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2014 Christmas Movie Marathon
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214
5.2
5.6
Ernest Saves Christmas (1988)
Watched December 1st
I'm housesitting for my cousin on the north side of Sydney for most of this December, but I was able to go to my parents' house on the south side this afternoon and watch this movie with my sister to open the marathon, and the Christmas season in general. I had a few things I needed to do at my parents' house so we watched this first to get it out of the way. The reason we chose this film is because it's not one we've watched in recent marathons. I don't remember the last time I watched an Ernest movie, but it must have been when I was a kid. My sister had never seen an Ernest movie, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to show her. It's fun, silly, and has heart, so it's a nice way to open the season. Douglas Seale does an excellent job playing Santa Claus, and the rest of the cast are fine as well (Noelle Parker has got to be Phoebe Cates's long lost twin. Not only is she her doppleganger, but they both star in Christmas movies.). It's short on plot, but big on heart. It's also nice to see Jim Varney again, may he rest in peace.
I'm housesitting for my cousin on the north side of Sydney for most of this December, but I was able to go to my parents' house on the south side this afternoon and watch this movie with my sister to open the marathon, and the Christmas season in general. I had a few things I needed to do at my parents' house so we watched this first to get it out of the way. The reason we chose this film is because it's not one we've watched in recent marathons. I don't remember the last time I watched an Ernest movie, but it must have been when I was a kid. My sister had never seen an Ernest movie, so I thought this would be a good opportunity to show her. It's fun, silly, and has heart, so it's a nice way to open the season. Douglas Seale does an excellent job playing Santa Claus, and the rest of the cast are fine as well (Noelle Parker has got to be Phoebe Cates's long lost twin. Not only is she her doppleganger, but they both star in Christmas movies.). It's short on plot, but big on heart. It's also nice to see Jim Varney again, may he rest in peace.
rewster's rating:
170
5.2
5.4
Watched December 2nd
I was busy for most of the morning but I got back to my cousin's house in the afternoon. I was tired and decided to relax with a Christmas movie. I hadn't seen Mixed Nuts before, but I saw the names in the cast and thought it sounded like it'd be a good watch, and it was. The ensemble cast is what really holds the film together. Steve Martin is a great lead most of the time, and he's reliable here, albiet without his trademark white or grey hair. Rita Wilson is cute, Juliette Lewis and Anthony LaPaglia are funny, and Liev Schreiber, well, he plays an against-type. I certainly don't remember seeing him in another role like this before. One character I felt was a little out of place was Louie, played by Adam Sandler. It's like he walked off the set of Saturday Night Live and wandered into this movie. Madeline Khan is always great, she's certainly one of the funniest actresses I've ever seen, and even though this isn't one of her better roles, she does so much with so little. Every time I hear her sing she cracks me up. The movie is directed by Nora Ephron. Her previous movies include Sleepless in Seattle (which she wrote and directed) and When Harry Met Sally (which she wrote but was directed by Rob Reiner). Like those movies, the film does sometimes wander into a more saccharine, melodramatic, emotional territory, but then at other times it goes complete dark-comedy and resembles something like a Coen Brothers movie. It was really bizarre. The ending was nonsensical and a bit contrived, but it was funny and that's what you want in a comedy. Not a great comedy, but I'm glad I watched it.
I was busy for most of the morning but I got back to my cousin's house in the afternoon. I was tired and decided to relax with a Christmas movie. I hadn't seen Mixed Nuts before, but I saw the names in the cast and thought it sounded like it'd be a good watch, and it was. The ensemble cast is what really holds the film together. Steve Martin is a great lead most of the time, and he's reliable here, albiet without his trademark white or grey hair. Rita Wilson is cute, Juliette Lewis and Anthony LaPaglia are funny, and Liev Schreiber, well, he plays an against-type. I certainly don't remember seeing him in another role like this before. One character I felt was a little out of place was Louie, played by Adam Sandler. It's like he walked off the set of Saturday Night Live and wandered into this movie. Madeline Khan is always great, she's certainly one of the funniest actresses I've ever seen, and even though this isn't one of her better roles, she does so much with so little. Every time I hear her sing she cracks me up. The movie is directed by Nora Ephron. Her previous movies include Sleepless in Seattle (which she wrote and directed) and When Harry Met Sally (which she wrote but was directed by Rob Reiner). Like those movies, the film does sometimes wander into a more saccharine, melodramatic, emotional territory, but then at other times it goes complete dark-comedy and resembles something like a Coen Brothers movie. It was really bizarre. The ending was nonsensical and a bit contrived, but it was funny and that's what you want in a comedy. Not a great comedy, but I'm glad I watched it.
