Holiday Favorites

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Gregory · #26 Post by **Gregory** » Tue Nov 15, 2005 10:34 pm

I'll Be Seeing You is another one set against a Christmastime background, which I'm curious about but have not had the chance to see. I want to see it because Dieterle at his best was a force to be reckoned with. However, this was not Ginger Rogers' best period. If anyone's inclined to comment on this one, I'd be interested.

emcflat · #27 Post by **emcflat** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 12:59 pm

I plan on watching "3 Godfathers" around Chrismas this year. I have never seen it and have been on a big Ford kick lately, so I'm saving it.

TechNoir · #28 Post by **TechNoir** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 1:55 pm

Besides the usual Christmas Story, and Its a Wonderful Life, my other two must see every Christmas films are, Silent Night Deadly Night (NAUGHTY!), and Emmet Otter's Jugband Christmas, perhaps one of the most overlooked of Jim Henson's productions. I get as much of a kick out of it now, as i did when i was a child.

kieslowski_67 · #29 Post by **kieslowski_67** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 6:37 pm

How about "die hard" and "home alone"?

And nobody mentions Ozon's "8 women"? I'd love to watch 8 beautiful women dancing and bitching on Christmas.

godardslave · #30 Post by **godardslave** » Thu Nov 17, 2005 10:02 pm

How about Spring, Summer, Fall, Winter... and Spring.

djali999 · #31 Post by **djali999** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 1:34 am

I usually find myself watching Night of the Hunter, Fanny & Alexander, various versions of A Christmas Carol (I'm gonna grab the George C. Scott version now that it's floating around on DVD), and probably Eyes Wide Shut this year too.

Polybius · #32 Post by **Polybius** » Fri Nov 18, 2005 7:38 am

Among the Peanuts specials, It's Thanksgiving, Charlie Brown has always been my favorite. Popcorn and toast on a ping pong table 8-)

As far as films, I also have to catch A Christmas Story (a film that has become a staple via seasonal TV reruns after an initially unsuccessful theatrical run, much like It's a Wonderful Life) and I have to see Diner.

Christmas, Colts football, Carol Heathrow, the Ponderosa in color...it's all of a wonderful Yule piece for me.

Lino · #33 Post by **Lino** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 9:04 am

Anything with Audrey Hepburn in it is always a holiday favorite chez moi. I've just finished watching Two for the Road and it always leaves me in such a good mood, it's unbelievable. Maybe it's Mancini's music or Audrey's smile or even a combination of both. Finney is top notch in it, too and the film wouldn't have the same power without him.

Michael, do check it out if you can.

Fletch F. Fletch · #34 Post by **Fletch F. Fletch** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 9:57 am

Annie Mall wrote:Anything with Audrey Hepburn in it is always a holiday favorite chez moi. I've just finished watching Two for the Road and it always leaves me in such a good mood, it's unbelievable.

I feel that way about Hepburn in Charade. She has such great chemistry with Cary Grant. The dialogue is so good and everyone in the cast delivers it with such skill. I also like the look of the movie, the atmosphere that is created is so magical. I don't know if I'd classify it as a holiday movie but I enjoy it nonetheless.

Max von Mayerling · #35 Post by **Max von Mayerling** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 12:45 pm

I watched Fanny & Alexander last year around Christmas without thinking of it as being appropriate to the season, and now I'm feeling like I want to watch it again this Christmas. I'm glad to hear others are drawn to watch it during the holidays. The atmosphere of family celebration in the early part of the film is really overwhelming. It makes me feel like I've been invited to participate in this very private tradition.

Of course, you then have to contend with the rest of the film... but you know, a little holiday catharsis can be nice.

#36 Post by **cdnchris** » Wed Nov 23, 2005 4:11 pm

Started up the Christmas movie viewing season with Lethal Weapon yesterday. Nothing rings in the holiday season like a sequence with Jingle Bell Rock playing in the background, ending with a half naked woman falling 40 floors onto a parked car. Merry Christmas!

Tonight it's The Ref. "Don't eat the penis. It's just garnish." Then it will probably be Christmas Story.

Dylan · #37 Post by **Dylan** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 9:03 am

"Nightmare Before Christmas" is a great holiday film. I also have a fondness for "Edward Scissorhands," which nobody has mentioned yet.

I too watched "Fanny & Alexander" for the first time around last Christmas and now that I think about it, I'm also more than due for another viewing.

I suppose if I had to choose one favorite, I'd go with one of Woody Allen's greatest films (and for my money, one of the greatest films ever made), "Hannah and Her Sisters," which is bookended by Thanksgiving gatherings, and has such a wonderfully warm feel throughout. A beautiful, funny, romantic film.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Dylan

Narshty · #38 Post by **Narshty** » Thu Nov 24, 2005 10:02 am

I do love a bit of Eyes Wide Shut, Meet Me in St. Louis and The Bear (the lovely 1998 animated short) around the end of December.

Schkura · #39 Post by **Schkura** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 2:54 pm

Definitely Die Hard.

Now I have a machine gun.

Ho Ho Ho.

Ives · #40 Post by **Ives** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 3:25 pm

The Snowman is a family favorite up our way. It's animated, no dialogue, great music, and, yes, snow.

