LUCIDMEDIA

What Kind of Holiday Movie-Watcher Are You?

Written by Nadine Bachan Friday, 12 December 2008 13:14

Do you feel like a big kid when the holidays roll around?
Still look back fondly on memories of writing letters to Santa?
Love to recall that one great Christmas when you got the toy you were wishing for all year?

If you answered ‘yes’ to these questions, you’re simply a rosy-cheeked child-at-heart, and you’ll surely love heart warming films like these:

Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964), A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966), Frosty the Snowman (1969): The sixties was a great decade for animated Christmas masterpieces. Rudolph lighting the way, Charlie Brown’s sapling getting decorated, the Grinch’s tiny heart growing three sizes, and Frosty being brought to life and saying “Happy Birthday!” - It just isn’t Christmas without witnessing those quintessential moments.   Home Alone (1990) and Home Alone 2 (1992): At the height of his career, a young Macaulay Culkin, through the smart-alecky character of Kevin McCallister, showed adults everywhere that kids are much more intelligent and cunning than their parents give them credit for…twice! The Santa Clause (1994): Tim Allen stars in this witty and clever look at the finer details of who Old Saint Nick really is. As Scott Calvin embarks on his jolly journey, we learn an important lesson of holiday spirit: You’re never too old to believe in the magic of Santa. Elf (2003): Will Ferrell shines as Buddy, an adopted elf, in this Christmas tale about the values of family and being true to yourself. You can’t help but laugh at Buddy’s buffoonery, innocence, and enthusiasm, and maybe, just maybe, wish that you could be so silly and carefree again.

A Christmas Story (1983):
Maybe one of the greatest movies made, this tale, as seen and told through the eyes and mind of nine-year-old Ralphie, is exactly what being a kid at Christmas is all about. From classroom hijinx to sultry major awards to a very scary mall Santa, the Parker family goes through the holiday motions in this hilarious film.

 
Prefer the originals cover all those modern day adaptations?
Does your holiday tradition include watching an old favourite with your parents and grandparents?
Do you believe every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings?

Anyone who values the classics of the silver screen will certainly enjoy these timeless holiday classics:

Miracle of 34th Street [(1947): A very young Natalie Wood is brilliant as the mature little girl who can’t help but wonder if the department store Santa is the real deal. I think everyone loves that moment when sitting on Santa’s lap, a doubtful Susan tugs on Santa’s beard and discovers that it is, in fact, real. White Christmas (1954): Hollywood heavyweight Bing Crosby plucks at our heartstrings in this musical about two singing WWII Army buddies and their romantic pursuit of two song-and-dance sisters. Their effort to help out a lodge owner and respected friend is a timeless holiday favourite sure to become a part of your holiday tradition, if not so already. The Nutcracker (1971): You haven’t witness true ballet until you’ve seen Mikhail Baryshnikov float on air. In this American Ballet Theatre version of the 19th century Tchaikovsky masterpiece, the renowned score and fantastical story that has touched generations upon generations is sure to amaze even today’s revellers.

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946):
With the help of Clarence the angel, George Bailey is shown how truly precious his life has been, despite the hardships he’s faced.  James Stewart’s portrayal of a desperate man shown the truth has been the staple of holiday entertainment and inspiration for over fifty years; a film for the ages.   

 
Do tales of a cold soul turned gold tug at your heartstrings?
Are the phrases “Bah Humbug” and “God bless us, everyone” a part of your holiday vocabulary?
Does Charles Dickens top your list of the best Christmas storytellers?

If you’re belief is simply, “it’s not the holidays without Dickens’, there are several versions of his renowned masterpiece, A Christmas Carol. Here are a few of the more well-known adaptations:

The 1938 version:
Although three earlier remakes precede it, this version can be considered the most popular of the silver screen adaptations. Starring Alistair Sim as Scrooge, this is the only back-and-white version that is shown every year on television stations across North America.

Mickey’s Christmas Carol [1983]: For everyone who grew up with Mickey Mouse and his friends, you’d be happy to know that, yes, even Disney put its own spin on the old classic. Fittingly, Scrooge McDuck plays Ebenezer, Goofy plays Jacob Marley, and Jiminy Cricket plays the Ghost of Christmas Past. This remake will surely catch the eye of youngsters and adults alike with the beautiful animation and familiar characters. Of course, Disney wouldn’t be Disney without Mickey, Minnie, and a handful of endearing little mice as the Cratchit family. The Muppets Christmas Carol [1992]: Anything involving the Muppets is a gem. They appeal to both the child and the adult in us. The mixture of live actors, including Michael Caine as Scrooge, and the puppets is a dynamic only the Muppets can pull off without being too cutesy or obvious. With its combination of dialogue and music, this edition is comical, intelligent, entertaining, and uplifting. Hands down, this version’s Tiny Tim is the most adorable, complete with a teensy crutch. In more recent years, Patrick Stewart and Kelsey Grammar have had their hand at playing the landmark character of crotchety old Scrooge. While Stewart’s 1999 version is traditional and almost theatrical, Grammar’s 2004 remake is considered a musical. Both adaptations were made-for-TV releases. If you’re still hungry another take on the old novel, rumours of a new film has been slated for late 2009. It will star Jim Carrey in multiple roles, including Ebenezer Scrooge and all three Christmas Ghosts.

