Whole New Language [Special Screenings, Aug. 24-31]

RiffTrax Live: Doctor Who—The Five Doctors. It’s an encore presentation of Mystery Science Theater 3000 refugees Mike Nelson, Kevin Murphy and Bill Corbett riffing wise Aug. 17 on the 1983 Doctor Who film The Five Doctors, in which someone is taking the Doctor’s past selves out of time and space and placing them in a vast wilderness. As the various incarnations of the Doctor join forces, they learn they are in the Death Zone on their home world of Gallifrey, fighting Daleks, Cybermen, Yeti and a devious Time Lord Traitor who is using the Doctor and his companions to discover the ancient secrets of Rassilon, the first and most powerful ruler of Gallifrey. FUCK! I am so high right now. AMC Downtown Disney, 1565 Disneyland Dr., Anaheim, (714) 776-2355; AMC Marina Pacifica, 6346 E. Pacific Coast Hwy., Long Beach, (562) 430-8790; AMC Orange 30 at the Outlets, 20 City Blvd. W., Orange, (714) 769-4288; AMC Tustin Legacy at the District, 2457 Park Ave., Tustin, (714) 258-7036; Cinemark Century Stadium 25, 1701 W. Katella Ave., Orange, (714) 532-9558; Cinemark at the Pike Theaters, 99 S. Pine Ave., Long Beach, (800) 967-1932; Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, 26701 Aliso Creek Rd., Aliso Viejo, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, 65 Fortune Dr., Irvine, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, 7501 E. Carson, Long Beach, (844) 462-7342; www.fathomevents.com. Thurs., Aug. 24, 7:30 p.m. $15.

The Birds. Cinema writers disagree, but I regard this as the most frightening Alfred Hitchcock picture while acknowledging that it’s largely due to my multiple viewings of the 1963 picture as a young child. (It was shown repeatedly on local television.) The arrival of a newcomer (Tippi Hedren) in a seaside burg seems to be heralded by immense flocks of birds attacking townsfolk. Rod Taylor, Jessica Tandy, Suzanne Pleshette and Veronica Cartwright co-star in the fourth of five pictures the Frida is screening to honor Hitch. The Frida Cinema, 305 E. Fourth St., Santa Ana; thefridacinema.org. Thurs., Aug. 24, 8 p.m.; Sun., 5:30 & 8 p.m. $7-$10.

Celebration of Iranian Cinema. The Farhang Foundation’s second-annual Orange County event is presented in collaboration with UC Irvine’s Jordan Center for Persian Studies and the UCLA Film & Television Archive. The lineup: opening-night reception and writer/director Saeed Roostaei’s Life and a Day, which is about an indigent family fearing the future as the youngest daughter gets married. Payman Maadi, Navid Mohammadzadeh, Parinaz Izadyar and Shirin Yazdanbakhsh star. (Fri., 7 p.m.); double feature of Mehrdad Oskouei’s documentary Starless Dreams, which looks at inmates at an all-female Iranian prison, and Hey Humans, in which Rakhshan Bani Etemad chronicles the need for a hospital for Iran’s underprivileged children. (Sat., 4 p.m.); Breath, in which Narges Abyar adapts her novel about a girl’s rural childhood being upended by the Iran-Iraq War. Sareh Nour Mousavi, Pantea Panahi Ha, Mehran Ahmadi, Jamshid Hashempour and Shabnam Moghadami star. (Sat., 7 p.m.); and Reza Mirkarimi’s Daughter, in which a young woman goes against her authoritarian father’s wishes, setting off a chain of events that rock an otherwise-calm family. With Farhad Aslani, Merila Zarei, Mahour Alvand and Mehran Kashani. (Sun., 5 p.m.). UCI Student Center, Crystal Cove Auditorium, Pereira and W. Peltason drives, Irvine, (949) 824-2419. Fri.-Sun. Various times. $10 per screening; VIP pass (includes opening-night reception and all shows), $75.

Beauty and the Beast. It’s a live-action remake of Disney’s animated classic, with Dan Stevens playing the young prince imprisoned in the form of a beast; Emma Watson as Belle, the first girl to visit the prince’s castle since it became enchanted; and Emma Thompson voicing lovable Mrs. Potts. Lake Forest Sports Park, 28000 Rancho Pkwy., Lake Forest; ca-lakeforest.0x000Acivicplus.com. Fri., 7:30 p.m. Free.

The Sandlot. The adventure of a new kid in town trying to fit in by playing baseball with a ball signed by Babe Ruth. Total fantasy; kids don’t play outside. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina, behind Moe B’s Watersports, 1131 Back Bay Dr., Newport Beach, (949) 729-3863. Fri., dusk. Free, but it costs to park on the premises.

Santa Sangre (Holy Blood). Upon its 1989 release in the U.S., OC Weekly‘s Friday Night Freakouts entry from Alejandro Jodorowsky received an NC-17 rating. A former circus performer leaves a mental institution for the arms of his mother—although she has no arms because her philandering husband cut them off. The former leader of the heretical Santa Sangre church, momma sets off for revenge with her son supplying her “arms.” Sugeagoodboy! The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Fri., 11 p.m.; Sat., 3:30 & 7 p.m. $7-$10.

