to make ends meet, including Joan Cusack's wacky librarian, Jane Krakowski's beautiful nurse, and Stanley Tucci's travelling magician. When a young hobo Kit meets is unfairly blamed for a local crime wave, she and her friends become sleuths to clear the boy's name and solve the mystery; they are surprised when their trail of clues lead to her own house. Mixing comedy, tragedy and suspense, director Patricia Rozema (Mansfield Park) has made a wonderful, engaging film, full of period details, which resonates with the similar challenges of today's economic climate.
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COMING NEXT SCHEDULE?
WANTED
MAMMA MIA!
REPRISE
ALEXANDRA
ENCOUNTERS AT THE END OF THE WORLD
JELLYFISH
CHILDREN OF HUANG SHI
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Monday, June 30, 2008
Tuesday, June 10, 2008
[Reel Pizza] schedule
hello everyone.
Well, we have had a crazy busy weekend. I must start by saying THANK YOU so much to everyone who participated in all the HELP CHRIS events organized to assist us in paying Chris's medical bills from his hand accident this past winter. It was all rather overwhelming, but we are so full of gratitude to all who helped us, especially to Ellen Dohmen, our fairy godmother who spearheaded this massive effort. Our entire family appreciates this phenomenally generous community. We are so glad to share this beautiful space with you all, and will remember your selfless giving for the rest of our lives. Again, thank you.
Second, and briefly, PLEASE VOTE TODAY.
Third, Congratulations! to all our recent graduates, and to all school kids and teachers who have successfully completed another year. I have (most enjoyably) spent a good amount of time helping in the 4th grade at Conners-Emerson school this past year, and it has only reinforced my notion that teachers are saints and kids are amazing.
Fourth, we just celebrated another anniversary! Yesterday, June 9th, Reel Pizza turned lucky number 13. Seems like only yesterday that we started this little venture. We know we are only successful because you all join us. So again, we thank you.
Finally, here is the next movie schedule. It runs Friday June 13 through Thursday July 3. It is completely booked, so I can give you times for all the films within these dates. The offerings include a couple of brand new films that have not yet been released, a "back by popular demand" title, and some films folks have been asking for for a while. We hope you find something that piques your interest. At some point in the very near future, the ISLAND EXPLORER Bus will begin servicing the island. It lands right at our door, so it is very convenient to movie-going, and helps save $4 gas for some other use.
I will give you the schedule first in brief to post on your frig, and then in detail. And I will also send out weekly updates at the appropriate times.
See you at the lake, or at the icecream shop, or at the movies!
-Lisa, Chris, Pierce and Chloe
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
6/13 - 6/19 KUNG FU PANDA (PG) 92min 5:30 and 7:30
6/13 - 6/16 YOUNG@HEART (PG) 109min 6:00 and 8:15
6/17 - 6/19 SMART PEOPLE (R) 93min 6:00 and 8:00
6/20 - 6/26 THE LOVE GURU (PG-13) 88min 6:00 and 8:00
6/20 - 6/23 THE VISITOR (PG-13) 103min 5:30 and 7:45
6/24 - 6/26 PLANET B-BOY (NR) 95min 5:30 and 7:45
6/27 - 7/10 WALL-E (PG) 97min 5:30 and 7:45 (wk 1 only)
6/27 - 6/30 THEN SHE FOUND ME (R) 6:00 and 8:15
7/1 - 7/3 PRICELESS (PG-13) 6:00 and 8:15 [in French w/ subtitles]
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Fri June 13 - Thurs June 19
KUNG FU PANDA (PG) 92min 5:30 and 7:30
Po the Panda (Jack Black) is a lowly waiter in a noodle restaurant who loves kung-fu but his shape doesn't lend itself to fighting. In fact he is seen as the laziest of all animals in ancient China. But a prophesy has named Po as "The Chosen One" to save them all from the powerful enemies who are nearly at the gates. As he begins to train with his idols, the legendary Furious Five, and their master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), his enthusiasm for his challenge is high even as his skills are somewhat lacking. These martial arts masters are going to need a black belt in patience to turn this slacker panda into a kung-fu fighter before it is too late. Also starring the voices of Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogan, Jackie Chan and Lucy Liu.
