Converted to Apatow

Plus: Forecast calls for yet another outbreak of ’80s-era cheese

(June 10, 2010) Previews

It’s back to the ’80s this weekend, with two major openings based on cultural touchstones from that era.

The A-Team updates the kitschy ’80s TV series about rebellious commandos turned mercenaries. The new cast has Liam Neeson as Col. John “Hannibal” Smith (the George Peppard role), Bradley Cooper (The Hangover, Alias) as Lt. Templeton “Faceman” Peck, Sharlto Copley (lead in District 9) as Capt. H.M. “Howling Mad” Murdock and pro-wrestler Quinton “Rampage” Jackson as mohawked Sgt. B.A. “Bad Attitude” Baracus (the role immortalized by Mr. T). The action-packed story is like the TV storyline, but with the Gulf War subbing for Vietnam. Director Joe Carnahan (Smokin’ Aces) knows his action, as do producers Ridley and Tony Scott. Expect explosions galore. Rated PG-13 for intense sequences of action and violence throughout, language and smoking. Opens Friday at the Broadway, Mill Creek, the Minor and the Fortuna.

The Karate Kid is a remake of the 1984 hit about a kid learning martial arts from a wise teacher/father figure. The original spawned several sequels and essentially made the careers of Ralph Macchio (the Kid) and Pat Morita (the Sensei). The update keeps the same storyline, but with a significant change: In the first film the kid was a fish out of water who’d moved from Jersey to SoCal; the new version has a single mom and her son moving from Detroit to China. Young Jaden Smith, who plays the kid, is the real-life son of Will Smith and Jada Pinkett-Smith, who are among the movie’s producers. He’s paired with action comedy superstar Jackie Chan. When the kid is tormented by a bully, the maintenance man at his school (Chan) intercedes and becomes his teacher, preparing for a big showdown. Rated PG for bullying, martial arts action violence and some mild language. Opens Friday at the Broadway, Mill Creek and the Fortuna.

Want to see some real karate kids in action? Before the Friday, June 11, screenings of TheKarate Kid at Mill Creek, students from Sun Yi’s Tae Kwon Do Academy will perform Tae Kwon Do demonstrations in the theater lobby — one after the first show and one just before the second show. There’s also a drawing for Karate Kid merch.

Continuing the back to the ’80s theme, the Arcata Theatre Lounge has The Goonies playing twice on Friday, June 11 (7 and 11 p.m.). It’s hard to explain how director Richard Donner’s 1985 kids adventure-comedy became a cult classic, but it did. The story, adapted by Chris Columbus from a story by Steven Spielberg, has a pack of kids (Corey Feldman, Sean Astin, Josh Brolin, etc.) searching for lost treasure in a cave in an effort to save their parents’ homes from evil real estate developers.

Saturday at the ATL, Greenhouse Boardshop presents Taylor Steele’s new surf movie, Castles In The Sky, a sequel to Steele’s travelogue/surf flick Sipping Jetstreams with more top surfers riding waves in exotic locations. The screening is a benefit for Surfrider Foundation Humboldt and Arcata Skatepark Phase II.

Sunday the ATL has Zoolander, a comedy lampooning the fashion and modeling industry written and directed by Ben Stiller, who also plays the title role. Stiller created top male model Derek Zoolander (with great looks but no brains) for a short shown during the The VH1 Fashion Awards. The film expansion has him eclipsed by a hipper rival, Hansel (Owen Wilson), then involved with fashion magnate Mugatu (Will Ferrell) and an assassination plot. The film has been very influential on the Humboldt rock world: At least two local bands derive their names from elements in Zoolander.

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