She Likes to Watch

"The Princess and the Frog" puts a new twist on a familiar fairytale.

Fairytales come true in Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog”

Here’s your last chance to see family-friendly films under the stars.

Templeton’s free summer screening series concludes Friday with Disney’s “The Princess and the Frog.”

A new twist on a familiar story, the animated film follows Tiana (Anika Noni Rose, “Dreamgirls”), a hard-working girl in 1920s New Orleans who dreams of opening her own restaurant. Her lucky break comes when she’s asked to cater a soiree for the handsome, arrogant Prince Naveen (Bruno Campos, “Royal Pains“).

Too bad the evil Dr. Facilier (Keith David) has already turned the prince into a frog. When unsuspecting Tiana smooches the royal amphibian, she gets turned into a frog too.

Together with their new friends — trumpet-playing alligator Louis and Cajun firefly Ray and blind sorceress Mama Odie (Jenifer Lewis, “Meet the Browns”) — Tiana and Naveen must reach and break the curse and become human once more.

Watch “The Princess and the Frog” Friday night at Evers Sports Park, located at the end of Gibson Road in Templeton.

Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at dusk. Snacks and drinks are available starting at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, call the Templeton Community Services District at 434-4900.

The fun continues Saturday with a free screening of “October Sky” in Atascadero.

Inspired by Sputnik’s launch in 1957, coal miner’s son Homer Hickam (Jake Gyllenhaal) and his friends begin building rockets. Homer’s father (Chris Cooper) thinks he’s wasting his time, but his high school teacher  (Laura Dern) supports Homer’s dreams of space exploration– encouraging him to shoot for the stars as he prepares for a national science compeition.

“October Sky” is based on the uplifting autobiographical novel “Rocket Boys: A Memoir,” by best-selling author, Vietnam veteran and former NASA engineer Homer Hadley Hickram, Jr.

“October Sky” screens at 8:15 p.m. Saturday at Sunken Gardens Park, 6500 Palma Ave. in Atascadero. The movie is free but concessions are available for purchase.

Seating is on the lawn, so bring blankets and low-backed chairs.

For more information, call 461-5000 or visit the City of Atascadero online.

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Calling all Angophiles!

On Saturday, Vina Robles Winery salutes Great Britain and the Swinging ’60s with a night of food, wine and music.

Doors open at 5:30 p.m. at the winery’s Hospitality Center, 3700 Mill Road in Paso Robles.

A car show featuring British automobiles and vintage motorcycles begins at 6 p.m.

Then, at 7 p.m., local favorites Unfinished Business take the stage playing hits by The Beatles and The Rolling Stones. You can compare their performance with footage of John, Paul, George and Ringo rocking out on “The Ed Sullivan Show.”

Eventgoers are encouraged to wear their grooviest ’60s duds to the event, which is a benefit for Big Brothers Big Sisters of San Luis Obispo.

Tickets are $25 a person, or $20 for wine club owners. Wine and fish-and-chips dinners are available for purchase.

For more information, call 227-4812 or visit Vina Robles online.

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A family journeys to Mongolia to help an autistic son in the documentary “The Horse Boy,” screening Saturday in Templeton.

When their 2-year-old son, Rowan, is diagnosed with autism,  journalist Rupert Isaacson and his wife, psychology professor Kristin Neff, set out in search of answer.

Traditional therapies have little effect, and Rowan’s condition worsens. Then Rupert discovers that Rowan has a profound affinity for animals — particularly horses.

In the summer of 2007, the family undertakes an amazing trip to Mongolia, journeying on horseback across the steppe into the forests of Siberia as they visit healers and holy men.

Based on the book “The Horse Boy: A Father’s Journey to Heal His Son” and directed by Michael O. Scott, this documentary is a moving, enlightening look at the autism epidemic.

Watch “The Horse Boy” at 7 p.m. Sunday at Dancing Deer Farm, 2975 Vineyard Drive in Templeton. A potluck precedes the screening at 5 p.m., and there’s an opportunity for discussion afteward.

Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) and Lightning McQueen (Owen Wilson) cruise in "Cars."

“Cars,” “Singin’ in the Rain” among this week’s movie offerings

Meet the photographer who captured Southern California’s architectural beauty on film in “Visual Acoustics: The Modernism of Julius Shulman.”