Fri June 13 - Mon June 16
YOUNG@HEART (PG) 109min 6:00 and 8:15
Started 25 years ago as a collective arts project at a Northampton MA senior citizens center, the Young@Heart Chorus, average age 81, has developed an international following for its unlikely repertoire of songs from the world of contemporary rock'n'roll, including works by The Clash, Coldplay, Radiohead, Sonic Youth, Talking Heads, David Bowie, James Brown and others. British filmmaker Stephen Walker has made an unexpectedly delightful and moving film about this spirited group of octogenarians, facing death, living life, and singing to stay alive.
Tues June 17 - Thurs June 19
SMART PEOPLE (R) 93min 6:00 and 8:00
This character-driven relationship comedy-drama features an terrific cast who bring all their skill to their roles. Dennis Quaid (The Rookie) is a widowed, cranky and brilliant English Lit professor who hasn't gotten over the death of his wife years before. Ellen Page (Juno) is his teenaged daughter who is following in her father's footsteps. These two are fumbling their way through their respective life-crises (mid-life and adolescence) with the help of Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City) who is a former lit major who turned to pre-med when the collegiate crush on her professor was shattered by a bad grade on a paper. Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) is the professor's loser brother, always looking for a handout, who bonds with his niece. This wryly funny and poignant look at a dysfunctional family is the debut film of commercials director Noam Murro.
*********************************************************
Friday June 20 - Thurs June 26
LOVE GURU (PG-13) 88 min 6:00 and 8:00
Comic Mike Myers (SHREK), with his first original character since AUSTIN POWERS, returns to the big screen with this BRAND NEW film. He is Pitka, an American left at birth at the gates of an Indian ashram and raised by the gurus. Returning to the US to seek fame and fortune in the world of spirituality and self-help, he gets embroiled in the marital strife of an NHL star hockey player and his estranged wife. No less than the Stanley Cup depends on this player's home life returning to bliss, and he is hired by the team's horrified owner (Jessica Alba) and frantic coach (Verne Troyer (Mini-Me)) to resolve things. Will his unorthodox methods stand up to the test?
Friday June 20 - Monday June 23
THE VISITOR (PG-13) 103min 5:30 and 7:45
Writer-director Tom McCarthy (2003's wonderful THE STATION AGENT) has no sophomore slump with his second film. An offbeat and humanistic fable set in post-9/11 Manhattan, it stars character actor Richard Jenkins (Six Feet Under) as a grumpy, widowed economics professor at a CT college who goes to NYC to present a paper. When he arrives at his rarely used condo, he finds it occupied, sublet in a realestate scam to two illegal immigrants, a Syrian drummer and his Senegalese girlfriend. He turns them out, only to invite them back in when he realizes they have nowhere else to go. This act begins a friendship that will change them all.
Tuesday June 24 - Thurs June 26
PLANET B-BOY (NR) 95min 5:30 and 7:45
Compelling characters and vibrant dance sequences propel this documentary film that explores the international world of breakdancing, or b-boying. Beginning as a New York City street dance in the 1970's, this urban-style dance has evolved world-wide into an inspiring art form for a new generation. Weaving between the vivid backdrops of Osaka, Paris, Seoul, and Las Vegas, unforgettable images of electrifying dance performances frame the stories of dancers who struggle for their dreams despite being misunderstood by society and their families. The thrilling skills of these performers are put to the ultimate test at the world championship in Germany.
****************************************************
Friday June 27 - Thursday July 10 (2 weeks)
WALL-E (PG) 97 min 5:30 and 7:45 (wk 1 only)
In this BRAND NEW Pixar film, director Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo) moves into space: the final frontier. On an Earth abandoned by humans centuries ago, where trash has taken over, Wall-E is a lonely robot who spends his days collecting trinkets and compacting the garbage, one cube at a time. Eve is a sleek robot probe on a mission who realizes Wall-E has inadvertently discovered something important about the planet's future and takes off into space to return to her base and report her discovery. Wall-E, smitten with his new friend, follows her across the universe, and his fantastic journey is an exciting, hilariously comic adventure.
