Saturday’s TV tips
(2012) The fourth instalment in the animated Ice Age franchise is as delightful as its predecessors.
This time, a disaster leaves prehistoric animals Manny, Sid and Diego lost at sea and drifting aimlessly on an iceberg.
The traumatised trio desperately try to find a way home – a matter easier said than done thanks to their encounter with a ferocious band of piratical creatures.
Ray Romano, John Leguizamo, Denis Leary and Peter Dinklage provide some of the voices, and listen out for the musical interludes.
John Powell wrote the soundtrack, while The Wanted, Queen Latifah, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj and Drake perform some of the songs.
(2008) Abigail Breslin, Oscar-nominated star of Little Miss Sunshine, shares the screen with Jodie Foster and Gerard Butler in this island adventure.
A scientist’s daughter loves a series of novels about a dashing explorer, whom she is convinced is real.
When her father is lost at sea, she sends an e-mail asking her hero to come and save him. Instead her cry for help reaches the agoraphobic author of the books, who rarely leaves her New York flat, but plucks up the courage to come to the rescue.
Some of the soul-searching is a tad cloying but younger audiences should lap up Nim’s gung-ho exploits.
(2002) In an ancient time, predating the pyramids, the evil king Memnon is using the psychic powers of his sorceress Cassandra to fortell his great victories.
In a last ditch effort to stop Memnon from taking over the world, the leaders of the remaining free tribes hire the assassin Mathayus to kill the sorceress. But Mathayus ends up getting much more than he bargained for.
Now with the help of the trickster Arpid, tribal leader Balthazar and an unexpected ally, it's up to Mathayus to fufill his destiny and become the great Scorpion King.
Starring: The Rock, Steven Brand, Kelly Hu.
(2011) When we catch up with Harry, Hermione and Ron (who is back in the fold after recovering from his sulk in the previous movie), they are still on the hunt for horcruxes, the objects in which Voldermort has hidden parts of his soul to render him immortal.
Unfortunately, the dark lord has worked out what they’re up to, and amasses his followers for one final showdown at Hogwarts school.
If you thought Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 1 could have done with a little more magic and a little less teenage angst, never fear – the brains behind the movie saga were saving up all the action for Part 2.
Not only does it feature impressive set pieces galore, it pulls off the even more impressive feat of bringing the boy wizard’s tale to a hugely satisfying conclusion. Daniel Radcliffe, Ralph Fiennes, Rupert Grint and Emma Watson star.
The five remaining adventurers head to the Moroccan port of Essaouira, where challenges include filling a basket of sardines to a target weight of 50kg - without using a measuring aid. Only the winner is exempt from the survival challenge – crossing a 500-foot long rope bridge in a time as close to 25 minutes as possible, while blindfolded.
The lowest-ranked three contestants are then flown back to their studio partners in the UK, who have to answer quiz questions to make it through to the final. Presented by Emma Willis and Reggie Yates.
New nurse Jacob Masters (former EastEnders actor Charles Venn) makes quite an impression on the staff, especially Connie, as he bursts into the Emergency Department and demands treatment for his sick friend.
Meanwhile, an unlikely hero leads the team to a crucial diagnosis, and things get worse for Dylan as he struggles with his obsessive behaviour compulsions and feels anxious without his lucky shirt.
Elsewhere, Rita starts helping Cal to study, and Zoe goes into a panic when Max reveals that his mum is coming to visit.
(2007) Academy Award nominee Liam Neeson stars in this suspense-filled thriller as an ex-soldier traveling through Europe on a frantic quest to rescue his daughter (Maggie Grace) after she is abducted by slave traders in District B13.
Robert Mark Kamen joins the screenwriting team, which also includes Morel and longtime collaborator Luc Besson, who also produces.
Starring: Liam Neeson
Following in the footsteps of The Killing and Borgen, the latest of BBC4’s Euro dramas continues, as the effects of the deadly virus outbreak in Antwerp become even more catastrophic.
Dr Cannaerts smuggles an untested vaccine into NIIDA and tensions rise both inside and outside the cordon.
Meanwhile, Lex is called out to deal with a suspected breach in security, and ends up quarantined with Lommers, who attempts to fill him in about the pressures of dealing with disasters.
For many people, the idea of a Saturday night fight on primetime ITV means watching two would-be pop stars taking part in a tearful sing off.
However, that’s definitely not the case this week, as the channel brings us coverage of Carl Frampton and Alejandro Gonzalez Jr’s bout for the IBF World Super Bantamweight title, which takes place at Don Haskins Convention Centre in El Paso, Texas.
Northern Irishman Frampton is making the second defence of the title he won last year, and will enter this fight as an overwhelming favourite against a Mexican opponent who has not faced anyone of known repute, and is fighting outside of his native country for just the second time as a professional.
John introduces the final show of the series, as another selection of his favourite comedy, music and variety acts perform at iconic London theatre the Hackney Empire.
The show features stand-up routines from comics Jo Caulfield, Andy Askins and Daniel Sloss, as well as music from singer-songwriter Andreya Triana and an exclusive appearance by soul singer John Newman.
Plus, comedian Jason Byrne performs a very unusual magic trick and a troupe of scantily clad male dancers put in a lively appearance. Last in the series.
(2006) American Civil War veteran Colonel Morsman Carver is determined to get revenge on his arch enemy Gideon for the death of his family and will stop at nothing to get it, even hiring mercenaries to help him. However, Gideon is a skilled fighter, and he isn’t about to give up his life easily.
Westerns aren’t exactly commonplace these days, so getting the opportunity to see one at all is a bonus. But Seraphim Falls is one of the best for many a moon, with outstanding performances from its leading men – Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson.
This isn’t a straightforward entry in the genre either; there is a wonderfully surreal moment to look out for (involving Anjelica Huston) and some of the most inventive methods of killing people ever committed to celluloid.
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