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[LeeZion]

I need some help on a movie-related topic. This will take a while to explain, so bear with me.

I used to live in Harrisonburg, Virginia, and when I was there, I helped create a summer film program for the city. The idea was to show a movie for free, outdoors, downtown, every other Friday during the summer to attract people to come downtown. (It's both movies and concerts. Every week there would be EITHER a movie OR a concert, with the planning for each laid out several months in advance.) The idea being, once people are lured downtown, they find about all the cool stores and restaurants there (not quite QC-land cool yet, but still pretty nice). Then they shop downtown more often.

Up until recently, we (I say "we" because I was one of the planners) had pretty much three categories of movies — classics from Hollywood's Golden Age (like Singin' in the Rain and Yankee Doodle Dandy), recent family-friendly films (like Shrek and E.T.) and silent movies with live musical accompaniment (like Safety Last and The General) All of these are supposed to be crowd pleasers — a great film that nobody's ever heard of won't do the job.

Interestingly enough, each of these attracted a different audience. The ones who wouldn't turn out for Singin' in the Rain would show up for Shrek, and vice versa.

This summer, the program is in its fourth year. Even though I no longer live in Harrisonburg, I still help out, suggesting a few films (my specialty is Hollywood's Golden Age) and writing the introductions for each movie. However, it's gotten to the point where the people now running it have gotten it down pat. If they wish, they can continue it without my help.

Now here's the catch: Recently, the people running the program have come up with a NEW category of movie to attract a NEW kind of audience — college kids. The last movie of the summer is shown just as newly arriving students are settling into life at nearby James Madison University. By showing a college-age film, the idea is to bring the college kids — many of whom are new to the area — to the downtown, where they can find the cool pizza place, the outre-chic thrift store, the microbrewery, etc.

This year, for the last event of the season, they will show Napoleon Dynamite on Sept. 8 — an obvious choice. But what about next year? What films can attract a teen/budding adult crowd? Keep in mind that ALL of the following rules apply:

1) Since the film is outdoors, in a public area, and sponsored by a semi-governmental agency, the film can NOT be rated PG-13, R, or NC-17. That eliminates films like Dazed and Confused — a great film, very popular among college kids, but unfortunately, a bit too strong. Other cult classics are also not allowed for the same reason, no matter how good they are — Ghost World, Repo Man, Donnie Darko, Akira, etc.

2) Can't be too obscure. (Must be a crowd pleaser. I would have a hard time justifying Pi.)

3) Must be available not only for rent, but also through an agency that negotiates copyright, so it can be shown legally with appropriate payment. Chances are, if it's out on DVD, it also meets this requirement.

So far, I've come up with several categories of films that WOULD attract teens and students and would ALSO be acceptable to a more staid crowd. These include kids' movies that students also like, anime, popular films from 20 years ago with nostalgia value, or camp classics that are so silly they're enjoyable. Here's my list so far, in alphabetical order:

Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai
Batman! The Movie (the one with Adam West and the inflatable shark)
Breakfast Club
Blair Witch Project
Fantasia (bring your own weed, although I won't say that to the Harrisonburg officials)
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (if, for no other reason, the way everyone always seems to say "Beuller... Beuller... Bueller... ")
Hairspray
Harold and Maude (this one's kind of iffy)
Mystery Science Theater 3000 (just about anything with their sanction)
Plan 9 From Outer Space
Porco Rosso
Princess Bride (everyone quotes from that movie)
Spaceballs
Spirited Away
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory
Yellow Submarine

However, since I'm 39 years old, I know I don't really have the pulse of people who are half my age. So... any others? Keep in mind that I WILL pass on all legitimate ideas to an actual semi-govermental agency in Harrisonburg, Va. I look forward to your suggestions.

[philosopherqueen]

Before reading the list you came up with, I was thinking along the lines of

Fight Club
Eternal Sunshine
Being John Malcovich
Memento
The Machinist
etc

But perhaps you are trying to draw a larger, more diverse crowd? In that case, I'd go for big summer Blockbuster types. Spiderman, Lord of the Rings, the Matrix, Bourne, etc.

Hope this helps.

[Ally]

pq, keep in mind that they have to be rated G or PG.