Friday June 27 - Monday June 30
THEN SHE FOUND ME (R) 100min 6:00 and 8:15
Oscar-winning actress Helen Hunt (AS GOOD AS IT GETS) makes the transition to filmmaker with this fine adaptation of a 1990 novel by Elinor Lipman that she co-wrote, directed and produced, as well as stars in. She plays a middle-aged school teacher who really wants a child; her immature husband (Matthew Broderick) who leaves her to go home to mama just as she is dealing with the death of her adoptive mother as well as the sudden appearance of her biological mother (Bette Midler), an overbearing talkshow host. She also finds herself with an aggressive suitor, the father of one of her students (Colin Firth). The actors all give excellent performances of multi-dimensional characters in this small, smart comedy-drama.
Tuesday July 1 - Thurs July 3
PRICELESS (PG-13) 104min [in French with subtitles] 6:00 and 8:15
Irène (delightful Audrey Tautou, AMÉLIE) is already a skilled gold-digger. One night at a French Riviera resort, she sneaks away from her current sugar daddy, hooking up with Jean (expressive physical comedian Gad Elmaleh, THE VALET) who appears to be very rich and is mercifully much closer to her age. In fact though, he is only a bartender and waiter. And as soon as the truth is out, she leaves in a huff, but he is in love and follows her. To stay in her league, however, he becomes a gigolo to a wealthy older woman, with Irène as his tutor. This charming French farce is the latest film from director and writer Pierre Salvadori (Après Vous).
*********************************************************
COMING SOON! (promise)
SEX AND THE CITY (R) 142min
Carrie Bradshaw and her friends Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda satisfyingly continue their glamorous lives and loves (all the women, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall, and Kristin David, and their men, Chris Noth, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler and Jason Lewis, reprise their roles) in Manhattan four years after the end of the beloved HBO series. These four urban friends share their comically ribald observations about life and love in the city, celebrate growing older even when it means big-time change, and show off designer clothes, shoes and accessories. Romantic, very funny, emotionally resonant and great to look at, this is summer escapist fun as an alternative to the superhero action movie. Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) joins the cast as Carrie's assistant.
GET SMART (PG-13) ?? min
Based on Mel Brooks' and Buck Henry's 1960's cult TV series, this new spy-spoof comedy stars Steve Carrell (40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN) as eager analyst Maxwell Smart. He is promoted to agent after a security breach in the US Spy Agency CONTROL compromises the other agent's identities. Although this inexperienced yet enthusiastic new spy dreams of working with star Agent 3 (Dwayne Johnson), the Chief (Alan Arkin, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) instead partners him with lovely, lethal Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA). Together, with a few gadgets, they must foil the doomsday plans of the evil crime syndicate KAOS, headed by Siegfried (Terence Stamp).
Coming Next?
The Foot Fist Way
The Incredible Hulk
Kit Kittredge:An American Girl
Son of Rambow
The Dark Knight
Mamma Mia!
Hancock
Jellyfish
********************************************
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Well, we have had a crazy busy weekend. I must start by saying THANK YOU so much to everyone who participated in all the HELP CHRIS events organized to assist us in paying Chris's medical bills from his hand accident this past winter. It was all rather overwhelming, but we are so full of gratitude to all who helped us, especially to Ellen Dohmen, our fairy godmother who spearheaded this massive effort. Our entire family appreciates this phenomenally generous community. We are so glad to share this beautiful space with you all, and will remember your selfless giving for the rest of our lives. Again, thank you.
Second, and briefly, PLEASE VOTE TODAY.
Third, Congratulations! to all our recent graduates, and to all school kids and teachers who have successfully completed another year. I have (most enjoyably) spent a good amount of time helping in the 4th grade at Conners-Emerson school this past year, and it has only reinforced my notion that teachers are saints and kids are amazing.
Fourth, we just celebrated another anniversary! Yesterday, June 9th, Reel Pizza turned lucky number 13. Seems like only yesterday that we started this little venture. We know we are only successful because you all join us. So again, we thank you.
Finally, here is the next movie schedule. It runs Friday June 13 through Thursday July 3. It is completely booked, so I can give you times for all the films within these dates. The offerings include a couple of brand new films that have not yet been released, a "back by popular demand" title, and some films folks have been asking for for a while. We hope you find something that piques your interest. At some point in the very near future, the ISLAND EXPLORER Bus will begin servicing the island. It lands right at our door, so it is very convenient to movie-going, and helps save $4 gas for some other use.
I will give you the schedule first in brief to post on your frig, and then in detail. And I will also send out weekly updates at the appropriate times.
