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Post by kds on Dec 4, 2020 16:33:56 GMT
All the talk about Christmas movies, I decided to make my personal Top Ten favorite Christmas movies. They tend to skew a little modern, with the 80s and 90s in particular, but that's pretty much in line with my taste in movies. And, personally, I don't think simply taking place at Christmas makes a "Christmas movie," so that's why I've not included Lethal Weapon, Die Hard, Gremlins, etc.
10. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992) - The same basic plot as the original, but I love the original so much that I don't mind. Plus, it's different enough for me.
9. Bad Santa (2003) - When this movie came out, I was expecting nothing but a crude anti Christmas movie, but underneath the vulgarities, sleaze, and sex, there's a layer of warmth.
8. Jingle All the Way (1996) - I mentioned it earlier, I think this movie gets too much hate. I honestly think that if it were released in the 1980s, it would be more popular, as the slapstick humor in the movie really was no longer in favor in the mid 1990s.
7. Elf (2003) - The most iconic Christmas movie of the 21st Century.
6. Miracle on 34th Street (1947) - Somehow I walked the earth for over three decades before finally seeing this movie. It's a treasure. Best enjoyed (IMO) in original black and white.
5. A Christmas Carol (1951) - This British adaptation of Dickens is, IMO, the definitive filmed version of the classic story. Alastair Sim is amazing as Scrooge.
4. Home Alone (1990) - I can't believe this movie is 30 years old. I vividly remember going to Golden Ring Mall (long closed) to see this on Thanksgiving Weekend in 1990. I was expecting a Looney Tunes esque romp, but there's much more to it.
3. A Christmas Story (1983) - There's a reason this movie airs on loop for 24 hours.
2. Scrooged (1988) - Peak Bill Murray in a meta modern take on A Christmas Carol. Vastly underrated.
1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) - Not just one of the funniest Christmas movies, but one of the funniest, and most quotable comedies I've ever seen. One of three movies on my list written by John Hughes (he also wrote the first two Home Alones).
No, I did not forget about It's a Wonderful Life (1947). I think it's a great movie. But, it just doesn't crack my top 10. And, I'm in no way saying Jingle All the Way is a better movie. I just enjoy it more.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 4, 2020 16:49:43 GMT
Is Die Hard a Christmas movie?
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Post by kds on Dec 4, 2020 16:56:41 GMT
Is Die Hard a Christmas movie? I mentioned in my post that I don't believe that a movie that takes place at Christmas is necessarily a "Christmas movie" so I personally do not consider Die Hard a Christmas movie. I know it's become very popular over the last decade to loudly declare Die Hard a "Christmas movie," but to me, it's just a great action movie that takes place at Christmas. And Richard Donner (who also directed Scrooged), beat Die Hard to the punch with the original Lethal Weapon.
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Post by kds on Dec 8, 2020 16:39:03 GMT
This past weekend, I did some more Christmas viewing. I've probably done more this year than in the last two years combined.
But, I watched the Family Guy Christmas episode from 2010 - Road to the North Pole. I forgot just how well done this episode was. Although, it does get a little dark in parts. This shouldn't surprise anyone who has following the works of Seth McFarlane.
Speaking of Seth, one of his other shows, the far more hit and miss American Dad, did a hilarious 2012 Christmas episode about Krampus.
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Post by B.E. on Dec 8, 2020 17:54:53 GMT
After our discussion, I ended up re-watching Deck The Halls. Take your time getting around to that one, KDS! It's certainly a very silly movie and far, far from a classic. But, as I remembered, it's good for some laughs, and I like DeVito and Broderick enough to enjoy the movie. Not worth buying, but if you catch it on TV sometime...
Next up is Scrooged. I recorded it on TV. AMC is airing it nearly every day.
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Post by kds on Dec 8, 2020 17:59:48 GMT
After our discussion, I ended up re-watching Deck The Halls. Take your time getting around to that one, KDS! It's certainly a very silly movie and far, far from a classic. But, as I remembered, it's good for some laughs, and I like DeVito and Broderick enough to enjoy the movie. I could see myself watching it again in another 10-15 years. Not worth buying, but if you catch it on TV sometime... That was my first Christmas movie of the season, Scrooged is up next. I recorded it on TV. AMC is airing it nearly every day. I think that's one I'll eventually wind up checking out once my son's a little older, and I'll have more time to devote to watching full length movies in December. So far, I've watched quite a few specials and TV episodes, but only one movie - 2015's The Night Before. My wife's not a Seth Rogan fan, and I watched it last weekend when she went to bed a little early. We plan on making time for The Muppets Christmas Carol, Scrooged, and Christmas Vacation, but we'll see.