I'm trying to think of the stuff that I enjoy and that my college-age brother enjoys. I watched Howl's Moving Castle with him and his friends and they all liked it a lot. Most people enjoy Pixar movies (my friends and I watch Monsters Inc all the time) and those appeal more to adults than Dreamworks animated movies like Madagascar and Ice Age (my friends mostly hated these). The Princess Bride is a great choice - so is the Breakfast Club. You can show the Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy, I think, Apollo 13, and a ton of 80s movies (ratings were more lenient back then). Back to the Future! Show Back to the Future! Or any of the old Star Wars!

I'd also say advertise a ton - lots of posters around campus. If any of the organizers are young, get them to make a facebook event (that is the best way to reach the masses). This is a really admirable thing to do, good luck!

[Johnny C]

The Breakfast Club is an R-rated film. "Fuck" is used and drugs are smoked. In fact, with the exception of Ferris Bueller and possibly Weird Science (which I haven't seen in ages) you might have to stay away from Hughes films.

The Indiana Jones movies might be a bit scary but they might also be worth it. Same for the first three Star Wars movies.

[ForteBass]

Anything by Miyazaki is usually a safe bet. I think the only exception would be Princess Mononoke, based solely on the rating. The Mel Gibson production of Hamlet is rated PG. And, as far as fun kids' movies that I believe no one can possibly hate.... Curious George.

[rasufelle]

I don't know how well these would fit into the bracket, but I do believe they'd be safe for public viewing.

The Dark Crystal- it's a children's classic, but I know I had more than a few friends at college who would get with me to watch this!

Reefer Madness- yeah, it has drugs, but it's TECHNICALLY a PSA, and so camp you can't beat it.

What the Bleep do we Know- okay, a little out there, but anyone with a brain would enjoy this- I rented it as soon as it came out.

In the Army Now- probably Pauly Shore's crowning achievement, and not much that would make it non-public safe.

Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure/Bogus Journey- do this as a matinee, and you'd have a sure winner.


And for a crossover with the silent films, how about the original 'Nosferatu'?

[ampersandwitch]

Burton comes to mind.

Plus, would you do me a favor and please, PLEASE, show Labyrinth?  I love that movie, and come on, like it says in the trailers, who doesn't love the excitement of David Bowie?

What are you doing for advertising?  I think who you tell and how you tell them might be more important than what you show.

[brooke]

would going with a Disney movie from the late 80's/early 90's be going a little too far?  As a current college student, I can't see wanting to turn down seeing The Little Mermaid or Aladdin.

If you want to go for a date feel but still attract a diverse crowd, maybe something like Dirty Dancing, or you could do a double feature with the same cast like Pretty Woman/Runaway Bride or Sleepless in Seattle/You've Got Mail.

Too girly for you?  You could always rely on some 80's classic like 16 Candles or Pretty in Pink.  Ehh, still too girly.  Any good movie I can think of is rated PG-13 or higher, or is overly chick flicky.

I guess you could go with Napoleon Dynamite, no matter how cliche the movie is at this point.  That would attract a college-aged crowd.  If you can get some sort of edited version of Ferris Bueller, that's always a classic.  There are a few iffy parts of the movie (such as when he's talking about how tense Cameron says something about putting coal up his ass and getting a diamond, and then he says something about how Cameron would marry the first girl that sleeps with him), but other than that, it's pretty safe.

[Beautiful Maladies]

Monty Python and the Holy Grail.

Its extremely well known, its universally hilarious, its constantly quoted, and its popular among the age group.

and its PG.

Alternatively, Young Frankenstein would be a great film to show, but one that not everyone would have seen already. Its also rated PG.

[doki]

four words

Rocky Horror Picture Show

[thegreatbuddha]

Check the OP. It's rated R

[TheFuriousWombat]

Monty Python and the Holy Grail!! Sure it's bloody but it's rated PG. Plus it's a cult classic and it's just plain brilliant. Being part of the target demographic myself, I can say that it would probably bring in the intended audience. Also, who doesn't love Raiders of the Lost Ark or the old (Connery) Bond films? Those are also all PG and might also bring in the crowd you're looking for.

[hypeserver]

I would definately recommend Monty Python and the Holy Grail. I would also recommend Shades of Gray, but it can't be rented in stores since it's an independent film made by an online community member. Also Borat seems to be rather popular besides that G-PG rating cap you put on over it. If that cap wasn't there it would open up a lot more choices.

[LeeZion]

Thanks! All these suggestions are helpful and I will pass them on. I'll also have to eliminate Blair Witch from my list, since that's rated R. And while we're at it...

High School Musical, anyone?