Virgin Atlantic Vera / Touch / September 2014

Entertainment guide Š 2014 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

September 2014 | Touch

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Welcome to Vera, an award-winning world of dazzling entertainment from Virgin Atlantic, bursting with over 300 hours of carefully curated movies, documentaries, TV and music. Unless you’re criss-crossing the globe several times, you won’t have time to watch it all, so be sure to catch our highlights show, What’s on Vera.

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September 2014 | Touch

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Vera September 2014 Vera is published by Virgin Atlantic Ltd. All information is correct at time of going to press. Vera Magazine is printed on paper comprising 75% recycled fibre.

Entertainment guide

© 2014 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

If you’re overwhelmed by choice, check out Virgin Loves, indicated by on the on-screen menus.

We’ve hand-picked our recommendations and hidden gems that you might have otherwise overlooked. This section is dedicated to the stuff we love, and that we think you’ll love too.

On the cover

Angelina Jolie in Maleficent

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Teaching an old plot new tricks There may be only a limited number of storylines, but Hollywood has found some innovative ways of retelling them

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It’s a well-known and oft-used maxim that there exist only seven basic plots. According to Jungian analyst Christopher Booker, who worked on this thesis for 34 years, these are ‘overcoming the monster’ (Dracula, War of the Worlds, any James Bond film you care to mention), ‘the quest’ (The Lord of the Rings, The Wizard of Oz...) ‘rags to riches’ (Pretty Woman, Rocky…), ‘voyage and return’ (Alice in Wonderland, The Third Man…), ‘comedy’, ‘tragedy’ and ‘rebirth’.

It’s a hotly debated topic. Weighing in, the playwright Denis Johnston went one better with what he considered to be eight basic plots, while years before that the French writer Georges Polti produced a list of no fewer than 36 ‘dramatic situations’. Either way, the consensus is that when it comes to stories, there’s a limit.

Many contend that Hollywood overcomes this dilemma simply by rehashing the same stories, and nobody who sat through the fourth Pirates of the Caribbean movie could possibly argue with that. However, as our current on-board crop goes to show, Tinseltown is just as adept at finding new and innovative ways to tell old stories.

Consider Godzilla. Expecting yet another exercise in CGI-manipulated hotpant action in the vein of Transformers, the critics did all but consult their thesauri for synonyms for ‘flashy nonsense’. However, the film has turned out to be something rare, nay unique: a stompingmonster movie with real depth and heart.

So what went right? Sure, when the firebreathing and stomping kicks off, it does so in grand style (this is, after all, still a Godzilla movie), but the action packs more of a punch because, unlike most monster movies, you actually give a stuff about the people being stomped on and breathed-fire at.

“ Godzilla packs a punch because, unlike most monster movies, you actually give a stuff about the people being stomped on”

TOP: SUSAN SARANDON, THE CALLING MIDDLE LEFT: TILDA SWINTON AND JOHN HURT, ONLY LOVERS LEFT ALIVE MIDDLE RIGHT: ZAC EFRON, BAD NEIGHBOURS BOTTOM: ANGELINA JOLIE, MALEFICENT

Consider also Maleficent. It’s not so long ago that Hollywood was returning to the home of Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs for the new-spin makeover, and now it’s the turn of Sleeping Beauty. The story, of course, is a classic tale of ‘rebirth’ in Booker’s thesis, but here the script is flipped – literally. Usually you’d expect the protagonist of a Sleeping Beauty remake to be the fatigued hottie herself, but this Tim Burton-esque fantasy tells the story from the perspective of her nemesis, the evil Maleficent.

True, as an approach it’s hardly rocket science.

But when so very few effects spectaculars bother with such elementary concerns, it comes off like a revolutionary new spin.

Exhibit B. The vampire myth. From Nosferatu in 1922 right up to the recent bloodsucking renaissance of Twilight, True Blood and friends, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this particular well had been drunk (or sucked) well and truly dry.

Not so, says maverick director Jim Jarmusch.

His Only Lovers Left Alive is not only haunting and elegiac, but in its treatment of two lovelorn vamps played by Tom Hiddleston and Tilda Swinton, also startlingly original.

Unexpectedly, this is a genuinely new take on a theme so well-worn you can practically see daylight through it, and as with Godzilla, it’s all in the treatment.

It’s a bold stylistic choice, but one that pays off in spades, thanks chiefly to the inspired casting of Angelina Jolie as the wicked fairy godmother. Jolie, of course, was born with the cheekbones for this part, and doesn’t waste the opportunity to turn in the kind of eye-poppingly OTT baddie performance that makes a movie like this such a must-see. Quite simply, she’s a marvellously malevolent and magnificently malicious Maleficent.

There is, of course, nothing like the simple pleasures of a good story being told well, and Susan Sarandon’s performance as a dogged detective in the serial killer thriller The Calling is a prime example of pure craft proving the winner. The same goes for newcomer Shailene Woodley’s performance as a love-struck cancer sufferer in romantic comedy-drama The Fault In Our Stars (have a hanky at the ready for this one). And when you’ve got leads as charismatic as Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler in Blended, not to mention the blindingly starry cast of X-Men: Days of Future Past, well, it’s job done there, too.

© 2014 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Meanwhile, Belle is the tale of a mixed-race aristocrat finding life difficult in the upper echelons of 18th-century England. Inspired by a portrait of Dido Belle herself, it’s based on a true story, and like another true-life tale, Million Dollar Arm – in which Jon Hamm stages a reality-show style contest to find new baseball pitching talent – it shows film-makers looking for inspiration in unusual places.

Which leaves just Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Movie, whose makers have taken a critically reviled and widely derided television show and fashioned it into a… critically reviled and widely derided movie.

Oops. Looks like someone didn’t get the memo.

* Movie line-up may vary depending on your aircraft.

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movies Fading Gigolo

movies 300: Rise of an Empire

日本語, Français, Deutsch Action, 102 mins 15 Director: Noam Murro Starring: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey

With all of the blood and rippling muscles you’d expect, this sequel finds the blue-cloaked Athenians, upholders of democracy, facing the evil Persian Empire, whose progress across the land seems unstoppable. Or is it?

The Amazing Spider-Man 2 Warning: Contains scenes unsuitable for nervous flyers. 日本語, Français, Deutsch Action, 141 mins Director: Marc Webb Starring: Andrew Garfield, Emma Stone, Jamie Foxx

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Another dose of Andrew Garfield as the world’s favourite wall-crawler, this time facing off against Electro (Foxx), the Green Goblin (Dane DeHaan) and the massed forces of Oscorp – while also struggling to meet his everyday Peter Parker obligations, which include the love of his life Gwen (again played by Stone). It’s a hard life being a superhero.

American Hustle Crime / Drama, 138 mins 15 Director: David O Russell Starring: Christian Bale, Bradley Cooper, Amy Adams

Anchorman 2

日本語, Français, Deutsch Comedy, 119 mins Director: Adam McKay Starring: Will Ferrell, Steve Carell, Paul Rudd

With multiple awards and nominations, a to-die-for cast and an ever-evolving plot, American Hustle is a real treat. Set in a beautifully realised 1978, it finds two seasoned tricksters (Bale and Adams) making a deal with an FBI agent (Cooper), the idea being that in return for leniency they’ll set up an elaborate sting to ensnare other con men. In other words, the con is on.

A sequel to what is one of the best comedies in recent memory was always going to be hotly anticipated – and though it’s been some time in the making, it’s been well worth the wait. Almost all of the key cast return, only this time they’re joined by Harrison Ford in a story that sees anchorman Ron beginning work at a new 24-hour news station and getting the old team back together.

