The Christmas TV Strategy Guide 2024 #11

And another Trek! The second part of the Trek movie trilogy this is a bit of a step down from Wrath of Khan but is still one of the best of the films with the original cast. It is pretty cool how that this series, that was pretty much in mothballs let’s be honest, came back so strong as films and really established itself into pop culture.

More Poirot! This is Ustinov‘a last in the roll which wasn’t exactly a big send off; 6 years after his last go at the role, directed by Michael Winner and from Cannon Films. That last one meant that the budget didn’t match the previous films in the series so has much more of a TV feel about it. Still, it’s a good murder mystery for the afternoon before getting some more Basil Rathbone Sherlock Holmes all up in your face

80s movie royalty here with one of the best kids adventure romps of the decade. My main query with it being on so early in the day is how they’ll handle all the potty mouth kids who spend most of the film swearing up a storm

More Poirot! And think this is the third version of this story we’ve had by now? This was one of the first stabs at it (pardon the pun) and one of the best; let’s be honest, when give got Sidney Lumet at the helm it’s going to be a good one. Finney’s Poirot is also one of the best, at least until Suchet came along, so we’ll worth your time this one

Just to, if that guy who played Freddie Mercury deserved an Oscar for his turn in Bohemian Rhapsody then Taron Egerton should as sugar puffs deserved one for his role in this film. Its a much better performance and a much better film then the Queen biopic but didn’t get half as much of the buzz. A crime!

Whilst a lot of the pre-alternative comedies of the 70s were, quite rightly, put in the bin Tommy Cooper wasn’t one of them; thats probably due to his act being more about the daftness of his magic tricks rather then attacking other folk. He was often the punchline of his jokes rather than other people so you can see a through line from him to acts like Reeves and Mortimer later in the 80s. So you can go back to these shows with confidence that they won’t be too out of date. I mean, they will be given they were made in the 70s but they should still be a funner now as they were then

Easily one of the best Christmas Specials out there, which is even more impressive this is essentially 30 minutes or so of a man collapsing emotionally in front of a live studio audience

Here’s your mad Nic Cage film of the day! Not quite as mad as his turn in Mandy but still one for the list. Its a good bit of Lovecraft that will be sure to help you off to sleep