This Easter edition of the Weekly Update is full of great events for Pacific Northwest Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Fans!

Happy Easter weekend, everyone!

What, you expected something warm and fuzzy from me?

Sorry for being so late this week, but my back decided it was time to be re-acquainted with my heating pad after a 13 hour work day.  Not a lot you can do when standing, or even sitting, becomes an endurance test after five minutes.

Okay, it wasn't THIS bad,

but it was still a painful couple of days.

Anyway, I have some great stuff to share with Pacific Northwest Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Fans, with lots of great films, conventions, festivals like the Hayao Miyazaki Celebration at The Hollywood Theatre in Portland, and much more!

Don't forget to check the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar for more great events happening throughout 2018.  I'll be updating it this weekend, so keep checking back for more great things coming our way!

Don't forget, it's easy and FREE to have your event posted on The Shadow Over Portland.  Just send me an email at shadowoverportland@live.com with the details and artwork, and I'll do the rest.

And remember, if you attend any of the events listed here, let the organizers know you read about it at The Shadow Over Portland!!

Ongoing

The Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE, #170, in Salem, OR) will continue showing Guillermo del Toro's Oscar winning film The Shape of Water through April 5.  For showtimes, visit the Salem Cinema website.

The Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR) will continue showing Guillermo del Toro's Oscar winning film The Shape of Water through April 5.  Visit the Darkside Cinema website for more details.

The Grand Cinema (606 S Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) will continue showing Guillermo del Toro's Oscar winning film The Shape of Water through Thursday, April 5.  Visit The Grand Cinema website for more details and advance ticket sales.

-------------

Norwescon 21 takes place this weekend at the Doubletree by Hilton Seattle Airport (18740 International Blvd in SeaTac, WA).  The event has announced the Writer Guest of Honor this year will be Ken Liu, Artist Guest of Honor will be Wayne Barlowe, the Science Guest of Honor will be Mathew Wedel, the Spotlight Publisher will be Green Ronin Publishing and the theme for the con will be Uncovering Mysteries.  More announcements to come, so visit the Norwescon website later in the year.

-----------------

The Pacific Northwest's oldest anime convention, Sakura-Con, runs this weekend at the Washington State Convention Center (800 Convention Place in Seattle, WA).  For more details and links for the event, visit the Facebook Event Page.

----------------

The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) will screen David Lynch's Dune through Thursday, April 5.  Visit the Academy Theater website later for showtimes.

-----------------

Sci Fi Month concludes at the Laurelhurst Theater and Pub (2735 East Burnside St in Portland, OR) with James Cameron's The Terminator.  The film plays through Thursday, April 5.  For more details, visit the Laurelhurst Theater website.

Buy Tickets Early!

The Northwest Film Center will screen the INSANE Japanese cult classic Hausu (House) in GLORIOUS 35mm on Saturday, April 7, at the Portland Art Museum Whitsell Auditorium (1219 SW Park Ave in Portland, OR).  Seriously, don't miss this one, it's the weirdest film you'll see this year.  The only way I can describe it is to have you think of the old TV show H. R. Pufnstuf if the writers were all smoking crack.  It's a haunted house film with an evil cat, a futon closet of death and a hungry piano.  Yeah, it's that bizarre and just as AMAZING!  Showtime is 9:30 pm.  For more details and advance ticket sales (strongly recommended), visit the NW Film Center website.

------------------

WYRD WAR'S Third Annual Walpurgisnacht Celebration brings the Indonesian horror classic Mystics in Bali, directed by H. Tjut Djalil (Lady Terminator).  I can't even begin to explain how AMAZING this film is on the big screen, and it will sell out so buy tickets early and DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS ONE!  The movie will show at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) on Monday, April 30, at 7:30 pm.  For more details, you can visit the Facebook Event Page, and you can buy advance tickets (strongly recommended) at The Hollywood Theatre website.

March, 2018

Friday, March 30

Norwescon 21 takes place this weekend at the Doubletree by Hilton Seattle Airport (18740 International Blvd in SeaTac, WA).  The event has announced the Writer Guest of Honor this year will be Ken Liu, Artist Guest of Honor will be Wayne Barlowe, the Science Guest of Honor will be Mathew Wedel, the Spotlight Publisher will be Green Ronin Publishing and the theme for the con will be Uncovering Mysteries.  Visit the Norwescon website for details.