Bad Neighbours Français, Deutsch Comedy, 97 mins Director: Nicholas Stoller Starring: Seth Rogen, Zac Efron, Rose Byrne

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The kind of comedy where things start out bad for the protagonists and then get worse, Bad Neighbours finds suburban couple Rogen and Byrne living next door to a raucous ‘frat house’ headed by Efron and co-star Dave Franco. When they ask the lads to keep the noise down, the trouble really starts, and as the two households lock horns, they push each other to ever more dangerous (and hilarious) extremes.

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日本語, Français, Deutsch, Español Drama, 104 mins Director: Amma Asante Starring: Gugu Mbatha-Raw, Tom Wilkinson, Emily Watson

Blended

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This sumptuously shot biopic of mixed-race aristocrat Dido Belle (Mbatha-Raw) focuses on the huge challenges she faced as an outsider in the social circles of 18th-century England. When she begins a relationship with a young lawyer, she becomes involved in a landmark slavery case.

日本語, Español, Deutsch Comedy, 117 mins Director: Frank Coraci Starring: Adam Sandler, Drew Barrymore, Bella Thorne

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movies

Belle

Continuing a partnership that started with The Wedding Singer and continued with 50 First Dates, Sandler and Barrymore play single parents who, despite a disastrous first date, keep being thrown together. Funny, quirky and with a great supporting cast, resistance to its charms is futile.

The Calling Français, Deutsch, Español Thriller, 108 mins Director: Jason Stone Starring: Susan Sarandon, Gil Bellows, Donald Sutherland

Based on the novel by Inger Ash Wolfe, this taut thriller features a standout performance from Sarandon at her dogged, empathetic best as smalltown detective Hazel Micallef. When Hazel stops on a routine call, she stumbles across a gruesome murder that sets her off on a terrifying journey of (self) discovery, unearthing a series of

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killings with similar, grisly crime scenes. Meanwhile, a local priest (Sutherland) thinks there may be a link to an ancient ritual, and Hazel finds herself on the trail of a religious serial killer following a deadly, higher calling. In all, this is a dark, twisted journey into the shadowy landscape between faith and fear.

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movies

The Fault In Our Stars Romance, 126 mins 12 Director: Josh Boone Starring: Ansel Elgort, Shailene Woodley, Laura Dern

Based on the bestselling novel, this affecting romantic comedy-drama features a standout performance from Woodley as a teenage cancer patient who, when her parents force her to attend a support group, meets and falls in love with Gus (Elgort). It’s the kind of movie that makes you laugh even when you have a lump in your throat.

Marvel’s Captain America: The Winter Soldier

日本語, Français, Deutsch, 中文字幕 Adventure, 136 mins 12 Director: Anthony Russo, Joe Russo Starring: Chris Evans, Samuel L Jackson, Scarlett Johansson

Evans returns as Steve Rogers, who having awoken in the present day must first get to grips with the modern world before facing down an old adversary: the Soviet agent known as the Winter Soldier. As ever with the Marvel superhero franchise there’s major overlap with the other movies – and here it comes in the shape of Scarlett Johansson as the Black Widow.

Divergent

日本語, Français, Deutsch, 中文字幕 Adventure, 139 mins 12 Director: Neil Burger Starring: Shailene Woodley, Theo James, Kate Winslet

There’s more than a touch of The Hunger Games to this adventure set in a dystopian society divided into five factions based on virtues. Tris (Woodley) has grown up in Abnegation (the selfless faction), but when it comes to her aptitude test it’s discovered that she doesn’t fully belong to any group, and is in fact ‘divergent’. Her troubles are only just getting started…

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Fading Gigolo Comedy, 90 mins Director: John Turturro Starring: Woody Allen, John Turturro, Sharon Stone

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Talk about an intriguing premise. In a film written and directed by John Turturro, Woody Allen stars as a man who is asked to organise a ménage à trois for Sharon Stone and Sofía Vergara. He ropes Turturro in to do the deed, and pretty soon the pair are building a thriving trade, with Turturro as the unlikely gigolo and Allen as his equally unlikely pimp. However, when Turturro becomes involved with a widow played by Vanessa Paradis, the business of love interferes with the business of sex. The pairing of Allen and Turturro as the slightly bemused and out-of-their-depth chancers is especially entertaining – but it’s also a very warm and ultimately romantic film.

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movies

Godzilla

日本語, Français, Deutsch Action, 123 mins 12 Director: Gareth Edwards Starring: Aaron Taylor-Johnson, Ken Watanabe, Elizabeth Olsen

The words ‘Godzilla’ and ‘acclaimed’ don’t usually mix, but here we have it – a rootin’ tootin’ monster movie that the critics loved. Of course, when two giant parasitic creatures called MUTOs awake an age-old force of nature by the name of Godzilla, there’s plenty of firebreathing monster action. But there’s also enough character development to ensure those good reviews.

In Secret Drama, 107 mins 15 Director: Charlie Stratton Starring: Elizabeth Olsen, Tom Felton, Jessica Lange

Period thriller set in 1860s Paris, starring Olsen as a young woman trapped into a loveless marriage by her domineering aunt, Madame Raquin (Lange). Bored and sexually frustrated, the young woman embarks on an affair – with devastating consequences.

The Grand Budapest Hotel

日本語, Français, Deutsch Comedy, 100 mins 15 Director: Wes Anderson Starring: Ralph Fiennes, Adrien Brody, Bill Murray

Like all Wes Anderson movies, The Grand Budapest Hotel is quirky, abstract and deadpan, but it also has genuine heart, making it his most fully rounded film yet.

It tells the tale of a hotel concierge involved in the theft and recovery of a priceless painting, against the backdrop of looming world war.

The Hunger Games: Catching Fire

日本語, Français, Deutsch, 中文字幕 Action / Adventure, 146 mins Director: Francis Lawrence Starring: Jennifer Lawrence, Josh Hutcherson, Philip Seymour Hoffman

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The second in what is already a must-see sci-fi franchise once again features star-of-the-moment Lawrence as Katniss. After surviving the perils of the first movie and falling in love with Peeta (Hutcherson), she finds herself the poster girl for rebellion within Panem and must take part in an entirely new arena battle.

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movies

Locke Drama / Thriller, 85 mins Director: Steven Knight Starring: Tom Hardy, Ruth Wilson, Olivia Colman

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If you’re in the market for something different, then look no further. Featuring a single-scene set-up and a lone actor (Tom Hardy), Locke sounds brain-numbingly boring on paper, but in reality is one of the most gripping and engrossing films of the year. Without wanting to give the game away, the action takes place during a night-time drive, with Hardy as the protagonist, Ivan Locke, making calls on his hands-free phone. And that’s it. No other actors apart from the voices we hear, just Locke, desperately trying to sort out an unholy mess that he’s created. And that’s all we’re going to say. The rest you’d be well advised to find out for yourself.

The LEGO Movie

日本語, Français, Deutsch Animation, 100 mins U Directors: Phil Lord, Christopher Miller Voices of: Will Arnett, Elizabeth Banks, Alison Brie

Cast all your doubts aside. Yes, a LEGO movie might sound suspect, but this story of a LEGO minifigure who has to save the world is a hoot from beginning to end. Clever, funny and startlingly good-looking.

The Love Punch 12

Comedy, 94 mins Director: Joel Hopkins Starring: Emma Thompson, Pierce Brosnan, Timothy Spall

Brosnan and Thompson make an ideal couple in this romantic heist comedy. Even though they’re divorced, theirs is an amicable split; they’ve stayed in touch and each is looking forward to retirement. Until, that is, a con man steals their pension fund. Getting revenge, not to mention their money back, involves stealing a diamond – as well as a few hearts.

