Christmas Movies

Jusenkyo no Pikachu · Post by **Jusenkyo no Pikachu** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:02 pm

I'll let you guess the content of the thread.

It's A Wonderful Life
A man who has sacrificed his hopes and dreams in order to help others is shown how much worse off the world would be without him. This is easily one of the best holiday movies around, largely due to its earnest sweetness--much unlike that merely saccharine crap that pervades the movie scene at around this time of year--although it's something I seriously want to see more of. And, fortunately, it takes most of its time establishing George Bailey as someone to care about. It's certainly hard to see why this movie failed at the box office (for those who don't know, it ended up gaining its well-deserved status during the 70s, when a clerical oversight caused it to slip into the public domain, enabling stations to not have to pay royalties).

Santa Claus Conquers The Martians
I think I posted about this in the thread about bad movies. Anyway, since I'm here and not there, this one is a cinematic version of something normally played at 11 and 1 in the local mall (produced for about that budget). This time around, Mars' kids have been besotted by broadcasts about Santa Claus and dolls (the reason? They learn adult stuff from the day they are born), so the jolly old elf is kidnapped along with two Earth kids and taken to Mars. Thus we have to endure heaps of bad jokes and zero genuine sentiment. Of course, there's a big meaniehead who's looking to spoil the fun--in this case a warlike martian named Voldar. Established stage actor Bill McCutcheon plays Dropo, a clown-like Martian who's the most grating of the lot, and future B-movie queen Pia Zadora plays Girmar, daughter of Kimar (the KIng MARtian) and Momar (MOther MARtian).

The Star Wars Holiday Special
Oh, my god, this is HORRIBLE. So horrible that George Lucas has publicly disowned the movie (although he did go on to create such crimes against good taste as making Greedo shoot first and Jar Jar Binks). The plot here is remarkably thin and really only serves as a sci-fi setting upon which to hang various skits and songs. But if you must have a description, here it is: Han's busy evading a Star Destroyer in order to get Chewie to Life Day. But as his family waits for him on Kashyyyk, the family home is taken over by Stormtroopers as part of a security crackdown. To fill in time, they watch whatever qualifies as entertainment. This means that, for two solid hours, we are forced to watch scenes that vary from the decent (an animated sequence that introduces Boba Fett) to the unfunny (Harvey Korman doing Julia Child with a few more arms), to the bizarre (Chewie's father Itchy watching a video of Diahann Carroll and getting VERY aroused) to the just plain grating (the rest of the movie features a lot of unsubtitled growling). Our favourite characters also make appearances (although Mark Hamill is nearly unrecogniseable. In fact, his is the only decent makeup job that isn't recycled from the first movie, although Rick Baker and Stan Winston are mentioned in the credits). And to top it all off, there are two songs. One's sung by Bea Arthur in a sort of Mos Eisley version of Cheers (at a guess, Harvey Korman is the Star Wars version of Norm), and the other is a saccharine holiday-themed song sung to the tune of a certain movie's title theme by Carrie Fisher, who at least proves adequate.

Post by **Tiff** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 1:21 pm

...Are we just naming random christmas movies, or listing our favorites, or what?? o.O; You aren't really clear.

Anyway...I'll go ahead and list my favorites. They're all cartoons.^^;

How the Grinch Stole Christmas - The original cartoon is still a favorite, and my family watches it every year. I love Dr. Suess (hell, I teach preschool, what do you expect) and I just love that show.

Charlie Brown Christmas - Another classic, and another we watch every year. I just adore this movie. Linus's speech always gives me chills, and poor Charlie Brown and his little tree always touch me.

