Christmas Movies (non-Hallmark edition)

garyclark · Post by **garyclark** » Thu Dec 05, 2024 10:17 pm

I'm always in the market for new Christmas movies to add to our heavy rotation.

Miracle on 34th Street (original edition)
Christmas Vacation
Christmas Story
Home Alone
Die Hard
Charlie Brown
Elf
Love Actually
It's a Wonderful Life
Muppet Christmas Carol

What am I missing that you watch?

Post by **Shirley** » Thu Dec 05, 2024 11:31 pm

My wife loves Arthur Christmas, so now we watch that one every year. This is not an endorsement. (It's fine)

govmentchedda · Post by **govmentchedda** » Fri Dec 06, 2024 12:13 am

garyclark wrote: Thu Dec 05, 2024 10:17 pm I'm always in the market for new Christmas movies to add to our heavy rotation.

Miracle on 34th Street (original edition)
Christmas Vacation
Christmas Story
Home Alone
Die Hard
Charlie Brown
Elf
Love Actually
It's a Wonderful Life
Muppet Christmas Carol

What am I missing that you watch?

The Family Stone is a must watch here every year. Watched White Christmas last year for the first time and enjoyed it.

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Dec 06, 2024 8:02 am

If you're including Charlie Brown on there, then I would add Rudolph. Those two and the original Grinch are the "TV specials" we go out of our way to watch every year, with or (increasingly) without the kids.

I don't think there is anything else that we make a point to watch that isn't on your list.

There was a lot of talk last year (not here so much in here as {waves hands at twitter} out there) of making The Holdovers an annual thing. I wonder if that takes hold? I really liked it but not sure if we'll watch it again this year.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Dec 06, 2024 9:56 am

Elf is gonna get watched. Christmas Vacation, too.

When the kids were little, Rudolph, Frosty and Charlie Brown Christmas... The latter is on as background music quite a lot.

One that I would suggest that has become an instant classic in our house is Klaus on Netflix. A nice twist on the Santa origin story.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Dec 06, 2024 9:58 am

The Ringer folks like to hash out which movies are Christmas movies and which aren't.

Folks talk about Die Hard, but there's a decent debate to be had around Home Alone. Both are set during the Holidays, but are they really ABOUT Christmas? Not really. Or maybe? DEBATE!

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Fri Dec 06, 2024 10:48 am

garyclark wrote: Thu Dec 05, 2024 10:17 pm I'm always in the market for new Christmas movies to add to our heavy rotation.

Miracle on 34th Street (original edition)
Christmas Vacation
Christmas Story
Home Alone
Die Hard
Charlie Brown
Elf
Love Actually
It's a Wonderful Life
Muppet Christmas Carol

What am I missing that you watch?

Its a Wonderful Life is my favorite. The line "Hey, look, Mister, we serve hard drinks in here for men who want to get drunk fast." always kills me.

And I really enjoy "White Christmas". The story is so-so...and Bing Crosby romancing Rosemary Clooney (25 year age difference) is creepy, but the musical numbers are great.

Hate hate hate Love Actually.

Post by **Shirley** » Fri Dec 06, 2024 10:59 am

We usually rewatch most of the Rankin-Bass specials every year. My favorite is The Year Without a Santa Clause. You've got the Heat Miser, the Snow Miser, and of course the kid from Southtown USA with the heavy New Jersey accent. It's a classic.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Fri Dec 06, 2024 11:09 am

Shirley wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2024 10:59 am We usually rewatch most of the Rankin-Bass specials every year. My favorite is The Year Without a Santa Clause. You've got the Heat Miser, the Snow Miser, and of course the kid from Southtown USA with the heavy New Jersey accent. It's a classic.

That was definitely my favorite growing up. Those songs slap.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Fri Dec 06, 2024 12:38 pm

Really looking forward to Nosferatu after the meh-fest of Northman.

garyclark · Post by **garyclark** » Fri Dec 06, 2024 6:55 pm

It's a Wonderful Life is not only my favorite Christmas movie, it's in consideration for my favorite movie ever.

Love the Rankin-Bass numbers.

White Christmas has fallen off for me. I do love most of the musical numbers. But I always disliked the minstrel number from a musical perspective, and then a number of years ago, I realized what it was and disliked it for different reasons.

rass · Post by **rass** » Fri Dec 06, 2024 7:07 pm

Only watched White Christmas once and I don’t recall it being very Christmas-y. Like the comments above about Die Hard or Home Alone, it took place at Christmas but wasn’t about it?

