The Weekly Retro Movie Rundown 160
Holy sweet potato! It's only gone and been the weekend again!
Like a keen armature artists with a fresh new canvas and set of paints, we find ourselves with nothing but inspiration in front of us and a whole world of possibilities. Carefully selecting the right brush, the right colours and techniques, we'll create something which will capture our imagination and with each brush stroke become something more magnificent like a classic thriller slowly revealing its plot before our eyes. Taking pride of place on our wall, our creation will sit proud for all to see and aim to only inspire and encourage all future work to come.
Have a happy retro weekend.
SATURDAY 15th August
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Homeward Bound: The Incredible Journey (1993) ITV2 12:10pm-1:55pm (1 hour 45 minutes)
Two dogs and a cat are left in the temporary care of a friend when their owners are forced to move away. Thinking they have been abandoned, the trio hit the road in a bid to find their way home. Adventure, featuring the voices of Michael J Fox, Sally Field and Don Ameche. Kim Greist, Robert Hays and Benj Thall take the human roles.
Congo (1995) Film4 1:00pm-3:10pm (2 hours 10 minutes)
An expedition to find King Solomon's diamond mines in the jungles of the Congo disappears without trace. The tycoon behind the mission sends his assistant, a former CIA agent, to find out what became of the explorers - only to discover that the party met a grisly fate at the hands of a horde of vicious apes. Action adventure based on Michael Crichton's novel, with Dylan Walsh, Laura Linney, Tim Curry and Grant Heslov.
The Dirty Dozen (1967) Channel 5 3:20pm-6:10pm (2 hours 50 minutes)
An uncompromising major is placed in charge of a seemingly suicidal mission to destroy a French chateau being used as a base by Nazi officers. Needing tough but expendable soldiers for the task, he recruits 12 hardened criminals from a military prison. Second World War action adventure, starring Lee Marvin, Telly Savalas, Ernest Borgnine, Charles Bronson and Donald Sutherland.
A View to a Kill (1985) ITV4 5:15pm-8:00pm (2 hours 45 minutes)
James Bond clashes with a megalomaniac international businessman plotting a global takeover of the computer industry by engineering a devastating earthquake in California's Silicon Valley - and killing millions in the process. Spy adventure, starring Roger Moore in his final appearance as 007 alongside Christopher Walken, Grace Jones, Tanya Roberts and Patrick Macnee.
Fun Fact: Singer David Bowie was offered the part of Max Zorin. Bowie later turned down the role in favour of one in Labyrinth (1986). Woooo!
Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) BBC1 London 6:15pm-8:15pm (2 hours )
The intrepid archaeologist sets out to find his estranged father, who has gone missing while searching for the Holy Grail. Once reunited, the duo team up to finish the task and locate the sacred relic before the Nazis get their hands on it. Action adventure sequel directed by Steven Spielberg, starring Harrison Ford, Sean Connery, Alison Doody, River Phoenix, Julian Glover and Denholm Elliott.
Dirty Dancing (1987) 5* 6:55pm-9:00pm (2 hours 5 minutes)
A dance instructor at a 1960s resort hotel fears his career will be jeopardised when his regular partner is forced to pull out of an important show in which they are due to perform. Luckily, a naive teenager is happy to step in, and is treated to a whirlwind holiday education in life, love and expressing herself. Romantic drama, starring Patrick Swayze, Jennifer Grey and Jerry Orbach.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off (1986) E4 9:00pm-11:05pm (2 hours 5 minutes)
A cocky teenager plays truant from school and spends the day dragging his girlfriend and a reluctant friend into all manner of crazy adventures in the big city - while the school's dean of students vows to stop at nothing to prove the youngster is faking illness. Comedy, starring Matthew Broderick, Mia Sara, Alan Ruck, Jennifer Grey, Jeffrey Jones and Charlie Sheen.
Ferris Bueller's Day Off T-Shirts
Practical Magic (1998) ITV2 9:00pm-11:10pm (2 hours 10 minutes)
Two chalk-and-cheese sisters, descended from a long line of white witches, are determined to lift the curse that has burdened all the females of the family for generations - namely, that any man who falls in love with them will suffer an untimely death. Fantasy, starring Sandra Bullock, Nicole Kidman, Stockard Channing, Dianne Wiest and Aidan Quinn.
The Matrix Reloaded (2003) ITV2 11:10pm-1:50am (2 hours 40 minutes)
As the machines threaten the last refuge of humanity, a party of freedom fighters journeys into the virtual world of the Matrix to find a means to end the war once and for all. However, the computer programme Agent Smith, once a tool of the machines, has returned from the dead with his own plans for the world. Sci-fi thriller sequel, starring Keanu Reeves, Carrie-Anne Moss, Laurence Fishburne and Hugo Weaving.