Directed by Eric Bricker and narrated by Dustin Hoffman,  the documentary explores the life and career of Julius Shulman, the architectural photographer whose images brought s0me of the 20th century’s most iconic buildings to the American mainstream.

He captured the work of nearly every modern and progressive architect since the 1930s including Frank Lloyd Wright, John Lautner and Frank Gehry.

See “”Visual Acoustics” at 7 p.m. tonight at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (formerly the San Luis Obispo Art Center), 1010 Broad St. in San Luis Obispo.

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Pixar meets NASCAR in the computer animated movie “Cars,” screening Friday in Templeton.

Hotshot race car Lightning McQueen (voiced by Owen Wilson) is on his way to the Piston Cup when he’s forced to take a detour in sleepy Radiator Springs.

Lightning makes a fuss at first, but his new friends — including cute sports car Sally (Bonnie), rusty tow truck Mater (Larry the Cable Guy) and the mysterious Doc Hudson (Paul Newman) — soon teach him a valuable lesson about respect and friendship.

Watch “Cars” Friday night at Evers Sports Park, located at the end of Gibson Road in Templeton.

Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at dusk. Snacks and drinks are available starting at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, call the Templeton Community Services District at 434-4900.

The summer screening series continues Aug. 27 with “The Princess and the Frog.”

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Do you love to dance? You won’t want to miss “B-Girl,” screening Friday and Saturday in Paso Robles.

Real-life breakdancer Jules “Lady Jules” Urich (“Step Up 2: The Streets,” “You Got Served”) stars as a brilliant young female dancer who finds her inner strength through breaking. The cast includes several of the dance world’s brightest stars.

Local audiences have two chances to see “B-Girl.”

The film will be screened at 8 p.m. Friday at the Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation, 3201 Spring St. in Paso Robles. The event kicks off at 6 p.m. with a free dance party.

Writer-director Emily Dell and producer Elizabeth Dell will answer questions from the audience following the film.

Tickets are $10 and include pizza, ice cream, soda and more. Call 238-5825 for more information.

“B-Girl” also screens at 7 p.m. Saturday at Dubost Ranch Winery, 9988 Chimney Rock Road in Paso Robles.

Tickets, which include dinner, wine tasting and a question-and-answer session with the filmmakers, cost $25. To purchase, call 226-8463.

Both events benefit the Paso Robles Youth Arts Foundation.

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You’ll sing out loud at Saturday’s free screening of “Singin’ in the Rain.”

Song-and-dance sensation Gene Kelly stars as Don Lockwood, a stuntman-turned-matinee idol who must make the transition from silent films to talkies.

Don has the perfect voice for the movies, but his glamorous co-star Lina Lamont (Jean Hagen) sounds terrible. Then Don and his happy-go-lucky partner Cosmo (Golden Globe winner Donald O’Connor) stumble upon aspiring actress Kathy Selden (Debbie Reynolds) and decide to dub her voice over Lina’s.

One of the greatest musicals ever made, “Singin’ in the Rain” pairs a sweet romance and light-hearted comedy with memorable tunes from Hollywood’s golden years. The film’s most famous moment — when an elated Don steps into the street in the middle of a downpour — is pure movie magic.

“Singin’ in the Rain” screens at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Theatre at the Old Grammar School, 1350 Main St. in Cambria.

For more information, call 927-8190 or visit the Allied Arts Association of Cambria online.

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“Cars” image courtesy of MovieWeb.com.

Sean Connery returns as suave secret agent James Bond in "Goldfinger."

See Sean Connery at his most suave in “Goldfinger”

JAMES BOND: Do you expect me to talk?

AURIC GOLDFINGER: No, Mr. Bond. I expect you to die!

– Sean Connery and Gert Frobe in “Goldfinger”

Who could be cooler than the original James Bond, Sean Connery.

Connery made his debut as the British secret agent in 1962 in “Dr. No.” Two years later, he returned in the glorious, glamorous  “Goldfinger.”

When the British government suspects that international gold magnate Auric Goldfinger (Gert Frobe) is stockpiling the precious metal, Agent 007 is sent to investigate. He uncovers a sinister plot to raid Fort Knox and obliterate the world economy.

Bond must cross paths with golden girl Jill Masterson (Shirley Eaton), hat-throwing bodyguard Oddjob (Harold Sakata) and sexy pilot Pussy Galore (Honor Blackman) to stop the crime of the century.

