Need a Light? [Special Screenings, Aug. 29-Sept. 5]

A Bigger Splash. Photo courtesy Metrograph Pictures

Ne Zha. First-time director Yang You (a.k.a. Jio Zi) also wrote what is currently the highest-grossing animated feature in Chinese film history. Born with powers and destined by prophecy to bring destruction to the world, young boy/social outcast Ne Zha must choose between good and evil. AMC Tustin Legacy at the District, 2457 Park Ave., Tustin, (714) 258-7036. Thurs., Aug. 29. Call theater for show times and ticket prices.

Overcomer. Minister Alex Kendrick’s new faith-filled dramedy has him playing a disillusioned high-school coach to an unlikely athlete (Aryn Wright-Thompson) facing the biggest race of her life. Various theaters; www.fandango.com. Thurs., Aug. 29. Visit website for locations, show times and ticket prices.

Kerry Tribe: Double. The artist’s single-channel video work has five women who nominally resemble one another reflecting on subjects ranging from their impressions of Los Angeles to their participation in this project. Grand Central Art Center, 125 N. Broadway, Santa Ana; www.grandcentralartcenter.com. Open Tues.-Thurs., 11 a.m.-4 p.m.; Fri.-Sat., 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; Sun., 11 a.m.-3 p.m. Through Sept. 22. Free.

Fiddler: A Miracle of Miracles. Max Lewkowicz’s new documentary explains the origin story behind the Broadway musical Fiddler On the Roof. Edwards Westpark 8, 3735 Alton Pkwy., Irvine, (844) 462-7342. Thurs., Aug. 29, 12:45, 4:45 & 7:35 p.m. $10.20-$13.20.

The Godfather Part II. Frida’s Francis Ford Coppola retrospective continues with this 1974 sequel that is equal to, if not better than, the original. He brilliantly crafts two stories that show young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) growing up in Sicily and 1910s New York and Michael Corleone (Al Pacino) growing into his role as the family crime boss in the 1950s. The Frida Cinema, 304 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., Aug. 29, 2:30 & 7:30 p.m. $7-$10.50.

Paris, Texas. In Wim Wenders’ 1984 drama, an aimless drifter (Harry Dean Stanton) emerges from the desert after being missing from his family for four years. He then tries to reconnect with his family, society and himself. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., Aug. 29, 2:30, 5:30 & 8:30 p.m. $7-$10.50.

Anime Afternoons. Come watch and discuss anime favorites. Fullerton Public Library, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, (714) 738-6327. Thurs., Aug. 30 & Sept. 5, 6 p.m. Free.

Best of Summer 4DX Flicks. Special effects come to your theater seat as you experience wind, fog, rain, lightning, vibrations, snow and scents that match what is onscreen. The lineup includes Aladdin; Avengers: Endgame; Fast & Furious Presents: Hobbs & Shaw; John Wick Chapter 3—Parabellum; The Lion King; Spider-Man: Far From Home; and Toy Story 4. Edwards Irvine Spectrum, 500 Spectrum Center Dr., Irvine, (844) 462-7342. Fri.-Thurs., Sept. 5. Call theater for times. $10 (except Hobbs & Shaw and The Lion King, $16.70-$19.70). 

Horrible Imaginings Film Festival. The 10th-anniversary run includes 50 short horror films and these features: Antrum: The Deadliest Film Ever Made; Porno; Reborn; Satanic Panic; Swing Low; and William Castle’s 1959 B-movie The Tingler. There’s also a special live (undead?) Friday performance of Leigh Purtill Ballet Co.’s Sweet Sorrow: A Zombie Ballet. See Scott Feinblatt’s “Horrible Imaginings Film Festival Returns to Frida Cinema for Its 10th Anniver-scary” for more information. The Frida Cinema; hifilmfest.com. Fri., 4:30-11:30 p.m. $20; Sat., 11 a.m.-11:30 p.m. $40; Sun., 11 a.m.-10 p.m. $40. Three-day pass, $80. 

