Light House Cinema, Dublin presents a season of Films You’d Love Your Kids To See on the big screen this Summer. During July and August, the programme of films will focus on the golden age of kids’ films of the 80s and 90s. These films drew audiences into worlds filled with magic, adventure, thrills, frights, goblins, spaceships, pirates, muppets, flying dragons, cars that could go back in time and a sense of awe and optimism that can now be relived and enjoyed once more by new and older generations.
Film goers are invited to experience the spectacular sci-fi of Spielberg’s E.T. The Extra Terrestrial and Close Encounters Of The Third Kind; the fantastical fantasies of Jim Henson’s Labyrinth, The Dark Crystal and The NeverEnding Story and the epic adventures of Indiana Jones and The Goonies among others.
Special events include Light House Cinema Book Club screenings of Willy Wonka and Stand By Me (both of which will have special Kids’ Book Club screenings), as well as a Jim Henson Double Bill and Indiana Jones Trilogy Marathon. There will be late night screenings for adults and matinees for families to enjoy.
So whether you want to re-live one of your old favourites on the big screen or introduce a whole new generation to these wonderful films, Light House Cinema invites you to escape into these magical worlds this summer on the big screen – the way they were originally intended.
Tickets are now on sale at www.lighthousecinema.ie. There is free online booking for members.
Programme Details
E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial
Wedneday 8th July, 3pm & 8.30pm | Saturday 11th July, 3pm & 10.30pm
Science fiction is a wonderful thing to experience on the big screen. E.T. asks the question “are we alone in the universe?” and allows the audience to believe that if we’re not, there’s a universe of adventures to be had and friends to be made. One of the most cinematic films of all time with an innate sense of wonder that is unequalled.
Labyrinth
Tuesday 14th July, 3pm & 8.30pm | Sunday 19th July, 4pm
Part Muppets, part Monty Python, this dark fairytale was directed by Jim Henson and written by Terry Jones. Starring a very young Jennifer Connolly and a very wicked David Bowie, Labyrinth is a rock n roll fantasy whose dark heart is cheered up by a colourful cast of Muppets who aid Sarah in her attempt to free her baby brother from the clutches of the Goblin King.
The Dark Crystal
Wednesday 15th July, 3pm & 8.30pm | Sunday 19th July, 2pm
In a world divided between the malevolent Skeksis and the benevolent Mystics, two ‘gelflings’ must quest to find the shard of the Dark Crystal to ensure the world doesn’t fall to darkness. Jim Henson and Frank Oz co-direct this striking and beautifully crafted, yet sometimes rather dark fantasy.
The Dark Crystal & Labyrinth – Jim Henson Double Bill
Friday 17th July, 8.30pm
Are you a Gelfling or a Goblin? Let’s celebrate the genius of Jim Henson by going back to the fantastical worlds and characters he created in The Dark Crystal and getting your Chilly Down (doing the Magic Dance) with David Bowie’s Goblin King. That’s right, it’s an 80’s cult double bill in the shape of The Dark Crystal and Labyrinth.
The Neverending Story
Tuesday 21st July, 3pm & 8.30pm | Saturday 25th July, 3pm & 10.30pm
Upon discovering a mysterious book, Bastian enters a magical world of Fantastica and is called on to help the Child Empress and young warrior Atreyu to save the world from terrifying non-entity “The Nothing”. But for every wish he makes, Bastian loses a memory from his real life. Fairy-tale action of the highest order – who hasn’t dreamt of flying on their own luck-dragon!?
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory – Cinema Book Club
Monday 27th July, 6.30pm | Sunday 2nd August, 1pm (FOR KIDS)
Keeping up the annual Roald Dahl summer book club, this year Light House Cinema Book Club invites you to join them for a screening of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory. For the first time ever, there’ll be both an adult book club in the usual slot and an extra Sunday afternoon children’s edition.
Who Framed Roger Rabbit
Wednesday 29th July, 3pm & 8.30pm | Saturday 1st August, 3pm & 10.30pm
It’s difficult to say if this film was intended specifically for children or not. With its film-noir stylings, the ludicrously sultry Jessica Rabbit, and its knowing winks at the ego and corruption at work in Hollywood, there’s as much to love in this live-action-animation hybrid for adults as there is for children. Magical!
Back to the Future
Tuesday 4th August, 3pm & 8.30pm | Friday 7th August, 10.30pm | Sunday 9th August, 3pm
Time travel has never, ever been this much fun. Michael J Fox is Marty McFly who, stuck in a time-travel jaunt back to the 1950’s – courtesy of his mad-scientist friend Doc Brown – must ensure that his parents end up falling in love so his existence is ensured. Mind-bending in the greatest way and full of spectacle and adventure, as all great family films should be.
The Karate Kid
Wednesday 5th August, 3pm & 8.30pm | Saturday 8th August, 3pm & 10.30pm
Everyone on your street did at least one karate class as a kid and there was probably some kid with a black belt who seemed like the coolest person in town. That is thanks, to a huge extent, to this film. Probably the greatest pairing of master and student in sports movie history, Daniel and Mr Miyagi throw poses like nobody’s business in this classic coming-of-age sports film.
Close Encounters of the Third Kind
Wednesday 12th August, 3pm & 8.30pm | Sunday 16th August, 3pm
Spielberg’s first foray into the world of extra-terrestrials, Close Encounters is not only a wonderful film, but one that has hardly aged at all despite its heavy use of special effects. That trademark Spielberg sense of wonder makes this a marvellous big-screen experience for both young and not-so-young.
Indiana Jones Trilogy
George Lucas and Steven Spielberg put their blockbusting heads together and came up with the ultimate family friendly adventure. A throwback to old serials, Harrison Ford is the perfect charismatic, quippy leading man. These films have everything – action, romance, face-melting, whips, running from a giant rolling boulder. We love this trilogy so much that we’re giving each film its own daily screenings but also giving you the opportunity to watch each one back-to-back in our once-in-a-lifetime Indiana Jones Trilogy Marathon.
- Raiders of the Lost Ark
Tuesday 18th August, 3pm & 8.30pm
- Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
Wednesday 19th August, 3pm & 8.30pm
- Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
Thursday 20th August, 3pm & 8.30pm
- Indiana Jones Trilogy Marathon
Saturday 22nd August, from 2pm
For €21 Trilogy discount price – call 01 8728006 or book in person at Box-Office.
The Goonies
Thursday 27th August, 3pm & 8.30pm | Saturday 29th August, 3pm & 10.30pm
Goonies never say die! Get your treasure maps out and come along to our screenings of The Goonies, one of our very favourite 80’s cult classics. The ultimate kids adventure tale sees a group of friends trying to save their homes from being demolished and in doing so discover an old treasure map from the legendary One Eyed Willie, but they must battle the weirdest family in America for the hidden treasure. Pirate outfits and truffle shuffles encouraged.
Stand By Me – Cinema Book Club
Sunday 30th August, 1pm (FOR OLDER KIDS) | Monday 31st August, 6.30pm
Based on the short novella The Body by Stephen King, Stand By Me is a masterful adaptation of a very brilliant book. Suitable for older children, this coming of age thriller is the perfect discussion piece for the young adult Cinema Book Club.