.
Our movie guy, James Finnegan, has some distractions from the World Cup drama today…
It is obvious that there are going to be plenty of shocks, surprises, highs and lows, but that’s enough about the World Cup – let’s see what’s on offer for the film viewers today.
One of my favourite of the modern animation classics is Kung Fu Panda (Saturday 11.35am RTE2).
Jack Black supplies the voice of Po, a fat and lazy panda who dreams of being a martial arts ninja. Unfortunately his current status is that he is serving noodles in his dad’s restaurant.
Meanwhile, up in the secluded temple on the top of a mountain, an elite group of fighters are preparing for their ultimate test.
Continued below…
.
They are led by Master Shifu, (Dustin Hoffman) and his legendary team of Tigress (Angelina Jolie), Monkey (Jackie Chan), Crane (David Cross), Mantis (Seth Rogen) and Viper (Lucy Liu).
Their challenge comes from the snow leopard Tai Lung (Ian McShane), who breaks free from his prison fortress to take his revenge on the Valley. Only an ultimate Kung Fu Master can save them – Guess who that is?
Another animated family film is How to Train Your Dragon: The Hidden World (Saturday 6.35pm RTE1), the third in this series, but which still retains the charm of the previous films.
Viking warrior Hiccup (jay Baruchel) and his dragon Toothless must protect their village from a dark threat (there seems to be a bit of an epidemic of these types of perils this weekend).
Staring the vocal talents of Cate Blanchett, F. Murray Abraham, Jonah Hill, Kristen Wiig, Kit Harrington (Dragons again!!), David Tennant and Ashley Jensen this is another fun family film.
Continued below…
.
Rosie (Saturday 9.30 RTE2) is a film that is taken from behind today’s headlines. It is not an easy watch, but it is brilliantly acted, written directed and filmed.
When a family are made homeless when their rented home is sold, Rosie (Sarah Greene) fights to protect her family as she struggles to find them a room for the night. Set over a thirty six hour period, this graphically shows the reality of some people’s daily struggle.
Directed by Paddy Breathnach from a screenplay by Roddy Doyle, this is one of the most important Irish films of recent years.
The 100 Year Old Man who Climbed Out the Window and Disappeared (Saturday 10pm TG4) tells the tale of an elderly explosives expert who escapes from his retirement home rather than face his 100th Birthday celebrations.
He gets entangled with the criminal underworld, and reflects how his work has altered the course of history – his own and the worlds
Starring Robert Gustafsson and Iwar Wiklander, this Swedish Comedy/Drama is somewhat quirky, but well worth a watch – don’t let the subtitles put you off. Enjoy!
………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………………
