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Movie night: Your guide to a memorable night in

Host a movie party for friends and family.
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  • Aprill Brandon •
  • Originally published August 25, 2010 at midnight, updated August 26, 2010 at 3:50 p.m.

There's no denying that times are tough these days. With everyone dealing with lighter wallets, why not spend a weekend evening in with friends and family and host a movie night.

Below, we've compiled recipes for the perfect night in as the summer heat wanes.

FOR A GOOD MOVIE NIGHT

'CASABLANCA' (1943)

Rated: PG

Synopsis: Here's looking at you, kid. This timeless tale is set in World War II where Rick Blaine, played by ol' Bogey himself, has his life turned upside down when his old flame turns up at his nightclub with her husband.

Snacks: Keep it classy and serve martinis.

Extras: Invite someone named Sam in order to make "Play it again, Sam" jokes all night long.

Martini

2 1/2 oz gin

1/4 oz dry vermouth

1 green olive

6 ice cubes

Toss a handful of ice cubes into a mixing glass then pour in the gin and the vermouth.

Stir well. Strain and pour into a martini glass, dropping the olive in.

'Julie & Julia' (2009)

Rated: PG-13

Synopsis: The story of legendary chef Julia Child intertwines with the story of a New York blogger who takes on the task of cooking her way through Child's cookbook.

Snacks: Take your pick from one of the more than 500 recipes in "The Art of French Cooking." Better yet, invite friends over early to help you make a fabulous French dish.

Extras: Wash it all down with a nice bottle of wine.

'Alice in Wonderland' (2010)

Rated: PG

Synopsis: Director Tim Burton re-imagines this classic tale in a way only Tim Burton can.

Snacks: Tea and cake, naturally

Extras: Make this a double feature, and watch the Disney animated version afterward.

'Dazed & Confused' (1993)

Rated: R

Synopsis: In this cult classic, a group of high schoolers celebrate the last day of school in 1976.

Snacks: Ketchup, mustard and keg beer, man.

Extras: Hold a contest to see who can do the best Matthew McConaughey impression. Winner gets to paddle the loser with a wooden board.

'Harry Potter' Marathon

Rated: PG

Synopsis: The adventures of bespectacled orphan Harry Potter and his friends are chronicled as they try to survive and conquer a growing threat of evil wizards in their midst. Start with the first movie "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" and keep going until last Muggle standing.

Snacks: Butterbeer

Extras: Take turns daring each other to try the different flavors of Bertie Bott's Jelly Beans. Extra points to whoever chokes down the vomit-flavored one.

Butterbeer

1 cup club soda or cream soda

1/2 cup butterscotch syrup

1/2 tablespoon butter

Measure butterscotch and butter into a 2-cup glass. Microwave on high for 1 to 1 1/2 minutes, or until syrup is bubbly and butter is completely incorporated. Stir and cool for 30 seconds, then slowly mix in club soda.

'Rocky Horror Picture Show' (1975)

Rated: R

Synopsis: Newly-engaged couple, Brad and Janet, get more than they bargained for when they knock on the door of Dr. Frank-N-Furter after their car breaks down in this cult classic musical.

Snacks: Rice and toast. Not to eat, of course. But to throw at your TV during the appropriate moments.

Extras: Hold a costume contest, and have everyone dress up as their favorite characters.

'Goonies' (1985)

Rated: PG

Synopsis: A group of kids embark on the adventure of a lifetime trying to find an old pirate treasure.

Snacks: Baby Ruth candy bars and rocky road ice cream. Chunk wouldn't have it any other way.

Extras: Truffle Shuffle contest. Oh, yeah.

IF YOU'RE IN THE MOOD FOR A BAD MOVIE NIGHT, HOWEVER

'Army of Darkness' (1992)

Rated: R

Synopsis: The third film by the infamous duo of Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell, this film sticks more with action and humor than gore like their previous "Evil Dead" series collaborations (although, no worries, there's still plenty of gore). The main character, Ash, travels back to 1300 A.D. England where he must retrieve the Necronomicon so he can return home.

Snacks: Nothing that makes you even the slightest bit nauseous.

Extras: Make it a triple feature and watch the two first movies "Evil Dead" and "Evil Dead 2." That is, if you've got the stomach for it.

'Hacker's (1995)

Rated: PG-13

Synopsis: A bunch of dope hackers race against time to stop, like, a totally evil older hacker from doing some wicked bad hacker stuff. Added bonus? You get to see Angelina Jolie weigh more than 90 pounds. A guilty pleasure at its finest.

Snacks: Hacker food, dude. Candy, Jolt Cola (if you can find some), cereal, more Jolt Cola.

Extras: Simultaneously stalk people on Facebook while watching. The plot is sort of irrelevant anyway.

'Mega Shark vs. Giant Octopus' (2009)

Rated: R

Synopsis: Who cares? It stars Debbie Gibson! Ahem ... excuse me. Deborah Gibson. Better yet, her love interest is no other than Lorenzo Lamas.

Snacks: Seafood, obviously.

Extras: Pump yourself up by listening to Debbie Gibson songs first.

'Brain Smasher ... A Love Story' (1993)

Rated: PG-13

Synopsis: A model (Teri Hatcher) gets into some kind of trouble or something and seeks the help of a nightclub bouncer nicknamed Brain Smasher. And just who plays this heroic bouncer who fights off the Chinese monks threatening her? (Oh yes, you read that right ... Chinese. Monks.) None other than the great thespian, Andrew "The Diceman" Clay.

Snacks: Don't bother. You'll be laughing too hard to eat.

Extras: Don't bother. You'll be laughing too hard to do anything else.

'Cannibal! The Musical' (1993)

Rated: R

Synopsis: Before Trey Parker was one-half of the creative team behind "South Park," he wrote and starred in this little doozie. Based vaguely on real life cannibal Alfred Packer, it's juvenile humor sung at its finest.

Snacks: Anything vegetarian.

Extras: Print out lyrics and make it a sing-a-long.

'Hostel' (2005)

Rated: R

Synopsis: Three spoiled college dudes backpack to a Slovakian city in an effort to meet their hedonistic expectations. Unfortunately, "surprise, surprise," it's not quite the sex and drugs paradise they were expecting. This horror movie is, as an Advocate sports writer put it, the "best comedy of 2005."

Snacks: Beer and Cheetos

Extras: Considering it takes place in Europe, learn how to say "this sucks" in different languages, then yell it at the TV whenever appropriate.

'Death Ship' (1980)

Rated: R

Synopsis: What would happen if you mixed "Titanic" with "Inglorious Basterds" and lowered the production value to practically nil? "Death Ship." Survivors of a sinking ship at sea are picked up by another mysterious ship, which is actually a Nazi torture ship that has spent years sailing around and killing unsuspecting sailors.

Snacks: Sauerkraut

Extras: If you can make it through this movie, consider that enough.


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Comments

  • Riverboat Riverboat Report a ViolationReport a Violation Permalink

    For bad movie night, pop in "Plan 9 From Outer Space." For good movie night, watch "Ed Wood," the creator of the aforementioned and a bevy of equally bad movies.

    "We are all interested in the future, for that is where you and I are going to spend the rest of our lives."

    August 28, 2010 at 12:35 p.m.