A scene from “The Spiderwick Chronicles.” (Image courtesy Lincoln Theater)
The Lincoln Theater in downtown Damariscotta is bringing some of the public’s favorite children’s books to the big screen as it launches the next Stories to Screen series.
In partnership with Skidompha Library, Lincoln Theater is pleased to announce the upcoming Mysterious Fun series, in which films for young audiences are screened for free on Saturday mornings and a limited number of the books are made available to the public to keep, also for free. Mark your calendars for these upcoming screenings in November and December – fun for the entire family!
First in the Mysterious Fun series is the 2008 film “The Spiderwick Chronicles, rated PG, based on the series of children’s books by Tony DiTerlizzi and Holly Black. Twin brothers Jared and Simon Grace (played by Freddie Highmore), along with their sister, Mallory, find themselves pulled into an alternate world full of fairies and other creatures upon moving into the run-down Spiderwick Estate with their mother (Mary-Louise Parker).
Unable to explain the strange disappearances and accidents that seem to be happening on a daily basis, the family blames it all on Jared, but when he, Simon, and Mallory investigate what’s really going on, they uncover the fantastic truth of the Spiderwick Estate and of the creatures that inhabit it.
“The Spiderwick Chronicles” will play Saturday, Nov. 2 at 10 a.m.
Next up, “Lemony Snicket’s: A Series of Unfortunate Events,” rated PG, tells the story of three intelligent children: Violet, Klaus, and Sunny Baudelaire. They are charming and resourceful, and have pleasant facial features. Unfortunately, they are exceptionally unlucky.
When a massive fire kills their parents, the three children are delivered to the custody of cousin and stage actor Count Olaf (Jim Carrey), who is secretly plotting to steal their parents’ vast fortune. The 2004 film is based on the award-winning series of books by Lemony Snicket and plays Saturday, Nov. 16 at 10 a.m.
Concluding the Mysterious Fun series, two young brothers are drawn into an intergalactic adventure when their house is hurled through the depths of space by the magical board game they are playing in “Zathura: A Space Adventure,” rated PG. The 2005 film is based on the illustrated children’s book by Chris Van Allsburg (“Jumanji,” “The Polar Express”). It is a fantasy film for the entire family and plays Saturday, Dec. 21 at 10 a.m.
A limited number of copies of Book No. 1 “The Field Guide” in the Spiderwick Chronicles, as well as Book No. 1 “The Bad Beginning” in A Series of Unfortunate Events, are now available for free on a first-come, first-served basis — one per family, please. The books will be available at the screenings and are currently available at Skidompha Library while supplies last.
All three films will be screened for free at Lincoln Theater. More information is available through the Lincoln Theater office at 2 Theater St. in Damariscotta and by phone at 563-3424 during office hours, Tuesday through Thursday from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m.