Schkura · #41 Post by **Schkura** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 4:00 pm

'Tis the season for schlocky sentimentality. For every holiday classic out there that temporarily restores my faith in the goodness and altruism of humankind, there are no less than 20 that leave me wishing for a loaded gun and some face-time with the president of Lifetime Television. Please take a moment to consider these, the films that make you want to beat someone down with a yule log, and share your stories below.

I'll get you started. Anyone ever seen Once Upon a Christmas starring the irrepressible Kathy Ireland (Alien from L.A., Mom and Dad Save the World) as the daughter of Santa Claus tasked with saving Christmas (whaaaa?) from the icy grasp of cynicism and commercialism (and all the while shilling for Ireland's new line of clothes)? G-NEE-US. It took 35 consecutive viewings of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer that year to stave off a conversion.

The very next year? You guessed it: Twice Upon a Christmas.

Dylan · #42 Post by **Dylan** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 7:15 pm

I actually do remember "Once Upon a Christmas," though I never watched it. And it's from the director of "The Gate" films and another low budget horror romp "I Madman." After I was ten I pretty much stopped watching any "new" or "Made for TV" Christmas fillms, so I haven't seen the worst of them, but I have a rather mediocre one to throw in. Anybody remember thr 1996 "Christmas Every Day?" It's been nine years and I was only ten at the time, but if memory serves me correctly it's one of those 'be in good behavior and help others' films that's just immeasurably obvious (meanwhile, it's also one of the surprisingly few rip offs of "Groundhog Day").

Here's another question: what was the last half-way decent Christmas film? I can't think of anything other than "Nightmare Before Christmas," which is my favorite of them all.

And just while I'm here, when I was little I too watched all of the Rankin/Bass stop-motion Christmas films dozens of times (as well as their Halloween-themed "Mad Monster Party," which is definitely the best of their work).

Ah yes, "The Snowman." I remember being very, very impressed by this as a kid, probably moreso than I was with Rankin/Bass; wasn't it all oil painting/pastel animation?

Dylan

Ives · #43 Post by **Ives** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 7:54 pm

It looks like crayon or chalk, and each frame is drawn from scratch so everything is constantly in motion.

I'm 36 and I think it's captivating. The flying sequence is fantastic.

Dylan · #44 Post by **Dylan** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 8:08 pm

I'd certainly see it again, particularly if it snows in my parts this year. I also really enjoy oil pastel/crayon animation, and it also seems like it would take an eternity to accomplish. I remember watching "The Snowman" with my father and throughout we were floored by the amount of effort that must have gone into it (this was maybe nine or ten years ago). I remember the music being pretty as well. I believe it won many awards.

Similarly, I remember a creative snow-themed short that used paper cut-out silhouettes, and that was quite nice as well.

Dylan

stockton · #45 Post by **stockton** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 9:54 pm

Just curious if anyone counts Mr. Krueger's Christmas among their holiday favorites? My guess is, uhh, 'No'. It's a made-for-TV film from 1980, starring Jimmy Stewart, produced by the Mormon Church. I've never seen it and had never heard of it until i saw it being peddled by the church on TV. Has anyone ever seen this? I'm really curious to hear what this is like. Is it super preachy? If so, is it just pushing the Jesus (it is a Christmas movie after all...) or is it pushing the Mormon church (besides the reference to the Tabernacle.) More importantly: was Jimmy Stewart a Mormon? crazy.

ben d banana · #46 Post by **ben d banana** » Sun Nov 27, 2005 10:05 pm

Here's the place to check on all of your favorite Mormons.

Kathy Ireland is also a pro-life crusader.

stockton · #47 Post by **stockton** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 12:29 am

ben d banana wrote:Here's the place to check on all of your favorite Mormons.

Thanks ben d. That site is amazing. Unnervingly thorough. No mention of James Stewart being an LDS actor though. Anyway, maybe i'll pick up the 25th anniversary edition of Mr. Krueger's Christmas here
for $2.00 (or 50 for $50!). Who knows, perhaps it will be the film that finally knocks off A Christmas Story for the title of 'Best Holiday Film of All Time'.

Polybius · #48 Post by **Polybius** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:29 am

Dylan wrote: I suppose if I had to choose one favorite, I'd go with one of Woody Allen's greatest films (and for my money, one of the greatest films ever made), "Hannah and Her Sisters," which is bookended by Thanksgiving gatherings, and has such a wonderfully warm feel throughout. A beautiful, funny, romantic film.

And my personal favorite of his embarrassment-of-riches oeuvre.

filmfan · #49 Post by **filmfan** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 8:57 am

For me it's Auntie Mame, Miracle on 34th Street, Holiday Inn, the Oscar is Scrooge show from "The Odd Couple" tv show, the Honeymooner's Tv show Xmas.

Special memories here.

#50 Post by **cdnchris** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 10:29 am

My family rented Christmas with the Kranks while I was visiting them. Wow! That may single-handedly be the worst Christmas movie I have ever seen. The message was especially cheerful:

Don't be an individual, conform with your neighbours. As well, I also took out of it that if you don't celebrate Christmas because of your faith, well, fuck you!!

I can't believe I made it through the whole damn thing.