Entertainment picks: Movies only option

Joan of Arcadia is one of just two new programmes this week.

There are only two new TV shows starting this week. That's a sign the television year is well into its routine.

Yes, I know. I think I'm thinking what you're thinking. There isn't much to watch on the box these days unless you're into seeing how the kids' rooms on Mitre 10 Dream Home turn out.

So let's go to the movies instead - there are a few goodies starting on Thursday.

Movies

If the reunion of John Travolta and Uma Thurman on the dance floor in Be Cool isn't enticing enough, the supporting cast should be. The cool but cheeky Vince Vaughn, the short but stout Danny Devito, the Rock as a gay bodyguard, Aerosmith's Steve Tyler and Outkast's Andre "Hey Ya" 3000 all make appearances.

Travolta is back as Chili Palmer in this sequel to Get Shorty. This time he's forgone the movie business to take on the music industry - saving a record label, making a hit record and not getting killed.

Surely that's easy when you have the gorgeous Uma as your business partner.

In The Ring 2, Naomi Watts stars once again as Rachel Keller. She's moved with her son Aidan to Astoria, Oregon, to escape the memories of what happened in Seattle.

But Samara - remember creepy Samara? - has followed them.

Whew. After that you might be needing a good jump around with the Ramones. End of the Century: The Story of the Ramones combines footage of their live shows (using amateur camera, bootleg and high-tech footage) with an honest portrayal of the band's lineup changes, addictions, and betrayals, making it a must-see.

As Johnny Ramone told Rolling Stone magazine: "It's accurate. I'm basically portrayed as a tyrannical monster, Dee Dee is on drugs, Mark is an alcoholic, and Joey is an alcoholic and drug addict at various times."

On the town

It's St Patrick's Day on Thursday. But only in Ireland can a day mean a week. If you can't handle a week's worth of Guinness drinking then definitely head on down to your Irish local - be it the Dog's Bollix in Newton, Bog Irish in Parnell, Pog Mahone's in Ponsonby, or the Clare Inn in Dominion Rd - on the day.

Music

Detroit techno Godfather Derrick May would be proud of his protege Carl Craig. In the late 80s Craig went out on his own and proceeded to kick butt on dancefloors around the world with his avant garde techno. And he hasn't stopped since. On Saturday you can have your own private spanking session at Studio on K'Rd when Craig is joined by fellow Detroit DJ, Recloose (who now lives in Wellington).

For something still electronica, but local, check out ex-Christchurch drum'n'bass heads Shapeshifter at Galatos on Friday night. Then, on Saturday, Christchurch band the Shocking Pinks celebrate the release of their new album Mathematical Warfare with a gig at Edens Bar.

If you feel like a road trip this weekend, pack up your old Dire Straits tapes - ideally, Making Movies and Brothers In Arms - and head to the 'Naki for Mark Knopfler at the Bowl of Brooklands in New Plymouth.

And for something ear-shatteringly obnoxious, head to Safari Lounge on Friday for Austrian death metallers Pungent Stench (supported by locals 8 Foot Sativa and Skuldom). They also play the Kings Arms on Saturday with Dawn of Azazel, Ulcerate and Corpse Feast. Charming.

Arts

Nigel Brown lives in the coolest place. Well, at least Cosy Nook in Southland sounds like a pretty cool place to live and paint. His latest art works - dominated by the word "Yeah" - are further proof there's a good life to be had in Cosy Nook.

Brown did five major works for the exhibition, Yeah Human, which runs from now until April 3 at the Warwick Henderson Gallery in Parnell.

The latest play at Silo Theatre, the Scentless Apprentice, continues the theatre's ambitious and challenging run of plays. Writer Colin Mitchell has taken on what seems an impossible task, the adaptation of Patrick Suskind's novel Perfume for the stage. Blow your nose and see how he gets on (see review, next page).

Television

As I said at the start there is nothing new on TV this week, apart from Joan of Arcadia - the drama about a teenager given tasks by God - on Friday and Two Thousand Acres of Sky at 11.05pm on Wednesday.

But TV2 is re-running the first series of The Sopranos at 10.30pm on Thursdays.

And for sport, check out day one of the Hong Kong Sevens, live, on TV1 late Friday night. Even if Tunisia are playing Chinese-Taipei it's sure to be more of a spectacle than the Chiefs versus Reds on Sky.