“The Lion King,” streaming “Six Triple Eight”

This circle of life keeps turning. The holidays are here again and with them another “Lion King.”

But good news, family. While Disney’s 2019 reboot of the 1994 classic was a mixed bag, director Barry Jenkins gives us something fresh with the prequel Mufasa: The Lion King. (Good luck holding it together after the film’s tribute to James Earl Jones.) While there’s plenty to see in theaters on Christmas Day (from “Wicked” and “Moana 2” to “Nosferatu” and “A Complete Unknown”), Now it’s time for some drama at home because Kerry Washington owns as a military hard case in the Netflix war film “The Six Triple Eight” by Tyler Perry.

And before I forget, whatever holiday you celebrate this time of year, we wish you and your loved ones peace, joy and happiness. And of course something cool to look at.

Now for the good stuff:

See The Lion King back on the big screen in the prequel Mufasa

As cubs, Taka (voiced by Theo Somolu, left) and Mufasa (Braelyn Rankins) become as close as brothers "Mufasa: The Lion King."

The one thing I remember most about 2019’s The Lion King is that the photorealistic lions and animals were pretty slick visually, but I couldn’t stop thinking about how they were the same the first time around story that was better executed. So it’s nice to report that “Mufasa” is an improvement in every way and tells the story of how Mufasa (voiced by Aaron Pierre) and Taka (Kelvin Harrison. Jr.), aka Scar, went from best friends to bitter rivals . What’s also interesting is that Blue Ivy Carter has a nice little role as Mufasa’s granddaughter, adding to her mother Beyoncé’s legacy in the franchise. (Check out my ★★★ review.)

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Those of a certain age will remember Elton John and Tim Rice’s standout songs from the original The Lion King, and Lin-Manuel Miranda’s new Mufasa songs are worthy of the Disney musical canon. In a conversation with Jenkins and Miranda about crafting an insightful “Lion King” story, the songwriter told me that he was inspired both by conversations with Jenkins and by “great lines of dialogue” – especially when young Taka says: “I have a secret.”, Mufasa. I always wanted a brother.

“I thought, ‘That’s a killer song title!’ That’s the feeling I want to use to get to know these brothers,” says Miranda.

Stream Tyler Perry’s World War II film The Six Triple Eight, starring Kerry Washington

We’re used to regularly seeing movies in which grizzled white people play the leathery military men who take out their troops. Kerry Washington puts this jerk to the test in The Six Triple Eight, a Netflix World War II drama based on a true story. She plays Maj. Charity Adams, the no-nonsense leader of an all-black Women’s Army Corps unit with a morale-boosting mission: travel overseas and clear a three-year backlog of undelivered mail. Ultimately, they would transport 17 million pieces to and from soldiers and their families.

The real Adams “was stern and strict and had very high expectations” but “did it with a level of love and compassion,” Washington tells my colleague Anika Reed about the film. The actress also told Anika how Perry screened the film for Lena Derriecott King, one of the last surviving members of the battalion, before she died at the age of 100 in January last year. “She laughed, saluted the screen and said, ‘Thank you.’ You for letting the world know that black women contributed,” Washington says.

Pour one out for the season finale of “Yellowstone.”

After five seasons of the soapiest, craziest cowboy stuff you could hope for, “Yellowstone” wrapped up many storylines with a trademark finale last Sunday. Rip took someone to the “train station,” two Dutton siblings who were constantly at each other’s throats, literally fought to the death, and of course there was country music and lots of scenic views of mountains, barns, and ranch houses.

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“The Lion King,” streaming “Six Triple Eight”

See The Lion King back on the big screen in the prequel Mufasa

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