THE DOCTOR BLAKE MYSTERIES - ABC1, 8.30pm
There's something extra intriguing about murder mysteries set in a simpler times. And, of course, the costuming and scenery from yesteryear only add a sense of appeal. But we all know although circumstances might look idyllic and charming, there's always something sinister bubbling beneath the surface of small-town 1950s Ballarat in this refined Aussie drama. Tonight, something has gone terribly wrong at a picnic when a well-dressed man is found dead in the town's picturesque botanical gardens. As Dr Lucien Blake (Craig McLachlan) tries to find clues in the man's mysterious past, his own murky history becomes an issue.
ESCAPE TO THE COUNTRY - 7TWO, 8.30pm
For many people, escaping to the country would be their personal nightmare. While many equate space, rolling hills and farmyard fences as bliss, a lot of people need an abundance of cafes and restaurants at their doorstep to feel alive. But not the people property guru Jules Hudson deals with in this show. In tonight's fresh episode of the British series, Jules is in the Lakes District with a keen couple looking for a rural oasis to craft their dream bed and breakfast business. On top of their wish list is a period property, with "character" - of course. More often than not the illusive "character" calls for big dollars, but will their pockets be deep enough?
THE RED SHOES (1948) - ABC1, 12.50pm
Moira Shearer, Anton Walbrook, Marius Goring. A faultless, vibrant and transfixing tale of a young ballerina (Moira Shearer) who struggles to balance her career and love life. Directors Michael Powell and Emeric Pressburger are two of British cinema's most revered filmmakers, and The Red Shoes more than justifies their stature. Teaming again with cinematographer Jack Cardiff after the stunning Black Narcissus the year before, this triumph of Technicolour is one of the seminal feats of visual excellence - even non-ballet fans will be amazed.
THE LION KING (1994) - SEVEN, 7.00pm
Jonathan Taylor Thomas, Matthew Broderick, James Earl Jones. Disney crowned its comeback from doldrums in the 1980s with this cartoon classic. Combining the tales of Hamlet and The Jungle Book, it masterfully tells the tale of Simba (voices of Jonathan Taylor James and Matthew Broderick), a young lion cub and heir to his father's throne. The drama is exciting and Hans Zimmer's Oscar-winning score is beautiful.
KNOCKED UP (2007) - SEVEN, 9.00pm
Seth Rogen, Katherine Heigl, Paul Rudd, Leslie Mann. Judd Apatow (The 40 Year Old Virgin), gave birth to an instant cult classic with this hilariously honest take on the hazards of one-night stands. Apatow regular Seth Rogen and Katherine Heigl (Grey's Anatomy) are perfectly cast as laid-back slacker Ben and ambitious beauty Alison, a mismatched couple whose drunken tumble into bed changes their lives forever. Alison falls pregnant after their brief encounter, so they try to forge a relationship, but their obvious differences make it hard for them to voluntarily fall in love. Serving as a cautionary tale to the soon-to-be parents, the stormy marriage of Alison's older sister Debbie (Apatow's wife Leslie Mann) and Pete (Paul Rudd) also provides some of the film's funniest and most sharply revealing scenes.
AN EDUCATION (2009) - SBS ONE, 9.30pm
Carey Mulligan, Peter Sarsgaard, Alfred Molina. Sheltered schoolgirl Jenny (Carey Mulligan) dreams of attending Oxford University until she falls in love with a rich, sophisticated man nearly twice her age (Peter Sarsgaard). As David introduces her to a glamorous life of late-night parties and weekends in Paris, the attraction of a tough academic career begins to pale. As her parents (Alfred Molina and Cara Seymour) and teachers (Emma Thompson and Olivia Williams) despair that she is throwing away her gifts for a life of idleness, Jenny questions whether she really knows herself or what she wants from life. Writer Nick Hornby (About a Boy, High Fidelity) beautifully contrasts lessons of the head and the heart in his skilful adaptation of Lynn Barber's memoir about growing up in '60s Britain.
DANTE'S PEAK (1997) - 7MATE, 6.30pm
Pierce Brosnan, Linda Hamilton, Charles Hallahan, Grant Heslov. The surefire teaming of action heroes Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton fails to ignite this effects-laden volcano disaster epic that threatens to choke itself with cliches at every turn, eventually exiting in a puff of smoke. A formulaic script paves the way for a spectacular eruption, but that alone is far from the paydirt one expects.
JAWS: THE REVENGE (1987) - 7MATE, 8.50pm
Lorraine Gary, Lance Guest, Michael Caine, Karen Young. After the unintentional hilarity of Jaws 3-D, the temptation to drag the terrorising shark back into the ocean of suspense was ever so great. But they shouldn't have bothered, as this smells worse than month-old pilchards and proves that if there was ever a film that shouldn't have submitted to franchising, Jaws was it. Michael Caine must have fired his agent after accepting a role in this.
PLANET 51 (2009) - GO!, 6.30pm
Dwayne Johnson, Seann William Scott, Jessica Biel. This cute sci-fi comedy about an American astronaut landing on an alien-inhabited planet plays like E.T. in reverse. To his surprise, spaced-out spaceman Chuck Parker (Dwayne Johnson) discovers the blissfully happy place is inhabited by little green people who are stuck in a 1950s timewarp, and whose only fear is that it will be overrun by alien invaders - like Chuck. With the help of curious youngster Lem (Justin Long), the unwelcome interloper must stay one step ahead of General Grawl (Gary Oldman), who is convinced the earthling intends to enslave his planet's inhabitants. John Cleese, Jessica Biel and Seann William Scott voice some of the other similarly loopy locals.
JUST SEX AND NOTHING ELSE (2005) - SBS 2, 12.15am
Judit Schell, Sandor Csanyi, Kata Dobo. Those tuning in expecting this Hungarian film to live up to the risque title will soon be disappointed - while there is a little bedroom action, the story itself is quite tame. Thirty-something Dora (Judit Schell) yearns for a child but is unlucky in the love department. Too weighed down by her work to find a meaningful relationship, Dora sets out to find a no-strings-attached sex liaison to get pregnant. She soon stumbles upon a perfect partner for her mission, cocky actor Tamas (Sandor Csanyi), with whom she strikes up an instant erotic relationship - but can Dora really separate sex and love?