rewster's rating:
120
5.4
5.3
Watched December 2nd
In Ernest Saves Christmas, Joe is working on a film called "Christmas Slay". Slay. As in S L A Y. Slay instead of sleigh, get it? Yes, we all had a good laugh at the ridiculous pun. Imagine if such a Christmas/horror movie were to actually exist... Well, it does. Yes, in 2005 director David Steiman used the same pun that we saw in Ernest Saves Christmas and created this crappy, but entertaining, B-grade Christmas/horror/comedy. I remember considering watching this for my Halloween Horror Movie Marathon, but decided I'd save it for Christmas. This is my first viewing of it, and I have to say I did like it, but it's really, really stupid. But, then again, it's supposed to be. The opening scene alone is worth the watch. There are cameos, gruesome death scenes (but not too gruesome) gratuitous nudity (but not too naked) and a bit of humour. To sum up the plot, it's the same basic concept as the evil Santa in Futurama. He's an unstoppable killing machine, an evil force that just goes around killing people, naughty and nice.
In Ernest Saves Christmas, Joe is working on a film called "Christmas Slay". Slay. As in S L A Y. Slay instead of sleigh, get it? Yes, we all had a good laugh at the ridiculous pun. Imagine if such a Christmas/horror movie were to actually exist... Well, it does. Yes, in 2005 director David Steiman used the same pun that we saw in Ernest Saves Christmas and created this crappy, but entertaining, B-grade Christmas/horror/comedy. I remember considering watching this for my Halloween Horror Movie Marathon, but decided I'd save it for Christmas. This is my first viewing of it, and I have to say I did like it, but it's really, really stupid. But, then again, it's supposed to be. The opening scene alone is worth the watch. There are cameos, gruesome death scenes (but not too gruesome) gratuitous nudity (but not too naked) and a bit of humour. To sum up the plot, it's the same basic concept as the evil Santa in Futurama. He's an unstoppable killing machine, an evil force that just goes around killing people, naughty and nice.
rewster's rating:
12
4.8
6.2
Bush Christmas (1947)
Watched December 3rd
Snow, bobsleds and eggnog are great but I wanted to change things a bit and watch a Christmas film which I can relate to. After doing a bit of research I found this old Australian film from the 1940s. I was really excited to see a Christmas movie set in my home nation, which of course would include a much warmer climate than what you see in the Christmas films from the Northern Hemisphere. I found it on Youtube and watched it with a nice cold beer. Man oh man, was I bored out of my skull. This movie was just really boring. I was so disappointed. The story is simple enough, some bandits steal horses from a family in the bush, the kids in the family go after them. Yeah, that's about it, and it goes for an hour and 17 minutes. Seeing as not much happens along the way you could have wrapped this up in 20 minutes. I was like "HURRY UP!!!!!!" Also, the movie is called Bush Christmas. If Christmas is in the title then you'd expect Christmas to be a central theme in the film. The movie takes place during Christmas time, but after the first few minutes there are no allusions towards Christmas whatsoever. It didn't really need to be set at Christmas time, it played no significance at all. You could have taken Christmas out of the title, taken out the Christmas tree you see at the start of the film, and there would be no change to the story. Just call it Bush. Also, there was a bit of racism towards Indigenous Australians, which isn't too surprising considering it was made in the 1940s, but it was still disconcerting.