------------------

The Pacific Northwest's oldest anime convention, Sakura-Con, runs this weekend at the Washington State Convention Center (800 Convention Place in Seattle, WA).  For more details and links for the event, visit the Facebook Event Page.

------------

The Lombard Pub (3416 N Lombard St in Portland, OR) is the site of the Blade Runner 2018 Party tonight at 10 pm.  This dark electronic dance party is a tribute to the film, with three DJs working to help you dance through the night.  No cover is required, and more details will be announced soon.  Check out the Facebook Event Page for up to date details.

------------

The Campout Cinema series at the Museum of Pop Culture (325 5th Ave N in Seattle, WA) presents Dark City.  The event starts at 7 pm and tickets include admission to the museum's Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction and Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film.  This is a 21 and older event.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

----------------

The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) will screen David Lynch's Dune through Thursday, April 5.  Visit the Academy Theater website later for showtimes.

-----------------

Sci Fi Month concludes at the Laurelhurst Theater and Pub (2735 East Burnside St in Portland, OR) with James Cameron's The Terminator.  The film plays through Thursday, April 5.  For more details, visit the Laurelhurst Theater website.

Saturday, March 31

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen the Jack Arnold classic It Came from Outer Space tonight at 6 pm.  Oh, I forgot to mention the presentation is in GLORIOUS 35mm and in 3D.  AND star Kathleen Hughes will be present for a post screening Q and A.  Tickets go on sale to the general public today (Monday, February 19), and you know this will sell out fast.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

April, 2018
Sunday, April 1

No, it ain't the Easter Bunny heading to the McMenamins Mission Theater and Pub (1624 NW Glisan in Portland, OR) this weekend.  The cult classic Donnie Darko, featuring the monstrous-bunny suited "Frank," will be showing through Tuesday, April 3.  For additional details, including showtimes and advance ticket sales, visit the Mission Theater website.
 

Thursday, April 5

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) begins a month-long celebration of the animated films of Hayao Miyazaki with a screening of Princess Mononoke tonight at 7:30 pm.  The film is in the original Japanese with English subtitles.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Friday, April 6

The Hayao Miyazaki Celebration continues at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) with a screening of Spirited Away tonight at 7:30 pm.  This screening will be in the original Japanese with English subtitles.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

-----------------

The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) will screen the 1976 sci fi cult classic Logan's Run through Thursday, April 11.  Visit the Academy Theater website later for showtimes.

Saturday, April 7

Pop culture scholar Jennifer K. Stuller presents Wonder Woman: Herstory of a Heroine on Screen today at SIFF (305 Harrison St in Seattle, WA) from noon to 4 pm.  The presentation looks at the titular superhero in her many incarnations, from cartoons to live action television movies and series and her appearance on the big screen.  General admission tickets are just $20.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

--------------

The Hayao Miyazaki Celebration continues at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) with a screening of Spirited Away today at 4 pm.  This screening will be dubbed.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Saturday, April 7

The Hayao Miyazaki Celebration continues at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) with a screening of Ponyo tonight at 7:30 pm.  This screening will be presented in the original Japanese with English subtitles.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

---------------

The Northwest Film Center will screen the INSANE Japanese cult classic Hausu (House) in GLORIOUS 35mm tonight at the Portland Art Museum Whitsell Auditorium (1219 SW Park Ave in Portland, OR).  Seriously, don't miss this one, it's the weirdest film you'll see this year.  The only way I can describe it is to have you think of the old TV show H. R. Pufnstuf if the writers were all smoking crack.  It's a haunted house film with an evil cat, a futon closet of death and a hungry piano.  Yeah, it's that bizarre and just as AMAZING!  Showtime is 9:30 pm.  For more details and advance ticket sales (strongly recommended), visit the NW Film Center website.

Sunday, April 8

The Hayao Miyazaki Celebration continues at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) with a screening of Ponyo today at 4 pm.  This screening will be dubbed.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

---------------

The Hayao Miyazaki Celebration continues at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) with a screening of Nausicaa of the Valley of the Wind tonight at 7 pm.  This screening will be presented in the original Japanese with English subtitles.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Pacific Rim Uprising (2018)

Sometimes, an artist's enthusiasm for their work is so great, it infuses the project and creates something wonderful.  It doesn't mean the work is good in a critical sense, but the project is so full of the joy the creator experienced bringing it to life that one can't help but smile and enjoy the end result.

