Analog Adventures

Description

SAT AUGUST 9 DOUBLE FEATURE

3p, 7p: Labyrinth
Jim Henson, George Lucas and Monty Python’s Terry Jones joined forces for this fable of a young girl (Jennifer Connelly) who must rescue her baby brother from the Goblin King (David Bowie) by midnight. Numerous bizarre characters are encountered as she makes her way through the King’s maze, with its ruler appearing regularly and providing the occasional toe-tapping tune. The sets are an eye-catching array of optical illusions and sight gags, all concluding at the centre of the labyrinth, which is constructed as a three-dimensional depiction of an M.C. Escher painting. (1986, 101 min, ‘SCOPE)

1:05p, 5:05p, 9p: The Neverending Story
In this fantasy epic, a lonely, dreamy kid retreats from reality and finds himself magically transported into the world of the book he’s reading. Adapted from the popular young adult novel by Michael Ende, the film is a fairy tale of the very best kind, mixing German Romanticism (complete with Wagnerian sets and a score in part by Giorgio Moroder) and Walt Disney, respectively. Directed by Wolfgang Petersen (DAS BOOT). (1984, 94 min, ‘SCOPE)


SUN AUGUST 10 DOUBLE FEATURE

3:20p, 7p: The Dark Crystal
On another planet, in another time, a crystal of great power is shattered and an age of chaos has begun! For this story of good vs. evil, Jim Henson and company created an entire non-human world using sophisticated marionettes, radio-controlled animatronics and full body-suit creations. Not just stunning technically but one of the few screen creations of an entire self-contained fantasy otherworld—it leaves today’s CGI creations in the digital dust. (1982, 93 min, ‘SCOPE)

1:30p, 5:10p, 8:55p: Legend
Ridley Scott’s amazingly beautiful fairy tale tells the story of the Lord of Darkness (Tim Curry) who schemes to blot out the sun by killing off the last two remaining unicorns on the planet. With the help of fairies, trolls, and elves, nature boy Jack (Tom Cruise) must find Darkness and save the sun before evil consumes the planet—and rescue his damsel in distress as well! Featuring Oscar nominated make-up effects by Rob Bottin (THE THING). (1986, 90 min, ‘SCOPE)


TUE AUGUST 12 DOUBLE FEATURE

7p: Flash Gordon
Alex Raymond’s influential sci-fi comic strip hero bursts back on to the screen with outlandish costumes and sets, intentionally campy dialogue, decidedly retro special effects, and that unforgettable rock score by Queen. Come see Flash and company race against time to prevent the destruction of Earth by the evil Emperor, Ming the Merciless, in all its widescreen glory! Starring Sam J. Jones, Melody Anderson, Max Von Sydow, Topol, Ornella Muti and Timothy Dalton. Directed by Mike Hodges. (1980, 111 min, ‘SCOPE)

9:10p: Heavy Metal
For some inexplicable reason, the cult adult fantasy comic was brought to the screen by the creative team behind MEATBALLS! The result is an amalgam of disparate story segments, each created by different writers and animators from around the world. With a framing story about a glowing green orb claiming to be the embodiment of all evil, the film shuttles through eight tales of sci-fi adventure, each fueled by rock music from the ‘80s. This is a must at the Castro, where it can be HUGE and ROCK HARD! (1981, 86 min)


WED AUGUST 13 DOUBLE FEATURE

2:20p, 7p: Ladyhawke
Matthew Broderick plays an artful dodger who comes to the aid of tragic lovers Michelle Pfeiffer & Rutger Hauer—she cursed to become a hawk every day at sunrise, he turns into a wolf at sunset. Drawing inspiration from folklore stretching back to the 13th century, this timeless fairy tale with a not-so-timeless music score will delight anyone with a penchant for sword duels and chivalric romance. Directed by Richard Donner (SUPERMAN), photographed by Vittorio Storaro (APOCALYPSE NOW). (1985, 121 min, ‘SCOPE)

4:40p, 9:20p: The Beastmaster
In this sword-and-sorcery cult classic, Marc Singer is Dar, a young hero armed with supernatural powers who wages war against marauding forces with help from his animal allies. Co-starring Tanya Roberts as Kiri the curvaceous slave girl and Rip Torn as Maax the vicious priest. Directed by Don Coscarelli (PHANTASM) and photographed by John Alcott (BARRY LYNDON). (1982, 118 min)


THU AUGUST 14 DOUBLE FEATURE

7p: Conan the Barbarian
Director/co-writer John Milius both departs from and embraces the mythos of Robert E. Howard’s pulp hero in this mix of abundant sex, violence, and Nietzschean brooding. Arnold Schwarzenegger stars and is ably joined by the unconventional beauty Sandahl Bergman in his quest to stomp-out cult leader James Earl Jones. Impossible to overlook: the magnificent score by Basil Poledouris—one of the decade’s greats. (1982, 129 min, ‘SCOPE)


9:30p: Flesh+Blood
In early 16th-century Western Europe, Rutger Hauer and his band of mercenaries kidnap maiden Jennifer Jason Leigh and are pursued by prince Tom Burlinson. Paul Verhoeven’s brutal and exhilarating movie completely immerses you in the plague-ridden era and while not technically of the “fantasy” genre, this vividly barbaric adventure displays enough ingredients to fit the bill. Featuring another great Basil Poledouris score. (1985, 126 min, ‘SCOPE)