Snow, bobsleds and eggnog are great but I wanted to change things a bit and watch a Christmas film which I can relate to. After doing a bit of research I found this old Australian film from the 1940s. I was really excited to see a Christmas movie set in my home nation, which of course would include a much warmer climate than what you see in the Christmas films from the Northern Hemisphere. I found it on Youtube and watched it with a nice cold beer. Man oh man, was I bored out of my skull. This movie was just really boring. I was so disappointed. The story is simple enough, some bandits steal horses from a family in the bush, the kids in the family go after them. Yeah, that's about it, and it goes for an hour and 17 minutes. Seeing as not much happens along the way you could have wrapped this up in 20 minutes. I was like "HURRY UP!!!!!!" Also, the movie is called Bush Christmas. If Christmas is in the title then you'd expect Christmas to be a central theme in the film. The movie takes place during Christmas time, but after the first few minutes there are no allusions towards Christmas whatsoever. It didn't really need to be set at Christmas time, it played no significance at all. You could have taken Christmas out of the title, taken out the Christmas tree you see at the start of the film, and there would be no change to the story. Just call it Bush. Also, there was a bit of racism towards Indigenous Australians, which isn't too surprising considering it was made in the 1940s, but it was still disconcerting.
rewster's rating:
23
4.3
5.2
Santa Who? (2000)
Watched December 3rd
There wasn't much happening tonight house sitting/catsitting on my own, so I was able to watch another Christmas movie before bed. I hadn't seen it in a while so I figured it was time for a re-watch, plus I found it on Youtube. Santa Who? No that's the title. No not Santa Claus, Santa Who? That's what it's called. Ok, bad jokes aside, Santa Who? is a Disney film from 2000 which I think was straight to video, which explains why the visual effects are so crappy and the cast aren't exactly well-known, other than Leslie Nielsen of course. Still, despite all its flaws and plot-holes, this is a sweet, charming Christmas movie with a positive message. I liked Steven Eckholdt's character, Peter, who hates Christmas and is a bit of a douche but yearns for a family to care for, and I also liked Robin Lively's character, Clair, Peter's girlfriend who is also a single mother. It's not a great movie, and it's not a great Christmas movie, but it does have the spirit so it fits in nicely with the marathon.
There wasn't much happening tonight house sitting/catsitting on my own, so I was able to watch another Christmas movie before bed. I hadn't seen it in a while so I figured it was time for a re-watch, plus I found it on Youtube. Santa Who? No that's the title. No not Santa Claus, Santa Who? That's what it's called. Ok, bad jokes aside, Santa Who? is a Disney film from 2000 which I think was straight to video, which explains why the visual effects are so crappy and the cast aren't exactly well-known, other than Leslie Nielsen of course. Still, despite all its flaws and plot-holes, this is a sweet, charming Christmas movie with a positive message. I liked Steven Eckholdt's character, Peter, who hates Christmas and is a bit of a douche but yearns for a family to care for, and I also liked Robin Lively's character, Clair, Peter's girlfriend who is also a single mother. It's not a great movie, and it's not a great Christmas movie, but it does have the spirit so it fits in nicely with the marathon.
rewster's rating:
822
7.1
7.8
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Watched December 4th
I headed over to my parents' house in the afternoon because my sisters and I agreed this would be the day we'd put up the Christmas tree and decorations together. Our tradition is to put it up on December 1st, but unfortunately we weren't able to do that this year because we weren't all available, so we rescheduled to today. Before we were to do any of this, though, I watched The Muppet Christmas Carol with one of my sisters while we waited for the others to arrive. We decided on this movie because it's not very long and I suppose we were just both in the mood for it. Short and sweet. It's probably one of my favourite adaptations of A Christmas Carol. Michael Caine is underrated as Scrooge, working well with his muppet cast members. This movie was part of my 2011 and 2012 marathons but somehow missed out last year. I was happy to include it this year.
