The Weekly Retro Movie Rundown 194
Chilli and rice! It's another extra long retro movie filled weekend?! Well....if we must!
So like one of the most talented and determined ice sculptors in the land, we find ourselves faced with a big block pure and clean ice acting as our blank canvas. With our mind racing with the possibilities, we'll begin to chip and chisel away at the super cooled goodness as we create one of our finest pieces. We'll rub and scrape our work into everything we imagined fully in the knowledge of it's impending doom. While it might melt and disappear in front of our eyes like each and every retro movie weekend, what will remain are the memories and experience of what once was. So how will you shape your ice?
Have a happy retro weekend!
SATURDAY 30th April
.
Scott of the Antarctic (1948) BBC2 7:40am-9:30am (1 hour 50 minutes)
Fact-based drama following explorer Robert Falcon Scott's failed expedition to be the first to reach the South Pole. The extreme conditions, poor decision-making and the pressure of the race to make it to the Pole before their Norwegian rivals proved too much for the British team, resulting in tragedy in 1912. Starring John Mills, Derek Bond, James Robertson Justice, Kenneth More and John Gregson.
Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory (1971) ITV3 1:30pm-2:30pm (1 hour)
An eccentric confectionery king announces that five children will be given a tour of his wondrous factory. The winners turn out to be a kind-hearted boy from a penniless family and four obnoxious brats, who face a terrible fate when they misbehave. Musical fantasy, based on Roald Dahl's classic book Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, starring Gene Wilder, Jack Albertson, Peter Ostrum and Roy Kinnear.
Short Circuit 2 (1988) Sony Channel 2:00pm-4:15pm (2 hours 15 minutes)
Manic mechanoid Johnny Five meets an old friend in New York City and embarks on a fact-finding tour - but ends up entangled in a series of escapades culminating in a bank robbery. Sci-fi comedy sequel, starring Fisher Stevens, Michael McKean, Cynthia Gibb and Jack Weston, with the voice of Tim Blaney.
Smokey and the Bandit (1977) ITV 2:40pm-4:25pm (1 hour 45 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.
Fun Fact: This 70s classic was the second highest grossing movie released in 1977, loosing out on the top spot to Star Wars.
The Flintstones (1994) ITV2 3:35pm-4:45pm (1 hour 10 minutes)
Blue-collar caveman Fred Flintstone is promoted to an executive position at work and unwittingly becomes embroiled in an embezzlement scheme - thanks in no small part to his seductive new assistant. Live-action version of the cartoon comedy, starring John Goodman, Rick Moranis, Rosie O'Donnell, Halle Berry and Elizabeth Taylor.
Liar Liar (1997) ITV2 5:20pm-6:25pm (1 hour 5 minutes)
A lawyer, whose underhand ploys to win cases leave him little time to see his son, discovers he is incapable of lying after the boy's birthday wish makes his dad tell only the truth. However, this causes a host of problems as the attorney tries to muddle his way through a high-profile divorce settlement. Comedy, with Jim Carrey, Maura Tierney, Justin Cooper, Jennifer Tilly and Cary Elwes.
The Fifth Element (1997) 5STAR 5:30pm-8:00pm (2 hours 30 minutes)
In the 23rd century, the world faces destruction from a seemingly unstoppable force of pure evil. Meanwhile, a New York cab driver encounters a mysterious woman destined to save the Earth from its fate, and has to protect her from a scheming arms dealer and a horde of alien mercenaries. Luc Besson's sci-fi adventure, starring Bruce Willis, Milla Jovovich and Gary Oldman.
K-9 (1989) Syfy 5:10pm-7:20pm (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.
Pulp Fiction (1994) Dave 10:00pm-1:00am (3 hours)
A series of interlinked stories about the Los Angeles underworld. A hitman plays minder to his boss's wife, and he and his partner deal with a dead body following a mishap with a gun. Meanwhile, a washed-up boxer goes on the run after refusing to throw a fight, and two lovers plot a hold-up in a diner. Quentin Tarantino's crime drama, starring John Travolta, Samuel L Jackson, Uma Thurman, Bruce Willis, Ving Rhames, Tim Roth and Amanda Plummer.
