The Weekly Retro Movie Rundown 184
Hot jam doughnuts! It's the weekend all over again? Okay, well if you insist!
Like a trusty and experienced local fishmongers (bear with us), we find ourselves seeking out some of the finest retro films like that mornings catch of the day. We're looking for something that's different, beautiful with plenty of action to it that will dazzle our customers and keep them coming back for more. Keeping our selection cooler than a high school jock in a teen film, we'll display them with pride like our ever growing DVD collection before selecting the perfect specimen to help us create the perfect fish pie and retro movie night in.
Have a happy retro weekend!
SATURDAY 20th FEBRUARY
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Death of a Gunfighter (1969) ITV4 2:20pm-4:15pm (1 hour 55 minutes)
A frontier marshal kills a drunken man in self defense, but finds his uncompromising brand of justice is no longer condoned by the locals. When he refuses to step down, the town fathers realise they may have to use violent methods of their own to rid themselves of him. Western, starring Richard Widmark, Lena Horne, Carroll O'Connor and David Opatoshu.
Superman (1978) ITV4 4:15pm-7:10pm (2 hours 55 minutes)
A fledgling superhero crash-lands on Earth after evacuation from his home planet and is taken in by an elderly couple who raise him as their own. But with adolescence comes a greater understanding of his superhuman powers, leading to his rebirth as a crusader for justice and defender of the American way of life. Comic-strip adventure, with Christopher Reeve, Gene Hackman, Margot Kidder and Marlon Brando.
Despicable Me 2 (2013) ITV London 5:00pm-7:00pm (2 hours)
A reformed criminal mastermind who has abandoned his wicked ways for a life of fatherhood and jam-making helps a secret agent to bring one of his fellow evil geniuses to justice. The villain in question has stolen a dangerous experimental serum with the power to turn harmless animals into ravening monsters. Animated comedy sequel, with the voices of Steve Carell and Kristen Wiig.
The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor (2008) ITV2 5:35pm-7:45pm (2 hours 10 minutes)
Daredevil explorers Rick and Evelyn O'Connell are called into action when their son accidentally resurrects the evil Chinese Emperor Han from his ancient tomb. The family now faces a race against time to prevent the merciless leader from awakening his vast terracotta army in a plot to take over the world. Fantasy adventure sequel, starring Brendan Fraser, Maria Bello, Jet Li and Michelle Yeoh.
Cast Away (2000) BBC2 London 7:00pm-9:15pm (2 hours 15 minutes)
A manager for an American courier service has to fend for himself when a plane crash leaves him stranded alone on a desert island. Initially panic-stricken, he overcomes his terror to survive for four years on his own before building a raft and setting off on an epic journey back home. Adventure drama, starring Tom Hanks, Helen Hunt, Nick Searcy, Lari White and Chris Noth.
RoboCop (2014) Channel 4 9:00pm-11:20pm (2 hours 20 minutes)
A corporation that creates military robots seizes a chance to diversify into law enforcement when a Detroit cop is critically injured in a bombing. He is rebuilt as a crime-fighting cyborg, but struggles to regain his free will from his creators' control. Sci-fi thriller remake, starring Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton and Samuel L Jackson.
Total Recall (1990) ITV4 11:10pm-1:30am (2 hours 20 minutes)
A construction worker pays to have fake memories of a dream holiday implanted into his brain, but discovers his mind has already been tampered with - apparently to erase his true identity as a secret agent from a colony on Mars. He journeys to the planet in search of the truth, but is drawn into a conflict between the tyrannical ruler and a rebel faction. Paul Verhoeven's sci-fi thriller, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Rachel Ticotin and Michael Ironside.
Fun Fact: Arnold Schwarzenegger was originally going to play the title role in RoboCop (1987), but problems with the costume caused producers to drop the idea. After Schwarzenegger saw "RoboCop", he said that he loved the movie and wanted to work with director Paul Verhoeven. When he and Verhoeven heard about "Total Recall", they decided to work on that.
