Summer movie madness 2007
By Wade KwonFind this year’s latest flicks
with our Summer Movie Guide.
The summer’s barely begun, but perhaps you’ve had your fill of pirates, webslingers and crazed killers.
Have we got a deal for you? Check out more than 50 movies coming to a neighborhood near you, and more than half of them for free. Free! FREE!! They’re all in our Summer Movie Guide 2007.
Kick back and enjoy classics and family films, cutting edge and in concert. Whether it’s in the park or in the air-conditioned comfort of the indoors, you’ll find it here. No megaplexes, no inattentive ushers — just the best movies outside of the chains from “The Ant Bully” to “Zoom.”
Updated with Israeli Cann’d Film Festival …
Updated with Movies on the Mall …
Alabama Theatre Summer Film Series
This summer, no Friday shows! $6, $5 for senior citizens and children under age 12. 7 p.m. Saturdays and 2 p.m. Sundays. (Mighty Wurlitzer starts at 7 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.) [map | event details]
- Saturday-Sunday: “The Godfather”
Forget “The Sopranos” — time to get reacquainted with the Corleones in one of America’s greatest cinema epics. - June 30-July 1: “Breakfast at Tiffany’s” [iTunes | Amazon]
Hepburn. Peppard. Magic. - July 7-8: “Lawrence of Arabia”
No better way to beat the searing heat than to … watch the desert. Still, a must-see on a big screen. - July 14-15: “Apollo 13”
Trivia alert: It took more than 500 trips in the “Vomit Comet” over 13 days to film the zero-gravity scenes. - July 21-22: “Doctor Zhivago”
It’s a David Lean film-fest, with this one and “Lawrence” before. - July 28-29: “Mary Poppins”
Julie Andrews as the original supernanny. - Aug 4-5: “The Ten Commandments” [iTunes | Amazon]
“The Lord, the Lord Jehovah has given unto you these 15 … Oy, 10, 10 commandments for all to obey!” - Aug. 11-12: “Vertigo”
The Hitchcock thriller based on the U2 album, because all good comes from Bono. - Aug. 18-19: “Gone with the Wind”
It wouldn’t be summer at the Alabama without another trip to Tara. - Aug 25-26: “Rear Window”
More Hitchcock, and one of his finest.
The Alabama also has special children’s matinees at 2 p.m. Saturdays. $5.
- Saturday: “Ice Age”
Believe it or not, it’s actually based on the 1948 John Wayne/John Ford pic, “3 Godfathers.” We’re just as surprised as you are. - June 30: “The Parent Trap” [iTunes | Amazon ]
The one with La Lohan, before she went into La Rehab. - July 7: “Holes”
For the kids not watching the latest Harry Potter movie out that weekend … - July 14: “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”
“E.T., look out for those G-men brandishing walkie-talkies!!” - July 21: “Who Framed Roger Rabbit”
For the kids not reading the latest Harry Potter book out that day … - July 28: “Pollyanna”
Keep hope alive! - Aug. 4: “Hook”
Hey, look kids, pirates! Yar! - Aug. 11: “Lilo and Stitch”
Solid proof that the House of Disney can still crank out a charming and fun flick without the CGI. If you haven’t seen this one, just try not to enjoy it. - Aug. 18: “The NeverEnding Story”
“This is the most blatant case of fraudulent advertising since my suit against the film, ‘The NeverEnding Story.’ “ - Aug. 18: “Spy Kids”
From the same guy who brought you “Grindhouse” (at least half of it) and “Sin City.”
Five Points Faith and Film Series at Highlands United Methodist
The Southside church presents films for discussion at 5 p.m. on the second and fourth Saturdays this summer in the fellowship hall. Child care available. Free. [map | event details]
- Saturday: “The Mission”
Soldier Robert De Niro seeks redemption from missionary Jeremy Irons in the Brazilian jungles. - July 14: “The Apostle”
If you don’t feel the Holy Ghost spirit after watching Robert Duvall sweat it out, you’d better check yourself for a pulse. - July 28: “Babette’s Feast”
Some meals are simply sinful, so can this Danish village resist the temptations of said title dinner? - Aug. 11: “Places in the Heart”
The one where we really like Sally Field. Really.
Free Friday Flicks at Homewood Park
If you’re brave enough to dodge the sketchily reported “gangs of thugs,” some family movies await. Free. Feature starts at sunset. [map | event details (pdf)]
- Friday: “Over the Hedge”
Based on the comic strip. Kids, be sure to ask your parents about comic strips and newspapers. - June 29: “Night at the Museum”
Because a day at the museum might actually be educational. - July 6: “Barnyard”
More animated animal fun, this time with Birmingham’s own Courteney Cox-Arquette (hi, David!) as the voice of Daisy the cow. - July 13: “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”
Believe it or not, the exact same Free Friday Flick from July 14, 2006. Enjoy! - July 20: “Flushed Away”
How about another animated animal flick? Mice try to escape the London sewers. Rats. - July 27: “The Wizard of Oz”
“There’s no place like Homewood. There’s no place like Homewood …” - Aug. 3: “Charlotte’s Web”
Will it be the beloved 1973 animated classic [iTunes | Amazon] with Debbie Reynolds and Paul Lynde or the 2006 live-action version with Julia Roberts and Steve Buscemi? - Aug. 10: “RV”
Man, remember when Robin Williams used to make good movies? - Aug. 17: “Open Season”
And for those who hate animal cartoons, yet another animal cartoon: Martin Lawrence and Ashton Kutcher lend their voices to this tale of a bear facing hunting season.