Or maybe it just bored me.

garyclark · Post by **garyclark** » Fri Dec 06, 2024 8:32 pm

rass wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2024 7:07 pm Only watched White Christmas once and I don’t recall it being very Christmas-y. Like the comments above about Die Hard or Home Alone, it took place at Christmas but wasn’t about it?

Or maybe it just bored me.

I understand (but disagree) with folks who say Die Hard isn't a Christmas movie.

But who says Home Alone isn't a Christmas movie?

garyclark · Post by **garyclark** » Fri Dec 06, 2024 11:05 pm

Speaking of Rankin-Bass, watched Frosty tonight.

I have questions: What is Professor Hinkle a professor of? And why is a professor working as a magician? A self-described "evil magician" at that.

EnochRoot · Post by **EnochRoot** » Fri Dec 06, 2024 11:55 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: Fri Dec 06, 2024 9:58 am The Ringer folks like to hash out which movies are Christmas movies and which aren't.

Folks talk about Die Hard, but there's a decent debate to be had around Home Alone. Both are set during the Holidays, but are they really ABOUT Christmas? Not really. Or maybe? DEBATE!

Yeah, Diehard takes place during the holiday season. But no it's not a Christmas movie. It's a bro movie about blowing things up on the holiday season. Or was that the point of the argument? Then sure, whatever.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:25 am

Die Hard is neither a bro movie nor a Christmas movie. Talk amongst yourselves.

garyclark · Post by **garyclark** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:54 am

rass wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 9:25 am Die Hard is neither a bro movie nor a Christmas movie. Talk amongst yourselves.

In my house, it's a Christmas movie.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 10:21 am

I mean, Scent of a Woman includes the fact that it is happening during Thanksgiving. Does anyone think of it as a Thanksgiving movie?

Tom 1860 · Post by **Tom 1860** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 10:47 am

I think scent of a woman is a shite movie regardless of other factors.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 11:01 am

If Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie, neither is Home Alone.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 11:19 am

Giff wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 11:01 am If Die Hard isn’t a Christmas movie, neither is Home Alone.

It’s a Christmas movie but I don’t think it’s home alone pantheon level.

P.D.X. · Post by **P.D.X.** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 11:49 am

Die Hard could happen anytime of year. Home Alone would fall apart if you removed it from the season.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 12:03 pm

P.D.X. wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 11:49 am Die Hard could happen anytime of year. Home Alone would fall apart if you removed it from the season.

If it wasn’t the office Christmas party John McClane wouldn’t have been in the Nakatomi Plaza.

garyclark · Post by **garyclark** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 12:12 pm

Tom 1860 wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 10:47 am I think scent of a woman is a shite movie regardless of other factors.

100%. And it robbed Denzel of the Oscar he deserved.

DaveInSeattle · Post by **DaveInSeattle** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 12:44 pm

Tom 1860 wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 10:47 am I think scent of a woman is a shite movie regardless of other factors.

rass · Post by **rass** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 12:46 pm

The Sybian wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 12:03 pm
P.D.X. wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 11:49 am Die Hard could happen anytime of year. Home Alone would fall apart if you removed it from the season.
If it wasn’t the office Christmas party John McClane wouldn’t have been in the Nakatomi Plaza.

This post works better if you imagine Syb pushing back from the bar, standing up and yelling it angrily.

Maybe reworded a bit to question form so he can add a sarcastic “, Andy??” at the end.

Tom 1860 · Post by **Tom 1860** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 2:11 pm

garyclark wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 12:12 pm
Tom 1860 wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 10:47 am I think scent of a woman is a shite movie regardless of other factors.
100%. And it robbed Denzel of the Oscar he deserved.

Clearly you have not watchef 'The crying game'

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 2:26 pm

The Sybian wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 12:03 pm
P.D.X. wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 11:49 am Die Hard could happen anytime of year. Home Alone would fall apart if you removed it from the season.
If it wasn’t the office Christmas party John McClane wouldn’t have been in the Nakatomi Plaza.

There are a million ways to get him out on the West Coast. It's her birthday, for example. The office party could have been an annual board meeting.

