Cinema
Thursday, June 1, 2023
May the Forest Moon Fest Be with You
Posted By Jennifer Fumiko Cahill on Thu, Jun 1, 2023 at 6:00 AM
The Force is strong with us Friday, June 2 and Saturday, June 3 during the Forest Moon Festival celebrating the 40th anniversary of the locally filmed Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (free). It’s the best of the original trilogy (disagree? strike me down!) and you can watch free screenings on Saturday around the county. Get in Jedi drag and get to the Van Duzer Theatre at 1 p.m. to mingle with hardcore costumer groups from all over the state, see the film at 2 p.m. and stay for the filmmaker Zoom Q&A at 4 p.m.
At the Mateel Community Center, the troopers, Mandalorians and rebels show out at 3 p.m., the movie is at 4 p.m. and you can hit the after party like an Imperial speeder into a redwood. Jetpack to Sequoia Park — right in the Ewoks’ backyard — to see costumers at 7:30 p.m. and movie with live music at 8:45 p.m. Make a free reservation for the Sequoia Park Zoo’s after-hours Forest Moon Fest and Skywalk through the canopy and get down with DJ Juniper’s Dad. Get more info at forestmoonfestival.org and get ready to blow it up like Alderaan. Too soon?
At the Mateel Community Center, the troopers, Mandalorians and rebels show out at 3 p.m., the movie is at 4 p.m. and you can hit the after party like an Imperial speeder into a redwood. Jetpack to Sequoia Park — right in the Ewoks’ backyard — to see costumers at 7:30 p.m. and movie with live music at 8:45 p.m. Make a free reservation for the Sequoia Park Zoo’s after-hours Forest Moon Fest and Skywalk through the canopy and get down with DJ Juniper’s Dad. Get more info at forestmoonfestival.org and get ready to blow it up like Alderaan. Too soon?
Tuesday, May 23, 2023
Movies Tonight: Tuesday, May 23
Posted By Collin Yeo on Tue, May 23, 2023 at 4:00 AM
It is once again movie night over at the Humboldt Bay Social Club and tonight’s offering is The Simpsons Movie, perhaps the last somewhat-funny piece of entertainment created by the once-brilliant cartoon sitcom. It’s free to get in, and the show starts at 6 p.m. And speaking of movies, last week saw the loss of British composer Francis Monkman, who wrote one of my favorite film scores of all time for the 10/10 British gangster film The Long Good Friday. Do yourself a favor and listen to the main theme, for it is a banger and a half. And to connect the dots back to tonight’s fare, one of the film’s actors is a young Pierce Brosnan, who also appeared in a hilarious “Treehouse of Horror” episode of The Simpsons. And to tip my creative hand a bit, I’m listening to Monkman’s work while writing the very words that you are now reading.
Wednesday, May 17, 2023
Movies Tonight: Wednesday, May 17
Posted By Collin Yeo on Wed, May 17, 2023 at 4:00 AM
Movie night! Here are two options, spanning across a wide area, where you will find movies in large venues at 6 p.m. For the free family-friendly option, the Scotia Lodge presents Toy Story, Pixar’s beloved tale from 1995 about … even if you haven’t absorbed the meaning through cultural osmosis, it’s all in the title.
Meanwhile, over at the Arcata Theatre Lounge, The Road Warrior fills the big screen with its predictions of an apocalyptic future. I suspect our actual coming apocalypse will have fewer cool costumes, and rather than fighting in improvised war vehicles over tankers of gasoline, we will be driving EVs and hybrids and fighting over a shrinking, poisoned water supply. But there will still be plenty of mass death and violence, so there is that. Five bucks gets you in the door, $9
gets you in and lets you leave with a cool poster to help remember the good times when the reckoning comes.
Meanwhile, over at the Arcata Theatre Lounge, The Road Warrior fills the big screen with its predictions of an apocalyptic future. I suspect our actual coming apocalypse will have fewer cool costumes, and rather than fighting in improvised war vehicles over tankers of gasoline, we will be driving EVs and hybrids and fighting over a shrinking, poisoned water supply. But there will still be plenty of mass death and violence, so there is that. Five bucks gets you in the door, $9
gets you in and lets you leave with a cool poster to help remember the good times when the reckoning comes.
Tuesday, May 9, 2023
Movie Tonight: Tuesday, May 9
Posted By Collin Yeo on Tue, May 9, 2023 at 4:00 AM
Humboldt Bay Social Club continues its free, weekly adult movie night tonight at 6 p.m. This evening’s offering is the 2021 Ryan Reynolds comedy Free Guy, set in a video game world that is apparently nothing like the landscape of Tron. If nothing else, the venue is very charming and the drinks well made.
Wednesday, May 3, 2023
Music Tonight: Wednesday, May 3
Posted By Collin Yeo on Wed, May 3, 2023 at 4:00 AM
If you are in the mood to see a big screen presentation of John Carpenter’s classic Reagan-Era dystopian (I’m being redundant, I know) sci-fi masterpiece They Live, then head over to the Arcata Theatre Lounge at 6 p.m., where $5 will get you inside and $9 will let you leave with a poster. I can almost remember a time when the idea of invading alien overlords and their human collaborators forcing mindless consumption on the public, while killing the poor and dissenters alike, seemed far-fetched. Now all I can say is that I don’t really believe that the world is run by effete, perverted, inhuman monsters, because if you look around, they clearly aren’t really running anything with much success. Anyway, if you’d rather vent your spleen with some loud music, head over to Siren’s Song Tavern at 7 p.m., where $10 will get you a metal show featuring Arizona’s Saintbreaker, along with locals Imperial Destructo and Gooseneck.
