This article was originally published in print in The Easy Reader
The city of Hermosa Beach is proud to bring back its Summer Movie Series, screening a series of films every Saturday throughout the month of August right on the beach under the summer night’s sky.
Presented by Subaru Pacific and produced by Saint Rocke, the movies are screened just south of the pier and are free to attend for people of all ages. Each film has a 6 p.m. start and a 7:30 p.m. screening start, so bring your picnic basket and blankets and sink your beach chairs into the sand for a fantastic selection of films.
The Karate Kid – August 5
The classic coming-of-age kung-fu movie The Karate Kid is the first film to kick the summer series off. This 1984 classic is the story of a bullied teenager, Daniel (Ralph Maccio), and the martial arts master, Mr. Miyagi (Pat Morita), who agrees to teach him the art of karate. With such unforgettable movie moments such as Miyagi’s curiously mystical training methods — making Daniel paint fences and wax cars (“on” and “off ”) — the film continues to be discovered by new generations and remains beloved. Need proof the movie’s a classic? The late Morita earned a nomination for Best Actor in a Supporting Role as the wise sensei Miyagi and the movie has spun two sequels and a major studio remake of the same name in 2010 starring Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan. (Rated PG. 126 min.)
Moana– August 12
What better movie to watch at the beach with the kids than an animated movie about the beach whose title, in Hawaiian, means “ocean”? Released last year, Disney’s Moana is the story of a young Polynesian sea voyager named Moana (Auli’I Cravalho) who, when she learns that her island has been cursed by the demigod Maui (Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson), sets off on an epic journey across the Pacific to re-capture the heart of the goddess Te Fiti with the hopes of saving her island. Drawing on ancient Polynesian and Maori mythology, Moana is sure to delight and amaze people of all ages with its incredible hybrid-animation (while the film is computer animated, all of Maui’s tattoos are hand-drawn!) as well as original music (written by “Hamilton” creator and star Lin-Manuel Miranda). (Rated PG. 107 min.)
Ferris Bueller’s Day Off – August 19
The ultimate slacker film about the perfect day of hooky will make you feel like a fun-times loving high schooler all over again. Starring Matthew Broderick as Ferris, the movie has become a classic tale of light-hearted teenage rebellion and coming-of-age since it first came out in 1986. Written and directed by the legendary John Hughes (The Breakfast Club), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off captures one cleverly-devised day when Ferris plans the ultimate sick day, getting his girlfriend Sloane (Mia Sara) and best friend Cameron (Alan Ruck) to join him for a day out-on-the-town in Cam’s father’s prized Ferrari — much to the irritation of sister Jeanie (Jennifer Grey) and Principal Rooney (Jeffrey Jones). So SAVE FERRIS and relive the movie that will make you remember that “life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in awhile, you could miss it.” (Rated PG. 103 min.)
La La Land – August 26
Wrapping up the summer movie series is a film so near and dear to the city of Hermosa that you – quite literally – won’t even have to turn your head to see the pier when it pops up onscreen mid-way through the movie. The movie is La La Land, the dazzling modern-musical and love letter to big studio movies of yesteryear. La La Land tells the story of two artists who struggle to follow their dreams while falling in love, all while soft-shoeing across iconic landmarks the “city of stars” – Los Angeles. Come watch Ryan Gosling and Emma Stone (in a performance that landed Stone last year’s Best Actress Oscar) evoke the very best of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers as they ballroom-dance across the Griffith Observatory night sky and hammer out jazz tunes at Hermosa’s legendary Lighthouse Café. (Rated PG. 128 min.)
