It needs to not be cheesy, not be rated harder than PG-13, and needs to be good and/or funny. Any suggestions for a Christmas movie?
Posted by Pelegius (Member # 7868) on :
I hear "The Queen" is very good, but I have not seen it yet. It is only PG-13.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I've seen The Queen - that was great.
I was thinking of something on DVD, though - it's for the movie corner of a thing at someone's house. Christmas-themed would be nice.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
One Magic Christmas...an atypical film for mid-1980s Disney. But very, very good.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Yeah? What did you like about it, Puffy? I've never heard of it, but I like the strength of that recommendation.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
I've always favored Its a Wonderful Life, the fact James Stewart is dead still makes me sad. Its funny in a simple light hearted subtle sort of way. Theres alot of small details buried in the movie you have to pay attention to in order to catch.
Ill have to think about more modern examples later.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Well, it's sort of a modern version of It's a Wonderful Life without being a rip-off of said classic.
An angel is sent to help a woman regain her joy at Christmas time...and what follows is an enthralling mixture of realism, fantasy, darkness, and happiness. Some good people make bad choices, unexpected twists and turns occur. The happy ending feels earned, rather than merely required.
Posted by Ben (Member # 6117) on :
Elf.
and National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation.
2 great Christmas movies.
Posted by Allegra (Member # 6773) on :
A Christmas Story.
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
White Christmas all the way, baby. It's a double romantic comedy with singing, dancing, and tons of fa-la-la-la-la-la. All of my twenty-fifty-something friends and family just love it. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
I'm taking all of these suggestions to the group.
Matt suggested Bad Santa. When that was immediately shot down, he suggested Ghostbusters 2. Was that set at Christmas?
Posted by Astaril (Member # 7440) on :
Definitely White Christmas, especially if there are people there who haven't seen it, including yourself. Bing Crosby has a voice like molten gold. I forget who said that, but they're right. Plus, it has Danny Kaye in addition to Bing. That's a hard combo to beat in *any* film.
Holiday Inn is great too (it has Bing and Fred Astaire), and if this get-together is happening soon, it works for American Thanksgiving as well! (Trivia time! The song "White Christmas" actually premiered in Holiday Inn, not in its namesake film.)
Posted by Kasie H (Member # 2120) on :
Definitely White Christmas or It's a Wonderful Life. SO good.
Posted by Artemisia Tridentata (Member # 8746) on :
If you can find it "The Nutcracker" with Gelsey Kirkland and Mikhail Baryshnikov will really set the tone for your Holiday.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
I have it! *grin*
Posted by pfresh85 (Member # 8085) on :
quote:Originally posted by katharina: I'm taking all of these suggestions to the group.
Matt suggested Bad Santa. When that was immediately shot down, he suggested Ghostbusters 2. Was that set at Christmas?
Isn't Ghostbuster 2 set at the New Year? I thought that was the whole reason the evil spirit thing was coming out of that painting. I could be mistaken though.
Posted by Zalmoxis (Member # 2327) on :
The Nightmare Before Christmas
"Mystery Science Theater 3000" -- Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
The Merry Mishaps of Mr. Bean
Edward Scissorhands
The Bishop's Wife (the Cary Grant version)
Raising Arizona (ending has a "Mormon" Christmas reference)
Posted by Silent E (Member # 8840) on :
I can never decide whether It's a Wonderful Life is my favorite Christmas movie, or whether it's Scrooge, which imo is the best film version of A Christmas Carol. And it's a darn fine musical to boot!
Posted by cmc (Member # 9549) on :
The Nicholas Cage movie - pretty sure called Family Man?
Good movie that made me think a little...
Although, it is admittedly a little cheesy. : )
Posted by Boris (Member # 6935) on :
A Muppet Christmas Carol. All the way.
Posted by the_Somalian (Member # 6688) on :
A Chrismas Story. I don't celebrate christmas, but I can watch that movie a million times.
