Image: Still from live basketball fixture from the National Basketball Arena.

January may be the gloomiest month of the year, but it is set to warm up with a weekend chocked full of sporting events and fixtures – all brought to you live and exclusive by Aertv’s SportsLive.

This weekend boasts squash, basketball, athletics and basketball, and is a must for Irish sports enthusiasts and armchair athletes alike.

SQUASH:

Friday 24^th – Sunday 26^th January 2014

Title: Live Squash – Mount Pleasant Open

Description: Watch Live and Exclusive coverage from the senior tour of the Mount Pleasant Open all weekend on Aertv.

Friday 24^th January:         5pm – 10pm

Saturday 25^th January:    9am – 7pm

Sunday 26^th January:       9am – 4.30pm

BOXING:

Friday 24^th January 2014

24^th January

Title: Live Boxing – Finals Open Youth Competition

Description :

Starts at 7pm

Ends at approx. 11pm

BASKETBALL:

Saturday 25^th and Sunday 26^th January 2014

Title: Live Basketball- National Cup Finals 2014

Description : The biggest weekend of the year in Irish basketball is upon us as the National Cup Finals take place this weekend in Dublin’s National Basketball Arena.

First up on Saturday morning are the Men’s and Women’s U18 National Cup finals. In the women’s matchup, there is a repeat pairing of the 2013 final as Singleton SuperValu Brunell and Boardwalk Bar & Grill Glanmire meet once more. Brunell’s Edel Thornton will be aiming for back to back U18 National Cup Finals winners and MVP awards

The Men’s final features an all-conquering Letterkenny Blaze squad with the Hickey twins of Cian and Tadhg the outstanding stars against a Sean Flood led Templeogue side with the former the slight favourites.

Later in the day it is the turn of the U20 Men’s and the meeting of KUBS from Dublin and Cork powerhouse Neptune. While the KUBS squad includes several international players, it is Neptune who have the better known names nationwide as they boast Premier League regulars Roy Downey and Mati Rudak in their roster.

The last final on Saturday is the meeting of Men’s Division One sides JM&L Auctioneers Titans and Team Left Bank Kilkenny in the Men’s National Shield. Seperated by some ten points in the league table, Titans will be heavy favourites but will be fearful of a dangerous Kilkenny team that includes the high scoring Puff Summers.

Two finals are left for Sunday with the U20 Women’s National Cup and the Senior Women’s National Cup (for non-Premier League teams) taking place.

The U20 Women’s final will see Brunell and Glanmire meet once more. Brunell will add Premier League regulars Megan O’Leary and Amy Waters, which has seen them installed as early favourites. Local Cork city rivals Glanmire will have little fear however, boasting as they do a number of Premier League players themselves.

The last game of the weekend is the final between Women’s Division One leaders Portlaoise Panthers and second placed Tralee Imperials in the Senior Women’s National Cup Final.

Saturday 25^th January:

10:30am – U18 Women’s National Cup Final

12:30pm – U18 Men’s National Cup Final

2:30pm – U20 Men’s National Cup Final

4:30pm – Men’s National Shield Final

Sunday 26^th January:

12 Noon – U20 Women’s National Cup Final

2pm – Senior Women’s National Cup Final

ATHLETICS:

26^th January 2014

Title: Live Athletics – Junior and U23 Championships

Description: 

The Woodie’s DIY Junior and U23 Indoor Championships of Ireland will take place this Sunday the 26th of January in the AIT International Arena in Athlone. There are over 400 athletes expected to take part which will guarantee an exciting day of track and field action. 2014 marks a big year for the Junior athletes in particular, with the IAAF World Junior Track and Field Championships taking place in Eugene, Oregan from July 22nd-27^th.

Coverage Starts at 10:30am

The post Live and Exclusive Sports Fixtures: Basketball, Boxing, Squash & Athletics appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

For the first time ever, you’ll be able to watch the brightest young hoops stars in Ireland play for the ultimate prize in schools basketball from your living room as Basketball Ireland, in association with Aertv SportsLive, will be streaming the action live.

All four ‘A’ division finals will be broadcast with the U16 A Boys and Girls finals plus the U19 A Girls final taking place on Wednesday, January 22nd while the U19 ‘A’ Boys final on Tuesday January 28th will also be streamed live on the Basketball Ireland website and on Aertv.

Coverage and commentary from the National Basketball Arena begins at 10.30am with the U16 B Girls All Ireland Schools Cup final between St Joseph’s of Drogheda and St Andrew’s of Dublin.

Following that, the U16 girls of Crescent Comprehensive take on Presentation Waterford in the U16 A Division All-Ireland Schools Cup final before the all Galway meeting of The Bish and Calasanctius College, Oranmore.
The final game of the day sees some National Cup finalist team-mates split across two schools when Cork outfits Colaiste an Phiarsigh Gleann Maghair face St Vincent’s.

While that will be a wrap for the live streams from Schools Cup final week of January 21 – 24, the cameras will be back again on Tuesday January 28th for the U19 A Boys final between defending champions St Malachy’s and Presentation Bray at 1pm.

For a full schedule of the All Ireland Schools Cup Finals click here or see details below. Be sure to watch this event live and exclusive on SportsLive.

