The Weekly Retro Movie Rundown – 418
When logging on is the new going out, we know just how strange that can be and how uneventful it feels. Well! Taking a look at some of our fave free channels, we've picked out our top movies for you to enjoy, so why not buddy up and watch them together with someone... online! Set up a video call, put the kettle on and relive these classics together. Enjoy.
SATURDAY 6th March
Dirty Dancing 2: Havana Nights (2004) 5STAR 1:00pm-2:45pm
A naive American teenager moves with her wealthy family to 1950s Cuba, where she is bewitched by the pulsing Latin American rhythms. Eventually, a partnership made on the dance floor with a local waiter leads to a passionate romance but meets with the disapproval of her family. Drama, starring Romola Garai, Diego Luna, Jonathan Jackson, January Jones, and featuring a cameo by Patrick Swayze.
The Karate Kid (1984) Sony Movies 2:00pm-4:30pm
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 teaches him karate so he can face his enemies in a tournament. Drama, with Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and Elisabeth Shue.
Edward Scissorhands (1990) Film4 2:45pm-4:50pm
A reclusive genius creates a boy but dies before completing him, leaving his brainchild with scissor-like blades in place of hands. A kindly woman from a nearby suburb takes pity on the lonely figure and welcomes him into her home. He quickly becomes a hit in the neighbourhood - but then his new friends start to turn against him. Tim Burton's fantasy, starring Johnny Depp, Winona Ryder, Dianne Wiest and Vincent Price.
Labyrinth (1986) Channel 5 3:40pm-5:40pm
A teenager wishes her baby brother would be taken away, only to have her request granted by a band of goblins and their sinister king. She regrets her decision and sets out to rescue him, but to reach the castle where he is being held, she must find her way through a magical maze full of strange creatures. Jim Henson's fantasy adventure, starring Jennifer Connelly and David Bowie.
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Smokey and the Bandit II (1980) Paramount Network 4:20pm-6:25pm
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.
The Karate Kid Part II (1986) Sony Movies 4:30pm-6:45pm
High-kicking teenager Daniel accompanies his venerable mentor, Mr Miyagi when he returns to the Japanese province of Okinawa to visit his dying father. However, an old rival of Miyagi's is waiting for them, while Daniel is drawn into a vicious conflict with their enemy's own karate protege. Martial arts sequel, starring Ralph Macchio, Pat Morita and Yuji Okumoto.
The Fifth Element (1997) Paramount Network 6:25pm-9:00pm
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.
The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey (2012) Channel 4 6:45pm-10:00pm
Unassuming hobbit Bilbo Baggins is pulled out of his comfortable life when Gandalf the wizard volunteers him for a dangerous quest. He joins a party of dwarves who are on a mission to reclaim their lost homeland, which has been taken over by a dragon. When the group journeys into the Misty Mountains, Bilbo becomes separated from the dwarves and falls into a cave, where he finds himself confronted by Gollum and forced to play a riddle game. It is set in Middle-earth 60 years before the events of The Lord of the Rings and is the first part of Peter Jackson's fantasy adventure trilogy based on JRR Tolkien's novel, starring Martin Freeman, Ian McKellen, Richard Armitage, James Nesbitt, Ken Stott, Cate Blanchett, Ian Holm and Christopher Lee.
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The Beach (2000) Sony Movies 9:00pm-11:25pm
A backpacker arrives in Bangkok, where a wild-eyed veteran traveller tells him the location of a remote paradise island. When he finally makes it to the golden beaches, he discovers there is already a community in residence. All is not as it seems, however, and the blissful idyll soon turns sour. Danny Boyle's drama, starring Leonardo DiCaprio, Robert Carlyle, Virginie Ledoyen and Tilda Swinton.
Die Another Day (2002) ITV 11:05pm-1:30am
James Bond is suspended from duty after being taken hostage in North Korea but goes against orders to track down those who betrayed him. During the pursuit of the terrorist he was investigating before his capture, he discovers a connection with a British billionaire who has constructed a devastating orbital weapon. Spy adventure, starring Pierce Brosnan, Halle Berry, Toby Stephens, Judi Dench and John Cleese.