Home Alone, a big part of the premise, beyond the harried parents during the Holiday season in the opening, is that the Bandits scout out blocks where they know most folks are likely to be away during the Holiday break.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 2:45 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 2:26 pm
The Sybian wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 12:03 pm
P.D.X. wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 11:49 am Die Hard could happen anytime of year. Home Alone would fall apart if you removed it from the season.
If it wasn’t the office Christmas party John McClane wouldn’t have been in the Nakatomi Plaza.
There are a million ways to get him out on the West Coast. It's her birthday, for example. The office party could have been an annual board meeting.

Home Alone, a big part of the premise, beyond the harried parents during the Holiday season in the opening, is that the Bandits scout out blocks where they know most folks are likely to be away during the Holiday break.

I was joking.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 4:01 pm

Your joke is one of the talking points trotted out by the Die Hard is a Christmas movie brigade.

The Sybian · Post by **The Sybian** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 4:35 pm

Nonlinear FC wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 4:01 pm Your joke is one of the talking points trotted out by the Die Hard is a Christmas movie brigade.

I know that’s it’s a cliched argument, but I’ve never actually heard anyone seriously debate the issue.

Nonlinear FC · Post by **Nonlinear FC** » Sat Dec 07, 2024 5:11 pm

The Sybian wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 4:35 pm
Nonlinear FC wrote: Sat Dec 07, 2024 4:01 pm Your joke is one of the talking points trotted out by the Die Hard is a Christmas movie brigade.
I know that’s it’s a cliched argument, but I’ve never actually heard anyone seriously debate the issue.

I listen to a lot of podcasts. The Ringer folks have gone multiple rounds on this. Specifically the, if Home Alone is a Christmas move, then so is Die Hard version.

Post by **Shirley** » Tue Dec 10, 2024 4:02 pm

The office Christmas party being on Christmas Eve is the dumbest part of that otherwise great movie.

Giff · Post by **Giff** » Tue Dec 10, 2024 4:17 pm

Shirley wrote: Tue Dec 10, 2024 4:02 pm The office Christmas party being on Christmas Eve is the dumbest part of that otherwise great movie.

This has always been a gripe of mine. It didn't make sense to me the first time I saw it as a pre-teen.

DSafetyGuy · Post by **DSafetyGuy** » Wed Dec 11, 2024 10:19 am

Giff wrote: Tue Dec 10, 2024 4:17 pm
Shirley wrote: Tue Dec 10, 2024 4:02 pmThe office Christmas party being on Christmas Eve is the dumbest part of that otherwise great movie.
This has always been a gripe of mine. It didn't make sense to me the first time I saw it as a pre-teen.

To give a brief case for the party on Christmas Eve...

As an international company, their business schedule could have dictated working long hours in the run-up to the holidays.

Sunset this year in Century City is 4:50pm and the sun is going down when John McClane is getting dropped off. Pitch dark outside by 5:30pm.

It's a business on the West Coast, so they are literally last in the world based on time zones and the international date line. As a result, their party probably started at 2 or 3pm because there is no one else out there to do business with.

Party could have been scheduled to end at 6:30pm, but the fly in the ointment.

rass · Post by **rass** » Wed Dec 11, 2024 10:22 am

They were definitely at the "drunken hookup" portion of the party by the time he got there, so that indicates it probably didn't just start.

A_B · Post by **A_B** » Wed Dec 11, 2024 10:35 am

It took my wife some time to convince her boss, who did not want to be home with his family, that some people liked having Christmas Eve off. Same for day after Thanksgiving. I get it for some jobs that have to be there, but all their clients are closed on those days. It's a waste of people's time. But I could see someone like him having their office party then.

garyclark · Post by **garyclark** » Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:17 pm

Watching Rudolph for the first time in a couple years. And damn, there are a lot of songs.

garyclark · Post by **garyclark** » Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:37 pm

This gets my vote for most underrated Christmas movie. I even forgot about it in my initial post. It's a charming quirky little independent film that seems like it must have been made in the 90s. But came out in 2018. It's streaming on Prime, Peacock, and Netflix.

sancarlos · Post by **sancarlos** » Wed Dec 11, 2024 9:10 pm

garyclark wrote: Wed Dec 11, 2024 8:37 pm This gets my vote for most underrated Christmas movie. I even forgot about it in my initial post. It's a charming quirky little independent film that seems like it must have been made in the 90s. But came out in 2018. It's streaming on Prime, Peacock, and Netflix.

Starring Gideon Gemstone!