No matter how red, white, and green the holidays get, do you still like that hint of black?
Are “sinister” and “macabre” your middle names?
Are Jack and Sally your idea of the perfect couple? 

Filmmakers haven’t forgotten about these aficionados of anything dark and slightly twisted:

Scrooged (1988)
Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is the poster boy of sarcasm, nastiness, and insensitivity and, my oh my, does he get what’s coming to him! The heartless television executive must endure an ironic, hellish night of ghosts and bitter memories in the spirit of Christmas. Hating every minute of it, he is bruised, battered, and made into a raving lunatic in front of everyone who knows and loathes him in this darkly comedic, modern revision of the Dickens classic.

Gremlins (1984): Technically, this dark comedy about cute furry creatures that turn into disgusting frightening beasts is a Christmas movie. Set during the holiday season, audiences laughed and screamed as the horrid monsters wreaked havoc upon the unsuspecting town of Kingston Falls. If you like a good gross-out film with the slightest hint of the holidays, this is the movie to watch. Batman Returns (1992): The Penguin and Catwoman made sure that Christmas in Gotham City would never be the same again. As the holidays fall upon the city, Batman has his hands full with a strange Selina Kyle, a suspicious Oswald Cobblepot, and a corrupt businessman named Max Shreck. Even lit up with a million coloured lights and blanketed with snow, the fictional hometown of the Dark Knight is still a place that can send shivers down your spine in this excellent, Tim Burton-directed sequel. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) Enter, if you dare, the morbid realm of Halloween Town, a place filled with monsters, ghosts and corpses. In this stop-motion fantasy, Pumpkin King Jack Skellington comes across a portal to Christmas Town where everyday is a festive celebration.  Along with his townsmen and an apprehensive rag doll named Sally, Jack embarks on a devilish adventure of takeover, mischief, and terror. Tim Burton proves yet again that he has a talent for making everything he touches ghoulish and spooky, even Christmas.

Does the idea of holiday cheer make your eyes roll?
Have you ever looked in your stocking, half-expecting to find a lump of coal?
Do broken Christmas tress, cruel bets, last-minute shopping madness, and general bad luck make you smile (when it happens to others people, of course)? 

There are some terrific films for all those whose greatest joy this season will come from snickering at the misfortunes of others, which (let’s all admit), can excite a good laugh or two from anyone:

National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989) Clark Griswold can’t seem to get a break, not even at Christmas. With his house full of relatives, Chevy Chase’s classic character deals with one frustration after the next, including unwanted house guests, uncooperative lights, and one terrible turkey dinner – and he tries to do it all with holiday cheer, the significant word here being ‘tries’. Trading Places (1983) When the millionaire Duke brothers make a bet about nature versus environment, the victims of their cruel game are their top accountant and spoiled young blue-blood Louis Winthorpe III, and  homeless conman Billy Ray Valentine. While Billy Ray enjoys the switch into high society, Louis must endure arrest, poverty, being snubbed, and a hooker named Ophelia.  Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean (1992): Though not technically a movie, the entire side-splittingly hilarious episode revolves around Mr. Bean’s bumbling misadventures and woes throughout his holiday preparations. So I don’t give too much away to anyone who hasn’t had the shameless pleasure of watching this episode, I will write one descriptive phrase and that will be enough – Head stuck in turkey. Groundhog Day (1993): If you can’t stand anything about Christmas, why not watch a movie about a man who hates winter in its entirety? Bill Murray shines yet again as an insensitive jerk whose hate for winter and reporting news of the festivities of Groundhog Day becomes his own cosmic punishment. To his horror, he must relive the same hated day over and over and over and over and over…

To everyone out there, ‘Children at Heart’, ‘Lovers of the Classics’, ‘A Christmas Carolers’, ‘Festive Ghouls’, and ‘Yuletide Pouters’ – and to those of you who are perhaps a little bit of ‘all of the above’ – I wish you an enjoyable holiday season, any way you like it.