The post Live Stream for Basketball Schools Cup Finals appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

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We’ve got your Christmas film and TV fix sorted with upcoming attractions such as Toy Story, A Christmas Carol, The Whale, It’s a Wonderful Life, Bridesmaids and many many more. Stick with Aertv for the best that Irish TV has to offer this festive period.

Christmas is upon us again. It scarcely seems like a year has passed since last year’s festivities, and yet here we are willing and eager to do it all over again. If you are anything like us, you will be hanging the Christmas stockings, simmering the Christmas puddings, and waiting to curl up in front of the TV in your brand new Christmas pyjamas when the big day rolls around. Alternatively, perhaps you are a self-confessed Grinch, detest the holiday festivities and want nothing more than to hibernate until the bells and chimes of Christmas cheer are merely a din of a holiday past. Either way, we have something to suit everyone in our Christmas TV highlights.

Quick Glance

Saturday 21st December: A Man for All Seasons, A Christmas Carol, Something’s Gotta Give, Scrooged …

Sunday 22nd December: The Champ, Kitchen Hero: Christmas Special, The Whale, Michael Bublé …

Monday 23rd December: To Kill a Mockingbird, The Nativity, The Secret of Kells, Republic of Telly …

Christmas Eve: Splash, Fantastic Mr Fox …

Christmas Day: It’s a Wonderful Life, Happy Feet, Indiana Jones, White Christmas, The Dark Knight …

St. Stephen’s Day:  The Guard, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy …

Friday 27th December: Bedtime Stories, Enchanted, Indiana Jones & the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull …

 SATURDAY 21^st DECEMBER

A Man for All Seasons (1966), 1pm TG4

Film adaptation of Robert Bolt’s 1960 play of the same name, A Man for All Seasons looks at the life of Sir Thomas More, the 16^th Century English Lord-Chancellor to Henry VIII, who opposed the English monarch’s attempts at having his marriage to Catherine of Aragon annulled, and breaking with the Roman Catholic Church. More is depicted as a moral and principled man – a tragic hero in Bolt’s eyes. This film traces those pivotal years in Henry VIII’s court, up until More’s painful and public execution in 1535.

A Christmas Carol (2009), 6:35pm RTE Two

Animated version of this Dickens classic about the miserly recluse Ebeneezer Scrooge. Scrooge is visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve in the hope that they can encourage him to change his wicked ways before it is too late. Stars Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman and Colin Firth.

Something’s Gotta Give (2005), 11:05pm TG4

Aging Lothario Harry (Jack Nicholson), arrives at his latest squeeze Marin’s (Amanda Peet) Hamptons beach house for a romantic weekend, only to be greeted by Erica (Diane Keaton), Marin’s mother. After Harry has a heart attack, Erica reluctantly agrees to allow him to stay with her while he recovers. The two initially dislike each other, but this being a romantic comedy – they grow more and more attracted to each other as the film progresses. The plot deals with themes of age, relationships and new beginnings, and is light, fluffy and easy on the brain.

Scrooged (1988), 12:35am, RTÉ One

What can we say about this fantastic modern adaptation of Charles Dickens’ classic, A Christmas Carol? Bill Murray plays Frank Cross, a crass, cynical and egotistical TV programming executive, who on Christmas Eve is visited upon by three spirits, each with fantastical and hilarious consequences. This story is dark and comic and has become a classic in its own right. Read more about it in our Top 10 Christmas Films post here.

SUNDAY 22^nd DECEMBER

The Champ (1979), 2:55, TV3

This vintage gem stars Jon Voight as Billy Flynn, a washed up prize-fighter raising his young son alone and eking out a meagre living training horses. The boy’s estranged mother Annie (Faye Dunaway) comes back into their lives after a significant absence in a bid to reclaim her son, throwing their lives into turmoil. Annie is now wealthy, and poverty-stricken Billy feels that the only way he can retain his son TJ’s affection is to return to the ring and make him proud of his father once again. Old but definitely not dated.

Kitchen Hero: Home Cooked – Christmas Special, 7:30pm, RTÉ One

Celebrity chef Donal Skehan heads to Finland in search of edible Christmas treats such as fudge and gingerbread. He visits Lapland and hopes to gain an audience with the ever-elusive Santa Claus, and gives easy tips, recipes and ideas for a home-cooked Christmas.

The Whale (2013), 9pm, BBC One

The Whale tells the story of the final voyage of the crew of 19^th century Nantucket whale ship, the Essex, and the subsequent attack and sinking of the ship by a sperm whale. This incident directly influenced Herman Melville, and inspired him to write the epic novel Moby Dick in 1851. Martin Sheen, Jonas Armstrong and newcomer Charles Furness all star in this visually stunning drama. The Whale comes highly recommended.

Michael Bublé’s Third Annual Christmas Special, 11:05pm, RTÉ One

Canadian crooner Michael Bublé performs classic festive songs with special musical guests. This Christmas concert is fast becoming a regular event, with this year’s concert being the third annual special. Bublé performs with Mariah Carey, Mary J. Blige and very special musical guest, Sesame Street’s the Cookie Monster.