Parodied in the far inferior “Austin Powers in Goldmember,” “Goldfinger” has all of the hallmarks of a classic Bond film: high-stakes action, globe-trotting adventure, pithy one-liners and beautiful girls with sexually suggestive names. This daring ’60s flick would set the standard for Bond films for decades to come.

Watch “Goldfinger” at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Fremont theater, 1025 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo. Come a half-hour early for trivia and prizes.

Tickets are $7.50.

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Get ready to giggle Wednesday at yet another screening of the documentary “Laughology.”

“Laughology” follows Canadian filmmaker Albert Nerenberg’s quest to rediscover his own laugh. He encounters neuroscientists, cardiologists,  Christian holy laughter groups and yoga gurus — ultimately finding the man with the world’s most contagious laugh.

As usual, the 65-minute film will be followed by a laughter yoga session with instructor Bob Banner, publisher of HopeDance and Edible San Luis Obispo magazines.

The event starts at 7 p.m. Wednesday at Sustenance Cooking Studio, 2033 Santa Barbara St. in San Luis Obispo. A $10 donation is suggested.

Can’t make it to Wednesday’s screening?

You can also catch a screening of “Laughology,” followed by a laughter yoga session, at 7 p.m. Friday at the Steynberg Gallery, 1531 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo. Bring a $10 donation.

“Laughology” repeats Aug. 20 at Central Coast Yoga in Arroyo Grande and Aug. 21 at Tierra Nueva Cohousing in Oceano.

For more information,call 1-805-762-4848 or visit HopeDance magazine online.

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Meet everybody’s favorite ogre in the animated tale “Shrek.”

When his favorite swamp is swamped by fairytale creatures exiled by evil Lord Farquaad (John Lithgow), Shrek (Mike Myers) and his  talkative sidekick Donkey (Eddie Murphy) must journey to rescue Princess Fiona (Cameron Diaz). The ugly green ogre starts developing feelings for the pretty princess, who has a secret of her own.

Watch “Shrek” Friday night at Evers Sports Park, located at the end of Gibson Road in Templeton.

Gates open at 6:30 p.m. and the show begins at dusk. Snacks and drinks are available starting at 6:30 p.m.

For more information, call the Templeton Community Services District at 434-4900.

The summer screening series continues Aug. 20 with “Cars,” followed by “The Princess and the Frog” on Aug. 27.

Tonight’s screenings include the classic Western “Stagecoach”

A son documents his father’s obsession with glass, title and concrete in the documentary “In a Dream,” screening tonight at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art.

Directed by Jeremiah Zagar, the 2008 film focuses on artist Isaiah Zagar, who has covered more than 50,000 square feet of Philadelphia with stunning mosaic murals in the past four decades.

“In a Dream” delves deep into  Zagar’s work, his extraordinary imagination and his tumultuous relationship with his wife.

Watch “In a Dream” at 7 p.m. tonight at the San Luis Obispo Museum of Art (formerly the San Luis Obispo Art Center), 1010 Broad St. in San Luis Obispo.

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Also tonight, the Paso Robles Digital Film Festival presents a screening of 1939’s “Stagecoach.”

Directed by John Ford, this classic Western centers on a stagecoach that sets out for Lordsburg, New Mexico, with a diverse set of passengers on board.

They include Dallas (Claire Trevor), a woman with a scandalous past; Lucy Mallory (Louise Platt), the wife of a cavalry officer; Hatfield (John Carradine), a smooth-talking cardsharp; Dr. Boone (Thomas Mitchell), a drunkard, physician and philosopher. Also along for the trip are whiskey salesman Mr. Peacock (Donald Meek), crooked banker Gatewood (Berton Churchill), stage driver Buck (Andy Devine) and Sheriff Wilcox (George Bancroft), who’s out to capture a recently escaped outlaw known as the Ringo Kid (John Wayne).

However, the Ringo Kid is the least of the travelers’ worries. The real danger lies farther down the trail, where Geronimo and his Apaches  could attack at any time.

Considered one of the most influential films of its genre, “Stagecoach” won two Academy Awards and established John Wayne as a Western movie star.

Tonight’s event features a screening of the film, a prime rib dinner, live country-western music and an auction featuring original scripts and other movie memorabilia.  Benford Standley, founder of the Paso Robles Digital Film Festival, will share his personal memories of John Ford and some film festival news.

The fun starts at 6 p.m. tonight at Last Stage West, 15050 Morro Rd. in Atascadero. Tickets are $20.

