A Very Special Christmas Movie and Television Special List, Part One
In keeping with the festive theme of this time of year, I have created mini-reviews of my favorite and least-favorite Christmas movies, along with where they fit on my personal naughty-or-nice list. This is part one of my list. Part two will be available just before Christmas Eve, just in time for snuggling by the fire.
Well let’s get to it, shall we?
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946, Christmas Film)
 
Synopsis: George Bailey, a financially destitute big-dreamer who consistently puts his most cherished goals on hold for the betterment of his family and community, encounters an epic financial setback that makes his personal sacrifices feel futile. With nowhere else to turn, he seeks to end his life by leaping from a bridge into frigid waters on Christmas Eve, but is “saved” by his guardian angel, who shows him that despite everything, he really does have a wonderful life after all.
Pros: This has become one of my all-time favorite Christmas movies. The payoff at the end always puts a lump in my throat. This is also one of the first films I can recall that cleverly uses the “butterfly effect”, as the guardian angel allows George to experience a moment of existence as if George were never born. Many of the townspeople’s lives were drastically bleaker and their personalities were much darker without George’s influence.
Cons: This film is a slow-burn with absolutely no special effects or whiz-bang eye-candy. This is a film from the old school, and I’m not just referring to the drab black-n-white filming. The hook is within the story itself. The actual running-time is 130 minutes, but it feels like a three-hour epic like The Ten Commandments.
The viewer must be in the proper mindset in order to glean entertainment from it. For some, that means striking the proper ambient scenery, like a lit Christmas tree, a roaring fire, and cuddling under the afghan that the wife only unpacks for the holidays. For others, it may mean hot cocoa warmed with Bailey’s and Kahlúa, or eggnog spiked with rum. Just know that if the viewer simply pops the DVD in without the proper setup, they might end up picking the lint from their toes or drooling on themselves before Angel Second-Class Clarence even makes his big splash.
Oddity: I loved the realistic scene where George loses it on Uncle Billy for absent-mindedly misplacing $8,000 (which essentially put George in his no-way-out scenario). If I remember correctly, George ruffed-up Uncle Billy a bit in understandable frustration, and called him a stupid old man. That scene came across as eerily authentic, but it also raised another question; why would anyone trust a major sum of money to such a doddering old fool? Granted, he was a genial, likable old coot, but come-on now; Uncle Billy spent much of his screen time talking to animals while he was absolutely pickled. Call me crazy, but I wouldn’t have much faith in any financial institution with Drunken Beastmaster as the bank-runner.
Verdict: Nice
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966, Animated TV Special)
Synopsis: A mean-spirited Grinch descends upon Whoville to burglarize their homes and rip off all their Christmas stuff on Christmas Eve as they slept because he was tired of their Christmas crap, peace, and general joy. He reasoned that when parted from their material trappings, the Whos would sob, but when they responded with the same level of joy, the Grinch decided to give them their stuff back. What a great guy. If I had a sister, I’d ask him to date her. Ugh.
Pros: This is easily my favorite cartoon short from when I was a child, and it has aged well with time. It remained true to Dr. Seuss’ rhyming children’s book of the same title, with the addition of one of the greatest Christmas songs I’ve ever heard (You’re a Mean One, Mr. Grinch)
Con: I don’t really have a con other than I wish it were a longer story. Well, that and the reformed burglar thing wouldn’t fly on my block.
Oddity: As a child, I often wondered why the Grinch wasn’t immediately arrested upon returning to the scene of his crime to return his stolen loot. I mean, dude didn’t even apologize, and he was “playing ‘who who’ on a who-trumpet”. That gift wasn’t even his, and he put his nasty-ass mouth all over it before the owner even touched it! Where I come from, we call that a “bitch move”. They didn’t even force him to eat soap or drink motor oil for lying to Cindy-Lu Who, who was no more than two. At the very least, Tommy Vincent Sinclair-Who of the Who Syndicate should have had some of his wiseguys rough Grinch up a bit or break his hands. I thought children’s stories were supposed to end with a strong sense of morality. Joke’s on me, I guess.
Verdict: Nice (For entertainment purposes only. The jury’s still out on the moral judgment. Stealing is still a crime.)
How the Grinch stole Christmas (2000, Christmas Film)
Synopsis: This is the same story and theme as the original children’s story and animated TV special, except this one goes the additional step of spitting in the face of Dr. Seuss and shattering my lowest expectations.
Pros: Still thinking of one…
Cons: I have a love/hate relationship with Jim Carey. I think he’s a funny guy in his own right, except for (1) the atrocious Pet Detective films, (2) that Cable Guy film that forced me into the unwinnable decision of actually having sexual relations with my ex-wife in lieu of finishing his movie, (3) that time he played The Riddler in a Batman movie which made me hate Batman for at least three years, and (4) his role as the Grinch in this film that took a giant dump on my childhood memories. But hey, I loved him in Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind. So there’s that.
Oddity: Within my own article, I just answered my own question as to why my favorite children’s books shouldn’t be stretched beyond a 22-minute animated short. I love irony.
Verdict: Naughty
Click arrow to continue Christmas Movie and TV list
New Sports Blog! Check out The Wishbone C. wishbonec.wordpress.com/
Blind Eye Turning: Poems, Prose, and other Scribbles, by Barry Dawson
Buy it at www.lulu.com/content/187759
www.farrunningfatman.com/
|
