Tuesday’s TV tips
This big-budget retelling of the classic Boris Karloff film stars Brendan Fraser as a soldier who stumbles on the ruins of an ancient Egyptian city and wakes the vengeful spirit of a high priest with seemingly limitless supernatural powers.
A great blend of comedy, horror and adventure that proved so much more thrilling than the disappointing sequels, it’s a proper adventure for the whole family and should not be missed.
This is non-stop action, with impressive CGI monsters to boot. John Hannah and the gorgeous Rachel Weisz also star while Kevin J O’ Connor is a hoot as the nefarious Beni and Arnold Vosloo revels in his role as the eponymous bad guy.
Brendan Fraser, Rachel Weisz, John Hannah, Arnold Vosloo and Oded Fehr.
Entrepreneur Alex Polizzi worked wonders for no end of struggling establishments as The Hotel Inspector, and it’s hardly surprising – her grandfather established the Forte Group, and Alex herself trained at one of Hong Kong’s top five-star hotels, before managing her own family bakery and her mother’s Devon hotel.
It’s these latter experiences that will really help her in this series, as she returns from a mid-season break to help out more family-run businesses.
This week, she brings her expert knowledge to bear on the Singing Kettle tearooms in the Devon resort of Torquay. Marlene and Ray Messer bought the establishment two years ago, and while the purchase initially saw them realise their dreams, business took a backslide and now they are struggling to survive.
Alex has a few ideas about how they can adapt, but will the couple be open to the idea of targeting a new market?
Here’s a strange thought – at 30, Britain’s best Beeb-based soap is now the same age as the average living human.
Mind you, there’s not much else about it that’s ’average’: full as it is of dramatic moments including secrets, lies, affairs, crime and even murder – more often than not accompanied by those iconic drumbeats: “Duff duff duff, duff-duffduffduff”.
That familiar bit of syncopation is now synonymous with the word “cliffhanger”, and this new three-part series reminds us of all the best ones.
Who could forget Kat Slater’s shock revelation to ’sister’ Zoe about her true heritage, Phil Mitchell’s sudden comeuppance at the hands of a mystery shooter, or Barry Evans’ demise (a cliffhanger in every meaning of the word)?
Since the show is in the form of a countdown, exactly who will make it into this part of the series is anyone’s guess. However we’re certain they’ll end it in a way that’ll have us tuning in for part two!
In New York, the alcoholic and decadent detective Jack Mosley is assigned to deliver a prisoner to the court sixteen blocks far from his precinct in 118 minutes.
Eddie Bunker made a deal with the D.A. office and will identify and testify against a dirty detective. While driving to the tribunal, Jack is attacked by a group of corrupt cops and protects Eddie.
Bruce Willis, David Morse
Charlie (Logan Lerman) is devastated by the suicide of his good friend Michael and the tragedy haunts the sensitive teenager as a new term beckons.
The lad’s father (Dylan McDermott) and mother (Kate Walsh) hope Charlie will blossom in higher education but, as usual, their boy remains on the sidelines as a silent observer to the rituals of school life.
The only person who seems to notice Charlie is English teacher Mr Anderson (Paul Rudd), and Sam (Emma Watson), who tries to bring the shy newcomer out of his shell.
There’s plenty to like about this film, which is based on director Stephen Chbosky’s novel – it’s a lovely script, well thought-out and very touching in areas. Lerman is perfectly cast in the lead role as the quiet teenager lacking confidence.
Paul Rudd is one to watch out for, but younger co-stars Emma Watson and Ezra Miller simply shine in their performances. This is a film that will keep you thinking long after the end credits have rolled.
Logan Lerman, Emma Watson, Ezra Miller, Paul Rudd
The back-catalogue of producer and director Laurence Rees makes for challenging viewing, including as it does the documentaries The Nazis: A Warning From History and Auschwitz: The Nazis and The Final Solution.
His experience creating these programmes makes him perfectly poised to helm this production, a feature-length documentary marking the 70th anniversary of the liberation of the concentration camp by Red Army troops.
He travels to Jerusalem, Chicago, London, Bavaria, Krakow and Tel Aviv where he meets survivors of the camps who discuss their experiences.
He also talks to their friends and family, who provide an insight into how these people are able to cope with the problems, challenges and triumphs that they have faced since the end of the Second World War.
Some, such as doctor Tadeusz, continued to face persecution from Communists, while others – like successful antiques dealer Hermann – still suffers from recurring nightmares.
Charlotte's downward spiral takes her to a place where even Emily worries she can't be saved as David and Nolan have a very public reunion.
The more Emily learns about her father, the less she knows.
