Member
SE NH
(This post was last modified: 11-28-2016, 03:11 AM by PhilNH5.)
The above quote is from A Christmas Story a movie I never saw until yesterday.
I had seen snips over the last 30 years and it seemed silly to me. I never understood why it was considered a "classic". in the conglomerate it was not as silly as the snippets I had viewed. But still not a movie I need to see again. Not intending to disparage anyone who enjoys this movie. It is just not for me. Funny thing is it was my late father's and still my mother's favorite Christmas movie.
This is my list of Christmas movies enjoyed repeatedly in the PhilNH5 household:
"The Holiday" - a romantic comedy where a lovelorn Brit(Kate Winslet) swaps houses with a depressed Californian (Cameron Diaz). A British movie and I love their sense of humor. They get kudos for casting Eli Wallach in a big role. He was 90 at the time! Cameron Diaz falls for Jude Law while Jack Black and Kate Winslet are the other couple. The Cameron/Jude relationship is physical so not really a family flick.
"Love Actually" - another British Rom/Com that has 6 or 7 story lines concerning love followed throughout. Excellent ensemble cast of British actors and actresses. Not your typical Christmas movie but I enjoy it.
"The Gathering" - 1977 made for TV movie. Surly man finds out he is dying. Wants to reunite with his estranged family. He receives help from his wife whom he is separated from. He does not want sympathy so the adult children are not told of his imminent death. A tear jerker but heart warming in the end. Ed Asner is the father backed by Maureen Stapleton. Together they raise this above you standard TV movie.
"The Christmas Card" - Hallmark movie. Contrived but enjoyable. Army vet goes to see the family that sent Christmas cards to soldiers stationed overseas. Ed Asner is the patriarch and puts in a fine performance. The Army vet falls for Ed's daughter but she is romantically involved with another man.
"November Christmas" - Hallmark movie. Family of little girl with cancer "push up" the holidays in case she doesn't make it to Christmas. Quite good. Another tear jerker. Sam Elliot and Karen Allen are neighbors whom lend a hand. John Corbett is the little girls father.
"A Dog Named Christmas" - family with special needs young adult child foster a dog over Chritmas to give the animal shelter workers a rest. This too is a Hallmark movie. We like it a lot.
"The Muppet Christmas Carol" - surprisingly it follows the Dickens novel story line quite closely. It is a musical which deviates from the original
Michael Caine puts on a great performance. As good as Alastair Sim from the 1951 movie. That version was my father's favorite Christmas movie until "A Christmas Story" supplanted it.
"White Christmas" - a contrived movie to capitalize on Bing Crosby's hit song of the same name. Still great fun to watch. Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney and Danny Kaye head the cast. Ex Army men form a travelling song and dance show that is a big hit. Visit a Vermont inn owned by their ex commanding officer. They plot to help make the place a success. A musical.
"Miracle on 34th Street" the 1947 original starring Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn as Santa. This is my idea of a classic movie.
"12 Dates Of Christmas" - a made for TV movie about a young lady who repeats Christmas eve. This only affects her - the other characters do not know this is happening to her. She alters her behaviors and influences others as she comes to understand what is happening. The song "12 Days of Christmas" is used through out. Each successive day has the songs verse represented visually. It happens quick and you have to look for them. For example a pre-school class walks by and all 6 kids have hats that look like a goose. The overall story is one just plain fun and feel good.
That's my list. We have already seen each one at least once this year.
How about you? any favorite Christmas movies?
I had seen snips over the last 30 years and it seemed silly to me. I never understood why it was considered a "classic". in the conglomerate it was not as silly as the snippets I had viewed. But still not a movie I need to see again. Not intending to disparage anyone who enjoys this movie. It is just not for me. Funny thing is it was my late father's and still my mother's favorite Christmas movie.
This is my list of Christmas movies enjoyed repeatedly in the PhilNH5 household:
"The Holiday" - a romantic comedy where a lovelorn Brit(Kate Winslet) swaps houses with a depressed Californian (Cameron Diaz). A British movie and I love their sense of humor. They get kudos for casting Eli Wallach in a big role. He was 90 at the time! Cameron Diaz falls for Jude Law while Jack Black and Kate Winslet are the other couple. The Cameron/Jude relationship is physical so not really a family flick.
"Love Actually" - another British Rom/Com that has 6 or 7 story lines concerning love followed throughout. Excellent ensemble cast of British actors and actresses. Not your typical Christmas movie but I enjoy it.
"The Gathering" - 1977 made for TV movie. Surly man finds out he is dying. Wants to reunite with his estranged family. He receives help from his wife whom he is separated from. He does not want sympathy so the adult children are not told of his imminent death. A tear jerker but heart warming in the end. Ed Asner is the father backed by Maureen Stapleton. Together they raise this above you standard TV movie.
"The Christmas Card" - Hallmark movie. Contrived but enjoyable. Army vet goes to see the family that sent Christmas cards to soldiers stationed overseas. Ed Asner is the patriarch and puts in a fine performance. The Army vet falls for Ed's daughter but she is romantically involved with another man.
"November Christmas" - Hallmark movie. Family of little girl with cancer "push up" the holidays in case she doesn't make it to Christmas. Quite good. Another tear jerker. Sam Elliot and Karen Allen are neighbors whom lend a hand. John Corbett is the little girls father.
"A Dog Named Christmas" - family with special needs young adult child foster a dog over Chritmas to give the animal shelter workers a rest. This too is a Hallmark movie. We like it a lot.
"The Muppet Christmas Carol" - surprisingly it follows the Dickens novel story line quite closely. It is a musical which deviates from the original
Michael Caine puts on a great performance. As good as Alastair Sim from the 1951 movie. That version was my father's favorite Christmas movie until "A Christmas Story" supplanted it."White Christmas" - a contrived movie to capitalize on Bing Crosby's hit song of the same name. Still great fun to watch. Bing Crosby, Rosemary Clooney and Danny Kaye head the cast. Ex Army men form a travelling song and dance show that is a big hit. Visit a Vermont inn owned by their ex commanding officer. They plot to help make the place a success. A musical.
"Miracle on 34th Street" the 1947 original starring Maureen O'Hara, Natalie Wood and Edmund Gwenn as Santa. This is my idea of a classic movie.
"12 Dates Of Christmas" - a made for TV movie about a young lady who repeats Christmas eve. This only affects her - the other characters do not know this is happening to her. She alters her behaviors and influences others as she comes to understand what is happening. The song "12 Days of Christmas" is used through out. Each successive day has the songs verse represented visually. It happens quick and you have to look for them. For example a pre-school class walks by and all 6 kids have hats that look like a goose. The overall story is one just plain fun and feel good.
That's my list. We have already seen each one at least once this year.
How about you? any favorite Christmas movies?
