Well this is a natural choice isn't it?

Independence Day
Saturday July 4, 2009
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Um, yeah, I was scolded previously for saying I had no interest in this movie so I'm not going to say that again. Instead I'll just say that I'm really excited that Batman is coming to Midnights at the Baxter in a few weeks.

Heavy Metal
Saturday June 27, 2009
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I'm kind of excited about Midnights at the Baxter's summer lineup. Oh don't get me wrong I'm not excited about Heavy Metal or Dark City or Masters of the Universe. But Superman, Independence Day, Batman and North By Northwest? Yes, I can definitely get with those. And as I believe I've mentioned before they're showing Batman in July during the birthday jubilee. That's very exciting.

Oh and just so we're clear they're showing the original good Superman this weekend, not any of the bad later versions.

Superman
Saturday June 13, 2009
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

It would be wrong to tell you that if I were going to see a move that contains aliens at Baxter Avenue Theatre I'd go see Star Trek again because it was that awesome. I'm telling you anyway: I'd totally go see Star Trek again. But if horror in space is more your thing then I hear that the director's cut of Alien is even scarier then the original version so knock yourself out with the scary and have a good time.

Alien: The Director's Cut
Saturday May 16, 2009
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I'm cooking Mother's Day brunch on Sunday and it will be wee bit hard to do that if I stay up all night watching Tim Robbins and Morgan Freeman be awesome. On the other hand it is brunch and not breakfast so perhaps this can be done after all. 

The Shawshank Redemption
Saturday May 9, 2009
11:55PM

I think the folks at Midnights at the Baxter are starting to love me. What gives me that impression? They're showing Tim Burton's Batman on July 11. July, as we all know, is the birthday jubilee. Celebrating my birthday one day in July is inadequate so I celebrate the entire month. The birthday jubilee is a very festive occasion, thanks for joining in on the fun Midnights at the Baxter. 

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

You're right, it has been quite a while since I've written about Midnights at the Baxter. The movies they've shown since, oh I don't know, The Blues Brothers, back in February, have been kind of off my radar but we're getting back in sync. I mean they're showing Being John Malkovich this week which is awesome and then in a couple weeks they're showing the Shawshank Redemption and then on May 30 it's an 80s double feature! 16 Candles and Ferris Bueller's Day Off. Score!

Being John Malkovich
Saturday April 25, 2009
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204


Just in case you're curious here's a list of five movies I'd really like to see shown at Midnights at the Baxter (there are many more than five this is a random selection):

Love Actually
High Fidelity
Grosse Pointe Blank
Chocolat
Casino

Despite my advanced age and general squareness I actually managed to stay up to see Amelie at midnight a couple weeks ago. I was so impressed that two theaters at Baxter Avenue were packed with people up that late to watch a sweet, quirky French movie.

Moving in a completely different direction this week's offering from Midnights at the Baxter is The Blues Brothers. Last Halloween they had a costume contest and the winner got to pick a movie to be shown and this was the winner's choice.

The Blues Brothers
Saturday February 28, 2009
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Oh Midnights at the Baxter you are totally forgiven for all those scary, horror, sci-fi, flying saucer from outer space you've been showing lately. You're showing Amelie for Valentine's Day. We have so made up.

Our friends from Wikipedia have this to say about this lovely, lovely sweet film:

"Amélie is a 2001 French film directed by Jean-Pierre Jeunet and starring Audrey Tautou. Its original French title is Le Fabuleux Destin d'Amélie Poulain which literally translates as "The Fabulous Destiny of Amélie Poulain". Written by Jeunet with Guillaume Laurant, the film is a whimsical and somewhat idealised depiction of contemporary Parisian life, set in Montmartre. It tells the story of a shy waitress who decides to change the lives of those around her for the better, while struggling with her own isolation."

Amelie
Saturday February 14, 2009
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Midnights at The Baxter and I have a tumultuous relationship that clearly proves one thing and one thing only: I am old and boring. How else could you explain my excitement at the showing of Amelie at midnight on February 14 and my dismay at the showing of The Road Warrior (aka Mad Max 2) this Saturday night January 24, 2009?