Posted by imogen (Member # 5485) on :
It's a pity Love Actually is a R film (though only M in Australia!). I think you'd really like it Katie, and it is a *great* Christmas film.
But not what you're looking for.
Posted by Lyrhawn (Member # 7039) on :
quote:Originally posted by Astaril: Definitely White Christmas, especially if there are people there who haven't seen it, including yourself. Bing Crosby has a voice like molten gold. I forget who said that, but they're right. Plus, it has Danny Kaye in addition to Bing. That's a hard combo to beat in *any* film.
Holiday Inn is great too (it has Bing and Fred Astaire), and if this get-together is happening soon, it works for American Thanksgiving as well! (Trivia time! The song "White Christmas" actually premiered in Holiday Inn, not in its namesake film.)
Second both of those.
If you want some movie trivia for those:
Vera Ellen's neck is never shown in White Christmas, because anorexia had prematurely aged it, and her costumers were told to hide it.
In Holiday Inn, during Fred Astaire's drunk dance scene, he took a shot of bourbon before each take, of which there were seven. The seventh take is used in the movie.
Also whoever said Muppet Christmas Carol, amen to you too! Love that movie.
Posted by Jhai (Member # 5633) on :
I really like Mixed Nuts starring Steve Martin, Juliette Lewis, Rita Wilson, Rob Reiner, and a very young Adam Sandler, among others. It's the story, of, well, a bunch of nutty people in Venice, California on Christmas Eve. Here's a bunch of quotes (which in no way spoil the movie) from IMDB: http://imdb.com/title/tt0110538/quotes
It has low ratings on IMDB, but read the reviews to get a clearer sense of the movie. One reviewer said it was similar to Seinfeld, humor-wise, which it is - think of the more zany episodes, though.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
The Grinch Who Stole Christmas The original, I might add, not that lousy re-make. It's always a delight for young and old.
A Christmas Carol There are so many different versions . . .
Little Women has a LOT of old-fashioned Christmas scenes in it . . . might consider that. (the 1995 version)
Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
Scrooged with Bill Murray. But then, I'm a Bill Murray fan; some people don't like him much.
Posted by MandyM (Member # 8375) on :
Scrooged is wonderful but there is some seriously bad language in it that might offend Mormon ears. I am not Mormon and I thought it was bad.
While You Were Sleeping. Every girl loves it, most Mormon guys I know like it.
I also agree with White Christmas and Muppet Christmas Carol.
Posted by ClaudiaTherese (Member # 923) on :
Other possibilities that I haven't seen listed yet (though I may have missed 'em):
Miracle on 34th Street (multiple versions) Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer A Charlie Brown Christmas (the dancing! the little tree!) Grumpy Old Men/Grumpier Old Men The Bells of St Mary's (another Bing Crosby classic) Frosty the Snowman Heidi The Little Drummer Boy Meet Me in St Louis (Judy Garland classic)
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
I wasted full evening ticket price on Mixed Nuts. Madeline Kahn's flawless performance was the only thing I enjoyed in that film.
I miss her. Posted by solo (Member # 3148) on :
Elf A Muppet Christmas Carol A Charlie Brown Christmas
Are the three that come to mind as the most likely to be a success for the group you describe.
Posted by Nighthawk (Member # 4176) on :
Die Hard
Oh, wait... or was that New Year's?
Posted by romanylass (Member # 6306) on :
quote: Santa Claus Conquers the Martians
I've got to agree with White Christmas. Posted by SenojRetep (Member # 8614) on :
quote:Originally posted by Nighthawk: Die Hard
Oh, wait... or was that New Year's?
No, no, it was Christmas. However, it suffers from being invalidated due to rating. I know, I know, how could Die Hard be rated R?
Another I forgot to mention was Noel with Robin Williams, Susan Sarandon, and many others. It wasn't released in theaters here (as opposed to Italy, where it was), but I thought it was a rather nice, clean holiday movie. Not too cheesy. Might be hard to find, though.