See you at the lake, or at the icecream shop, or at the movies!
-Lisa, Chris, Pierce and Chloe
+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
6/13 - 6/19
6/13 - 6/16
6/17 - 6/19
6/20 - 6/26
6/20 - 6/23
6/24 - 6/26
6/27 - 7/10
6/27 - 6/30
7/1 - 7/3
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Fri June 13 - Thurs June 19
KUNG FU PANDA (PG) 92min 5:30 and 7:30
Po the Panda (Jack Black) is a lowly waiter in a noodle restaurant who loves kung-fu but his shape doesn't lend itself to fighting. In fact he is seen as the laziest of all animals in ancient China. But a prophesy has named Po as "The Chosen One" to save them all from the powerful enemies who are nearly at the gates. As he begins to train with his idols, the legendary Furious Five, and their master Shifu (Dustin Hoffman), his enthusiasm for his challenge is high even as his skills are somewhat lacking. These martial arts masters are going to need a black belt in patience to turn this slacker panda into a kung-fu fighter before it is too late. Also starring the voices of Angelina Jolie, Seth Rogan, Jackie Chan and Lucy Liu.
Fri June 13 - Mon June 16
YOUNG@HEART (PG) 109min 6:00 and 8:15
Started 25 years ago as a collective arts project at a Northampton MA senior citizens center, the Young@Heart Chorus, average age 81, has developed an international following for its unlikely repertoire of songs from the world of contemporary rock'n'roll, including works by The Clash, Coldplay, Radiohead, Sonic Youth, Talking Heads, David Bowie, James Brown and others. British filmmaker Stephen Walker has made an unexpectedly delightful and moving film about this spirited group of octogenarians, facing death, living life, and singing to stay alive.
Tues June 17 - Thurs June 19
SMART PEOPLE (R) 93min 6:00 and 8:00
This character-driven relationship comedy-drama features an terrific cast who bring all their skill to their roles. Dennis Quaid (The Rookie) is a widowed, cranky and brilliant English Lit professor who hasn't gotten over the death of his wife years before. Ellen Page (Juno) is his teenaged daughter who is following in her father's footsteps. These two are fumbling their way through their respective life-crises (mid-life and adolescence) with the help of Sarah Jessica Parker (Sex and the City) who is a former lit major who turned to pre-med when the collegiate crush on her professor was shattered by a bad grade on a paper. Thomas Haden Church (Sideways) is the professor's loser brother, always looking for a handout, who bonds with his niece. This wryly funny and poignant look at a dysfunctional family is the debut film of commercials director Noam Murro.
*********************************************************
Friday June 20 - Thurs June 26
LOVE GURU (PG-13) 88 min 6:00 and 8:00
Comic Mike Myers (SHREK), with his first original character since AUSTIN POWERS, returns to the big screen with this BRAND NEW film. He is Pitka, an American left at birth at the gates of an Indian ashram and raised by the gurus. Returning to the US to seek fame and fortune in the world of spirituality and self-help, he gets embroiled in the marital strife of an NHL star hockey player and his estranged wife. No less than the Stanley Cup depends on this player's home life returning to bliss, and he is hired by the team's horrified owner (Jessica Alba) and frantic coach (Verne Troyer (Mini-Me)) to resolve things. Will his unorthodox methods stand up to the test?
Friday June 20 - Monday June 23
THE VISITOR (PG-13) 103min 5:30 and 7:45
Writer-director Tom McCarthy (2003's wonderful THE STATION AGENT) has no sophomore slump with his second film. An offbeat and humanistic fable set in post-9/11 Manhattan, it stars character actor Richard Jenkins (Six Feet Under) as a grumpy, widowed economics professor at a CT college who goes to NYC to present a paper. When he arrives at his rarely used condo, he finds it occupied, sublet in a realestate scam to two illegal immigrants, a Syrian drummer and his Senegalese girlfriend. He turns them out, only to invite them back in when he realizes they have nowhere else to go. This act begins a friendship that will change them all.
