Sunday, December 25, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 30


           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. We have reached the end of this project. Time to reveal the last feature.


The Star Wars Holiday Special (1978)

           Full disclosure, this pick was not random. Since around 2007 or so it has become tradition for my brother and I to watch this every Christmas Eve. Why do we subject ourselves to this? That is a really good question. The Star Wars Holiday Special aired on CBS exactly once and has never received an official retail release. However, because it is Star Wars related, early VHS recordings of it have persisted, dubbed and passed from fan to fan through the years. This pick is also the second one where I am not viewing an unadulterated copy. Like Nestor earlier this month, the version that we always watch is the Rifftrax version. Believe me, if you are planning on watching along do yourself a favor and get one with intentional jokes added.

Saturday, December 24, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 29


           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. We have finally arrived at the penultimate Christmas feature. What will it be?


It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

           This may be the most stereotypical Christmas classic on this list. It airs as an event on NBC every year, with a near 4 hour run time with commercials. Beyond this, numerous shows have riffed on it, borrowing the idea of showing characters and events as they would be without one of the primary character’s involvements. My own personal confession is that I have never really cared all that much for this film. It could be the length, two hours and ten minutes seems exorbitant for this type of feature. Though I do like other Capra films and I think it is impossible to hate Jimmy Stewart so I really don’t know why this has never completely clicked for me. It has been a number of years since I last gave it a try so maybe this year will be different. At the very least, it has to be better than Nestor.

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 28


           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. We are down to the final three. What feature awaits us today?


Frosty the Snowman (1969)

           Frosty the Snowman is the final Rankin-Bass special that is a part of this project. It is unique from the others that we have looked at in that it is not stop motion animated but is instead traditional two-dimensional hand drawn animation. This special is another holiday season staple and airs frequently on whatever name ABC Family is going by now (Freeform, I think). I am certain that I have seen this special numerous times in the past, but I don’t think I have seen it within the last decade or so. I certainly don’t have too many vivid memories of it other than Frosty saying “Happy Birthday” every time he is brought to life by the hat. I’ll be interested to see if it all comes flooding back to me as I give it a watch. Also, I’ll be curious as to whether or not I find the hand drawn animation preferable to the stop motion or the other way around.

Thursday, December 22, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 27

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Here we go with day twenty-seven! What will it be?



National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)


          Released in 1989 this film quickly became a holiday classic. I know that my family used to watch it nearly every Christmas. At some point we burned out on it and took a number of years off. We started watching it again a few years ago and, I have to say, I think I like it more now as an adult than I did as a child or teen. Let's see if that trend continues.

Wednesday, December 21, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 26

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Day twenty-six is on deck. Will it hit a home run?


Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (1964)

           So here we are, day 26 and we are staring down a film that frequently finds itself on worst of lists. Originally released theatrically in 1964, this film gained new life after being featured on an episode of Mystery Science Theater 3000. However, I have never actually seen that version nor any version of this film. I haven't even seen clips. Unless I have gone insane from writing about so many Christmas features, I believe that fact makes this feature unique amongst the picks from the stocking. This is the only feature that I have no prior experience with. It figures that the only one truly new to me would be one that many consider terrible. I'm a glutton for punishment. Let's get this over with.


Synopsis

           The film opens with a broadcast from KID-TV. They are interviewing Santa live at the North Pole. All of this seems pretty normal, but the film then pulls back to reveal two Martian children watching the broadcast. Their father, Kimar, is concerned. They have been spending a large amount of time watching the Earth broadcasts and have seemed sullen and listless of late. In fact, he has been forced to use the sleep spray to get them to go to bed everyday recently. His wife, Momar, shares his concerns and suggests that he call together the Martian council and see the advice of Chochem, an 800 year old Martian sage.
           With the council assembled, they seek out Chochem and explain the issues they are experiencing with their children. Chochem states that he is not surprised and that he has seen this coming for some time. The source of the problem, according to him, is that Martian children are machine educated from the moment they are born. By the time they walk they are already like adults. They need to be allowed to have fun. The only solution he can see it that Martian children need Santa Claus. Voldar, one of the other council members is strongly opposed to this solution, but Kimar is resolved. The Martian council sets out to Earth to capture Santa.

You can tell Voldar is evil because of his mustache.

