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Army of Darkness Dare we call this the high-water mark among the collaborations of Sam Raimi and Bruce Campbell? In their 1993 trilogy ender, Ash (Campbell) is transported back from his hardware-store present to the middle ages, where he gets caught up in medieval politics and warfare. And must also master the secret of the Necronomicon, which he foolishly opens to unleash the army of the dead. Lately rising to A-list indie acclaim in Junebug is Embeth Davidtz, who here plays the swain to Campbell's hero. But if there was ever a wisecracking, shotgun- and chainsaw-wielding master of the B-list, it's Campbell, the closest thing we got in the '90s to Indiana Jones in the '80s. (R) Egyptian, 801 E. Pine St., 206-781-5755. $6-$9. Midnight. Fri. March 17-Sat. March 18.
Dark Circle Who doesn't mourn for unsuspecting pigs suffering nuclear test blasts? Such archival footage is just one reason why this Sundance prize-winning 1983 documentary remains compelling and thoroughly disturbing. Co-directed by Judy Irving (The Wild Parrots of Telegraph Hill), the film enlivens the technical debate between nuclear energy and weaponry via interviews with concerned neighbors of the Rocky Flats Nuclear Weapons Plant and radiation victims from both WWII Japan and America's bomb-testing grounds. Their comments are still timely. A Nagasaki survivor says, "I found myself hating not only the war itself, but all the parents who had not opposed it." Yet as Dark Circle chronicles the huge popular resistance to the opening of the Diablo Canyon Nuclear Power Plant, one wonders if new civilian nuke plants—as an alternative to foreign oil—would create the same protests today. Dark Circle will surely shape that debate, when it comes. (NR) MARISA MCQUILKEN Grand Illusion, 1403 N.E. 50th St., 206-523-3935. $5-$7.50. Fri. March 17-Thurs. March 23.
Davverspalooza As the success of SNL's "Lazy Sunday" video proves, bite-sized digital entertainment is only going to further erode network viewing practices. The locally made Steve Davvers: Washroom Attendant was apparently hatched as a one-off in 2004, then grew to a series of six episodes (of about ten minutes each), all revolving around an overzealous bathroom jockey (Dylan Noebels) with psychic powers. "I can see clearly into the hearts of those who need me most," he says with way too much conviction—and something like Jeremy Davies' wide-eyed creep sincerity. True to its setting, there is some toilet humor to SDWA, but it also gets at the everyday inanity of the workplace. In a real sense, Steve's overpowering empathy and frustration make him an unseen, orphan character from The Office; you can almost imagine him offering his avid life-coaching lessons to Steve Carell off camera. (NR) Jewel Box Theater (Rendezvous), 2320 Second Ave., 206-441-5823. $10. 7:45 and 9 p.m. Wed. March 22.
W.C. Fields Combo You could say this comedy double-feature is perfect for the kids, only the famous comic claimed to hate them. In The Bank Dick (1940), Fields provides the worst security services ever. In It's a Gift (1934), Fields again sports an unpronounceable name and is again henpecked beyond all reason. Screened on video; admission includes lecture and snack. (NR) Movie Legends, 2319 N. 45th St., 206-632-2092. $5. 1 p.m. Sun. March 19.
Indie Slasher Movies Armando D. Muñoz presents Mime After Midnight and The Terrible Old Tran, both of which promise blood, blood, blood. 21 and over. (NR) Jewel Box Theater (Rendezvous), 2320 Second Ave., 206-441-5823. 7 and 8:30 p.m. Mon. March 20.
Jews of Iran The Seattle Jewish Film Festival (see below) presents a new hour-long documentary by Iranian filmmaker Ramin Farahani about the 2,700-year history of Jewish life in his country. Although most left following the 1979 revolution, a few Jewish holdouts remain in Tehran today. Preceded by Esther's Book, about a Swedish photographer's Purim project. Lunch included; reservations required. (NR) Jewish Community Center, 3801 E. Mercer Way (Mercer Island), 206-232-7115 x269. $5. Noon. Thurs. March 16.
Joysticks Fight the power! An evil politician (Joe Don Baker) tries to separate kids from Pac Man and other beloved games at the video arcade in this 1982 curio. Look for perennial TV villain Jon Gries as, well, a villain. As with any '80s teen exploitation flick, you can expect the obligatory T&A scene, and an important subplot about the nerd losing his virginity. (R) Grand Illusion, 1403 N.E. 50th St., 206-523-3935. $5-$7.50. 11 p.m. Fri. March 17-Sat. March 18.
The Kodachrome Memoirs First up are short film by Jason Ryan and Nelson Harst. Then the two present their collaborative project comprising 1,000 still images recovered from an old recluse's apartment, which were then set to new audio tracks. 21 and over. (NR) Jewel Box Theater (Rendezvous), 2320 Second Ave., 206-441-5823. $5. 8 and 9 p.m. Sun. March 19.
Mama Earth Apparently an eco-screed with its tongue slightly in cheek (we hope), this environmental advocacy film is designed to make recyclers of us all. Director Leslie Bloom VanEe will attend the Wednesday screenings. (NR) Central Cinema, 1411 21st Ave., 206-686-6684. $5. 7 and 9 p.m. Wed. March 15-Fri. March 17.
Movies at the Sunset Note all events are free and 21-and-over. Always a treat, the Coen brothers' 1998 The Big Lebowski features nice comic interplay among Jeff Bridges (as the stoner turned gumshoe), John Turturro, John Goodman, and recent Oscar winner Philip Seymour Hoffman. (R) Sunset Tavern, 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 206-784-4880. 7 p.m. Wed. March 15. All in the same evening are The Anderson Platoon, a documentary about the Vietnam War. 6 p.m. Street Trash, an exploitation film about winos subject to Sudden Goo Syndrome. 7 p.m. The 1982 Filipino kung-fu movie The Impossible Kid features a two-foot, nine-inch midget hero in a kind of James Bond parody (his code name is Agent 00). 9 p.m. Mon. March 20. The 1977 sketch comedy flick The Kentucky Fried Movie (1977) helped launch the careers of director John Landis (Animal House) and the Zucker-Abrahams-Sucker writing team behind Airplane!7 p.m. Wed. March 22.
