Thursday, March 21, 2024
White Christmas
- Commentary: Under construction.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Bing Crosby Bob Wallace Danny Kaye Phil Davis Rosemary Clooney Betty Haynes Vera-Ellen Judy Haynes Dean Jagger Mjr Gen Tom Waverly Mary Wickes Emma Allen Johnny Grant Ed Harrison John Brascia John/Johnny
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1954
Directed by Michael Curtiz.
Labels: Christmas, dance, dean-jagger, musical2, vera-ellen
Wednesday, October 26, 2022
A Carol for Another Christmas
- Commentary: Under construction.
Considering its inavailability for decades (it was originally broadcast in 1964 and then shelved for nearly 50 years, finally being revived by TCM in 2012), I consider myself lucky to have a copy of this movie. I have never seen it, but I checked it for version information. There are, apparently, two versions making the rounds. The original features Henry Mancini's music. The second removed Mancini's music and replaced it with recordings of children singing Christmas carols. The copy I own is of the original broadcast.
Aside from the review I've attached to the title of this post, I've linked, as well, to several reviews written about the movie, below. Each review, whether short or long, contains some interesting tidbit (or, in the case of the one linked to this post title, many tidbits) containing considerations of and facts about the production and impact of this film:
Bureau 42 Review
Emanuel Levy Review
Films Graded Review
TCM Article/Review
Spooky Isles Review
Most of the reviews contain a plot summary, some of which are quite detailed, so be forewarned, but, keep in mind, you already know this story, as it is a retelling of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Percy Rodriguez Charles Sterling Hayden Daniel Grudge Ben Gazzara Fred Barbara Ann Teer Ruby Steve Lawrence Ghost of Christmas Past Eva Marie Saint WAVE Lt. Gibson James Shigeta Doctor Pat Hingle Ghost of Christmas Present Robert Shaw Ghost of Christmas Future Peter Sellers Imperial Me Britt Ekland Mother Joe Santos Number 32
It is astonishing to note that every single one of the actors listed in the table above either was or became well involved in the entertainment industry, well known, if only by face recognition, and well loved. And, of course, it was written by Rod Serling, and, by the way, look who directed it. This was not meant to be, nor was it (even though it was disappeared for quite a while), a slouch of a production.
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1964
Directed by Joseph L. Mankiewicz.
Labels: §6, apocalyptic, Christmas, goflexA, nuclear, pat-hingle, TV3
Tuesday, May 24, 2022
Touched by an Angel, Seasons 1 - 9
- Who's watched: M & G, ad infinitum
- Mentions: *1* *2* *3* *4* *5* *6* *7*
- Commentary: For the most complete coverage of this series in our lives, best for you to click into the first Mention, above. Otherwise, suffice it to say that, as of this date, I still haven't been able to watch any of the episodes of this series (as I haven't since my mother's death), but refuse to pass these DVDs on to someone else.
* As usual, while there are many directors throughout the seasons, female directors are merely scattered throughout. In fact, the first season had no female directors. I guess that figures, since it's a series underhandedly about the Abrahamic God.
P. S.: I recall that there are at at least a couple of Christmas stories in this set ... I just don't know which episodes they are.
Update 2/10/18: True, not your classic super-hero series but, don't you agree, the angels act miraculously and certainly have what humans would consider super-powers. And, they help people and, in a few episodes, do battle with Satan, their nemesis. What could be more super-heroic than that?!?
Update 5/24/22: Yet another post published on 4/09/09 that "disappeared" and I had to recapture.
Update 11/24/22: In case you're curious, the Touched by an Angel episode in which Kirk Douglas acted was season 6-episode 18, "Bar Mitzvah".