           They arrive in Earth orbit but are spotted by Earth radar as their radar shield is malfunctioning. It turns out that Kimar's assistant Dropo has stowed away in the radar box and is the cause of the technical issue. With him found and removed, the radar sheild is fixed and the Martians can begin their search for Santa in earnest. They quickly encounter an issue in their search. They are incapable of figuring out which of the many guys in Santa suits is the real Santa. To resolve this the Martians find two Earth children, Billy and Betty, and press them for information on where Santa can be found. The children tell the Martians and then Voldar suggest that they take the children with them as otherwise the children may tip off the Earth authorities to their plot. Kimar is reluctant but eventually sees the logic in what Voldar suggests.
           With the children in tow, the Martians go to the North Pole and soon capture Santa with out much difficulty. Santa is obviously perturbed at being taken against his will but he also can't allow children, even Martian children, to go without knowing the joys of Christmas. Voldar continues to oppose the change that Santa and the Christmas spirit are bringing to the Martians and makes multiple attempts on his and the Earth children's lives. These attempts are thwarted and Voldar is forced to flee to the wilderness to continue his plots. With Voldar dealt with for the short term, Kimar sets Santa up with an advanced Martian workshop to begin construction of the Martian Christmas presents. However, as Kimar's children improve in spirits, Billy and Betty begin to get sullen. Momar accesses that they are homesick and tells Kimar that they must be sent home. Kimar doesn't think that is possible as the Earthings would then arrive to take back Santa.

Stockholm syndrome has set in pretty well by this point.

           Dropo is taking a great interest in Santa and his work and happens to be trying on an extra Santa suit just as Voldar launches an operation to sabotage the workshop. Mistaking Dropo for Santa, Voldar and his men kidnap him. With what they think is Santa secure, Voldar and his men go to use this captive to negotiate for the end of this folly of experimentation with Christmas. Surprised by the presence of a second Santa, Voldar and his men are overcome by Santa, the Martian and Earth children, and Kimar. It is decided that Dropo will become the Martian Santa and Santa and the Earth children are allowed to return home.

Witness Dropo the Martian Santa.  Martian Christmas is doomed


Final Thoughts

           I am surprised to find myself saying this, but this wasn't as bad as I was expecting. Don't get me wrong, it looks like it was made for about $5.00. And, there are plot threads that go nowhere, such as the U.S. Space Force's pursuit of the Martian ship. Also, it falls into the trap of a lot of low budget 1950s and 1960s sci-fi and uses copious amounts of military stock footage. But if you can get over the goofy sets and less than great acting, there is at least an attempt at a charming Christmas tale. It doesn't always or even often work but there is an effort there. Sometimes that is all you can ask for. It was good enough for day 26. What will I see tomorrow? Come back here to find out (please).

This is the level of effects to expect if you watch this.  Brace yourself and abandon all hope.

Tuesday, December 20, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 25

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. The end is in sight. What could be left I the stocking for day twenty-five?


Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

           So, we have finally hit what is surely the most famous Rankin-Bass Christmas special. I've seen it more times than I can count, you've seen it more times than you can count, pretty much everybody has seen this special more times than they can count. This isn't too surprising. First, Rankin-Bass knew that it was their most popular special and reference its existence in a lot of their other specials (including the two we've looked at so far) giving it further Christmas cred. Second, it has ran on network television and only network television, in prime time, every single year since its original broadcast. That is a Christmas tradition fifty-three seasons strong. Further, if you have anyone like my father in your family, then you know that this special has been made available on home media for years now. And that is only looking at the special itself. Toys, games, puzzles, stuffed animals and more have all been released as licensed tie-ins to this special. With that amount of exposure it takes more effort not to know this special than it does to surrender to its charms. So, lets take a look and see if we can figure out why.

Monday, December 19, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 24

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. We are closing in on the finale. What is the pick for day twenty-four?