As always when a film is outside my realm of knowledge I turn to our friends at Wikipedia:

Mad Max 2 (known as The Road Warrior in the U.S.) is a 1981 Australian post-apocalyptic action film. Directed by Australian doctor-turned-director George Miller, this sequel to Miller's 1979 film Mad Max was a worldwide box office success that launched the career of lead actor Mel Gibson. The film's tale of a community of settlers moved to defend themselves against a roving band of marauders follows an archetypal "Western" frontier movie motif, as is Max's role as a hardened man who rediscovers his humanity when he decides to help the settlers.

The Road Warrior
Saturday January 24, 2009
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

So not my movie style but I'm betting someone is going to be really excited by Midnights at the Baxter showing The Crow.

Our friends at Wikipedia have the following to say about the film: "The Crow is a 1994 American action-thriller film adaptation of the 1989 comic book of the same name by James O'Barr. The film was adapted by David J. Schow and John Shirley, and directed by Alex Proyas.

The Crow stars Brandon Lee, in his final film, as Eric Draven, a rock musician who comes back from the dead to avenge his own murder, as well as that of his fiancée. While filming in the closing weeks of production, Lee was killed when a dummy bullet, which had become lodged in one of the guns, was fired into his abdomen."

The Crow
Saturday January 10, 2009
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204 

Midnights at the Baxter is hitting it out of the park two weeks in a row. Last week it was Scrooged and this week it's A Christmas Story.

I very nearly had my own "A Christmas Story" moment this past weekend. My little two year old cousin decided the best way to explore the frozen water in my grandfather's bird bath was by sticking his tongue on it. I swooped in just in time. I can only imagine having to tell his Nana "um, yeah the kid is stuck to the bird bath. Oops"

A Christmas Story
Saturday December 20, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204 

Oh Midnights at The Baxter, that whole Roger Rabbit thing over Thanksgiving is forgiven since you're showing Scrooged this weekend. Naturally since you're showing something I want to see I am unable to attend because of family commitments this weekend.

Scrooged
Saturday December 13, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

When I think holiday movies I think "Who Framed Roger Rabbit."

Well actually no I don't, I was just trying to not be too disappointed that Midnights at the Baxter isn't featuring a holiday movie for Thanksgiving weekend. Would it kill you to show Love Actually on the big screen for me? Would it? I think not. Or maybe The Family Stone or Home for the Holidays. Come on, work with me here.

Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Saturday November 29, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

OK I can't be too mad at Midnights at the Baxter because come Valentine's Day 2009 they are showing Amelie. Love, love, love Amelie.

Tarantino lives! If you've shown Kill Bill and Reservoir Dogs in calendar year 2008 then at some point, by law, you have to show Pulp Fiction. Baxter Avenue Theatre is fulfilling that legal obligation this weekend.

As always we get our description from wikipedia:

"Pulp Fiction is a 1994 film by director Quentin Tarantino, who cowrote the film with Roger Avary. A crime drama with a nonlinear storyline, the film is known for its rich, eclectic dialogue, its ironic mix of humor and violence, and its host of cinematic and pop culture references. The film was nominated for seven Oscars, including Best Picture; Tarantino and Avary won for Best Original Screenplay. It was also awarded the Palme d'Or at the Cannes Film Festival. A major commercial success, it revitalized the career of its leading man, John Travolta, who received an Academy Award nomination, as did costars Samuel L. Jackson and Uma Thurman.

The film's title refers to the pulp magazines and hardboiled crime novels popular during the mid-20th century, known for their graphic violence and punchy dialogue. Pulp Fiction is self-referential from its opening moments, beginning with a title card that gives two dictionary definitions of "pulp". The plot, in keeping with most of Tarantino's other works, is presented out of chronological sequence. The picture's self-reflexivity, unconventional structure, and extensive use of homage and pastiche have led critics to describe it as a prime example of postmodern film. Pulp Fiction is viewed as the inspiration for many later movies that adopted various elements of its style. The nature of its development, marketing, and distribution and its consequent profitability had a sweeping effect on the field of independent cinema. A cultural watershed, Pulp Fiction's influence has been felt in several other popular media."

Pulp Fiction
Saturday August 9, 2008
11:55 PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I've got absolutely nothing to say about this movie. Not a thing. Let's just jump straight to what our friends from Wikipedia say:

"Once Upon a Time in the West (Italian title: C'era una volta il West) is a 1968 epic spaghetti Western film directed by Sergio Leone. The film stars Henry Fonda unusually cast as the villain Frank, Charles Bronson as his nemesis "Harmonica", Jason Robards as the generally benign bandit Cheyenne and Claudia Cardinale as a newly-widowed homesteader with a past as a prostitute, Jill. The screenplay was written by Leone and Sergio Donati, from a story devised by Leone, Bernardo Bertolucci, and Dario Argento. The widescreen cinematography was by Tonino Delli Colli, and Ennio Morricone provided the film score."

