Russell Baillie's Week Of It

Kiwi rapper David Dallas. Photo / Dean Purcell

MOVIES

X-Men's fourth instalment First Class and second prequel - after Wolverine - starts today. There seems a decent buzz about the superhero flick that they weren't showing reviewers ahead of release.

After all, it's directed by Matthew Vaughn who did justice to last year's meta-superhero flick Kick-Ass and it's set back in a very 007 - or is it Austin Powers? - 1960s, a decade that Mad Men and now First Class star January Jones is probably wondering why she can't escape - in between wondering why her superhero costume seems so much smaller than everyone else's ... .

Also starting today, a couple of fine local docos in Operation 8 and Last Paradise, (both reviewed in Saturday's Weekend TimeOut). Operation 8, in particular, comes highly recommended.

MUSIC

He gave his new album away for free so the least the recipients of his largesse could do is pay to see him play - Kiwi hip-hop export David Dallas celebrates the release of his latest, The Rose Tint, at 1885 Britomart tonight.

Also tonight, up at the Powerstation, Perth rock outfit Birds of Tokyo play their breakthrough hits Plans and Wild at Heart while headlining a show supported by local chart residents Avalanche City and Midnight Youth.

And the big gig of the weekend is the Rotorua Blues Festival which started last night with an eclectic NZ-Oz mix of blues acts playing the city's drinking and eating establishments until Monday. Wouldn't it be cool if the bash took place across exactly 12 bars? Sorry, blues joke there ...

TV

Glee, which has its New York-set series finale tomorrow night, might have softened us up for TV shows where everyone bursts into song. But not sure how it will work on Sunday's episode of House when Cuddy, under anaesthetic, starts having dreams, one of which resembles a Broadway musical with Hugh Laurie as song and dance man.

But, of course, House clashes with Sherlock, in its third and final feature-length episode, which has the 21st century Holmes and Watson on the trail of a bomber and finally encountering - cue sinister music - their nemesis, Moriarty! Yes there is a new series on the way but it's a long way off.

OR ...

Celebrate this Queen's Birthday Weekend by doing something royal - the full glory of the Wills and Kate's wedding DVD perhaps? Or, if you are one of the three of her majesty's loyal subjects who hasn't seen The King's Speech, it, too, is out on DVD for one's private perusal.

No deleted scenes of Colin Firth kicking the corgis, alas.

-TimeOut