Olive, the Other Reindeer (1999)

           This is one of those specials that I knew had to be on this list. It is one that I have a huge soft spot for but have not seen in a while. I own it on VHS but not DVD, which explains the gap in my viewing. Truth is, I bought the DVD specifically for this project. My personal history with this special dates to its original airing on FOX in the holiday season of 1999. I've mentioned that I was a moody teenager on this blog before and, while it is something that I can poke fun at now, it was not without reason. My time in junior high was simply awful, things didn't begin to turn around for me at all until around the back end of 10th grade. The point of relaying this isn't to start a pity party but more to convey that I was not feeling the holiday spirit at all in December of 1999.
           This changed at least somewhat the night this special aired. My parents were out of the house. I am not quite sure why, but assuming that they both had meetings is a pretty safe bet. So, I had the house to myself and was mostly depressed. Looking for anything to distract me, I stumbled across Olive, the Other Reindeer on FOX. I don't know why it worked to put me in the holiday spirit as well as it did. Perhaps it was the sarcastic, off-beat tone that spoke to me. Maybe it was just that it was a really good, new Christmas special. I am not sure, but I doubt that pulling me out of my funk, even for a few days, is something a more traditional special could have done. All of this is to say that this special holds a prominent place in my memory and I am excited to see it again.

Sunday, December 18, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 23

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Time for number twenty-three. Let's find out what it is.


Santa Claus is Comin' to Town (1970)

           At last, we have hit another Rankin-Bass Christmas special. I can finally wash the taste of Nestor, The Long-eared Christmas Donkey out of my mouth. This special is far more of the classic type that you think of when you think of Rankin-Bass's output. While not as memorable or popular as Rudolph, it is a good story and has aired for years on either ABC or one of its cable offshoots. I know that I have seen this special multiple times over the years, but it has been a while since I last saw it and my memories of it are foggier than I would like them to be. So I'm going to quit stalling and get to this.

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 22

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Let's find out what the twenty-second feature is.


The Santa Clause (1994)

           I have only seen this movie one time, on VHS, way back in the holiday season of 1995. My mother arranged to have someone place a package from Santa in our tree while we were out doing whatever holiday activities we were up to 21 years ago. That package was a VHS copy of The Santa Clause. My family watched it together that night. I remember enough about the story to know that I didn't hate it but it also didn't become something I watched in future years. If I was that lukewarm on it at age 10 it doesn't bode particularly well for me now. But, maybe I'm wrong, let's find out. 

Friday, December 16, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 21

          I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Here we go with day twenty-one.


A Garfield Christmas Special (1987)

           A Garfield Christmas Special was released near the end of the boom years of Garfield-mania. This is a special that I used to watch damn near every year when it would air as part of CBS holiday programming schedule. As Garfield's shine continued to diminish throughout the nineties this special fell out of rotation until, like his Halloween special, it seemingly has left the airwaves forever. My parents found it on DVD a few years back and I know I have watched with them once since then; though, it has still been a while since I last viewed it. Does it hold up or is there a good reason that CBS stopped airing it (other than the fact that Garfield's popularity is in deep decline).

Thursday, December 15, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 20

          
           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Day twenty is coming in hot!


The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

           This pick represents a number of milestones for this list. First, as stated yesterday, this marks two-thirds of this project completed. I wasn't sure I would make it this far when I first started out. Second, this is the last of the four features that include Muppets. (A fact that my girlfriend will be relieved by.) Lastly, it is the final feature to be an adaptation of A Christmas Carol. With a feeling of pride over tackling all of those milestones, let us begin.

Wednesday, December 14, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 19

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Let's take a peek at day day nineteen.


How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

           This is possibly my dad's favorite Christmas special. It is either this or Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. In either case, I have a fond memory of being introduced to this special on TBS by my father over a Taco John's dinner. I obviously liked it right away. I mean, what's not to love? It has the words of Dr. Seuss, the animation of Chuck Jones, and the voice of Boris Karloff. All in all that is a pretty powerful team behind one Christmas special. As a bonus it is not the Jim Carrey version. Let's grab a six pack and a pound and get down to it.

Tuesday, December 13, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 18

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Here comes day eighteen.


Scrooged (1988)

           This pick marks the second one that is based on A Christmas Carol. I'm not sure when I originally saw this movie, though I do remember being slightly scared of its ads. What can I say, I was an easily frightened kid. Further there was something weird about seeing Bill Murray, who I knew primarily as Peter Venkman, harassed by ghosts. In any case, I did eventually see it and it was enjoyable. It isn't a feature that I watch every holiday season, but I'm not fully sure why that is. I enjoy it every time that I do. Maybe I'll have to change my viewing habits regarding this movie.