Jack Ryan: Shadow Recruit

日本語, Français, Deutsch, 中文字幕 Action, 105 mins Director: Kenneth Branagh Starring: Chris Pine, Kevin Costner, Kiera Knightley

Mrs Brown’s Boys D’Movie 12

Following in the footsteps of Alec Baldwin, Harrison Ford and Ben Affleck, Pine stars as CIA agent Ryan, crossing swords with a dastardly Russian businessman.

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Comedy, 94 mins Director: Ben Kellett Starring: Brendan O’Carroll, Jennifer Gibney, Sorcha Cusack

If ever anything could be described as critic-proof, then Mrs Brown’s Boys is it. On TV, the critics don’t especially like it, but at the cinema they absolutely loathed it. Not a problem for the irrepressible Mrs Brown. This tale of her versus the moneymen packed them in at the cinemas.

Its critics can now look forward to the planned sequel.

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movies Million Dollar Arm Deutsch, Español Drama, 124 mins

Director: Craig Gillespie Starring: Jon Hamm, Aasif Mandvi, Alan Arkin

PG

This true-life and warm-hearted sports drama stars Hamm as a sports agent who, after watching Britain’s Got Talent and a game of cricket, comes up with an innovative idea to find new baseball pitching talent. How? Well, bearing in mind his unlikely inspirations, he plans a pitching contest for Indian cricketers.

The Monuments Men War Drama, 118 mins 12 Director: George Clooney Starring: George Clooney, Matt Damon, Bill Murray

As the Nazi occupation of Europe is coming to an end, Clooney’s conscientious officer Frank Stokes is tasked with assembling an army unit whose aim is to return stolen art to its rightful owners.

“ If ever there was a vision of Disney perfection made flesh, Angelina Jolie is it. She is truly magnificent to behold.”

Total Film on Maleficent

Mr. Peabody & Sherman 日本語, Français, Deutsch Animation, 92 mins Director: Rob Minkoff Voices of: Ty Burrell, Max Charles, Stephen Colbert

© 2014 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Maleficent

日本語, Français, Deutsch Fantasy, 97 mins Director: Robert Stromberg Starring: Angelina Jolie, Sharlto Copley, Elle Fanning

PG

A live-action retelling of Sleeping Beauty, this latest from Disney has a novel twist – the story is told from the perspective of the self-proclaimed ‘mistress of all evil’, Maleficent. Jolie’s performance in the title role is a tour de force, leaving no piece of the fantastically baroque scenery unchewed. That Fanning can match her is testament to a great supporting cast.

U

Animated fun involving a genius dog called Mr. Peabody and his adopted son Sherman. Having invented time travel, Mr. Peabody takes Sherman to see history, but when Sherman breaks time-travel rules all hell breaks loose.

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movies Only Lovers Left Alive Drama, 123 mins Director: Jim Jarmusch Starring: Tilda Swinton, Tom Hiddleston, Mia Wasikowska

It’s fair to say that director Jim Jarmusch is something of an acquired taste. To fans, he’s famed for his languid style and mesmerising longueurs, while detractors point to the fact that very little seems to happen in his films. To be fair, his detractors have a point, but as Only Lovers Left Alive illustrates, nobody can do hypnotic and haunting quite like Jarmusch. The film stars

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Hiddleston and Swinton as Adam and Eve, a pair of estranged vampire lovers whose affair has lasted centuries. Fearing Adam may be in danger, Eve returns to Detroit to help pull him out of his vaguely vampirish depression. Painterly and laconic, with two standout performances from the leads, Only Lovers Left Alive is flecked with the idiosyncratic touch of its maverick director.

Postman Pat: The Movie Animation, 88 mins Director: Mike Disa Voices of: Stephen Mangan, David Tennant, Jim Broadbent

The Other Woman U

Français, Deutsch, Español Rom Com, 109 mins Director: Nick Cassavetes Starring: Cameron Diaz, Leslie Mann, Kate Upton

After years on the small screen, Pat makes his big-screen debut. In a bang-up-to-date story line, Pat (Mangan) enters a talent show (hosted by ‘Simon Cowbell’) and becomes an overnight celebrity – and no wonder, when you consider that Ronan Keating plays Pat’s singing voice. Meanwhile, the village postal service is under threat, and our hero has to save it.

Noah

日本人, Français, Deutsch, 中文字幕 Adventure, 138 mins Director: Darren Aronofsky Starring: Russell Crowe, Jennifer Connelly, Anthony Hopkins

Aronofsky’s tale of Biblical boat-building is film-making at its most ambitious. Set in a corrupted world after the fall of Paradise, Crowe plays Noah, who has a vision and sets about saving the animals.

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Comedy starring Diaz as Carly, who falls for a man only to discover he has a wife and another mistress (Mann and Sports Illustrated model Upton, respectively). Pretty soon the three ladies are taking their revenge – and hair-removal cream in his shampoo is just the start of his ordeal.

A New York Winter’s Tale 12

Fantasy, 118 mins 12 Director: Akiva Goldsman Starring: Colin Farrell, Russell Crowe, Jessica Brown Findlay

Set in a mythic New York, this fantastical romance stars Farrell as a burglar who tries to rob a mansion, only to fall in love with the beautiful, but doomed, woman (Findlay) he meets inside.

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movies © 2014 Disney Enterprises, Inc.

Tinker Bell and the Pirate Fairy Family, 78 mins U Director: Peggy Holmes Voices of: Mae Whitman, Tom Hiddleston, Christina Hendricks

This animated Peter Pan spin-off is aimed squarely at kids and finds the eponymous fairy springing into action when Zarina steals Pixie Hollow’s all-important Blue Pixie Dust – then flies away to join forces with the pirates of Skull Rock.

RoboCop

日本語, Français, Deutsch, 中文字幕 Action, 117 mins 12 Director: José Padilha Starring: Joel Kinnaman, Gary Oldman, Michael Keaton

A cast that includes Keaton, Oldman and Samuel L Jackson takes on this classic sci-fi tale.

When Kinnaman’s cop Alex Murphy is maimed in a car bomb, scientist Oldman bionically revives him as a cyber cop. However, as RoboCop soon discovers, it’s not easy being a machine.

Sabotage 15

Action, 109 mins Director: David Ayer Starring: Arnold Schwarzenegger, Sam Worthington, Joe Manganiello

Violent thriller starring Schwarzenegger as the leader of a DEA Task Force who while on a bust decide to pilfer some of the drug money for themselves. A year later, members of the team are being gruesomely bumped off and it’s up to Arnie to find the culprit. Is the killer an angry drug kingpin? Or a greedy member of his own team?

Rio 2 Animation, 101 mins Director: Carlos Saldanha Voices of: Jesse Eisenberg, Anne Hathaway, Jemaine Clement

U

For this sequel to the kids’ animated favourite, we rejoin macaw Blu as he’s sent to the Amazon with his new family – and then is stunned to encounter the long-lost tribe of his beloved Jewel. There’s plenty of fun to be had, including a mid-air game of football and a gob-smacking song-and-dance routine.

Starred Up Drama, 106 mins Director: David Mackenzie Starring: Jack O’Connell, Rupert Friend, Ben Mendelsohn

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It’s no surprise that Jack O’Connell’s acting role models are Tim Roth, Gary Oldman and Tom Hardy; the young Midlands-born star brings the same edge and intensity to his own work, especially in this rapturously received prison drama. Here he plays Eric, a young offender so violent he has been ‘starred up’, i.e. moved to an adult prison. His only chance of survival is to make amends with his father, who is also inside but who Eric hasn’t seen since he was five. Beatings and nasty showerroom experiences make Starred Up far from an easy watch, but if you’re after a provocative and challenging film, it’s just the ticket.