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Post by Sheriff John Stone on Dec 14, 2020 20:06:15 GMT
Friday night I watched Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty The Snowman (they were broadcast back-to-back!), Saturday night I watched PBS's Classic Christmas (including a cleaned-up Beach Boys' video of "Little Saint Nick" on Shindig - and Ronnie Spector singing "Frosty" and "Sleigh Ride"), and on Sunday night I watched A Charlie Brown Christmas on PBS.
Now I'm ready for Christmas!
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Post by kds on Dec 17, 2020 17:20:25 GMT
We typically save Charlie Brown for Christmas Eve.
But, my wife and I did watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation this past weekend for the first time in three years. That one used to be a Christmas Eve tradition when I lived at home, and later with my wife. So, it was a little odd watching the movie pre Christmas Eve for the first time in a very long time.
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Post by kds on Dec 18, 2020 16:46:32 GMT
An interesting list of 1980s Christmas Specials. I'd forgotten about the Muppet Family Christmas. It's a shame that copyright issues and red tape have the special living in YouTube Purgatory for the time being (I guess I should be thankful it even exists there). ultimateclassicrock.com/80s-christmas-tv-specials/
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Post by kds on Dec 23, 2020 13:38:52 GMT
For S&Gs, I'm going to post my top ten favorite Christmas TV episodes. Even more so than my movie list, my list skews towards shows that aired in my lifetime. I definitely watched some older shows growing up, but they didn't have the same impact. And, there were even shows that I watched in the 80s and 90s that I've sort of lost touch with...either because I don't watch the reruns anymore or some silly season.
Anyway....I didn't think too hard about it, so here we are
10. Home Improvement - I'm Scheming of a White Christmas (1992) - The oldest Taylor sons hatch a plot to steal money they're raising for charity. Meanwhile Tim gets carried away with the Christmas decor. Various shenanigans and warm and fuzzies ensue, lessons are learned.
9. Family Guy - A Very Special Family Guy Freakin' Christmas (2001) - I was tempted to include 2010's Road to the North Pole, which is great. But, I think the first Family Guy Christmas Episode is a little more lighthearted (and a tad less preachy). Plus, it includes one of Family Guy's greatest cutaway gags - KISS Saves Santa (featuring the voices of Gene, Paul, Ace, and Peter).
8. King of the Hill - Pretty Pretty Dresses (1998) - King of the Hill was not shy about going dark for their Christmas offerings, which often circled around the sad divorcee Bill. None more than this episode where it's Hank's turn to keep Bill on suicide watch, as Bill's Christmas depression peaks. Sounds jolly, right? Mike Judge was great at tackling these issues while still injecting his usual humor.
7. Mr. Bean - Merry Christmas Mr. Bean (1992) - Some of Mr. Bean's all time greatest gags are in this Holiday episode.
6. Married...With Children - It's a Bundyful Life (1989) - An hour long (well....42 minutes) episode in which poor Al can't buy presents for his family, and is visited by a guardian angel played by the late Sam Kinison.
5. South Park - Mr. Hanky, The Christmas Poo (1997) - Aired during South Park's first season, featuring an unlikely Christmas character. The show was one of the first to poke fun at the debate of political correctness about the Holiday season.
4. Batman - The Animated Series - Christmas with the Joker (1992) - The 1990s animated Batman is probably the only adaptation of Batman that is almost universally loved by all Batfans. This is a classic episode, marking the first appearance of Mark Hamill's Joker.
3. Seinfeld - The Strike (1997) - Had the writers known that this episode would spawn it's own holiday, the title might've been different, but this is the episode that introduced Festivus (which is today) to the culture.
2. The Simpsons - Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire (1989) - This premiered the same night at the MWC episode, the first full episode of The Simpsons is a Christmas adventure that deals with Homer not getting his Christmas bonus (a somewhat similar plot to National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation that was released the same year). Also, one of the few Season One Simpsons episodes that really holds up to repeat viewing.
