'May the Fourth be with you' this weekend at the Fox
Classic science fiction will be shown at the Fox Theater Thursday through Sunday to commemorate May 4, an unofficial holiday for science fiction fans. “May the Fourth be with you” is a play on the famous line of the Star Wars movies, “May the Force be with you.”
The celebration kicks off on Thursday with "War of The Worlds." In the 1953 film adaptation of H.G. Wells' classic sci-fi novel, scientist Clayton Forrester (Gene Barry) investigates a meteorite crash in California, only to witness the emergence of deadly Martian war machines. These unstoppable alien weapons wreak havoc, leaving Forrester and Sylvia Van Buren (Ann Robinson) to find a way to combat the invaders before humanity is annihilated.
The 1953 movie is considered the best adaptation of Wells' book, superior to the Orson Welles' (no relation) 1938 radio play and the 2005 Steven Spielberg film starring Tom Cruise.
"Star Wars: Episode IV - A New Hope" will screen on Friday. The 1977 movie stars Mark Hamill as desert planet farmboy Luke Skywalker, who joins smuggler Han Solo (Harrison Ford) and a pair of droids, C-3PO (Anthony Daniels) and R2-D2 (Kenny Baker), to rescue Princess Leia (Carrie Fisher) from the evil Galactic Empire. Their mission puts them in the crosshairs of the Sith Lord Darth Vader (David Prowse, voiced by James Earl Jones) and leads them to a climactic battle against the Empire's world-destroying space station, the Death Star.
The movie generated three prequels, five sequels, two standalone movies, and several popular animated and live-action TV series.
Saturday's show, 1980’s "Star Wars: Episode V - The Empire Strikes Back," finds the rebels on the run from the powerful Darth Vader. Luke Skywalker seeks training from the enigmatic Jedi master Yoda. Meanwhile, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca face their own perils in Cloud City, run by the untrustworthy Lando Calrissian (Billy Dee Williams), their escape complicated by a growing romance and the looming threat of Vader. This darker chapter raises the stakes for the rebellion and leaves Luke with a shocking revelation about his parentage.
The final movie of the original trilogy, "Star Wars: Episode VI - Return of the Jedi," released in 1983, takes the screen on Sunday. The Rebel Alliance goes on a desperate mission to destroy the Empire's even more powerful second Death Star. Luke Skywalker, now a Jedi Knight, wrestles with the dark side as he attempts to redeem his father from the Emperor's grip. Meanwhile, the Rebels launch a daring ground assault on the forest moon of Endor to cripple the Death Star's defenses, leading to a final, epic confrontation that will determine the fate of the galaxy.
The Thursday through Saturday shows begin at 7 p.m. and the Sunday's start time is 2 p.m. Doors open 30 minutes before showtime. Admission is $5. Fox Film passes are available for $45, include 10 movie admissions to any of the Fox classic and weekend films and 5 free small popcorns. For more information, check the Fox Theater website.