Moana. In Disney’s 56th animated feature, a young princess and navigator (voiced by Auli’i Cravalho) searches the South Pacific for a fabled island of mysterious secrets. At the Fountain Valley screening, enjoy games, a food truck and a costume contest where the winner gets a new bike. Moana is also shown during the second annual Seal Beach Summer Send-Off, where there are crafts, games and food available for purchase from the Lions Club, which donates all proceeds to the College Park East Neighborhood Association. Grab a swimsuit and jump in the pool while the movie plays at the city of Irvine’s Splash-In Movie & Recreation Swim, where lifeguards watch over swimmers. Harper Park, 8675 Bluebird Ave., Fountain Valley; www.fountainvalley.org/856/Special-Events. Fri., 6 p.m. Free; also at Heather Park, Heather Street and Lampson Avenue, Seal Beach; www.sealbeachca.gov. Sat., 5:30 p.m. Free; and William Woollett Jr. Aquatics Center, 4601 Walnut Ave., Irvine, (949) 724-6717. Sat., 6:30 p.m. $2-$4.

[

Mayweather vs. McGregor. Why watch the super-fight ringside or from the comfort of your own home when you can go to a movie theater with sticky floors, stale popcorn and nerds dressed up like whatever superhero is on every other screen that night? Undefeated world-champion boxer Floyd Mayweather battles UFC superstar Conor McGregor LIVE in the most overhyped sporting event of the year. The undercard features undefeated rising star Gervonta “Tank” Davis making the second defense of his IBF Junior Lightweight World Championship against undefeated challenger Francisco Fonseca; Nathan Cleverly defending his WBA Light Heavyweight title against former 168-pound world champ Badou Jack “The Ripper”; and undefeated rising cruiserweight contender Andrew “The Beast” Tabiti taking on two-time world champion Steve “U.S.S.” Cunningham for the USBA cruiserweight title. AMC Orange 30 at the Outlets, (714) 769-4288; Cinemark Century Stadium 25, (714) 532-9558; Cinemark Century 20 Huntington Beach, 7777 Edinger Ave., Huntington Beach, (714) 373-4573; Cinemark at the Pike Theaters, (800) 967-1932; Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, (844) 462-7342; www.fathomevents.com. Sat., 6 p.m. $40.

Buona Sera, Mrs. Campbell. During World War II, an Italian villager (Gina Lollobrigida) befriends three American soldiers (Peter Lawford, Phil Silvers and Telly Savalas). Later, when she is unsure which of them fathered her daughter, she invents a dead captain named Campbell, declares herself his widow and accepts support checks from all three soldiers. Fast-forward 20 years, when the three veterans bring their wives and children with them for a reunion in Italy, where a panicked “Mrs. Campbell” tries to keep her loosey-goosey past from her daughter. Shelly Winters and Lee Grant also star in the film that screens as part of a fundraiser for the venue that includes a sit-down Italian dinner with red and white wines and a homemade dessert. The Filmmakers’ Gallery, 2238 E. Broadway, Long Beach, (562) 354-1490. Sat., 7 p.m. $40. Reservations strongly recommended because of limited seating.

Sing. The 3D-animated musical is about a hustling theater impresario’s attempt to save his theater with a singing competition. Humans voicing the animal character include Matthew McConaughey, Reese Witherspoon and Seth MacFarlane. Newport Dunes Waterfront Resort & Marina, (949) 729-3863. Sat., dusk. Free, but it costs to park on the premises.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show. The car of sweethearts Brad and Janet (Barry Bostwick and Susan Sarandon) breaks down near the eerie mansion of Dr. Frank-N-Furter (Tim Curry), a transvestite scientist whose home also hosts a rocking biker (Meat Loaf), a creepy butler (Richard O’Brien) and assorted freaks who include a hunk of beefcake named “Rocky.” Watch what’s on and in front of the screen thanks to shadow cast Midnight Insanity. Art Theatre, 2025 E. Fourth St., Long Beach, (562) 438-5435. Sat., 11:55 p.m. $8.50-$11.50.

Castle In the Sky. Legendary anime director Hayao Miyazaki’s rollicking adventure is about a young girl with a mysterious crystal pendant who falls out of the sky and into the arms and life of young Pazu. Together, they search for a floating island, the site of a long-dead civilization promising enormous wealth and power to those who can unlock its secrets. But greedy pirates, spies and the army are also all in hot pursuit! The first film to be released under the Studio Ghibli banner, Castle In the Sky is presented in Japanese with English subtitles and a dubbed version that includes the vocal talents of Anna Paquin, James Van Der Beek, Cloris Leachman, Mark Hamill and Mandy Patinkin. The Studio Ghibli Festival event also features the GKIDS Mini-Fest of the best animated shorts from around the world. AMC Orange 30 at the Outlets, (714) 769-4288; AMC Tustin Legacy at the District, (714) 258-7036; Cinemark Century Stadium 25, (714) 532-9558; Cinemark Century 20 Huntington Beach, (714) 373-4573; Cinemark at the Pike Theaters, (800) 967-1932; Edwards Aliso Viejo Stadium 20, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Irvine Spectrum 21, (844) 462-7342; Edwards Long Beach Stadium 26, (844) 462-7342; Krikorian’s Buena Park Metroplex 18, 8290 La Palma Ave., Buena Park, (714) 826-2152; Krikorian’s San Clemente Cinema 6, 641B Camino De Los Mares, San Clemente, (949) 661-7469; www.fathomevents.com. Sun., 12:55 p.m.; Mon. and (just added!) Wed., 7 p.m. $12.50.

