25 Days of Christmas/Holiday Movies (2022)

[kingdoxie]

The Nightmare Before Christmas

[HD Canuck]

Recent viewings in bold:

1. Garfield's Thanksgiving
2. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
3. Peanuts: The Mayflower Voyagers
4. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
5. Miracle on 34th Street
6. Elf
7. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

It was an afternoon of Burl, Leon, and Miles Finch.

[charlieray1]

SANTA'S LIST ... SO FAR:

* = 1st Viewing
Blue = blu-ray

[Show spoiler]Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) An all-time favorite, and mandatory Thanksgiving evening viewing.

*A Christmas Story Christmas (2022) (Streaming) 1/2 This was better than I expected, and for the most part quite good. A couple of fantasy sequences were embarrassing (I'm looking at you Black Bart) because Ralph is a grown man, not a child who might have those daydreams. However, the main story had heart and it is well-worth seeing.

*Spirited (2022) Another unexpectedly fun film. Yes, it's too long, probably has too many songs and really needed someone to tighten up the climax. but it works! Inventive, clever, funny (love the "Good Afternoon" number!) and it leaves you with that happy, Christmassy feeling. Really enjoyed it.

I'll Be Seeing You (1946) A little known Christmas film that really deserves to find an audience. Sentimental, nostalgic, and very unique in it's story line: a soldier suffering from PTSD meets a girl on a train. She's on a Christmas furlough from a prison sentence for manslaughter. These two damaged people find comfort and hope in each other over the holidays. Lovely film, with a great cast: Joesph Cotton, Ginger Rodgers, Shirley Temple and Spring Byington are all excellent in their roles.

*Falling In Love (1984) (Streaming) 1/2 Not so much of a Christmas film as a film set at Christmas. It's begins and ends with the holiday season and there's lots of holiday scenery. The excellent cast - Meryl Streep and Robert De Niro star - can't do much to help a lackluster romance about 2 married people and their almost affair with each other. Good acting, so-so story.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

12/2

Mickey's Christmas Carol (First time viewing)

Miracle on 34th Street (1994) (I really love this underrated updated version. I wish that they had gone with it's original plan to call it "Miracle on State Street" and had it take place in Chicago to distance itself better from looking like a straight up remake and would fit perfectly being a John Hughes production)

[hagios]

12/2 Jingle All the Way



Christmas. It's the most magical time of year. But while many are bustling to find their children the perfect gifts, others aren't quite ready to adopt the holiday spirit. High-powered businessman Howard Langston loves his family, but he just can't seem to find enough time for wife Liz and son Jamie. But Howard will make it up to Jamie... he'll buy him the toy on every child's list to Santa -- and the hottest action figure of the season -- Turbo Man! Unfortunately, Howard if facing one BIG problem: It's Christmas Eve, and Turbo Man has been sold out since Thanksgiving! Howard's down-to-the-wire trek to find Turbo Man quickly turns into an odyssey wilder than he could have ever imagined. In the course of his seemingly endless Yuletide misadventures, he finds himself in a no-holds-barred fight-to-the-finish with a crazed postman named Myron, who is out to claim the last Turbo Man for his own kid.
I really enjoy Arnold in his comedic role here, a man that just wants to please his son for that Turbo-Man doll & to keep his promise to his wife haha!

[Spyder550]

Buttons: A Christmas Tale (2018)


I was intrigued by this one because of the talent involved, Angela Lansbury, Dick Van Dyke, Robert Redford and Kate Winslet. The story is dreary, it’s a wannabe musical and scenes are overly dramatic but it’s heart and talent are in the right place.

[Spyder550]

Originally Posted by MassiveMovieBuff

12/2

Miracle on 34th Street (1994) (I really love this underrated updated version. I wish that they had gone with it's original plan to call it "Miracle on State Street" and had it take place in Chicago to distance itself better from looking like a straight up remake and would fit perfectly being a John Hughes production)

I agree about the setting and I think it also would’ve been better if they had cast a boy instead of a girl as the child in the film. It would’ve helped differentiate the experiences between both versions.

[MassiveMovieBuff]

Originally Posted by Spyder550

I agree about the setting and I think it also would’ve been better if they had cast a boy instead of a girl as the child in the film. It would’ve helped differentiate the experiences between both versions.

That would be interesting though Mara Wilson is one of the best things about the film for me.

[filmbuffTX]

Home for the Holidays (1995) w/ commentary by director Jodie Foster - This is a great commentary. She gives good insight into all of the filmmaking choices as well as the themes of the film and relates it to her own life. She's very smart and thoughtful and you can tell she's really pleased with the movie. This movie has grown on me over the last few years and I can relate to it more and more each year.

The Ice Storm (1997) 1/2 - This is 'Top 3' Ang Lee films for my personal taste. It has a stacked cast and a great 1970s suburban Connecticut setting.

Sweet November (2001) - "She just needed a month to change his life forever" This isn't really a holiday film per se, but it takes place during the month of November and has a Thanksgiving scene so I think it suffices. I first randomly saw this at the movie theater and it's kind of become a "guilty pleasure" type film. One of Charlize Theron's better characters and she has good chemistry with Reeves. It's mostly just light and fun and not too heavy on the drama.

Pieces of April (2003) 1/2 - Katie Holmes plays a young woman who's cooking and hosting Thanksgiving dinner for the first time for her family. Patricia Clarkson who plays her mother was nominated for an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role. Last year was the first year I saw it and I think it's good enough to watch yearly around November.

