We will be viewing "Invictus" - Clint Eastwood's latest film which is about the racial unification of South Africa at the end of apartheid (1994). Here is the description from the film review aggregator web site rottentomatos.com:

"The film tells the inspiring true story of how Nelson Mandela joined forces with the captain of South Africa’s rugby team, Francois Pienaar, to help unite their country. Newly elected President Mandela knows his nation remains racially and economically divided in the wake of apartheid. Believing he can bring his people together through the universal language of sport, Mandela rallies South Africa’s underdog rugby team as they make an unlikely run to the 1995 World Cup Championship match."

Here is the link to the official web site:

http://invictusmovie.warnerbros.com/

We will be attending the 4:00 pm showing at the Metro Cinemas. Please buy your ticket and meet me in the second floor concession area at 3:45. As I indicated elsewhere I am an Asian male who will be wearing some type of hat (though not a baseball cap). My cell phone (206-683-7850) will be turned on at approximately 2:30 and will be turned off just before the program starts. Feel free to call me if you can't find our group.

We will be attending on Sunday so street parking will be free. However, be aware of neighborhood zone parking which might limit you to just a few hours unless you have a neighborhood permit.

After the 4:00 showing there will be an optional dinner where we can discuss this film and any other topic under the sun. I am inclined to patronize the Bombay Grill which is about 1-1/2 blocks away. Here is a link to their dinner menu:

http://www.bombaygrillofseattle.com/dinnerMenuPage.asp

Participants have the option of patronizing another restaurant.

Let me know if you have any questions.

George Liu
kayaker@war-is-hell.com

"Raja 18" is a Finnish film, made in 2007, that depicts conditions along the Finnish and Russian border in 1918. The Russian revolution has just taken place, and Finland has become an independent nation. There is a civil war within Finland, and there are conflicts with Russia. A young officer is sent to control the border between the two nations which means that it is his duty to capture and execute Russians trying to escape to his country. There is a romantic subplot when he become involved with the "wrong" woman.

Here is a link to a review of this film:

http://nitessine.livejournal.com/68742.html

And here is a link to its trailer on youtube (approximately 1:30 minutes):

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hoMJf7CHLqA

Here is a a clip on youtube that is nearly 10 minutes long and which has subtitles:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-j9x08fgNV8

This film will be shown at the Swedish Cultural Center in a classroom. The center is located on the west side of Lake Union and not in Ballard.

"Raja 1918" has English subtitles.

Admission is a $5.00 donation.

Please

Oh my god, the city of Paris and Juliette Binoche all in one film. What could be better? "Paris", which opened on Sept. 25, has been described as a French version of Woody Allen's "Manhatten". Here is film review web site rottentomatos description of the film:

"The exhilarating new film from Cédric Klapisch (L'Auberge Espagnole), Paris is a cinematic love letter to the city that seems to hide a story behind every corner. While waiting for a heart transplant, Pierre (Romain Duris) has his world invaded by his sister Elise (Juliette Binoche) and her three children. The growing awareness of his impending mortality, as well as the re-discovery of his sister and her life, gives Pierre a very different sense of how he might spend the time still left to him. The young man observes Paris and its people with a new outlook, learning to cherish even the smallest details and everyday things. Meanwhile, a respected professor (Fabrice Luchini) hopes for one more great romance in his life, while a vendor at an open-air market (Albert Dupontel) wonders what life is left for him now that he’s split from his wife."

This film is getting ok reviews (65% on the tomatometer) but again think "Paris" and "Juilette Binoche". Rottentomatos summery of this film is: "Alternately a sharp ensemble dramedy and a love letter to the titular city, Paris is uneven but often striking."

Since this movie does not start until 8:00 pm I will find an inexpensive restaurant where we can dine before the showing; this will be announced in the "comments" section.

In case this film really bombs and has only a one week run I will reschedule this event for Thursday, October 1.

All the pre-release buzz on this one has been good so far. Looks like this is the last of the summer movies, except it's a bit of sleeper programming. When's the last mainstream sci-fi movie you saw made for 30 million? Come and find out if it lives up to the buzz or if it needs popcorn thrown at the screen.

Showtime confirmed for 7:30.

I will meet people outside the doors beside the box office beforehand and we can head in 15+ minutes before for seating.

Afterward we can get some food/drinks, most likely at the Taphouse.

*** Please remember that weekend evenings often times Lincoln Square can get crowded and leave time for finding parking and getting in. This may also increase now that it is "summer" for movies. If you want to be extra safe tickets are available online.

Movie profile:
http://movies.yahoo.com/movie/1809961221/info;_ylt=Ag9e.1TwzqfxrHRBrfCAkyRfVXcA

At this cinema meetup it is not what films we will be seeing but where we will be seeing them. We will be patronizing one of the last drive-in theaters located in the greater Seattle area - the Puget Park Drive-In located in South Everett. This will be a chance to become acquainted with an American cultural icon before it disappears from the scene. Most of the drive ins in the Puget Sound area are found in smaller towns such as Port Orchard and Port Townsend. This theater is located about 13 miles north of the Seattle/Shoreline border of NE 145th (about as far north as Mill Creek). Here is a link to the drive-in's web site:

http://www.sterlingrealty.com/drivein.asp

The Puget Park Drive-In has a huge screen and can accommodate 700 vehicles. For an admission price of $8.50 one can see a double or maybe even a triple feature. For example, the program for July 24 through July 30 is "Harry Potter and the Half-blood Prince" and "The Proposal" (a romantic comedy starring Sandra Bullock) all for $8.50. Patrons must have an FM radio to receive the audio portion of the films. The theater opens at 7:30 and the first show is at dusk (9 pm?)

You might not want to attend this meetup especially when you know that the films will be geared towards mainstream audiences and are not the art films or indie films that are shown at the Landmark Theaters or other venues such as SIFF and Northwest Film Forum. However, some day in the future you will discover that drive in theaters have disappeared. You might look back and wish that you had at least once compromised you standards in film esthetics to patronize a dying breed movie venue. Hey, didn't we all enjoy the nostalgia of "American Graffitti"? Live it now. Here is a link to a web site that discusses the many Western Washington drive-ins that have closed and the few that are still open:

http://www.geocities.com/Hollywood/Pavillion/2216/driveins.html

We will meet in the lower parking lot of Shawn O'Donnell's restaurant in South Everett at 8:30 (check for updates on the day of the event to see if the time has changed) and drive to the drive-in which is only a few blocks away. I will be driving a red Jeep Cherokee that is so old that it is either a classic or a clunker. O'Donnell's will also be the place for a group dinner prior to the showing. We will meet there at 7;30 and dine on excellent Irish food, or maybe just have a beverage in the pub. Check out the menu - the prices are very reasonable. Also, Saturday is "Cruise Day" where folks with great show cars put them on display in the parking lot. Here is O'Donnell's web site:

http://shawnodonnells.com/

If you need to contact me on the evening of the event please call my cell phone 206-683-7850.

This event is co-listed with the Seattle Cinema Club and Eastside Movie Buffs meetup groups.

George Liu
kayaker@war-is-hell.com