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movies X-Men: Days of Future Past 12

Action, 131 mins Director: Bryan Singer Starring: Patrick Stewart, Ian McKellen, Hugh Jackman

With the original and best X-Men director Bryan Singer on board, and a mouthwatering cast including Jennifer Lawrence and Michael Fassbender, you can be sure this latest instalment (Plot: the X-Men send Wolverine to the past. Things explode) is one of the best of the franchise.

The Secret Life of Walter Mitty

日本語, Français, Deutsch Adventure, 114 mins Director: Ben Stiller Starring: Ben Stiller, Kristen Wiig, Jon Daly

A rare dramatic outing for Stiller in this beautifully rendered adaptation of James Thurber’s classic story. He plays the titular Mitty, who escapes his dreary life by disappearing into a world of fantasies, of heroism, romance and action.

PG

The Two Faces of January

The Wolf of Wall Street

Thriller, 96 mins 12 Director: Hossein Amini Starring: Kirsten Dunst, Oscar Isaac, Viggo Mortensen

Bio-Comedy, 180 mins Director: Martin Scorsese Starring: Leonardo DiCaprio, Jonah Hill, Matthew McConaughey

A sophisticated, beautifully mounted thriller where nothing is quite as it seems. In Athens in 1962, Rydal (Isaac), a dashing American con artist, encounters a handsome couple, Chester (Mortensen) and Colette (Dunst). Drawn to the mysterious pair, Rydal is first tricked into helping Chester move a body, then becomes inextricably involved in a world of dark secrets.

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DiCaprio’s slimy stockbroker, Jordan Belfort, goes into business selling cheap stocks to working-class people, amassing a fortune and spending it on a decadent sex-and-drugs lifestyle. No punches are pulled, but a bravura turn from DiCaprio and Scorsese at his kinetic best make it a thrilling ride from start to finish.

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Queen

Hindi Crime, 171 mins Director: Vijay Krishna Acharya Starring: Aamir Khan, Katrina Kaif, Abhishek Bachchan

Hindi Drama, 145 mins 15 Director: Vikas Bahl Starring: Kangana Ranaut, Lisa Haydon, Rajkummar Rao

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Big box office Bollywood crime thriller telling the story of circus owner Sahr Khan who, after his father commits suicide because he was not able to repay a bank loan, takes revenge by robbing the same bank.

Gunday Hindi Action, 152 mins 12 Director: Ali Abbas Zafar Starring: Ranveer Singh, Arjun Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra

Lots of action and gunplays in this Hindi adventure set in the turmoil of 1970s Calcutta. Taking advantage of the unrest are Bikram and Bala, two boys who become gun couriers and then, thanks to a mix of ruthlessness and derring-do, Calcutta’s most fearless and powerful bandits – otherwise known as the gunday.

Hindi film about Rani (Kangana Ranaut), a Delhi girl from a conservative family who is ditched by her fiancé just before her marriage. Not to be deterred, she sets out on the planned honeymoon alone, but as she travels the world and meets new people, she gains new experiences and discovers her own identity.

Like Father, Like Son 日本語 Drama, 121 mins Director: Hirokazu Koreeda Starring: Masaharu Fukuyama, Machiko Ono, Yôko Maki

PG

Japanese film about go-getting workaholic Ryota, who discovers that his biological son was switched at birth and has been living with another family. The different approaches of the couples to their excruciating dilemma make for superb, heart-wrenching drama. そして父になる 保護者同伴推奨、ドラマ、121 分 出演：福山雅治、尾野真千子 監督：是枝裕和 良太はある日、息子が出生時に病院で取 り違えられた他人の子供だったことを知 る。カンヌ映画祭で審査員賞を受賞した 胸がしめつけられるような秀作。

Hasee Toh Phasee

Personal Tailor Mandarin Comedy, 118 mins Director: Feng Xiaogang Starring: Ge You, Bai Baihe, Li Xiaolu

Chinese comedy-drama about a company that grants wishes to people looking for a day away from their ordinary lives. The clients include a chauffeur who wants to be an important authority figure, a schlock B-movie director who wants to learn the essence of good taste and a working class cleaning lady who gets to be rich for one day. 私人订 制 15 级, 喜剧/剧情片, 118 分钟 冯小刚 葛优, 白百何 一家公司助人圆平日生活中实现不了的梦想。

Hindi Comedy Romance, 141 mins 12 Director: Vinil Matthew, Starring: Sidharth Malhotra, Parineeti Chopra, Adah Sharma

Jai-Ho Hindi Action, 140 mins 15 Director: Sohail Khan Starring: Salman Khan, Tabu, Sunil Shetty

Drama with Salman Khan as an ex-army officer who has pledged to fight injustice, believes in helping those less fortunate than himself and dreams of a prosperous nation.

Parineeta Chopra is brilliant in this funny and romantic Hindi movie. She plays Meeta, who forms a bond with Nikhil the first time she meets him. Ten years later, they meet again – only this time he wants to marry her sister.

The Lunchbox Hindi Romantic Drama, 104 mins Director: Ritesh Batra Starring: Irrfan Khan, Nimrat Kaur, Nawazuddin Siddiqui

PG

Bollywood film set in Mumbai’s famously efficient lunchbox-delivery system. In this case it’s not as efficient as it should be. A mistaken delivery leads to a relationship between a lonely widower, and an unhappy housewife, as they start exchanging notes through the daily lunchbox.

movies

Dhoom 3

Trick The Movie: The Last Stage 日本語 Drama, 112 mins Director: Yukihiko Tsutsumi Starring: Hiroshi Abe, Noriyuki Higashiyama, Kazuki Kitamura

Magician Naoko (Yukie Nakama) is called upon to visit a small town in this Japanese drama. Why? The tricky Naoko must appear as a Goddess to help the townspeople with their irrational doomsday fears. From there – if you can believe it – things just get stranger and stranger… トリック劇場版ラストステージ 15 歳以上, ドラマ, 112 分 堤幸彦 阿部寛, 東山紀之 ある日、上田次郎は村上商事の加賀美慎一から、海外の 秘境にあるレアアース採掘のために力を貸して欲しいと 頼まれる。例によって、上田は山田奈緒子の力を借りる ことに。

Team Batista The Movie: The Portrait Of Kerberos 日本語 Drama, 128 mins Director: Kazunan Hoshino Starring: Atsushi Ito, Toru Nakamura, Katsuhisa Namase

Japanese drama about a team of top-notch medical experts who, when they receive a threatening letter, must stop the Kerberos Tower and Tojo Medical University being blown up. Not only that but there’s the small matter of solving a puzzling murder-mystery case… チーム・バチスタFINAL ケルベロスの肖 像 ドラマ, 128 分, 15 歳以上 生瀬勝久 伊藤淳史, 仲村トオル シリーズの最終章となる医療ミステリ ー。死因究明システムの一大改革に取り 組む主人公たちのもとに舞い込む脅迫状 に、死亡事件を絡め、医学界を揺さぶる 衝撃が描かれる。

The White Storm Cantonese Action, 140 mins Director: Benny Chan Starring: Ching Wan Lau, Louis Koo

Set in the aftermath of a disastrous police operation against a notorious Thai drug lord, this film finds three narcotics cops abandoned to their various fates. Years later, a drug-related crime brings them together for a tense final face-off. 扫毒 电影分级：12 级，动作片，140 分钟 导演：陈木胜 主演：刘青云、古天乐 在一次损失惨重的警方扫毒活动中，三名 扫毒警察劫后余生，共同展开了惊心动魄 的最终对决。

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DISCOVER THE HIDDEN DEPTHS FACEBOOK.COM/TIGERBEERUK

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11/09/2012 10:59

tv David Beckham Into the Unknown

tv

Documentaries Blackfish 83 mins

15

Acclaimed documentary telling the tale of the orca whale Tilikum, which has been in captivity since the age of two – but killed three people during that time. Director Gabriela Cowperthwaite uses shocking footage and emotional interviews with former trainers who worked with or around Tilikum in order to try to find an explanation for what happened, as well as asking the larger question: should animals as large and powerful – not to mention as intelligent and feeling – as Tilikum even be kept in captivity? A huge hit at the Sundance Film Festival and a favourite with critics, Blackfish is an eye-opening and thoughtprovoking film that, like all great documentaries, poses as many questions as it answers.