Wait! I do have something to say. I love Ennio Morricone scores and the score from this film is really excellent.

Once Upon a Time in the West
Saturday July 12, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

In honor of the holiday they're doing the midnight movie on Friday July 4 this week and it's a classic of course: Jaws. I really wish my Dad lived in town so I could take him to this on Friday night. He seriously loves Jaws. He's got the DVD but every single time it's on tv he. must. stop. and. watch it. I don't really need to give you the wikipedia description of Jaws do I? Well ok but only because you asked nicely.

"Jaws is a 1975 thriller/horror film directed by Steven Spielberg, based on Peter Benchley's best-selling novel inspired by the Jersey Shore shark attacks of 1916. The police chief of Amity Island, a fictional summer resort town, tries to protect beachgoers from a great white shark by closing the beach, only to be overruled by the town council, which wants the beach to remain open to draw a profit from tourists. After several attacks, the police chief enlists the help of a marine biologist and a professional shark hunter. Roy Scheider stars as police chief Martin Brody, Richard Dreyfuss as marine biologist Matt Hooper, Robert Shaw as shark hunter Quint, Lorraine Gary as Brody's wife Ellen and Murray Hamilton as Mayor Vaughn.

Jaws is regarded as a watershed film in motion picture history, the father of the summer blockbuster movie and one of the first "high concept" films. Due to the film's success in advance screenings, studio executives decided to distribute it in a much wider release than ever before."

Jaws
Friday July 4, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Apparently Blade Runner is so good Baxter Avenue needs to show it at midnight on both Friday and Saturday. Having never actually seen it I wouldn't know.

Our friends at wikipedia have this to say about the film:
"Blade Runner is a 1982 American cyberpunk film, directed by Ridley Scott. The screenplay, written by Hampton Fancher and David Peoples, is based on the novel Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep? by Philip K. Dick. The film stars Harrison Ford and features Rutger Hauer, Sean Young, Edward James Olmos, M. Emmet Walsh, and Daryl Hannah.

The film depicts a dystopian Los Angeles in November 2019 in which genetically manufactured beings called replicants - visually indistinguishable from adult humans - are used for dangerous and degrading work in Earth's "off-world colonies". Following a small replicant uprising, replicants become illegal on Earth and specialist police called "blade runners" are trained to hunt down and "retire" (kill) escaped replicants on Earth. The plot focuses on a brutal and cunning group of replicants hiding in Los Angeles and the semi-retired blade runner, Rick Deckard (Ford), who reluctantly agrees to take on one more assignment."

Well ok then. Oh, apparently it's also important that the version of Blade Runner Baxter Avenue is showing is the final cut. So:

Blade Runner (the Final Cut)
Friday June 27 and Saturday June 28, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I won't go so far to lie and say I'd go see the midnight showing of Dick Tracy this weekend if I was in town. I will say that'd I'd really want to go but you know, I've got a 11PM bedtime. Dick Tracy is the kind of movie that's made to be seen on the big screen cause it looks so good. The color palette and vibrancy are just striking. Good stuff. And Madonna's acting doesn't quite ruin the picture.

Saturday June 14, 2008
11:55PM

Trailer after the jump.

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Here's where I'm going to show my age. This is me wishing out loud that that they were showing Dazed and Confused instead of Fast Times at Ridgemont High. Not because I actually remember the 70s instead of the 80s, I was born in '76 thanks, but because Fast Times was released way before I was of age to watch and I've never really connected with it. That said I do love Cameron Crowe (even bad Cameron Crowe) so I do enjoy this movie when I catch it on cable.

Dazed and Confused is set in 1976 and it's got a kick ass soundtrack and sort of a 90s slacker mentality going on behind the scenes. So I dig it. Many, many summers ago Baxter Avenue did show it as the midnight movie and I totally stayed up and went to see it. So there's a tip for you: get Michelle to stay up past midnight by showing Dazed and Confused (there are probably 5 or 6 others I'd stay up past midnight for too, just ask and I'll tell you what they are).