MONDAY 23^rd DECEMBER

To Kill a Mockingbird (1962), 8:35am RTÉ One

This film adaptation of Harper Lee’s 1960 novel stars Gregory Peck as Atticus Finch, a small town white lawyer in 1930s Alabama, who comes under fire from local residents when he elects to defend a black man accused of raping a white woman. While the themes may be adult in nature, the story is told from the perspective of Scout and Jem, Finch’s young children. This is a classic that you will return to again and again. As an additional piece of trivia, Brock Peters who played Tom Robinson, the man Gregory Peck’s character defended in the film, delivered Peck’s eulogy at his funeral in 2003. The two men had kept in touch over the decades since filming ended.

The Nativity Story (2006), 11:05am, RTÉ One

Epic biblical tale based on the story of the conception and birth of Jesus. Directed by Catherine Hardwicke of Twilight fame, the film looks at the pivotal characters in the story and attempts to humanise the main players, and explain the events as they are purported to have occurred. It also explores the role of King Herod, and looks at the reasons behind his order of the Massacre of the Innocents (where all male infants and young children were killed so as not to threaten Herod’s throne).

The Secret of Kells, 2pm, RTÉ Two

The Secret of Kells is an Irish-French-Belgian animated collaboration telling a fictionalised story of the creation of the Irish religious relic, the Book of Kells. While the plot certainly takes historical liberties, as an animated film for kids, this piece has entertainment, education, information, and great relatable characters with a distinctly Irish twist.

Toy Story (1995), 3:15pm, BBC One

Fantastic family-friendly fun for all ages, Toy Story is one film you can watch guilt-free, even without being in the company of children. As children, most of us imagined or hoped even, that our toys would come to life after we had left the room or retired to bed, and Toy Story gives us just that hope. We are introduced to several by now iconic characters, such as cowboy Woody (Tom Hanks), space ranger Buzz Lightyear (Tim Allen) and Mr Potato Head (Don Rickles); all toys belonging to Andy, a young boy growing up and out of his toys.

The Republic of Telly Christmas Special, 9:30pm, RTÉ Two

Host Kevin McGahern, along with Bernard O’Shea and Jennifer Maguire celebrate Christmas the Irish way – by having a row witnessed by extended family! The crew are joined by the Rubberbandits, The Viper and the Republic of Telly Orchestra for what is set to be a jam-packed and quintessentially Irish-focused show.

The Hand that Rocks the Cradle (1992), 1:25am, BBC Three

Looking for a good psychological thriller to take your mind off the tinsel, turkey and mistletoe? With The Hand that Rocks the Cradle, you’ve found it. This film tells the story of the Bartell family, and the harassment they suffer and danger they are put in when they allow Peyton, a seemingly too-good-to-be-true nanny into their lives, with terrifying consequences. The ‘90s were truly the decade of the thriller, and this movie is right up there with the best of them.

CHRISTMAS EVE

Splash (1984), 12:05pm, BBC Two

Splash has it all: mermaids, Tom Hanks, John Candy, wacky schemes, a bumbling villain who grows a heart and a love story at the centre of it all. Allen Bauer (Tom Hanks) accidently falls into the sea as an 8 year old boy, almost drowning. He is saved by a girl in the water with whom he has an instant connection, but since no one else saw the girl, he allows himself to be convinced that it was an hallucination.

As an adult, Allen once again falls into the sea, only to be rescued by a beautiful but mysterious woman, Madison.  As Allen learns her secret, so do others and the two must race against time to stop Madison being turned into a government experiment. Cheesy, fun and will hold lots of childhood memories for viewers old enough to remember this from the first time round.

Fantastic Mr Fox (2009), Christmas Eve @ 4:55pm, RTÉ One

This stop-motion animation is based on the Roald Dahl book of the same name. This animated feast features an all-star cast, including Meryl Streep, George Clooney, Bill Murray and Jason Schwartzman. Mr Fox is a former bird-thief turned newsman, who finds his family and home threatened by three mean local farmers. Finding other animals living in the sewers, having been forced out of their homes by the agitated farmers, Fox leads a rag-tag group of animals to find a way to co-exist with the humans who seem hell-bent on destroying them.

CHRISTMAS DAY

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946), 7:45am, RTÉ One

Made sixty-seven years ago, It’s a Wonderful Life remains one of the most loved and most critically-acclaimed Christmas films of all time. Set on Christmas Eve, George Bailey, a troubled and selfless man attempts to jump off a bridge to take his own life, but is interrupted by Clarence Odbody, Angel 2^nd Class: a guardian angel tasked with saving George in order to earn his wings.

Clarence shows George all of the lives he touched throughout his lifetime to date, and the indelible mark he made on the town of Bedford Falls. Of course by now we know that It’s a Wonderful Life has a happy ending. It wouldn’t evoke the same warm fuzzy feelings in us, or be nearly as popular if it didn’t. But we’re not complaining.

Happy Feet (2006), 3:03pm, TG4

Happy and upbeat, this feel-good animated treat is entertaining for all the family. It centres on the character of Mumble, a curious emperor penguin who becomes an outcast in his community, since he can’t sing – an extremely important ritual used to attract a mate in the world of the penguin. What Mumble lacks in singing talent, he more than makes up for in dancing talent. He tap dances his way through captivity, eventual freedom and finally acceptance of his uniqueness by his peers.

