DEAD OR ALIVE (15)

Jan 7 2007 By Mickey Mcmonagle

DEAD OR ALIVE (15)

Video game adaptations tend to suck - and this is no exception. Still, with Holly Valance, Jaime Pressley and Natassia Malthe, above, high-kicking their way through the action in skimpy outfits, I can see why teenage boys lap it up.

Rating: **

THANK YOU FOR SMOKING (15)

Aaron Eckhart steals the show as the slimy spin doctor flogging the merits of tobacco in this cutting satire. None of the usual slushy sentiment sneaks in anywhere - this is dark stuff all the way delivered by a great script and cast.

Rating: ****

GREEN WING SPECIAL (15)

I can't understand what people enjoy about this show, starring Tamsin Greig, above. It's a ludicrous look at life in a hospital with nonsensical plotlines and situations. For decent medical comedy stick to Scrubs - avoid this gibberish.

Rating: *

RESCUE ME: SEASON 1 (15)

One-time stand-up Dennis Leary continues his reinvention as a serious actor with this very good drama series. He's Tommy Gavin, a NY fireman who still talks to the ghost of his cousin Jimmy, killed in the 9/11 attacks.

Rating: ****

STEPTOE AND SON SERIES 6 (PG)

The trend of dredging telly firms' vaults continues with this pointless release of a dull show from years ago. Wilfred Brambell, above right, and Harry Corbett, above left, star as the grumpy father-and-son rag and bone men.

Rating: **