Live Music Mondays at WorkPlay
Well, not exactly live. The venue presents a series of concert DVDs, with food from Rojo. Free. 7 p.m. [map | calendar]
- Monday: “Widespread Panic: Earth to Atlanta”
Hope you like jam bands. The first of two from Widespread Panic, this one from the Fox Theater in 2006. - June 25: “Phish: Live in Brooklyn”
For those who prefer their jam bands with a pint of Ben and Jerry’s. From 2004 at Keyspan Park, Coney Island. - July 2: “Pink Floyd: Live at Pompeii”
Shot in 1971 as the “anti-Woodstock.” What, three days of war and noise? At least it’s not “The Wall” … - July 9: “Beastie Boys: Awesome, I Fuckin’ Shot That!”
Hey, let’s make the audience buy tickets and shoot this movie. What could possibly go wrong? From 2004 at Madison Square Garden. - July 16: “U2: Vertigo 2005, Live From Chicago”
The inspiration for the Hitchcock classic. - July 23: “Led Zeppelin: The Song Remains the Same”
Another from Madison Square Garden, catching the band at the end of its 1973 tour. - July 30: “The Grateful Dead: Ticket to New Year’s”
The traditional year-end concert, this one from New Year’s Eve 1987 at Oakland Coliseum. - Aug. 6: “Dave Matthews Band: The Central Park Concert”
The 2003 concert was free, this showing is free. The DVD, not so much. - Aug. 13: (no movie — actual concert)
- Aug. 20: “Phish: Live in Vegas”
Yep, a second helping of Phish, this one from 2000. - Aug. 27: “Widespread Panic: Live at Oak Mountain”
The 2001 show from the then Oak Mountain Amphitheatre.
McWane Science Center IMAX Theater
$9, $8 for members, senior citizens age 65 and older and children age 12 and under. Monday-Saturday, 11 a.m., 1:30, 6 and 8:30 p.m.; Sunday, noon, 3:30, 6 and 8:30 p.m. [map | event details]
- July 11: “Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix”
Like magic, McWane has conjured up this fifth Potter flick, opening the same day everywhere. Pay the extra buck, see it on the big, big, big screen.
Read It and See It Summer Series at WorkPlay
WorkPlay and the Alabama Booksmith are teaming up for another series of special movie nights. First, read the book, then see the movie adaptation, with discussion to follow. $25 (includes book). 6 p.m. [map | calendar]
- Tuesday: “The Namesake”
Jhumpa Lahiri’s hotly anticipated follow-up to “Interpreter of Maladies,” this one focuses on an Indian fish out of water, played by Kai Penn (Kumar!) in the movie. [book | audiobook] - July 17: “The Last King of Scotland”
The notorious Idi Amin Dada turns Uganda into his own brutal paradise in the 1970s. The incomparable Forest Whitaker brings him to life in this 2006 film. [book | audiobook] - Aug. 21: “Children of Men”
P.D. James’ sci-fi premonition of Earth’s population grinding to a halt. Clive Owen attempts to save humanity in the movie version. [book | audiobook]
Sundown Cinemas at Helena Old Towne Amphitheater
Free. 8 p.m. Fridays. [map | event details (pdf)]
- Friday: “Charlotte’s Web”
Old [iTunes | Amazon] or new? Let us know … - June 29: “Zoom”
Tim Allen dons the cape for this kiddie X-Men caper. - July 6: “The Ant Bully”
Oh, Julia Roberts, do you not appear in any of your movies anymore? - July 13: “Superman Returns”
New dude, same tights. - July 20: “Barnyard”
Yes, but are the farm animals organic? - July 27: “Spider-Man 2”
Back when our hero had the Spidey sense to turn out a coherent movie … - Aug. 3: “Open Season”
“Well, I say he does have to shoot me now! So shoot me now!”
Also
Alabama Booksmith
Free. 6:15 p.m. Friday. [map | event details]
- Movie and discussion about Ian McEwan’s novel, “On Chesil Beach”
Bottletree Cafe
- Wednesday, 9:55 p.m.: “Death Race 2000”
- June 25, 9 p.m.: “Who the #$&% Is Jackson Pollock?”
Chelsea Park
Free. Sundays at sunset. [map]
- Sunday: “Shrek”
- July 29: “Charlotte’s Web” (2006)
- Aug. 26: “The Goonies”
Israeli Cann’d Film Festival at Levite Jewish Community Center
$5, includes popcorn and soda. [map | event details]
- July 8, 2 p.m.: “Bonjour Monsieur Shlomi”
- July 17, 7 p.m.: “Campfire”
Movies on the Mall in Trussville
Free, plus free popcorn and drinks. No time listed. [map | event details]
- Aug. 10: “Charlotte’s Web”
- Sept. 7: “Flushed Away”
Rojo
Free. 6 p.m. Tuesday. [map | event details]
- Sun Ra film. Music by Rah of Sun Ra and Bilal Sunni-Ali of the Gil Scott Heron Band.
Sidewalk Scramble Screening
See all the films from the latest Sidewalk Scramble. $8, $7 members. 6 p.m. July 28 at the Carver Theatre. [map | event details]
- Scramble takes place July 13-15.
And finally …
Calendars
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ActiveCulture.info
Index
• • •
More special reports.
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Did we miss your film festival? Tell us and we’ll add it to the lineup.
What movies are you going to see this summer?
Monday, June 18, 2007, 12:10 pm
I spoke with ONB about their Movies By Moonlight series in Linn Park.
http://www.activeculture.info/eventsDetails.asp?ItemID=3497
Apparently not taking place this year so they can bring us an event titled “Git Downtown” or something similar. Tentatively the third Thursday of next month; details to come.
Monday, June 18, 2007, 10:23 pm
Thanks — I was wondering what was going on with MBM.
At least they’re bringing back Get Downtown. I always thought those were fun events.
Sunday, July 1, 2007, 11:29 pm
June, one more time