She Likes to Watch

This week’s films include “Amazing Grace” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”

High-flying adventure hits the Central Coast this week with two documentaries and a martial arts epic.

Enjoy some “Good Food” tonight with a documentary about creative farmers, gardeners and cattle ranchers in the Pacific Northwest.

The movie screening is sponsored by HopeDance Magazine.

Directed and written by Mark Dworkin and Melissa Young,”Good Food” looks at the sustainable organic farming movement, which encourages healthier food grown with less energy, water and land than industrial “factory farms.”

The event kicks off at 5:30 p.m. with a potluck featuring locally produced foods. There’s also a talk with Jim Cole, a member of the Transition SLO Steering Group.

HopeDance will screen the movie at 7 p.m. at the San Luis Obispo City-County Library, 995 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. A $5 donation is suggested.

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Love, revenge and the search for a magical jade sword drive the martial arts epic “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon,” screening Wednesday in San Luis Obispo.

When a masked thief steals the sword known as the Green Destiny, it’s up to martial arts warriors Li (Chow Yun Fat) and Yu (Michelle Yeoh) to recover it, discover the identity of the mysterious warrior and avenge Li’s murdered master.

Their quest is complicated by feelings of long-buried love. As Li and Yu struggle with their feelings for each other, another love affair is blooming between Jen (Zhang Ziyi), a beautiful girl with hidden talents, and the desert bandit Lo (Chang Chen).

Directed by Ang Lee, “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” won an Academy Award for best foreign film and introduced many American filmgoers to wuxia, majestic martial arts epics with sweeping scenery, elaborate costumes and historical settings.

In the film, characters skim across water, dance up walls and battle in bamboo groves. They also engage in some of the most stunning action sequences seen on film.

Only a handful of films — “Hero” and “House of Flying Daggers” among them — can compare.

Catch “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon” at 7 p.m. and 9:30 p.m. at The Palm Theater, 817 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $7.50.

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Also on Wednesday, moviegoers can learn the inspiring true story behind the song “Amazing Grace.”

Ioan Gruffudd stars in “Amazing Grace” as William Wilberforce, the 19th-century abolitionist and statesman who battled to end the British transatlantic slave trade.

As Wilberforce finds a spouse who shares his conviction, he renews his fight for freedom with the support of Prime Minister William Pitt (Benedict Cumberbatch of “Atonement”), former slave Olaudah Equiano (Senegal singer Youssou N’Dour) and slave ship captain-turned-priest John Newton (Albert Finney), author of the hymn Amazing Grace.”

“Amazing Grace” will be screened at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Dancing Deer Ranch, 2975 Vineyard Drive in Templeton. A donation of $5 is encouraged.

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Thanks to LoveHKFilm.com for the image.