Film

Three Ways for Kids to See ‘Polar Express’ This Holiday Season

Take Your Kids to ‘Moana’ at 4:15 PM, Wednesday; Donate a Toy/Gift for Admission

Holiday Tradition at Maritime Aquarium: ‘The Polar Express’ Returns to IMAX Theater

From the Air, See Town Hall, Library, High School, Police Dept, Spring Grove Cemetery

What’s Being Shown Thursday at the Greenwich International Film Festival

‘Batman v Superman’ IMAX Version Runs Thursdays Through Sundays at Maritime Aquarium

‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Offered in Non-Digital IMAX Version at Maritime Aquarium

See the Movie ‘The Walk’ Friday, Jan 15 at Darien Library

Letter: Families Invited to ‘The Good Dinosaur’ Movie Benefiting Holiday Gift Drive

Do the Time Warp Again at “‘Rocky Horror’ Experience” Saturday at Maritime Aquarium

What’s Coming and Going on Netflix in July

Online Talk: ‘Ten Steps to Writing a Successful College Application Essay’

Events Calendar

Film

By David Gurliacci | December 3, 2016

Community Organizations

By David Gurliacci | November 29, 2016

Film

By David Gurliacci | November 24, 2016

Around Town

By David Gurliacci | August 6, 2016

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By David Gurliacci | June 9, 2016

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By David Gurliacci | May 27, 2016

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By David Gurliacci | March 23, 2016

Arts & Entertainment

By David Gurliacci | January 15, 2016

Film

By David Gurliacci | December 3, 2015

Film

By David Gurliacci | October 22, 2015

Film

By David Gurliacci | June 28, 2015

Movies and those who make them in and around Darien

Darien kids can experience the animated Christmas-themed movie “Polar Express” in three different ways this month — either for free this coming Saturday at the Avon Theatre in Stamford, or on the big IMAX screen at the Maritime Aquarium, or at the aquarium with a pajama party. Here’s a rundown of the options:
(1) For free at the Avon, 10 a.m., Saturday, Dec. 10
As the Avon Theatre announced on its Facebook timeline, you get more than just a free movie:
Join us for a magical journey to The Polar Express (2004) on Saturday, Dec. 10 at 10 a.m. FREE to the public. Free tasting of delicious treats from Pilar Artisanal Chocolate at 9:30am.

Attention movie lovers: Mark your calendars on Wednesday, Nov. 30, the annual “Community-Wide Movie” benefiting the Darien Human Services Holiday gift drive will again take place at the Darien Playhouse. Sponsored by the Darien Youth Commission, the Darien Human Services Department, the Depot’s Helping Hand Club and the movie theater, this year’s film is Disney’s latest release: “MOANA.”
This movie premieres in theaters on Wednesday, Nov. 23. Please consider waiting until Wednesday the 30th to bring the whole family to the movie!!

Santa Claus awaits at the end of a wild giant-screen ride to the North Pole beginning Friday, Nov. 25 when the Hollywood film “The Polar Express” returns for a limited holiday engagement to the IMAX® Theater of The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. The animated film, featuring Tom Hanks as the voice of five characters, hits the Aquarium’s six-story screen on Fri., Nov. 25 at 5 p.m., and then will play on Saturdays and Sundays at 5 p.m. through Dec. 18.

Here’s a view of some places in Darien from a perspective that hardly anyone gets to see: From a drone video hundreds of feet from the ground. You’ll want to pause this five-minute video to catch some of the details of places you’re familiar with from the ground. Aerial Darien – 2016 from Darien TV79 on Vimeo. Note the way that many of the gravestones in the veterans burial ground of Spring Grove Cemetery are placed in a square, the light color of the Town Hall roof (which keeps off some of the heat on a hot day) and the dark Darien High School roof. The video was created by Kersten Schriel of Shadow Lounge Productions and produced by Cecil Wade for TV79.

