The Weekly Retro Movie Rundown! Easter Weekend Special
Easter Bunny's tail! It's on the bank holiday weekend!
Like the busy little bunny themselves, we've been hopping our way around the moviesphere, reaching high and low for the most tasty and awesome retro movies for all your eager hunters to get your hands on. Creeping around the wilderness, we'll stumble across some of the best that this weekend has to offer, before taking them home, unwrapping and gorging ourselves on top classic film goodness until we're fit to burst!
Have a happy retro weekend!
FRIDAY 3rd April
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Kiki's Delivery Service (1989) Film4 11:00am-1:15pm (2 hours 15 minutes)
A witch moves to a new town with her talking cat, hoping to forge a life for herself. Despite the objections of the locals, a kindly baker offers her a job delivering bread by broom - but events take a strange turn when she suddenly loses her powers. Animated fantasy from Spirited Away director Hayao Miyazaki, with the voices of Minami Takayama and Rei Sakuma. In Japanese.
Fantastic Mr Fox (2009) More4 11:30am-1:10pm (1 hour 40 minutes)
A rebellious fox decides it is time to grow up and change his chicken-stealing ways for the sake of his wife and children. However, the presence of three wicked farmers near his woodland home proves a challenge he cannot resist. Stop-motion animated adventure based on the novel by Roald Dahl, with the voices of George Clooney, Meryl Streep, Jason Schwartzman and Bill Murray.
Sleepless in Seattle (1993) GOLD 12:35pm-2:45pm (2 hours 10 minutes)
A widowed father is coping badly with his wife's death, but his son is convinced that what he really needs is some new romance in his life. He arranges for his dad to go on a radio phone-in show, and his touching story moves a reporter to respond, even though she is already engaged. She returns to her fiance, but the boy, certain she is the woman for his father, plots to bring them together. Romantic comedy, with Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan.
Fun Fact: The scene between Tom Hanks and Victor Garber crying over the movie The Dirty Dozen (1967) was completely improvised during the take.
My Girl (1991) Watch 1:00pm-3:00pm (2 hours)
A lonely 11-year-old tomboy feels responsible for her mother's death, but a boy's friendship helps her get through her emotional problems. Meanwhile, when she realises her father is falling in love with his new employee, she sets out to do all she can to end the romance. Drama, starring Anna Chlumsky, Macaulay Culkin, Dan Aykroyd and Jamie Lee Curtis.
The Simpsons Movie (2007) Film4 5:10pm-6:55pm (1 hour 45 minutes)
Homer unwittingly pollutes Lake Springfield, so the US government decides to isolate the city underneath a giant dome. The Simpsons manage to escape and plan to start a new life in Alaska - but learn Springfield is about to be destroyed, and return to save their friends. With the voices of Dan Castellaneta, Julie Kavner, Nancy Cartwright and Yeardley Smith.
A Fish Called Wanda (1988) ITV London 10:15pm-12:15am (2 hours)
A stuffy English barrister representing a jewel thief is targeted by his client's partners in crime - a seductive American crook and her dim-witted would-be philosopher lover who will go to any lengths to discover where the diamonds from their last heist have been hidden. Crime comedy, starring John Cleese, Jamie Lee Curtis, Kevin Kline, Michael Palin and Tom Georgeson.
SATURDAY4th April
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Look Who's Talking (1989) GOLD 9:10am-11:05am (1 hour 55 minutes)
Pregnant Mollie 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.
Carry On Screaming (1966) ITV3 3:10pm-5:05pm (1 hour 55 minutes)
A sinister boffin, his sultry sister and two genetic misfits kidnap innocent women from spooky Hocomb Woods and turn them into mannequins - but two dim-witted detectives look set to throw a spanner in the works. Comedy horror, starring Kenneth Williams, Fenella Fielding, Harry H Corbett, Charles Hawtrey, Jim Dale, Joan Sims and Bernard Bresslaw.