I headed over to my parents' house in the afternoon because my sisters and I agreed this would be the day we'd put up the Christmas tree and decorations together. Our tradition is to put it up on December 1st, but unfortunately we weren't able to do that this year because we weren't all available, so we rescheduled to today. Before we were to do any of this, though, I watched The Muppet Christmas Carol with one of my sisters while we waited for the others to arrive. We decided on this movie because it's not very long and I suppose we were just both in the mood for it. Short and sweet. It's probably one of my favourite adaptations of A Christmas Carol. Michael Caine is underrated as Scrooge, working well with his muppet cast members. This movie was part of my 2011 and 2012 marathons but somehow missed out last year. I was happy to include it this year.
rewster's rating:
3147
6.8
7.3
Gremlins (1984)
Watched December 7th
My sisters requested that they watch this one with me some time during the marathon, so due to timing we watched it tonight because I was at my parents' house this evening. I have very fond memories of this movie. Its one of those films that I can watch every year and never get tired of it. It's always entertaining. Some people don't think of it as a Christmas movie, but it most definitely is. I personally think it's one of the great Christmas films. Obviously I associate it with Christmas because of its content, but I also have some special Christmas memories of it. When I was a kid my family would sometimes go on holiday to Queensland, which is where my Grandparents lived. I remember going to Warner Bros. Movie World and going on the Gremlins ride there. It was the coolest. Summer holidays at Movie World and going on the Gremlins ride, to me, is very Christmas. Unfortunately the ride has been replaced by the Scooby Doo roller coaster (which is also good), but the film will always bring back memories of the ride.
My sisters requested that they watch this one with me some time during the marathon, so due to timing we watched it tonight because I was at my parents' house this evening. I have very fond memories of this movie. Its one of those films that I can watch every year and never get tired of it. It's always entertaining. Some people don't think of it as a Christmas movie, but it most definitely is. I personally think it's one of the great Christmas films. Obviously I associate it with Christmas because of its content, but I also have some special Christmas memories of it. When I was a kid my family would sometimes go on holiday to Queensland, which is where my Grandparents lived. I remember going to Warner Bros. Movie World and going on the Gremlins ride there. It was the coolest. Summer holidays at Movie World and going on the Gremlins ride, to me, is very Christmas. Unfortunately the ride has been replaced by the Scooby Doo roller coaster (which is also good), but the film will always bring back memories of the ride.
rewster's rating:
6840
6.7
7.7
Home Alone (1990)
Watched December 8th
Here's another one my sisters requested to watch with me. I could have watched this one on my own at my cousin's house, but my sister also has it on DVD so we watched it at my parents' place together like we did with Gremlins. This is another excellent Christmas movie. Macaulay Culkin is brilliant in this and does an impressive job carrying the movie on his tiny shoulders. He was the go-to kid for child roles in the late '80s to mid '90s.
Here's another one my sisters requested to watch with me. I could have watched this one on my own at my cousin's house, but my sister also has it on DVD so we watched it at my parents' place together like we did with Gremlins. This is another excellent Christmas movie. Macaulay Culkin is brilliant in this and does an impressive job carrying the movie on his tiny shoulders. He was the go-to kid for child roles in the late '80s to mid '90s.
rewster's rating:
1393
6.3
7
Bad Santa (2003)
Watched December 10th
The last couple of days I was a bit busy/preoccupied to add to the marathon. I had a chance to watch something last night but I just wasn't in the mood to watch a Christmas movie and watched Superbad instead. I don't know, I just felt like watching it. Anyway, to make up for lost time I was able to watch something in the morning before I went out, and I noticed Bad Santa was part of my cousin's extensive movie collection. I was actually looking forward to this one because I hadn't seen it since the Christmas of 2011, which is a bit of a dry-spell seeing as I consider this to be a modern-day Christmas classic. Not having seen it in a while made it seem fresh and new again. Billy Bob Thornton is brilliant in this. It's a high point in his career for sure. I like his relationship with the kid he befriends which gradually changes his outlook on life. His monologue towards the end ("Do you really need all that shit?") I consider to be on par with some of the great Christmas movie moments/quotes. The movie is funny, tragic, miserable, uplifting, and poignant.