Don't Watch Me Dancing movie promo pic GIFF 6-9-16

The Greenwich International Film Festival, now in its second year, is presenting more than 30 films from Thursday through Sunday, June 9 to 12 at various venues in Greenwich and Stamford. The “GIFF” was founded, according to its website, “to bridge the worlds of film, finance, and philanthropy,” and also includes parties, panels and premiers. Here’s what’s playing on Thursday:

Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You

Norman Lear: Just Another Version of You is a recount of Mr. Lear’s compelling achievements in Television through his influential dialogue and political activism. Directors Heidi Ewing & Rachel Grady fashion this evocative documentary to prove that Norman continues to live as a vital pioneer among the idiosyncratic history of television. This portrait weaves together the past and present, and exposes Norman Lear’s thriving insight into faith, feminism, class, & culture.

The biggest presentation of the biggest battle of the biggest superheroes is playing on the biggest IMAX screen in Connecticut as “Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice” is shown in 70mm film projection at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk.

The epic clash, starring Ben Affleck as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Henry Cavill as Superman/Clark Kent, plays at 7 p.m. Thursdays and Fridays and at 6 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays through June 19 on The Maritime Aquarium’s six-story screen. “This may be your very last opportunity to enjoy the supersized Hollywood movie experience that only IMAX 70mm film projection can provide,” said Aquarium Marketing Director Chris Loynd. ____________

— an announcement from the Maritime Aquarium

____________

“As the film industry goes digital, such opportunities are fewer and farther between. This may be the last IMAX-format movie filmed and projected in the incredible 70mm film format.”

“Batman v Superman” director Zack Snyder shot several sequences – some 20 minutes’ worth –with IMAX’s extremely high-resolution cameras to deliver greater scope and breathtaking image quality. The Maritime Aquarium’s IMAX theater is the only theater in our area where the sequences filmed with IMAX cameras expand vertically to fill the entire six-story screen.

The latest installment of one of cinema’s truly legendary franchises, “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” — the first in Lucasfilm’s “Star Wars” sequel trilogy — opens Friday, March 25 for the first time in Connecticut in 70mm IMAX® film projection at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. Tickets are on sale at the aquarium’s website to experience “Episode VII” as you’ve been unable to do until now: in full-frame 70mm film projection. “Star Wars: The Force Awakens” premieres in Connecticut’s largest IMAX Theater, with a screen that’s six stories high, at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, March 25. It then will play at 7:30 p.m. on Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays, and 6 p.m. on Sundays. J.J. Abrams, director of “Star Wars: The Force Awakens,” shot key sequences of the movie using IMAX cameras, the highest-resolution cameras in the world.

Friday, Jan. 15 at 6:30 and 8:45 p.m. – The Walk (2015) Starring Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Ben Kingsley, Charlotte Le Bon, James Badge Dale, Clément Sibony, César Domboy; Rated PG; 123 minutes; Presented with captions for the hearing impaired. Tightrope walker Philippe Petit crosses back and forth between the Twin Towers in 1974. Petit works to accomplish this feat while dealing with logistical problems and the concern of his loved ones. __________

— an announcement from Darien Library.

To the editor:

As folks prepare for the onslaught of the commercial aspects of the holiday season, we ask people to remember the folks living amongst and around us who are not as fortunate as we are. There are many opportunities to support our friends and neighbors, but one way in particular not only keeps the donations local but is also a fun activity for the entire community: COMMUNITY-WIDE MOVIE BENEFITING THE HUMAN SERVICES HOLIDAY GIFT DRIVE! On Monday, Dec. 7, the Darien Youth Commission, the Darien Playhouse, Helping Hand/the Depot and the Darien Human Services Department will be partnering for this annual gift drive. _________

Editor’s note: If you want to find out more about The Good Dinosaur, see its Disney website or its Pixar website, the Rotten Tomatoes rating (75% positive, their critics say), its Wikipedia article, the first trailer (also further down, below the letter), or the second trailer.

