Summer movie madness

By Wade Kwon

Find this year’s latest flicks
with our Summer Movie Guide.

batman begins Put down “The Da Vinci Code.” Step away from “Blink.”

We know summer isn’t about catching up on your reading. It’s about movies.

And if you’re lucky, free movies.

By now, you’ve been through “The Break-Up” and X-coriated the “X-Men” sequel. But we’ve got a deal for you.

Great movies, great venues. All listed here.

Updated with more movies at the Alabama …

Updated with the 1970s American Film Retrospective …

Updated with African Film Festival …

Updated with Sundown Cinemas in Helena …

Set your calendars

We have all the movies listed below, by venue. But if you prefer a calendar, check out these options.

summer movie calendar

Standard format
iCal format (for Mac)
RSS
Format for Google users (such as Gmail users)

(The Google user format is pretty cool, allowing you to set up your own calendar. All you have to do is register for free access.

And if you still need a Gmail account, contact me with your current e-mail address and I’ll send you a free invite.)

Alabama Theatre Summer Film Series

$6, $5 for senior citizens and children under age 12. 7 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays, 2 p.m. Sundays. (Mighty Wurlitzer starts at 7 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.) [map | event details (PDF)]

alabama theatre

June 30-July 2: “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory”
The 1971 version with a weirded-out Gene Wilder. “I want an Oompa Loompa now!”
July 7-9: “Casablanca”
You must remember this: It contains the most misquoted line in movie history. It’s actually, “Play it, Sam.” (God, we’re geeks.)
July 14-16: “Gone with the Wind”
OK, we’ve sat through it too many times at the Alabama to take it again. But we still love the burning of Atlanta.
July 21-22: “The Sound of Music”
Christopher Plummer reportedly called it “The Sound of Mucus.” We’d roam the school singing, “The halls are alive with the sound of Morgan …” (Two non sequiturs for the price of one.)
July 28-29: “Singin’ in the Rain”
Since we still haven’t watched it on Mike’s DVD, now’s our chance to see Gene Kelly do his thing on the big screen.
Aug. 4-6: “Raiders of the Lost Ark”
No time to argue. Throw us idol, we’ll throw you the whip!
Aug. 11-13: “North by Northwest”
Time to brush up our Hitchcock. It’s the one with the plane and the cornfield, right?

alabama theatre

The Alabama also has special children’s matinees at 2 p.m. Saturdays. $5.

July 8: “Cinderella”
Back in high school, our pal A. loved the part with where she spins and the fancy dress magically appears.
July 15: “The Wizard of Oz”
So why hasn’t there been a Latino musical version, hmm?
July 22: “The Lion King”
And where’s the Broadway version of “Home on the Range”?
July 29: “Beauty and the Beast”
It’s not natural, we say, not natural at all.
Aug. 5: “Monsters, Inc”
Sadly, the funniest Billy Crystal movie in years.

The Alabama will show silent movies at 2 p.m., with accompaniment by the Mighty Wurlitzer. Free.

Sunday: “Sunrise”
Aug. 27: “Sparrows”

Free Friday Flicks in Homewood Park

Free. Feature starts at sunset. [map | event details]

free friday flicks

Friday: “Batman Begins”
Now, the Dark Knight, nipple-free (the costume, not the person).
June 30: “March of the Penguins”
Penguins rule.
July 7: “Kicking and Screaming”
No, not the 1995 slacker flick with Parker Posey and Eric Stoltz. Sigh.
July 14: “Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire”
They just keep making them better and better. A franchise — book and film — with legs.
July 21: “Hoodwinked”
Never has a kiddie film title been so bold in its accuracy.
July 28: “Nanny McPhee”
Guess Jim Carrey doesn’t have a lock on the whole big-name actor botches beloved book-turned-movie thing, right Emma Thompson?
Aug. 4: “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory”
The updated version, with a weirded-out Johnny Depp. When we’re over the nightmares from the first one, we’ll see this one.
Aug. 11: “Because of Winn Dixie”
Don’t know about this one, but if they ever make “Because of Publix,” we’ll go because we. cannot. resist.
Aug. 18: “Ice Age: The Meltdown”
We smell sequel!

McWane Center IMAX Theater

$9, $8 for members, senior citizens age 65 and older and children age 12 and under. [map | event details]

poseidon

June 30-July 28: “Poseidon”
We’re excited about feature films in IMAX, we really are. But “Poseidon”? Not if our mother’s eyes depended on it.

Movies by Moonlight in Linn Park

Free. Starts at sunset. [map | event details]

movies by moonlight

Thursday: “Big Fish”
Local author made good. Plus, Obi-Wan fights a witch and the Chinese.
July 20: “Drumline”
In case any black folk wanna see a movie with, you know, black folk in it.
Aug. 17: “Raising Arizona”
An absurd delight. “Son, you got a panty on your head.”
Sept. 21: “Napoleon Dynamite”
Please, please stop quoting this movie to us.
Oct. 19: Viewers’ choice

Also

Birmingham Peace Project

Free. Series of films from 3-6 p.m. Saturday at the Birmingham Islamic Society. Dessert and coffee provided. Hat tip to the Locust Fork. [map | event details]

Surrealist Film Series at Rojo

Free. 7 p.m. Tuesday. Part of Surrealist Film Series, presented by the Mont Rouge Film Society. [map | event details]

“The Saddest Music in the World”

1970s American Film Retrospective at Rojo

Free. 7 p.m. Tuesdays. [map]

African Film Festival at Birmingham Museum of Art

Free. Part of African Family Day. [map | event details]

July 28, 7 p.m.: “Lumumba”
July 29, 2 p.m.: Children’s films “Anansi the Spider,” “The Magic Tree,” “Why Mosquitoes Buzz in People’s Ears,” “A Story, a Story” and “The Village of Round and Square Houses”
July 29, 3 p.m.: “Matamata and Pilipili”
July 29, 4:30 p.m.: “Pièces d’Identités”

Sundown Cinemas at Helena Amphitheater

Free. 8 p.m. Fridays. [map | event details]