The Weekly Retro Movie Rundown 14
Zeus's beard! Is it the weekend already?! Prepare to be sheltered from boredom like a multi-coloured umbrella protecting you from the rain as we go running and jumping in puddles of retro cinematic glory, clad in our green wellies with the frog eyes on.
Remember - there is always movie gold at the end of our rainbow!
Have a happy retro weekend folks :-)
SATURDAY 4th AUGUST
The Wizard of Oz (1939) TCM 3:00pm-5:00pm (2 hours)
Youngster Dorothy Gale is whisked over the rainbow by a tornado into the magical land of Oz, where she inadvertently kills a wicked witch - incurring the wrath of another. Setting out to find the wizard who can show her a way home, she is joined on her journey by a scarecrow, a tin man and a cowardly lion, who all hope their own wishes will be granted. Musical fantasy, with Judy Garland, Ray Bolger, Jack Haley, Bert Lahr and Frank Morgan
Look Who's Talking (1989) GOLD 3:20pm-5:15pm (1 hour 55 minutes)
Pregnant Molly is dumped by her boyfriend, and sets out after the baby's birth to find a surrogate father for her infant son Mikey, who comments on proceedings through a wisecracking inner monologue. Mikey is confident the cab driver who helped deliver him is the perfect man for the job - but his mother is less than convinced. Comedy, with John Travolta, Kirstie Alley and the voice of Bruce Willis
Rocky (1976) ITV4 9:00pm-11:25pm (2 hours 25 minutes)
Philadelphia brawler Rocky Balboa gets a shot at the world heavyweight title when current champion Apollo Creed decides to give an unknown boxer a chance in celebration of America's bicentennial. Oscar-winning drama, starring Sylvester Stallone, Burgess Meredith, Talia Shire, Burt Young and Carl Weathers.
The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad! (1988) Sky1 9:00pm-10:40pm (1 hour 40 minutes)
While investigating the shooting of a colleague, disaster-prone police lieutenant Frank Drebin uncovers a plot to assassinate Queen Elizabeth II during her visit to Los Angeles. However, after he is sacked from the force by the mayor, the cop has to operate beneath the radar to get to the bottom of the conspiracy. Comedy, with Leslie Nielsen, Priscilla Presley and Ricardo Montalban
Hot Rod (2007) E4 9:00pm-10:45pm (1 hour 45 minutes)
Small-town loser Rod dreams of being an Evel Knievel-style daredevil motorcyclist, despite having little, if any talent for it. When his stepfather becomes critically ill, the family needs to raise money for a life-saving heart operation, so Rod decides to rise to the occasion by planning a record-breaking stunt. Comedy, starring Andy Samberg, Ian McShane and Sissy Spacek
SUNDAY 5th AUGUST
The Karate Kid (1984) Channel 5 4:20pm-6:55pm (2 hours 35 minutes)
A teenager at a new school befriends a pretty girl, but her ex-boyfriend is jealous and attacks him. During one particularly bad fight, a wise old caretaker intervenes and defeats the youngster's assailants using his martial art skills. He goes on to mentor the boy and teach him karate so he can face his enemies in a tournament. Drama, with Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and Elisabeth Shue
Look Who's Talking Too (1990) GOLD 4:15pm-5:50pm (1 hour 35 minutes)
Wisecracking toddler Mikey is joined by mischievous baby sister Julie and sibling rivalry inevitably erupts - while their parents have problems of their own to deal with, in the shape of the kids' good-for-nothing uncle. Comedy sequel, starring John Travolta and Kirstie Alley, with the voices of Bruce Willis and Rosanne Barr
The Blues Brothers (1980) Sky Movies Modern Greats 11:45am-2:00pm (2 hours 15 minutes)
Two criminal brothers discover the orphanage where they were raised faces closure unless the nuns who run it can pay their tax bill, so the pair embark on an urgent mission to revive their old blues band to raise the money needed. Comedy, starring John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Aretha Franklin, James Brown, Ray Charles, Cab Calloway, Carrie Fisher, John Candy and John Lee Hooker
X-Men (2000) E4 8:00pm-10:00pm (2 hours)
Super-powered outsiders Rogue and Wolverine enlist at a school run by a benevolent psychic professor for mutants, who are shunned by society. However, they agree to unite to take on a superhuman mutant terrorist faction intent on establishing dominance over mankind. Bryan Singer's sci-fi comic-book adventure, starring Hugh Jackman, Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Anna Paquin and Halle Berry
Swingers (1996) Sky Movies Indie 5:50pm-7:30pm (1 hour 40 minutes)
Struggling actor Mike's confidence is shattered when his girlfriend breaks up with him. His charismatic friend Trent refuses to let him wallow in self pity, and hurls the lovesick Mike into the Hollywood singles scene in the hope of him acquiring some new female company and getting his self-esteem back. Comedy, starring Jon Favreau and Vince Vaughn
So, if I'm not busy hooked on watching Olympic beach volleyball this weekend I am most likely to watch The Karate Kid. My nostalgic school day memory linked with this film would be standing on my desk practicing the crane kick (actually that may have been the other day here at Truffle Towers!) ;-)