Fun Fact: GM donated a whopping 300 cars for use in the production of the movie. All 300 were wrecked by the end.....naturally.
SUNDAY 16th August
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Smokey and the Bandit (1977) ITV London 1:35pm-3:25pm (1 hour 50 minutes)
A truck driver accepts a challenge to deliver a consignment of beer to a party. He claims he can make the 900-mile round trip in just 28 hours, but a pompous sheriff is determined to stop him in his tracks, not least because his prospective daughter-in-law has deserted his son and hitched a ride with the unlikely hero. Comedy, starring Burt Reynolds, Jackie Gleason, Sally Field and Jerry Reed.
The Whistle Blower (1987) Movie Mix 2:30pm-4:40pm (2 hours 10 minutes)
Translator Robert Jones is convinced he has discovered a conspiracy inside British intelligence, but no sooner does he voice his fears than he dies in suspicious circumstances. His father determines to uncover the truth about his death, but he unearths secrets during his investigation that destroy his faith in the government. Thriller, with Michael Caine, Nigel Havers, James Fox and John Gielgud.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) ITV London 3:25pm-5:30pm (2 hours 5 minutes)
A bungled experiment causes a scientist to turn into a monster whenever he gets angry. He travels the world seeking a cure for his condition, while a ruthless general is determined to capture him and use the creature as a weapon. However, one of the soldiers under the officer's command undergoes a terrifying transformation of his own. Comic-book adventure, starring Edward Norton, Liv Tyler, Tim Roth and William Hurt.
Spartacus (1960) ITV4 4:10pm-8:00pm (3 hours 50 minutes)
A slave trained to fight as a gladiator turns against his masters and leads an army of rebels in a fight for freedom against the Roman state. But as the rebellion gathers momentum, two senators do all they can to exploit the uprising for their own political ends. Stanley Kubrick's Oscar-winning epic, with Kirk Douglas, Tony Curtis, Laurence Olivier, Jean Simmons, Charles Laughton and Peter Ustinov.
Fun Fact: In order to get so many big stars to play supporting roles, Kirk Douglas showed each a different script in which their character was emphasized. Cheeky!
Joe Kidd (1972) 5USA 4:10pm-6:00pm (1 hour 50 minutes)
A bounty hunter is asked to capture a Mexican rebel, and accepts the job after the outlaw's men attack his own ranch. But when he witnesses the cruel methods used by his employer, he resolves to bring the fugitive to a fair trial rather than let him face rough justice. Western, starring Clint Eastwood, Robert Duvall and John Saxon.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) Syfy 5:50pm-8:00pm (2 hours 10 minutes)
Captain Kirk is framed for the assassination of the Klingon head of state just as the Federation is about to make peace with their old enemies. As Kirk and Dr McCoy are banished to an icy prison planet, Spock tries to uncover the identity of the real killers. Sci-fi adventure sequel, with William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy, DeForest Kelley, Christopher Plummer, with appearances by Christian Slater and Michael Dorn from Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Three Men and a Baby (1987) Channel 5 6:10pm-7:55pm (1 hour 45 minutes)
The lives of three flat-sharing bachelors are turned upside down when they discover a baby left on their doorstep. Unfortunately, while trying to get to grips with the necessary parenting skills, they find themselves menaced by criminals searching for missing drugs. Comedy, directed by Leonard Nimoy, starring Tom Selleck, Ted Danson, Steve Guttenberg and Nancy Travis.
Minority Report (2002) BBC3 9:00pm-11:20pm (2 hours 20 minutes)
Cop John Anderton is forced to go on the run when a supposedly infallible trio of psychics foretell he is about to kill a man he has never heard of. Convinced their prediction is false, he kidnaps one of the so-called precogs to prove his innocence - and stumbles across a complex conspiracy. Steven Spielberg's futuristic thriller, starring Tom Cruise, Colin Farrell, Samantha Morton and Max von Sydow.
Fear (1990) Horror Channel 9:00pm-10:55pm (1 hour 55 minutes)
A psychic helping the police with murder investigations finds herself inexorably drawn into the mind of a ruthless killer gifted with powers similar to her own. Thriller, starring Ally Sheedy, Michael O'Keefe, Lauren Hutton and Stan Shaw.
Whatever you're up to this weekend, make sure it rocks and always wear appropriate clothing.
xoxo