ID4orever!

When it comes to alien invasion movies, this one rests near the top for me, thanks to its mix of great special FX (which still holds up in my eyes), a winning cast with favorites like Will Smith, Robert Loggia, and Jeff Goldblum, and a tone that keeps the movie fun and exciting. The story is nothing new, but the execution of it, with it's tense build-up to the alien attack told through various characters and the subsequent large-scale destruction marks this movie a true successor to 50s invasion flicks like George Pal's classic The War of the Worlds and B-movie cousins like Earth Vs the Flying Saucers. I remember the ad campaign for this movie especially well, with each expertly edited teaser ratcheting up the tension with people reacting to the size of the flying ships and shots of it just breaking through the clouds, with the countdown to the fateful day and title of the movie.

The cast is another big selling point of this movie, starting with Jeff Goldblum at the peak of his quirky sci-fi hero powers as the cable-tv technician with the know-how (and ex-girlfriend in the White House) to save the day. Will Smith took to the action hero stage with this movie and he earns his place there with a funny and engaging performance as the fighter pilot who takes "close encounters" with an alien to a new level, with a right punch to the face. The movie is filled with other great character actors like Robert Loggia, Judd Hirsh, Margret Colin, and the unforgettable Brent Spiner as the Area 51 scientist who could have used a vacation and a comb prior to the alien invasion.

The ending is cheesy as hell, but director Roland Emmerich manages to walk the movie to its conclusion along a fine line of fun without sacrificing real tension. Only with Randy Quaid and his alien-probed crop duster pilot character does the movie seem in danger being cartoonish.

I have real fond memories of the movie. I was hyped up to run and get the toy alien action figures (with a PC game on a floppy disk!) and later buy the movie on VHS with its lenticular cover. Knowing that this movie is playing at the Blue Starlite has made my week! I can't wait to see it again on the big screen! Here's hoping the sequel next year lives up to the original.

Drafthouse Films Screening Nights Coming to THE BLUE STARLITE Drive-In MIAMI!

Drafthouse Films Screening Nights 

Coming to Drive-In Theater Near You

Blue Starlite and Drafthouse Films Partner for Special Ongoing Series
Mini Urban Theater becomes first drive-in to showcase the distribution company’s provocative, visionary and artfully unusual movies 

MIAMI, FL. ––This February, Blue Starlite Mini Urban Drive-in becomes the first drive-in theater in the world to feature movies from Drafthouse Films–the film distribution arm of the exciting and innovative Alamo Drafthouse Cinema chain–at both the Austin and Miami locations. Tim League, founder of Alamo Drafthouse helped to redefine “going to the movies”–from a mere trip to the cinema to an inviting experience through the theater’s one- of-a-kind programming and emphasis on quality entertainment. With a focus on bringing off-the-beaten-path movies to fans with an appreciation for great storytelling, the partnership is further reinventing how film aficionados enjoy the selections that Drafthouse Films specially chooses. 

“We’ve always thought of our drive-in as another platform to showcase independent films and I wanted to provide moviegoers with a new way to experience the carefully curated movies offered by Drafthouse Films. With Drafthouse Films Screening Nights, we’re blending Drafthouse Films’ distinct repertoire with the intimate feel that only our drive-in affords, to create a truly unique experience you won’t find anywhere else,” Frank remarked. 

Just as Drafthouse Films has forged a path by bringing to life artful and visionary movies that may have otherwise gone unnoticed, Blue Starlite has made a name for itself by specializing in indie flicks and cult classics, and reshaping the drive-in experience. Frank, taking cues and inspiration from the ever-supportive League, has crafted a number of eclectic series, but none quite like Drafthouse Films Screening Nights. 

“We’re excited to work with Blue Starlite on this special screening series to offer moviegoers a new way to experience our films on the big screen,” said VP of Marketing & Distribution, Sumyi Khong Antonson. 

With access to a multitude of fresh and thought-provoking movies–both old and new–from around the world, Frank handpicks each month’s films, starting with the launch in February. For film fanatics looking to get a jump on Valentine’s Day, Blue Starlite Austin will kick off Drafthouse Films Screening Nights February 5, featuring acclaimed director Michel Gondry’s French romantic-drama Mood Indigo. Drafthouse Films Screening Nights starts in late February for the Miami location and will feature the 2011 dance-battle comedy The FP. 

For more details about Drafthouse Films Screening Nights, check out www.bluestarlitedrivein.com. To learn more about Drafthouse Films, visit www.drafthousefilms.com. 

About Drafthouse Films
Drafthouse Films, the film distribution arm of the Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, is a curated brand of provocative, visionary and artfully unusual films new and old from around the world. Following the earnestly simple motto of “sharing the films we love with the widest audience possible,” Drafthouse Films debuted in 2010 with the theatrical release of Four Lions, which was named one of Time Magazine’s “Top 10 Films Of The Year.” The company's

second release Bullhead was nominated for the Best Foreign Language Oscar® in 2012, followed by internationally celebrated Danish comedy Klown, which was slated for a Warner Bros/Todd Phillips produced US remake. The release of the groundbreaking documentary The Act Of Killing, produced by Errol Morris and Werner Herzog won top prizes at festivals worldwide and earned the year’s strongest box office opening for a documentary in 2013. 

About Blue Starlite Mini-Urban Drive-In
Whereas other modern drive-ins are sprawling, rural affairs, the Blue Starlite is designed to happen right in the heart of the city. Creator Josh Frank decided this concept requires less space and is a more exclusive, more personal, and a much more convenient movie-going experience. With a mix of nostalgia, and modern design, Blue Starlite has tapped into a longing for a more social, less isolated experience. Since Frank opened his first ‘Mini Urban Drive-In,’ he has upgraded from an alley fitting 18 cars to a lot on a local movie studio with a 50-car capacity. He recently opened his third location in Miami’s ‘Republic of Coconut Grove.’

TIKI HORROR NIGHTS at the Drive-in ARE ALIVE!!!

BAD MOVIES, GOOD RUM COCKTAILS, and these guys...

We kicked off the series this week with STRANGE BREW, but have no fear, if you missed it our second night will be FEB 21 at our FABULOUS BEACH LOCATION with a movie about BEACH ZOMBIES SHOT IN MIAMI ON THE SAME BEACH!!!

WE KID YOU NOT!

Don't frickin' Miss it!

Tix are up now at

WWW.MIAMIURBANDRIVEIN.COM Yes, That's right HERE ON THIS SITE!