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Roma Downey Monica Della Reese Tess John Dye Andrew Valerie Bertinelli Gloria Alexis Cruz Rafael Charles Rocket Adam Paul Winfield Sam Cloris Leachman Ruth
Ossie Davis appeared as Erasmus Jones in "Touched by an Angel" Season 3/Episodes 11 "Promised Land" & 12 "The Homecoming"; "Touched by an Angel" Season 4 Episode 1 "The Road Home Part 1"; Season 5 Episode 2 "Saving Grace Part 1"
Ossie Davis appeared as Gabe in "Touched by an Angel" Season 6 Episode 10 "The Christmas Gift"
Ossie Davis appeared as Gabriel in "Touched by an Angel" Season 9 Episode 9 "Remembering Me Part 2"
Piper Laurie appeared in Touched by an Angel, Season 4/Episode 12, "Venice"
John de Lancie appeared in Touched by an Angel, Season 4/Episode 5, "Jones vs. God"
Nancy Allen appeared in Touched by an Angel, Season 1/Episode 7, "An Unexpected Snow"
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1994-2003
Directed by: See * note above.
Labels: Christmas, edward-james-olmos, enrique-castillo, fantasy2, female-director3, jesse-borrego, john-de-lancie, kirk-douglas, mom-favorite1, nancy-allen, ossie-davis, piper-laurie, spiritual1, william-devane
Holiday Inn
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: none
- Commentary: This was one of the last Christmas movies we purchased before Mom's death. I'd often wanted a copy of it because Mom had fond, though vague, memories of it. The version we purchased included the black-and-white and color editions. Although there are several b&w movies I'd refuse to watch in color, It's a Wonderful Life, for instance, or High Noon (yee gads, what a horrible idea, High Noon in color), the usual Tracy/Hepburn movies, Miracle on 34th Street (the original one), I have to say, I like this one in color better than the b&w version, although, in it's favor, that's the version we watched first. I gave Mom a choice and she chose color first. This edition contains a special feature which documents the colorization process. Once I understood how it's done, the idea didn't seem quite so disgusting. But, I still want my Now, Voyager in black & white.
Review opinions on this movie run the gamut. I've linked a negative review to the title of this post. Here's a foursome of much more positive reviews of the film. So, you know, watch the movie, take your pick.
Update 5/24/22: Yet another post published on 4/09/09 that "disappeared" and I had to recapture.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Bing Crosby Jim Hardy Fred Astaire Ted Hanover Marjorie Reynolds Linda Mason Walter Abel Danny Reed Virginia Dale Lila Dixon Louise Beavers Mamie Irving Bacon Gus James Bell Dunbar from Hollywood
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1942
Directed by Mark Sandrich.
Labels: 20th-century-chick-flicks1, Christmas, comedy1, dance, fred-astaire, louise-beavers, musical1, popcorn-and-soda3, romance2
American Girl Movie Collection
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1* *2*
- Commentary: The "Mention" is only for one movie, but we watched all four with just about equal pleasure.
Although I'm sure there are excellent reasons to critique the movies, we just sat back and enjoyed them.
I understand yet another American Girl movie has been released, Chrissa. If Mom was still alive I don't think I'd be collecting this one because there is no obvious historical context and it looks like a highly moral 'tween version of Mean Girls. Much of the draw, for Mom and me, of this series, was the historical context.
Kit Kittredge [Directed by Patricia Rozema. Release Date: 2008]; Mom's favorite. It's the one that takes place during the Great Depression of the 1930s. This is the movie that elicited the most enthusiastic response from her, possibly because she was a child during that period. This movie so far, has been the only one to be reviewed by a major film critic, Roger Ebert. I've attached his review as the link for this movie.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Abigail Breslin Margaret Mildred 'Kit' Kittredge Chris O'Donnell Jack Kittredge Julia Ormond Margaret Kittredge Joan Cusack Lucinda Bond Stanley Tucci Jefferson Jasper Rene Berk Jane Krakowski May Dooley Madison Davenport Ruthie Smithens Austin MacDonald Roger Willow Smith Constance Wallace Shawn Mr. Gibson Glenne Headly Mrs. Howard Colin Mochrie Mr. Pennington
Felicity [Directed by Nadia Tass. Release Date: 2005]; My favorite. It's the one that takes place just prior to the American Revolution.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Shailene Woodley Felicity Merriman Marcia Gay Harden Martha Merriman Katie Henney Elizabeth Cole John Schneider Edward Merriman
Samantha [Directed by Nadia Tass. Release Date: 2004]; This one is the Christmas movie in this collection.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role AnnaSophia Robb Samantha Parkington Kelsey Lewis Nellie O'Malley Mia Farrow Mary Edwards Jordan Bridges Gardner Edwards
Molly [Directed by Joyce Chopra. Release Date: 2006].