From our true and faithful friend wikipedia:

Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age teen-comedy film written by Cameron Crowe (adapted from his book) and directed by Amy Heckerling. The film follows a school year in the lives of freshman Stacy Hamilton (Jennifer Jason Leigh), freshman Mark Ratner (Brian Backer) and their respective friends Linda Barrett (Phoebe Cates) and Mike Damone (Robert Romanus) who believe themselves wise in the ways of romance and counsel their younger counterparts. The ensemble cast of characters also includes Jeff Spicoli (Sean Penn), a perpetually stoned surfer who faces off against uptight history teacher Mr. Hand (Ray Walston), who is convinced that all of his students are "on dope." Stacy's brother, Brad (Judge Reinhold), is a popular senior who works at a local burger joint, All American Burger.

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Have fun storming the castle and going to see The Princess Bride this Saturday night at midnight. This is one of the most beloved movies of my childhood and it still holds up brilliantly.

From wikipedia: "The Princess Bride is a 1987 film, based on the 1973 novel The Princess Bride by William Goldman, combining comedy, adventure, romance and fantasy.

The movie was directed by Rob Reiner from a screenplay by Goldman. The story is presented in the movie as a fairy tale being read by a grandfather (Peter Falk) to his sick grandson (Fred Savage), thus echoing the book's narrative style.

This film is number 50 on Bravo's "100 Funniest Movies" and number 88 on The American Film Institute's (AFI) "AFI's 100 Years... 100 Passions" listing the 100 greatest film love stories of all time."

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204 

In other news the Baxter Avenue Theater website has been redesigned. When they redesigned they changed some addresses but aren't redirecting traffic to the new pages. So, sadly, most old links to both Baxter Avenue Theaters and Village 8 are broken. Apex Theater web folks: It'd be great if you'd redirect the old links for your theaters to your new pages instead of just letting folks land on 404 errors.

The folks who run Midnights at The Baxter are really tender, soft hearted people aren't they? You'll recall that for Valentine's Day they ran Moulin Rouge. Now, for Mother's Day, they're showing Psycho. I love these people. Oh and if you bring your mother to the film? She gets in free. I really love these people.

Have I told you much my beloved adores the work of Alfred Hitchcock? How in our living room there is an poster from the 1954 release of Rear Window? No? Well she does and we have. My point being I have to be very careful to make sure she doesn't know Psycho is showing this weekend at midnight or she'll make me stay up and go. She's already hounding me to know what Hitchcock movies the Palace will be showing this summer. If anyone has any inside scoop on that it would be greatly appreciated.

Psycho
Saturday May 10, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204 

This is one of those film classics that I know I should have seen but I actually never have. So let me give you wikipedia's description:

"Chinatown is a 1974 film directed by Roman Polanski featuring many elements of the film noir genre, particularly a multi-layered story that is part mystery and part psychological drama. It stars Jack Nicholson, Faye Dunaway, and John Huston. Also appearing in the film are John Hillerman, Diane Ladd, Perry Lopez, James Hong, Joe Mantell, Bruce Glover, Burt Young, and Noble Willingham.

The film was nominated for eleven Academy Awards, winning in only the category of Best Original Screenplay for Robert Towne. In 1991, Chinatown was selected for preservation in the United States National Film Registry by the Library of Congress as being "culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant".

A sequel, called The Two Jakes, was released in 1990, starring Jack Nicholson (who also directed it), with a screenplay written by Robert Towne."

Chinatown
Saturday April 26, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Should I pepper this post with quotes from The Big Lebowski? Nah, that'd be over the top wouldn't it? You already know if you're a Lebowski person or not don't you? If you are then get yourself to Baxter Avenue Theatres this Saturday evening for a big screen presentation of The Dude and company.

The Big Lebowski
Saturday April 19, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I hate it when the Midnight Movie at Baxter Avenue Theatre is something I'm ignorant of. It makes me feel like a cinema novice.

In any case this week's midnight movie is something called Videodrome. Wikipedia has a pretty detailed synopsis if you're interested.

Videodrome
April 12, 2008
11:55PM

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Dude. Just dude. This is the weekend for you to stay out late seeing movies. On Friday you can see both parts of Kill Bill then on Saturday you can see Trainspotting. Arguably Ewan McGregor's finest work.

Yeah, yeah everyone knows the "Choose Life" bit from Trainspotting (of course it helps that it's on the poster to the right) but you want to know my favorite quote from the film? Here it is: "Some people hate the English, but I don't. They're just wankers. We, on the other hand, are colonized by wankers. We can't even pick a decent culture to be colonized by."

