The Weekly Retro Movie Rundown – 443
Swinging its way to you like a monkey on a vine, we're swooping in with a whole mix of movie goodness for you to snap up and enjoy. A little of drama, a dash of action and a whole heap of nostalgia. Enjoy!
SATURDAY 4th September
Moomins on the Riviera (2014) Film4 11:00am-12:35pm
The Moomins, Little My and Snorkmaiden embark on a sea journey that, after overcoming storms and desert island dangers, leads the family to the Riviera, where their unity is put to the test. Children's animation, with the voices of Russell Tovey and Tracy-Ann Oberman.
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Clueless (1995) Channel 5 1:05pm-3:00pm
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.
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Vertical Limit (2000) GREAT! movies 2:00pm-4:25pm
A wildlife photographer is forced to master his fears and the elements as he leads an expedition to climb K2, the world's second-highest mountain, on a desperate mission to rescue his estranged sister and her fellow mountaineers, who have fallen into a crevasse. Action-adventure, starring Chris O'Donnell, Bill Paxton, Scott Glenn and Robin Tunney.
The Witches (1990) 5STAR 4:30pm-6:25pm
A boy goes on holiday with his grandmother to a seaside hotel hosting a convention of witches, who have come together to hear their leader's plan to turn all the children in England into mice. When the chief hag discovers the young lad eavesdropping at their meeting, she decides to make him one of her first victims. Children's fantasy directed by Nicolas Roeg, based on the book by Roald Dahl, and starring Anjelica Huston, Mai Zetterling, Jasen Fisher, Jane Horrocks, Rowan Atkinson and Brenda Blethyn.
Transformers: The Last Knight (2017) E4 6:00pm-9:00pm
The shape-changing robots and their human allies face a confrontation with their original creator, who has brainwashed their leader and intends to save her own home planet by destroying Earth. To save the human race they must recover an ancient artefact from Arthurian legend - but their mission is threatened by old enemies as they uncover a terrible secret about the history of the world. Sci-fi adventure sequel, starring Mark Wahlberg, Anthony Hopkins, Gemma Chan, Stanley Tucci and John Turturro.
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Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981) Film4 6:40pm-9:00pm
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.
Flash Gordon (1980) ITV4 6:45pm-9:00pm
American football quarterback Flash Gordon and journalist Dale Arden find themselves aboard a rocket ship designed by scientist Dr Zarkov, who intends to travel across space to locate the source of recent natural disasters. The three arrive on the planet Mongo, where they soon learn that the attacks are the responsibility of evil emperor Ming the Merciless, who is planning to destroy the Earth. Sci-fi comic-strip adventure, with Sam J Jones, Max von Sydow, Brian Blessed, Melody Anderson, Topol, Timothy Dalton, Ornella Muti, Peter Wyngarde and Mariangela Melato. Featuring music by Queen.
The Man in the Iron Mask (1998) 5STAR 6:25pm-9:00pm
The Three Musketeers set out to depose the villainous King of France and reinstate his long-imprisoned twin brother. However, they face an unexpected threat in the form of old friend D'Artagnan, who has remained loyal to the evil monarch. Swashbuckling adventure, starring Leonardo DiCaprio in a dual role, alongside John Malkovich, Jeremy Irons, Gerard Depardieu, Gabriel Byrne, Anne Parillaud and Hugh Laurie.
Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984) Film4 9:00pm-11:20pm
The intrepid archaeologist, with his young sidekick and a nightclub singer in tow, is stranded in India, where he takes on a mission to recover magical sacred stones from the hands of an evil cult engaged in human sacrifice and child slavery. Steven Spielberg's action-adventure, starring Harrison Ford, Kate Capshaw, Ke Huy Quan and Amrish Puri.
Armageddon (1998) ITV4 9:00pm-12:05am
Nasa discovers an asteroid the size of Texas is on a collision course with Earth, so a drilling expert is recruited to train a team of misfits to transport a nuclear device into outer space to destroy it - but having had no experience of space travel, the reluctant astronauts find themselves seriously out of their depth. Sci-fi thriller, with Bruce Willis, Ben Affleck, Liv Tyler, Michael Clarke Duncan, Billy Bob Thornton and Steve Buscemi.
Unbreakable (2000) 5STAR 9:00pm-11:15pm
A security guard escapes from the carnage of a train crash miraculously unscathed. He is baffled by what has happened to him - until he is contacted by a frail comic-book dealer, who appears to hold the key to the mystery. Drama from director M Night Shyamalan, with Bruce Willis, Samuel L Jackson, Robin Wright and Spencer Treat Clark.
Guardians of the Galaxy (2014) BBC One 10:35pm-12:30am
A boy abducted by aliens grows up to be an interstellar mercenary. He and a band of misfits break out of a prison space station with a plan to sell a mysterious orb to the highest bidder - but cross a warlord, who intends to turn it into a powerful weapon. Sci-fi adventure, starring Chris Pratt, Zoe Saldana and Dave Bautista, with the voices of Bradley Cooper and Vin Diesel.
