Tube Notes

By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service

Tonight's Must-See

"Trading Spaces — They Hated It," 8 p.m.-2 a.m., The Learning Channel. "Trading Spaces" has become one of cable's surprise successes. At times this can be unsettling; at least one neighbor has broken into tears. Now comes a compilation of the unhappiest moments.

"Saving Private Ryan" (1998), ABC, "Jurassic Park" (1993), NBC; both 7 p.m. Steven Spielberg is a technical marvel who is able to put amazing things on a movie screen. He is also a skilled humanist, getting into the souls of his characters. "Jurassic Park" is a big dinosaur movie filled with chases and thrills. The plot is weak, the characters are so-so, but Spielberg directs so skillfully that we barely notice. "Saving Private Ryan" is stunning on ever level — technical and human. Tom Hanks plays the Army officer who leads a mission to rescue one soldier (Matt Damon) after the Normandy invasion in World War II. Spielberg directs brilliantly, bringing waves of emotion.