Batteries Not Included (1987) Syfy 3:50pm-6:00pm (2 hours 10 minutes)
A family of tiny alien spacecraft intervenes to help the residents of a run-down Manhattan brownstone tenement stop greedy developers from demolishing their homes. However, the miniature flying saucers have the odds stacked against them as they bravely do all they can to save the day. Sci-fi fantasy, starring Jessica Tandy, Hume Cronyn, Frank McRae and Elizabeth Pena.
Matilda (1996) Comedy Central 4:00pm-6:00pm (2 hours)
A gifted youngster is packed off by her selfish parents to the prison-like Crunchem Hall School. Once there, she befriends a sweet-natured teacher who convinces her that not all grown-ups are bad - and urges her to use her special powers to turn the tables on the nasty headmistress. Fantasy comedy, adapted from the children's book by Roald Dahl, with Mara Wilson, Pam Ferris, Embeth Davidtz, Rhea Perlman and Danny DeVito, who also directed.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids (1989) Comedy Central 6:00pm-8:00pm (2 hours)
A professor invents a ray with the power to reduce objects in size. Unfortunately, his kids and their meddling friends trigger it off and are shrunk to microscopic proportions. When they are accidentally thrown out with the rubbish, the children have to contend with all kinds of animals and insects on their journey home across the backyard. Disney comedy, with Rick Moranis, Marcia Strassman and Amy O'Neill.
The Goonies (1985) Sky1 8:30pm-10:45pm (2 hours 15 minutes)
Seven youngsters discover an old map and set out on the adventure of a lifetime to save their homes from a land developer by finding a legendary pirate's hidden treasure. However, they first have to navigate a series of booby-trapped underground caverns and outwit a family of crooks also after the loot. Children's adventure, starring Sean Astin, Corey Feldman, Josh Brolin and Martha Plimpton.
Pretty Woman (1990) BBC3 9:10pm-11:05pm (1 hour 55 minutes)
A ruthless millionaire hires a prostitute while on a business trip. Realising she may be useful in helping him keep up a successful appearance, he pays her to accompany him for a week as he associates with the rich and powerful - but falls in love despite their many differences. Romantic comedy, starring Richard Gere and Julia Roberts, with Ralph Bellamy and Laura San Giacomo.
Fun Fact: Richard Gere is actually playing the piano. He also composed the piece of music that is played.
SUNDAY 5th April
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Patch Adams (1998) Channel 5 12:05pm-2:20pm (2 hours 15 minutes)
A talented student doctor turns the medical community upside down with his offbeat views about the healing power of laughter. His methods provoke outrage and intense debate among his professors - but his extrovert nature brightens the lives of all kinds of patients. Comedy drama, starring Robin Williams, Monica Potter, Daniel London, Bob Gunton and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
Hook (1991) Comedy Central 1:15pm-4:00pm (2 hours 45 minutes)
Peter Pan, who has finally grown up and is now a married lawyer with a family of his own, is whisked away by Tinkerbell to Neverland, where he must learn to fly again if he is to save his children from the clutches of Captain Hook. Steven Spielberg's fantasy adventure, with Robin Williams, Dustin Hoffman, Julia Roberts, Bob Hoskins and Maggie Smith.
Honey, I Blew Up the Kid (1992) Channel 4 2:55pm-4:40pm (1 hour 45 minutes)
A scientist perfects a device for making objects grow when they come into contact with electricity. Unfortunately, his two-year-old son is accidentally turned into a giant and goes on the rampage through the streets of Las Vegas. Disney comedy sequel, starring Rick Moranis, Marcia Strassman, Robert Oliveri and Lloyd Bridges.
Clueless (1995) Film4 3:10pm-5:05pm (1 hour 55 minutes)
A rich high-school student uses all her charm and financial clout to boost an awkward new pupil's image, but soon finds she has created a monster - while her own popularity suffers in the process. Comedy inspired by Jane Austen's Emma, starring Alicia Silverstone, Stacey Dash, Brittany Murphy and Paul Rudd.
E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial (1982) ITV2 3:15pm-5:35pm (2 hours 20 minutes)
A lonely boy befriends an alien who has been left stranded on Earth. The two develop a psychic connection as the boy helps the extraterrestrial to contact his own people and call for rescue. However, living on Earth starts to have a devastating effect on the visitor's health, and a government operative is determined to capture him for study. Steven Spielberg's sci-fi fantasy, starring Henry Thomas, Drew Barrymore, Dee Wallace and Peter Coyote.