Planes, Trains and Automobiles (1987) - If I had to pick a favorite comedy this would be it. It never gets old.

Dutch (1991) 1/2 - Ed O'Neill is great in this. It's like a different version of the Planes, Trains and Automobiles story.

[Mikezilla3k]

Violent Night (2022)

Die Hard with Santa Claus.....and decapitations. A fun blast of a film with David Harbour killing it as Santa.

[Show spoiler]However the Norse elements with Santa's past they introduced in the film weren't really utilized well/fleshed out which is a damn shame cause they would have added a bit more fresh flavor to the film.

Still a delightful brutal romp though, and it does give us the R-Rated Home Alone we all wish for in parts.

[Show spoiler]
11/25 Jack Frost (1997)

11/27 The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special (2022)

[CRT-4-ME]

#7 - 11/29/22 - Haul Out The Holly (2022) - First time watch watch based on hagios's recommendation. Ok, I must admit I enjoyed this. Normally you expect these Christmas Rom-Coms to take you on a roller-coaster ride of emotions but at no point does this become melancholy. It's always skewed on the positive side which is a big plus in keeping with that Merry Christmas vibe.


#8 - 11/30/22 - The Guardians Of The Galaxy Holiday Special (2022) - First time watch based on Mikezilla3k's recommendation. Never been able to make it though the Star Wars Holiday Special so I was hesitant about another holiday themed franchise offering. But this was funny, silly and a little emotional especially at the ending. I also appreciated the hinted inclusion of a Nativity Scene - a brave move considering the current state of our culture.

"I Am Groot!" > Rocket's Translation > "This Is A Good One".

[u2popmofo]

12/2

A Charlie Brown Christmas

It's Christmastime Again, Charlie Brown

[NI-Gunner]

First viewings in bold.

02/12 - The Long Kiss Goodnight (1996)



I've been meaning to get to this one for a long time and have heard many people over the years say it's great etc but it didn't grab me like I thought it would. Maybe I expected too much from it? Was just a tad too corny and over-the-top at times. Still enjoyable enough and Geena Davis and Sam Jackson were excellent of course, but I feel like it would have worked better if Shane Black actually directed it himself. Some of the comedy gets lost in translation from script to screen in my opinion.

[chad_1138]

[hagios]

12/2





A contemporary comedy based on Charles Dickens' novel "A Christmas Carol," focusing on a television executive who decides to exploit the holidays to boost ratings.

An ok version of A Christmas Carol, the cgi was good and funny.

[DaBargainHunta]

A Christmas Mystery (2022) - 1/2

In the same vein as Encyclopedia Brown and Nancy Drew, this is a fun caper filled with Christmas cheer.




2021 Christmas Picks:

• 8-Bit Christmas, Tokyo Godfathers, One Christmas Eve, Truman Capote's One Christmas, and A Loud House Christmas
• Home Sweet Home Alone
• It's a Wonderful Life
• A Christmas Dream (Vánoční sen)
• Holiday Affair, Santa Claus: The Movie
• Christmas in Connecticut, Star in the Night
• Picture a Perfect Christmas
• Hawkeye, Last Christmas, Why Him?
• Magical Snow Globe Double Feature: My Adventures with Santa, Snowmageddon
• Christmas Crime Double Feature: Christmas Eve, Cover Up
• Meet John Doe
• Black Christmas (1974 and 2006)

[Zivouhr]

I was able to get a 3 DVD set "Santa's Magical Stories" on sale $7, recently that includes:

Dr. Seuss Grinch Stole Christmas

And the following classic remastered Rankin Bass Stop-motion animated films:
Leprechauns Christmas Gold 30 minutes
Pinocchio's Christmas 50 minutes
Year Without Santa Claus
Rudolph's Shiny New Year
Nestor the Donkey
Jack Frost
Rudolph & Frosty's Christmas in July
Miser Brother's Christmas (2008 Cuppa Coffee WB production, but looks like Rankin Bass and based on some Year Without Santa Claus characters too)

I never saw Pinocchio's Christmas, but it was good and the classic style like Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer from Rankin/Bass. With music, and that classic stop-motion clay-like style of the miniature characters.

The quality of each film looks really good. (I have an old Jack Frost DVD from years ago, so I hope this also includes a remastered version as the old Jack Frost I have looks like it was dumped onto DVD from an old VHS tape.) Okay, just confirmed, everything is remastered and looks the best I've ever seen it. Even on DVD. I didn't see this set on blu ray.

[Show spoiler]

Pinocchio's Christmas | The Very Best Friend I Ever Had - YouTube

Pinocchio's Christmas

[JDub1]

[MassiveMovieBuff]

12/3

Christmas Chronicles
Christmas Chronicles 2

[HD Canuck]

Recent viewings in bold:
* Indicates 1st Viewing

1. Garfield's Thanksgiving
2. A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving
3. Peanuts: The Mayflower Voyagers
4. Planes, Trains, and Automobiles
5. Miracle on 34th Street
6. Elf
7. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
8. *Rudolph's Shiny New Year

Of all the Rankin Bass specials, I've never seen this one. Or have I? I may have in the early 80s when I was 3 or 4. Decent sequel. Only one Santa hat less due to the fact they didn't stick with the same reindeer and Santa figures from the original story, but went with the other style from The Year Without a Santa Claus. However, Rudolph's voice is the same.