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December 29, 2024

The Christmas TV Strategy Guide 2024 #12

31st December 2024

0945 - Channel 5

Start off your New Year’s Eve with this, probably the peak of movie Star Trek in the 1980s; the last part of a trilogy takes the crew of the Enterprise back to the twentieth century in a way that works well. The story could easily have gone off the rails with the whole fish out of water of the crew navigating 1980s society but it keeps it on the right side of fun. Its pretty much downhill from here film wise for a fair few years so its worth enjoying this one

1305 - Sky Arts

Two Billy Wilder films ten years apart and whilst both are good its the second thats a stone cold classic. The Apartment really is one of the best films ever made, a perfect movie in every way. Holmes can’t scale those heights but its a good take on the Holmes tropes, but defo watch this one first before The Apartment

1400 - Channel 5

More Sherlock Holmes, sir or madam? This time its the modern Guy Ritchie take on the character, rather than the Modern Benedict Cumberbatch version. The first is probably Ritchie’s best film in recent memory, helped massively by the central pair of Downey Jr and Jude Law. They nail their characters, Downey Jr leaning into the ticks and the quirks whilst Law makes his Watson more proactive and more of an equal to Holmes. The sequel doesn’t quite manage to pull off the same trick twice, again the cast carries you through but it was better the first time around

1455 - Film4

A belter of a Muppet film, despite it now quite being able to compete with the 1-2 combo of Christmas Carol and Treasure Island. Its probably the second best of the first three films (Caper is essentially just the characters on Holiday and suffers as a result) but even so, a decent muppet film is still ahead of most other films

1840 - Channel 4

The second best Indiana Jones film, sometimes top depending on how you feel. Casting James Bond as Indy’s Dad is borderline genius and their relationship really brings in more emotion into the film. Temple of Doom is great but it doesn’t grab you in the same was as Raiders or this film does and a large part of that is down to Connery and Ford’s chemistry

1910 - More4

We’ve had these two films previously in other WWII double bills but seeing them back to back needed to highlight them again. Going from the gentle farce of Dad’s Army into the ferocity of the D-Day Landings in Ryan is immense tonal whiplash so just be careful if you sit down for these two

2000 - ITV2

Right, people do have issues with these modern Godzilla films and I can see and understand what they’re saying; the human characters, other than say the first film, are a bit too thin and just there to watch big monsters smashing stuff. But then, I’d argue that its big monsters smashing stuff so thats totally fine. And honestly, the bit when the Big G steps up and the original theme hits is one of the best moments I’ve ever had in the cinema. Only beaten by Godzilla Minus One if I’m honest

2045 - ITV1

So here we have one option for your TV viewing to bring in the New Year; watch Daniel Craig’s last hurrah, then catch the news headline and Big Ben. Brilliant. Its a bit of a downer ending to bring in the New Year, but its a good Bond and at least improves on Spectre to see Craig out on a high

2100 - 5Star

A great thriller, pretty much a two hander between Kidman and Billy Zane. It was her breakthrough film and she holds the screen brilliantly whilst her dog goes out of their way to be an absolute menace

2100 - Film4

Another option for your New Year’s, back to back Tarantino. Both are great, Hollywood probably just about takes it but both demonstrate that someone really needs to tell Tarantino “keep it at 90 minutes” as both almost outstay their respective welcomes

2305 - Channel 4

Another option, just watch one of the best sequels ever made which isn’t a bad shout. Naked Gun 33 1/3 is a decent way to follow it, but the joke was very much getting a bit too thin by this point

2330 - BBC1

Here’s the BBCs New Year’s option, a big old music show this year with Sophie Ellis-Bextor. Her disco livestreams during the lockdowns were really good, so hopefully some good songs and some good guests will keep everyone happy until the fireworks start

2330 - BBC2

And here’s your traditional New Year’s option, the Hootenanny with Jools Holland. Its the safest bet, although I think its normally filmed in like August so the vibe never quite feels right. This has been going since 1993 as well, which is just bonkers if you think about it for too long

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