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No, I don't have gas. This post continues the "my favorite" theme from yesterday, only this time it's movies, Christmas movies. Old Beans kicked off this idea in the Old Sarge's head in one of his always insightful/humorous/pithy/interesting comments...
If you like this post, credit Beans, it was his idea. If you don't...
Well, you know what to do.
Anyhoo...
Sarge's favorite Christmas films!
A Christmas Story - What's not to like? BB Guns, the 1950s, kid brothers bundled up in 8,000 layers of winter clothing, and a number of things which remind me of growing up in a small town in New England.
Oh, that opening photo (which is indeed from the movie) that's me in the glasses, Tuna with his tongue sticking out, Juvat is the tall guy behind Tuna, and that has to be Beans behind the kid in the colorful toque. (Which I have always insisted is the Canadian word for "hat." What some might call a watch cap, but which growing up we called a toque, pronounced as "tewk." Rhymes with "anyhoo.")
Yeah, anyhoo. I watch that movie almost every year, though The Missus Herself has banned the screening of that film on Christmas Day itself, where I think it's TBS which runs it all day. A most hysterical film which is rather heartwarming as well. But ya know me, I'm an old softie.
But is that my favorite Christmas movie? No, not at all, but it's in the top five. So which is my favorite? Glad you asked. (Yes, you'll all get your turn in the comments to regale Your Humble Scribe with your favorites. And no, Die Hard didn't make the list. Es tut mir Leid, Hans.)
A Christmas Carol - The one with George C. Scott, this one -
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Some very fine actors in there: David Warner (Bob Cratchit), Susannah York (Mrs. Cratchit), and of course Mr. Scott himself as Ebeneezer Scrooge. I think that this is the best adaptation of Charles Dickens' novella, primarily because after seeing this film I went out and actually bought the book, the film was very faithful to the book. (I mentioned that one here in December of 2012.)
To be fair, there are some who like an earlier version of this classic, filmed in the '30s I believe, in black and white, better than this one. I can't say as I haven't seen it. I don't feel I need to as I like this one very much. I did see part of the one with Patrick Stewart (of Star Trek: The Next Generation fame) and (to me) it sucked most horridly, unwatchable says I, do turn that sh!t off I say. (Which the progeny did, taking great glee in the looks I received from their mother, The Missus Herself. That lady can say a great deal with just her eyes, those lovely eyes... Ahem, where were we?)
So that's number one, followed at a close second by A Christmas Story. Number three I ran across in Blockbuster, when those still existed in numbers as great as the buffalo of the Great Plains once did. The Nuke and I were off to find videos for to entertain us and found this movie. Surprisingly wonderful and based on (and pretty true to) a real life event in World War One. December 1914...
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Joyeux Noël is the name of the film, The Nuke and I saw it, thought "This looks interesting, what the heck..." and rented it. By the end of the film we were getting all nostalgic and misty eyed. A brilliant film, which also made my Top Ten War Films list back in December of 2016. (Chase that link under the photo as well, Die Hard made his list. ICSFTH)
To round out my top five, coming in at fourth place is, of course, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, which also makes my list of favorite comedies...
How can you not love the Griswolds? (Yes, that was rhetorical...)
And last, but certainly not least, the first time I saw this I laughed long and hard...
I mean come on, Bill Murray, Bobcat Goldthwait, Carol Kane? What's not to like? (Again, rhetorical...)
So that's my Top Five list of favorite Christmas films. I'm sure some of you are wondering why some movies aren't on this list. Well, they're on a list, just not the Top Five list. No doubt someone will mention a film which I love but have forgotten about. But if I forgot it, how could it make a Top Five list?
I showed you mine, now it's your turn. (Hhmm, that sounds creepy when you say it out loud, so don't.)
A Christmas Story, bingo; A Christmas Carol with Mr. Scott, another bingo; haven't seen the third yet will do; Christmas Vacation is there but your last...... Bill Murray is down there with Charles Grodin as overrated actors from that generation so Scrooged is not top five. Just don't like Murray at all, he rubs me the wrong way somehow. Still going with Die Hard as number five. Different people, different tastes........