I'm a sap. =P

Neon Heart · Post by **Neon Heart** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 6:43 pm

I have to agree with Tiff, when it comes to A Charlie Brown Christmas. It's just too cute, when Snoopy has a pile of bones taller than him, and he's reading the paper, and eating each bone, one by one. :3

I think there was another Charlie Brown special that came out later. I think it came out in the erly 90s, maybe? I can't remember exactly what happend, or what it was called, but I remember watching it when I was three. o_O

peachvampiress · Post by **peachvampiress** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 7:40 pm

Jusenkyo no Pikachu

The Star Wars Holiday Special

You know, I heard it was terribile, but I went and downloaded it because I usually love cheesy, crappy movies. I can't get through the first ten minutes of this. Literally, I had to shut it off it was so bad. The only way it could possibly be enjoyable is to get really, REALLY drunk and watch it with a bunch of people so you're not suffering alone.
And what the fuck is up with Mark Hamill's face 0___o

Anyway, for my favorite Christmas movies:

-<3 The Nightmare Before Christmas. <3 It's my favorite movie ever. I just love everything about it. The music, the songs, the style, the voices (ZOMFG Danny Elfman's shmexy voice!!!!111). Danny as Jack's singing voice and Catherine O' Hara as Sally make this movie.

-A Christmas Story (a.k.a. the movie about the kid who wants the B.B. gun). I just love nostalgic films like these. And it's funny because it's a family movie that has a little kid saying "Son of a Bitch". I want to get one of those leg lamps XD

-The Nutcracker Prince. I think that is what it was called. It was a cartoon, T.V. special that I haven't seen in at least 12 years, and I barely remember the plot, but I do remember loving it. And I most definately remember that freaky ending where [spoiler]the rat leader was attacking the main female character while holding his bleeding heart while blood rushed out of his chest.[/spoiler]

Yeah that special scared the Hell out of me as a child.

Chibisteven · Post by **Chibisteven** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 7:41 pm

I have to see the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. As for How the Grinch Stole Christmas (both original cartoon and live action) is one of my all times favorties. Liked the cartoon ever since I was a little kid.

A Chirstmas Story is a classic, too. I like it.

Sailorasteroid · Post by **Sailorasteroid** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:34 pm

Charlie Brown Christmas reminds me why I love Lucy (no joke intended) and why I don't like religion.

It's a Wonderful Life is great, mostly because of James Stewart. It always bothered me, though, that Harry. . . I mean Henry Potter actually went so far as to steal from the Building and Loan. Potter was mean and hateful but he always worked within the rules of fair play.

peachvampiress wrote:-A Christmas Story (a.k.a. the movie about the kid who wants the B.B. gun). I just love nostalgic films like these. And it's funny because it's a family movie that has a little kid saying "Son of a Bitch". I want to get one of those leg lamps XD

http://www.leglamps.com/

A Christmas Story is a funny movie, with lots of great lines, but not worth the 12 repititions it gets every year on the TNT network. Still, it's the one movie that covers what Christmas is all about: presents!

Post by **Tiff** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:45 pm

I"ve never actually seen A Christmas Story. I saw like...five minutes of it, and thought it was so annoying.

Butterscotch · Post by **Butterscotch** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:52 pm

My favorites:

How the Grinch Stole Christmas: Love it! What's not to like? Dr. Suess, Chuck Jones, The Grinch, Cindy Lou Who. ^___^

Charlie Brown Christmas: Its a classic for a reason. ^_~

A Christmas Story: kind of makes me wish I grew up in the 40's...or something. o_0;

DreamEmpress · Post by **DreamEmpress** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 4:32 am

I loved christmas as a kid. Oh the holiday specials! I agree with everyone. How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Charlie Brown Christmas are a treat every year.

The Nutcracker Fantasy: Made by Sanrio. It's a stop motion film made in 1979. Clara is waiting for Fritz to come home. Her uncle comes home late from fixing the mayor's clock and accidently drops a nutcracker doll. Clara loves it and refuses to part with it. That night she's saved from the two headed mouse queen by the doll. Going through a grandfather clock she enters another world where a princess is turned into a mouse unless the king will give her to the Mouse Queen's son. The King's soldier France saves the princess but is cursed to become the nutcracker. The princess abandons him and Clara tries to free him. In the end, she wakes up and finds that her Fritz looks exactly like France and they live happily ever after. I watch this every year on tape and it's still so magical.

