The Christmas TV Strategy Guide 2020
Hopefully by now, the food will have mostly gone, the presents all put away, you might even be back at work, like it all never happened. Cheery thought.
0900 - BBC1
Just in case you missed it before and need some 80s whimsy
0900 - Sony Movies
I think only in the between Christmas and New Years Twilight Zone would you contemplate watching something like this; a 3 Ninjas triple bill without even the first half decent one AND being shown out of order. I mean, I don't know why you'd watch it but it's there if you want to
0955 - Channel 5
Another fun little triple bill that takes somewhat of a left turn after the first film; one of the truly iconic Harryhausen films with the dude fighting the skeleton warriors, then 2 Second World War films because...why not? I'm sure there's some connection between Nazis and the dangers of searching for the Golden Fleece but I can't think what they are right now. Hit me up on the day and I'll see if I can think of anything
1105 - ITV
A kids film about a dancing penguin was the not the most enticing of films when think popped up for release. But then, after realizing that it's from the director of Mad Max and Babe, you give it a go and it's actually pretty good! Not amazing like, but it has a good voice cast and it's heart is in the right place which is all you can hope for in a kids film really
1355 - BBC1
This is one of those modern Disney films that is really properly good but kind of gets...forgotten? Maybe not forgotten but squashed under the weight of merchandise from other films. Like, Moana pretty wiped this film off the map, Tangled is hugely superior to Frozen but could barely get a look in and don't even get me started on The Princess and The Frog.
1430 - Channel 4
When you get two films out in the same year both sharing a similar presence, one is generally the more serious one the other is the daft one; compare Dante's Peak to Volcano or Rob Roy to Braveheart, or Deep Impact to Armageddon. Yep, it doesn't have the over the top craziness of the other "meteorite about to hit the Earth" film but it is arguably the better film. Depends on your tolerance to Aerosmith I guess
1930 - ITV
After the desaturated smear of Zack Snyder DC Universe films, this was truly a breath of fresh air. A bit more willing to accept feelings of hope and joy that super heroes should evoke than something like Man of Steel or Batman vs Superman, it's not perfect but it pointed towards a much better style of film that would be followed up on by Aquaman and Shazam. Fingers crossed that the upcoming Snyder cut of Justice League doesn't ruin all that good work
2100 - ITV4
It is a shame that the third film of Del Toro's Hellboy films didn't get made as, based on the trajectory of the series, it would have been a real belter. This is a cracking sequel, taking all of the good work of the first film and building on everything; the design, the characters and everything. It's just a shame no one went to see it when it was released
2100 - Paramount Network
The best Western? Thats a debate. Its certainly the best of this period of the genre; it may not have the lean tautness of A Fistful of Dollars but the extra scope allows it to really stretch it's wings and get ambitious with its themes. A genuine classic
2100 - Sony Movies
In the world post Reservoir Dogs, this felt like the first true follow up to that film; from one of Tarantino's scripts but directed by Tony Scott, it retains that particular Tarantino-vibe but seen through the overly filtered lens of the director of Top Gun. It's definitely one of the best of the non-directed Tarantino films with a couple of superb turns by Dennis Hopper and Christopher Walken
2255 - Sony Movies Action
This isn't a great film, and is probably further proof that Dolph was always best as a supporting character in the a film rather than the lead, but it's good fun and has plenty of shooting baddies which is all you really need at this time of the night
0000 - BBC1
In his transition away from Ted, this film was an ideal first step for Keanu Reeves; a similar tone to the character but within a different context worked great. Compare this to his casting in Bram Stoker's Dracula to see what the wrong film choice looks like that probably reinforced his stereotyping for a couple more years