Such was the case for me with 2013's Pacific Rim.  As I mentioned in my review of that film, the script is a cliche loaded military action film that one would expect to fall flat.  And it might have, if the robot/monster battles weren't so damn awesome.  The film was little more than director Guillermo del Toro's inner eight year old with a box of cool toys inviting us to play with them.  And for me, as well as my inner eight year old, it worked.

Now we have the followup, Pacific Rim Uprising and, though del Toro is listed as producer and visual design consultant, it is quite evident he's not the one running the show.

And, just so you know, I have a minor SPOILER ahead.  Skip the next four paragraphs if you don't want to know, though you'll see it coming early on in the film.

Maybe if we have the Jaegers fighting three Kaiju at once this time,

that might be enough.  Maybe...

The movie takes place ten years after the events of the first film, with Jake Pentecost (John Boyega) stealing Jaeger parts to sell on the black market.  During one heist, he runs into Amara Namani (Cailee Spaeny), who's built her own single person Jaeger.

Of course, the authorities realize people running around in Jaegers is not a good idea and the two are arrested by the Pan-Pacific Defense Corps.  Jake's adoptive sister Mako Mori (Rinko Kikuchi), now the PPDC General Secretary, offers to get Jake out of jail if he returns to the Hong Kong Shatterdome as an instructor.  So with Amara in tow, Jake returns to the PPDC, butts heads with his former co-pilot Nate Lambert (Scott Eastwood), and starts teaching a bunch of forgetful stereotypes how to be Jaeger pilots.

Wow, it appears all the older Jaeger pilots have

just retired and left the fate of the world to a bunch of new recruits.

We might be screwed.

Meanwhile, Mako is preparing a final assessment on a drone Jaeger program developed by the Shao Corporation, ran by Liwen Shao (Tian Jing).  Working with her is Kaiju junkie Dr. Newton Geiszler (Charlie Day), who left the PPDC for the better paying private sector.  Good thing mathematician Dr. Hermann Gottlieb (Burn Gorman) is still at the Shatterdome, as a rogue Jaeger attacks the PPDC council meeting in Sydney, killing Mako in the process.

The drone program is approved, but Jake and Nate follow Mako's last message to a decommissioned Jaeger facility in Russia and find the rogue Jaeger.  And I'm going to end the summery there, because past this point are some massive spoilers.  Let's just say not all is what it seems with the drone program, which you probably figured out, and eventually, Kaiju mayhem ensues.

Nope, not saying what's happening here.

Except it's not good!

All the elements are in place for a fun, robots verses monsters smackdown.  But film lacks any spark to engage the audience.  The script (by director Steven S. DeKnight, Emily Carmichael, Kira Snyder and T. S. Nowlin) might be loaded with stock characters and cliche moments from other military action films, but that isn't the problem.  Rather, part of my issue with the script is how it deviates from the original.

For example, in this film, Drift compatibility is not an issue.  Any two pilots can work in the Drift now, and the cool staff fighting test in the original is never brought up.  Gottlieb and Geiszler's character's aren't as interesting as in the first, which is a shame, as they were two of the most enjoyable characters in the original.  It also doesn't help that original hero Raleigh Becket isn't in the film, and is only mentioned in passing before the climatic battle.  The lack of any explanation for his absence should have been addressed, as his co-pilot Mako is back.

As I mentioned, the cadets are a crew of stereotypes from other movies, much like the first film.  The actors are fine, given the material, but unlike the original, they all just look like a bunch of pretty faces.  To use one example, the Russian Jaeger pilots in the first film look the part, while the Russian character in this one lacks the physical appearance of a badass Russian Jaeger pilot.  Again, that's not to say any of the performances are bad, but the cast just blends together into a sea of attractive young people who are instantly forgettable.

I'm sorry, I didn't realize this room was being used

by the cast of a CW show.

The problem of cast members blending together extends to the Jaegers as well.  In del Toro's film, the brawler looked big and bulky, the acrobatic Jaeger was thin and lithe, and the one piloted by the heroes was the barrel-chested machine you expected to have a big "S" emblem painted on it.  In this film, the only defining characteristics of the Jaegers are the weapons and color schemes, lacking any uniqueness or identifiable abilities based on the Jaeger's physical appearance.

