Back to the Future; Rochester Castle & Luna Cinema

The true curse of British weather is that it hinders our enjoyment of the beautiful outdoors, and whatever you think about Britain you cannot deny its enchanting landscapes and awe-inspiring buildings. There are so many activities to be enjoyed outdoors, and yet when they are planned they seem to be cancelled due to bad weather. Even as a child I remember events that had been planned for months starting and ending with the opening of the curtains. Now, bad weather does not necessarily have to be the end to your day but like the rain it puts a dampener on it. I may be being over sensitive but picnics in the rain, roller-coasters in the rain, swimming in the rain, hiking in the rain all suck! So when I watch films, especially American films, were every outing is seemingly undertaken in the sunshine I become somewhat envious.
Whatever the occasion, the sun is out! 

Horror: Students take a road trip to a cabin in the woods and excluding the murder scenes when it is usually night, the sun is out!

Comedy: A family take a road trip to a beauty pageant and the sun shines their path all the way.Even when there is bad weather, it is only used as a part of the storyline to delay or affect their journey in some way.

Thriller: A student goes mad a starts shooting people at a University and then later at a drive in movie – only to be captured by Boris Karloff? Again except when it is evening, it’s sunny!

Now I appreciate that this is a generalisation, and there are several films which probably do not subscribe to my descriptions but the mass do! So when I find myself watching these films I can’t help thinking to myself, ‘This isn’t fair, we never get the weather for drive-in theatres to be a permanent structure’ and ‘If we went to the cabin in the woods we would probably spend 2 out of 7 days outside and the rest of the time staring out of the window waiting for the rain to stop!’ – It is not moaning, it is jealousy and I am ok in admitting that!

Thankfully, however, there are several groups of people in the UK who, unlike me and my pessimistic attitude, believe that we can still have drive-in movies and outdoor theatres despite of the unpredictable British weather. Thank Hitchcock!

One such group, The Luna Cinema, have taken up the challenge of introducing cinema, heritage and the outdoors to us folk in the South East, so last weekend I went to Rochester Castle to watch Back to the Future! The Castle gardens were awash with people wrapped up in blankets perched on deckchairs, enjoying their picnics and wine. It was an incredible experience, and one that I would recommend to all. There were; friends, families, couples and even the odd lone-wolf, all huddled together outside to enjoy this classic film.

Even with the wind blowing, the ripples of the screen went unnoticed as everyone quoted the iconic lines of the film. Now, this is an activity that would infuriate me in an indoor cinema but here, outdoors, in the presence of Rochester Castle it was ok. 

Not that this should encourage those people who can’t go 10 seconds without talking during a film to go to outdoor screenings instead. NO... you people should watch films indoors, alone, where you can check your Facebook every 10 seconds. HEY?!?! Why not update your Facebook status and tell all the people, who hate going to the cinema with you because you talk all the way through or cheer at happy endings, what a great time you’re having watching that film alone? 

*Rant complete*

This was truly a unique experience and one that I would undoubtedly partake in again. However, if it rains next time I may change my mind.

Next stop, ‘A Matter of Life and Death’ in Rochester Cathedral!