An announcement from the Maritime Aquarium:

Hot patootie, bless my soul, you’ll have twice as much fun when you dress up and take part in “The ‘Rocky Horror’ Experience” on Sat., Oct. 24 at The Maritime Aquarium at Norwalk. That’s because a live cast will act out the story of “The Rocky Horror Picture Show” on a stage in the theater while the campy cult-classic film plays on the giant screen above. “Nowhere else can you see ‘Rocky Horror’ playing on a screen that’s six stories tall, with live characters acting out the film right in front of you too,” said Aquarium publicist Dave Sigworth. “We’re sure that The Maritime Aquarium is the best place to do the time warp again this Halloween season.”

Audience members are encouraged to dress as their favorite characters, and to bring such appropriate items as rubber gloves, newspapers, umbrellas, flashlights and party horns.

The movies Castaway, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Natural Born Killers, The Last Samurai, Moonstruck and Fried Green Tomatoes are all leaving Netflix on July 1 (that’s Wednesday), according to Netflix.com. What’s coming to Netflix in July : Penguins of Madagascar, Hawaii Five-O (seasons 1 to 4 of the television show), Alive, Chris Tucker Live and The Secret of Roan Inish. Here’s what else is coming and going on Netflix in July. WHAT’S GOING:
Wednesday, July 1

180 Days : A Year Inside an American High School (2013)
Accidentally on Purpose (2009)
Amazing Stories (1985 – 1986)
American Experience : JFK (2013)
Arthur (2011 – 2012)
Beauty and the Beast (Seasons One to Three)
Big Fish (2003)
Big Top Pee-wee (1988)
Black in Latin America (2011)
Buffalo Girls (1995)
Bratz: Fashion Pixiez (2007)
Bratz Kidz: Sleep-Over Adventure (2007)
Bowling for Columbine (2002)
The Care Bears Movie (1985)
Cast Away (2000)
Cheech & Chong’s Next Movie (1980)
Descent (2007)
Fat, Sick & Nearly Dead (2010)
Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas (1998)
The Fly 2 (1989)
Four Weddings and a Funeral (1994)
Fried Green Tomatoes (1991)
Golden Years (Stephen King’s Golden Years) (1991)
Hack (2003)
Harper’s Island (All Seasons)
Hawaii Five-O (1968) (Seasons One to Ten)
How Democracy Works Now (2013)
How Sherlock Changed the World (2013)
Jack Frost (1997)
Knight Rider (Seasons One to Four)
The Langoliers (1995)
Latino Americans (2013)
The Last Samurai (2003)
LazyTown (2013)
Louis C.K.: Hilarious (2009)
Makers: Women Who Make America (2013)
Making Stuff 2 : Nova (2013)
The Manchurian Candidate (2004)
Martha Speaks (2008)
Melrose Place 2.0 (2009)
Melrose Place (Seasons One to Seven)
Mission: Impossible (Seasons One to Seven)
Moonstruck (1987)
The Muppets Take Manhattan (1984)
Natural Born Killers (1994)
The New Woody Woodpecker Show (1999 to 2002)
Out of Practice (2005)
Patton (1970)
Peep and the Big Wide World (2004 to 2010)
Peg + Cat (2013)
Philly (2001)
Racing Stripes (2005)
The Reagan Presidency (2013)
Scholastic : Amazing America (2002)
Scholastic : Amusing Animals (2006)
Scholastic : Good to Know! (2009)
Scholastic : One-of-a-Kind Critters (2011)
Scholastic : Tall Tales (2005)
Seven Years in Tibet (1997)
Sitting Ducks (2001 to 2003)
She’s All That (1999)
Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow (2004)
Space Cowboys (2000)
The Stand (1994)
Stephen King’s The Stand (1994)
Super Troopers (2001)
Superheroes: A Never-Ending Battle (2013)
Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1992)
The Adventures of Young Indiana Jones (Vol.

Mon 12

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