Change is in the Air! 4 mins

112 Weddings 90 mins

PG

Documentary maker Doug Block has supported his career with a side business of videotaping weddings. Curious to discover how these couples’ marriages turned out, he tracked down some of the more memorable to ask how they got on. The encounters are funny, insightful and deeply moving.

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Find out about Virgin Atlantic’s Change is in the Air (CIITA) sustainability programme. In this four-minute animation, Sir Richard Branson summarises what we’re doing to reduce our environmental impact and to support communities in need. It features thirsty microbes, dancing horses, baby orangutans and pilots dressed in plastic bottles...

Find out how you can do your bit too!

The Class of ‘92 97 mins

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The Class of ‘92 are David Beckham, Nicky Butt, Ryan Giggs, Gary Neville, Phil Neville and Paul Scholes, the six Manchester United players who formed the backbone of the treble-winning team of 1998/99. This feature-length documentary details their meteoric rise and features interviews with all six.

tv

Documentaries

Fabulous Fashionistas 60 mins

Fab and fashionable at… how old? Award-winning director Sue Bourne explores the art of ageing (dis)gracefully in this documentary. Her subjects boast an average age of 80, yet all still look amazing. It’s not botox or plastic surgery that keeps them looking young but a desire to live life to its fullest, most obvioulsy through their clothes. They dress with a style and panache that is about more than trends or labels, and witnessing them in full flow – conversational and sartorial – is a delight.

Super Duper Alice Cooper 98 mins

15

When The Alice Cooper Band broke up, lead singer Vincent Damon Furnier took the name Alice Cooper for his own as he launched a solo career. There were bad times and good, with changing times and alcohol abuse meaning he fell out of favour after the decadent 70s, only to bounce back in the 80s. Elton John and Iggy Pop offer testimonials, but the best quips belong to Cooper.

David Beckham Into The Unknown 91 mins

What did Becks do to mark his retirement? Despite Victoria’s concerns (‘Why can’t you ‘find yourself’ at home?’) he rounded up three mates and their motorbikes to join him on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure deep into the wilds of the Amazon – all of which makes for a touching and intimate look at the global superstar.

I Am Divine 90 mins

15

‘Two people in the same body’ was how drag icon Divine was often described. Indeed, the story of how the unremarkable Glenn Milstead transformed himself into the utterly outrageous and deliberately offensive acting and singing phenomenon that was Divine provides the backbone to this warmly received feature-length documentary. Perhaps his most important relationship was with director John Waters, a kindred spirit who styled himself the ‘pope of trash’ and gave Divine his most memorable (or at least his most mainstream) role, in 1988’s Hairspray.

The film includes footage and extensive interview with Waters and other cast members, as well as with Divine’s mother, who memorably recalls confronting ‘Glenn’ over whether he really was ‘Divine’ – having seen him on the cover of a gay magazine.

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tv

Comedy

House of Fools 30 mins

The latest sitcom vehicle for the singular talents of Vic Reeves and Bob Mortimer features fellow surreal comic Matt Berry and is just as offthe-wall as you’d expect. In this episode, Bob tries to watch Conan the Barbarian with a lady friend…

The Big Bang Theory

Benidorm

30 mins

60 mins

This Golden Globe-winning sitcom about geeks and the gorgeous girl across the hall picks up new fans every time it’s shown. With a great cast, diamond-sharp script and lots of laughs, it’s not hard to see why.

More hilarity from the serial holidaymakers. In this series six opener, the Garveys make it as far as Alicante airport before things go awry, and new family the Dykes get off on the wrong foot.

Doll & Em Brooklyn Nine-Nine 30 mins

Meet the cops of Brooklyn’s 99th Precinct. In this acclaimed pilot episode, new captain Ray Holt makes his presence felt, while the freewheeling Jake attends to a tricky Google search.

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25 mins

Created by and starring real-life pals Emily Mortimer and Dolly Wells, Doll & Em is a brand-new sitcom about an actress and her slightly inept (though very lovable) personal assistant. In this first episode, Em lands a part and the pair head off for Hollywood.

tv

Comedy Modern Family 30 mins

The sitcom that has been taking America and the UK by storm employs the mockumentary format to focus on an extended and, yes, very modern family. Fresh and, most importantly, funny.

The Millers 30 mins

The brilliant Will Arnett stars in this brand-new sitcom. In this first episode, things go from bad to worse when Nathan’s parents first announce they’re splitting up – and then that they’re moving in.

“ The third series is fizzier and more potent – with ramped up edginess and squirminess”

The Guardian on

Friday Night Dinner

Friday Night Dinner 25 mins

The first episode of the third series of this acclaimed sitcom sees Adam finally bringing a girl home for dinner.

However, the evening takes a turn for the worse when the family find themselves looking after eight-year-old Katie, who has a massive crush on Adam…

The IT Crowd 60 mins

A special hour-long final episode of the acclaimed sitcom finds the trio in hot water, as ever, as Jen throws a cup of coffee over a homeless woman and Roy is labeled as being biased against small persons after arguing with one.

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tv

Comedy Rick & Morty 30 mins

This is the animated sitcom that’s had US critics queuing up to offer praise.

Revolving around the dysfunctional relationship between an alcoholic scientist and his grandson, it deserves every single plaudit.

Silicon Valley 60 mins

New sitcom from Beavis & Butthead creator Mike Judge, in which an unwitting nerd finds himself at the centre of a billion-dollar bidding war. Not only is it very funny and brilliantly observed but it offers a glimpse at a rarely seen world.

“ The funniest cable comedy in a good while. Its real strength is that it’s built on a universal idea. It starts sharp and only gets richer”

Time on Silicon Valley Stewart Lee’s Comedy Vehicle 30 mins

An acquired taste, a wordof-mouth find, a bona fide cult… however you may choose to describe Stewart Lee, the fact remains that he’s very funny indeed.

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Veep 30 mins

It’s season three of the acclaimed Armando Iannucci’s scathing political sitcom and Selina (Julia Louis-Dreyfus) decides to run for presidency and starts looking for a campaign manager. Meanwhile the team learns shocking news that could stand between her and The White House.

Sport and News

tv

Entertainment

Sky Sports News 15 mins

Watch the best coverage of your favourite sports: football, golf, rugby, cricket, tennis, F1, boxing, plus the latest sports news, transfers and scores in this weekly update.

Soccer AM Best Bits 15 mins

David Blaine: Real or Magic 60 mins

Real or Magic finds the enigmatic illusionist performing for some of his favourite celebrities, including Breaking Bad star Bryan Cranston, Robert De Niro, Will Smith, Katy Perry and a hilariously freaked-out Harrison Ford.

You can enjoy this legendary show any time thanks to specially selected content. Hosted by Helen Chamberlain and Max Rushden, the best of Soccer AM finds players, celebrity guests, pundits, fans and, of course, the ‘soccerettes’, chewing over the hot topics of the day, as well as taking part in challenges such as the hotly contested Crossbar Challenge, the Ten-Yard Bucket Challenge and the nail-biting Soccer AM webcam.

Top Gear 60 mins

In this episode from the latest series, the trio must buy hatchbacks from their youth (well, the 1980s) before using them to take on challenges including the hill climb, a ‘supermarket sweep’ and a police pursuit.

