Square Eyes

Television Reviews

Movie of the week: Death on the Nile, ABC, Sun, 8.30pm:

We're still a big fan of the original version of the adventures of Agatha Christie's Belgian detective, with Peter Ustinov hamming it up (was it really 36 years ago?), but this version, starring David Suchet, it is taught and terrific. The fact that it also stars James Fox and Judy Parfitt makes it even better.

New Tricks, ABC, Fri, 8.30pm:

Dennis Waterman reprises his Minder days, this time on the other side of the law as a chauvinist copper. He's part of a team of retired police pulled together to try and crack unsolved crimes. Probably the best bit about this drama is it sticks it to management crap, which sees victims of crime as customers.

My Tango with Porn, SBS, Fri, 10pm:

Filmmaker Siobhan Devine scored a job as a Canadian censor. She had an open mind, but after three years of watching porn, she's less sure. While civil libertarians storm the barricades, she talks to all sides of the censorship debate to get their views and it shows just how tedious the work of being a nation's conscience can be.

D-Day to Berlin, SBS, Sat, 7.30pm:

This three-part BBC series recounts the Allies' progress to victory in 10 months after the Normandy landing. The archive footage shows just how devastating and awful it all was.

Shallow Hal, Prime, Sun, 8.30pm:

A tosspot skirt-chaser (Jack Black) who prefers looks over brains, has his life changed following a chance encounter with lifestyle guru Anthony Robbins. He's hypnotised, so he only sees inner beauty, and falls in love with a fat chick (Gwyneth Paltrow, believe it or not). With his mate (Jason Alexander) riding shotgun and in disbelief, this is a reasonable comedy about looks, with some funny gross-out moments as you view the world through Hal's rose-coloured eyes.

Tour de France, SBS, Sun, 6pm:

Sports buffs looking for something to do after Wimbledon can watch daily highlights over the next three weeks of the favoured sport of drug fiends. Thankfully, the Aussies often do well (mostly without drugs).

Full Metal Jacket, SBS, Sun, 9.30pm:

Stanley Kubrick's unrelenting, intelligent and challenging look at war, set during Vietnam, ponders the behaviour of men in battle. It's taken from Gustav Hasford's novel The Short Timers and follows Private Joker (Matthew Modine), a cynical aspiring photojournalist who is forced to fight for his life. The sniper scene sums it all up.

Catalyst: Body Hits, ABC, Thurs, 8pm:

In the first episode (screening tonight) presenter Dr John Marsden gets smashed. It's not a pretty sight and as he explains the impact of booze on the brain and body, it's a sobering lesson. The series goes on to explore the impacts of modern life on the body. A must for the 25-35 age group and fascinating stuff.