Our brand new digital streaming service, hoopla, is full of music, TV shows, comics, and movies for all Alachua County residents. You may have already checked out what hoopla has to offer, or maybe you're just hearing about it--but regardless, it never hurts to get some recommendations for your next movie night, right?
So, without further ado, here are some of our favorite movies that can be found on hoopla. The MPAA rating will be mentioned for each film, but if you're looking to have a movie night with younger viewers, we always recommend reviewing films to see if they're appropriate for your family. We'll also include links to anything we have on DVD, as well, in case you've run out of your 10 hoopla checkouts and just can't wait.
The Villainess, 2017, not rated, dir. Byung-gil Jung (DVD)
This Korean action film became an instant action classic upon release. Stylishly hyper-violent, The Villainess follows Sook-hee, a trained assassin caught in a tangled web of lies, loyalties, and dangerous, deadly truths. Told non-chronologically, this movie will keep you guessing, as well as gasping at the incredible fight sequences.
Spaceballs, 1987, rated PG, dir. Mel Brooks (DVD)
If you're not familiar with the satire of Mel Brooks, a great entry point is this parody of Star Wars, which many consider an absolute classic. We'd give one caveat for family movie night: this film was rated PG before PG-13 existed, so it has more mature themes than a modern PG movie.
Pokémon: The First Movie, 1999, rated G, dir. Kunihiko Yuyama (DVD)
Full honesty: we still choke up at this movie. If you need adventure, comfort, and pocket monsters, why not try the original classic film?
The Librarian: The Quest for the Spear, 2005, not rated, dir. Peter Winther (DVD)
All libraries are magical--but for some, that's more literal than others. Flynn Carson learns this when he shows up for an interview with the New York Public Library only to discover he's been chosen as The Librarian, a mystical position tasked with keeping the world safe from harm by recovering dangerous magical artifacts. This adventurous TV movie spawned two sequels and a television series, all of which are available on hoopla as well as on DVD.
Bubba Ho-Tep, 2003, rated R, dir. Don Coscarelli (DVD)
How do you feel about bizarre horror comedy? Elvis Presley, as played by Bruce Campbell, is in a nursing home, the only person who knows he's the real, actual-factual, not-dead Elvis Presley. And that's just the prelude to a surreal horror story about an ancient Egyptian evil, set to endanger the staff and the residents of Elvis' care home. He'll have to overcome his aging body, and his own sense of defeat, to avoid dying for real this time. For those who love horror comedy, we also recommend Anna and the Apocalypse, a British horror musical about a Christmastime zombie apocalypse.
The Lobster, 2016, rated R, dir. Yorgos Lanthimos (DVD)
Set in a bizarre alternate world, a recently divorced man needs to find a new wife within 45 days, or else be transformed into a lobster. Comedic, surreal, and distinctly unusual, this movie isn't for everyone. But if you think you're interested, it makes for a rewarding watching experience.
The Adventures of Buckaroo Banzai Across the Eighth Dimension, rated 1984, dir. Earl Mac Rauch (DVD)
We can't beat hoopla's own description of this movie: "Buckaroo Banzai is a rock-star/brain-surgeon/comic-book-hero/samurai who along with his group, the Hong Kong Cavaliers, must stop evil creatures from the 8th dimension (all named John) who are trying to conquer our dimension. He is helped by Penny Pretty, who is a dead ringer for his ex-wife, and some good extra-dimensional beings who look and talk like Jamaicans."
The Lost City of Z, 2017, rated PG-13, dir. James Gray (DVD)
Based on David Grann's nonfiction book The lost city of Z : a tale of deadly obsession in the Amazon, this film stars Charlie Hunnam as Percy Fawcett, a British explorer who was obsessed with finding evidence of an advanced, previously undiscovered civilization in the heart of the Amazon. In conflict with a racist scientific community, his family, and his own conviction in the face of failure, this movie tells the story of what makes and breaks a man determined to uncover the lost and forgotten. This film might just whet your appetite for the upcoming Martin Scorsese movie Killers of the Flower Moon, based on David Grann's nonfiction title of the same name.
Ip Man, 2008, rated R, dir. Bak-Ming Wong (DVD)
During the fading days of Imperial China and the Sino-Japanese War, Ip Man, a master of Wing Chun martial arts, has to struggle to save his family, and his dignity, in the face of brutal opposition. This film became an instant martial arts classic the moment it was released, spawning four different sequels. In real life, Ip Man was Bruce Lee's first martial arts instructor. This franchise is only loosely "based on a true story," but we can forgive the inaccuracies when a franchise is this much fun to enjoy. All five of the Ip Man films in this series are on hoopla, as well as a number of other films by the franchise's action superstar, Donnie Yen.
What We Do in the Shadows, 2015, rated R, dir. Jemaine Clement and Taika Waititi (DVD)
Roommates are rough, but even rougher? Having roommates for centuries. Viago, Deacon and Vladislav are vampires and roommates. Told in a documentary style, this unique comedy follows the vampires as they attempt to enjoy their eternal un-life. If you enjoy the movie, you can also check out the acclaimed TV show, which follows another group of vampire roommates; we have the first two seasons on DVD at the library.
Hamlet, 1996, rated PG-13, dir. Kenneth Branagh (DVD)
Lush, emotional, and four actual hours long, Kenneth Branagh's Hamlet is a completely faithful film adaptation of William Shakespeare's famous play, with Branagh in the starring role. With an absolutely star-studded cast, Hamlet is a real event of a film. In addition, hoopla has 1980's Hamlet Prince of Denmark, with Derek Jacobi in the title role; 2000's Hamlet, starring Ethan Hawke as the heir to a megacorporation; and several other Hamlet adaptations.
Phantasm, 1978, rated R, dir. Don Coscarelli (DVD)
Self-produced and directed on a tiny budget, this surreal horror movie has gone on to influence some of the biggest modern day directors. This version of the movie was restored in 2016 by J.J Abrams, one of many of its fans. It all starts at the graveyard, where something seems--off--about the undertaker. What follows is a creepy, horrifying tale that crosses dimensions.