THE LION KING, 1994
THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGONTATTOO, 2011
WHEN HARRYMET SALLY, 1989
Love, Actually, 2003
Sunday, 4:35 a.m., Cinemax
My favorite squishy, romantic Christmas comedy about eight London couples in the days leading up to the holidays. There are couples who fall into love, couples who fall out of love and couples who didn’t realize they were in love in the first place. The tremendous cast includes Hugh Grant and Martine McCutcheon (above, from left) and Emma Thompson.
The Lion King, 1994
Sunday, 8 p.m., ABC Family
Jeff Katzenberg told me that he and his friends were inspired while on safari in Africa into developing this magical story. Simba, the young son and heir of a lion pride, and his father King Mustafah are pushed to their deaths by a jealous pretender to the throne. Simba survives, but is shunned by the pride who thinks the death was his fault. He flees and is joined by Timon the Meerkat and Pumbaa the Warthog. After many struggles, Simba grows strong and healthy only to return to claim his rightful place. Voiced by James Earl Jones, Moira Kelly, Jeremy Irons and others.
The Girl With the Dragon T
attoo, 2011
Monday, 11 p.m., Starz
Stieg Larsson’s incredibly creepy novel that became an incredibly creepy Swedish movie, which was then adapted for the American audience. A disgraced journalist, (Daniel Craig) is hired by a wealthy industrialist to write a family history. But he really wants to find out what happened to a beloved niece who disappeared 40 years earlier. The reporter hooks up with an abused-but-very tough disturbed young hacker (Rooney Mara, above) who helps him get to the nasty bottom of things.
When Harry Met Sally, 1989
Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., TV Guide Network
My second favorite holiday rom-com about two friends (Meg Ryan and Billy Crystal, right) who move to New York after college and remain friends through the years, helping each other cope with relationships, never thinking that they should have one of their own.