Scott Kara's week of it

Emily Watson as Margaret Humphreys in the film 'Oranges and Sunshine' which is opening this week. Photo / Supplied

MOVIES

Wrap yourself up in a star-spangled banner superhero cape and head along to Captain America: The First Avenger because by all accounts you won't feel out of place despite the chest-beating patriotism in this latest blockbuster from the makers of Iron Man and Thor.

Also opening this week is Oranges and Sunshine, the story of Nottingham social worker Margaret Humphreys (Emily Watson) who outed the British Government for sending thousands of kids Downunder to Australia (and some to New Zealand) without their parents' knowledge.

Meanwhile, the film festival finishes on Sunday; the remaining highlights include The Future (today, 6.30pm; Friday 1.30pm, Civic) from director Miranda July, who also stars in this cracked and kooky rom-com-of-sorts, and The Last Circus (Friday, 4pm, Rialto), a sad clown versus mad clown showdown for those who like their films a little more intense.

TV

Our national orchestra with conductor Pietari Inkinen gets the irreverent travel doco treatment by the man known as Newsboy in The Grand Tour: Jeremy Wells with the NZSO (Sunday, 8.35pm, Prime) which follows the musicians to some of the world's most famous concert halls; Gordon Ramsay fronts a new series of Masterchef USA (Monday, 8.30pm, Prime), and if you like a beer then check out The Beer Frontier (Tuesdays, 9.30pm, Stratos or 9pm, Triangle).

Being a rugby loving chap I'll be watching the All Blacks play South Africa on Saturday - 7.25pm, Sky Sport 1 (live) 8.35pm, Prime (delayed). If you ask me, the ABs need to spend less time worrying about what colour their boots are and more time on playing footy.

MUSIC

'Tis the season for local band tours with Avalanche City, the Feelers, and Luger Boa hitting the road for multiple dates. Chart-topping folk pop guy Dave Baxter and band (aka Avalanche City) play Ascension, Matakana, 7pm tonight; the Masonic, Devonport tomorrow, and the Studio, K Rd, Saturday; the Feelers start a tour in support of new album Hope Nature Forgives at Auckland's Mercury Theatre tomorrow night; and Luger Boa (with Black River Drive) set off on a mammoth month-long road trip starting at Axcess Bar, Hamilton, tomorrow.

Also worth checking out is Liam Finn at the Kings Arms on August 3 and 4. He will be playing songs from his excellent second album, Fomo, with support from the Drab Doo-Riffs.

OR...

keep the kids busy during the last week of the school holidays. There's everything from A Lion in the Meadow and Other Stories by Margaret Mahy at the Pumphouse in Takapuna to children's holiday yoga at the Manipura Yoga Centre in Pt Chevalier.

- TimeOut