Posted on: Saturday, January 29, 2005
Tube Notes
By Mike Hughes
Gannett News Service
Tonight's Must-See
"Mulan" (1998), 8 p.m., Disney Channel. In terms of sheer beauty, this is one of Disney's best animated films. The story and songs are so-so. The humor is weak and misplaced. Still, the visuals are stunning. Taken from a Chinese legend, the story has a girl disguising as a boy to take her father's place in the army. Naturally, she (disguised as he) meets the kind of dashing hero someone could fall in love with. The Disney animators challenged themselves here, providing something fresh. The colors and the spaces suggest gorgeous Chinese art. The characters — voiced by Ming-Na Wen, Lea Salonga, Eddie Murphy and more — are incidental to the rich tapestry. "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit," 9 p.m., NBC. Life is rarely simple, this episode reminds us. A grad student says she was raped; her professor (Billy Campbell) says it was consensual. Her case is shaky, because there was no reason to conduct class in his apartment; his is shaky because he's been too friendly with students. Viewers will find this a frustrating case. Still, it's sharply written and acted, a solidly intelligent drama.
"Gone in Sixty Seconds" (2000), 6 p.m., TBS. A former car thief is forced to return to his profession. Nicolas Cage stars, Angelina Jolie appears briefly, and cars go fast. "Snow Dogs" (2002), 7 p.m., ABC. Cuba Gooding Jr. plays a Miami dentist who goes to Alaska to hear his mother's will. What he receives is a team of sled dogs, which he decides to race. "Law & Order," 7 p.m., NBC. When two undercover cops are killed, Green (Jesse L. Martin) must take over, pretending to be a weapons buyer. Then word comes that an embittered lawyer has a Web site that reveals the identities of undercover cops.
"MI-5," 8 p.m., A&E. The spies pursue a pro-Israeli extremist. "Mad TV," 10:35 p.m., Fox. A sketch includes reactions to the elections. Marilyn Manson performs.
Of Note