[

Eloquent Nude: The Love and Legacy of Edward Weston & Charis Wilson. The 57-minute documentary is about model and writer Charis Wilson and photographer Edward Weston meeting, instantly falling in love, and setting off across the Great Depression-era West with typewriter and camera. They transformed photography and each other, as 90-year-old Wilson recounts with great humor, candor and some regret. Included are rare archival images, insights from leading scholars and convincingly authentic reenactments. Bowers Museum of Cultural Art, 2002 N. Main St., Santa Ana, (714) 567-3600. Sun., 1:30 p.m. $9-$12.

Frida On the Roof: Super Mario Brothers. Brooklyn plumbers Mario (Bob Hoskins) and Luigi (John Leguizamo) travel to another dimension to rescue a princess (Samantha Mathis) from evil dictator King Koopa (the late, great Dennis Hopper) in this 1993 family adventure-comedy based on a video game. The free outdoor screening atop a parking structure is presented by the Frida Cinema, Santa Ana Business Council and Nostalgic Nebula Entertainment. You are advised to Bring comfortable seating, blankets and, if you like, a picnic meal or snacks, although the Frida and surrounding restaurants would love your business. Fifth & Spurgeon Parking Structure, fourth-floor rooftop, 301 E. Fifth St., Santa Ana; thefridacinema.org. Sun., 0x000A6 p.m. Free.

Janus Films at the Frida: The 400 Blows. Every last Monday and Tuesday of the month, the Frida and Janus Films present painstakingly restored world cinema masterpieces from the distributor’s vaults by the likes of Michelangelo Antonioni, Sergei Eisenstein, Ingmar Bergman, Federico Fellini, Akira Kurosawa, François Truffaut, Yasujir Ozu and more. Kicking off the series is Truffaut’s 1959 film based on his own childhood in postwar Paris. Restoration of “The City of Lights” happens as we follow misbehaving 13-year-old Antoine (Jean-Pierre Leaud), who is tormented at school and misunderstood by his parents. The Frida Cinema; 0x000Athefridacinema.org. Mon.-Tues., 8 p.m. $7-$10.

Monty Python and the Holy Grail. Follow Arthur, King of the Britons, Sir Lancelot the Brave and Sir Robin the Not-So-Brave-as-Sir-Lancelot as they follow God’s directive to find the Holy Grail. Regency Directors Cut Cinema at Rancho Niguel, 25471 Rancho Niguel Rd., Laguna Niguel, (949) 831-0446. Tues., 7:30 p.m. $8.

Lilo & Stitch. A 2002 Disney animated science-fiction comedy-drama about a Hawaiian girl who adopts an unusual pet that turns out to be a notorious extra-terrestrial fugitive. Pacific City, Level Two, 21010 Pacific Coast Hwy., Huntington Beach; www.gopacificcity.com/events/. Wed., 7 p.m. Free.

Lawrence of Arabia. David Lean’s 1962 epic portrayal of Englishman Thomas Edward Lawrence (Peter O’Toole), who helped the Arabs revolt against the Turks during World War I. The winner of seven Academy Awards is considered one of the grandest pictures ever made—and it is overwhelmingly best appreciated on the big screen. Regency South Coast Village, 1561 Sunflower Ave., Santa Ana, (714) 557-5701. Wed., 7:30 p.m. $8.

Rear Window. Frida’s Hitchcock tribute concludes with this 1954 thriller featuring two of the Master of Suspense’s greatest muses: Jimmy Stewart and Grace Kelly. He plays freelance photographer L.B. Jeffries, whose broken leg leaves him confined to a wheelchair in his high-rise New York apartment. She is Larissa, L.B.’s nurse (and possible love interest) who is a great distraction to have around. But while she is away, L.B. grabs a pair of binoculars and spies on his neighbors. The creepy way of passing time turns chilling when he believes he sees a murder across the way. The Frida Cinema; thefridacinema.org. Wed.-Thurs., Aug. 30-31, 8 p.m.; also Sept. 3, 5:30 p.m. $7-$10.

Arrival. Linguistics professor Louise Banks (Amy Adams) leads an elite team of investigators racing against time to communicate with extraterrestrial visitors whose gigantic spaceships touched down in 12 locations around the world. Fullerton Main Library, 353 W. Commonwealth Ave., Fullerton, (714) 738.6327. Thurs., Aug. 31, 1 p.m. Free.