Trainspotting
Saturday March 29, 2008

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

This Friday March 28, 2008 there's a special edition of Midnights at the Baxter. It's a double feature featuring Quentin Tarantino's Kill Bill Volume I and Kill Bill Volume II. What a most excellent double feature.

This special Friday edition of Midnights at the Baxter is in conjunction with the Kill Ville party down at Glassworks on Saturday March 29, 2008. So really, you can just make this weekend a Tarantino extravaganza.

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Let me tell you what wikipedia says about Monty Python's Life of Brian.

"Monty Python's Life of Brian, also known as Life of Brian, is a 1979 comedy written and performed by the Monty Python comedy team. It tells the story of Brian Cohen (played by Graham Chapman), a young man born at the same time as Jesus Christ, who is mistaken for the Messiah.

The film was controversial because of its combination of comedy and religious themes. However, it has also been very popular with viewers: in 2000, readers of the British Total Film magazine voted it the greatest comedy film of all time; in 2004, the same magazine named it the 5th greatest British film of all time; in 2006 it was voted the best comedy movie of all time on two separate polls conducted by the British TV channels Channel 4 and Five."

Clearly, it would be an absolutely horrible thing to confess that you've never seen such a comic masterpiece. *Whistles* Old School Louisville Filter: Baxter Avenue is showing Life of Brian this Saturday "in honor of The Vogue's tradition of featuring the film the night before Easter."

Life of Brian
March 22, 2008
Trailer after the jump

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I know absolutely nothing about this movie. I don't think I've even heard of it before so I've got no info for you. I'm just going to post the poster and maybe it will ring a bell for you or spark your curiosity. Oh alright I'll give you a wikipedia quote about it as well:

"The City of Lost Children (French: La Cité des enfants perdus) is a dystopian French fantasy/drama film by Marc Caro and Jean-Pierre Jeunet released in 1995. The film is stylistically related to the previous and subsequent Jeunet films, Delicatessen and Amélie."

Midnight
March 8, 2008

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Way back at Halloween Baxter Avenue Theater held a costume contest. The winner got to choose a film to be shown at a future edition of Midnights at the Baxter. The time has come to show that selection, and what a great selection it is: Léon the Professional.

Luc Besson's masterpiece of violence and an unexpected relationship stars Jean Reno, a very young Natalie Portman, Gary Oldman and Danny Aiello. If you haven't seen it you're missing out. If you have, which means you love it, then don't miss the opportunity to see it again on the big screen.

Saturday February 23, 2008
Midnight

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

That exclamation point is really in the title of the film, I'm not just super excited about the tragic Nicole Kidman/Ewan McGregor weird musical love story being shown this Saturday night February 9, 2008 at Baxter Avenue.

That's right, just in time for Valentine's Day those crazy romantics at Midnights at the Baxter are showing Moulin Rouge!.

Saturday February 9, 2009

Trailer after the jump

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Could there be any other movie choice for Midnights at the Baxter to show on Groundhog Day than the Bill Murray classic Groundhog Day? No, clearly there could not be.

Be there or be square my friends. Just don't drive angry.

February 2, 2008

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

If you're the kind of person who'll go see John Carpenter's The Thing then you already know what it's about. I'm not the kind of person to go see The Thing so all I know is that it involves a bunch of people at a research station in Antarctica fighting an evil alien who can transform itself in other creatures. If that's your bag then go see it this Saturday night January 26, 2008 at Baxter Avenue Theaters.

You know what Midnight at The Baxter presentation I'm really excited about? February 23 it's Leon (aka The Professional). I love that movie.

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Trailer after the jump

There are two kinds of people in the world. Those that love kung fu movies and those who should love kung fu movies.

All these kids who jumped on the "Chuck Norris is so bad ass" bandwagon better come out to Baxter Avenue Theaters this Saturday night to see some Bruce Lee action and get their perception of bad assness corrected.

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Trailer after the jump.

It's totally possible that there are two kinds of people in the world: those that get Donnie Darko and those that don't.

I fall very firmly in the not getting Donnie Darko category. For those of you that do get Donnie Darko though Baxter Avenue Theater is showing it this Saturday December 29, 2007. It's the final Midnights at The Baxter for 2007 so go forth and watch it indie film fans with a taste for the surreal.