Monday, December 12, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 17

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. What will I be viewing for day seventeen?


Die Hard (1988)

           I am beginning to think that this stocking may actually have gained sentience and is just messing with me. First it gave me Home Alone 2 followed three days later by Home Alone. Then it gave me Die Hard 2. Now, three days later, it has given me the original Die Hard. I received this movie on DVD from my brother the same Christmas that he gave me Die Hard 2. Originally released in 1988 this is the film that cemented Bruce Willis as an action star. Even though I didn't see it until nearly two decades later I was a fan almost immediately. This is another pick that stretches the definition of Christmas movie, but it is one that I am looking forward to. Let's get under way.

Sunday, December 11, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 16

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. I really wonder if anyone is even reading these introductions anymore. Whatever, what is day sixteen's feature?


A Christmas Story (1983)

           Long before this was played 24 hours a day every Christmas Eve on TBS, this film was a staple of my family's holiday season. Family legend holds that, one Christmas Eve, my mom was waiting up to make sure that my brother and I were asleep so that Santa could make his visit. Not an easy feat, as I was a particularly light and unwilling sleeper on most of my childhood Christmas Eves. While waiting she was looking for something to watch and stumbled upon this film on whichever cable movie channel we had at that time. Although she was originally just looking for something to pass the time, she was soon engrossed in the movie. In the Christmases that followed that year, my whole family would watch it on VHS. To this day, we have the TBS marathon on as background noise to our Christmas revelry.

Saturday, December 10, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 15

            I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. We are already at the half way point to Christmas and most of my preparations are still not done. Apparently, I didn't learn that much from Jingle All the Way. Regardless, let's find out what I'm watching for feature number 15.


Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

           It is safe to say that we are back with more traditional Christmas movie fare with this pick. I know that I have seen this version of Miracle on 34th Street at least once, but I'll admit that it is not the version that I am most familiar with. The one that I have seen most often is the 1994 remake. I almost selected that one for the list, but I opted for the original instead for two reasons. First, the 1994 remake is a John Hughes vehicle and with the Home Alone series I already had two of those. Second, my girlfriend has been watching these with me and somehow she is entirely unaware of the plot of Miracle on 34th Street. It wouldn't be fair to introduce it to her through a remake. Therefore, it had to be the original. This is the oldest film selected to this point and doesn't feature a single Muppet, how will I feel about this Christmas classic?

Friday, December 9, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 14

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Two full weeks in to this and things are really moving along now. What does the stocking have for me this time?


Die Hard 2: Die Harder (1990)

          So, I am sensing a trend in the stocking's picks. It really seems to like to have me watch sequels before the films that led to them. That is fine with me. It actually worked out pretty well last time. I am aware that this film may seem like a cheat as it is an action movie first and foremost, but it takes place on Christmas Eve and there are Christmas decorations in the background frequently. That's good enough for me, and it is my list. Released in 1990 Die Hard 2 obviously is the follow up to Die Hard. I have seen the film before; I received it on DVD as a Christmas gift from my brother. However, it has been around eight or so years since I watched it last. I remember Die Hard 2 to be largely a repeat of the first film. But, unlike Home Alone 2, I do remember it being fun, if slightly ridiculous. Will that still be my opinion or will a follow up viewing shift my feelings towards it. A slight note, the movie itself doesn't refer to itself with the Die Harder subtitle but a lot of video releases do, including my DVD. I love how ridiculously bad that subtitle is, hence that is how I will be referring to this film from here on out.


Synopsis

           Die Harder opens with John McClane having his car impounded at Dulles Airport on Christmas Eve. While waiting for his wife's flight to arrive he sees two suspicious men making their way into a restricted area of the airport. Shorty after McClane investigates, he has his first kill of the movie. McClane is sure that there was more to the actions of the men, but the airport security is confident that they were just luggage thieves and are unwilling to close the area to investigate due to the volume of holiday travel. McClane is right, of course, and soon terrorists led by disgraced U.S. special forces Colonel William Stuart have taken command of the control tower systems remotely and are holding the planes in the air hostage to secure the release of a South American dictator/drug kingpin, General Ramon Esperanza, currently in the process of extradition to the United States.

