This Week (June 22 - 29)

MOVIES – Opening this week:

• Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen on Wednesday (June 24). The sequel to 2007's blowed-up-real-good surprise blockbuster returns director Michael Bay and star Shia LaBeouf in a geographically expanded threat to Earth. Check out the latest video, trailers, and clips.

HOME VIDEO – Out on DVD this week:

• Inkheart (2009) on Tuesday (June 23). The little-noticed Brendan Fraser version of the latest Hollywood trope, the adult bringing his child's bedtime stories to life, deserved better than it got. Based on the novel by Cornelia Funke. Video, trailers, and clips.
• Phoebe in Wonderland (2008) on Tuesday (June 23). A dreamy fantasy about a misfit girl (Elle Fanning), her hyperactive imagination, and her unconventional teacher (Felicity Huffman). Video, trailers, and clips.

TELEVISION – New episodes this week from:

• Primeval,
• Doctor Who,
• Eli Stone,
• Merlin, and
• True Blood.

Guest stars this week include David Morrissey in the 2008 Doctor Who Christmas special, debuting on BBC America, and Michelle Ryan (Bionic Woman) on the Merlin two-parter.

Synopses below the jump. For details see the listings (regular or alphabetical).

• Primeval "Episode 10" (204). A group of creatures, called the mer, slip into the city's canal system after floodwaters pour through an anomaly to the future. The case gets personally when Abby is swept underwater by one of them.
• Primeval "Episode 3.07" (307). An anomaly opens in the middle of a huge junkyard and a dinosaur from the Cretaceous era comes through. The Dracorex is wounded, which only makes it more aggressive. The team is trying to force it back when, suddenly, a medieval knight on horseback gallops through the anomaly, chasing what he thinks is a dragon. The knight decides the modern world must be hell and his only chance to make it to heaven is by slaying the creature—this is his quest. The team finds itself in the unusual position of dealing with, not only a dinosaur on the loose, but a deranged medieval knight who is convinced he is a latter-day St. George.
• Doctor Who "The Next Doctor" (414). In the 2008 Christmas special, the Doctor encounters a man who seems to be an amnesiac future incarnation in Victorian London.
• Eli Stone "Mortal Combat" (211). When Eli represents a newscaster who has lost his job, Eli's relationship with Maggie reaches new levels both inside and outside of court. Meanwhile, Matt faces a difficult decision concerning the fate of his former firm.
• Merlin "The Mark of Nimueh" (103). When a strange plague strikes the people of Camelot, Gaius suspects the source is sorcery, leading Uther to instruct Arthur to search for the person behind it. The disease strikes close to home for Gwen, causing suspicion to fall on an innocent and Merlin to learn the responsibilities that come with being a warlock. Nimueh: Michelle Ryan.
• Merlin "The Poisoned Chalice" (104). After the evil Nimueh (Michelle Ryan) tricks Merlin into drinking from a poisoned chalice, Arthur embarks on a dangerous quest to retrieve the only known antidote, a rare flower. Gaius and Gwen, meanwhile, care for Merlin. who is near death, but still comes to the aid of Arthur.
• True Blood "Scratches" (203). A savage attack on Sookie by a strange creature catches Bill, Eric and the other vampires off guard; a shy Hoyt is drawn to Jessica on her first visit to Merlotte's; Sarah and Steve try to boost Jason's confidence in his calling; Sam considers a change of scenery; Tara is shocked by the revelry at Maryann's latest bacchanal.