Finnegan On Films: Movies To Watch On TV Over The New Year Bank Holiday Weekend

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Our movie guy, James Finnegan, gives a last rummage through the film selection box and picks a few flicks to watch over the next couple of days…

Steven Spielberg directs War Horse (New Year’s Eve 2.55pm RTE2), the big screen adaptation of the book by Michael Morpurgo.

Set during World War One, a farmer’s son, Albert (Jeremy Irvine) forms a close bond with Joey, a bay Irish hunter horse.

Joey is sold to the Army for the war effort, and goes through a series of owners and adventures across the battlefields of France.  However, Albert never gives up hope of getting Joey back.

With music by John Williams, a screenplay by Lee Hall and Richard Curtis and a cast including Emily Watson, Jeremy Irvine, Tom Hiddleston and Benedict Cumberbatch, this is a powerful film.

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In Superman II (New Years Eve 3.25pm RTE1), three fugitive villains from Krypton arrive on Earth and unleash their powers on humanity, just as Superman (Christopher Reeve) had renounced his abilities in order to lead a normal life with Lois lane (Margot Kidder)

Also starring Gene Hackman and Terence Stamp this is probably the best Superman film ever.

The Witches (New Years Eve 6.25pm RTE1) is set in 1967, when an orphaned boy goes to live with his grandmother, he finds himself the prey of witches disguised as glamorous women.

He escapes to a seaside hotel, but finds it is also the venue of the world’s Grand High Witch Gathering.  Based on the Roald Dahl book, this is directed by Robert Zemeckis and stars Anne Hathaway, Octavia Spencer, Stanley Tucci and narrated by Chris Rock.

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A traditional Bank Holiday favourite, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (New Years Day 12.55 RTE1) tells of how eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts (Dick Van Dyke) saves an old car from the scrapheap, only to say it has magical powers, much to the delight of his children.

However, this also attracts the attention of foreign powers that will do anything to get hold of the car. This is truly a film for all the family and stars Sally Ann Howes, Gert Frobe and the wonderful Lionel Jeffries.

In La La Land (New Years Day 10pm TG4), actress Mia (Emma Stone) and struggling jazz musician Sebastian (Ryan Gosling)  fall in love while trying to realise their respective dreams in LA (Los Angeles not Lower Accrington).

However, they find that trying to survive and keep true to their principles proves harder than expected.  It won Oscars for Best Director (Damien Chazelle), Best Score, Best Original Song and Best Actress (Emma Stone).

Spectre (Bank Holiday Monday 9.30 RTE1) is one of the best Bond films as 007 goes rouge to find the secret criminal network that has both personal and professional links to him.

It stars Daniel Craig, Lea Seydoux, Ben Whishaw, Ralph Fiennes and Judi Dench.

When a 44 year old single mother becomes pregnant from a one night stand, her teenage daughter is horrified and shamed. A Bump Along the Way (Bank Holiday Monday 9.35pm RTE2) stars the wonderful Bronagh Gallagher as the Mum, Pamela.

Wishing you and yours a Happy and Healthy 2023.

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