The film highlights environmental issues affecting animals, particularly penguins and integrates some of the consequences of overfishing and interfering with animal colonies in the wild. Featuring the vocal talents of Elijah Woods, Robin Williams, Hugo Weaving, Nicole Kidman and Hugh Jackman.

Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom (1984), 8:30pm, BBC Three

We meet Dr Jones in Shanghai escaping the clutches of notorious crime boss, Lao with his sidekick Shorty and accidental passenger, nightclub singer Willie Scott. The trio are in a plane crash in the Himalayas, and come across a desolate village in Northern India. The desperate villagers mistake Indy, Shorty and Willie for saviours sent by the Hindu God Shiva. Our heroes quickly become embroiled in adventure involving black magic, sacrifice and child slavery, as they battle to free the children and prevent the villain from emerging victorious.

White Christmas (1954), 1pm, TV3

This has to be the most iconic and well-recognised Christmas films of all time. The plot centres on two ex-army men who become entertainers after WWII. They meet two singing sisters and initially attempt to have romantic relationships with them, but through a series of misunderstandings and miscommunications, the relationships are fraught with problems. The main crux of the plot is the group attempting to arrange a tribute show in Vermont for their former military General on Christmas Eve – but as always, things don’t go exactly according to plan.

The Dark Knight (2008), 9:25pm, RTÉ Two

The second film in Christopher Nolan’s reworking of the Batman story sees Bruce Wayne, a billionaire philanthropist who moonlights as masked crime fighter, Batman, take on Heath Ledger’s Joker. Batman, along with allies Commissioner Gordon and Harvey Dent launch an assault on the mob who are terrorising the city, but inadvertently invoke the ire of the Joker, a criminal mastermind determined to take down the dark knight at any cost.

Bridesmaids (2011), 10:05pm, RTÉ One

Annie Walker is a single woman in her late 30s, who after suffering a series of personal and professional mishaps is asked to be maid of honour in her friend’s extravagant wedding. Meeting a diverse and eccentric group of ladies, Annie is increasingly frustrated by the meddling of some of the other bridesmaids who are new to Lillian’s life, but want to take over the preparations. This is an all-star cast with crass and hilarious humour throughout. Both the men and women in your life will be able to appreciate the comic genius of the ladies behind this fantastic film.

ST. STEPHEN’S DAY

The Guard (2011), 9:20pm, RTÉ One

Sergeant Gerry Boyle (Brendan Gleeson) is a West of Ireland Guard who outwardly epitomises everything we imagine an officer of the law should not be. He is crass, confrontational and partakes in drug-taking and alcohol while on duty. When Wendell Everett (Don Cheadle), an FBI agent hunting down four Irish drug traffickers arrives in Ireland, the two men must learn to work together to catch the bad guys and save the day. But it won’t be without some drama, tension and good old-fashioned policing.

Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy (2011), 9:50pm, TG4

Taut spy thriller based on John le Carré’s 1974 novel of the same name. This story has been told several times on TV and radio, but it is Tomas Alfredson’s 2011 adaptation that really captures the imagination. This is a film that requires absolute concentration, as so many things are happening simultaneously, and a sleight of hand or a wry look that could easily be missed, could prove crucial to the plot.

Set in 1973, George Smiley (Gary Oldman) is taken out of retirement and charged with finding a suspected long-time mole within MI6. He tasks Peter Guillam (Benedict Cumberbatch) with the job of investigating a former undercover operative he fears has defected to the Soviet side. This is a fast-paced old-school thriller and will not disappoint.

FRIDAY 27^th DECEMBER

Bedtime Stories (2008), 11:25am, BBC One

Skeeter Bronson (Adam Sandler) is an undervalued handyman at a hotel chain his family used to own. While babysitting his young niece and nephew, he tells them elaborate bedtime stories, to which they add their own embellished details to. Bronson and the kids are shocked when the things that happen in the stories they create begin finding their way into the real world.

Enchanted (2007), 2:35pm, BBC One

Entertaining romantic family film, Enchanted is the classic fairy tale princess story turned on its head. We meet an evil queen determined to prevent her stepson taking her throne and a peasant, Giselle (Amy Adams) who the prince falls for. The queen banishes Giselle from the enchanted world she knows into the real world of New York City, hoping to prevent the marriage. We see our heroine attempt to navigate the mean streets of New York, while finding her own happy ending.

Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull (2008), 6:05pm, BBC One

This is the fourth film in the successful franchise, and while it may not have been as well-received by critics at the time, has been welcomed by fans in the years since its release. It is 1957 – nineteen years after the last film left off – and Indy and his associate Mac are kidnapped by Soviets looking for a mysterious crystal skull in Warehouse 51, Nevada. Indy is approached by a student, Mutt (Shia LaBeouf) with information on how to trace this artifact, and when he reveals that his mother has also been kidnapped by the Soviets, the pair set out to rescue her and find the crystal skull. Hi-jinks, action and adventure – a film for all the family to enjoy.