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Maya Ritter Molly McIntire David Aaron Baker Dr. James McIntire Molly Ringwald Helen McIntire Thomas Brodie-Sangster Boy in Spelling Bee
Although I'm sure there are excellent reasons to critique the movies, we just sat back and enjoyed them.
I understand yet another American Girl movie has been released, Chrissa. If Mom was still alive I don't think I'd be collecting this one because there is no obvious historical context and it looks like a highly moral 'tween version of Mean Girls. Much of the draw, for Mom and me, of this series, was the historical context.
Apparently, American Girl movies continue to be made. I just scrolled through Amazon and several are out there, including some that are free to watch if you're an Amazon Prime member (and, of course, some require a rental fee, as well). I haven't watched any of the movies we acquired when Mom was alive since she died. All other links are to Wikipedia pages, I'm afraid, but the main article has some interesting information about the series history and almost every movie in the series has an additional Wikipedia link of its own. In time, I might scan through Amazon Prime (to which I subscribe) and check out the free movies. Should be interesting.
Update 8/26/21: Out of curiosity, I decided to check to see if any more American Girl (same link as in the title of this post) movies have been produced. As of 2017, 10 more, aside from the initial four which we own, have been released. Four of them appear as a four-pack on Amazon. Two are stand alones. Four, so far as I can tell, have only been released on Prime Video.
Will I be watching them? I doubt it, but you never know. They're pretty sleek productions.
Update 5/24/22: Yet another post published on 4/09/09 that "disappeared" and I had to recapture.
Labels: Christmas, coming-of-age1, female-director1, historical3, kids, marsha-gay-harden, period3, popcorn-and-soda3
Wednesday, May 18, 2022
Miracle on 34th Street
- Who's watched: M & G, not as often as you might think.
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: We've only owned this movie since this last holiday season and only watched it once, I think. I am oddly attracted to it. I think my mother is, too. I think, unlike It's a Wonderful Life, which we are apt to watch in the middle of the summer, this will remain a holiday movie.
Update 2/10/18: Yes. This is a super-hero movie. Don't argue with me. Santa Claus is the epitome of the purely good super-hero.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published February 6, 2005. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Maureen O'Hara Doris Walker John Payne Fred Gailey Edmund Gwenn Kris Kringle Gene Lockhart Hon. Henry X. Harper Natalie Wood Susan Walker Porter Hall Granville Sawyer William Frawley Charlie Halloran Jerome Cowan D. A. Thomas Mara
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1947
Directed by George Seaton.
Labels: Christmas, comedy2, mom-favorite2, natalie-wood, super-hero2, thelma-ritter
Sunday, May 08, 2022
Love Actually
- Who's watched: M & G, many times
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: Okay, I don't know whether to be ashamed or not to say that I not only love this movie, I am in love with it. It has the ability to both soothe and encourage me. So, we watch it a lot. I know my mother enjoys it and sticks with it every time. I don't know if she has the same kind of gut reactions to it that I do. Fairly recently, toward the end of the holiday season, I watched this movie on dvd in the evening with Mom then turned right around and watched the entire movie again on cable. My mother did not stay up for the cable viewing.
Again, another post, written on 2/7/2005, that I managed to delete on 5/7/2020, found the hidden original, and have reposted it.
Update 5/8/22: This is a reposting of a previous post dated 2/7/2005 that I managed to recover.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Alan Rickman Harry Emma Thompson Karen Hugh Grant David Martine McCutcheon Natalie Colin Firth Jamie Lúcia Moniz Aurélia Liam Neeson Daniel Thomas Sangster Sam Bill Nighy Billy Mack Gregor Fisher Joe Chiwetel Ejiofor Peter Keira Knightley Juliet Andrew Lincoln Mark Laura Linney Rodrigo Santoro Kris Marshall Colin Abdul Salis Tony Billy Bob Thornton U. S. President Rowan Atkinson Rufus Heike Makatsch Mia Olivia Olson Joanna
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2003
Directed by Richard Curtis.