Tangled. Image courtesy Disney

Tangled. The animated Disney flick from 2010 has Bandit Flynn Rider (voiced by Zachary Levi) hiding from the kingdom in a tower. Rapunzel (Mandy Moore), the tower’s longtime resident, takes him captive—but because she wants the heck out, they hatch a plan. McDowell Park, 17200 Oak St., Fountain Valley, (714) 839-8611. Fri., 6 p.m. Free.

The Princess Bride. Rob Reiner’s excellent adventure movie from 1987 features swashbuckler Westley (Cary Elwes) trying to save his childhood sweetheart Buttercup (Robin Wright) from marrying a royal douchebag. Laguna Niguel Regional Park, 28241 La Paz Rd., Laguna Niguel, (949) 923-2240; ocparks.com. Fri., dusk. Free.

Toy Story. The next time you pull the cord on the back of your kid’s Woody doll and hear “Howdy, pardner” or “Reach for the sky,” know that you are hearing the voice of Tom Hanks’ brother, as the movie star only does vocal work for the movies, m’kay? Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina, near Moe B’s Watersports, 1131 Back Bay Dr., Newport Beach, (949) 729-3863. Fri., dusk. Free, but there is a fee to park.

Deconstructing the Beatles: Abbey Road Side Two. Composer, music historian and Beatles enthusiast Scott Freiman breaks down the second side of the 1969 masterpiece album that began with producer George Martin instructing the Fab Four to think “symphonically.” Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, (562) 438-5435. Sat.-Mon., 11 a.m. $9-$12.

Wild & Scenic Film Festival On Tour. Ten short films tell stories of human relationships with the environment. Arrive early to learn about opportunities to enjoy and conserve nature from the Irvine Ranch Conservancy and other sponsors. Stay after for a raffle of prizes from Patagonia, REI Co-op, Hangar 18 Indoor Climbing Gyms and more. No admission tickets are sold at the door. Quail Hill Community Center, 39 Shady Canyon Dr., Irvine; wsffirvine.brownpapertickets.com. Sat., doors open, 6 p.m.; introduction and first half of program, 7 p.m.; intermission, 8 p.m.; second half of program, 8:30 p.m.; conclusion, 9:30 p.m. $15.

Footloose. In Herbert Ross’ 1984 musical drama, a young Chicago transplant (Kevin Bacon) stirs up the small Midwestern town he now calls home after learning dancing and rock music are illegal there. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort and Marina, (949) 729-3863. Sat., dusk. Free, but there is a fee to park.

Lawrence of Arabia. Photo courtesy Columbia Pictures

Lawrence of Arabia. Fathom Events’ TCM Big Screen Classics series continues with a remastered and 4K restoration of David Lean’s 1962 epic that is considered one of the grandest pictures ever made—and one that is best appreciated on the big screen. The seven-time Oscar winner presents the life of Englishman Thomas Edward Lawrence (Peter O’Toole), who helped the Arabs revolt against the Turks during World War I. Turner Classic Movies host Ben Mankiewicz provides commentary before and after the feature. Various theaters; www.fathomevents.com. Sun. & Wed., 1 & 6 p.m. $12.50.

A Bigger Splash. It’s a 4K restoration of the 1973 documentary on the life and art of David Hockney, who was born in England but became famous for his California-based works. Jack Hazan’s film is considered groundbreaking for its narrative-nonfiction structure and depiction of gay romance. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Mon., 2:30 & 8 p.m.; Tues.-Wed., 2:30, 5:30 & 8 p.m.; Thurs., Sept. 5, 2:30 p.m. $7-$10.50.

The Nightingale. The new thriller from Jennifer Kent (Babadook) has a vengeful young Irish woman (Aisling Franciosi) and an Aboriginal tracker (Baykali Ganambarr) hunting her former prison master (Sam Claflin) through the Australian wilderness. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Mon.-Thurs., Sept. 5, 2:30, 5:30 & 8:30 p.m. $7-$10.50.

Luz. Tilman Singer’s new horror film is about a cab driver (Luana Velis) fleeing from a demonic entity that loves her—and has possessed another woman (Julia Riedler). The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Mon.-Thurs., Sept. 5, 10:15 p.m. $7-$10.50.