As for the Jaeger weapons, they are pretty nice, with an electronic whip, a mace, and the ever present sword, in addition to missiles and some really big guns.  But again, this army of Jaegers are lacking in the little touches that del Toro brought to the original.  Sure, these new Jaegers still punch their opponents in the face, but cool stuff like the rocket elbow, or the piston-driven fist that delivers a second blow to a Kaiju's nose, are gone.  Such moments added to the "Oh, wow, that's so COOL" factor of the first film and are sorely missed here.

But that's not to say the battle sequences are bad.  Director DeKnight (who worked on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel and Netflix's Daredevil) keeps the action visible to the audience.  Unlike another giant robot franchise, the battle sequences are well shot, exciting and allow you to see what is happening, rather than showing a rolling mass of metal and monster in extreme, overly kinetic close up shots.

You know Michael Bay would have shot this scene 

so you'd have no idea what was going on.

It's just too bad this film lacks the childlike joy that infused the original.  Though both have the same shortcomings, del Toro's movie delighted my inner eight year old, allowing me to overlook the weaknesses in the film and just enjoy the spectacle of giant robots beating up giant monsters.  But during Pacific Rim Uprising, he was content to stay in his room, playing with his own action figures.  And without him at my side, the movie was pretty bland.

Race you to the toy shop shelves!

Well, it's officially spring and the weather in the Pacific Northwest is returning to a normal mix of rain and clouds.  And with those showers come pollen, flowers and hordes of trolls running through the fields.

Or you might have a goblin infestation.

Check with your local cryptozoologist to be sure.

And, as with blossoms in spring, the amazing Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy events happening around the area keeps growing.  Just take a look at this edition of the Weekly Update.  With all the amazing films, stage events and cons coming to the Pacific Northwest in the next twelve days, I'm sure you'll find something in your neck of the woods!

And be sure to check the Horror/Sci Fi/Fantasy Calendar, which is newly updated with all the great happenings for the rest of the 2018.  But be sure to check back, as I'll be adding even more events to the page as the year goes on!

If you don't know by now, it's easy and FREE to get your film festival, convention or stage event listed on the site.  Just email me at shadowoverportland@live.com with the details and any promotional artwork and I'll do all the rest of the work.  Told you it was easy!

And don't forget to help spread the word.  If you attend any of the events you see listed on the site, let the organizers know you read about it at The Shadow Over Portland!!

Ongoing

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will continue showing Guillermo del Toro's Oscar winning film The Shape of Water through March 29.  For showtimes and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

The Salem Cinema (1127 Broadway St NE, #170, in Salem, OR) will continue showing Guillermo del Toro's Oscar winning film The Shape of Water through March 29.  For showtimes, visit the Salem Cinema website.

The Darkside Cinema (215 SW 4th St in Corvallis, OR) will continue showing Guillermo del Toro's Oscar winning film The Shape of Water through March 29.  Visit the Darkside Cinema website for more details.

The Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA) will continue showing Guillermo del Toro's Oscar winning film The Shape of Water through Thursday, March 29.  Visit the Pickford Film Center website for more details and advance ticket sales.

The Grand Cinema (606 S Fawcett Ave in Tacoma, WA) will continue showing Guillermo del Toro's Oscar winning film The Shape of Water through Thursday, March 29.  Visit The Grand Cinema website for more details and advance ticket sales.

The Olympia Film Society brings Guillermo del Toro's Oscar winning film The Shape of Water to the Capitol Theater (206 5th Ave SE in Olympia, WA) from Friday, March 23, to Thursday, March 29.  For more details and showtimes, visit the Capitol Theater website or the Facebook Event Page.

-------------

Dark Lodge and Columbia City's Ark Lodge Cinemas (4816 Rainier Ave S in Seattle, WA) presents Fritz Lang's Metropolis, showing tonight through Thursday, March 22.  This is the definitive restored version, which includes 25 minutes of recently discovered footage and a new recording of the original score by the Berlin Radio Orchestra in 5.1 Stereo Surround.  Showtimes and tickets are available on March 13.  For more details, and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

-------------------

The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) will screen Tank Girl, with Lori Petty and Naomi Watts, through Thursday, March 22.  Visit the Academy Theater website later for showtimes.