The last couple of days I was a bit busy/preoccupied to add to the marathon. I had a chance to watch something last night but I just wasn't in the mood to watch a Christmas movie and watched Superbad instead. I don't know, I just felt like watching it. Anyway, to make up for lost time I was able to watch something in the morning before I went out, and I noticed Bad Santa was part of my cousin's extensive movie collection. I was actually looking forward to this one because I hadn't seen it since the Christmas of 2011, which is a bit of a dry-spell seeing as I consider this to be a modern-day Christmas classic. Not having seen it in a while made it seem fresh and new again. Billy Bob Thornton is brilliant in this. It's a high point in his career for sure. I like his relationship with the kid he befriends which gradually changes his outlook on life. His monologue towards the end ("Do you really need all that shit?") I consider to be on par with some of the great Christmas movie moments/quotes. The movie is funny, tragic, miserable, uplifting, and poignant.
rewster's rating:
264
4.5
5.5
Surviving Christmas (2004)
Watched December 11th
I feel as though I find myself defending this movie every year. It's universally panned and I think it gets a bum rap. Ok, it's not a great movie, but I do think it's pretty funny. Just a silly little movie and I can't help but laugh at how ridiculous Ben Affleck is in this movie. He just keeps throwing money at these people just so he can create this fantasy where he has a perfect family Christmas. He's so caught up in this fantasy that he doesn't really pay much attention to the fact that these people find him really awkward. Well, I liked it. I guess I'll have to make a list of movies I like that most people don't and add this one to it.
I feel as though I find myself defending this movie every year. It's universally panned and I think it gets a bum rap. Ok, it's not a great movie, but I do think it's pretty funny. Just a silly little movie and I can't help but laugh at how ridiculous Ben Affleck is in this movie. He just keeps throwing money at these people just so he can create this fantasy where he has a perfect family Christmas. He's so caught up in this fantasy that he doesn't really pay much attention to the fact that these people find him really awkward. Well, I liked it. I guess I'll have to make a list of movies I like that most people don't and add this one to it.
rewster's rating:
4430
6.8
7.1
Watched December 12th
On my own on a Friday night with my cousin's cat and I really just wanted to watch some Christmas movies. The situation called for a Tim Burton double-shot. Two unconventional Christmas movies with quirky humour and dark motifs. The first was Batman Returns, a movie which of course features cats pretty heavily, so my cousin's cat was pleased with this choice. Catwoman just steals the show in this one, well she does for me. This is the performance which made me love Michelle Pfeiffer. The Penguin and Max Schreck are also great, but once Selina Kyle transforms into a demented psychopathic, feline-like, maniac, she takes the movie and makes it her own. The Joker stole the movie right from under Batman's nose in the 1989 Batman, and this time The Penguin and Catwoman do the same. Poor bats wouldn't get to be the real focus of a movie until Nolan's Batman Begins.
On my own on a Friday night with my cousin's cat and I really just wanted to watch some Christmas movies. The situation called for a Tim Burton double-shot. Two unconventional Christmas movies with quirky humour and dark motifs. The first was Batman Returns, a movie which of course features cats pretty heavily, so my cousin's cat was pleased with this choice. Catwoman just steals the show in this one, well she does for me. This is the performance which made me love Michelle Pfeiffer. The Penguin and Max Schreck are also great, but once Selina Kyle transforms into a demented psychopathic, feline-like, maniac, she takes the movie and makes it her own. The Joker stole the movie right from under Batman's nose in the 1989 Batman, and this time The Penguin and Catwoman do the same. Poor bats wouldn't get to be the real focus of a movie until Nolan's Batman Begins.
rewster's rating:
5207
7.8
7.9
Watched December 12th
After watching the Tim Burton-directed Batman Returns, I put on the Tim Burton-written/produced, Henry Selick-directed, The Nightmare Before Christmas. This, of course, is a great Halloween movie and a great Christmas movie. I love the concept of these different worlds for different holidays existing in the woods. Both Halloween Town and Christmas Town are stark contrasts and bringing the two together make for an exciting experience. Santa Clause held hostage to the Boogeyman, what a great idea!