SUNDAY 7th March
Jurassic Park III (2001) ITV 1:40pm-3:25pm
Palaeontologist Dr Alan Grant is lured to a dinosaur-infested island by a divorced couple who offer to fund his research, unaware their real motive is to find their missing son - and that the creatures on the island are far more intelligent than anyone suspected. An action-adventure sequel, starring Sam Neill, William H Macy, Tea Leoni and Alessandro Nivola.
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Dante's Peak (1997) Channel 5 3:50pm-5:50pm
A vulcanologist's suspicions that a long-dormant volcano is about to erupt turn out to be true, prompting him to race against time to save the community standing in its way - and clash with local government officials weighing his predictions against the loss in tourism revenue. Disaster movie, starring Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton, Elizabeth Hoffman and Charles Hallahan.
Twister (1996) Channel 5 5:50pm-8:00pm
A storm-chaser and her estranged husband are brought together in a joint project to monitor the path of an oncoming tornado - but the pair face a race against the clock as a rival government-backed group with hi-tech resources tries to beat them to it. Action thriller, starring Helen Hunt, Bill Paxton, Cary Elwes, Jami Gertz and Philip Seymour Hoffman.
It Could Happen to You (1994) Sony Movies 5:00pm-7:05pm
A cop is unable to tip a waitress but instead promises to split the proceeds with her if he wins the lottery. However, his elation when he actually bags the jackpot quickly fades when his furious wife makes it plain she does not want him to honour the pledge. Romantic comedy, starring Nicolas Cage, Bridget Fonda, Rosie Perez and Isaac Hayes.
Jurassic Park (1993) ITV2 6:25pm-9:00pm
Scientists are given a sneak preview of a safari park inhabited by genetically engineered dinosaurs created by an eccentric tycoon. However, it all goes wrong when a greedy employee sabotages the security systems, allowing the prehistoric beasts to roam free and hunt the visitors. Steven Spielberg's action-adventure, starring Sam Neill, Laura Dern, Jeff Goldblum, Richard Attenborough and Samuel L Jackson.
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Smokey and the Bandit Part 3 (1983) Paramount Network 7:15pm-9:00pm
Sheriff Buford T Justice (Jackie Gleason), now reluctantly nearing retirement, accepts a wild challenge to race from Miami to Texas in less than 24 hours. Comedy adventure, also starring Jerry Reed, Mike Henry and featuring a cameo appearance by Burt Reynolds.
The Sum of All Fears (2002) Paramount Network 9:00pm-11:35pm
The CIA becomes suspicious of Russia's nuclear activities, and agent Jack Ryan is ordered to investigate. However, it is not long before the threat of terrorists detonating a nuclear bomb on American soil is on the cards, sparking a race against the clock to avert disaster. Thriller based on Tom Clancy's novel, starring Ben Affleck, Morgan Freeman, James Cromwell, Liev Schreiber, Bridget Moynahan and Alan Bates.
Get Carter (2000) Sony Movies 9:00pm-11:10pm
A Mob enforcer returns home to Seattle for his brother's funeral. Learning his brother was murdered, he resolves to hunt down and kill everyone involved in his death, with the help of his dead sibling's widow and her daughter. Crime thriller remake, starring Sylvester Stallone, Miranda Richardson, Mickey Rourke, Rachael Leigh Cook and Michael Caine, star of the original film.
Stir Crazy (1980) Sony Movies Classic 9:00pm-11:20pm
Two unemployed New Yorkers travel to California in search of fame and fortune. Instead, the hapless duo ends up clocking on for a 125-year stint in jail for a bank robbery they did not commit - until a prison rodeo presents them with the chance to make a daring escape. Comedy directed by Sidney Poitier, starring Richard Pryor, Gene Wilder, JoBeth Williams, Craig T Nelson and Georg Stanford Brown.
Whatever you're up to this weekend, it's all going to be okay.