I saw The Hogfather for the first time last year, and I am going to watch it again this year. I find it to be an entertaining fantasy/Christmas film. Can you say anthropomorphic personification?
As far as older films go, one of my favourites has always been the Rankin/Bass version of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer with Yukon Cornelius, the Bumble and the Isle of Misfit Toys.
I have always enjoyed the Doctor Who Christmas specials, and although I will not have time to catch it when it is aired on Christmas Day, I hope to watch the Doctor Who Christmas Carol special before the end of the year.
So what are some of your favourites?
Of all the versions of A Christmas Carol, I love the version with Alastair Sim in the role of Scrooge. It was the first version that I remember seeing, and it is the one that I love best. I will confess a love, though, for the Mr. Magoo version.
I also enjoyed the Powerpuff Girls special, The Fight Before Christmas. So sue me.
It's a Wonderful Life, with Jimmy Stewart. Deal with it.
The Chronicles of Narnia movies. Again, deal with it.
The Doctor Who Christmas specials are also worth watching. It's great to have a DVR
Of all the versions of A Christmas Carol, I love the version with Alastair Sim in the role of Scrooge. It was the first version that I remember seeing, and it is the one that I love best.
Classic. I also like the 1970 version with Albert Finney and Alec Guiness. I think it is the first that I remember.
Boris Karloff narrating the Grinch is without saying.
It's a Wonderful Life is definitely one of the most iconic Christmas movies, and I think I can safely throw in Miracle on 34th Street.
White Christmas. This is the only Christmas movie I watch on purpose these days. It's one of my favorite movies, I own a copy and I force my fiancee and her son to watch it with me annually (good thing they like it, too) - with all the lights except the tree and other Christmas decorations off. I don't really care about much concerning Christmas except for this tradition and one other - spending late Christmas Eve with my friends at a friend's place drinking, talking and eating cookies. That friend also love the film and I bought him a copy of his own a few years back. We both randomly saw it while bored one day when we were kids. We both really liked it but didn't tell anyone cuz it was so old and, likely, lame to everyone else. Somehow we talked about it and discovered the coincidence. Anyhoo, that's my story. Good flick.
A Christmas Story. This was one of my favorites for a long time but it's been shown so often lately that I just can't bare to see it any more. If you haven't, though, I do sincerely suggest you check it out as it's really pretty good.
I like the Rudolph one mentioned in the OP, too. Just don't watch it anymore for whatever reason. I may if I catch it this year. It's been a while.
Other then that christmas movies aren't really my thing
After that, both versions of The Grinch (the original is a childhood treasure and a masterpiece, and I love what the Jim Carrey version did with the basic ideas), A Christmas Story, Miracle on 34th Street, and then one or two others.
I like Bad Santa myself, never been much interested in holidays-themed movies but that one was out of the ordinary.
Damn! How could I forget this'n! It's really good. Nice call.
"Only one thing in the world could draw me away from the warm, soft glow of electric sex....Little Orphan Annie!"
It always makes me well up at the end, not cos Ralphie finally get's Ol' Blue (the much sought Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle with a compass in the stock and this thing that tells time), it's that the Old Man, the one person he didn't ask for it, is the one who came through for him. It's such a poignant little moment about the whole complex relationship between fathers and sons that it really gets to me.
White Christmas. This is the only Christmas movie I watch on purpose these days.
I like White Christmas as well. It is a great fifties musical with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney (I think she is related to George Clooney?)
*Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
*Frosty the Snowman (not the newer ones)
*The Grinch Who Stole Christmas (original is always best)
*Home Alone 1 and 2
And whatever Christmas specials happen to be on.
I watched "It's a Wonderful Life" (perhaps the most classic of christmas movies) about six years ago just to say I'd actually watched it at least once. It's been lampooned and parodied so many times in so many ways that by the time you actually see it, its almost predictable from beginning to end, with a few differences in detail here and there, and of course with a heavy emphasis on catholicism, but its archetypal in its execution. Guy lives life. Guy finds himself married with kids at a subpar job with a subpar house, and wishes he either wasn't born or that life had been drastically different. Psychopomp (in this case, an angel) takes guy to see what life would be like had things been different, and sees that everyone he used to know is either dead or suffering. Guy learns lesson, begs to have his old life back. Guy comes to and realizes things are back to normal with newfound appreciation for life, and everyone learns a warm, heartfelt lesson. Everyone lives happilly ever after. Some themes in the movie are a little overexpressed (for just one example, how the main character is a dick to his wife the whole movie), but it wasn't good, wasn't bad. Didn't love it, probably won't watch it again, but I didn't hate it. "Lukewarm" comes to mind.
A Christmas Story. This was one of my favorites for a long time but it's been shown so often lately that I just can't bare to see it any more. If you haven't, though, I do sincerely suggest you check it out as it's really pretty good.