How to Train Your Dragon. The animated tale, which is based on Cressida Cowell’s book series, has hapless young Viking Hiccup (voiced by Jay Baruchel) becoming the unlikely owner of a dragon—and finding out there is more to the creature than he assumed. Various Regal/Edwards theaters; regmovies.com. Tues., 10 a.m. $1.

Chicken Run. Image courtesy DreamWorks Animation

Chicken Run. In this 2000 stop-motion-animated comedy, a flamboyant American rooster arrives on a Yorkshire chicken farm, where hens doomed to a life of egg-laying hope he can teach them to fly to freedom. Fullerton Public Library, (714) 738-6327. Tues., 6 p.m. Free.

Gone With the Wind. Based on and released three years after Margaret Mitchell’s 1936 novel, the 10-time Oscar winner is set against the backdrop of the Civil War. Georgia plantation owner’s daughter Scarlett O’Hara (Vivien Leigh) pursues Ashley Wilkes (Leslie Howard), the husband of her cousin Melanie (Olivia de Havilland), and marries Rhett Butler (Clark Gable), who frankly does not give a damn. Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Laguna Niguel at Ocean Ranch Village, 32401 Golden Lantern St., Laguna Niguel, (949) 373-7900; also at Cinépolis Luxury Cinemas Rancho Santa Margarita at Santa Margarita Town Center, 30632 Santa Margarita Pkwy., Rancho Santa Margarita, (949) 835-1888. Tues., 7 p.m. $10.

Storks. When the Baby Factory cranks out an adorable but unauthorized girl, the goose is cooked for an eCommerce giant’s top delivery stork (voiced by Andy Samberg) in this 2016 3D-computer-animated comedy. Various Regal/Edwards theaters; regmovies.com. Wed., 10 a.m. $1.

A Private War. FPL Arthouse presents Matthew Heineman’s 2018 bio-drama on celebrated war correspondent Marie Colvin (Rosamund Pike), who, driven by an enduring desire to bear witness and give voice to the voiceless, willingly charges into danger. Fullerton Public Library, (714) 738-6327. Wed., 6 p.m. Free.

The African Queen. John Huston’s 1951 adaptation of the C.S. Forester novel stars Oscar winner Humphrey Bogart as slovenly, gin-swilling skipper Charlie Allnut of The African Queen tramp steamer that ships supplies to East African villages during World War I. When Germans invade and a prim British missionary (Robert Morley) dies, his sister (Katharine Hepburn) catches a ride with Allnut back to civilization. Starlight Cinema City, 5635 E. La Palma Ave., Anaheim, (714) 970-6700. Wed., 7 p.m. $5-$8.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part I. It’s the first half of the seventh and final cinematic adventure, in which Harry (Daniel Radcliffe), Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson) are to track down the secret to Voldemort’s (Ralph Fiennes) immortality and destroy the Horcruxes. Regency South Coast Village, 1561 W. Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 557-5701. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $9.

Remember the Titans. Boaz Yakin’s 2000 bio-drama is about a newly appointed African-American coach (Denzel Washington) and his high-school football team during their first season as a racially integrated unit. Fullerton Public Library, (714) 738-6327. Thurs., Sept. 5, 1 p.m. Free.

Q Films: Long Beach LGBTQ Film Festival. The Sept. 5-8 run of the 2019 fest kicks off with an Opening Night Party and screening of Nelly Queen: The Life and Times of José Sarria. Joe Castel’s new documentary is about a female impersonator who campaigned for a San Francisco County Board of Supervisors seat in 1961 because city officials vowed to shut down all gay bars. As the film shows, Sarria remains an important LGBTQ figure today. Q Films: Long Beach LGBT Film Festival Opening Night Party at the Center Long Beach, 2017 E. Fourth St., Long Beach; qfilmslongbeach.com. Thurs., Sept. 5, 6 p.m. Free to fest ticket and pass holders; Nelly Queen at Art Theatre, (562) 438-5435. 7 p.m. $11-$13 (various passes, $50-$130). 

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