Chaos, as you can imagine.

Catch up with these weekly round-ups covering entertainment and technology news and reviews of major events.

Spotlight 15 mins

What’s on Vera

A round-up of the week’s top showbusiness news and interviews with top names from the world of entertainment.

15 mins

The highlights show that guides you through some of the hidden gems among Virgin Atlantic’s glittering world of entertainment.

Our resident film buff, Jason Solomons, unearths some of the most compelling films, documentaries and TV choices to look out for whilst zooming through the skies.

Swipe 15 mins

The latest technology news from around the world, the hottest new gadgets and reviews of the top new games.

Week In Review 20 mins

A weekly review of major events, talking points and the most memorable footage with Sky News presenter Jayne Secker and regular guests Kevin Maguire and Andrew Pierce – who never agree on anything.

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tv

Drama Game of Thrones 60 mins per episode

The fantasy show for people who don’t like fantasy shows is now in its fourth series – and better than ever.

If you’re a fan you won’t need telling how good it is. If not, then suffice to say, this is TV drama as never before. Season four’s storyline sees new battles in the corridors of power as the dust settles after the War of the Five Kings. As usual there is lots of sex and violence, and literally anything might happen. If you’ve read the novels you’ll know what to expect, but everyone else can be assured that no character is safe from the chop – that puts it in a class of its own.

The 100 45 mins

The first episode of a thrilling new post-apocalyptic drama. When 100 teenagers stage a last-ditch attempt to find out whether Earth is habitable again, they discover the existence of a new race, the Grounders. Are the Grounders friendly? No, not really.

Inside No. 9 30 mins

With Mark Gatiss busy penning Sherlock, it’s been left to Reece Shearsmith and Steve Pemberton to keep The League of Gentlemen spirit alive. This they’ve done with aplomb, first with cult favourite Psychoville and now this new anthology show. Informed by the pair’s love of Hammer House of Horror and Tales of the Unexpected, each show tells a different story, each from behind a door marked No. 9, and each with a deliciously dark twist in the tale. Our onboard episode, Sardines, finds a starstudded cast swiftly regretting playing the eponymous game…

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Happy Valley 50 mins

Chances are you’ll be hooked by this first episode of this acclaimed drama. Gripping and gritty, it features a standout turn from Sarah Lancashire as a police constable who believes that the man responsible for driving her daughter to suicide is still up to no good.

Call the Midwife 60 mins

In episode one of series three, the midwives of Poplar move into a new Nonnatus House, joined by new arrival Sister Winifred, while Chummy struggles to adjust to life as a housewife.

tv

Drama Nashville 45 mins per episode

This acclaimed series about the rivalry and on-off friendship of two country music stars returns for a second season. Connie Britton plays Rayna James, a legendary diva; Hayden Panettiere the up-andcoming star who has problems of her own.

The Good Wife 45 mins

According to critics, legal drama The Good Wife has come into its own during its fifth season.

This series opener finds Alicia (Julianna Margulies) and Cary (Matt Czuchry) striking out to set up on their own.

“ The Walking Dead turns the violent logic of the zombie thriller on its head... it explores its themes in much greater depth than the old zombie films ever could”

The New Yorker on The Walking Dead

The Walking Dead 60 mins

It’s the first episode of season four and Rick’s group tries to cope with a flu outbreak at the prison.

Meanwhile, an old friend makes a reappearance (clue: he wears an eyepatch and is played by David Morrissey.)

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tv

Drama True Detective 60 mins per episode

This crime series from HBO has had critics in raptures. Woody Harrelson and Matthew McConaughey are Louisiana homicide detectives Hart and Cohle, who investigate a ritualistic serial killer in 1995. After an investigation that tests their relationship to the limits, they believe they’ve caught the killer. But 17 years later a body bearing the same hallmarks is discovered.

The Widower 60 mins per episode

Starring Reece Shearsmith, The Widower is a threepart dramatisation of the true-life case of Malcolm Webster, a serial groom turned would-be serial killer. Spanning a 13-year period, it tells the story of how the mildmannered Webster developed a taste for high-spending his pay-packet couldn’t match.

Shearsmith shines in a straight role, with John Hannah also terrific as a dogged detective inspector.

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The Tunnel 60 mins per episode

Thriller that kicks off when a body (actually, two bodies) is found in the Channel Tunnel. And because it’s on the exact border of England and France, British and French police detectives Karl Roebuck (Stephen Dillane) and Elise Wasserman (Clémence Poésy) investigate.

tv

Factual Harry’s South Pole Heroes 60 mins

Prince Harry proves to be an entertaining and charismatic focus in this show about his involvement in an arduous 335km South Pole trek. The kicker is that many of those taking part are war wounded, and include amputees, making their achievement all the more remarkable.

Brain Games Hidden Kingdoms 50 mins

When it comes to nature documentaries, nobody does it better than the BBC. Year after year the corporation produces staggering wildlife footage, either capturing what was previously thought impossible to film or offering new perspectives on the lives of more commonplace species. Falling squarely into the later category comes Hidden Kingdoms. Narrated by Stephen Fry it’s a unique opportunity to see life from an entirely new angle, focusing on tiny creatures whose day to day existence is a daily battle against much larger predators who want them for breakfast (not to mention lunch and dinner). Put it this way, watch our onboard episode and you’ll never look at a mouse the same way again.

30 mins

Seeing is believing. Or is it? This is the show that makes you question what you see, using illusions to illustrate how your visual perceptions can be surprisingly deceptive. Watch as your brain turns beautiful people into scary monsters, and reduces giants to miniatures. Brain-bending stuff.

Gadget Man 30 mins

Don’t Look Down 60 mins

Edge-of-the-seat documentary following James Kingston, one of a new breed of ‘urban free climbers’ who scale tall cranes and buildings – then hang from them. Meeting up with Ukraine’s Mustang Wanted, the pair embark on a journey of evercrazier and even more deathdefying stunts, pushing each other to breathtaking extremes.

Just don’t try it yourself…

Richard Ayoade focuses on gizmos that can make your summer holiday ‘mildly more enjoyable’, such as a three-in-one luggage scooter, and a jacket that allows you to wear your excess baggage – as tested

by Noel Fielding.

Attenborough’s Natural Curiosities 60 mins

The irrepressible Attenborough goes in search of two animals that hide behind a seemingly impregnable coat of arms: hedgehogs and rhinos.

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tv

Factual

Headspace 5 – 20 mins per episode

If you’ve ever wanted to sleep better, have more focus or just stop the endless thoughts from clattering around your brain, let the man The Times calls ‘Britain’s top meditation guru’ show you how. In just 10 minutes, he’ll take you through simple, practical techniques for getting a bit more headspace in your life.

The Hoarder Next Door 60 mins

Psychotherapist Stelios Kiosses, not forgetting straight-talking de-clutterers Zoe Steel and Allyson Pritchard, are on hand to help extreme hoarders. In this episode are Tricia, a former actor, and Paul, a jazz enthusiast.

Secret Life of Babies 60 mins

Documentary showing that the first two years of our lives are the most critical, as well as exploring recent findings that babies have incredible abilities that we lose as adults, such as being able to survive tremendous physical shocks. Fascinating stuff.

The Island With Bear Grylls 60 mins

Reality show in which survival expert Bear Grylls drops 13 hopefuls on a remote, uninhabited Pacific island for a month. Can they survive? Probably, but as the man himself says, it’s not just about surviving but thriving.

Penguins – Spy in the Huddle 50 mins

We have over 50 spy cameras to thank for the truly remarkable footage in this wildlife special, narrated by David Tennant. The ‘egg-cams’ and ‘penguin-cams’ create all kinds of humorous situations, and capture the penguins in their full glory.