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

I'm not going to lie, I'm a Batman fiend. There's a whole section on my Christmas tree dedicated to Batman ornaments, the lone magnet on the front of my refrigerator is the Bat symbol, I see every Batman release (even the bad ones) multiple times. So this is a very exciting week for me, what with the trailer for Dark Knight being released and Baxter Avenue Theaters showing Batman Returns this Saturday night December 22, 2007 at Midnight.

Start your Christmas movie going bonanza (what? Am I the only who likes to see a ton of movies over Christmas?) with this late night showing of Batman Returns are your family gathering is guaranteed to be infinitely less stressful and more enjoyable. Perhaps guaranteed is too strong a word but it's worth a shot.

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Why yes, Gremlins is a holiday movie. Have you forgotten that they were in fact a Christmas gift?

Thanks goodness the fine folks at Baxter Avenue Theater haven't forgotten. They're showing Gremlins this Saturday night December 15, 2007 at Midnight just in time to really get you into the holiday spirit.

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Unlike last week's double feature for this week's Midnight at The Baxter this Saturday night you've got a choice to make. Though not quite on the same existential level as "Elvis or The Beatles" it's still a tough choice. That choice is do you want to see The Beatles in "A Hard Day's Night" or do you want to see The Talking Heads in "Stop Making Sense".

Both musical flicks will be showing this Saturday November 24 at Midnight and you can only pick one.

Here's a little knowledge from wikipedia to help you with your choice:

A Hard Day's Night is a British comedy film originally released by United Artists, written by Alun Owen and starring John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr during the height of Beatlemania. The director was Richard Lester, the producer Walter Shenson and the director of photography Gilbert Taylor. In addition to the Beatles, cast members included Wilfrid Brambell as Paul's grandfather, who was billed as "also starring" after the main title, Norman Rossington as their manager, John Junkin as "Shake," Lionel Blair as a featured dancer, Victor Spinetti as the television director and in cameos David Langton, John Bluthal as a car thief and Derek Nimmo in an uncredited role as Leslie Jackson (a magician). The album A Hard Day's Night was the Beatles' first soundtrack album and the only Beatles' album to consist entirely of Lennon and McCartney songs. The film premiered on July 6, 1964.

Stop Making Sense is the highly acclaimed 1984 concert movie featuring Talking Heads live on stage. Directed by Jonathan Demme, it was shot over three nights in December 1983, as the group was touring to promote their new album Speaking in Tongues. The movie is notable for being the first made entirely utilising digital audio techniques. The band raised the budget of $1.2 million themselves.

Baxter Avenue Theaters
1250 Bardstown Rd
Louisville, KY 40204

Events galore this weekend, lots of them holiday related which makes me quite happy. I know the holiday season starts earlier and earlier every year but I can't help but enjoy it.

Friday November 9, 2007
The InKY Reading Series offers up more good times with its fiction night at the Rud

The Photographic Correction: Ben Sollee is playing at 4th Street Live in the second week of the Louisville Home Grown Music Series. The Photographic will be playing next week November 16

Shops in the area of the Vogue in St. Matthews are throwing a holiday party and you're invited for shopping and refreshments

Shops in Chenoweth Square are throwing a holiday open house

Saturday November 10, 2007
Highland United Methodist Church at 1140 Cherokee Road is hosting it's annual Holiday Bazaar and Bake Sale from 9AM-2PM. Eat baked goods, buy unique holiday gifts.

The Mid City Mall ValuMarket (a really good store for ethnic foods and vegetarian foods by the way) is having a Holiday Open House from 11AM-8PM. There will be samples throughout the store and staff will be on hand to offer help and holiday entertaining ideas

The Louisville Artisans Guild is having its annual Holiday Showcase at the American Legion Highland Post on Bardstown Road. Hours are Saturday, 10 am to 6 pm; Sunday, 11 am to 4 pm

Midnights at The Baxter Present a Jim Henson Double Feature with The Dark Crystal starting at 10PM and Labyrinth starting at Midnight.

Sunday November 11, 2007
Musicians Emergency Resource Foundation Concerts will be happening in three clubs across Louisville.

Writer's Showcase Deathmatch at Molly Malone's brought to you by Art Sanctuary, starts at 8PM

This Saturday November 10 the Midnights at The Baxter film series has an excellent double feature.

