Memorial Day weekend should be spent outside. The holiday is traditionally a starting point for summer, and thus a celebration of the new warm weather almost as much as a remembrance for our soldiers.
However, movies and summer go hand-in-hand, so try to pack in a few flicks this weekend to go along with the grilling, picnics, D.C. celebratory extravaganza and pool-plunging. Maybe fit the film in late at night.
Or if you prefer to go to the theaters, there’s plenty of spectacular cinema to go around.
“The Avengers” still dominates the top of the box-office charts. The superhero megahit ushers in the summer blockbuster season.
“The Dictator” is the latest comedy smash, but “What to Expect When You’re Expecting” holds a surprising fifth place on the box office hits list. This out-of-nowhere comedy, based on a non-fiction book of the same name, features a jam-packed cast. Cameron Diaz, Jennifer Lopez, Chris Rock and Dennis Quaid are just a few of this movie’s familiar faces.
A couple long-awaited movies arrive this weekend, too.
Wes Anderson’s first film in three years, “Moonrise Kingdom,” finally dawns. His quirky, charming style always strikes a sentimental chord, and this one should be no different. It focuses on a pair of lovestruck middle schoolers and their concerned parents.
On a completely different note, “Men in Black III” surfaces after a full decade since the series’ last installment.
Memorial Day is a multi-faceted holiday. Alongside the somber reflection of our lost heroes and the excited anticipation of another summer, graduates conclude, with a bittersweet twinge, another era of their life.
So to reminisce, pack in some classic high school movies. These nostalgic flicks will perfectly compliment your Memorial Day weekend.
The ’80s provided scores of high school masterpieces. Between John Hughes and the Brat Pack, the decade did coming-of-age right. “The Breakfast Club,” “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off,” “Sixteen Candles” and “Say Anything” are monuments of the genre.
But for sheer hilarity, “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” rises to the top. Sean Penn’s introduction to the world is hysterical. Judge Reinhold also turns in a legendary performance.
“American Graffiti” was also the starting point for an A-list star, Harrison Ford. Filmed in the ’70s and set in the early ’60s, this movie–George Lucas’ first hit–serves up poignant high school memories relevant for graduates of any era.
Nearly every year, a new classic takes its ranks among these hallowed films. “Dazed and Confused,” “Rebel Without a Cause,” “10 Things I Hate About You,” “The Girl Next Door” … I could go on forever, baby. Pick a few of your favorites this weekend and let the memories roll.
Happy Memorial Day!