Pictured above: Phoenix Mars Mission: Ashes To Ice

In HD This Month

Surfwise

This film follows the odyssey of 85-year-old legendary surfer Dr. Dorian "Doc" Paskowitz, his wife, Juliette, and their nine children, all of whom were home-schooled on the beaches of Southern California, Hawaii, Mexico and Israel. The kids surfed every day of their lives, and were forced by their demanding, health-conscious father to adhere to a strict diet and to live like animals in the wild. HDNet Movies (May 7)

Sexy Summer Sundays

Summertime, and the livin' is steamy! The summer season kicks off this Memorial Day weekend, and to celebrate, Universal HD launches its new Sexy Summer Sundays programming block with mini-marathons of two short-lived series: South Beach, starring Vanessa Williams, and Sex, Love & Secrets, about the lives of some twentysomethings in a hip L.A. neighborhood. Universal HD (Sundays beginning May 25)

Major League Lacrosse

ESPN2 HD's coverage of Major League Lacrosse begins this month with the Rochester Rattlers visiting the Boston Cannons, live. ESPN2 HD (May 23)

Fantastic Four: Rise Of The Silver Surfer

The Fantastic Four face their greatest challenge yet when they encounter the Silver Surfer, an enigmatic herald who has come to prepare Earth for its destruction by a world-devouring entity known as Galactus. As the Surfer races around the globe wreaking havoc, the four superheroes must figure out how to stop both him and Galactus, before all hope is lost. Ioan Gruffudd, Jessica Alba, Michael Chiklis and Chris Evans reprise their roles as the title heroes. HBO HD (May 4)

Breach

Eager young FBI agent Eric O'Neill is assigned the job of working for and doing surveillance on a senior agent whose sexual deviance may be compromising the agency. When he learns that his new boss is actually a spy, O'Neill becomes part of a massive sting operation to bring the man to justice. Based on a true story. Chris Cooper, Ryan Phillippe and Laura Linney star. Cinemax HD (May 5)

Dr. Strangelove, Or: How I Learned To Stop Worrying And Love The Bomb

Comic genius Peter Sellers wears three hats as Group Capt. Lionel Mandrake, President Merkin Muffley and the mysterious Dr. Strangelove in Stanley Kubrick's classic black comedy. President Muffley must contend with the Russians and his own political and military leaders when fanatical American Gen. Jack D. Ripper (Sterling Hayden) launches an unplanned nuclear attack on the Soviet Union, which could ultimately wipe out the United States, as well. HDNet Movies (May 4)

The Adirondacks

A two-hour look at Adirondack Park in upstate New York, which, at 6 million acres, is the largest park in the lower 48 states. It is also the only one on the continent in which large human populations live, and whose land is divided almost evenly between protected wilderness and privately owned tracts. PBS HD (May 14; check local listings)

Phoenix Mars Mission: Ashes To Ice

This program chronicles the story of the Phoenix Mars Lander, which launched in August 2007 and is expected to land on the Martian surface on May 25, after which it will collect soil and ice samples to help scientists learn where the water on Mars went. PBS HD (May 22; check local listings)

Transformers

They are indeed more than meets the eye! Steven Spielberg was one of the producers of this Michael Bay blockbuster about two robot groups -- the noble Autobots and the evil Decepticons -- who take their ongoing battle to Earth, with much chaos and destruction ensuing. Cinemax HD (May 10)

The Players Championship

Defending champion Phil Mickelson will compete against other golf greats in this annual event held at TPC Sawgrass in Ponte Vedra Beach, Fla. All will be challenged by holes 16, 17 and 18, widely regarded as one of the toughest finishing stretches in golf. Versus/GOLF CHANNEL (May 8-9); NBC HD (May 10-11)

Action Is Universal

Universal HD makes it a Memorial Day to remember with wall-to-wall action flicks, including Blind Fury, Escape From New York, Timecop, Last Action Hero and Clear and Present Danger. Universal HD (May 26)

Black Snake Moan

In a small Tennessee town, a God-fearing, middle-aged bluesman named Lazarus makes it his mission to cure Rae, the local tramp, of her sinful ways. Chaining her to his radiator and quoting Scripture as justification for his behavior, Lazarus finds himself on an unorthodox path to redemption -- both Rae's and his own. Samuel L. Jackson, Christina Ricci and Justin Timberlake star. Showtime HD (May 24)

Rocky Balboa

Before his recent Rambo reprise, Sylvester Stallone revisited his other famous character, boxer Rocky Balboa, in this well-received final chapter to the saga. The story begins when a virtual boxing match declares Rocky Balboa the victor over current heavyweight boxing champion Mason "The Line" Dixon. When promoters begin calling for a live rematch to the cyber-fight, Rocky must weigh the mental and physical risks against his need to be in the ring. Showtime HD (May 3)

Austin City Limits

R.E.M. takes the stage in this new episode, to support their latest album, Accelerate. PBS HD (May 24; check local listings)

Evan Almighty

Newly elected to Congress, Evan Baxter (Steve Carell reprising his role from Bruce Almighty) finds his life turned upside down when God appears and mysteriously commands him to build an ark. Now, as Evan carries out his holy mission, his befuddled family can't decide whether Evan is having an extraordinary midlife crisis or he's truly onto something of biblical proportions. Morgan Freeman and Lauren Graham also star. HBO HD (May 11)