Death by luggage roller, the first of many violent deaths meted out by John McClane

           A game of cat and mouse is played with the stakes escalating to the point where the terrorists cause a plane to come in for a landing but give it the wrong telemetry so that they think they are higher than they are and they crash on the tarmac. Despite McClane's efforts Stuart and his men are able to secure Esperanza. This brings in the special forces to take Stuart down. Eventually, Stuart's base of operations is located in a nearby church and an assault is launched. The fire fight is intense but the special forces are unable to prevent Stuart's escape. McClane sets off in pursuit and discovers that the machine guns being used by both the special forces and Stuart's men were shooting blanks. Both sides are part of the same plot. The special forces join up with Stuart and start to make their final escape on a cargo conversion 747. McClane gets a news helicopter to pull up along side the jet as it is taxiing up the runway. McClane jumps aboard the wing. Although he is unsuccessful in stopping the plane and gets thrown off of it, he does manage to activate the fuel dump. McClane delivers his catch phrase and lights the fuel trail on fire. The plane explodes and Stuart, his men, and Esperanza are all dead. The planes circling above that by this point are very low on fuel use the light from the fire to land safely. Roll credits and play Let it Snow.

"Yippee Ki-yay, Mr. Falcon!" - John McClane's catch phrase according to the TBS broadcast version.

Final Thoughts

           Die Harder is enjoyable as long as you accept it for what it is. I only have a couple of real complaints. First this movie makes John McClane in to some kind of Schwarzenegger-esque super human. This is far different than his portrayal in the first film. Further, this film commits one of what I consider to be the cardinal sins of sequels. It needlessly brings back way too many of the characters from the first film. I like William Atherton. He plays a great weaselly antagonist (see Ghostbusters). However, his character from the first film really didn't need to be brought back. To make it even worse, he fills the same role in the film. In an attempt to score a great scope, he disregards the delicacy of the situation at hand and makes life harder for McClane.

William Atherton may have the most punchable face of all time.

           There are enough interesting things going on in Die Harder that it is on the cusp of being a legitimately great sequel. However it also takes more than a few turns to absolute action schlock. You won't be blown away by it but you probably won't be disappointed by it either. As for watching it as part of your holiday movie rotation, it might not be for everyone but it can be a fun change of pace. For me, with thirty films and specials to watch it is good to have a couple of unorthodox ones to break the monotony. That is all for me today. Join me tomorrow to see if we are back to something more traditional or if we continue with odd picks.

Thursday, December 8, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 13

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Lucky number 13 is up today, let's see what it is. 


Nestor the Long-eared Christmas Donkey (1977)

           It figures that the first Rankin-Bass Christmas special that I would draw would be what easily has to be the worst of them. That seems to be the way this stocking is picking them. Oh well. It is hilarious to me that the same year that birthed Star Wars also gave us this abomination. Full disclosure, this is the first of two picks that I am not watching unadulterated. I am watching the Rifftrax version of Nestor the Long-eared Christmas Donkey. For those that don't know what Rifftrax is, it is an audio track that you sync to the program that makes jokes about it as you watch. It is a product from some of the same people that were responsible for Mystery Science Theater 3000, which means it is excellent. If you are thinking about watching this special, I suggest that you watch this version as well.

Wednesday, December 7, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 12

          I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. We are already up to the twelfth day of Christmas (Movie Marathon). I wonder what my stocking got for me. 


Home Alone (1990)

           So here we are three days later and the stocking has given me the film that would spawn Home Alone 2. I haven't watched the original Home Alone in years. In fact, I was probably still in junior high the last time I saw it. Regardless, I have some pretty strong memories of it and, unlike its sequel, they are positive ones. I wasn't allowed to see Home Alone during its theatrical run, and I'm not exactly sure why this was the case. I mean, while my parents adhered pretty strictly to the MPAA's ratings system, Home Alone was only rated PG. That doesn't matter too much because we did rent the film on VHS in the 1991 holiday season so I wasn't left far behind the pop culture curve.
           If I am being honest, this movie is one of the reasons for this entire project. I was recently introduced to the Purple Stuff Podcast. That podcast includes Matt from Dinosaur Dracula, and more relevant to me formerly of the website I wasted much of the early 2000s on, X-Entertainment. As such, I burned through the back catalog. On (at least) one of the episodes they mentioned this film and it made me realize how long it had been since I'd seen it. That coupled with a need to find some creative outlet and my desire to get in to the holiday spirit forged this project and by extension this blog. What all of this means is that I am happy with this pick and that you should listen to the Purple Stuff Podcast.

