The weekend’s not over yet, but already, it’s been the most pleasant weekend ever.
On Friday, we braved the crowds and saw WALL-E. What can I say? It was beautiful and splendid and poignant and important and hopeful. I don’t know how Pixar (time and time again) is able to hit the nail on the head so effectively with each film they create. Each time they raise the bar leaving me stunned and amazed and my eyes full of wonder. I won’t go into details (in case you haven’t seen it) but I think it’s one of the most important movies to come out in a long time. Technically, it’s superior to anything that’s ever been seen. Emotionally, it’s deep and heartfelt. Socially, it’s responsible; shouting out from the rooftops, taking chances, soap-boxing, and lovable. It makes some important statements about the world we live in and the people that inhabit the planet. It weaves a glorious tale about loneliness, love, friendship, social responsibility, lethargy, and ultimately…hope. Oh, I loved it. I absolutely loved it. I cried like a baby through most fo the film. I’ll probably go see it again this week. We’ve been listening to the soundtrack almost non-stop since Friday. I hate Micheal Crawford and I’ve never seen Hello Dolly!, but I’m loving “Put On Your Sunday Clothes” like nobody’s business! And what’s even MORE better is that Disney is coming out with some pretty cool WALL-E merch this Summer:
Programmable WALL-E Robot:
I want.
Last night my boyfriend and I went to a new “underground” movie event in Los Angeles called “Angel City Drive-In“. It’s not uber-popular yet, but like Cinespia’s Cemetery Screenings, it will be. We attended a showing of Breakfast at Tiffany’s; a movie that if it’s showing somewhere in L.A., I’ll be there; you know, cause I love it so much.
Angel City Drive-In seems to have been around for about six months. It’s located in a dingy part of Downtown Los Angeles on a parking garage rooftop. Early sources indicated that it was difficult to locate, but it really wasn’t. Not if you know Downtown a little. Up there, they’ve set up a gigantic inflatable screen, a section of astro-turf for people who want to sit outside, and a rinky-dink concessions stand that serves hot dogs, candy and soda. We parked up close and hung out as the sun went down. I made a picnic dinner with marinated Portobello mushroom and veggies sandwiches, , jicama salsa salad (yum!), and vegan brownies. We washed it down with French lemonade and snacked on carrots and celery dipped in homemade garlic/dill dip (made with Kefir cheese and vegan mayo). Oh, it was so good. Eating good food with the man I love, watching one of my favorite movies at a DIY drive-in in Downtown Los Angeles…does life get any better?
Afterward, we took a short detour and walked around China Town to view the newly renovated neon lighting. Gone for several decades, the neon lights once lined the rooftops of China Town’s historic shops in the Central Plaza. And now they’re back. We got there as everything was closing up. Earlier in the day, China Town celebrated it’s 70th anniversary with a big band, dancing, food, drink, and a costume contest. It would have been fun to check it out, but I’d only heard about the neon lights that same day and we already had plans to see Breakfast at Tiffany’s.
Tonight we’re seeing yet another movie at the Aero Theater in Santa Monica. What a Way To Go! with Shirley Maclaine. What a delightful movie. Another favorite. I just love watching my old favorites on the big screen and will attend whichever ones I can. I wish I could explain what I like so much about seeing these old films on the big screen. Perhaps it’s about pretending it’s the 60′s and I’m seeing it for the first time. Perhaps it’s about being surrounded with people who “get it” and appreciate movies the way I do. There’s something pure and whimsical about seeing old movies in a real theater, getting out, dressing up the way people did, having a night on the town, and watching movies the way they were intended to be seen.
This is one of those weekends that makes me glad to live in Los Angeles, happy to be in a pretty amazing relationship, grateful for the internet keeping me abreast of activities, and glad I can cook.