David Blaine: Real or Magic, 8:50pm, RTÉ Two

Controversial and much maligned illusionist David Blaine features in this special on-street outing, where the endurance athlete dazzles onlookers and celebrities alike with his brand of magic and sleight of hand. Some of the celebrities featured include Jamie Foxx, Ricky Gervais, Katy Perry, Will Smith, Kanye West and Stephen Hawking.

Plenty to watch and discover with Aertv this festive period, the only hard part will be whittling down your choices.

Happy Christmas from Aertv.

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The Santa Clause, Trading Places, Bad Santa and Elf – we take a look at the Christmas classics of yore, and offer recommendations for all the family to enjoy over the festive period. 

Christmas is a time for giving and a time for catching up with friends and family. Many of our most treasured memories of Christmases past involve the films we watched as a family. Even now, as adults, a festive song here and an iconic line there is all it takes to transport us right back to our childhood and create a warm fuzzy Christmas atmosphere. Here are the Top 10 Christmas Films from my childhood and early adulthood, that I recommend for this festive season.

10. The Santa Claus (1994):

Tim Allen stars as Scott Calvin, a busy toy company advertising executive who inadvertently kills Santa on Christmas Eve, after mistaking him for a trespasser. Calvin finds a red suit with a card inside informing him that he must take over Santa’s route and finish delivering all of the toys to the children around the world in place of the real Santa.

What it doesn’t tell him is that there is a clause in the agreement, that once he puts on the suit, he is legally bound to be the new Santa Claus. Scott Calvin, or Santa Claus as he is now known as spends the duration of the film gradually transforming into Santa Claus: beard, belly and temperament – all while trying to manage the North Pole and keep a healthy relationship with his son. This is a fantasy-comedy, and is great for kids and grown ups alike. It proved so popular when it was released that two sequels were also made but met with varying levels of success.

9. Love Actually

Love Actually presents us with ten intertwined stories of love, loss, obsession and infidelity, but ultimately ties all the stories up with friendship and happy endings. There are cliches, comedy moments and arguments, and generally a feel good factor of 10 – even if the plot is a tad unrealistic at times.

One point that many critics make about this film is that it is more than a little contrived- in that the characters seem to be madly and deeply in love with people they have barely exchanged names with, that the other person obviously reciprocates those feelings, and after a grand and usually public gesture in front of a large crowd, will live happily ever after! Unfortunately real life seldom works like that. If you can momentarily suspend your disbelief, this film is hugely enjoyable, and you might just get a dose of Christmas cheer in spite of yourself.

8. Home Alone (1990):

This film has everything you need for a high-paced kids Christmas film. Way back in 1990 when this was released, this kind of child-centric movie, where the kid is the protagonist and doing a stand up job of looking after himself and causing all kinds of mischief and mayhem was unheard of. I remember my primary school took us en masse to see it in our local cinema – the kids (myself included) loved it!

It has physical comedy, caricatured bad guys, the late great John Candy saving the day, and an emotional plot line all about the importance of family – even when you have a bazillion kids to manage. This was the role that made, and would later break Macauley Culkin. He found dizzying heights of international fame with this role, but ultimately succumbed to legal battles to protect his fortune from his father’s misappropriation, and later developed substance abuse problems. He also suffered from the fate of the cute child actor all grown up but with nowhere to go. The roles dried up, and he has since taken to doing non-mainstream and indie films.

7. Jingle All the Way (1996):

This film is totally cheese-tastic but brilliant all the same. I’m a huge fan of Arnold Schwarzenegger’s comedy work, such as Kindergarten Cop, Twins, and Junior – and Jingle All the Way is no different. Schwarzenegger’s acting skills, while not in the league of certain Hollywood actors, still adds something to the overall feel of the film, and I couldn’t imagine any other actor in this role. He’s awkward, ridiculous and over the top at times, and gives a strange deadpan delivery for all his lines – but somehow it still works.

In this movie, Schwarzenegger plays workaholic Howard Langston, a man seemingly too busy for his wife and son. After missing yet another important milestone in his son’s life, Langston resolves to buy him a Turbo-Man figure: the most sought after toy of that year. He soon finds that the toy is sold old, and frequently meets Myron, another dad seeking the same toy. The men are pit against each other in their quest for a Turbo-Man figure, and they find themselves is mischief, mayhem and trouble with the law. This is a great fun and frivolous family movie and is highly recommended, but remember to turn your brain off before viewing.

6. Bad Santa (2003):

Bad, foul-mouthed and fantastic – let us preface this listing with the proviso that this bad boy is most certainly suitable for children. Bad Santa tells the story of Willie T. Stokes and Marcus (Billy Bob Thornton and Tony Cox), a pair of conmen, who swindle unsuspecting businesses out of money and merchandise by posing as Santa Claus and one of Santa’s elves. The two are vile, misogynistic and infantile, and for the majority of the film have no redeeming qualities. Willie meets an awkward and naïve kid, Thurman Merman, who is bullied by his peers.