Labels: alan-rickman, Christmas, colin-firth, comedy2, emma-thompson, laura-linney, me-favorite4, popcorn-and-soda6, romance3
Wednesday, December 15, 2021
Christmas in Connecticut
- Commentary: As with the previous Christmas movie, I just received this today and haven't watched it. But I'll be watching it either tomorrow or Friday of this week. I'll post more then.
By the way, Nell Minow contributed a very interesting and laudatory piece about Stanwyck's involvement in movies, including a bit about her life. If Barbara Stanwyck strikes you, at all, read it.
Update 5/15/2022: It's almost six months since I received and posted this movie and I still haven't watched it. I'm between Christmas seasons by almost exactly half, and likely won't watch this until the next season, six months from now. Although I live in a place where the summers are temperate and, during the monsoon, you can almost make yourself believe winter is coming, still, this place also produces a decent winter, including, most years, snow, so, I think I'll wait for another six months to watch this. Maybe over the Thanksgiving Holiday weekend. Remind me, please.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Barbara Stanwyck Elizabeth Dennis Morgan Jefferson Jones Sydney Greenstreet Alexander Yardley Reginald Gardiner John Sloan S.Z. Sakall Felix Bassenak Robert Shayne Dudley Beecham Una O'Connor Norah Frank Jenks Sinkewicz
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1945
Directed by Peter Godfrey.
Labels: §, barbara-stanwyck, Christmas, dramedy3
Remember the Night
- Commentary: This is one of two Christmas movies I ordered, both featuring Barbara Stanwyck, both filmed in the 1940's (this one in 1940, the other in 1945). My route to obtaining both of these Christmas movies didn't start even close to my destination. Last week I noticed, upon receiving Die Hard, that my Christmas collection of movies is paltry. This didn't surprise me. I'm not a fan of just any old Christmas or Holiday movie. As you can see, if you check out the list attached to the "Christmas" label, back there, I've even gotten rid of two Christmas movies since my mother's death (both of which she loved) that I just couldn't stand. I'm very discerning when it comes to holiday movies, so much so that if the cover of the case even looks like a TV Christmas production, I shake my head and turn away.
But, I wanted to enrich my Christmas collection, this year. For some reason, which I doubt I'll plumb, I'm in the mood for Christmas movies this year. This isn't the first time it's happened, but it is pretty rare. So, I went on a hunt for a couple more, having had such luck with Die Hard. The search was increasingly dismal. I almost gave up. Then, I stumbled across these two Barbara Stanwyck movies [the other is Christmas in Connecticut]. I looked up information on them and thought, yeah! That's what I'm looking for! So I ordered both. Now, I'm looking forward to a Christmas movie session this year, and it'll start tomorrow night.
The Christmas movies I've collected (and kept), though, are dear to my heart. I can't imagine going through "the season" without watching all of them every year between a bit before Christmas up to New Years. I even like every single one of them enough so that it's not unusual to watch any one of them throughout the year during the "off-holiday season" (which is, of course, the entire rest of the year excepting the Christmas season). And, by the way, don't even mention Thanksgiving movies. Not having any, thank you.
Stay tuned for more, later, when I actually watch these two movies.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Barbara Stanwyck Lee Leander Fred MacMurray John Sargent Beulah Bondi Mrs. Sargent Elizabeth Patterson Aunt Emma Willard Robertson Francis X. O'Leary Sterling Holloway Willie Simms Charles Waldron NY Judge Paul Guilfoyle NY DA
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1940
Directed by Preston Sturges.
Labels: §, barbara-stanwyck, beulah-bondi, Christmas, dramaE
Tuesday, December 07, 2021
Die Hard
- Commentary: Roger Ebert didn't like this movie very much. He only gave it two stars and a middling review. Other reviewers were equally ambivalent. They, at the time and through time, were in the minority, although a rather large minority. Audiences, however, were not ambivalent. It's a crowd pleaser, a perennial favorite and, dare I say, one of my favorite Christmas movies.
Despite Roger Ebert's dismissal of it, it's been re-reviewed and revisited twice since the movie was released: Once in 2013 by Matt Zoller Seitz and again in 2015 by Brain Tallerico when a commemoriative set of the entire series of movies was released.
