Friday, December 20, 2013

Movies of Spirit

Okay-- I'll be honest.  I realized that it was blog day and whimpered.

Today, completely by accident, I ended up taking the day off.

Yeah, yeah, I'd done a few things-- wrote about a thousand words, replied to some e-mails, did a little promo--

But mostly?

I watched movies and knitted with Chicken, which I've been promising to do all week.  So, yeah.  It was blogging day on movie day-- and then I decided, hey!  I'll cheat.  I'll combine them.  I'm sneaky that way.

So--

We have a few diehard (*snerk*) movies that we watch every Yuletide that just, well, make us feel the season.  Some of them are definitely Christmassy, and some of them are… well…. not.

But either way, as a family, these are the movies that get us in the mood.

I'm going to go interactive with this one-- in the comments, tell me what movies get you in the solstice mood, right?  If you mention one that I love but forgot, I'll send you Christmas Kitsch swag!  It's gorgeous, I swear!

So, this is in no particular order:

Love Actually -- I laugh and cry every time.

Die Hard-- 1-4-- because nothing says holiday time like Bruce Willis bleeding.

Lethal Weapon-- remember when Mel Gibson wasn't insane and embarrassing?

Santa Clause is Coming to Town-- Because, in Chicken's words, "Never have so many people taken so little money and made something so timeless."

Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer-- Because nothing says "Christmas" like a fascist Santa self-reforming and allowing the misfit toys out of the ghetto.

While You Were Sleeping-- Besides real Chicago during Christmas?  There's Sandra Bullock looking frickin' cold.  

Sleepless in Seattle-- Yeah, Bill Pullman gets ditched in this one.  But he's still classy, and Tom Hanks… kinda hot!

Muppet Christmas Carol-- A truly perfect movie.  Those muppets put in more human performances than most humans.  Watch any reality show, and you'll swear Miss Piggy is more real than the all the Kardashians put together.

Polar Express--Tom Hanks.  Again.  But also some mind-blowing animation and quirky plot twists and simple poetry.

The Grinch Who Stole Christmas-- The real one, with the animation and the Grinch with the creepy smile that climbed up to his forehead and the wonderfully subversive lyrics and the soul of a kind man who spent 26 years trying to break OUT of advertising.

It's A Wonderful Life-- Because.  Jimmy Stewart.

Mickey's Once Upon a Christmas-- Okay.  I'll be honest.  The kids said this one.  The older kids.  I think they've got an overdeveloped sense of melancholy.

A Very Supernatural Christmas-- Because Dean is gonna die.

101 Dalmatiens -- Because there's snow and dogs with spots and the older kids said so.

You've Got e-Mail-- Because there's Christmas in it.  And did I mention Tom Hanks?

It's About Time-- I know it's new and hardly anybody's seen it… but… Mate and I saw it last March.  And loved it.  Because it was gorgeous.  And it will make you cry happy tears.  And that's the best Christmas stories that aren't blowing shit up.


So there you are-- not all of them, but some of them.  If you'd like some Rusty Swag (since the Scavenger Hunt ends officially tomorrow) go ahead and leave a post, and then e-mail me!  And, you know, if you don't want some Rusty swag, just leave me a post!

Oh-- and the weird picture with the cat?  Well, I dyed my hair on Tuesday night.  And Chicken's cat started nose humping my head like a pornstar on viagra.  Not very politic, and you won't see it in a movie, but it sure did have us laughing our asses off!  



14 comments:

  1. OK, I'll bite.. (waiting for hubby to get home from airport with college kid) "Miracle on 34th Street", "Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer" (the version that includes the Island of Misfit Toys), and it may sound crazy but for some strange reason, they always play "Bridge Over The River Kwai" at this time of year, too...Don't have a clue but it's become a favorite along with "Home Alone" and "Blazing Saddles"
    Between taking time to watch these and other Yule activities, we always find some new movie to watch for New Year's in keeping with our tradition of tempura veggies for nibbling. (Yeah, come on over...Irish walls and Italian kitchen - there's always someone here and always something cooking!)

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  2. I lovelovelove The Ref with Denis Leary. That's the one I watch every year.

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  3. The Santa Clause, always a favorite here, because well, Tim Allen even in a fat suit is funny and yet the story is poignant and heartwarming. AND come on,(Effective Liberating Flight Squad aka E.L.F.S.) Special Forces Elves!!!

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  4. If I get the chance, I always watch "A Charlie Brown Christmas" and that antique classic "a Christmas Story". Always looking for more, and now I have a good list! :D

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  5. I am a bit of a traditionalist. I love my White Christmas and sing along with Danny and Rosey and Bing and Vera every year. And I cry every years too. *LOL* And I have to watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation with a glass or two of wine and laugh my Christmas socks off every year. There are others that we really like, but these are my two absolute Must Watch movies. :)

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  6. My Christmas movie list looks a lot like that but also have to have Year Without a Santa Claus and Miracle on 34th St (original version)

    Christmas movies,family time and knitting - the good life

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  7. HHhhmm I Love most of those but this year I discovered Arthur Christmas which I loved and also Gremlins. Good times!

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  8. The bestest movie EVER - one for any season of the year - is Muppet Family Christmas (the one from 1987 where they all go to see Fozzie's mom) - the DVD is missing 3 songs and a few seconds from the final melody but I just found it in full glory on YouTube

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  9. The Santa Clause and Home Alone and Rise of the Guardians. The Russian Santa and Jack Frost, just yes.

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  10. All great choices. I am a big Santa Claus fan so I love The Santa Clause because the elves are so cute and I would love a North Pole like that. I also like Santa Clause 2 with it's teacher Christmas party.
    I must admit I also love Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus (A TV movie shown every year - because it is so cheesy but so sweet.) Newer movies include Last Holiday because I love Queen Latifah and her metamorphosis and The Holiday because the snow on the English cottage is so beautiful and so is Jude Law. I adore The Nightmare Before Christmas because it is a beautiful visual art piece. The original Miracle on 34th Street because it gives hope. Finally I have to admit to watching Home Alone every year. Kevin truly believed he wished his family away.
    Whatever you do, enjoy your holiday. Have a good new year and give us more books like Locker Room.

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  11. All great choices. I am a big Santa Claus fan so I love The Santa Clause because the elves are so cute and I would love a North Pole like that. I also like Santa Clause 2 with it's teacher Christmas party.
    I must admit I also love Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus (A TV movie shown every year - because it is so cheesy but so sweet.) Newer movies include Last Holiday because I love Queen Latifah and her metamorphosis and The Holiday because the snow on the English cottage is so beautiful and so is Jude Law. I adore The Nightmare Before Christmas because it is a beautiful visual art piece. The original Miracle on 34th Street because it gives hope. Finally I have to admit to watching Home Alone every year. Kevin truly believed he wished his family away.
    Whatever you do, enjoy your holiday. Have a good new year and give us more books like Locker Room.

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  12. Rise of the guardians, because - Hugh Jackman's voice.

    Hugs to Chicken. Spending the whole day knitting and watching movies is a positive thing in the universe!

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  13. Harry Potter Marathon because it family tradition. Followed by LOTR and Avengers. Because we are a family of complete geeks and nerds and damn proud of it.

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  14. The Nightmare Before Christmas is a favourite in my family and inevitably leads to a Tim Burton marathon, so Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride, Edward Scissorhands...

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