Tuesday June 24 - Thurs June 26
PLANET B-BOY (NR) 95min 5:30 and 7:45
Compelling characters and vibrant dance sequences propel this documentary film that explores the international world of breakdancing, or b-boying. Beginning as a New York City street dance in the 1970's, this urban-style dance has evolved world-wide into an inspiring art form for a new generation. Weaving between the vivid backdrops of Osaka, Paris, Seoul, and Las Vegas, unforgettable images of electrifying dance performances frame the stories of dancers who struggle for their dreams despite being misunderstood by society and their families. The thrilling skills of these performers are put to the ultimate test at the world championship in Germany.
****************************************************
Friday June 27 - Thursday July 10 (2 weeks)
WALL-E (PG) 97 min 5:30 and 7:45 (wk 1 only)
In this BRAND NEW Pixar film, director Andrew Stanton (Finding Nemo) moves into space: the final frontier. On an Earth abandoned by humans centuries ago, where trash has taken over, Wall-E is a lonely robot who spends his days collecting trinkets and compacting the garbage, one cube at a time. Eve is a sleek robot probe on a mission who realizes Wall-E has inadvertently discovered something important about the planet's future and takes off into space to return to her base and report her discovery. Wall-E, smitten with his new friend, follows her across the universe, and his fantastic journey is an exciting, hilariously comic adventure.
Friday June 27 - Monday June 30
THEN SHE FOUND ME (R) 100min 6:00 and 8:15
Oscar-winning actress Helen Hunt (AS GOOD AS IT GETS) makes the transition to filmmaker with this fine adaptation of a 1990 novel by Elinor Lipman that she co-wrote, directed and produced, as well as stars in. She plays a middle-aged school teacher who really wants a child; her immature husband (Matthew Broderick) who leaves her to go home to mama just as she is dealing with the death of her adoptive mother as well as the sudden appearance of her biological mother (Bette Midler), an overbearing talkshow host. She also finds herself with an aggressive suitor, the father of one of her students (Colin Firth). The actors all give excellent performances of multi-dimensional characters in this small, smart comedy-drama.
Tuesday July 1 - Thurs July 3
PRICELESS (PG-13) 104min [in French with subtitles] 6:00 and 8:15
Irène (delightful Audrey Tautou, AMÉLIE) is already a skilled gold-digger. One night at a French Riviera resort, she sneaks away from her current sugar daddy, hooking up with Jean (expressive physical comedian Gad Elmaleh, THE VALET) who appears to be very rich and is mercifully much closer to her age. In fact though, he is only a bartender and waiter. And as soon as the truth is out, she leaves in a huff, but he is in love and follows her. To stay in her league, however, he becomes a gigolo to a wealthy older woman, with Irène as his tutor. This charming French farce is the latest film from director and writer Pierre Salvadori (Après Vous).
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COMING SOON! (promise)
SEX AND THE CITY (R) 142min
Carrie Bradshaw and her friends Samantha, Charlotte, and Miranda satisfyingly continue their glamorous lives and loves (all the women, Sarah Jessica Parker, Cynthia Nixon, Kim Cattrall, and Kristin David, and their men, Chris Noth, David Eigenberg, Evan Handler and Jason Lewis, reprise their roles) in Manhattan four years after the end of the beloved HBO series. These four urban friends share their comically ribald observations about life and love in the city, celebrate growing older even when it means big-time change, and show off designer clothes, shoes and accessories. Romantic, very funny, emotionally resonant and great to look at, this is summer escapist fun as an alternative to the superhero action movie. Jennifer Hudson (Dreamgirls) joins the cast as Carrie's assistant.
GET SMART (PG-13) ?? min
Based on Mel Brooks' and Buck Henry's 1960's cult TV series, this new spy-spoof comedy stars Steve Carrell (40 YEAR OLD VIRGIN) as eager analyst Maxwell Smart. He is promoted to agent after a security breach in the US Spy Agency CONTROL compromises the other agent's identities. Although this inexperienced yet enthusiastic new spy dreams of working with star Agent 3 (Dwayne Johnson), the Chief (Alan Arkin, LITTLE MISS SUNSHINE) instead partners him with lovely, lethal Agent 99 (Anne Hathaway, THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA). Together, with a few gadgets, they must foil the doomsday plans of the evil crime syndicate KAOS, headed by Siegfried (Terence Stamp).
Coming Next?
The Foot Fist Way
The Incredible Hulk
Kit Kittredge:An American Girl
Son of Rambow
The Dark Knight
Mamma Mia!
Hancock
Jellyfish
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