KEY POINTS:
THE GODFATHER: PART II
When: 10.15pm, Saturday
Where: TV3
What: More family business
Both a sequel and a prequel to The Godfather, The Godfather: Part II takes up the story of the Corleone family now led by Michael (Al Pacino) after the first film, while also depicting the rise to power of the young Vito Corleone (Robert De Niro) through flashbacks. The film begins in 1901, in the Sicilian town of Corleone, at the funeral procession for young Vito's father, who has been killed by the local Mafia. Vito's older brother Paolo is also murdered because he swore revenge, and Vito's mother sacrifices herself so that he can escape. Vito finds his way by ship to New York and arrives at Ellis Island. Meanwhile, flashing forward, Vito's heir Michael is having trouble controlling the family crime business. Interesting that, due to the sometimes disruptive flashbacks and flash-forwards, De Niro and Pacino never share a scene here - for that they would have to wait until Michael Mann's 1995 film Heat. (1974)
DEER WARS
When: 9.45pm, Saturday
Where: TV One
What: Dangerous way to make some doe
That old refrain about Kiwi ingenuity and being able to fashion anything using No. 8 wire gets a bit tiresome, but here is a story that is the epitome of practicality meeting innovation. In the 1960s, the burgeoning population of red deer in the wild was beginning to threaten New Zealand's grasslands and forests. Government ground shooters weren't making any impact on herd numbers, so a group of Kiwis pioneered the practice of using helicopters to shoot deer and collect venison. It was a high-risk endeavour involving a lot of trial and error and resulted in many casualties - more than 80 pilots and shooters died and many more were seriously injured. But they managed to recover so much venison that they created an export market for the meat. Veterans of those heady days and their families talk about their experiences alongside some fascinating Super 8 footage and photographs.
7.30PM, PRIME
THE FARMER WANTS A WIFE
The farmer may want a wife but it's a rocky road to romance and some of the women aren't so keen any more. Two of the possible brides head home early, but one is in for the long haul and says she is in love.
7PM, TV2
THE AMAZING RACE ASIA
New Zealand couple Sandy and Francesca have a real battle on their hands in tonight's final against two other couples. Racing from Dubai to Sri Lanka, all the couples take wrong turns and become fraught with frustration as they make their way to the final pit-stop.
9.45PM, TV ONE
NZ FESTIVAL: DEER WARS
They were cowboys of the sky. When red deer began overrunning New Zealand's farm and bushland in the 60s, a group of New Zealand pilots banded together to come up with a solution - hunting from helicopters. But it wasn't all smooth going and more than 80 pilots and shooters died trying to perfect the practice.
MOVIES
8.30PM, TV3
Herald rating: * * *
LAKE PLACID
Horror-comedy written by David E. Kelley (Boston Legal, Ally McBeal). Scientists studying beavers are killed by something mysterious in the lake and an investigation finds that a huge crocodile has been feasting on locals. Starring Bill Pullman, Bridget Fonda and Oliver Platt. (1999)
10.15PM, TV3
Herald rating: * * * * *
THE GODFATHER: PART 2
See TV Picks, page 23. (1974)
8.35PM, TV2
Herald rating: * * *
OLD SCHOOL
Will Ferrell is Frank, newly married to a controlling wife (Perrey Reeves) and trying, unsuccessfully, to behave like an adult. He's longing for the old frat-house days of streaking, drinking and chasing women. To put the spice back in his life, he and friends Mitch (Luke Wilson) and Beanie (Vince Vaughn) decide to start their own fraternity. Similar gags to National Lampoon's Animal House, but it's a reasonable sophomore effort for director Todd Phillips, who went on to helm Starsky & Hutch and School For Scoundrels. A sequel titled Old School Dos is in production. (2003)
8.30PM, SKY MOVIES
ALL THE KING'S MEN
Based on the Robert Penn Warren novel that won a Pulitzer Prize. Sean Penn takes the role of populist SouthernUnited States politician Willie Stark - aka Governor Huey Long of Louisiana, who in the 1930s tried to get a better deal for the working class. Penn delivers a good performance and is backed by the talented Jude Law, Anthony Hopkins, Kate Winslet and James Gandolfini, but the script struggles to maintain interest. (2006)
SPORT
TENNIS: AUSTRALIAN OPEN
3.30PM, SKY SPORT 2 LIVE
The second-to-last day of this grand slam tournament features the women's singles final and the men's doubles final.