1. The Office (US) - A Benihana Christmas (2006) - I could've filled up my list with at least five episodes of The Office (US), but in the interest of variety, I kept it to one episode per show. This one has the most classic moments, but my favorite might be Kevin from Accounting and his haunting karaoke rendition of Alanis Morrisette's You Oughta Know.
Very Honorable Mention - American Dad - Minstrel Krampus (2012) - I'm not a huge fan of American Dad. I found the show pretty hit or miss, and stopped watching regularly years ago (I think it's still on). But, this episode dedicated to Krampus is hilarious.
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Post by B.E. on Dec 23, 2020 20:31:04 GMT
For S&Gs, I'm going to post my top ten favorite Christmas TV episodes. 1. The Office (US) - A Benihana Christmas (2006) - I could've filled up my list with at least five episodes of The Office (US), but in the interest of variety, I kept it to one episode per show. This one has the most classic moments, but my favorite might be Kevin from Accounting and his haunting karaoke rendition of Alanis Morrisette's You Oughta Know. I can't vouch for this particular video, but I've been enjoying this YouTube channel for a while now.
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Post by kds on Dec 23, 2020 21:06:50 GMT
Other than the fact that he's got A Benihana Christmas far too low on the list (IMO), I don't really disagree with his rankings.
In fact, if he flipped that and A Classy Christmas (putting Benihana at #2 and Classy at #5), I'd be all in with his list, as I almost chose Christmas Party as my #1 also.
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Post by kds on Dec 30, 2020 19:24:05 GMT
My final Christmas related observation until at least next November, but it seems every year the wiping away of Christmas happens quicker.
In a local grocery store on December 17, half of the seasonal aisle was Valentine's Day stuff. I was out on December 28th, and went to a couple stores, and the Christmas stuff was pretty much gone.
Our FM radio station ditched the Christmas music on the 26th. I even noticed a pine tree on the curb for pick up the other day.
I'm not really much for listening to Christmas music or watching Christmas movies after the 25th, but we've always kept up the decorations until at least New Year's Day. Of course, being raised Catholic, we grew up with the belief that Christmas ends on January 6th.
But, other than the decorations still in my house, it seems like when midnight hits on Dec 26, BOOM, it's all over. Which strikes me as funny since the preparations typically begin in late summer.
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Post by Kapitan on Dec 30, 2020 19:32:46 GMT
Of course, being raised Catholic, we grew up with the belief that Christmas ends on January 6th. Interesting! I know the reasoning behind it, but I don't remember that as common among my Catholic friends growing up, and I wonder whether I just wasn't aware, or whether it's a regional thing as well as a denominational one.
But to your bigger point, I went to Target this past weekend and it was all Valentine's Day. I was thinking how remarkable it was that they'd done away with the Christmas decorations that had permeated every inch of the damn place just a couple days before, though I did eventually notice a tiny space on the back wall with clearance specials on ugly Christmas ribbons or novelties.
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Post by kds on Dec 30, 2020 19:39:32 GMT
Of course, being raised Catholic, we grew up with the belief that Christmas ends on January 6th. Interesting! I know the reasoning behind it, but I don't remember that as common among my Catholic friends growing up, and I wonder whether I just wasn't aware, or whether it's a regional thing as well as a denominational one.
But to your bigger point, I went to Target this past weekend and it was all Valentine's Day. I was thinking how remarkable it was that they'd done away with the Christmas decorations that had permeated every inch of the damn place just a couple days before, though I did eventually notice a tiny space on the back wall with clearance specials on ugly Christmas ribbons or novelties.
It was practiced more in the church itself than anywhere else, where they still had the Christmas decor. I do know some very devout Catholics who would keep all of the Christmas stuff in their house up until at least Jan 6. I did notice that some stores start discounting stuff before the 25th. And I imagine there are some shoppers who dash to the stores on Dec 26 to clear out the remains. I'm not sure if it's still the case, but at one time, December 26th was actually the busiest retail day of the year. Somewhat unusually, and something that goes against my point, I noticed while mindlessly looking around TV yesterday, that AMC was still in Christmas mode - showing Scrooged, Four Christmases, and Elf. I guess they figure that there are probably plenty of people who are home for the holidays who still want to watch the stuff.
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