Tonight in HD: March 2

February 28, 2012 0 Comments

SoHo Cinema: Boycott (Sky 10, 8.30, 5.1) This HBO movie was inspired by the act of defiance that sparked the American civil rights movement. Said one critic: “The creators of Boycott are only too aware that a straightforward narrative about this seminal moment in American history — an episode set in motion when Rosa Parks defied ‘Whites Only’ seating in a Montgomery public bus — could allow viewers to luxuriate in moral superiority, congratulating themselves on the knowledge that Racism Is Wrong. To steer clear of this hazard, director Clark Johnson and his collaborators have opted to veer back and forth between disparate filmic formats — historical footage, mock home-movie segments, imitation newsreel excerpts, wobbly documentary-style hand-held camera work, etc — so that the audience, continually forced to process visual information, can never relax into passivity.” DVD Talk thought it “easily one of the better HBO films I’ve seen and is both informative and entertaining” while Michael DVD called it “a stirring and inspirational story of how people can achieve positive change in the world”. (2001) ✭✭✭✭

: Glee (TV3, 7.30, 5.1) Shelby Corcoran returns to the halls of McKinley High; Mr Schuester initiates a boot camp for some of the members of New Directions. The Hollywood Reporter, among other critics, noted this episode was heavy on plot and light on music. “Co-creator Ryan Murphy has noted that there likely would see fewer songs per episode, and there were only three in I Am Unicorn: Menzel and Michele’s ‘Somewhere,’ Colfer’s ‘I’m the Greatest Star’ (from Funny Girl) and Darren Criss’ ‘Something’s Coming’ (from West Side Story). Would more music have been great after the six-song premiere? Sure, but the episode was filled with solid and dramatic storytelling that clearly came first.” ✭✭✭✭

Home & Away (TV3, 5.30) Irene suffers pain in her legs; Ruby tries to seduce Dex; John loses big when the Resort closes. ✭✭

Friends (TV2, 6.30, R) Phoebe and her half-brother have trouble bonding; Joey attempts to build an entertainment centre; Ross is challenged to name the five celebrities he’d most like to sleep with. ✭✭✭✭

Shortland Street (TV2, 7.00) Hunter scores a date; Sarah seizes the day; TK is betrayed by his closest ally. ✭✭✭

The Graham Norton Show (TV3, 8.30) With Reese Witherspoon, comedian Reginald D Hunter and Alex Kingston. ✭✭✭✭

Dating in the Dark Australia (TV2, 9.30) Aussie men and women get to know each other in total darkness. ✭✭

The Vampire Diaries (TV2, 10.35) Preparing to celebrate the traditional Illumination Night, Mystic Falls is invaded by spirits and after a violent encounter with an angry spirit, Damon asks Bonnie for help. ✭✭✭

Numb3rs (TV3, 12.10, 5.1) A passenger train collides with a freight train carrying toxic chemicals and many people are trapped in the wreckage. ✭✭

Persons Unknown (TV3, 1.05, 5.1) While the group are in turmoil over the failed escape attempts, a helicopter hovers over their location and drops a box. ✭✭