Shanghai Noon (2000) BBC1 London 11:35pm-1:20am (1 hour 45 minutes)
A 19th-century imperial guard to the Emperor of China faces a clash of cultures when he is flung into the Wild West on a mission to rescue a princess who has been kidnapped by a renegade. In a bid to complete his quest, he teams up with a bumbling outlaw. Comedy Western, starring Jackie Chan, Owen Wilson, Jason Connery and Lucy Liu.
SUNDAY 21st FEBRUARY
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The 'Burbs (1989) Channel 5 2:30pm-4:30pm (2 hours)
The arrival of secretive neighbours sparks an unhealthy curiosity in a group of friends, leading them to go to bizarre lengths to discover the truth about the newcomers. However, their investigations take an even weirder twist when they begin to suspect their unseen fellow suburbanites are part of a cannibalistic cult. Joe Dante's black comedy, starring Tom Hanks, Bruce Dern, Carrie Fisher, Corey Feldman and Henry Gibson.
The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004) Channel 4 3:05pm-5:20pm (2 hours 15 minutes)
Princess Mia of Genovia discovers that although she is supposed to take the throne on her 21st birthday, unmarried women like her are barred from being head of state. She now has just 30 days to find herself a husband - but an ambitious nobleman is determined to sabotage her hopes of romance. Family comedy sequel, with Anne Hathaway, Hector Elizondo, Julie Andrews, John Rhys-Davies and Chris Pine.
Live and Let Die (1973) ITV London 3:40pm-6:00pm (2 hours 20 minutes)
James Bond's investigation into the murder of three British agents leads him to a connection between the dictator of a Caribbean island and a notorious Harlem drug kingpin - along with a plot to flood America with limitless supplies of free heroin. Spy adventure, with Roger Moore in his first appearance as 007, alongside Yaphet Kotto and Jane Seymour.
The Money Pit (1986) Channel 5 4:35pm-6:20pm (1 hour 45 minutes)
Rate Yuppie couple Walter and Anna buy a ramshackle old house and set about renovating it, only to see their dream home gradually turn into a nightmare. Anna also has to contend with her ex-husband, who is determined to talk her into giving their relationship another try. Comedy, starring Tom Hanks, Shelley Long, Alexander Godunov and Joe Mantegna.
The Fox and the Hound (1981) Channel 5 6:20pm-8:00pm (1 hour 40 minutes)
An orphaned fox cub is taken in by a kindly widow, and becomes firm friends with a puppy belonging to a hunter. However, as they grow to adulthood, the dog is trained to prey on foxes, and the two animals realise their friendship may not survive as they are expected to be natural enemies. Animated adventure, with the voices of Mickey Rooney and Kurt Russell.
Back to the Future (1985) ITV2 6:40pm-9:00pm (2 hours 20 minutes)
Teenager Marty McFly travels back to the 1950s in a time machine built by his eccentric inventor friend. The return journey proves tricky enough, but he also accidentally alters the sequence of events that led to his parents falling in love - and has to persuade his future dad to win his mother's heart, or he will never be born. Sci-fi comedy adventure, starring Michael J Fox, Christopher Lloyd, Lea Thompson and Crispin Glover.
Wayne's World 2 (1993) Comedy Central 7:00pm-9:00pm (2 hours)
Heavy metal fanatics Wayne and Garth try to stage a giant Woodstock-style rock festival, with a little help from a spaced-out British roadie and the ghost of Jim Morrison. But Wayne also has to stop his girlfriend leaving him for her slimy manager. Comedy sequel, starring Mike Myers, Dana Carvey, Ralph Brown, Kim Basinger, Tia Carrere and Christopher Walken.
Fun Fact: Nirvana was offered a part in the film as one of the performers in Waynestock and band members Kurt Cobain, Dave Grohl and Krist Novoselic were even shown a rough cut of the film to try to persuade them but they eventually declined.
Dirty Dancing (1987) Channel 5 8:00pm-10:05pm (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.
Whatever you're up to this weekend, keep your chain clean and don't forget to stay hydrated.
xoxo