Spring 2011 Synopses

Scott Pilgrim vs. the Word Thursday January 20th 10pm

The comic book world comes to life in Edgar Wright's action comedy, “Scott Pilgrim Vs. The World”. Imaginative and mildly eccentric band member, Scott, is under the misguided notion that high school groupie, Knives, is the girl for him. His world, along with this notion, is turned upside down when he stumbles upon the girl of his dreams, Ramona. She's spunky, unique and changes her hair more than he changes his socks. His current girlfriend doesn't prove to be the only thing standing between Scott and Ramona, though; Ramona has seven evil exes that Scott must conquer if he wishes to date her.

Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory Friday January 21st 10pm

Mel Stuart brings Roald Dahl's classic coming of age tale that focuses on morality, life stations and, of course, candy to the big screen. The film centers on Charlie Bucket, a boy with more luck than money, who works hard to help support his family.  Although he doesn't get much, he gets his greatest desire: a golden ticket sent out by the curious millionaire confectioner, Willy Wonka. Charlie exchanges his golden ticket for a tour of the infamously strange and fascinating place where he will come to see what he and the candy he loves is made of.

Kill Bill: Volume 1 Thursday January 27th 10pm

Quentin Tarantino ironically names his lead character 'the Bride', a pregnant former assassin left bloody at the altar before she could properly earn her title. Luckily, she escapes death by embracing a coma that she soon wakes from; and she wakes with a vengeance. Afterall, hell hath no fury like a woman scorned. Bill and his fellow assassins, the Vipers, grievously find her alive and well when she comes to deliver them a present like the one they dealt her. She saves Bill for last, eager to serve up some retribution for the bullet he put in her head years ago.

Kill Bill Vol. 2 Friday January 28th 10pm

The Bride returns in Tarantino's second installment of his famed action series, “Kill Bill”. This revenge tale, revolving around a once former assassin who has been found reclaiming some old habits, continues in an interrupted yet edgy way, leaving viewers wondering why they ever fancied chronological storytelling. This film picks up in the middle of the story- the Bride has already confronted some of her marks, but plenty lay before her. She slowly feeds along this growing food chain of sorts, knowing that she will stop at nothing to get through them and to her ultimate goal: Bill.

Dawn of the Dead (1978) Thursday February 3rd 10pm

Geogre A. Romero earned his title of 'Grandfather of the Zombie' with films like “Dawn of the Dead”, the second installment in an epic series. Four survivors of the zombie apocalypse find refuge in an expansive mall, an arena that proves much more manageable than a world full of zombies. The survivors lose sight of the outside world and fall prey to consumerism, greed and gluttony but are brought back to this hellish version of earth Romero created when a gang of bikers invade their haven and threaten to throw them back out into the eager hands and gnashing teeth of the living dead.

Pride and Prejudice Friday February 4th 10pm

Back when men, marriage and a dowry were the things important in life, there lived a heroine to defy such notions. She sought love, compassion, intelligence and equality- something not readily available in early 18^th Century England; especially not available to a woman with a small and somewhat insignificant dowry to go between five sisters. But, alas, that was Miss Elizabeth Bennett and that was her situation. However, she did not find it unfortunate, and would chide anyone who was bold enough to suggest otherwise... and Mr. Darcy suggested otherwise. See if you can figure out who was too proud and who was too prejudiced.

Clueless Thursday February 10th 10pm

Amy Heckerling gives Jane Austen's “Emma” a 90's twist. This new take on a classic romance is a satirical piece that examines rich teens in Beverley Hills. The film focuses on one such teen, Cher, a well intentioned matchmaker with more of a heart than she likes to show. She is rich, popular and cares about appearances; a lesson taught by the lifestyle her lawer-father provided. There is really only one down-to-earth person in her life, her stepbrother, and he brings out the compassionate side in her. She seems to be looking for love in all the wrong places, until it hits her.

Get Over It Friday February 11th 10pm

This modern day take on Shakespeare's “A Midsummer Night's Dream” centers on the popular teen, Berke, who gets dumped by the theorized love of his life, Allison, a girl completely wrong for him in every way. And so, like a lost puppy, he follows her blindly into the spring musical where he escapes into a world just short of reality, finding himself intertwined in a love triangle with Kelly, his friend, Felix's, sister who is also in the play. He is confused, emotional and, for the first time, not quite in control. Like Shakespeare intended, this comedy leads to a correction of poorly made pairings in a magical way.

Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 Thursday February 17th 10pm

The tragic hero, Harry, returns in the first part of the seventh installment of the grandiose fantasy series by JK Rowling. The evil Lord Voldemort is becoming stronger by the day, acquiring new pieces in the game of chess he plays with Harry, with the world. The Ministry, Hogwarts and most of the wizarding towns are under his thumb, leaving Harry and his loyal companions, Hermione and Ron, with little places to go. There are seven horcruxes Harry has to account for, find and destroy. With little knowledge of their whereabouts and how to destory them, tensions run high and deep seeded feelings, desires and fears are revealed.

Ghostbusters Friday February 18th 10pm

Three kooky scientists wind up setting up shop as parapsychologists after getting fired from their cushy university research jobs. They specialize in psychic phenomena, or, in layman's terms, become ghostbusters. They rid Manhattan of strange apparitions, zany happenings, and unexplained mischief all from their headquarters, homed in an abandoned firehouse. They fumble their way through unfamiliar territory and encounter a gateway to another dimension. Unfortunately for New York and the Ghostbusters, this dimension opens up a can of worms, a pandora's box and unforseen evil that is let loose on the city; evil that only this ragtag group of scientists can destroy.

Snatch Thursday February 24th 10pm

Crooks from all over gather for the chance to steal, swindle their way into or otherwise attain an 86-carat diamond. And, if they originally show no interest in it, they find the drama of the diamond falling into their lap anyway. Turkish, an unlicensed boxing promoter, gets coerced into arranging a fight by big time criminal, Brick Top, where the two situations blend into one, bringing very separate characters together. There are irish gypsies, bare-knuckle boxing matches, dogs, caravans, weapons, bumbling idiots, amateur attempts and bone eating pigs. There is no question regarding the amount of action in this plot, the only remaining question is who will get the diamond?

The Truman Show Friday March 4th 10pm

Have you ever had that dream where everyone saw you in your underwear? Well, Truman Burbank had it much, much worse. For him, it was all real, all the time. He lives, unbeknownst to him, in a giant studio with hidden cameras, where his family and friends are actors and his life is the most popular TV-series in the world. He thinks he is ordinary, he thinks he leads a normal life, but he is anything but. This touching film addresses what it is to be the ultimate celebrity, showing a raw kind of emotion and honesty that naturally lends to a comedic feel. It's funny because it's true. Literally.

Get Shorty Thursday March 10^th 10pm

Hailed as one of the best comedies of the 90's, “Get Shorty” is a black comedy crime film based on the novels by Elmore Leonard. John Travolta stars as Chili Palmer, a mob mechanic who finds himself mildly displaced in Los Angeles, a place where he can finally satiate his hungry interest for the movie industry. It shortly becomes his new career upon meeting sleazy producers and movie stars but his past comes back to haunt him when a relentless mobster's greed compels him to bust in on Chili's new life for his own slice of the show-biz pie.

127 Hours Thursday March 24th 10pm

“127 Hours” is an existential film account of the true life story of Aron Ralston and his extroadinary efforts to save his own life. Aron, an ambitious mountain climber who decided to take on a secluded canyon in Utah, only narrowly escaped mother nature's wrath when a fallen boulder trapped his arm but left him his life. Not only would he have to liberate his arm from the boulder, but also scale a 65 foot wall and hike over eight miles before reaching civilization again. This film shows the following five days where he examines his life, the elements, and the meaning of it all to finally see whether or not he has the bravery to overcome the hand he was dealt.

Rocky Friday April 8th 10pm

Meet Rocky, the 'Italian Stallion'. He may be a small time guy with a job in a meat factory, but he has some big-time dreams and the determination, or perhaps stubbornness, to make it happen. Sure, he may do a little debt collection on the side for some extra cash, but his real passion lies in boxing. This rough and tumble Philadelphian seems to get his break when Apollo Creed, heavyweight champion, visits and challenges a 'nobody' to become a 'somebody'. Apollo was counting on having an easy fight to boost his ego; he most certainly was not counting on facing Rocky.