Being the opportunist that he is, when Thurman’s grandmother and caregiver dies suddenly, Willie and co. move into the luxurious home, and begrudgingly take care of the kid as part of the deal. Throughout the film, the once heartless Willie begins to learn the true magic of Christmas from an unexpected place. Sounds warmhearted and festive, but is still not one to show the kids.

5. Trading Places (1983):

Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy at their finest – Trading Places sees a privileged commodities broker and a homeless street hustler cross paths when they inadvertently become part of an elaborate bet by two wealthy brothers. The Duke brothers orchestrate for the two men to trade lives and wealth or lack thereof, throwing commodities broker Louis Winthorpe into a life of crime and poverty, while elevating Eddie Murphy’s Billy Ray Valentine into a life of relative luxury and a position at the top of their company.

Trading Places is one of many movies that is set around Christmas, but isn’t hell-bent on pushing a tale of morality, whereby sinful characters somehow see the light and are redeemed. There are plenty of films of this ilk already out there, too many to mention, in fact. What I love about Trading Places is that it is character driven, and has all the energy of those ‘80s powerhouse family films we all enjoyed with siblings and other family.

This film looks at the excesses of ‘80s yuppie culture, with a pinch of satire and a smattering of comedy. While many children may be too young to enjoy or appreciate a more adult-orientated plot line like this, I highly recommend it as a Christmas movie worthy of attention.

4. Gremlins (1984):

Gizmo, Stripe and Billy – this film has everything my childhood was looking for. Gremlins is a horror-comedy brought to you by screenwriter Christopher Columbus, who also wrote and/or directed, Mrs Doubtfire, Home Alone 1 and 2, Jingle All the Way and Only the Lonely, to name but a few. Even now, years later, any of the ‘rules’ of Mogwai care are by now firmly ingrained in our psyche, such as ‘don’t feed them after midnight’, and whatever you do, don’t get them wet!

Gremlins introduces us to Billy (Zach Galligan), a young man living at home with his parents. When his father brings home a mysterious creature, a Mogwai named Gizmo as a Christmas gift, Billy must learn to care for his new animal, while ensuring the rules of care aren’t broken. When the Mogwai has babies, they turn Billy’s life upside down and he must learn to live with the consequences of little gremlins running around the place.

Again, if you are one of the minuscule number of people who have not seen this film before – there are certain scenes of mild yet creative violence and references to Santa Clause that are not suitable for children, so it’s probably best not to snuggle up on the couch with the kids and a hot water bottle, in the search of a lovely family-friendly film feast – not until they are teenagers at least.

3. Elf (2003):

Elf tells the tale of Buddy the Elf, a human who has no idea he is not an elf, despite glaring clues that are obvious to everyone around him. He ended up in the North Pole after climbing into Santa’s toy sack years earlier, and was raised by Papa Elf. Buddy has a childlike exuberance for life and sets off on a journey to find his real human father, a cynical publishing executive Walter Hobbs (James Caan)

Will Ferrell, James Caan, Zooey Deschanel, Mary Steenbergen and the wonderful Peter Dinklage (Game of Thrones) star in this Christmas classic. I don’t know a single person who doesn’t love this movie. Adult or child alike can enjoy Will Ferrell’s hilarious portrayal of Buddy the Elf.

2. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993):

Dark, charming and oh so much fun, The Nightmare Before Christmas is one of my favourite Christmas films of all time. In fact, I must admit to viewing this film at several non-festive points throughout the year.

As a child, I was never attracted to light happy kids films – I was always drawn to darker themes and story lines, like Jim Henson’s Labyrinth (1986) or The Dark Crystal (1982). Aside from intriguing characters, catchy songs and a captivating story lines, these films contains lots of different layers of story and emotion that are lacking in many modern children’s animation and movies.

The Nightmare Before Christmas combines my two favourite holidays-  Halloween and Christmas, with horror, monsters, catchy songs with a smidge of glitter, tinsel and festive lights thrown in for good measure. What’s not to love about this Tim Burton classic? Watch one of the most fun moments from the film below, when Jack leaves Halloween Town and stumbles upon Christmas Town. Failing to understand the concept of Christmas, Jack is transfixed, and assumes that Santa Claus is in fact, Santa Claws – an evil tyrant who keeps the population in check with his naughty and nice list.

And just for a bit of added fun, here is a clip of The Nightmare Before Christmas being performed on stage – I didn’t think it could be done, but they proved me wrong. Check it out for yourself.

1. Scrooged (1988):

What can I say? I’m a sucker for Bill Murray in all of his roles, particularly Ghostbusters, Groundhog Day and Little Shop of Horrors. But my absolute favourite Christmas film of all time, and the one I come back to again and again is Scrooged.  I have an eight year old nephew who is very into everything retro, and have gradually been introducing to all of my favourite childhood classics. Out of the ones we have watched so far, Scrooged is his favourite.

Good old gent Charles Dickens could really spin a good tale – we knew who the heroes were, and were clear on the larger than life villains in all his stories. What he also demonstrated was the capacity for a character to change, to grow, to reassess their priorities and become a better (or for that matter, a worse person).

In all of his work, we see characters we were led to believe were good, going bad, betraying and moving over to the dark side. At the same time, like in the original A Christmas Carol, the character of Ebeneezer Scrooge is a reprehensible character throughout, with no morals or thoughts for anyone but himself. By the stories conclusion, he has undergone an awakening, and is thoroughly reformed.

