Films day-by-day
The Equalizer 2
Sky Thriller HD, 12.45pm & 9pm 3Sex OOO Violence OOO Language OOODenzel Washington’s freelance righter of wrongs returns to mete out violent
retribution on another bunch of evildoers in this superior sequel to the 2014
action thriller (itself an update of the 1980s Edward Woodward TV series).
Seemingly a book-loving, widowed loner, Washington is actaully a formerblack ops agent, and he is soon brushing off his commando savvy to give
assorted bad guys a good pummelling. The plot is very much B-movie fare, but
Washington’s charisma makes it compelling. Also on Friday. 2018, 15, 121MINACTION THRILLER
Maze Runner: The Death Cure
Sky Hits HD, 3.20pm 3Sex OOO Violence OOO Language OOOThe post-apocalyptic fantasy adventure trilogy based on novelist James
Dashner’s best-selling books reaches its conclusion, and Dylan O’Brien,
Thomas Brodie-Sangster and Rosa Salazar’s rebel youngsters still have some
puff left as they approach the finishing line. The film doesn’t barrel alongquite as rapidly as the first two movies, but director Wes Ball still gives the
action a commendable amount of dash, even if there are a few too many holes
in the plot and nick-in-time rescues for comfort. 2018, 12, 142MINFANTASY THRILLER
Monday 19 August Tuesday 20 August
ANIMATED ADVENTURE
Ralph Breaks the Internet
Sky Disney HD, 12.55pm & 8pm 4Sex OOO Violence OOO Language OOOWreck-It Ralph, the building-smashing
video-game bad guy from Disney’s jaunty
Oscar-nominated animated fantasy, is
back for more misadventures. This time
big softie Ralph (voiced by John C Reilly)
and best friend Vanellope von Schweetz
(Sarah Silverman) embark on a quest to
the baffling realm of the internet in
search of a spare steering wheel to fix
Vanellope’s cart-racing game. Expect
another round of sweet-natured fun.
Also on Thursday. 2018, PG, 112MINREAL-LIFE DRAMA
A Cry in the Dark
Paramount HD, 9pm 4Sex OOO Violence OOO Language OOOMeryl Streep is first-rate as Lindy
Chamberlain, the mother at the heart of
the ‘dingo baby’ murder case in Australia
in 1980. Camping at night in the
Outback, Chamberlain heard the baby
cry and returned to her tent to glimpse a
dingo fleeing and her baby gone, but was
subsequently put on trial for murder.
Despite director Fred Schepisi’s
laborious treatment, the film finally
does good emotive work at the end,
even if it is a long haul. 1988, 15, 121MINDISASTER MOVIE
Deep Impact
Sky Greats HD, 11.40pm 4
Sex OOO Violence OOO Language OOOThe special effects play second fiddle
to the human drama in this apocalyptic
disaster movie about a comet that is on
a collision course with Earth – indeed,
the real action only materialises later on
in the movie. Morgan Freeman, as the
US President, anchors an appealing cast
that includes Elijah Wood, Téa Leoni,
Robert Duvall and Vanessa Redgrave.
The film is a gut-wrenching emotional
experience, full of moments of heroism
and sacrifice. 1998, 12, 123MINALSO ON MONDAY
Despicable Me
Sky Family HD, 4.35pm 4
Gru’s asking for the Moon.American Summer
Sky Premiere HD, 6.10pm 2
Blake Cooper needs to grow up.District 9
Sky Greats HD, 9.45pm 4
Sharlto Copley tries to send them back.Death Race
ITV4 H D, 10 pm 3
Jason Statham’s driven to distraction.Once Upon a Time in Mexico
5Spike, 11.10pm 3
Antonio Banderas is El Mariachi.■ Full listings start on p53
ANIMATED FANTASY
The Boxtrolls
Film4 HD, 12.35pm/
Film4+1, 1.35pm 4
Sex OOO Violence OOO Language OOOThis delightful animated fantasy is
stuffed full of quirky details, bizarre
characters and cockeyed humour.
The setting is the comically grotesque
Victorian town of Cheesebridge, where
social-climbing villain Archibald
Snatcher (voiced with relish by Ben
Kingsley) has persuaded the locals that
the weird but harmless underground-
dwelling Boxtrolls are really dangerous
child stealers. 2014, PG, 97MINFAMILY FANTASY
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Sky Greats HD, 2.20pm 4Sex OOO Violence OOO Language OOOA splendid children’s fantasy adventure in
which Rick Moranis’s scientist accidentally
miniaturises his children, who find
themselves stranded at the bottom of
the garden. Director Joe Johnston keeps
everything moving along at a cracking
pace, as well as showing a sure hand in
the film’s comedy sequences. The
standout scenes include a hair-raising
flight on a bumblebee and a terrifying
battle with a giant scorpion. Also on
Thursday & Friday. 1989, U, 93MINCRIME THRILLER
Carlito’s Way
ITV4 HD, 11.45pm/
ITV4+1, 12.45am 4Sex OOO Violence OOO Language OOOThis second gangster epic from actor
Al Pacino and director Brian De Palma
is a considerably more persuasive look
at underworld life than their earlier
collaboration, Scarface. Pacino plays a
reformed mobster who gets out of jail
determined to go straight, but finds
himself inexorably drawn back into a life
of crime. The real revelation here is the
performance from Sean Penn, as
Pacino’s weaselly lawyer. 1993, 18, 145MINALSO ON TUESDAY
One Hundred and One Dalmatians
Sky Disney HD, 2.50pm 5
The most famous black and white cartoon.Teen Titans Go! To the Movies
Sky DC Heroes HD, 6pm 3
Is Robin more than just a Boy Wonder?Peter Rabbit
Sky Family HD, 6.20pm 3
Domhnall Gleeson can’t see the bunny side.Dark Minds
Sky Premiere HD, 10.20pm 3
O brother, it’s Zachary Quinto.Tucker & Dale vs E vil
Horror, 10.50pm 3
Tyler and Alan get cabin fever.■ Full listings start on p63
Dylan realised they
really were running
for their livesDenzel’s Christmas
cracker prize was
proving very useful