After watching the Tim Burton-directed Batman Returns, I put on the Tim Burton-written/produced, Henry Selick-directed, The Nightmare Before Christmas. This, of course, is a great Halloween movie and a great Christmas movie. I love the concept of these different worlds for different holidays existing in the woods. Both Halloween Town and Christmas Town are stark contrasts and bringing the two together make for an exciting experience. Santa Clause held hostage to the Boogeyman, what a great idea!
rewster's rating:
4707
6
6.8
Watched December 13th
As I did with Home Alone 1, I watched the sequel with my sisters. The first is a classic and I like how it takes place in the McCallister household, but I do enjoy the sequel for being set in New York City. It has a wonderful Christmas feeling about it. Also, as a kid, the idea of going on a holiday by yourself with your father's credit card and using it to gain access to an expensive hotel is a fantasy I thought was really awesome. Most of the plot resembles the original movie's and it also recycles some of the same jokes, but it does have some new stuff and really does feel really Christmassy.
As I did with Home Alone 1, I watched the sequel with my sisters. The first is a classic and I like how it takes place in the McCallister household, but I do enjoy the sequel for being set in New York City. It has a wonderful Christmas feeling about it. Also, as a kid, the idea of going on a holiday by yourself with your father's credit card and using it to gain access to an expensive hotel is a fantasy I thought was really awesome. Most of the plot resembles the original movie's and it also recycles some of the same jokes, but it does have some new stuff and really does feel really Christmassy.
rewster's rating:
2028
6
7
Elf (2003)
Watched December 14th
There's not too much I can say about Elf. I watch it every year because it's such a great Christmas movie. It's entertaining, heartwarming, funny and sweet, and has Zooey Deschanel looking rather Yes.
There's not too much I can say about Elf. I watch it every year because it's such a great Christmas movie. It's entertaining, heartwarming, funny and sweet, and has Zooey Deschanel looking rather Yes.
rewster's rating:
2200
6.1
6.6
The Polar Express (2004)
Watched December 18th
Well, it has been a rather horrid week in my city, Sydney, so I haven't been in the mood to watch Christmas movies these past few days, but I finally got back to it this afternoon with my youngest sister as we wrapped our father's gift. This movie really takes you back to what it feels like being a kid around Christmas time, and after the harsh cruel acts that took place in Sydney this week, a movie like this helped bring back the Christmas spirit. I had finished housesitting/catsitting for my cousin so it seems like the rest of this marathon will be watched with family.
Well, it has been a rather horrid week in my city, Sydney, so I haven't been in the mood to watch Christmas movies these past few days, but I finally got back to it this afternoon with my youngest sister as we wrapped our father's gift. This movie really takes you back to what it feels like being a kid around Christmas time, and after the harsh cruel acts that took place in Sydney this week, a movie like this helped bring back the Christmas spirit. I had finished housesitting/catsitting for my cousin so it seems like the rest of this marathon will be watched with family.
rewster's rating:
434
7
7.1
Arthur Christmas (2011)
Watched December 20th
Last year was the first time I had seen this British movie and I loved it. I had to show my sisters it this year and I looked for it on DVD but had no luck finding it. I was able to find it online and watch it on my computer, but it's definitely a movie I would like to own on DVD. I showed it to one of my sisters and she really liked it too. One thing I appreciated is that we see the characters travel to different countries in this movie. We don't see a lot of that in American Christmas movies, so I thought it was pretty cool.
Last year was the first time I had seen this British movie and I loved it. I had to show my sisters it this year and I looked for it on DVD but had no luck finding it. I was able to find it online and watch it on my computer, but it's definitely a movie I would like to own on DVD. I showed it to one of my sisters and she really liked it too. One thing I appreciated is that we see the characters travel to different countries in this movie. We don't see a lot of that in American Christmas movies, so I thought it was pretty cool.
rewster's rating:
1395
5.8
6.5
The Santa Clause (1994)
Watched Christmas Eve
The tradition continues. This is my family's favourite Christmas movie and we try to watch it on Christmas Eve every year. This year we had dinner with family friends at a restaurant in the Eastern Suburbs, and one topic we discussed with them was what our favourite Christmas movies are. We all agreed on The Santa Clause. All of us. This isn't really surprising though, because we grew up together with this film (and with Home Improvement). After dinner, my sisters and I watched it on our old VHS tape (just like when we were kids). I messaged my friend and told him we were watching it, he replied by saying that is exactly what he and his girlfriend were doing at their place.