Truth be told, the only movie in the series I've seen is this one. In fact, until I read one of the articles above, I was only vaguely aware that there was a collection surrounding this character. I can't imagine that I'll be catching up on the sequels, but, this year, for some reason, I wanted this movie to be a part of my Christmas celebration, and the Christmas part of my movie collection.
More later, when I watch it.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Bruce Willis John McClane Alan Rickman Hans Gruber Alexander Godunov Karl Bonnie Bedelia Holly Gennero-McClane Reginald VelJohnson Al Powell Paul Gleason Dwayne T. Robinson De'voreaux White Argyle William Atherton Richard Thornburg Tracy Reiner Thornburg's assistant Clarence Gilyard Theo Hart Bochner Harry Ellis James Shigeta Joseph Yoshinobu Takagi
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1988
Directed by John McTiernan, Jr.
Labels: §, action3, alan-rickman, Christmas, dramaE, popcorn-and-soda7, suspense3, thriller2
Thursday, November 18, 2021
Meet John Doe
- Commentary: I've wanted to own this movie for a long time and finally caught it, used, at our local Hastings, which is in the process of going out of business, unfortunately. It's where I've bought most of my movies, used and cheap. Not sure what I'll do, now. At any rate, I've watched this movie on television more than a few times. It's one of my all time favorite classics. A few months ago, when I was contemplating the current U.S. Presidential election, I suddenly got a hankering to watch this movie because of what I thought I remembered as similarities between the portrayal of the "John Doe Club" movement and what was going on in both political parties. Since I no longer have a TV connection the solution was buying it and, there it was, on the Hastings shelves. And, yes, I think I was right in the connections I made between the political movements then and now. I know I'll be coming back to this movie over and over in the years to come. And, yes, for those of you who notice "shared-favorite" the labels, below, it was a favorite of my mother's as well. She may be dead, but my memories of her live on and are refreshed every time I watch this movie.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published August 14, 2016. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Gary Cooper John Doe/Long John Willoughby Barbara Stanwyck Ann Mitchell Edward Arnold D. B. Norton Walter Brennan The Colonel Spring Byington Mrs. Mitchell James Gleason Henry Connell Gene Lockhart Mayor Lovett Rod La Rocque Ted Shelton
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1941
Directed by Frank Capra.
Labels: anti-fascist, barbara-stanwyck, Christmas, drama6, frank-capra, political2, shared-favorite
Wednesday, November 17, 2021
It's a Wonderful Life
- Who's watched: M & G, many times and off-season
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This movie turned me into a Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra fan. It used to irritate Mom, though, because it is so believably dark (which is what I love about it...by the time Jimmy Stewart is hanging over the bridge, you're thinking, yep, that's the only way). Now, she focuses on Donna Reed and Beulah Bondi.
I remember reading somewhere that this is the only Capra movie in which the monster does not receive his comeupance. And, Lionel Barrymore is a superb monster in this movie.
Roger Ebert christened this movie as one of his "Great Movies". The review is the one linked to the title of this post.
Update 11/17/2021: This post was originally published February 6, 2005. It was one of the accidental deletions that occurred, which is covered in this post.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role James Stewart George Bailey Donna Reed Mary Hatch Bailey Lionel Barrymore Mr. Potter Thomas Mitchell Uncle Billy Henry Travers Clarence Beulah Bondi Mrs. Bailey Frank Faylen Ernie Ward Bond Bert Gloria Grahame Violet H. B. Warner Mr. Gower Frank Albertson Sam Wainwright Bill Edmunds Mr. Martini
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1946
Directed by Frank Capra.
Labels: beulah-bondi, Christmas, dramaC, frank-capra, james-stewart, shared-favorite, thomas-mitchell
Friday, April 13, 2007
The Nativity Story
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: Yes, this is yet another jesus dvd that is a Jesus movie. We rented it first. For some unknown reason, I had the idea that maybe we had enough Jesus movies for Mom and she'd consider this one overkill, but I was wrong, which is why I purchased it for her. We've watched it several times.