Tuesday, December 6, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 11

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Now it is time for the eleventh feature. I wonder what it will be.


A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

           A Charlie Brown Christmas is a holiday television staple. It has been running nonstop since it was first aired in 1965 and ABC still makes a big deal about its airing. That being said, I have obviously seen this special a number times throughout my life. However, it has never really been something that has become essential for my holidays. I recognize its place in history and I appreciate certain moments from it or references to it but it simply isn't a must-watch holiday special for me. Will this viewing change my opinion? Stranger things have been know to happen.

Monday, December 5, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 10

          I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Hard to believe that we are already so far in to this project. Let's find out what the tenth pick is.


Mickey's Christmas Carol (1983)

           Mickey's Christmas Carol represents another special that was once a common part of my holiday season but has since fallen by the wayside. Mickey's Christmas Carol was originally produced as a theatrical short that ran in front of The Rescuers in December of 1983. This short represented the first appearance of Mickey in a theatrical short in 30 years. For those of you keeping score at home, I obviously couldn't have seen this in theaters. For me this feature entered my life in two ways. One was a hand-me-down Children's Golden Book adaptation. The other is that years later the special became a holiday staple on the 1980s NBC Disney anthology series, The Magical World of Disney.
           Television airings are the way I have always experienced this feature. This viewing will be the first time that I will see it sans commercials. I have been looking forward to drawing this one from the stocking as it is the way I was first introduced to A Christmas Carol, which in intervening years has become one of my favorite holiday stories. Will I enjoy it as much as I used to, or will this be another feature that can't compare to the memories I have of it? I am beginning to realize that I am playing a dangerous game of nostalgia chicken by doing this project. Shall we find out if it blows up in my face?

Sunday, December 4, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 9

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. What's behind curtain number 9?


Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

           Oh boy... It was always a possibility that we could draw this film before the first in the series. I had thought of taking steps to prevent this but, in the end, I decided that this could be part of the fun. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York is one of only a handful of films on the list that I saw during its initial release. Important to bear in mind with that statement is the fact that I would have only been 7 years old at the time that I saw this in theaters. Even at that young and impressionable age, I found Home Alone 2 rather underwhelming.
           The plot to Home Alone 2 is largely the plot to the first film only set in New York instead of Kevin's house and home town. The characters are largely the same and so are the story beats. If you aren't too familiar with the original Home Alone this may not be obvious but keep checking back as we will get to the original eventually. I haven't seen this movie since that day 24 years ago and I really haven't had much of a desire to. I mostly remember it as disappointing and derivative.

Saturday, December 3, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 8

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Let's find out what we are watching for day 8.


Christmas Comes to Pac-Land (1982)

           Eight days in and we are finally at a title that makes the name of this blog make a lick of sense. Rest assured that post-Christmas we'll have more things here that fit that theme, but that is not what we are here to discuss right now. Right now we are discussing Christmas Comes to Pac-Land. Released in 1982 this special is from an era when Pac-Man was an unstoppable marketing machine. Plushies, pasta, board games, lunch boxes, cereal, you name it, there was likely a version of it with Pac-Man's pizza shaped face slapped on it. Part of this marketing blitz included a Saturday morning cartoon produced by Hanna-Barbera. In an age when the FCC still wasn't allowing cartoons based on toys, video game cartoons were rather common. What was uncommon was one of them getting a prime time network Christmas special.
           This special aired originally on ABC and has, in recent years, aired on both Cartoon Network and Boomerang as part of their holiday programing. Despite multiple opportunities, I am fairly certain that I have never actually watched this special from start to finish. I obviously knew of its existence, otherwise it wouldn't be on this list. And, I know that I have at least started watching it before but something else must have come up before I have ever reached its end. Anyway, now is the time to finally give this special a proper viewing. Here we go.

Friday, December 2, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 7

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Time for number 7!


