Finnegan On Films: Famous Franchises To The Fore On TV This Week

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Our movie guy, James Finnegan, picks some films for your viewing pleasure on RTE and TG4 this week…

IT’S a bit of a ‘Boys Own’ selection of films this week, with plenty of action and adventure.

Our selection begins in the now time honoured fashion with Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince (Saturday RTE 1 6.35pm).

Harry and Dumbledore are working closely together to uncover the secret past of Lord Voldermort, whose Death Eaters are causing damage in both the Wizard and Muggle worlds.

There are a few scenes that the younger viewer may find a little upsetting in this darker than usual episode, but there is also much that is entertaining and engaging.

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As we wait with bated breath for the much delayed release of ‘No Time to Die’, we get an opportunity to see Daniel Craig’s first outing as James Bond in Casino Royale (Saturday 9.10pm RTE2).  

Bond attains his “00” licence to kill and is set on the trail of Le Chiffre, who is a major international terrorist financial backer.

They meet over a winner takes all card game in a Casino in Montenegro in a desperate attempt to bankrupt Le Chiffre.

This is not the usual slick secret agent from previous films, but a raw, very human character that unlike previous incarnations sweats, bleeds and messes up.

Also starring Eva Green, Mads Mikkelsen and Judi Dench as M, this is a very satisfactory re-boot of the Bond franchise in the very capable hands of director Martin Campbell.

Speaking of reboots, Star Trek (Monday 9.30 TG4) is a new version of the original cast and crew of the Starship Enterprise in their first mission together.

Kirk, Spock, Scotty and all find themselves fighting a vengeful Romulan commander from the future, with the fates of multiple worlds in jeopardy.

Starring Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Bruce Greenwood, Karl Urban, Eric Bana and even the great Leonard Nimoy himself, returning to the role which he made so iconic as Spock, this is a very clever retelling set in an alternative time reality.  Don’t get too bogged down in the detail, just go along with the ride – it’s a fun one.

The First Great Train Robbery (Friday 9.05 TG4) stars Sean Connery as Edward Pierce, a gentleman crook in 1855.

He intends to steal one of the monthly gold shipments used to pay British troops in the Crimean War which are transported by train from London to Folkestone.

He enlists the help of Robert Agar (Donald Sutherland), a master safecracker, and various others, in this audacious attempt.

Director Michael Crichton is at the helm of this period thriller, based on his own novel, and is a rattling good yarn as one would expect from the author of Jurassic Park.

Also starring Lesley-Anne Down, Wayne Sleep and Michael Elphick, and with a wonderful Jerry Goldsmith score, this is a great Friday night film. Enjoy and stay safe.

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