FILM HIGHLIGHTS
SUNDAY
Gremlins 2: The new BaTch (1990) RTE2, 2.50pm Joe Dante’s family comedy, starring Zach Galligan, Phoebe
Cates and John Glover. Billy, now working at a high-tech office in New York City, gets a surprise when the lovable Gizmo turns up out of the blue. However, it isn’t long before trouble arrives, and the cute little creature spawns a whole new breed of the scaly terrors — who have developed some dastardly new tricks and disturbing mutations. sTar wars: episode V: The empire sTrikes Back (1980)
ITV2, 6.25pm Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford and Carrie Fisher return for
Irvin Kershner’s unbeatable sci-fi sequel. The Empire stage a devastating attack on the Rebellion’s remote base, leaving them scattered. Luke heads to an inhospitable swamp planet to track down Yoda, a great Jedi Master who he hopes will train him in the ancient arts. Meanwhile, Han, Leia and their companions are chased across the galaxy by the evil Darth Vader.
John carTer (2012) BBC2, 12m’t Sci-fi action, with Taylor Kitsch, Lynn Collins, Willem Dafoe and
Mark Strong. A Civil War veteran finds himself transported to Mars, where he gets caught up in a wild adventure with an alien species. He must help the brave princess who is trying to bring the conflict to an end, while adjusting to this new world. Thomas Haden Church and Ciaran Hinds also feature. This is 40 (2012) Channel 4, 1.15am Judd Apatow’s comedy, starring Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann, Jason Segel and Megan Fox. Couple Pete and Debbie find their marriage tested as they both approach their 40th birthdays. They face a number of challenges that keep getting in the way, from struggles at work to the possibility of losing their home.
MONDAY
die hard 2 (1990) Film4, 9pm Action, starring Bruce Willis, William Atherton and Bonnie Bedelia. Tough cop John McClane finds himself in the line of fire once again, this time when the airport he is passing through in Washington DC is taken over by terrorists. They look to break their dangerous leader out of custody, and John is the only person able to prevent them. 28 days laTer… (2002) TG4, 9.30pm Danny Boyle’s nail-biting horror, starring Cillian Murphy, Naomie Harris, Christopher Eccleston and Brendan Gleeson. Jim wakes up from a coma, only to find that Britain has been left in a state of panic following the outbreak of a deadly virus that turns people into feral creatures. Teaming with a small group of survivors, they must now find a way to outlast the infected masses.
TUESDAY
The lady Vanishes (2013) Virgin Media 3, 7pm Mystery drama, with Tuppence Middleton, Keeley Hawes and Julian Rhind-Tutt. A young socialite is travelling by train when she befriends an older woman, who she finds quite fascinating. However, her new companion soon disappears without a trace. To make matters worse, all of the other passengers are in agreement that she was never there in the first place.
criminal (2016) Film4, 9pm Action, starring Kevin Costner, Ryan Reynolds, Gal Gadot (right), Gary Oldman and Tommy Lee
Jones. An important CIA mission is compromised and the agent behind it killed. Desperate to finish what he started, the agency uses state-of-the-art technology to place his memories and skills into the body of a death-row inmate, who they must trust to complete the task. However, the longer the mission takes the closer they are to total failure. 13 hours: The secreT soldiers of BenGhazi (2016) Film4, 11.15pm Michael Bay’s thrilling war drama, starring John Krasinski. A group of former military contractors are providing security at a secretive CIA compound in Benghazi. However, it comes under attack from heavily-armed locals during a visit from the US ambassador to Libya. Now the team must keep him safe and get everyone out as soon as possible.
WEDNESDAY
whiskey TanGo foxTroT (2016) Film4, 11.10pm Comedy, starring Tina Fey, Margot Robbie, Martin Freeman, Alfred Molina and
Billy Bob Thornton. In 2003, journalist Kim Baker leaves her comfortable life in New York behind when she heads off to cover the war in Afghanistan. ToTal recall (1990) ITV4, 11.20pm Paul Verhoeven’s classic sci-fi, based on Philip K Dick’s short story, starring Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sharon Stone and Michael Ironside. In the future, a man goes to get memories of a virtual holiday implanted in his brain, but ends up with highly-sensitive information that could bring down a powerful political figure. Now he must travel to Mars to make sense of it all, while avoiding the people who wish to stop him, no matter what it takes. eaGle eye (2008) BBC1, 12.10am Action, with Shia LaBeouf, Michelle Monaghan and Rosario Dawson. Jerry and Rachel are strangers, but find themselves brought together after they both receive mysterious phone calls. They are told that they must complete a series of tasks, or risk losing everything they hold dear. To make matters worse each new challenge raises the danger factor and every move they make is being observed by their demanding taskmaster.
ThUrSDAY
ValenTine’s day (2010) ITV2, 6.30pm What better film to curl up with today than Garry Marshall’s romantic comedy, which features an ensemble cast that includes Julia Roberts, Jamie Foxx, Anne Hathaway, Jessica Alba, Bradley Cooper and Jessica Biel. A number of people, both couples and singletons, find their lives drawn together in heartwarming, moving and funny situations surrounding the most romantic day of the year. fifTy shades of Grey (2015) ITV2, 9pm Dakota Johnson and Jamie Dornan star in the steamy drama. Student Anastasia lands an interview with powerful billionaire Christian Grey. It’s clear that there is something between them from the moment they meet. He pursues her until she agrees to date him, which leads her to discover his dark sexual fantasies. puppy loVe (2012) TG4, 11.35pm Family comedy, with Candace Cameron Bure, Victor Webster and Katie L Hawkins. Single mum Megan moves her young daughter to a new home and decides to get a dog to keep her company. However, things get complicated when a professional baseball player turns up, claiming that the troublesome pooch actually belongs to him.
FrIDAY
specTre (2015) ITV2, 8pm Espionage action, with Daniel Craig, Christoph Waltz, Lea Seydoux and Ralph Fiennes. James Bond finds himself at the centre of the dangerous terrorist organisation that he has been pursuing since Vesper’s death. However, he must tangle with their intellectual leader, who has a dark connection to 007’s past. The BodyGuard (1992) RTE2, 10.30pm Romantic drama, starring Kevin Costner and Whitney Houston. Frank, a former Secret Service agent, takes up a job as the bodyguard to a famous singer. However, this new role couldn’t be further from his last one. Things take a turn when a driven stalker comes after the star.
SATUrDAY
Toy sTory (1995) BBC1, 5.15pm Pixar’s classic animation, with the voices of Tom Hanks and Tim Allen. Cowboy figure Woody grows jealous of his owner Andy’s new favourite toy, a spaceman called Buzz. He plans to make his rival disappear, but ends up getting them both lost. Now far from home, they have to work together to get back to Andy. 500 days of summer (2009) TG4, 10pm Romantic comedy, starring Zooey Deschanel and Joseph GordonLevitt. Tom falls for Summer the instant that she turns up at his job at a greeting card company. He desperately wants to date her, but finds out that she doesn’t think that true love can exist — instead believing that real life always gets in the way. He sets out to prove her wrong, and win her over in the process.