The tradition continues. This is my family's favourite Christmas movie and we try to watch it on Christmas Eve every year. This year we had dinner with family friends at a restaurant in the Eastern Suburbs, and one topic we discussed with them was what our favourite Christmas movies are. We all agreed on The Santa Clause. All of us. This isn't really surprising though, because we grew up together with this film (and with Home Improvement). After dinner, my sisters and I watched it on our old VHS tape (just like when we were kids). I messaged my friend and told him we were watching it, he replied by saying that is exactly what he and his girlfriend were doing at their place.
rewster's rating:
2286
8.2
8.6
It's a Wonderful Life (1947) (1946)
Watched Christmas Day
After a busy, big day at my uncle's house, celebrating the holiday, the final thing to do was to watch this classic once we returned home. Just like how we try to watch The Santa Clause every Christmas Eve, we do the same with It's A Wonderful Life on Christmas Day. Just like every year, we got quite emotional at the end. What better way to end the marathon than with George Bailey rejoicing with his family and thanking a dear friend of his?
After a busy, big day at my uncle's house, celebrating the holiday, the final thing to do was to watch this classic once we returned home. Just like how we try to watch The Santa Clause every Christmas Eve, we do the same with It's A Wonderful Life on Christmas Day. Just like every year, we got quite emotional at the end. What better way to end the marathon than with George Bailey rejoicing with his family and thanking a dear friend of his?
rewster's rating:
Add items to section
TV Specials
714
7.4
8.8
Mary, Joseph and Larry-
Watched December 2nd
I think this is the first time I've included Curb in one of my Christmas Movie Marathons, which is weird because it's one of my favourite shows. For some, Larry can get unbearable and can test people's tolerance, but I think he's great. In this episode, Cheryl's parents and sister are staying with them for Christmas and insist on getting a Christmas tree, much to the chagrin of Larry. David, as a cynical Jew during Christmas, is as hilarious as always, as he battles a pubic hair caught in his throat, over-tips his staff, and try help Jeff by providing an alibi for him to protect a secret from Suzie. The Larry David stare even makes an appearance no less than three times.
Watched December 2nd
I think this is the first time I've included Curb in one of my Christmas Movie Marathons, which is weird because it's one of my favourite shows. For some, Larry can get unbearable and can test people's tolerance, but I think he's great. In this episode, Cheryl's parents and sister are staying with them for Christmas and insist on getting a Christmas tree, much to the chagrin of Larry. David, as a cynical Jew during Christmas, is as hilarious as always, as he battles a pubic hair caught in his throat, over-tips his staff, and try help Jeff by providing an alibi for him to protect a secret from Suzie. The Larry David stare even makes an appearance no less than three times.
rewster's rating:
16
8.2
7.2
Watched December 3rd
When I was a kid my first obsession was with Bugs Bunny and the other Looney Tunes. My favourite toy was a Bugs Bunny doll, I had Bugs Bunny bedsheets, posters, the whole shebang, and one of my favourite Christmas specials was Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales, which my mother taped for me and my sisters on Beta. We would watch it every Christmas back then but it has been years, many years, since I had seen it. I almost completely forgot about it but it was always there lingering at the back of my mind. Certain parts would appear in my memory, like Speedy Gonzalez stirring a spoon in a coffee mug and saying "I'm a mouse, and I'm stirring", in response to Bugs reading "Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse". So, I seeked it out online this evening and all the precious nostalgic memories of Christmases from my childhood came flooding back. It includes three stories: A Christmas Carol, a Wile E. Coyote/Roadrunner cartoon, and The Night Before Christmas. The special was made in 1979, which wasn't the greatest time for the Looney Tunes. The animation wasn't that great and the comedy wasn't that sharp, but this special did have its moments and achieved reviving some precious childhood memories, which is what you want at Christmas time.