For more information, call 461-1393.

Tonight, see the classic “Creature From the Black Lagoon” in 3D

The terrifying Gill-man menaces a bathing beauty in "Creature From the Black Lagoon."

It’s a good time to be a movie monster.

Vampires dominate the pop culture scene, from the “Twilight” series to “True Blood” to “The Vampire Diaries.” Werewolves are the subject of “The Wolfman” and “Underworld: Rise of the Lycans,” and there’s an entire trilogy — ending in “The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor” – dedicated to those dusty, desiccated corpses.

But what about the creepy, scaly monster known as the “Creature From the Black Lagoon”?

Directed by Jack Arnold (“The Incredible Shrinking Man,” “It Came From Outer Space”), 1954’s “Creature From the Black Lagoon” follows a scientific expedition searching for rare fossils along the Amazon River.

That’s when Dr. David Reed (Richard Carlson) and his colleagues encounter the find of a lifetime, the mysterious  Gill-man.  They capture the amphibious creature, but it escapes and kidnaps Reed’s beautiful fiance, Kay  (Julia Adam).

Considered a classic “creature feature” from Universal Pictures’ glory days,  “Creature From the Black Lagoon” features great 3D imagery and some amazing underwater stunts by Ricou Browning. (Ben Chapman plays the monster on land.)

The film has inspired two sequels (“Revenge of the Creature” and “The Creature Walks Among Us”) , and a musical. A 2011 remake, helmed by Carl Rinsch, is currently in the works.

Watch “Creature From the Black Lagoon” at 7:30 p.m. tonight at the Fremont movie theater, 1025 Monterey St. in San Luis Obispo. Tickets are $7.50.

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Get ready to chuckle, giggle and guffaw when you watch “Laughology” on Thursday.

In the 2009 documentary, filmmaker Albert Nerenberg (“Escape to Canada,” “Let’s All Hate Toronto”) sets out on a quest to rediscover his own laugh. Along the way, he encounters neuroscientists, cardiologists,  Christian holy laughter groups and yoga gurus — ultimately finding the man with the world’s most contagious laugh.

The 65-minute film is followed by a laughter yoga session with instructor Bob Banner, publisher of HopeDance and Edible San Luis Obispo magazines.

The event takes place at 7 p.m. Thursday at the San Luis Obispo public library, 995 Palm St. in San Luis Obispo. A donation of $10 is suggested.

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The San Luis Obispo library’s “Neo-Noir” screening series continues Saturday with “Brick.”

Written and directed by Rian Johnson (“The Brothers Bloom”), “Brick” transports a classic film noir plot — a wounded anti-hero struggling to solve a murder while dealing with a criminal kingpin and a femme fatale — from the mean streets of a bustling metropolis to a California high school.

Troubled loner Brendan (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) has become an anti-social wreck after breaking up with his girlfriend, Emily (“Lost” star Emilie de Ravin).

When Em vanishes, he sets out on a dangerous investigation that will bring him in contact with sophisticated rich girl Laura (Nora Zehetner), thug Tugger (Noah Fleiss), druggie Dode (Noah Segan) and the mysterious figure known as The Pin (Lukas Haas).

A smart, edy mystery with one hell of a final twist, “Brick” puts a fresh spin on film noir’s crackling dialogue, hard-boiled characters  and twisted plotlines.

Watch a free screening of “Brick” at 2 p.m. Saturday at the library.

The “Neo-Noir” screening series continues July 24 with “Blood Simple” and July 31 with “Pulp Fiction.”

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Also on Saturday,  audiences can catch a free screening of James Cameron’s science-fiction epic “Avatar.”

Paraplegic soldier Jake Sully (Sam Worthington) arrives on Pandora, a lush, forested planet populated by a race of towering, blue-skinned aliens known as the Na’vi. His mission is infiltrate the alien race and discover a way to access Pandora’s most previous resource.

But as  the Na’vi way becomes second nature, Jake finds himself increasingly torn between his human identity and his adopted tribe, including the beautiful Neytiri (Zoe Saldana).

“Avatar” won three Oscars for its stunning art direction, cinematography and visual effects.

Watch “Avatar” at 3 p.m. Saturday at the Theatre at the Old Grammar School, 1350 Main St. in Cambria.

For more information, call 927-8190 or visit the Allied Arts Association of Cambria online.