OK, so we're well into the Christmas season, and we ALL know that with this time of the "rolling year", we're bombarded with ALL those yuletide cinematic presentations.
Now I have to admit that I have my favorites. I wish I could say I have ONE special movie, but since there are SO many to choose from, I've had to narrow the field down a lot...
My two favorites would have to be SCROOGE (1951-Alistair Sim version) and WHITE CHRISTMAS (1954-Bing Crosby/Danny Kaye). I don't think it could EVER be Christmas without THOSE two flicks (imho).
In SCROOGE, (the late) Mr.Sim does the quintessential job of portraying the dastardly Ebenezer Scrooge...and he does it with such VERVE, it's downright annoying in the beginning. Just as forceful is his "conversion"...he becomes so much MORE the person he should have been (and once was, as a youth). There are 2 other actors that have done the role proud over the years that come to mind. George C. Scott did a remarkable performance, and most recently, Patrick Stewart breathed new life into the character But MY favorite will always be Alistair Sim, and if you happen across a rare "colorized" version of this movie, all the better.The movie WHITE CHRISTMAS (in it's essence) is what Christmas is all about...doing something GOOD for someone else simply because it's the RIGHT thing to do...period. Taking aside the song & dance numbers (all very well written and performed), the basic storyline has people being the
messengers of good tidings, whether it's helping a fellow soldier in WW2, or someone you looked up to once, or even a kind-hearted person that could use a smile and some good cheer.As to other shows that are noteworthy....
Of course we have the 41 year old perennial favorite...A CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS (has it been THAT many years already?), as well as the M.I.A. GARFIELD'S CHRISTMAS (which never airs any longer, even in INDIANA...the birthplace of his creator, JIM DAVIS...go figure). There's also MICKEY'S CHRISTMAS CAROL for the Disney fans out there (get a copy of this one).
We also have A CHRISTMAS STORY (Ralphie and the Red Ryder BB rifle), and all the other versions of Dickens' A Christmas Carol. We have A MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET (and it's clones), and all those chick-flick Christmas stories from Lifetime...lol!
One movie sorely neglected is AN AMERICAN CHRISTMAS CAROL with Henry Winkler....this is a damn good TV movie version of the telling of the "Scrooge Saga", but goes missed by many year after year. I wish they'd bring that movie back.
We also have Rudolph, Frosty, and the Grinch for the animated lovers out there, as well as the live-action GRINCH (with Jim Carrey...nice job). We have the three SANTA CLAUSE movies with Tim Allen as well as SANTA CLAUSE - THE MOVIE (Dave Huddleston & Dudley Moore), and even SANTA CLAUSE CONQUERS THE MARTIANS. We have JINGLE ALL THE WAY (Schwarzenegger), and ELF (Will Ferrell) and my personal *next* favorite movie...CHRISTMAS VACATION (Chevy Chase)! Lots of viewing for all ages, it seems.
SO have at it, fire up the VCR, DVD, TiVo or whatever you have....and share YOUR favorites. It's about QUALITY viewing (for a change).
...and that's ALWAYS a good thing, right?
4 comments:
Ever seen A Muppet Christmas Carol? GOOD movie, and it's SO funny.
I love "The Grinch" with Jim Carrey. Its my favorite. I giggle all the way through. I even wrote a commercial about advertising along the theme of the Grinch.
Top Favs:::
1. It's A Wonderful Life
2. Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (the original with Burl Ives)
3. Miracle On 34th Street (the original)
4. National Lampoons's Christmas Vacation is a new era classic.. I chuckle everytime I hear the cat get zapped when he bites into the christmas lights...
OH Geez, ...I forgot about IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE (wonder where my mind went?)....the epitome of Chrismas movies...AND the Muppet Christmas Carol...
Gawd...now *I* have to rethink MY list...(again)!
(better put another pot of java on...lol)
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