Emmet Otter's Jug Band Christmas (1978)

           So I'm pretty sure that there is a grand total of four Muppet based holiday specials that are available to be drawn and we've already hit three of the four in the first seven days. I'm too lazy to figure out what the exact odds of that happening are but I feel like maybe I should go and buy a lottery ticket. Anyway, Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas is a Jim Henson creation based on a book by Russel Hoban that was a co-production of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation and HBO. It premiered in the United States on HBO in 1978, then aired on network television in 1980 and finally on Nickelodeon in the 1990s. All this is to say that I have no idea when I saw it first as I am fairly certain I saw it before the 90s but I wouldn't have been alive for either the HBO or network airing. VHS release, maybe?
           Regardless, this is another special that I have good memories of.  However, unlike yesterday's entry, I have seen this within the last few years and know that it still holds up quite well. Of further interest is the fact that, while music is obviously at the center of a special featuring Jug-Band in the title, I am fairly certain that there are less musical interludes in this than in A Muppet Family Christmas. Am I remembering correctly? Let's find out. (Spoilers, I am.)

Thursday, December 1, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 6

          I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Let's find out what the sixth pick is.


A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)

           This Muppet special is one that my family used to watch almost every year. I am pretty sure that we recorded it off of television the year it aired and then later acquired a copy when it was officially released on VHS. I have strong memories of eating Schwan's Christmas Ice Cream Squares while watching this very special. Regardless, the point is that we all watched this enough times that we still make references to it to this day. However, despite how much I enjoyed this growing up, with the decline of VCRs, it has lapsed out of our family rotation. Therefore, I am very excited to watch it for the first time in well over a decade.

Wednesday, November 30, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 5

          I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Now let's look at day 5's selection.


Elf (2003)

           Elf was released when I was in my senior year of high school, but I didn't see it until the holiday season of 2010. I'm not exactly sure why this is. At first I thought I might have been experiencing Will Ferrell burn-out, but a quick Google search reveals to me that Anchorman and the rest of his run of hit comedies came out after this. Only Old School predates it. The hard truth is I guess I must have thought myself too good for a Christmas movie in 2003. That sadly makes sense; I was not far removed from the height of my moody teenage years at that point. Regardless of why I didn't see it initially, I have enjoyed seeing it since. However, I am pretty sure I have only ever watched it on cable. This viewing marks my first time ever seeking it out specifically.

Tuesday, November 29, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 4

           I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year. Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special. I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched. Thank you for joining me in this endeavor. Now let's find out what I'm watching for day 4.


Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978)

           Now this is quite the change from yesterday. Christmas Eve on Sesame Street is from a different, and in my opinion, better era of the long running educational program. Specifically, this special is from the time before Sesame Street was hit with the annoying red blight know as Elmo. If you want some insight in to some of the reasons Elmo is terrible you should check out this article. Moving away from my seething Elmo hatred and back to the feature at hand, this special was a Christmas staple. PBS ran it almost every holiday season from its premiere until 1996 when it was finally retired and replaced...with Elmo Saves Christmas. Ignoring how angry that makes me, this special has it all. It is legitimately funny with jokes that land for both kids and adults. It teaches tolerance for other cultures with out being preachy. And it does a wonderful job of capturing the spirit of giving and caring that under scores the whole of the holiday season.
           To say that I am a fan of this special would be an understatement. I have loved it since I was a child and it is hard to convey the excitement I felt when I found it on DVD at a random grocery store during the 2006 holiday season. It has been a yearly watch since that day and I am not even sure that this will be my only viewing this year. Enough with my gushing, let's dig on in

Monday, November 28, 2016

Christmas Movie Marathon Day 3

          I'm trying something different to get in the holiday spirit this year.  Every day, from now through Christmas, I will be watching a different Christmas movie or television special.  I have compiled the list of features ahead of time and am drawing one, at random, from my Christmas stocking everyday to determine what gets watched.  Thank you for joining me in this endeavor.  Now let's find out what the third pick is.




Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)

         So, this is one that simply had to be added to the list of Christmas films.  Rare Exports is a very unique entry on this list.  Normally, when one thinks about Christmas movies, horror-comedy is not a genre that jumps to mind.  Despite the admittedly awkward genre, Rare Exports is a Christmas movie through and through.  It is also our first and, unless I am totally forgetting what is in the stocking, only foreign feature.  I was lucky enough to catch this one when it was on its theatrical run in the holiday season of 2010.  I have watched it one time since then and am excited to give it another viewing.