Muppet Family Christmas: I love this film. I watch the version my dad taped for me, every year.

Frosty and Frosty's Winter Wonderland: Must sees every year. It's not winter without them.

Small One: This is a little talked about Disney gem. It's the story of a boy and his donkey. It's too old to work and his father insists it must be sold. The boy tries to find Small One a home, but no one is kind. Finally in the end, they meet Joseph who needs a donkey to carry his wife. It's a beautiful tale. I always cry at the end. The ending song is just so touching.

The Night They Saved Christmas: This movie is just too cute. a mother and three children try to save the north pole from being blown up by a oil company who is looking for oil. (They don't know that North Pole City exists up there) Really cute 80's tv movie.

Santa Claus: The Movie:: Dudley Moore plays an elf who leaves the North Pole after feeling unappriciated for his new fangled inventions. My parents watch this every year.

And lastly, Miracle on 34th Street: the black and white original classic. I love this film. it's so charming and heart felt. I didn't care for the updated one. This is the one that I will stand by.

Jusenkyo no Pikachu · Post by **Jusenkyo no Pikachu** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 6:07 am

peachvampiress wrote:Jusenkyo no Pikachu
The Star Wars Holiday Special
You know, I heard it was terribile, but I went and downloaded it because I usually love cheesy, crappy movies. I can't get through the first ten minutes of this. Literally, I had to shut it off it was so bad. The only way it could possibly be enjoyable is to get really, REALLY drunk and watch it with a bunch of people so you're not suffering alone.
And what the fuck is up with Mark Hamill's face 0___o

Oh, great, NOW they tell me how to watch it. And I suffered through all two fucking hours. The sole good thing about this is that the animated sequence is available as a separate download.

And I think the make-up on Mark Hamill's face was something to do with a crash he'd been in.

Blackat · Post by **Blackat** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 7:17 am

A few Christmas movies that I can stand-

Home Alone: Yeah, I mention this in another thread. XD But c'mon, I grew up with this! It's on just about every year on 7 or whatever, and it always gets me in the spirit. And seeing that guy with an imprint of a iron on his forehead is just classic. XD

The Santa Claus: Again, another film I grew up watching. The Tim Allen version, that is. Man, I miss the 90's. <3

And here's a few I can't stand-

White Christmas: For one reason only - Donald O'Connor was meant to appear in this in the Danny Kaye role, but that damn Mule (Francis) gave him Q Fever, and he was in bed for about 2 months and was unable to do the film. So Danny Kaye got his part. Now I can't watch that film without thinking that Donald should've been in it. *sob* Oh well, Danny Kaye was still good.

Jusenkyo no Pikachu · Post by **Jusenkyo no Pikachu** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:48 am

Blackat wrote:White Christmas: For one reason only - Donald O'Connor was meant to appear in this in the Danny Kaye role, but that damn Mule (Francis) gave him Q Fever, and he was in bed for about 2 months and was unable to do the film. So Danny Kaye got his part. Now I can't watch that film without thinking that Donald should've been in it. *sob* Oh well, Danny Kaye was still good.

I think you are the only person younger than me I've met who actually knows (or cares) who Donald O'Connor is. That is, unless my cousin or my sister's friend (who is into musicals) have seen any of his movies.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
AKA The good version. An elderley man, convinced he is Santa Claus, helps kindle belief in the Christmas spirit in a girl who never was illusioned, let alone disillusioned. In doing so, he poses as a department store Santa, and institutes a store policy that counters the crass commercialism of the season. Then he's forced to go to court to argue for the right to be Santa. I've counted the good and bad scenes in this film. The good scenes outnumber the bad 3-nil. This was remade in 1994, but the remake has bizarre, out-of-place things such as Kriss' remark about his not putting his hand on a bible and his later aquittal by a judge, based on the US Government believing in God.