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“ About as close as television has got to Lord of the Flies, and it’s absolutely fascinating because of it”

The Guardian on

The Island With Bear Grylls

Jake and the Never Land Pirates

tv

K IDS

Peppa Pig 60 mins

Batman 30 mins

23 mins per episode

Austin & Ally

Marvel’s Avengers Assemble

Phineas and Ferb

23 mins per episode

23 mins per episode

23 mins per episode

Ultimate Spider-Man 22 mins per episode

Sofia The First 30 mins per episode

Scooby-Doo! Mystery Incorporated 30 mins per episode

Mickey Mouse Clubhouse 24 mins per episode

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music Bobby Womack Š Jamie-James Medina

highlights

Soul, rock, pop and alternative sounds From the newest albums to all-time classics, you can listen to more than 200 albums across a wide range of genres on board. To see the full listings, just visit the music menu on your touch screen. Here are some of our highlights for this month.

Dolly Parton The Very Best of Country

There is a school of thought that says Dolly Parton’s Jolene is simply the most perfect song ever written. However, as this compilation goes to prove, it has some serious competition from within her very own catalogue.

Bobby Womack The Essential Soul

Example

The recently departed Bobby Womack has quite a legacy and many of the best bits are collected on this very aptly titled collection. With tracks lifted from every stage of his career, this really is the cream of legend they called ‘the last great soul man’.

Live Life Living Dance / Electronic

The irrepressible Example cordially invites you to raise your hands in the direction of the lazers for this fifth and decidedly bangin’ effort. If it’s reflection and contemplation you want, look elsewhere. This is Ibiza-friendly dance with all the boring bits taken out.

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Morrissey

Lana Del Rey

World Peace Is None of Your Business Alternative

Ultraviolence Pop

After storming the literary world with his autobiography (which we also have onboard) last year, Steven Patrick returns with a provocative set enlivened by some of the best musical backing he’s enjoyed in years.

Yes, Lana’s second album may lack the killer punch of a song as strong as Video Games, but it’s a more consistent prospect, while a less orchestral approach to the music showcases her detached, oh-so-cool singing style to perfection.

Led Zeppelin II Rock / All Time Greats

After the most famous opening in the whole of rock (Whole Lotta Love) the remainder of Led Zep’s sophomore album should rightly be a disappointment.

That nothing could be further from the truth is a testament to the strength of a true classic.

highlights

Led Zeppelin

Leif Ove Andsnes The Beethoven Journey: Piano Concertos 2 & 4 Classical

Until 2012, the celebrated Norwegian pianist had a distinct lack of Beethoven in his catalogue. This second CD of concertos proves that the wait has been worthwhile.

Jungle Jungle Soul / R&B

If the fact that newcomers Jungle are described as a mix of The xx, Prince and Marvin Gaye doesn’t pique your interest, well, then you probably don’t have interest to pique, because this is one of the most stylistically assured and summer-ready debuts in years.

Gregory Porter

Lily Allen

Liquid Spirit Soul /Jazz / Easy Listening

Sheezus Pop

The Grammy-winning jazz singer’s third album includes some of his most searching performances. From the Gospelbacked Liquid Spirit to When Love Was King – sung to his new son – this album comes from the heart.

Riffing off the recent Kanye West classic Yeezus is the first of a ton of zeitgeist-surfing references on Lily Allen’s latest, in which she also addresses issues of misogyny in the music biz and celebrity culture.

George Ezra Wanted On Voyage Pop / Singer Songwriter

St Vincent St. Vincent Alternative

Put simply, St Vincent, aka Annie Clark, is one of the most exciting artists around.

This, her fourth, album finds her capitalising on good notices to produce an exemplary set of brainy, quirky pop sure to figure in this year’s best-of lists.

Drawing comparisons with everybody from Ed Sheeran to Bob Dylan, 19 year old singer-songwriter George Ezra first came to attention after he posted tracks online – and has since packed out the John Peel stage at Glastonbury. His debut album is a breath of fresh air.

Sam Smith

Vittorio Grigòlo

In the Lonely Hours Pop / Soul

The Romantic Hero Classical / Opera

Singer-songwriter Smith’s breakthrough came when he sang on Disclosure’s Latch. The 21-yearold has lent his soulful talents to a long-player that combines soul, jazz and pop to devastating effect.

Though Italian tenor Grigòlo has long felt an affinity for French opera, this is his first album of all-French repertoire. It explores the big romantic arias that suit his voice and temperament perfectly.

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Extras Best inflight entertainment

Upper Class wines

Each year APEX holds a competition, the passenger Choice Awards, to decide which airline offers the Best in Inflight Entertainment.

We provide a trio of snapshot films illustrating the selection process of our wines, as well as the individual red and white wines on offer today in Upper Class.

Your very own ‘go to’ wine guide and sommelier in the sky!

Thanks to your votes we have had the great honour of winning Best in Region: Europe for 2013 for the third year running, and with your help we’d love to do it again. We put a great deal of time and effort into selecting the best and most varied content around, and we hope that you enjoy the entertainment experience as much as we enjoy choosing it for you.

Please take the time to give us your vote by visiting: www.passengerchoiceawards.com

Sky News

Thank you for your support.

We’re proud to offer the best in on-demand entertainment, but we know that sometimes you just like to be left to your own devices. So, with this in mind, you also have the option to power your USB devices while using them at your seat via the seatback connection.

Save for later One of the great features of this system is the ‘Save for Later’ option. This allows you to build your very own playlist of films, TV programmes and audio content, which saves you having to search through the choices again and again.

Where am I?

Curious to know where you are?

Then check out Skymap. Just touch the flight progress bar, which is visible on all menu screens, and you can check your flight’s whereabouts and even roam around the globe with Skymap’s interactive views.

Onboard games We’ve got 20 fantastic games to occupy you during your flight today. Some of these are touch-screen and for some you need you use the handset, so please check the loading screen for more info.

If you want to keep up to date with the headlines while you’re in the air, head to our News section where you’ll find full coverage of all the breaking headlines, entertainment, business and sports stories.

You can also listen to a round up of top stories on your headphones.

Are you on the Guest List?

Get a taste of the luxury lifestyle when you fly Virgin Atlantic. Buy a Guest List package and experience some of the best bits of our Upper Class service on the ground.

Door to door service Check in effortlessly then glide through our Private Security Channel to our Upper Class Wing at London Heathrow. An oasis of calm in the buzz of the airport.

Chauffeur driven car Start your journey in style with a car that takes you directly from your house to the Clubhouse.

Access to the Clubhouse Then enjoy the ultimate preflight experience. Dine on gourmet food and sip a cocktail at the bar in our award winning Clubhouse. Or simply relax in style with a complimentary spa or hair treatment.

Baggage taken care of Even your baggage is on the Guest List. It’s tagged as Upper Class when you check in.

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Entry to the Guest List starts at just £240.

And as you’d expect, spaces are limited.

Visas and passports made easy You can get helpful information on visas and passports (and also order online) at www.uk.cibt.com/virginatlantic EU customers with biometric passports can now use new self clearance gates at Border Control. If your passport has this logo, save yourself time.

Enjoy sky high rewards with Flying Club Join our seriously rewarding loyalty programme and you could soon be earning miles to spend on flights, upgrades and hotel stays.

Earn miles for great rewards Every time you fly with us or one of our partner airlines you’ll earn miles (even more if you fly Premium Economy or Upper Class). The more you fly, the more benefits you’ll enjoy, as you move from Red to Silver until you reach the brilliant Gold membership. You can also earn miles on the ground with our worldwide partners, which include car rental companies and hotels.

