kelly watch the stars

watching a movie is an activity generally better enjoyed with minimum disruption. Noisy teenagers, chirping cell-phones and pop-corn munching are some of the reasons why more and more people are turning away from cinemas, opting instead to stay home and make it a DVD night. But watching a movie outdoors overrides all these claims, and is one setting where the magic of film resounds most clearly. London might not have as many options as Paris in this department, but there are still a few events held in the summer for outdoor screening enthusiasts. New venue The Scoop has free screenings throughout the season, and various festivals throughout the London area offer such showings. Then there is the Film4 Summer Screen, held in the prestigious Somerset House location near The Strand from Aug 2-11. Boasting a mostly mainstream yet eclectic program, the series of screenings is sort of the posh cousin of these events, what with tickets costing £12.5 and the afore-mentioned venue. But it should be good fun, with the always-intriguing possibility to drink up some champy (or Pim's for a truly ritzy experience) while catching an old -or new- favorite. Tickets are mostly sold out, but a small allotment will apparently be available on the day of the showing at the Somerset House box office.
The lineup consists of the following:

• Thursday 2 August: Knocked Up
  
• Friday 3 August : The Descent / The Thing
  
• Saturday 4 August: The Good, the Bad and the Ugly
  
• Sunday 5 August: Rushmore
  
• Monday 6 August: Rear Window
  
• Tuesday 7 August: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
  
• Wednesday 8 August: Walk the Line
  
• Thursday 9 August: Chak de India
  
• Friday 10 August: Hot Fuzz / Point Break
  
• Saturday 11 August: 2001: A Space Odyssey
  

Personnally I would've loved to go see either Point Break ("that's Johnny Utah, man"), or my favorite movie I can't explain, 2001. But since I won't be in London that weekend, I will be attending the showing of The Good, The Bad and the Ugly with a friend, which isn't too shabby a pick either. I had a terrific time watching Charade at the Trocadero in Paris two years ago, I'm glad I can do the same sort of thing here too, even if it does come with a London-sized price tag.