Tattooed with raw emotion
Terry Teo 7pm, TVNZ2 Months after an outcry that it was only available on demand, this critically-acclaimed ‘‘reimagining’’ of the popular 1980s comic-book series finally makes its free-to-air debut. Terry Teo (Kahn West) is a fast-talking, street-savvy teenager who knows the mean streets of Auckland like the back of his hand. He’s well on his way to becoming a career crook, until his father is murdered and it appears that the gang he’s prospecting for may be responsible. Turbo 7pm, TV3 With high-octane action, candy coloured visuals and plenty of slapstick, this 2012 animated adventure is the cinematic equivalent of a sugar rush – but one whose buzz doesn’t last long. Director David Soren keeps the plot racing along, while also delivering some inspired moments like a hilarious pitstop and viral clip and video game parodies. Adults will enjoy some nice one-liners and a deep bench of vocal talent that includes Ryan Reynolds, Paul Giamatti, Ken Jeong, Luiz Guzman, Snoop Lion and Samuel L Jackson. 1408 8.30pm, Choice There’s no doubting Swedish director Mikael Hafstrom created an effective little chiller here. But his greatest feat is actually making this 2007 tale – about one man trapped in a single Kafkaesque location – watchable, let alone hugely enjoyable. Intelligent pacing increases tension and John Cusack gives a powerhouse performance. Tonight, 8.30pm Maori TV Belgian writer-director Felix van Groeningen’s 2012 tale (based on a 2008 play by Johan Heldenbergh and Mieke Dobbels) is the ballad of Ghent musicians Didier and Elise.
A caravan-living real cowboy, Didier is instantly smitten by tattooed, country and western crooning temptress Elise. Even the arrival of daughter Maybelle doesn’t slow down their vigorous lovemaking and seemingly eternal bliss – that is, until Maybelle falls ill and the pair discover that their love might not be enough to save her.
Passionate, punctilious and plain outstanding drama, in van Groeningen’s hands the fractured narrative turns The Broken Circle Breakdown into a slowly unfolding, heartwrenching story. These characters, who wear their hearts on their sleeves – and as art on other parts of their bodies – expose themselves in their toetapping songs, drawing you into their plight and making you emotionally invested in what happens to them.
Broken Circle deals with raw emotions which, audiences should be warned, may leap off the screen. Plus, it provides the best ever reason never to build a ‘‘terranda’’. – James Croot Paul Merton’s Secret Stations 7.30pm, Prime More than 150 of Britain’s railway stations are request stops. You have to stick out your arm and wave the train down to get it to stop at the platform. In this new, three-part series, comedian and presenter Paul Merton will travel around the country by train, only getting off at request stops. He’ll explore the history of the stations, and meet the people who live and work around them. Flightplan 8.30pm, Duke German director Robert Schwentke’s 2005 airborne thriller soars to great heights during takeoff and cruises through the first two-thirds, establishing suspense reminiscent of Alfred Hitchcock’s best. Unfortunately, the film nose-dives to a cliched ending, with Jodie Foster replicating Bruce Willis’ Die Hard antics. Walking Through History 9.30pm, Choice TV Tony Robinson’s third annual trek through Britain’s historic landscapes sees him take the road to Wigan Pier, explore the history of Northumbria while on a walk from Melrose in the Scottish Borders to Holy Island and don his backpack to yomp through north Norfolk. The Running Man 8.30pm, Maori TV Arnold Schwarzenegger is at his quip-witted best in this 1987 adaptation of Stephen King’s novel about a wrongly convicted man who must try to survive a public execution gauntlet staged as a television game show. ‘‘A brainless, breathless thrill,’’ wrote Empire’s Ian Nathan.