K-9 (1989) Syfy 5:00pm-7:10pm (2 hours 10 minutes)
A hard-bitten cop's bad attitude forces his superiors to take desperate measures to find him a new partner on the eve of what could turn out to be the biggest case of his career - and the solution is to pair him up with a lovable Alsatian that will put him through his paces. Comedy, starring James Belushi, Mel Harris and Ed O'Neill.
Superman Returns (2006) Watch 5:55pm-9:00pm (3 hours 5 minutes)
The Man of Steel returns to Earth after an absence of several years to find his lost love Lois Lane has moved on with her life. Meanwhile, arch-villain Lex Luthor is out of jail and about to wreak havoc on the world with technology stolen from Superman's home planet of Krypton. Comic-book adventure from X-Men director Bryan Singer, with Brandon Routh, Kevin Spacey, Kate Bosworth and Parker Posey.
Last Action Hero (1993) Watch 9:00pm-11:40pm (2 hours 40 minutes)
A boy watching an action movie is transported into the film by a magic ticket and meets its hero figure, who refuses to believe he is a fictional character. Matters take a turn for the worse when the screen villain gets hold of the ticket and crosses over into the real world - where bad guys can win. Comedy adventure, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Austin O'Brien, Charles Dance, F Murray Abraham and Anthony Quinn.
MONDAY 6th April
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The Dark Crystal (1982) Channel 4 12:25pm-2:10pm (1 hour 45 minutes)
A survivor of a near-extinct race is given a dangerous quest as his world approaches an astronomical event that will decide its future. He must find a way to restore a broken piece to a magical crystal, which has become a source of dark power for the cruel creatures who wiped out his people. Jim Henson's puppet fantasy, with the voices of Stephen Garlick and Billie Whitelaw.
Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (1968) 5USA 1:05pm-4:00pm (2 hours 55 minutes)
Eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts rescues an old car from the scrapheap, only to discover it has magical, gravity-defying powers. Meanwhile, Baron Bomburst, the blundering ruler of Vulgaria, will do anything to get his greedy hands on it. Children's musical adventure, based on the book by Ian Fleming, starring Dick Van Dyke, Lionel Jeffries, Sally Ann Howes, Gert Frobe, Benny Hill and James Robertson Justice.
Groundhog Day (1993) GOLD 2:45pm-4:45pm (2 hours)
An obnoxious TV weatherman reporting on a small town's annual festival finds himself caught in a bizarre time loop, and is forced to relive the same day over and over again. While at first he tries to exploit his predicament, he is ultimately driven to mend his ways and adopt a less cynical attitude. Comedy, starring Bill Murray, Andie MacDowell, Chris Elliott and Stephen Tobolowsky.
10 Things I Hate About You (1999) Film4 7:00pm-9:00pm (2 hours)
Lively teenager Bianca is not allowed to start dating until her man-hating sister Kat does first - but no boy is brave enough to ask her out. However, Bianca's would-be boyfriend thinks he has found the perfect man for the job in the shape of a quirky loner with a mysterious past. Comedy, based on Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew, starring Heath Ledger, Julia Stiles, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Larisa Oleynik.
Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) BBC3 8:10pm-10:00pm (1 hour 50 minutes)
Intrepid archaeologist Indiana Jones goes in search of the legendary Ark of the Covenant, a biblical artefact of devastating power. His quest leads him to Egypt, where the Nazis are plotting to use the Ark to further Hitler's plans for world domination - aided by Jones's deceitful French rival. Steven Spielberg's action adventure, with Harrison Ford, Karen Allen, Paul Freeman and John Rhys-Davies.
Fun Fact: Most of the body blows you hear were created by hitting a pile of leather jackets with a baseball bat.
Whatever you're up to this loooong weekend, make sure you find every last egg before a hot Summer and remember that even the smallest gifts and be the most special.
xoxo