You Only Live Twice (1967) ITV4 10:15pm-11:25pm (1 hour 10 minutes)
James Bond is sent on a mission to uncover the truth behind the disappearances of Soviet and American space capsules before the mutually suspicious superpowers go to war. The trail leads to Japan, where Bond finally comes face to face with his arch-enemy Blofeld. Spy thriller, starring Sean Connery, Donald Pleasence, Akiko Wakabayashi and Bernard Lee.
Fast & Furious (2009) ITV 10:15pm-12:10am (1 hour 55 minutes)
News of a friend's murder brings international fugitive Dominic Toretto back to his home city of Los Angeles in search of revenge. It is not long before his pursuit leads him to cross paths with FBI agent Brian O'Conner, and despite their hostile feelings toward each other, the pair work together to bring down those responsible. Thriller sequel, starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Michelle Rodriguez and Jordana Brewster.
SUNDAY 1st May
.
The Great St Trinian's Train Robbery (1966) Film4 11:00am-1:00pm (2 hours)
A crook and his cronies stash the money from a train heist in a deserted old mansion, planning to recover it in good time. However, several years later, when the thieves arrive to collect their loot, they discover the building has been turned into a school for girls where the pupils have become infamous for their escapades. Comedy, starring Frankie Howerd, Dora Bryan, Reg Varney and George Cole.
The Secret of My Success (1987) ITV3 4:15pm-5:15pm (1 hour)
A naive country boy travels to New York to make his fortune, only to end up working in a corporation's mail room. He chances on a vacant office and hatches a plan to pass himself off as a top-ranking executive, but leading a double life proves harder than expected. Comedy, starring Michael J Fox, Helen Slater, Richard Jordan and Fred Gwynne.
Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) 5STAR 4:50pm-7:00pm (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.
School of Rock (2003) Film4 6:45pm-9:00pm (2 hours 15 minutes)
A slobbish guitarist dreams of stardom, but his hopes are dashed when the other members of his band kick him out. Struggling to make ends meet, he takes a job as a supply teacher at an exclusive private school, and sets about moulding his pupils into rock gods. Comedy from director Richard Linklater, starring Jack Black, Joan Cusack, Mike White and Sarah Silverman.
Mercury Rising (1998) ITV4 9:00pm-10:00pm (1 hour)
A top-secret government agency has developed a seemingly unbreakable code - only for an autistic boy to crack it in an instant. Assassins succeed in gunning down his parents, but a maverick FBI agent investigating their deaths finds the child hiding in a closet, and resolves to shield him from the hitmen on his trail. Thriller, starring Bruce Willis, Alec Baldwin and Miko Hughes.
Skyfall (2012) ITV2 9:10pm-10:55pm (1 hour 45 minutes) - Not retro but well worth a watch!
James Bond pursues a mysterious criminal mastermind who has orchestrated a terrorist attack on MI6 headquarters and exposed the identities of undercover agents around the world. The trail leads to a rogue former operative who has a personal vendetta against the intelligence organisation's leader. Action thriller, starring Daniel Craig, Javier Bardem, Judi Dench and Ralph Fiennes.
Men in Black (1997) GOLD 9:30pm-11:20pm (1 hour 50 minutes)
streetwise cop is enlisted by a top-secret government force dedicated to policing alien visitors to Earth, teaming up with a veteran agent just as a body-swapping extraterrestrial giant insect begins a reign of terror throughout New York City. Sci-fi comedy, starring Will Smith, Tommy Lee Jones, Linda Fiorentino, Rip Torn and Vincent D'Onofrio.
MONDAY 2nd May
.
The Parent Trap (1961) Film4 11:00am-1:50pm (2 hours 50 minutes)
When twins sisters meet for the first time at summer camp, they decide it is high time their estranged parents got back together again, and hatch an ingenious plan to reunite them by swapping places with each other. Disney comedy, starring Hayley Mills in a dual role as both sisters, alongside Maureen O'Hara, Brian Keith and Leo G Carroll.