<edit>I take it back; it did have a limited release in US theaters, but I doubt it was more than a handful of theaters nationwide</edit>
Posted by Bella Bee (Member # 7027) on :
For me, Christmas and Victoriana seem to go together well, so...
'Little Women', the newest version. The first half, like the book, is set between two Christmases, and the rest is still all about love and family. You can almost taste the mulled wine.
And I second (third? forth?) 'The Muppet's Christmas Carol' but if you object to puppets, there's also the version with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge which is very good.
Posted by DaisyMae (Member # 9722) on :
I love White Christmas and Holiday Inn, but personally choose the latter if I can only watch one.
I'm twenty-something LDS and think Elf is hilarious.
Posted by calaban (Member # 2516) on :
They played It's a Wonderful Life in the MTC on christmas eve. You can't get much more church approved than that. Its also far and away my favorite Christmas movie.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Thank you for the suggestions!! Matt also suggested Die Hard. I'm starting to think he's not taking the problem seriously. I'm going to ask the group tomorrow which one they want.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Added: I have a confession. I don't like Christmas much, and I don't like the sweet message movies. I certainly don't mind other people liking them, but I just don't think I can take It's A Wonderful Life. We are already going to be making Christmas lollipops and cutting out snowflakes - I want to show something that is a little bit closer to the hilarious than to the heart-warming.
I'm actually really tempted by the MST3K movie. The 20-somethings in question will all be college graduates working in tech or politics in Washington - maybe that would work for them?
Posted by Javert (Member # 3076) on :
I didn't read the whole thread, but didn't anyone mention "Gremlins"?
Posted by mistaben (Member # 8721) on :
Has anyone seen Joyeux Noel? It sounds like a nice one.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
I'm gonna (third? Fourth?) Elf. They showed in on USA this weekend and I saw it after avoiding it for several years. It was actually really pretty funny. Not highly intelligent, and a wee bit twee at times, but not overly so, and funny and cute enough to make up for it.
Or there's always Home Alone. So bad it's funny.
Posted by ketchupqueen (Member # 6877) on :
Oh, and did anyone mention the classic A Christmas Story?
Posted by Javert (Member # 3076) on :
Just to be clear, Mormon's can't watch R-rated films, or just prefer not to?
Either way, I learned something new today. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
We are counseled not to. It's more like staying away from things that corrode the spirit, but no R-rated movies is a good catchall for that. It isn't perfect - some R-rated movies are fine (in my opinion) and some PG-13 movies are clearly not (also in my opinion). Either way, there's no chance I'm showing an R-rated movie and if it's PG-13 there had better be a good reason for that to happen (sex and language and nasty violence don't count as good reasons).
Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
Yeah, it's hard to lose with A Christmas Story, though I have actually met people who did NOT find it funny. I promptly told them that we could no longer be friends.
I second While You Were Sleeping and even Christmas With the Kranks. I personally adore the new version of The Grinch and think it's hilarious. My family and I watch it at least twice every holiday season.
Family Man is a wonderful movie that begins at Christmas and runs through the month of January. You still get a Christmassy feeling because it ends at Christmas too...without giving away the plot. Posted by Ophelia (Member # 653) on :
Better Off Dead takes place at Christmas.
Posted by Pelegius (Member # 7868) on :
"The Preacher's Wife" is better than "The Bishop's Wife." "White Christmas" is fatal, particularly the terrible singing sisters.
"Bells of St. Mary's" is Christmas-y in theme if not setting.
Posted by Shan (Member # 4550) on :
quote:Originally posted by Narnia: . . . I personally adore the new version of The Grinch and think it's hilarious. My family and I watch it at least twice every holiday season.
Cecily! I'm horrified! I can no longer be your Hatrack friend! Everyone knows that the new Grinch is simply appalling!
Ahhh, well -- what the heck . . . Posted by Narnia (Member # 1071) on :
I don't see what everyone hates so much about it. Jim Carrey is over the top (of course), but I just love it! It's a failing, I know.