You can't begin to comprehend just how much of an autobiography of my life that film is...
I'm not about to post pictures (shuddup, goldo), but the resemblance between pictures of me at that age and the actor who played Ralphie is just ridiculous. A huge number of the elements in that film are almost directly ripped from my early years.
I like White Christmas as well. It is a great fifties musical with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney (I think she is related to George Clooney?)
Yup. He's her nephew. I've seen it on some channel or another looped a few times. I have thus far resisted watching it so I can see it in uncut goodness when I am ready. Heh. That reminds me, I need to pick a day to watch it and soon, too.
Why should I "shuddup"?
The whole "pics or it's a lie" thing methinks.
I like White Christmas as well. It is a great fifties musical with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye and Rosemary Clooney (I think she is related to George Clooney?)
Yup. He's her nephew. I've seen it on some channel or another looped a few times. I have thus far resisted watching it so I can see it in uncut goodness when I am ready. Heh. That reminds me, I need to pick a day to watch it and soon, too.
They must be showing it a lot. I have watched a few scenes from it here and there while channel surfing over the last week or two. I think it was on AMC.
I did like the Hogfather, although I didn't watch it for its christmas-y flavor, but because I love Discworld (and I watched it in June I think)
Other then that christmas movies aren't really my thing
Did you like The Colour of Magic?
On a side note, I am pretty sure I read that there is at least one other Discworld movie in the works.
I did like the Hogfather, although I didn't watch it for its christmas-y flavor, but because I love Discworld (and I watched it in June I think)
Other then that christmas movies aren't really my thing
Did you like The Colour of Magic?
On a side note, I am pretty sure I read that there is at least one other Discworld movie in the works.
Going Postal?
I haven't seen any of the previous ones, but Going Postal looks promising.
I did like the Hogfather, although I didn't watch it for its christmas-y flavor, but because I love Discworld (and I watched it in June I think)
Other then that christmas movies aren't really my thing
Did you like The Colour of Magic?
On a side note, I am pretty sure I read that there is at least one other Discworld movie in the works.
Going Postal?
I haven't seen any of the previous ones, but Going Postal looks promising.
You are right, it was Going Postal. I guess it aired on SKY last summer. It looks like it has only had a region 2 dvd release thus far.
They must be showing it a lot. I have watched a few scenes from it here and there while channel surfing over the last week or two. I think it was on AMC.
Yeah, seems they have been. I keep seeing it and movin' on. The day is Wednesday this week.
I love Christmas Story, I watch it about 10 times every Christmas day. My family basically leaves the channel on and we just leave it on.
I also enjoy the first Santa Claus. The others are a bit corny, but the first one is the best.
Out of TV shows I watch, I think the best is the Supernatural Christmas Special. It is halarious!
Hogfather is a great movie. I watch it around Christmas too.
I love Christmas Story, I watch it about 10 times every Christmas day. My family basically leaves the channel on and we just leave it on.
We do the same thing, as well as watching the DVD several times both at Xmas and throughout the year.
Hogfather is a great movie. I watch it around Christmas too.
On the Discworld Hogswatch is like Xmas and New Years combined, so the wife and I have designated New Years Eve as Hogswatch Night and have a big celebration. We have a big Hogswatch pork supper, a load of drink, and watch Hogfather. Great way to wring in the new year.
I'm kind of partial to Silent Night, Deadly Night and Santa Claus VS The Martians....
"What's green and soft and tastes great toasted over an open fire? A Martian-mallow!"
OMG!
"What's green and soft and tastes great toasted over an open fire? A Martian-mallow!"
Altenatively: A goblin.
OMG!
"What's green and soft and tastes great toasted over an open fire? A Martian-mallow!"
Altenatively: A goblin.
LOL, that was a quote from Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.
Given your response, I'd say you were an ogre or an ettin. They tend to like goblin-flesh. Heck, they'll eat anything, just watch any of the Shrek movies.
I was able to catch parts of A Christmas Story and Bad Santa over the last few days. Good stuff.
What's green and soft and tastes great toasted over an open fire?
*Glares*
As for other great Christmas classics, don't forget Gremlins!
Going to watch it tonight.
Yes it's a christmas movie. **** YOU IT'S DIEHARD.
Die Hard.
Another call for Santa Claus Conquers the Martians! There's both a Mystery Science Theatre 3000 version, as well as a Cinematic Titanic (from half the folks at mst3k) version.
S-A-N-T-A!
C-L-A-U-S!
Hoo-ray for Santy Claus!
What's green and soft and tastes great toasted over an open fire?
*Glares*
Whoa, chill bro... err, no offence.
Turned out that this year it was Back to the Future trilogy... yeah, I don't dig "Christmas movies" and I've never actually seen all BttF movies from start to finish before.