-----------------

Sci Fi Month continues at the Laurelhurst Theater and Pub (2735 East Burnside St in Portland, OR) with John Carpenter's The Thing.  The film plays through Thursday, March 22.  For more details, visit the Laurelhurst Theater website.

------------------

Every weekend through March 25, the Museum of Peculiarities and Oddities and The Spirit of Halloweentown Gift Shop (231 S First St in St Helens, OR) are open from 11 am to 4 pm Saturday, and noon to 4 pm on Sunday.  Stop by and contribute your artistic abilities to the Halloween Rocks Project by painting a rock for the Halloween Scavenger Hunt.  Visit either the Saturday or Sunday Facebook Event Page for more details. 

Buy Tickets Early!

WYRD WAR'S Third Annual Walpurgisnacht Celebration brings the Indonesian horror classic Mystics in Bali, directed by H. Tjut Djalil (Lady Terminator).  I can't even begin to explain how AMAZING this film is on the big screen, and it will sell out so buy tickets early and DO NOT MISS OUT ON THIS ONE!  The movie will show at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) on Monday, April 30, at 7:30 pm.  For more details, you can visit the Facebook Event Page, and you can buy advance tickets (strongly recommended) at The Hollywood Theatre website.

 -----------------

Sugar Hill, the best (okay, also only) blaxploitation zombie more ever made, screens on Tuesday, March 27, at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) at 7:30 pm.  The screening will be in GLORIOUS 35mm and classic blaxploitation trailers will play before the film.  You might want to get tickets early, as this could sell out.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

-----------------

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen the Jack Arnold classic It Came from Outer Space on Saturday, March 31, at 6 pm.  Oh, I forgot to mention the presentation is in GLORIOUS 35mm and in 3D.  AND star Kathleen Hughes will be present for a post screening Q and A.  Tickets go on sale to the general public today (Monday, February 19), and you know this will sell out fast.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

------------------

Geekenders and the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) host A Nude Hope: A Sci-Fi Burlesque Adventure at 8 pm Friday and Saturday, March 23 and 24.  Tickets are $25 in advance (highly recommended), $30 at the door.  You must be 18 or older and have ID to attend.  For more details, including a list of performers and a link to advance ticket sales (on sale now), visit the Facebook Event Page.

March, 2018

Wednesday, March 21

Wild Wednesday Movies! at Bunsenbrewer (16506 SE 362nd Dr in Sandy, OR) is presenting a locally filmed treat tonight at 8 pm.  The horror film Drifter will screen and Corvallis filmmaker Joe Sherlock (Odd Noggins, Beyond the Wall of Fear,  Blood Creek Woodsman) will be present to answer any questions and sign any movie you want to purchase from him.  I was lucky enough to catch the film when it played at the Clinton Street Theater and it was very good, with some wonderful camera work and a nice twist at the end.  Don't miss it!  As always, admission and popcorn is FREE, but be sure to buy some tasty beverages and treats from Bunsenbrewer during the film.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

-----------------

It's Movie Night at The Nerd Out (3308 SE Belmont St in Portland, OR) and  tonight's feature is the John Carpenter classic They Live.  Showtime is 8 pm.  For more details, visit The Nerd Out Facebook Page.

----------------

Weird Wednesday is bringing Monster Roulette back to The Joy Cinema and Pub (11959 SW Pacific Highway in Tigard, OR).  An audience member will draw a movie title out of a hat and that's the movie you'll see!  Good or bad, the only guarantee is the movie will feature a monster!!  As always, admission is FREE, but you must be 21 or older to attend.  The show starts at 9:15 pm, but arrive early and support The Joy's ongoing effort to keep Wednesdays WEIRD by purchasing some tasty treats and beverages before the movie.  And beware, monsters of all kinds don't take kindly to people bringing in outside food and drinks!  For more details, visit The Joy Cinema website.

Friday, March 23

The 7th Annual Oregon Ghost Conference takes place through Sunday, March 25, at the Seaside Civic and Convention Center (415 1st Ave in Seaside, OR).  Tickets are now on sale, so visit the Oregon Ghost Conference website for a schedule of events, advance ticket sales and more.  You can also check out the Facebook Event Page for updates.