When I was a kid my first obsession was with Bugs Bunny and the other Looney Tunes. My favourite toy was a Bugs Bunny doll, I had Bugs Bunny bedsheets, posters, the whole shebang, and one of my favourite Christmas specials was Bugs Bunny's Looney Christmas Tales, which my mother taped for me and my sisters on Beta. We would watch it every Christmas back then but it has been years, many years, since I had seen it. I almost completely forgot about it but it was always there lingering at the back of my mind. Certain parts would appear in my memory, like Speedy Gonzalez stirring a spoon in a coffee mug and saying "I'm a mouse, and I'm stirring", in response to Bugs reading "Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse". So, I seeked it out online this evening and all the precious nostalgic memories of Christmases from my childhood came flooding back. It includes three stories: A Christmas Carol, a Wile E. Coyote/Roadrunner cartoon, and The Night Before Christmas. The special was made in 1979, which wasn't the greatest time for the Looney Tunes. The animation wasn't that great and the comedy wasn't that sharp, but this special did have its moments and achieved reviving some precious childhood memories, which is what you want at Christmas time.
rewster's rating:
1312
6.1
7.2
Home Improvement (1991)
Some Like it Hot Rod-
Watched December 11th
At my parents' again to watch some stuff with my sisters. I watched this with one of my sisters while the others were still finishing work. We felt a TV episode would be short enough to finish before the others arrive. We landed on Home Improvement because it's a show we both love and grew up with as kids. We also think Tim Allen goes well with Christmas (if you focus on just the first Santa Clause movie and ignore its sequels and Christmas With the Kranks) Well this episode is set during Christmas and includes Jill preparing a set for Mark's Christmas play. She accidentally leaves Tim's car outside during a blizzard and it gets covered in snow. This is interesting because it's not usual to see the wife make a mistake in an American sit-com. Jill and Tim's marriage is a realistic one. Tim gets agitated, and Jill initially refuses to accept blame for ruining Tim's car, but she later admits her folly and gets Tim out of a real jam. The episode may not seem heavy on Christmas and the plot may seem very simple, but the relationship between Tim and Jill does fit in with Christmas with the way Jill tries to make up for her blemish and help her husband. Family yo!
Watched December 11th
At my parents' again to watch some stuff with my sisters. I watched this with one of my sisters while the others were still finishing work. We felt a TV episode would be short enough to finish before the others arrive. We landed on Home Improvement because it's a show we both love and grew up with as kids. We also think Tim Allen goes well with Christmas (if you focus on just the first Santa Clause movie and ignore its sequels and Christmas With the Kranks) Well this episode is set during Christmas and includes Jill preparing a set for Mark's Christmas play. She accidentally leaves Tim's car outside during a blizzard and it gets covered in snow. This is interesting because it's not usual to see the wife make a mistake in an American sit-com. Jill and Tim's marriage is a realistic one. Tim gets agitated, and Jill initially refuses to accept blame for ruining Tim's car, but she later admits her folly and gets Tim out of a real jam. The episode may not seem heavy on Christmas and the plot may seem very simple, but the relationship between Tim and Jill does fit in with Christmas with the way Jill tries to make up for her blemish and help her husband. Family yo!
rewster's rating:
46
6.3
8.1
Round the Twist (1989)
Santa Claws-
Watched December 16th
It has been a terrible couple of days here in Sydney so I haven't really been in the mood to watch a Christmas movie, but I did watch this episode of Round the Twist, which is very short. I wanted to watch something which depicted an Australian Christmas and I remembered watching this as a kid but I haven't seen it in ages so I sought it out online and I watched it with my sister. It's not as good as I remember. The plot is a real mess and the ending is rushed, but this is a classic Round the Twist episode and it does have some funny moments.
Watched December 16th
It has been a terrible couple of days here in Sydney so I haven't really been in the mood to watch a Christmas movie, but I did watch this episode of Round the Twist, which is very short. I wanted to watch something which depicted an Australian Christmas and I remembered watching this as a kid but I haven't seen it in ages so I sought it out online and I watched it with my sister. It's not as good as I remember. The plot is a real mess and the ending is rushed, but this is a classic Round the Twist episode and it does have some funny moments.
rewster's rating:
It's finally December, which means the Christmas season has officially begun for me, and, in turn, so has another Christmas Movie Marathon! This year I've even made a tribute video to Christmas movies, check it out:
*Christmas Movies Marathon Tribute
*Christmas Movies Marathon Tribute
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