Weekend Activities: Live This No. 5

This weekend is all about movies! Whether you’re a cinema fan or not, there’s no denying that once in a blue moon it’s worth it to watch a movie. While most people think of movies as a form of entertainment, there's much more to them. Films can reflect culture, inspire people to change themselves and others and convey powerful ideas and experiences. A pungent form of art, as surrealist filmmaker Luis Buñuel once put it, “cinema is a marvelous and dangerous weapon. The finest instrument there is for expressing the world of dreams, of the emotions, of instinct.” So, in honor of filmmaker Danny Boyle ("Trainspotting," "Slumdog Millionaire"), and the oh so talented Kim Kardashian’s birthdays this weekend, let’s go out and watch movies.Speaking of surrealist Buñuel, go to the Los Angeles County Museum of Art’s (LACMA) Bing Theater (5905 Wilshire Boulevard) on Friday to watch hilarious surreal cartoons from the 1930s - 1950s. The crazy story lines and lack of logic will expand your imagination, which is probably a little rusty from all that schoolwork. Tickets are $7 if you bring your school ID, and the event starts at 7:30 p.m.If you’re already in that spooky Halloween vein, I know the perfect movies! Go to the Egyptian Theater (6712 Hollywood Boulevard) at 7:30 p.m. for an all-night mummython! They will be screening four mummy films from the 40’s: “The Mummy’s Hand,” “The Mummy’s Tomb,” “The Mummy’s Ghost” and “The Mummy’s Curse.” Prepare to laugh at the outdated “special effects” and dramatic interpretations that used to scare our grandparents in their youth. You can also go to the Silent Movie Theater/Cinefamily (611 N Fairfax Avenue) at 7:30 p.m. to watch the brand-new high definition (HD) restoration of the timeless horror movie “The Devil Rides Out,” (1968) about Satan and all that jazz. But, if black and white intimidates you or perhaps you get scared really easily, no worries! Get in an eccentric, cute and slightly awkward mood, and go to the Santa Monica Pier at 7:30 p.m. for a free screening of “500 Days of Summer” starring the quirky Zooey Deschanel, and dreamy Joseph Gordon-Levitt.Saturday, there are more horror movies waiting for you! At 4:45 p.m. go to the Silent Movie Theater/Cinefamily (611 N Fairfax Avenue) and watch two disturbing horror movies, “The Raven” (1935) and “House of Horrors” (1946). “The Raven” was inspired by the renowned poem by Edgar Allan Poe, while “House of Horrors” is your typical low budget horror film full of women shrieking at everything. However, if you want to see a true horror movie classic, go to the Aero Theater (1328 Montana Avenue) at 7:30 p.m. and watch Alfred Hitchcock’s “Psycho” and then at 9:30 p.m. the typical 80’s thriller “Dressed to Kill.” Sometimes, setting can make an experience 10 times more memorable, and what better place to watch a horror movie than an actual cemetery? Hollywood Forever Cemetery (6000 Santa Monica Blvd.) is screening “Dawn of the Dead” (1978) at 7:00 p.m. (the gate opens at 5:30 p.m.) for $12. Watch zombies eat human flesh while you're surrounded by tombstones! Now that I’ve mentioned quite a few landmark movies, you may have a sparked interest in actually learning about cinema history. If so, at 5 p.m. go to LACMA’s Bing Theater (5905 Wilshire Boulevard) for a free program that covers the history of experimental/surrealist cinema from the early 1960’s to modern day.Sunday, end the weekend with a gruesome, nasty, horror movie! At midnight, go to the Silent Movie Theater/Cinefamily and watch the legendary Italian filmmaker Joe D’Amato’s movie “Anthropophagus” (1980). Fair warning: this movie is actually very scary and if you’re not a huge fan of blood, then I don’t suggest you watch this. Also, remember that this is a school night. With that in mind, consider instead watching “Less Than Zero” at the Aero Theater (1328 Montana Avenue) at 7:30 p.m. The movie stars a young Robert Downey Jr. and is about life in the 90’s and the struggles teenagers face after graduating.Whatever it is you do this weekend, explore and discover an art form you aren’t extremely familiar with and learn something from it!For more info on these events, click the links below:http://www.lacma.org/event/animating-subconscioushttp://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/mummythonhttp://www.cinefamily.org/films/special-events-october-2012/#the-devil-rides-out-brand-new-hd-restorationhttp://santamonicapier.org/frontporchcinema/http://www.cinefamily.org/films/universal-horror-b-sides/#the-raven-house-of-horrorshttp://www.americancinemathequecalendar.com/content/psycho-dressed-to-killhttp://www.cinespia.org/calendarhttp://www.lacma.org/event/collage-motionhttp://www.cinefamily.org/films/nightmare-city-a-video-nasties-celebration/#anthrophophagusmazcarate@thesamohi.com