-------------------

Geekenders and the Rio Theatre (1660 East Broadway in Vancouver, BC) host A Nude Hope: A Sci-Fi Burlesque Adventure at 8 pm tonight and tomorrow.  Tickets are $25 in advance (highly recommended), $30 at the door.  You must be 18 or older and have ID to attend.  For more details, including a list of performers and a link to advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

----------------

Miss Pamela Voorhees presents Get Your Geek On!,an variety-filled evening of burlesque, drag, LED, comedy, flow art and more, at 8 pm tonight at Crush Bar (1400 SE Morrison St in Portland, OR).  Tickets are $13 and are available at this Everbrite link.  For more details on event, please check the Facebook Event Page.

----------------

Flash, AH-AAAAAA!  The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) will screen the 1980 camp classic Flash Gordon through Thursday, March 29.  Visit the Academy Theater website later for showtimes.

------------------

Local podcast The Horror Aisle hosts another edition of the Frightmare on Main Street series at The Kiggins Theatre (1011 Main St in Vancouver, WA) tonight at 9:30 pm.  Head in for crowd participation, games, prizes and tonight's feature, Stuart Gordon's Re-Animator.  Tickets are $10.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Kiggins Theatre website.

----------------

The Dragonfly Cinema (822 Bay St in Port Orchard, WA) is showing an AWESOME double feature, the documentary 78/52: Hitchcock's Shower Scene and Psycho through Tuesday, March 27.  The double feature starts at 5 pm.  For all the details and if any changes occur to the showtimes (the site says final showtimes will be announce around March 21), visit the Facebook Event Page.

-----------------

Sci Fi Month continues at the Laurelhurst Theater and Pub (2735 East Burnside St in Portland, OR) with David Cronenberg's eXistenZ.  The film plays through Thursday, March 29.  For more details, visit the Laurelhurst Theater website.

-------------

The Northwest Film Center screens two classics from Alfred Hitchcock, Strangers on a Train and Dial M for Murder, through Sunday, March 25, at the Portland Art Museum Whitsell Auditorium (1219 SW Park Ave in Portland, OR).  For more details, including showtimes and advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page or the NW Film Center website.

Saturday, March 24

The Sprocket Society presents the final in the Saturday Secret Matinees! series at the Grand Illusion Cinema (1403 NE 50th St in Seattle, WA) at 2 pm.  The series will screen a weekly cliffhanger episode of Flash Gordon Conquers the Universe, and a classic (but secret) feature, all in GLORIOUS 16mm!  This week's feature theme is Widescreen Thrills, rare 16mm cinemascope prints to fill the screen!  Series passes will be available at the door.  For more details, visit the Grand Illusion Cinema website.

----------------

Jurassic Park In Concert takes place at 7:30 pm tonight at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (1037 SW Broadway in Portland, OR).  Norman Huynh conducts the Oregon Symphony as they perform John William's iconic score live.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

--------------

Long live the New Flesh tonight at the Portland Art Museum Whitsell Auditorium (1219 SW Park Ave in Portland, OR)!  The Northwest Film Center presents David Cronenberg's cult classic Videodrome at 9:30 pm in GLORIOUS 35mm!  Body Horror and Rick Baker's effects would look AMAZING on the big screen!!  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the Northwest Film Center website.

-----------------

Rocket Sci-Fi Matinee presents Valley of the Dragons at noon today at the Pickford Film Center (1318 Bay St in Bellingham, WA).  Admission is just $3.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the Pickford Film Center website.

---------------

Oregon Coast Comic Con YEAR TWO takes place this weekend at the Tillamook Air Museum (6030 Hangar Rd in Tillamook, OR).  Guests include Sandi Seelner (Mighty Morphin' Power Rangers) and Vincent Ward (The Walking Dead, True Blood).  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the OCCC website or the Facebook Event Page.

UPDATE: Artist Arthur Suydam (Marvel Zombies, Marvel Zombies vs. Army of Darkness) is scheduled to attend.  

----------------

The Dragonfly Cinema (822 Bay St in Port Orchard, WA) is hosting Flash Gordon Nerd Night this evening, starting with a local artist showcase at 5 pm at Jak Aktion Comics (839 Bay St in Port Orchard, WA), followed by a Flash Gordon Trivia contest, with prizes, at Jak Aktion Comics at 6 pm.  The evening ends with a screening of 1980's Flash Gordon at the Dragonfly Cinema.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Sunday, March 25

Jurassic Park In Concert takes place at 2 pm today at the Arlene Schnitzer Concert Hall (1037 SW Broadway in Portland, OR).  Norman Huynh conducts the Oregon Symphony as they perform John William's iconic score live.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the Facebook Event Page.