Jim Henson Double Feature: "The Dark Crystal" at 10PM and "Labyrinth" at midnight

According to Wikipedia "The Dark Crystal is a 1982 fantasy film directed by Jim Henson and Frank Oz. Like most of Henson's other work, its characters are Muppets. The Muppet Show characters for which he is famous do not appear, but some of the same performers are used. Character and creature designs in the movie are by Brian Froud. The screenplay was written by David Odell, who had worked with Henson as a staff writer on The Muppet Show. Trevor Jones provided the film's atmospheric music. The movie makes an attempt to study the nature of good and evil in terms of conscience, vital drive, and the triune nature of harmony. The film was produced by ITC Entertainment - the British production company responsible for producing The Muppet Show.

The film takes place on Thra, a planet with three suns; the Great Sun, the Rose Sun and the Dying Sun. Many creatures and races inhabit the planet, but the dominant race is the urSkeks, who are the guardians of the Crystal of Truth. The Crystal harnasses the forces of nature, especially the light of the three suns, for the benefit of all on Thra."

I remember it being a lot more fun than the wikipedia description makes it sound like. Wikipedia's description of Labyrinth is much better though.

"Labyrinth is a 1986 fantasy film directed by Jim Henson, produced by George Lucas, and designed through the art of Brian Froud. Henson collaborated on the screenwriting with children's author Dennis Lee and Monty Python alumnus Terry Jones. The leads are David Bowie as Jareth the Goblin King, and a teenage Jennifer Connelly as Sarah Williams. The plot revolves around Sarah's quest to rescue her little brother from the Goblin King while trapped in a world that is an enormous fantasy maze.Most of the other significant roles are played by puppets or by a combination of puppetry and human performance. It was shot on location in New York and at Elstree Studios in the UK. It was the last feature film directed by Henson before his death in 1990."

That's right David Bowie as the Goblin King.  Clearly the people at Baxter Avenue are fine, upstanding people who love us all. They must be to give us such a great double feature for all us kids of the 80s.

Video clips of both films after the jump.

I don't think I ever expected to be typing the words "Evil Dead 2" but now I've done it twice. As part of its ongoing series "Midnights at The Baxter" Baxter Avenue theater is presenting Evil Dead 2 (three times) next Saturday night, October 27 at midnight. I suspect you're either an Evil Dead 2 fan or your not. I mean, I don't think there is anything anyone could say to convince me personally to go see Evil Dead 2.

You on the other hand might be an Evil Dead 2 person but you're thinking "the Saturday before Halloween has a lot going on. So maybe I'll do something besides going to a movie at midnight." Stop right there my friend. In addition to seeing what many, many people consider a classic film (I know this because I looked it up) you also have the opportunity to win a really kick ass prize.

EVIL DEAD 2 will feature a preshow costume contest. The winner will get to pick his/her own midnight film to be shown in 35mm on February 23 as well as tickets for that person and five of his/her friends!

That is a kick ass prize. I personally like to dress as a Weasley for Halloween but I don't think I'd win any contests for it so it's probably best I'm staying home for this one. But you? You should go in your kick ass costume, win the kick ass prize and then pick me to be one of your five friends for your showing on February 23, as long as your film choice doesn't include the words "evil" or "dead" in the title.

Rocky Horror is also playing next Saturday at midnight.

Future Schedule Midnights at The Baxter

Jim Henson Double Feature: "The Dark Crystal" at 10PM and "The Labyrinth" at midnight
November 10

Midnights at The Baxter In Concert: Choose between either The Beatles in "A Hard Day's Night" or Talking Heads in "Stop Making Sense" Pssst! A Hard Day's Night is the right choice.
November 24

Gremlins To get you in the giving spirit.
December 15

Batman Returns An excellent choice for the holiday season. Christopher Walken equals festivity.
December 22

Donnie Darko This movie creeps me out but that doesn't mean you shouldn't enjoy it.
December 29

Enter the Dragon This film might kick your ass.
January 12

The Thing I don't have a single thing to say about this movie.
January 26

Groundhog Day "Don't drive angry"
February 2

Moulin Rouge Serious romantics at The Baxter aren't they? Love and death just in time for Valentine's Day
February 9

Somehow, someway I missed out on the Splodin' Summer Series shown at Midnight on Saturday nights at Baxter Avenue Theater. There are a few weeks left though including Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade this Saturday night.

August 25 - Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
September 15 - Team America: World Police
September 29 - Aliens