Guardians of the Galaxy Merchandise
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Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989) Film4 11:20pm-1:55am
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. The action-adventure sequel directed by Steven Spielberg, the third instalment in the successful franchise. Harrison Ford stars as the titular hero, alongside Sean Connery, Alison Doody, River Phoenix, Julian Glover and Denholm Elliott.
SUNDAY 5th September
Snoopy and Charlie Brown: The Peanuts Movie (2015) Film4 11:00am-12:45pm
The long-suffering youngster hopes his lifelong run of bad luck will come to an end when he develops a crush on a new school friend. His beloved dog has more important things to worry about, as he dreams of taking to the skies in his airborne kennel. Animated comedy, with the voices of Noah Schnapp and Bill Melendez.
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Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home (1986) Film4 12:45pm-3:05pm
The Enterprise crew travels back in time to prevent an alien probe from destroying the Earth. The only thing that can avert the disaster is a humpback whale, a creature extinct in the 23rd century - but adjusting to life back in 1986 proves a distinct challenge. Sci-fi adventure sequel, starring William Shatner, DeForest Kelley and Leonard Nimoy, who also directed.
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You Only Live Twice (1967) ITV 1:10pm-3:25pm
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.
Bicentennial Man (1999) GREAT! movies 2:30pm-5:05pm
A family purchases a robot servant to perform menial tasks but quickly realises this is no ordinary droid when he begins to develop human emotions and the capacity to think for himself, a quality encouraged by his owner's children. He asks for his freedom, and spends the next 200 years struggling to come to terms with its humanity. Chris Columbus's sci-fi drama inspired by the books of Isaac Asimov, starring Robin Williams, Sam Neill, Embeth Davidtz and Oliver Platt.
The Karate Kid (1984) Channel 4 3:30pm-6:00pm
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.
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The BFG (2016) BBC One 3:45pm-5:35pm
An orphaned girl befriends a benevolent giant, who takes her off to a magical land, where they attempt to stop the man-eating creatures that are invading the human world. Steven Spielberg's fantasy adventure based on Roald Dahl's book, starring Mark Rylance, Ruby Barnhill and Penelope Wilton.
Flash Gordon (1980) ITV4 5:45pm-8:00pm
American football quarterback Flash Gordon and journalist Dale Arden find themselves aboard a rocket ship designed by scientist Dr Zarkov, who intends to travel across space to locate the source of recent natural disasters. The three arrive on the planet Mongo, where they soon learn that the attacks are the responsibility of evil emperor Ming the Merciless, who is planning to destroy the Earth. Sci-fi comic-strip adventure, with Sam J Jones, Max von Sydow, Brian Blessed, Melody Anderson, Topol, Timothy Dalton, Ornella Muti, Peter Wyngarde and Mariangela Melato. Featuring music by Queen.
Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice (2016) ITV2 6:10pm-9:00pm
The two superheroes become aware of each other's presence on Earth for the first time, and each disapproving of the other's methods. A ruthless billionaire plays on their mutual mistrust to bring about their downfall, leading the heroes to face each other in a battle to the death. Action-adventure, starring Ben Affleck, Henry Cavill, Gal Gadot and Jesse Eisenberg.
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Fantastic Four (2015) Film4 7:05pm-9:00pm
A gifted young scientist joins members of a secret project researching inter-dimensional travel, and they return from a journey to another world with superhuman powers. Their abilities make them the only hope for Earth's survival when a colleague who was lost on their expedition returns to wreak vengeance. Superhero adventure, starring Miles Teller, Michael B Jordan, Kate Mara and Jamie Bell.
Clear and Present Danger (1994) 5STAR 7:05pm-10:00pm
A CIA analyst gets caught up in the Colombian drug trade while trying to track down terrorists responsible for the murder of a close friend of the US president - but his investigations point to illegal activity and corruption at the very top of government. Action thriller, based on Tom Clancy's novel, with Harrison Ford reprising his role from Patriot Games alongside Willem Dafoe, Anne Archer and James Earl Jones.
Cobra (1986) ITV4 9:00pm-10:50pm
A maverick Los Angeles police officer is assigned to the case of a serial killer and becomes convinced the murders are not the work of just one man but an organised gang of psychopaths. His theory turns out to be true and he has to battle to protect the sole surviving witness to their reign of terror. Action thriller, with Sylvester Stallone, Brigitte Nielsen and Brian Thompson.
Patriot Games (1992) 5STAR 10:00pm-12:20am
Former CIA agent Jack Ryan foils an assassination attempt by an IRA splinter group, killing one of the terrorists in the process. However, he becomes caught in a lethal game of cat-and-mouse with the dead man's revenge-seeking brother. Thriller based on Tom Clancy's novel, starring Harrison Ford, Sean Bean, Samuel L Jackson, Richard Harris and James Earl Jones, reprising his role from earlier Clancy adaptation The Hunt for Red October.
Whatever you're up to this weekend, get packed up early.