------------------

The Northwest Film Center presents Jan Svankmajer's Alice at the Portland Art Museum Whitsell Auditorium (1219 SW Park Ave in Portland, OR) today at 2 pm.  The film, which uses a combination of stop motion and live action, discards the moral fairy tale trappings of other, more family friendly adaptations and presents a darker version of Lewis Carroll's classic.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit the Northwest Film Center website.

------------

Paranormal Pub at McMenamins Mission Theater (1624 NW Glisan St in Portland, OR) presents Police and the Paranormal tonight at 7 pm.  Author and veteran law enforcement office Loren W. Christensen will present first-hand accounts from his book, Cops' True Stories of the Paranormal: Ghosts, UFOs and Other Shivers.  Doors open at 6 pm and admission is free.  Young children are welcome with a parent or guardian.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

Tuesday, March 27

Sugar Hill, the best (okay, also only) blaxploitation zombie more ever made, screens tonight at The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) at 7:30 pm.  The screening will be in GLORIOUS 35mm and classic blaxploitation trailers will play before the film.  You might want to get tickets early, as this could sell out.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

Wednesday, March 28

It's Movie Night at The Nerd Out (3308 SE Belmont St in Portland, OR) and tonight's feature is the, well, not so classic cult film Attack of the Killer Tomatoes.  Showtime is 8 pm.  For more details, visit The Nerd Out Facebook Page.

Thursday, March 29

Norwescon 21 takes place this weekend at the Doubletree by Hilton Seattle Airport (18740 International Blvd in SeaTac, WA).  The event has announced the Writer Guest of Honor this year will be Ken Liu, Artist Guest of Honor will be Wayne Barlowe, the Science Guest of Honor will be Mathew Wedel, the Spotlight Publisher will be Green Ronin Publishing and the theme for the con will be Uncovering Mysteries.  More announcements to come, so visit the Norwescon website later in the year.

Friday, March 30

The Pacific Northwest's oldest anime convention, Sakura-Con, runs this weekend at the Washington State Convention Center (800 Convention Place in Seattle, WA).  For more details and links for the event, visit the Facebook Event Page.

------------

The Lombard Pub (3416 N Lombard St in Portland, OR) is the site of the Blade Runner 2018 Party tonight at 10 pm.  This dark electronic dance party is a tribute to the film, with three DJs working to help you dance through the night.  No cover is required, and more details will be announced soon.  Check out the Facebook Event Page for up to date details.

------------

The Campout Cinema series at the Museum of Pop Culture (325 5th Ave N in Seattle, WA) presents Dark City.  The event starts at 7 pm and tickets include admission to the museum's Infinite Worlds of Science Fiction and Scared to Death: The Thrill of Horror Film.  This is a 21 and older event.  For more details, visit the Facebook Event Page.

----------------

The Academy Theater (7818 SE Stark St in Portland, OR) will screen David Lynch's Dune through Thursday, April 5.  Visit the Academy Theater website later for showtimes.

-----------------

Sci Fi Month concludes at the Laurelhurst Theater and Pub (2735 East Burnside St in Portland, OR) with James Cameron's The Terminator.  The film plays through Thursday, April 5.  For more details, visit the Laurelhurst Theater website.

Saturday, March 31

The Hollywood Theatre (4122 NE Sandy Blvd in Portland, OR) will screen the Jack Arnold classic It Came from Outer Space tonight at 6 pm.  Oh, I forgot to mention the presentation is in GLORIOUS 35mm and in 3D.  AND star Kathleen Hughes will be present for a post screening Q and A.  Tickets go on sale to the general public today (Monday, February 19), and you know this will sell out fast.  For more details and advance ticket sales, visit The Hollywood Theatre website.

April, 2018
Sunday, April 1

No, it ain't the Easter Bunny heading to the McMenamins Mission Theater and Pub (1624 NW Glisan in Portland, OR) this weekend.  The cult classic Donnie Darko, featuring the monstrous-bunny suited "Frank," will be showing through Tuesday, April 3.  For additional details, including showtimes and advance ticket sales, visit the Mission Theater website.