Posted by libertygirl (Member # 8761) on :
I'll 5th or whatever, Elf. I personally like the new Grinch, but I've never seen the old one so I'm not comparing it to anything. I never thought of While You Were Sleeping as a Christmas movie but it is good.
Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
quote:Originally posted by Narnia: I don't see what everyone hates so much about it. Jim Carrey is over the top (of course), but I just love it! It's a failing, I know.
Maybe because it reverses the original message of the story?
In the book (and animated Chuck Jones special), the story is about a bitter, selfish loner who has his heart softened by the love and joy of an unselfish, happy community.
In Howard's film, the Grinch is a misunderstood, mistreated victim. All of the Whos (except for Cindy Lou) are selfish jerks or materialistic idiots. He shames them into realizing how bad and greedy they are by taking their stuff away.
Posted by BlackBlade (Member # 8376) on :
True Story Puffy,
Today people just don't like villains who are evil just cuz, they had to have been wronged in someway so we empathize with their plight.
Posted by Nellie Bly (Member # 9129) on :
Christmas in Connecticut. I watch it every year with my mom.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
I liked While you were sleeping. Also, New York Doll contains a clip of Scrooged.
I was wondering "What Christmas movies wouldn't be appropriate?" But I guess people are thinking of some.
Gremlins was a Christmas movie Posted by Puffy Treat (Member # 7210) on :
Dr. Seuss's intention wasn't for people to empathize with the Grinch...at least, not until he had his epiphany.
Turning the Whos from good people who understand the true meaning of Christmas into vapid idiots and cruel bullies who forced the Grinch into his role doesn't provoke empathy in me. It provokes disgust at the disrespect shown towards the story of an author I respected and enjoyed.
Posted by pooka (Member # 5003) on :
Was about a boy already mentioned? I forget how bad the language is. You might want to check your finalists for content in the www.deseretnews.com movie review archive.
Posted by Pelegius (Member # 7868) on :
Driving Lessons is great. Not really all that Christmasy, but great.
Religion is a major theme. If it seems like the film is anti-religious, keep in mind that Ben's father (one of the most normal and likable people in the script, although too passive to be a great father) is also a Priest.
Oh, yeah, and the film has some underage drinking (Rupert Grint is 18, but his character is only 17). And sex is constantly alluded to, but in a chaste manner (if that makes sense.) Anyway, not what I would call gratuitous sex, no violence and little language. Rating PG-13.
Posted by kacard (Member # 200) on :
I gotta second whoever said "One Magic Christmas" -- a totally overlooked brilliant Christmas movie. I truely believe the Santa's workshop scenes were filmed in the real workshop at the North Pole.
Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Okay, the nature of the project has changed. It now needs to be something that lasts less than an hour.
Hmm...maybe we'll do it two weeks in a row - candy tonight, and deocorations next week.
Ideas for something that's less than hour? All I can think of it A Charlie Brown Christmas.
Posted by solo (Member # 3148) on :
Mickey's Christmas Carol is only about 25 minutes and I believe that Muppet Family Christmas is around 45 minutes. Both of those are pretty good.
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:I don't see what everyone hates so much about it... I just love it! It's a failing, I know.
It sounds like you really do see it, but are in denial. Posted by katharina (Member # 827) on :
Oh, I loved Mickey's Christmas Carol! That's a good idea.
Muppet Family Christmas is different from A Muppet Christmas Carol, right?
Posted by mr_porteiro_head (Member # 4644) on :
quote:And sex is constantly alluded to, but in a chaste manner (if that makes sense.)
All the sex alluded to is within the confines of marriage? Posted by solo (Member # 3148) on :
Yes. Muppet Family Christmas is when the Muppets go to Fozzy's mothers house. Fozzy's mom is planning to leave for a vacation and the guy from Fraggle Rock is house sitting with his dog Sprocket. The Sesame Street gang show up caroling and the Fraggles show up as well. Jim Henson makes an appearance in it as well.
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I'm going to ask the group tomorrow which one they want.
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