The Great Outdoor Cinema Club presents The Goonies
Catton Park transformed into a place of cinematic worship
I've always been a huge film fan. Part of the reason for this, I attribute, to the high standard of children's/family movies when I was a kid. Star Wars, Back to the Future, Flight of the Navigator... these films glow with nostalgia in my mind. Sure, the effects aren't a patch on what can be achieved today, but they had a certain sense of adventure and courage that just appealed to the young me. My scruffy ilk and I were hooked on them. Some of my friends dreamed of becoming a Jedi Knight, others wanted to find their very own friendly little alien in the garden shed, but me? I wanted to discover a shit load of pirate treasure.
Because of one film - the Goonies.
Sadly, the hidden pirate treasure of Cromer remains just that. But the real prize was what the Goonies taught me about friendship. That it didn't matter if individually you and your mates all had your faults, because if you all worked together (and at least one of you had a boxing glove on a spring) that you could achieve anything.
It was with this sense of nostalgic adventure that I went along to Catton Park on Thursday night to relive my youth, as the Great Outdoor Cinema Club was there for the weekend. I've never been to an outdoor cinema before, and I found the excitement tempered with a sense of slight trepidation as, sadly, some if not all of my youthful spirit seems to have been left in a dusty box in the the attic along with my childhood VHS collection. Have I brought enough layers? What if it rains? It's the same way as I feel about watching films in pubs - it's two things that I love, but that just don't mix. Like masturbation and paintball.
Still, I was looking forward to it as I arrived at Catton Park - a venue that despite being less than a mile from my home I had no idea existed - and so was everyone else. Spirits were high as Goonies fans (Gooniples? Goonites?) from all over Norfolk arrived on a sunny evening, and with a flurry of deck chairs and bean bags, transformed the Park into a place of cinematic worship. And it was great.
Myself, and all the other Goonitologists (I've settled on that) laughed, cheered and generally "Hey you guuuuuuuuuys"-ed our way through the proceedings with much merriment. You could even have a (six) beers and a smoke whilst you did so, if that's your thing (it is), and there was pizza and popcorn too for the peckish amongst us. I had a brilliant night. I would have happily gone back the next night and paid to see Nightmare on Elm Street, but was sadly prior engaged.
As long as they keep the films classic, and the atmosphere fun (Rocky Horror would be perfect) then I think this will continue to go from strength to strength. Right now, I'm off to see what other treasures await me in the film inbox this month, but if you see the Great Outdoor Cinema Club come to a park near you, and you're not sure, just trust me. Wrap up warm and risk it. After all - Goonies never say die.
I've always been a huge film fan. Part of the reason for this, I attribute, to the high standard of children's/family movies when I was a kid. Star Wars, Back to the Future, Flight of the Navigator... these films glow with nostalgia in my mind. Sure, the effects aren't a patch on what can be achieved today, but they had a certain sense of adventure and courage that just appealed to the young me. My scruffy ilk and I were hooked on them. Some of my friends dreamed of becoming a Jedi Knight, others wanted to find their very own friendly little alien in the garden shed, but me? I wanted to discover a shit load of pirate treasure.
Because of one film - the Goonies.
Sadly, the hidden pirate treasure of Cromer remains just that. But the real prize was what the Goonies taught me about friendship. That it didn't matter if individually you and your mates all had your faults, because if you all worked together (and at least one of you had a boxing glove on a spring) that you could achieve anything.
It was with this sense of nostalgic adventure that I went along to Catton Park on Thursday night to relive my youth, as the Great Outdoor Cinema Club was there for the weekend. I've never been to an outdoor cinema before, and I found the excitement tempered with a sense of slight trepidation as, sadly, some if not all of my youthful spirit seems to have been left in a dusty box in the the attic along with my childhood VHS collection. Have I brought enough layers? What if it rains? It's the same way as I feel about watching films in pubs - it's two things that I love, but that just don't mix. Like masturbation and paintball.
Still, I was looking forward to it as I arrived at Catton Park - a venue that despite being less than a mile from my home I had no idea existed - and so was everyone else. Spirits were high as Goonies fans (Gooniples? Goonites?) from all over Norfolk arrived on a sunny evening, and with a flurry of deck chairs and bean bags, transformed the Park into a place of cinematic worship. And it was great.
Myself, and all the other Goonitologists (I've settled on that) laughed, cheered and generally "Hey you guuuuuuuuuys"-ed our way through the proceedings with much merriment. You could even have a (six) beers and a smoke whilst you did so, if that's your thing (it is), and there was pizza and popcorn too for the peckish amongst us. I had a brilliant night. I would have happily gone back the next night and paid to see Nightmare on Elm Street, but was sadly prior engaged.
As long as they keep the films classic, and the atmosphere fun (Rocky Horror would be perfect) then I think this will continue to go from strength to strength. Right now, I'm off to see what other treasures await me in the film inbox this month, but if you see the Great Outdoor Cinema Club come to a park near you, and you're not sure, just trust me. Wrap up warm and risk it. After all - Goonies never say die.