Camelot (1967) BBC2 10:25am-1:15pm (2 hours 50 minutes)
King Arthur is happily married to Queen Guenevere, but the arrival of handsome knight Sir Lancelot leads to infidelity and betrayal. For a time, the king refuses to believe his wife is having an affair, but the lovers are betrayed by Arthur's son, the conniving Mordred. Oscar-winning musical based on the Arthurian legend, starring Richard Harris, Vanessa Redgrave, Franco Nero, David Hemmings and Lionel Jeffries.
The Dam Busters (1954) ITV4 4:30pm-5:30pm (1 hour)
The story of the destruction of the major dams in Germany's industrial heartland in the Ruhr valley in 1943, a mission that seemed impossible until engineer and scientist Barnes Wallis came up with the ingenious idea of bouncing bombs, and the pilots of 617 Squadron were trained to fly the crucial mission. Second World War drama, with Michael Redgrave, Richard Todd, Basil Sydney, Derek Farr and Ursula Jeans.
Fun Fact: The bombs shown in the movie were the wrong shape because the actual shape (a stubby cylinder) was still secret at the time.
Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) Dave 4:55pm-7:00pm (2 hours 5 minutes)
The maverick haulier must overcome a crisis of confidence when he and his friends are hired to transport a pregnant elephant to Texas, a mammoth task that proves far from easy, especially with their old enemy in hot pursuit. Road comedy, with Burt Reynolds, Jackie Gleason, Jerry Reed, Dom DeLuise and Sally Field.
Iron Man (2008) Film4 6:25pm-9:00pm (2 hours 35 minutes)
Arms manufacturer Tony Stark is taken hostage by a terrorist group and realises the weapons his company build have been falling into the wrong hands. Using his engineering skills to construct a hi-tech armoured suit, he manages to escape and then puts the technology to good use in the fight against evil around the world. Superhero adventure, starring Robert Downey Jr, Jeff Bridges, Gwyneth Paltrow and Terrence Howard.
The Incredible Hulk (2008) Syfy 6:50pm-9:00pm (2 hours 10 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.
Nighthawks (1981) ITV4 9:00pm-10:00pm (1 hour)
Two tough cops are assigned to track down a ruthless terrorist on the streets of New York before he carries out his threat to blow up the UN building - and from randomly picking off innocent citizens as the pressure builds. Action adventure, starring Sylvester Stallone, Billy Dee Williams, Rutger Hauer, Lindsay Wagner, Nigel Davenport and Persis Khambatta.
Iron Man 2 (2010) Film4 9:00pm-11:25pm (2 hours 25 minutes)
Tycoon-turned-superhero Tony Stark confronts a fearsome new foe in a Russian scientist using his own deadly hi-tech weapons to seek revenge. He also faces a struggle to keep his secrets out of the hands of both the government and an amoral rival, and discovers the armour he developed to fight evil is slowly killing him. Action adventure sequel, with Robert Downey Jr, Mickey Rourke and Don Cheadle.
Air Force One (1997) 5STAR 9:00pm-11:25pm (2 hours 25 minutes)
The American president is forced to take drastic measures to save his family when their plane is hijacked by Russian terrorists demanding the release of a jailed radical general. Meanwhile, the vice president tries to manage the crisis from Washington and has to decide whether to shoot the aircraft down. Action thriller, starring Harrison Ford, Gary Oldman, Glenn Close, Dean Stockwell and William H Macy. Includes Access at 10pm.
Tomorrow Never Dies (1997) ITV 11:00pm-1:10am (2 hours 10 minutes)
James Bond joins forces with a Chinese agent to foil a media mogul's scheme to start a war between their countries. Using an undetectable stealth ship, the press baron plans an attack on both nations' navies, knowing they will blame each other - giving him exclusive global media coverage of the resulting conflict. Spy adventure, starring Pierce Brosnan, Jonathan Pryce, Teri Hatcher and Michelle Yeoh.
Whatever you're up to this bank holiday weekend, always remember to prepare for the worst and hope for the best. And bring a charger....
xoxo