Thursday, April 20, 2023
Humboldt International Film Festival Opens Tonight
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Thu, Apr 20, 2023 at 12:00 PM
Calling all film buffs and cinephiles: The Humboldt International Film Festival gets rolling for its 56th year, April 20-23, with nightly showings at the Minor Theatre ($12 general, free for Cal Poly Humboldt students). The four-night event is the culmination of CPH film students’ call for entries for filmmakers to submit their short films to the longest student-run film festival in the world. Check out shorts in animation, documentary, experimental and narrative categories, and take part in visiting artist talks and workshops. Get more info online at hsufilmfestival.com.
Saturday, April 1, 2023
Business / Economy / Cinema / Community / Frivolity / Fun
Forest Moon Festival to Celebrate Return of the Jedi's 40th
Posted By Jennifer Fumiko Cahill on Sat, Apr 1, 2023 at 8:00 AM
We sense something ... a presence we have not felt since the premiere of Return of the Jedi in 1983. To celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Star Wars sequel featuring the moon of Endor, filmed locally in Del Norte and Humboldt counties, the Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commission is putting on its inaugural Forest Moon Festival June 2-3. The (new) hope is to make it an annual tradition.
A long time ago in a Humboldt's Cheatham Grove, Lucasfilm's crew shot the redwood forest backdrop for the iconic speeder chase for ROTJ, and the Ewok village in an undisclosed (and since milled) private location in Del Norte County, as well as Jedediah Smith State Park. Film Commissioner Cassandra Hesseltine says the two-day festival with events around the two counties is a chance “to celebrate our community. It’s a sweet movie — it’s Endor.” She laughs, adding, “It could be Twilight!”
A long time ago in a Humboldt's Cheatham Grove, Lucasfilm's crew shot the redwood forest backdrop for the iconic speeder chase for ROTJ, and the Ewok village in an undisclosed (and since milled) private location in Del Norte County, as well as Jedediah Smith State Park. Film Commissioner Cassandra Hesseltine says the two-day festival with events around the two counties is a chance “to celebrate our community. It’s a sweet movie — it’s Endor.” She laughs, adding, “It could be Twilight!”
Wednesday, March 15, 2023
Cinema / Frivolity / Fun / Television
Photos: Hollywood Glamour at the Eureka Theater
Posted By Olivia Gambino on Wed, Mar 15, 2023 at 7:56 PM
The Humboldt-Del Norte Film Commission’s eighth annual Oscars Red Carpet Gala hosted Humboldt's boldest looks of the weekend. Timeless, classic Hollywood silhouettes were in. From the Dior-inspired fit-and-flare dress to the Rochas mermaid gown, the fits of the evening displayed bold beading, high slits, deep forest greens, metallics and sequins. Impressive brocade blazers were a prominent choice for several gentlemen. Gold and black accessorized with vintage furs reigned supreme on the red carpet that evening. See the slideshow below for highlights.
Wednesday, March 8, 2023
Music Tonight: Wednesday, March 8
Posted By Collin Yeo on Wed, Mar 8, 2023 at 4:00 AM
Sometime in the 1980s, cartoonist Alison Bechdel, in her seminal strip Dykes to Watch Out For, developed a process that became known as the Bechdel Test as a means of evaluating female representation in film. The test is simple, with only three rules: The film must have at least two women; they must interact and talk to each other; and they must talk about any subject other than a man. In the very strip where this concept was first introduced, one of the characters mentions that the last film she had seen was Ridley Scott’s Alien. Which is interesting, as a
strong argument can be made that James Cameron’s action film sequel, Aliens, passes the test far better than almost any other blockbuster from that indelicate decade of action star cavemen. Even disregarding any dialogue shared by the hero Ellen Ripley and either Space Marine Private Vasquez or Newt, the colony child who is rescued from the nightmare on exomoon LV-426, Ripley’s famous line directed at the alien queen, “Get away from her, you bitch!” and the antagonist’s nonverbal responding snarl still passes under the test’s metrics. Anyway, I love this
film and am tickled by the opportunity to see it on the big screen at the Arcata Theatre Lounge for Sci-fi Night. Six p.m. is the hour of the pre-show raffle and $5 will get you in the door, $9 if you want to go home with a poster. Viva.
strong argument can be made that James Cameron’s action film sequel, Aliens, passes the test far better than almost any other blockbuster from that indelicate decade of action star cavemen. Even disregarding any dialogue shared by the hero Ellen Ripley and either Space Marine Private Vasquez or Newt, the colony child who is rescued from the nightmare on exomoon LV-426, Ripley’s famous line directed at the alien queen, “Get away from her, you bitch!” and the antagonist’s nonverbal responding snarl still passes under the test’s metrics. Anyway, I love this
film and am tickled by the opportunity to see it on the big screen at the Arcata Theatre Lounge for Sci-fi Night. Six p.m. is the hour of the pre-show raffle and $5 will get you in the door, $9 if you want to go home with a poster. Viva.
Friday, February 24, 2023
Dirty Dancing at the Eureka Theater
Posted By Kali Cozyris on Fri, Feb 24, 2023 at 6:00 AM
See Jennifer Grey leap into Patrick Swayze's arms and be lifted in all her 1987 glory on the big screen when the Eureka Theater shows Dirty Dancing on Saturday, Feb. 25, at 7:30 p.m. ($10, $5 ages 12 and under). Return to Kellerman’s resort with Frances “Baby” Houseman, Johnny Castle and the rest of your favorite characters, plus the twirling and hoofin’ and that rockin’ 1960s/1980s soundtrack. Snacks and beverages available in the lobby. Doors at 6:30 p.m.