I appreciate it for the explanation it contains of certain cultural customs to which members of "The Holy Family" would have been obligated, but, more than this, some of the oblique symbology of the birth of Jesus is explained, such as the signficance of the gifts received from "the wise men". There is strong enough emphasis on the importance of the visiting of the shepherds that I finally understood this aspect of the Jesus Nativity Story. And, the parallel story of Elizabeth and Zechariah is well woven into the presentation.
My mother, of course, is enthralled with the movie. The more apparently realistic Bible movies are, the more she likes them. This one rang a bell for her. She even enjoyed the offhand comic relief of the three wise men.
I may have mentioned this before: I'm not Christian, never have been, actually, even though I was raised in what would be considered a typical Christian household of the 50's and 60's, which is to say, only mildly religious but with a strong emphasis on morality and ethics, not necessarily connected to but often echoing Christianity in particular. Because my mother is deeply spiritual, though, and uses Christianity as her spiritual touchstone (and, for a few other reasons, as well), I spent a fair amount of time (still do, in fact) investigating and thinking about Christianity. I've been at the point, for some years, where I firmly doubt the existence of the historical Jesus as presented in Christianity (even the Christian gospels hint that the Jesus they present never existed) but, because much of the symbology and beliefs are ubiquitous in many theistic and nontheistic religious doctrines and practice, the entire area of spirituality bounded by religion fascinates me and Christianity, being the first religion to which I was introduced, thus the one with which I am most familiar, is a good jumping off point for me. This movie, in particular, is a succinct reminder of the power of the Jesus story, Jesus mythology and Christian dedication. As well, while I was absorbing Elizabeth's story alongside Mary's, I was suddenly struck by the importance of the mothers of gods, in stories such as these, always being in some way barren, or, in the case of the births of great leaders of a theistic religion, the birth itself or the baby being threatened, thus the birth of the god or the leader is usually (except, for instance, in the case of Abram/Abraham), somehow miraculous. I don't know why I never before paid attention to this.
Soon after we watched this movie a few times and had some stimulating conversations about Christianity in particular and spirituality in general, I decided to rent The God Who Wasn't There so Mom could get a better idea of why Christianity interests me but doesn't cause me to "fall on [my] knees". No, this isn't a movie we'll be purchasing. I was familiar with most of the stuff in it when I originally saw it and don't need it as a resource. But, Mom found this movie interesting and worthy of discussion, although it didn't sway her belief in her religion. I didn't expect this. Even those of us who aren't swayed by beliefs in gods and the ritual detail of god centered religions often have belief systems that make no rational sense but hold sway over us, anyway. At any rate, something I realized when we discussed spirituality and religion from the point of view of The God Who Wasn't There is that Mom is firmly centered in life-here-and-now rather than death-in-the-sweet-by-and-by. This, I think, is the important difference between her spirituality and that of many people who consider and call themselves Christians.
The Nativity Story is not nearly as spiritually powerful for me as, say, The Little Buddha, for instance, but it's provocative, nonetheless, and I can count on it to trigger interesting discussions about religion and spirituality between my mother and me.
Well, well, well. I found loads of Christian reviewers covering this movie, usually positively (if there was any negativity at all in these reviews, it was a minor haggle over biblical representation of the story vs. this movie's representation), but I was able to find only two secular critics weighing in. Of those, I chose the, well, the longest, to connect to the title of this post. It was also the better of the two I found, and the kinder. I think what most secular critics wanted was more of a The Last Temptation of the Christ presentation. Although I'm a secularist, myself, I notice that most secularists who go to the movies are allergic to any religious presentation even when it is sincere and subtle. Guys, this story is well acted by some extraordinary actors, well directed, well filmed and well told. It's not trying to convert you. It's just telling an old, old story. Relax. It's not going to jump into the theater (or your living room) and strangle you until you become Christian.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Keisha Castle-Hughes Mary Oscar Isaac Joseph Hiam Abbass Anna Shaun Toub Joachim Shohreh Aghdashloo Elizabeth Stanley Townsend Zechariah Ciarán Hinds Herod the Great Alexander Siddig Angel Gabriel
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2006
Directed by Catherine Hardwicke.
