District Live brings back family movie nights this summer with Retro Rewind

It seems some of our favorite movies have lost their charm in the age of streaming. Sure, you can watch just about any movie at the push of a button and snacks are cheaper, but where’s the magic? Where’s the buttery aroma of warm popcorn? Where are the whispers of excitement as the previews start blaring and the lights go down?

These things feel like a rarity nowadays, but the Plant Riverside District’s upcoming Retro Rewind: Sunday Movies at District Live gives audiences a chance to rediscover the glee of moviegoing.

“The movies we picked fluctuate between time frames for a person who may have been growing up in the late '60s or '70s or an age group born in the 2000s,” Entertainment Director Scotty Henley said. “There was the reflection of trying to have as much variety and encompass as many individuals as possible, but at the same time give all those individuals enjoyment and maybe some recognition of those movie titles.”

To cover such a broad time period, the series, running from July 9 through September 3, features a different movie each week. For kids, recent favorites such as “Frozen” and “The Incredibles 2” offer a glimpse of the modern world. For kids at heart, classics such as “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” and “Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory” remind us of a different world. In both cases, the films offer a break from both the summer heat and the hectic pace of life.

“I hope people come here and, if they've got a trouble, they get a couple hours of peace where they’re not thinking about that problem, and they get to enjoy, to lower their blood pressure and feel good about themselves,” Henley said.

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Watch a 'flick' and chill

While Plant Riverside District has offered outdoor movies in the past, Retro Rewind fully embraces the perks of an indoor venue, including air conditioning and a loaded snack bar (including alcohol for the 21-and-up crowd). The biggest perk, however, is the variety of seating options at the live entertainment venue. District Live will provide plastic outdoor lounge chairs and banquet chairs for Retro Rewind, but Henley invites visitors to bring pillows, blankets and sleeping bags to relax on the floor like you might at home. It’s a small freedom, but it’s the little things that add up to pure magic when it comes to the movie theater experience.

Those little things make each filmmaking process special, as well. Each film has its own nuances, from shifting character dynamics that change with social norms to special effects that improve with new technology. These changes are a result of risk-taking and creative innovation, and seeing them on the silver screen might inspire the next generation of film buffs.

“We would like to think that this will open kids’ minds to movies of earlier eras and styles. As they get older, maybe they will want to reach back in the back of the archives and pull out some older movies they may have heard someone talk about, then take a look at them and be enthused about it,” Henley said. “Who knows, they might become filmmakers themselves.”

Those big dreams aren’t just for kids, though. Retro Rewind offers a sort of escapism we’re all drawn to when we settle in with a bucket of popcorn and a theater box of our favorite candy. Whether it’s Elsa’s loyalty, E.T.’s determination or Willy Wonka’s pure imagination, that something keeps us coming back for more.

“I think individuals like to go see movies because there's a part of us that wishes we could be in that movie, that we could be that character and live through that character,” Henley said.“I think it's a nice escape to get away from the negative images, thoughts and words that are put in front of us.”

As the credits start to roll and the lights go up, we might even find that movie magic is never really lost. We just have to know where to find it.

If You Go >>

What: Retro Rewind: Sunday Movies at District Live

When: Sundays, July 9 through Sept. 3. Doors open at 3 p.m., and feature films will begin at 4 p.m.

Tickets: $5 per person, online or at the door

Info and Tickets: plantriverside.com/venues/retro-rewind-at-district-live

This article originally appeared on Savannah Morning News: ET Willy Wonka Retro Rewind Sunday Movies District Live Savannah Georgia