Go further with your earned miles Redeem your miles on flights to see more of our fabulous destinations for less. Or treat yourself to a Premium Economy or Upper Class upgrade.

You can also enjoy hotel stays, partner airline flights and local partner rewards. The rewards start from just 2,000 miles, less than what you’re earning for today’s flight.

Join Flying Club today The great thing is, if you join today you’ll have six months to claim the miles you’re earning on your flight right now. And you can claim the miles from any other flights you’ve taken with us in the last six months too.

So why not join Flying Club today? Just ask your cabin crew for an application form and start building up those rewards.

Health advice DVT is more likely to strike if you are immobile for a long time (post-operative patients are at risk), so long-haul flyers should take the following precautions…

— Drink lots of fluid and avoid excess alcohol.

— Keep your circulation going during the flight by wiggling your toes and ankles, taking a walk up and down the aisle if possible.

— Check out the Virgin health video for further health tips.

Connecting from Heathrow Terminal 3 to Terminal 1 or 2

Welcome to Heathrow

Follow the purple signs for Flight Connections (UK & Ireland route).

Connections bus

A bus will transfer you to Terminal 1 or 2.

Buses are free and depart every 6-10 minutes.

Passport control

Arriving international passengers pass through UK immigration control at Heathrow. An image will be taken as required for the Department for Transport.

Hand baggage check

To ensure it conforms to UK and EU regulations. Liquids in containers over 100ml are not allowed.

Security screening

You will pass through security screening. If you are a non-UK resident and have goods to declare, please use the HM Customs telephone before security control.

Airline desks

If you need to visit the Virgin Atlantic transfer desk, you'll find it here.

Shop, eat & relax

The screens in the departure lounge will be updated when your gate opens and again when your flight is ready for boarding.

From 10th September Little Red will be moving to Terminal 2 39

Use your

mobile phone So, you’re on a connected flight – how exciting! But what does that mean? It means you can use your own mobile phone, on an aircraft!

AeroMobile is the network you’ll roam on inflight, just like you’ll roam on a foreign network when you’re overseas.

It is a registered mobile phone operator; the only difference is they operate at 37,000ft.

The bottom line is you’ll be billed by your mobile operator, so whatever they charge you for roaming, typically in the ‘rest of the world’ category, is what you’ll pay. You will usually receive a free text from your home operator with pricing information.

— A mid-Atlantic text to your friend in London travels 455,804km over satellite networks, and would typically reach them in less than 30 seconds. That’s the same as 11 trips around the world in just half a minute!

To celebrate the fact that you need never be incommunicado again, and that being a geek is cool, here are some nerdy facts about our inflight connectivity service that might surprise you!

— So far this year Virgin Atlantic passengers have sent over a quarter of a million texts to friends, family and colleagues from 37,000ft.

— Did you know that AeroMobile has agreements with over 220 operators around the world, so even if you’re not from the UK you can probably use the service.

They also operate over satellites, which is a bit cooler than mobile phone masts.

How to use WiFi on connected flights: On certain aircraft, not only can you use your mobile phone to call or text but you can also wirelessly connect your portable devices to our WiFi service. After takeoff, crew will advise if your aircraft is WiFi enabled, so listen out for announcements.

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— Sending an email to your boss from 37,000ft only takes a few seconds longer than being in the office – they’ll never know the difference!

— The average cost of sending a text from onboard is just 45p.

onboard How to use your phone onboard:

1.

2. 3. 4. 5.

Remember to switch your phone off for take-off and landing.

After take-off (above 6,000 metres) the AeroMobile service will become available.

Switch your phone on, making sure ‘Flight mode’ is off and ‘Roaming’ is on.

If your phone doesn’t automatically connect to the AeroMobile network, manually select AeroMobile in Settings/Carrier or Mobile Networks.

Once connected you’ll receive a welcome text from AeroMobile.

It’s likely you’ll receive a text from your home mobile operator with pricing information.

You can now use your mobile phone to call, text, email and surf the internet. Usage is billed by your home phone operator and international roaming rates apply.

Be aware that when using the data roaming services your network operator’s standard roaming charges will apply.

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sustainability

Our Change is in the Air (CIITA) sustainability programme includes our comprehensive environmental and community investment programmes.

On environment first and foremost this means

significantly improving our aircraft fuel and carbon efficiency by employing new aircraft and other technologies. We’re also playing our part in driving the commercial uptake of low carbon aviation fuels through our award winning sustainable fuels programme. On the ground, we focus on better managing our energy, vehicles, water and waste, as well as engaging our designers, buyers and suppliers on improved, more sustainable supply chain practices.

We’re also actively working with the industry and government to reduce our noise footprint.

On community investment our partnership with Free The Children (FTC) means our international development programme is delivering real, measurable, sustainable change in our funded overseas communities. Through our FTC school programme ‘We Act’, we also inspire young people across the UK to get involved and be the change they want to see in the world. All this is made possible through your generous Change for Children donations, and our staff fundraising.

Watch our 3.5 minute Change is in the Air animation onboard! Check it out in the A-Z listing in the TV section. Or visit www.virginatlantic.com/changeisintheair for more details.

Community Investment

Environment We approach waste management with the ‘3Rs’ hierarchy of reduce, reuse and recycle in mind.

We know that there is no single solution to ending poverty.

But FTC’s multi-faceted ‘Adopt a Village’ solution, developed over 19 years of on-the-ground experience, gets results by involving both development experts and community members in decision making. The focus is on finding meaningful solutions that last so that communities become self-sufficient and rely less on foreign aid.

Onboard, we work with MNH Sustainable Cabin Services (MNH) to recycle all sorts of items, like headsets, amenity kits, pillows, magazines and menus.

For example, broken headsets are dismantled and the sponges are used to surface training areas in equestrian centres. In fact, in 2013 MNH helped us reuse and recycle over 455 tonnes of waste in total.

FTC’s model began with the goal of providing education, but it became so much more. Today the five core pillars of ‘Adopt a Village’ are:

We also like to design sustainability into new items. Our new uniforms are designed by Dame Vivienne Westwood, but did you know that the yarn for the men’s and pilots’ grey and black suiting is produced using 24% recycled content from plastic bottles? All uniforms are also given a durability coating to make them last a third longer. Once they’ve been put through their paces they’re recycled too. Some are processed and exported by our partner Wilcox to Eastern Europe, Africa and Asia. Some stay in the UK too.

Offset the carbon emissions from your flight You can do your bit for the environment by offsetting the carbon emissions associated with your journey. Through non-profit partner myclimate we offer Gold Standard projects delivering real benefits to local communities and the environment. You can offset onboard – look for details in your Retail Therapy magazine and ask a cabin crew member.

You can also get details online at: http://virginatlantic.myclimate.org/

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To date, FTC has built over 650 schools, which educate more than 55,000 children every day, in developing countries worldwide. At the same time, they provide clean water, healthcare and sanitation to one million people around the world.

Thanks to your generous onboard Change for Children collections and our staff fundraising efforts, we are able to directly support eight FTC villages in Kenya, China, India and Ghana.

You can help too!

To help save lives and support our school programme please place any loose change or foreign currency in the Change for Children envelope and hand it to a cabin crew member. To keep your donation safe, please don’t leave it in your seat pocket. Your donation will support international community development and inspire UK young people to take action at a global or local level. Thank you!

About Free The Children Free The Children’s mission is to create a world where all young people are free to achieve their fullest potential as agents of change. They couldn’t have a better blueprint for success: the organisation was founded by 12 year old Craig Kielburger in 1995 when he gathered 11 school friends to begin fighting child labour.

Today, Free The Children is an international charity and educational partner, with more than 1.7 million youth involved in its innovative education and development programs in 45 countries. To find out more visit: http://freethechildren.com.