Sunday Special: The NeverEnding Story
2 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 25
$7 / $5 for students with ID
Doors and Varsity Bar at 1:30
Wolfgang Petersen adapted Michael Ende's children's story for this charming fantasy film that spawned several sequels. Bastian (Barret Oliver) is dealing with his mother's recent death. His father (Gerald McRaney) is an imperious sort who continually lambastes Bastian for daydreaming and falling behind in school. On top of his father's badgering, he has to contend with a bunch of school bullies waiting for him in the schoolyard. One day, he decides to play hooky and walks into a strange bookstore, where in the attic, he discovers a book called "The NeverEnding Story." As Bastian reads the book, he's enveloped in the unfolding tale. Bastian is so consumed with the tale that he finds himself catapulted into the land of Fantasia himself. Atreju realizes that the only way to save the land from its blight is with the help of this strange earth boy, Bastian. (1984)
Rated PG for some violence
Tickets are not available in advance at the venue until doors open at 1:30 on the night of the screening.
Friday Flicks: The Dark Crystal
7 p.m. Friday, Aug. 30
$7 / $5 for students
Doors and Bar at 6:30
The 1982 puppet animated fantasy adventure was directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. It was the first cinematic feature directed by Henson to not feature The Muppets. The plot revolves around Jen and Kira, the last of the Gelfings, who embark on a dangerous journey to “heal” a precious Dark Crystal and restore order to their planet.
The movie was marketed as a family film but is notably darker than the creators’ previous material. “The Dark Crystal, besides being a dazzling technological and artistic achievement … presents a dark side of Jim Henson and Frank Oz that could teach a lesson in morality to youngsters at the same time it is entertaining their parents,” wrote Variety magazine in its review of the film.
“The Dark Crystal” is rated PG and runs 120 minutes. For a full review, go to https://www.empireonline.com/movies/reviews/dark-crystal-review/
Tickets are not available at the door until the night of screening at 6:30.