Dickens

The Scrooge of Bill Murray’s making is completely different to the Scrooge of A Christmas Carol.  Murray’s Scrooge is a narcissistic yuppie TV executive, who has no empathy or feeling for anyone else, including his staff. He can’t form or maintain relationships, and is estranged from his family. He is visited by three ghosts who teach him life lessons and show him the things in the world he has been blind to until now.

Richard Donner (of Superman: The Movie, Lethal Weapon and the Goonies fame) directed this comedic adaptation of the wealthy miser we love to hate, and helped to propel Bill Murray into the cult status he now enjoys among the millions who grew up with his films and dark sense of humour. If you have not yet seen this movie, watch it now! To get you in fine festive form, view the trailer below.

And just because here at Aertv, we like to give more bang for your buck, here is an added extra, when Frank Cross (our modern day Scrooge) is visited by the most bizarre of all his visiting spectres – the Ghost of Christmas Present, played by Carol Kane.

What are your Christmas movie memories? Did I miss out on any that you would have added to the list, or do you eschew Christmas cheer in favour of blockbusters or dramas at Christmastime? Let us know by commenting below.

The post Top 10 Christmas Films: Home Alone, Trading Places, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Gremlins & Many More appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

Aertv and Paramount Pictures are so excited to be bringing you live coverage directly from the red carpet at tonight’s Irish premiere of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. You can watch the live stream from 6pm tonight here. The entire country seem to be sharing in the overall excitement, with people devising their own tributes to the iconic Channel 4 news team.

Dublin radio station, Spin 103.8 recently ran a competition on its Fully Charged Show, where listeners created their own Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues themed video. The winners were Shaun Conaghan and several of his friends, with a recreation of a now infamous and incredibly popular scene from the first movie. Watch Shaun and his friends in their hilarious take on the scene, and song below. Shaun and co. were the lucky winners of exclusive tickets to the premiere tonight, so we will be catching up with the lads tonight on the red carpet. For now, enjoy their striking rendition of the ’70s classic.

AFTERNOON DELIGHT – IRISH STYLE:

The post Competition Winners Perform Afternoon Delight for Premiere Prize appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

We are so excited about the upcoming Irish Premiere of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. Come Monday at 6pm, we will be live from the red carpet with stars of the film, Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell and David Koechner. Watch live and exclusive on Aertv Live. To help calm your excitement, we have some super interesting and entertaining snippets, courtesy of our good friends at Paramount Pictures to help whet your appetite.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues is on general release in Ireland on 18th December. Purchase your tickets here.

ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES OFFICIAL TRAILER:

RON BURGUNDY’S SPECIAL THANKSGIVING MESSAGE:

Ok, we know we don’t celebrate Thanksgiving in Ireland, but it doesn’t mean we can’t share the love along with Ron.

ANCHORMAN 2: THE LEGEND CONTINUES MOVIE SPOT

Remember to Stay Classy Dublin!

The post ANCHORMAN 2: The Legend Continues Video Fun appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

• Aertv and Paramount Pictures are streaming live from the red carpet for the Irish Premiere of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues on Monday 9^th December.
• Will Ferrell, Paul Rudd, Steve Carell, David Koechner & Director Adam McKay will be in attendance.
• Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues opens in Irish cinemas on December 18^th – this is kind of a big deal.

Aertv and Paramount Pictures are teaming up to live stream the Irish Premiere of the Year, Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues, on Monday 9th December. Aertv will be streaming live and exclusive from the red carpet from 6pm on Monday evening, where they will be joined by the cast and filmmakers.

When talking about the event, Aertv’s director Philippe Brodeur, stated, “We are absolutely delighted to be partnering with Paramount Pictures to live stream the premiere of one of the most anticipated sequels of all time. Aertv has gone from strength to strength since we launched a little over two years ago and live streaming the Irish Premiere of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues is tribute to all our work and development. We strive to bring the Irish public the live media content they want, when they want it. The entire country is abuzz with talk of Ron Burgundy and the upcoming cinema release.”.

Keep up to date with Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues activity by following the hashtag #stayclassydublin on Twitter, or by following @ParamountIRL and @Aertv. Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues is  released in Irish cinemas on 18th December

Can’t wait until the movie release date on the 18^th?  Join our fan community online on Dec 9^th and Stay Classy Dublin

Be sure to check out Aertv’s and Paramount Pictures free live stream here.

The post Aertv & Paramount Pictures Team Up to Live Stream the Red Carpet at the Irish Premiere of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

Aertv and SportsLive were featured in the Irish Independent Fit Magazine in an article written by Breifne Earley. Breifne is an athlete who has overcome many challenges in his life, including living with, and managing depression. He has participated in and achieved so much in the last few years, and Aertv SportsLive are delighted to be the official Live Video Streaming Partners for the Challenge Ten event. Challenge Ten will involve Breifne taking part in the World Cycle Race in March. 

See videos of Breifne in action on the SportsLive website, here. Read the full article text below.

