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Sydney Morning Herald

Monday July 28, 2008

Robin Oliver

Blood Brothers

(2007) World Movies, 8.30pm

Oriental romanticism of old Shanghai in the jazz era of the 1930s gets mixed up with guns and gangsters. Director Alexi Tan's stylish period piece was given a glamorous tick of approval when it was chosen to close last year's Venice Film Festival. Three young country men - the ambitious Kang; his naive younger brother, Hu; and their friend, the sensitive Feng (played by Daniel Wu) - are drawn to the glitter of Shanghai but become embroiled in gangland life when they start working for Hong, the tough, show-no-mercy boss of the Paradise Club and the local underworld. Entangled relationships lead to a gun-blazing crescendo when Lulu, the club's sexy singer (Qi Shu, pictured), falls in love with Fang. A stunningly good-looking first feature for director Tan, whose previous experience as a fashion photographer is reflected in the composition of almost every scene.

Virunga Gorilla Murders

National Geographic, 8.30pm

The killing last year of six rare mountain gorillas, shot in Virunga National Park in the Democratic Republic of Congo, sent shock waves through wildlife preservation organisations. Only 720 of these creatures remain in the wild and the slaughter of these six was revealed when pictures by photojournalist Brent Stinton were smuggled out of the Congo. Stinton was out with park rangers in the same region where, 40 years earlier, scientist Diane Fossey began battling poachers. This National Geographic investigation into the most recent killings reveals a region caught in the deadly crossfire between the Congolese Army and militia groups. A web of corruption is revealed in this account of the background to the atrocious and senseless massacre of beautiful animals.

Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer

(2007) Showtime, 8.30pm

Marvel Comic's Fantastic Four meet their greatest challenge when the Silver Surfer arrives, hell bent on destroying Earth. Reed, aka Mr Fantastic (Ioan Gruffudd), Susan, aka Invisible Woman (Jessica Alba), Johnny, aka Human Torch (Chris Evans), and Ben, aka the Thing (Michael Chiklis), no sooner start work when they are confronted by Dr Doom (Julian McMahon).

Brat Camp

Lifestyle, 8.30pm

Seven shockingly behaved teenagers booked into Turnabout Ranch have emerged from their four weeks of seclusion and graduated to the Barn, run by a former drill sergeant. They must behave to avoid returning to solitary and face riding lessons on horses specially chosen for bad habits. Learning to master the horses' problems as well as their own is the first test; meeting their parents after five weeks will be the second.

© 2008 Sydney Morning Herald

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