HD Highlights: July 29

Sky Movies Premiere: Captain America – The First Avenger (Sky 20, 8.30, 5.1) Fantastic 4’s Chris Evans straps on a new superhero costume for Marvel Comics’ latest screen franchise. He plays a “98-pound weakling” who’s injected with an experimental muscle serum that turns him into Uncle Sam’s secret weapon against one of Adolf Hitler’s henchmen. The first half exhilarates and amuses but once Captain America’s transformation is complete, the movie reverts to brawn over brains until a nifty twist at the end.  Tommy Lee Jones and Hugo Weaving co-star. (2011) ✭✭✭✩

Season Premiere: The Zoo (TV One, 7.00) The perennial family favourite at last debuts in HD. As well as catching up with the animals and their day-to-day routines, the keepers go into the field as they release endangered birds onto islands in the Hauraki Gulf and help with the Rena Oil Disaster Rescue Operation. The cameras are there as tigers rip into a fresh deer hide pinata, Burma the elephant swims in a fresh lagoon, and kune kune pigs enter the lions’ den – literally.  Young giraffe Jelani heads-off over the ditch on his big OE while his mum Rukiya gives birth to his 1.8 metre-long leggy sister Nakuru. The stunning, new native NZ precinct Te Wao Nui is flourishing and there’s a number of new kids on the block, including a rescued NZ fur seal pup and squirrel monkeys. ✭✭✭✭

The Big Bang Theory (TV2, 7.00, 5.1, R) Raj must find a new job or be sent back to India. However, Sheldon has a solution that leaves Leonard and Penny dealing with Howard as third wheel. ✭✭✭✭

Modern Family (TV3, 7.00, 5.1, R) The Pritchett clan gathers at Jay and Gloria’s for a barbecue, but a previous incident between Manny and Luke at school creates a dilemma for their mothers and the whole family. ✭✭✭✭

Sunday Theatre: Bliss (TV One, 8.30, R) The true story of 19-year-old Katherine Mansfield’s escape from New Zealand, and the fast and furious beginning of her life as a writer. The Dominion Post’s Linda Burgess hailed Bliss for its “good writing, good acting and very lovely filming” and for being “extraordinarily beautiful to look at”. ✭✭✭✭

Homeland (TV3, 10.45, 5.1, R) An exclusive television interview will thrust the Brody family into the national spotlight, unless Dana pulls off her plan to sidetrack the whole bogus process. ✭✭✭✭

The Good Wife (TV3, 11.50, 5.1, R) Alicia represents a stripper who claims she was raped at the bachelor party of a prominent businessman. ✭✭✭✭