Irish Independent Fit Magazine, 5^th December 2013

Cycling Legends Gave My World Plan Momentum

By Breifne Earley

The first thing most people do when they sign up for a physical challenge – whether it is just getting out for a walk, jog, cycle or swim or actually signing up for the local 5k or 10k – is to research what exactly is involved and devise a plan.

This can be anything from registering and simply showing up on the day to getting a coach, or somebody with the experience of the challenge, and devising a detailed training schedule.

The problem I faced was that the pool of people who have cycled around the world is small – in fact, any three-year-old would have fingers to spare if they tried to list them. I drew up a shortlist and it didn’t take long to track them down with a bit of help from a mutual friend.

Over the course of a few emails and Skype calls to Cavan native Simon Hutchinson in Vancouver and record holder Mike Hall, they could not have been more supportive. The enthusiasm from both men was hugely evident, and despite saying otherwise, I can’t help but feel that a little bit of each of them longed to have this expedition in their future rather than as a past memory, albeit a fresh one from 2012.

With my list of questions primed, I made copious notes, and the plan was starting to form. First I needed to decide on a route. The requirement that you must cover over 18,000 miles without retracing your steps means a large portion of the route is pre-determined. You must cross Australia and New Zealand. You have a choice of whether to cross the US and, given the climate, Africa and Russia are not sensible choices.

In order to challenge the world record, you have to avoid mountains where possible, so the only decision in Europe is whether to go north or south of the Alps. I’ve plumped for the northerly route through Germany and Austria, which avoids the worst of the mountains and picks up the prevailing tailwind in Serbia.

Next is physical preparation. The longest journey I’d completed was 140k and I’d only ridden four consecutive 100k days. I would need to cope with double this distance with minimal rest days. I nee to get stronger, get the hours in the saddle and vitally cut down a bit of excess weight.

The final part of the puzzle was to source funding. It is not cheap to undertake a challenge such as this. Luckily, very early in the project, I was given the opportunity to speak at a sports sponsorship conference organised by Rob Hartnett, which allowed those behind the sports projects to pitch their ideas to the marketing departments of some big national and multinational firms.

The response was phenomenal. I secured a number of partners – particularly the expertise of Martin Kennedy and his team in the National Athlete Development Academy (NADA) in Blanchardstown and Aertv.ie – as a direct result of the conference. It gave the entire project momentum.

NADA gave me a rigorous fitness and mobility test before developing a strength and conditioning programme designed at getting me to a place where the thought of cycling the equivalent of Dublin to Dingle every day for more than three months was almost normal. If you like seeing a grown man suffer, catch my VO2 max test on my Aertv SportsLive channel.

The support has been immense and it is possible for you to become directly involved. Last week, I launched a campaign to raise a portion of the funds by offering rewards on my website www.challengeten.com. They start from as little as €1, which will see you sponsor one of the €18,000 miles of the journey.

_____________________

Breifne will take part in the World Cycle Race next March, in which he hopes to break the current record for cycling around the planet.

The post Aertv SportsLive Featured in Irish Independent Fit Magazine for Breifne Earley’s Challenge Ten World Cycle Event appeared first on The Aertv Blog.

We take a look at some lesser known facts about our favourite San Diegan news anchor, Ron Burgundy in the run up to the Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues Irish Premiere next week.

Aertv in partnership with Paramount Pictures, are delighted to be streaming live and exclusively from the red carpet this coming Monday for the Irish Premiere of Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues. We are so excited to be bringing Ron, Veronica and the gang to the Irish public, that we are offering five lucky viewers the chance to win one of five awesome Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues goodie bags. Simply follow this link for details of our fantastic competition.

Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues is on general release in Ireland on 18th December. Purchase your tickets here.

In the meantime, we will do our best to keep you entertained, and help everyone deal with the mounting excitement, by dedicating some time to our favourite news anchor, Ronald Joseph Aaron Burgundy, the man, nay, the legend.

TEN INTERESTING FACTOIDS ABOUT RON BURGUNDY:

1. Ron loves his dog Baxter, possibly almost as much as he loves himself.

2. Ron is all about diversity, specifically on the high seas!

3. Ron will read anything that is put on the teleprompter … literally any-thing!!! Unfortunately, Veronica uses this to her advantage when trying to exact revenge on her one time beau.

4. Friends are very important to Ron.

5. If you cross Ron and his friends, he will not take it lying down.

6. Ron takes his position as number one news anchor in San Diego very seriously. His license plate is: IM #1.

7. Ron is an old romantic, and loves being in love, as evidenced by his sensual rendition of Afternoon Delight.

8. Ron is very fond of his ‘70s bouffant hairstyle, and gets very upset if anyone fails to recognise its majestic magnificence.

9. Ron is more sensitive than most people give him credit for.

10. Ron Burgundy is so prolific a news anchor, that he couldn’t fit all the footage into the first film, resulting in Wake Up Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie. (Included below for your perusal)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SgfBW_C8AUg

If you love Ron Burgundy as much as we do, be sure to stay tuned for more Anchorman-related content. And most of all, in the words of the man himself, Stay Classy Dublin.

The post RON BURGUNDY: The Man, The Legend, The Legacy appeared first on The Aertv Blog.