By: Joshua Pickard: He covers local and national music, film and other aspects of pop culture. You can contact him on Facebook, Twitter or by email.
The Week in Film is a column dedicated to bringing awareness to award-winning films, special movie screenings, rereleases, limited-distribution runs and avant cinema that should be seen in theaters to be properly appreciated.
“My Neighbor Totoro”
Directed by legendary animation visionary Hayao Miyazaki, “My Neighbor Totoro” is the kind of wildly inventive and heartwarming story which so few modern children’s films have the capacity to deliver. Visually wondrous and possessing a captivating narrative, the movie is a delight in every way. This is a film which doesn’t talk down to kids but chooses to address their fears in a rational and mature manner. Sisters Satsuke and Mei settle into an old country home with their father while their mother recovers from an illness in a local hospital. In their daily adventures, they happen upon a group of forest spirits who irrevocably change their lives. In honor of its 30th anniversary, the film will be screened at a couple of local theaters this weekend.
When: Sunday, Sept. 30
Where: AMC Chattanooga 18, Regal Hamilton Place 8
Rating: G
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhZHNieJjVg
“Transformers: The Movie”
Released in 1986, “Transformers: The Movie” was a refreshingly mature look at the battle between the heroic Autobots and the villainous Decepticons. And before director Michael Bay came in and ruined the franchise with his superficial look at these hulking mechanical titans, this was the feature film kids turned to when they needed their fix of Optimus Prime and Megatron. Featuring the voice talents of Leonard Nimoy, Peter Cullen, Frank Welker, Judd Nelson, Eric Idle and Orson Welles, the film was surprisingly violent and has become a cult favorite of fans. For this special screening, moviegoers will also be granted access to a sneak peek at some behind-the-scenes footage from “Bumblebee,” an interview with singer-songwriter Stan Bush — whose songs “The Touch” and “Dare” are featured prominently in the film — and a poster for “Transformers: The Movie” (while supplies last).
When: Thursday, Sept. 27
Where: AMC Chattanooga 18, UEC Cleveland Theatres 14
Rating: PG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PrDUHJZV3TY
“Bad Reputation”
Joan Jett is most famously known for her hit song “I Love Rock ‘n’ Roll,” but her legacy is far more than this one song could encompass. Before reaching global saturation with that song, she made history with The Runaways, a hard rocking band whose music was basically comprised of a middle finger held perpetually aloft and some irresistible punk rhythms. “Bad Reputation,” the new documentary from Kevin Kerslake, attempts to delve into the cavernous history of Jett’s lengthy career. Told in her own words, and those of her closest friends and musicians, the film is a must-see for those with even a passing interest in the punk scene of the ‘70s and for those who simply want to have a clearer understanding of what Jett accomplished in the name of rock ‘n’ roll.
When: Wednesday, Sept. 26
Where: Improv Chattanooga
Rating: R
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lQYM-NJ0v8s
“My Hero Academia: Two Heroes”
Based upon Kōhei Horikoshi’s manga of the same name, “My Hero Academia: Two Heroes” is directed by Kenji Nagasaki and produced by Japanese animé studio Bones Inc. “My Hero Academia” follows the life of Izuku Midoriya, a boy who is born into a world of superheroes who possesses no “quirk” (or superhuman ability) but who still strives to become a hero. After proving his bravery, he is given a quirk by the world’s greatest superhero and is subsequently enrolled in a school for aspiring heroes. The events of “Two Heroes” are set between the second and third seasons of the animé series and feature him and his fellow classmates trying to defeat the evil villain Wolfram.
When: Tuesday-Thursday, Friday, Sept. 25-27, 29
Where: AMC Chattanooga 18
Rating: Not rated
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OXJT4_CQOHM
“Tangled”
As the 50th Disney animated feature, “Tangled” was loosely based on the German fairy tale “Rapunzel,” as it was recounted in the collection of folk tales published by the Brothers Grimm. Featuring the voices of Mandy Moore, Zachary Levi and Donna Murphy, the film utilized an interesting art style which combined features of CGI and traditional animation with non-photorealistic rendering that created the impression of a painting in motion. The film was estimated to have a production budget of around $260 million, which would make it the most expensive animated film ever made. Universally liked by both critics and filmgoers, the movie continued Disney’s streak of hits featuring strong, determined heroines whose life wasn’t entirely dependent on being rescued but was shaped by their own choices.
When: Friday-Thursday, Sept. 28-Oct. 4
Where: AMC Chattanooga 18, AMC Classic Battlefield 10, AMC Classic Majestic 12, AMC Classic Chattanooga 10, AMC Classic Northgate 14
Rating: PG
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JYKpIr1lSG0
