Something for the Weekend 12-14 November

Welcome to the weekend, courtesy of JOE.ie. Whether you’re staying in or going out, we’ve got it covered. It’s time to leave the working week behind.

GOING OUT

Gigs

Without doubt, the biggest music act on our shores this weekend is MIA and the Paper Planes singer can be found at the Tripod Friday night. If you’re looking for a more quiet night out, however, Rodrigo Y Gabriela are playing the Grand Canal Theatre Dublin the same night. Finally, The High Kings are playing the Tullamore Court Hotel Friday night too – take your pick and have a great night.

Film

Director Matt Reeves couldn’t have picked a tougher follow-up to his smash hit Cloverfield with Let Me In, a US remake of the incredibly well-received Swedish horror drama Let the Right One In from 2008. For such a thankless task, Reeves committed himself admirably in the tale of friendship between a child and a vampire kid, ably played by Kick-Ass star Chloe Moretz. With fantastic reviews clogging the blogosphere over the past few weeks, you should demand your local cinema lets you into this unmissable horror remake.

Chloe Moretz' Halloween costume was slightly unnerving

On the other hand, you may have been intrigued by trailers for this week’s sci-fi release, Skyline. It has a budget estimated at between $10-15m but from the clips we’ve seen you’d be forgiven for thinking it was a $100m summer blockbuster such is the quality of CGI in the LA-set alien invasion tale. Having said that, a lot of early reviews are suggesting that the quality of direction and storytelling is below-par compared to Skyline’s visuals.

Events

Toys 4 Big Boys has to be the weekend’s hottest ticket, as exhibition punters descend upon Dublin this weekend to view the latest gadgets, games and toys at the RDS. Funnyman Dara O Briain visits Castlebar and Killarney on Friday and Saturday and is always worth a watch.

The TULCA festival takes place this week in Galway and is renowned for delivering the best in local, national and international art in all media, with particular attention focused on new media and performance Tulca takes place in a variety of locations throughout Galway including the Arts Centre, Galway Museum and Galway University Hospital and this year’s curator is artist Michelle Brown.

Over to the east, the Thoroughbred Trail weekend gives equine enthusiasts the chance to go behind the scenes at the races, and includes a trip to top trainer’s yard. The event, which runs from the 12-14 November, gives race fans the chance to see the action Punchestown Racecourse and an opportunity to go along to the  yard of trainer Dessie Hughes, who has trained steeds such as Hardy Eustace, Central House, Schindlers Hunt and Colonel Braxton.

Getaway

God evidently thinks it’s funny to urinate all over his servants on this his greenest isle at this time of year, but you don’t have to stand for it. You could convert to Buddhism or alternatively make a break for it – check out the hottest late, late travel deals featured in the newest edition of the Last Minute JOE.

STAYING IN

Sport on TV

After a busy midweek fixture list, Premier League champions Chelsea entertain Sunderland, Manchester United face a tricky away tie against Aston Villa and Arsenal travel to Goodison Park. For Boxing fans, the endless Sky Sports News hype thankfully ends when Haye v Harrison takes places on Saturday night on Sky Box Office, though fight fans will probably stay up until the early hours as Manny Pacquiao looks to extend his legacy by becoming the first fighter to win an eighth belt in as many divisions starting from 2am.

Outside of the Premier League, it is a massive Serie A weekend, as the top six teams all play each other, with the highlight being the Milan derby on Sunday night. Elsewhere, UFC comes to Oberhausen in Germany for UFC 122 and Formula 1 comes to Abu Dhabi on Sunday morning. And let’s not forget Ireland’s rugby international against Samoa on Saturday night.

Can Pacman make boxing history this weekend?

Friday 12 November

Bundesliga: Borussia Dortmund v Hamburg (ESPN from 7:30pm)

Saturday 13 November

Four Nations Final: Australia v New Zealand (Sky Sports 1 from 8:30am)

Premier League: Aston Villa v Manchester United (Sky Sports 2 from 12:30am)

Rugby Autumn International: Ireland v Samoa (BBC 1 from 2:30pm, RTE Two from 2:30pm)

Premier League: Manchester City v Birmingham (Setanta Sports 1 from 2:30pm)

Premier League: Stoke City v Liverpool (ESPN from 4:45pm)

Serie A: Juventus v AS Roma (Setanta Sports 1 from 2:30pm)

MMA: UFC 122 (ESPN from 8:00pm)

Boxing: WBA World Heavweight Title - David Haye v Audley Harrison (Sky Box Office from 8:00pm)

La Liga: Barcelona v Villarreal (Sky Sports 1 from 9:00pm)

Sunday 14 November

Boxing: WBC Light-Middleweight Title – Manny Pacquaio v Antonio Margarito (Sky Sports 1 from 2:00am)

Serie A: Lazio v Napoli (ESPN from 11:30am)

Formula 1: Abu Dhabi F1 Grand Prix (Setanta Ireland from 12:45am, BBC 1 from 12:10am)

Premier League: Everton v Arsenal (Sky Sports 1 from 1:30pm)

Premier League: Chelsea v Sunderland (Sky Sports 1 from 4:00pm)

Serie A: Inter Milan v AC Milan (ESPN from 7:45pm, Setanta Ireland from 7:45pm)

NFL: San Francisco 49ers v ST Louis Cardinals (Sky Sports 2 from 9:00pm)

On the Box

Friday night is Take Me Out (TV3, Friday 9:00pm) for JOE and yes, we have to admit to finding it strangely compulsive. If you haven’t seen the dating show before, it involves award-winning DJ and JOE.ie columnist Ray Foley with thirty feisty Irish females hoping to get one man. It can be cheesy as hell and some of those ladies should be in a wildlife documentary instead but we Take Me Out is quality Friday night, unassuming telly.

Looks like a tough job

A petty criminal's appalling treatment in Alcatraz drives him to murder another inmate - giving an ambitious lawyer a chance to make his name by saving him from the death penalty and exposing the brutality of the prison system in the process in Murder in the First tonight (ITV3, 11:00pm). This drama inspired by the story of real-life Alcatraz inmate Henri Young boasts the stellar cast of Kevin Bacon, Christian Slater and Gary Oldman.

Blu Ray/DVD

Dreamworks studios has always been seen as the ugly sister to Pixar when it comes to CGI adventures yet this year they surprised cinemagoers everywhere with their best effort yet and possibly the best dragon-themed movie ever – How To Train Your Dragon. The story centres around a viking teenager who lives on the island of Berk where fighting dragons is a way of life. Initiation is coming, and this is his one chance to prove his worthiness to his tribe and father. But when he encounters and ultimately befriends an injured dragon, his world is turned upside down. Expect Avatar-beating flight scenes and incredible production design.

And finally...

Don’t forget to join JOE this weekend for our latest sports news and views as the results start flooding in.