Labels: bible-movies1, Christmas, drama7, female-director2, jesus-dvds, mom-favorite1, oscar-isaac, period3, religion1, spiritual1
Sunday, December 24, 2006
The Santa Clause 2
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: This is not my favorite movie of the series but Mom seems to like it more than the original, so I purchased a copy for our Christmas sub-collection. I think what she likes is the focus on Mrs. Clause. If it had been possible, she probably would have married Santa Claus, back when she was a fertile, marriage-inclined woman.
Thus, when Mom died, this movie went to my local library.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tim Allen Scott Calvin/Santa Clause Elizabeth Mitchell Carol Newman Wendy Crewson Laura Miller Judge Reinhold Dr. Neil Miller David Krumholtz Head Elf Bernhard Peter Boyle Father Time Kevin Pollak Cupid Michael Dorn Sandman
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2002
Directed by Michael Lembeck.
Labels: Christmas, comedy1, fantasy3, kids, mom-favorite1, super-hero2
The Santa Clause
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: *1*
- Commentary: We first saw this some years ago. Both of us were charmed by it, so it has become one of those movies that I search for on television every year around Christmas time. I finally decided, this year, it was time to add it to our collection.
Update 2/9/18: In case you're wondering, yes, I watched it during the past holiday season. It remains a part of my personal Holiday Movie Line-up.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tim Allen Scott Calvin/Santa Claus Eric Lloyd Charlie Calvin Wendy Crewson Laura Miller Judge Reinhold Dr. Neil Miller David Krumholtz Head Elf Bernard Paige Tamada Judy The Elf Peter Boyle Mr. Whittle Kenny Vadas E.L.F.S. Leader
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 1994
Directed by John Pasquin.
Labels: Christmas, comedy1, fantasy3, kids, mom-favorite1, super-hero2
Thursday, November 23, 2006
The Polar Express
- Who's watched: M & G
- Mentions: None
- Commentary: We've owned this movie for almost exactly a year, now. I'm not surprised there are no mentions of it in any of the journals. Last year, during a period when my Christmas Spirit was fairly high, I bought this movie on the strength of a recommendation of a friend who, knowing how much Mom likes Christmas and movies, thought she'd love this one. Last year, though, both of us were underwhelmed by the movie. Although it's only 100 minutes, Mom said, at the end, "Well, I'm glad that's over. It seemed to go on forever."
I wasn't particularly thrilled with the animation. I remember seeing the first movie made in this style of animation, a science fiction piece in which Ed Harris was one of the stars. There was something disturbing for me, watching a movie whose intent was to be so animated it appeared to be real and yet wasn't. It was this same effect that bothered me about this movie.
Interesting to me that Roger Ebert loved this movie. Of course, on his behalf, Mom and I aren't children. Perhaps that's the problem with us. Except that, neither of us don't like movies designed for children. We both, for instance, love Pee Wee's Playhouse. Oops! Maybe that's the problem!
At any rate, we decided to put it in our "to be traded" pile. Every time I accessed the pile during the ensuing year, though, I left this movie alone. I decided to try it on Mom this year, just in case, before I took it in for trade. This was a good decision. We decided to watch it last night. I told Mom we were watching it with an eye to whether or not we would keep it. I don't know whether she remembered this. What I do know is that she was thoroughly involved in the movie, this time. It even kicked off what I expect will be a Thanksgiving weekend of watching all our holiday movies (which are few, at this time). I was still so distracted that I chose to perform chores and advance Thanksgiving dinner prep. But, Mom was thoroughly satisfied; so, I guess it's a keeper; and now I'm entering it on our list.
Update 7/31/21: Well, obviously, we didn't keep this forever, or, perhaps (I don't recall), I didn't keep it forever. I probably chucked it to the library after Mom died, but, frankly, I don't remember. I might have traded it in during the two years left of Mom's life.
Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Actor Role Tom Hanks Hero Boy Nona Gaye Hero Girl Peter Scolari Billy the Lonely Boy Eddie Deezen Know-It-All Michael Jeter Smokey/Steamer Leslie Zemeckis Sister Sarah/Hero Boy's Mother Dylan Cash Boy on Train Brendan King Pastry Chef
Here's a link to the Wikipedia write-up of the film.
Release Date: 2004
Directed by Robert Zemeckis.
Labels: animated, Christmas, pseudo-cgi-animation, tom-hanks
