h2g2 The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy: Earth Edition

I have decided that as I haven't celebrated my birthday for several years now that I should make up for it on the occasion of my 20th birthday. Anyway I'm going to rent out a screen at the local cinema to watch a film with my freinds however I have absolutely no idea what film we could watch. So I am humbly asking your for your opinions.

Really this should be something that is worth watching on the big screen but also a film that can be enjoyed with a large group of freinds. The rest I leave to you.

Thank you for any help.

So many choices - you did not mention how long you have it for - if it was a whole day then I would have to recommend a Lord of the Rings marathon - on the big screen that would be mad on springs

Just for a 2 hour sessions then it gets a lot more difficult. You would want to entertain a large group of friends so you would want something fairly accessible - there are so many films I would like to see on the big screen but a lot of people would not want to see them as they reckon them dull, or they have already seen them on the telly or dvd.

You didn't mention if it was any film, or if it was just ones on release now. For any then I would go for.....

Avalon by Mamoru Oshii - hard to get hold of, and still prolly dull for most people but beautiful, thought provoking and mysterious. Shot by a Japanese director in Eastern Europe with local actors speaking in Polish. What more could you want Of course this opinion is only valid for the next 11 seconds Well, until later...
BCNU - Crescent

Right I work in a cinema so I can help with stuff that's out at the moment:
Kill Bill 2 is excellent and pretty much my top recomendation, very funny in parts, moving in parts and the fight scenes are great
Troy is getting pretty mixed reviews but I really like it, just take it for what it is, don't be expecting the Illiad and ignore Orlando Bloom's fairly terrible acting and you should be fine. Eric Bana is outstanding in it
Van Helsing is pretty poor, if you're a fan of the story or genre you might wanna check it out but I'm not
Scooby Doo 2 is a lot of fun, childish I know but it is a good way to waste a couple of hours
Shaun of the Dead is brilliant, if you liked Spaced then you'll like it - if you didn't see Spaced its still pretty funny
Most of the other stuff that's out at the moment is quite intense drama and I wouldn't go and see it for a birthday treat, although Rules of Engagement is supposed to alright it is very short
If you're not going for a couple of weeks I have only one film for you: Shrek 2, Shrek 2, Shrek 2! It just looks superb, I've yet to read a bad review and the trailers have had me in stitches. Have a nice time whatever you decide to see

Ok, so to clear a few things up, it can be anything that the cinema can get a hold of. So it doesn't matter how old it is but it can't be something really rare. Also I think that I'm kinda limited to an evening so only one film as opposed to the entire LOTR trilogy.

So just to illustrate my thinking, I would love to watch 2001: A Space Oddessy on the big screen as I missed it the first time due to me being a very small baby or possibily not even born.

However I'm not sure how much of springboard into an enjoyable evening down at the bar this will end up being. So perhaps something like The Big Lebowski for pure entertainments sake.

Any suggestions are still very well come, I'm waiting for that one film that just fits the bill perfectly.

I couldn't resist coming out of "retirement" to chip in on this one. First of all - GOOD IDEA! I wish I could do similar...

You fail to specify certification requirements: will there be kiddies present?

My own suggestions:

STAR WARS! Obviously. Might leave some older viewers a bit cold though. Ditto "The Matrix".

"Top Gun" is one of those films which, while it has almost no redeeming artistic qualities whatsoever, is a safe choice and almost invariably leaves an audience exhilarated, especially on a big screen with a good sound system. Also all the movie dweebs can get off on knowingly smirking at all the ironically homoerotic imagery.

A film you might not have considered, but which I would heartily recommend as long as the audience have at least a passing familiarity with the history of WWII, is "Casablanca". It really is almost perfect, and you'll all be talking about it for the rest of the evening and quoting bits for the rest of your life. I can't recommend this one enough.

Finally, "Toy Story". It's just magical.

OK these may not be the best films in the world - but I saw both on the big screen and trust me its the ONLY way to see them:-

Gladiator - you are IN that battle

Close Encounters - reckon t would still have the woohoo factor on the big screen.

I was going to mention 2001 as I would love to see it on the big screen too, but I know many peeps who would fall asleep during the showing for it to be for a big group of friends My collegue says Lost Boys or Dumbo - but any of the disney ones would be good - maybe even get a singalong I wouldn't mind seeing the Good the Bad and the Ugly on the big screen too - Well, enough for now, until later...
BCNU - Crescent

Some Like It Hot would be my choice, as I think it be wonderful to see it on a big screen. However, I don't know you or your friends, so don't know whether you'd enjoy it... A wonderful comedy, absolutely perfect really. But it is in black & white, which I know some people can't cope with.

David B, the

Groundhog Day.

F

See if they can get hold of Japanese film called Spirited Away, it's absolutely brilliant and has a very good English dub.

You already suggested The Big Lebowski

or anything by Pixar animations eg. Toy Story, Finding Nemo etc

Yeah, Toy Story is brilliant. For Disney movie I`d go with Aladdin, the best one they've made so far. What about Galaxy Quest?

Would your friends want a movie where you have to think, or do they prefer flashy no-brainers?

I was thinking "Donnie Darko", but that's just because I like "Donnie Darko" at the moment, so it could be your friends and yourself would not like it. Also "Pirates of the Caribbean", but most people have seen that on the big screen already. Or "Monty Python and the Holy Grail" if you & friends are into that sort of thing. As it came out a long time ago some younger people (like me) have only seen it on TV and not on big screen. Then again, I don't know how old you are.

Basically go with a film that you think would be good on the big screen, and that you would be able to gain something from watching it on the big screen rather than at home. So sound is an important factor, as cinema speakers are better than television speakers. If there's a film with a really good soundtrack that you like, you could choose that one. Action films also look good on the big screen. Or a film with a really hot main character, as then you get to see a big version of them.

Good luck...

Er...sorry, I do know how old you are!

What about one of the Indiana Jones movies?

Incidentally, are you able to get hold of rolls for just any film?

Thanks for all the suggestions guys,

I had forgotten about Spirited Away. I saw it almost a year ago in the cinema when it was first released over here. That would be a good one. Some Like It Hot is definatly going to make the short list, along with The Big Lebowski and 2001.

I'm afraid that I don't know how the cinema goes about getting the prints for the films but I have to give them three options in case they can't get a hold of them or if they are poor quality.

So right now my top three of preference seem to be shaping up to be

The Big Lebowski
2001: A Space Odessy
Some Like it Hot/Spirited Away

I'm not sure how easy it would be to get a hold of a good set of prints of an old film like Some Like it Hot but someone had The Battle of Algiers this month for their birthday, so I assume that old films aren't a problem.

Thanks again

On a full cinema screen it is difficult to beat Lawrence of Arabia