Zeit bites: Christmas viewing fare

Like pavlova, tinsel and eating so much you go into shock, watching hours of comfort telly is a noble Christmas tradition. We used to be beholden to the TV Gods to deliver some good telly on the big day, now, we can plan our own viewing schedule. Here’s what I’ll be watching on Tuesday

Given the state of the world right now, Frank Capra’s 1946 heartstring-tugging family classic It’s a

Wonderful Life (iTunes has it) has never been more crucial viewing. It’s a great way to remember the reason for the season while being thoroughly entertained.

(For a modern take on the theme, try TVNZ OnDemand’s Broken, which is grittier, but no less moving.)

If you have wee ones who can’t cope with older films, Netflix delivers some modern Christmas magic with The Christmas Chronicles – solid family fun, with Kurt Russell in the driving seat (literally).

Not everything you watch during the festive break has to be worthy or particularly Christmassy. In fact, one tradition I love is an obligatory James Bond marathon. You’ll have to hit iTunes for these, but Casino Royale is a recent favourite. I’m also partial to a bit of Pierce Brosnan in GoldenEye. But for some classic, campy fun, you can’t go past Roger Moore’s A View To A Kill and Moonraker. To stoke those fluffy, smooshy romance feels after all that testosterone, try La La Land and Joe Wright’s 2005 Pride and Prejudice (both on Netflix), which is my favourite version, for a couple of TV treats sweeter than that second helping of trifle and pav you said you wouldn’t have but totally did.

If you’re not in a sugar coma by then, and you want to end the night on a high note, how about a rom-com-zom? Shaun of the Dead is one of the greatest films ever made (we can debate that later).

Funny, heart-warming and gloriously gory, it’s the ultimate genre mash-up and the perfect way to see off Christmas for another year.