Christmas Every Day
I saw this before I saw Groundhog Day. And I much prefer the Bill Murray film. Erik von Detten (The Princess Diaries, Leave it to Beaver, TV's So Weird) plays a Bill Murray wannabe (but without the nastiness) who has to spend Christmas with his family. This kid, Billy, is not at all content with the idea, and so tells his younger sister that there is no Santa. His sister makes him wish that it was Christmas every day, and so he finds himself reliving the same day over and over and over until he becomes a better kid. Saccharine crap cannot hold a candle to the infinitely-superior Murray film.

Sylphiel · Post by **Sylphiel** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 2:48 pm

-A Christmas Story
-It's a Wonderful Life
-Muppet Christmas Carol
-Home Alone (aaaand I like 2 also back when I was a kid)
-Charlie Brown Christmas
-National Lampoon's Xmas
-The Santa Clause
-MIXED NUTS.

Blackat · Post by **Blackat** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 6:04 pm

Jusenkyo no Pikachu wrote:
Blackat wrote:White Christmas: For one reason only - Donald O'Connor was meant to appear in this in the Danny Kaye role, but that damn Mule (Francis) gave him Q Fever, and he was in bed for about 2 months and was unable to do the film. So Danny Kaye got his part. Now I can't watch that film without thinking that Donald should've been in it. *sob* Oh well, Danny Kaye was still good.
I think you are the only person younger than me I've met who actually knows (or cares) who Donald O'Connor is. That is, unless my cousin or my sister's friend (who is into musicals) have seen any of his movies.

Sorry to be a little off-topic here-

Oh, are you a Donald fan too? There's not many of them left out there on the internet - most of them died out (don't take that literally) around 2003 or so. Trust me, I'm not the youngest one.

And just to make this on-topic again-

The Muppets a Christmas Carol: I remember seeing this years ago, and actually liking it. I think Gonzo was in it, but I can't remember who played the main character. Well, anything with the Muppets has to be good!

Jusenkyo no Pikachu · Post by **Jusenkyo no Pikachu** » Sat Dec 10, 2005 9:52 am

Actually, I've never seen a Donald O'Connor film. I do know, however, that he's now best known to today's youth for running up a wall, and later being referenced in The Full Monty. I'm sure my grandparents will have at least one of his old films somewhere...

Oh, and the actor you're thinking of is Michael Caine. And yes, Gonzo was in it--he played Charles Dickens.

SeiUsa · Post by **SeiUsa** » Sat Dec 17, 2005 11:19 am

My favorite Christmas movies would simply have to be the Rankin/Bass specials. Rudolph, Santa Claus is Comin' To Town, Year Without a Santa Claus, Frosty the Snowman...you get the point.

By the way, can anyone direct me to any good Hanukkah movies? I kind of wish there was a Rankin/Bass special for this holiday, that would have been interesting.

DuoTheShinigami02 · Post by **DuoTheShinigami02** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 4:06 pm

* A Christmas Story: "How do little piggies eat?", "Oh, fudge!", and Ralphie finally snaps and beats up Scut Farkus, and of course, "You'll shoot your eye out!"

* Corky Quackenbush's Rudolph Trilogy (Raging Rudolph, The Reinfather, A Pack of Gifts Now); aired on Mad TV

*The first Simpsons Christmas Special: "Jingle Bells, Batman Smells, yadda yadda yadda..."

*Mr. Hankey's debut on the first South Park episode, and the citizens trying to change Christmas

*The first two Home Alone movies

*Scrooged

Kameko · Post by **Kameko** » Wed Dec 21, 2005 8:14 pm

DuoTheShinigami02 wrote:* A Christmas Story: "How do little piggies eat?", "Oh, fudge!", and Ralphie finally snaps and beats up Scut Farkus, and of course, "You'll shoot your eye out!"

Don't forget the glow of electric sex in the window. Funny movie.

Kasumi · Post by **Kasumi** » Sun Jan 08, 2006 1:40 pm

Oh yeah, I had watched the "Christmas Every Day" movie last year or something and I found it to be quite stupid. Because I knew it was a ripoff (or spinoff?) of "Groundhog Day".
It was a bit entertaining, but I'd rather watch "Groundhog Day" again.