There’s no leaving the couch. TV is sorted.
The weather is crap but thankfully the selection of films on TV this weekend is excellent. Here’s the best of what’s in store – excluding the satellite channels like Sky of course.
Friday
Chronicle –Â 19:10 –Â Film4
Plot:Â After exploring a strange hole in the ground at a party, three school friends make a discovery that gives them astonishing superpowers. As their lives spin out of control, their friendship is tested.
Watch it because: It’s the best superhero film that very few people have seen.
Fast & Furious 6 – 21:00 – E4
Plot: Having discovered that Michelle Rodriguez (who died in a fiery blaze during the 4th movie) is actually alive and well but also has amnesia and part of Luke Evan’s evil terrorist group, Vin Diesel and co. gets his car-loving family back together again to save her. And also the world.
Watch it because: Sandwiched between the two highlights of the series to date, 6 gets unfairly overlooked, despite having some fantastic action sequences, which includes Vin Diesel jumping over an entire highway, and that endless airport runway.
Goodfellas –Â 22:00 –Â ITV4
Plot: The story of Henry Hill as he moves up through the ranks of an Italian-American crime syndicate in New York City.
Watch it because: It’s a master at work. Hell, even if you’ve seen it 100 times before, it’s likely that you’ll never turn it off.
Shanghai Noon – 23:50 –Â BBC 1Â
Plot:Â The Wild West meets the Far East in a battle for honor, royalty and a trunk full of gold when acrobatic Imperial Guard Chong Wang comes to America to rescue a beautiful kidnapped Chinese princess. With the help of a partner he doesn’t trust, a wife he doesn’t want, a horse he cannot ride and martial arts moves that no one can believe, Chan finds himself facing the meanest gunslingers in the West.
Watch it because: It’s an action film that balance laughs with good set pieces. Also, Owen Wilson and Jackie Chan are clearly having a blast together.
Saturday
Legally Blonde – 15:05 – ITV2
Plot: Reece Witherspoon shows off her comedy chops and shows exactly why you shouldn’t judge a book by its cover in this brilliantly funny movie about a rich girl attempting to overcome everyone’s presumptions about her as she heads into law school. Features the “Bend N Snap”, which is reason enough alone to watch this movie.
Watch it because: Aside from the “Bend N Snap”? Witherspoon is actually a brilliant comedy actor, and there are plenty of laughs to be found in here.
Safe-Â 23:10 –Â 5*
Plot:Â An ex-cop meets a young girl whose extraordinary memory holds a priceless numerical code.
Watch it because: It’s a criminally underseen film with Jason Statham that balances action, plot, and character.
Platoon –Â 23:05 –Â ITV4
Plot: A young soldier in Vietnam faces a moral crisis when confronted by the horrors of war.
Watch it because: Three decades on and we’re still wondering how Willem Dafoe didn’t win an Oscar.
Sunday
Die Hard 2 –Â 21:00 –Â Film4
Plot: John McClane attempts to avert disaster as rogue military operatives seize control of Dulles International Airport in Washington, D.C.
Watch it because: It’s Die Hard. You don’t need another reason.
Ransom – 21:00 – ITV4
Plot: Mel Gibson and Rene Russo’s young son is kidnapped. When they get the ransom demand, and they get the police involved, things take a severe turn for the worst.
Watch it because: Gibson and Russo make for a convincing couple dealing with a crazy situation, and the plot twists will keep you guessing right up to the end credits.
Captain Phillips –Â 22:10 –Â ITV1
Plot: The captain of a ship is thrown into a fight for his life when his vessel is hijacked by Somali pirates.
Watch it because: The last hour is so tense that you’ll feel like an elephant was stomping all over your chest. Superb stuff from Paul Greengrass.
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