ReplyDeleteUnderstood, and Die Hard is a great flick.
DeleteWhite Christmas has to be high on my list. Haven't seen Christmas Story, so can't comment. Christmas Vacation is always good for a laugh. Liked Christmas Carol. Not a big fan of Bill Murray (late career e.g. post Caddyshack) so nay to Scrooged. Built up good husband points one year by watching The Holiday with the wife. Meh. Haven't seen Love Actually, so no comment. The Die Hard series? Yep!
ReplyDeleteOddly enough, I've never seen White Christmas or It's A Wonderful Life. I had no idea that Bill Murray was held in such low esteem by some. You should definitely sit down with Mrs. J and watch Love Actually, it might surprise you, it did me.
DeleteYou should watch White Christmas at least once. Honor, something I value very highly, is on excellent display in it. And if you have a dry eye in one of the final scenes (you'll know which one), well.......
DeleteI'll add it to the list.
DeleteWatched Love Actually last night. Good recommendation.
DeleteI'm happy you enjoyed it!
DeleteMiracle on 42nd Street. Agree A Christmas Carol. Holiday Inn/White Christmas. Always a little disappointed that there are no Navy-themed Christmas films that I know of. Spent many a Christmas afloat or in foreign ports.
ReplyDeleteAh yes, Miracle on 42nd Street is a good one, I assume the one with Natalie Wood when she was but a wee lass.
DeleteNavy-themed Christmas films - wouldn't the USS North Carolina and Macy's make a good one? It's a great story. Do I think Hollywood would do that? Probably not and more's the pity.
"Miracle on 34th Street." Black and White. Jeeps pulling floats. Maureen O'Hara, John Payne, Natalie Wood. Even colorized it stands the test of time.
DeleteI don't know what movie happened on 42nd Street...
Um yeah, that one.
DeleteYes, yes. 34th street. Agh.
DeleteDon't sweat it Cap'n, I didn't notice either.
DeleteWhere's PLQ when ya need him?
"Where's PLQ when ya need him?"
Delete1) I've never seen that movie, and 2) I didn't see these comments until just minutes ago.
Paul
Thou art forgiven...
DeleteIt being Christmas and all. ;)
If I split Christmas movies into romantic or other, "Love Actually" is my favorite romantic movie, and "The Long Kiss Goodnight" wins my vote for the other category.
ReplyDeleteI think "Love Actually" succeeds more than some other traditional Christmas movies, because not every one of the interrelating stories ends in a storybook happy ending.
"The Long Kiss Goodnight" succeeds because Geena Davis, Samuel L. Jackson, action, explosions and Christmas!
Another good post.
And I can't disagree with any of that, well said, John!
DeleteThere’s an ongoing Christmas movie marathon playing in the She Hulk’s room.
ReplyDeleteI don’t think she switches from the Hallmark channel except to watch 49er games.
She shoul coach the team because she’s an expert.
But I digress.
I haven’t seen any of those flicks and I don’t think I want to.
As for favorites, I’ve always liked A Christmas Carol.
Never much thought about ranking them.
Seems like work.
Nah, it all just fell out of my head. The list tends to change.
DeleteOkay. Here is where I become the Heretic.
ReplyDeleteI hate "Christmas Story" and "NatLampChrisVac." I liked Gavin in "The Night Stalker" tv show, but, well, movie falls flat after the 1st watching.
NLCV? Has Chevy Chase in it. I find him to be much like Seth Rogan or Will Farrell. Bo0rish. Enjoyed his boorish character in "Caddy Shack" because, well, that was the character, so it fits.
I concur with the Holodeck episode of "A Christmas Carol" starring Capt. Pickard. Sucked reindeer balls, it did. The GCS version, one of the best. GSC pulls off crazy old angry curmudgeon very well. If he was living in a suburb he woulda pulled out an M1 Garand and told the carolers to get off his lawn. That's good acting.
The 1946 version of "Miracle on 34th Street." The only way to go. See my comments above. One of the best Santas ever.
"Scrooged" is okay. I'll watch it about every 5th year. Mostly to see the mini-movie "The Night the Reindeer Died" starring Lee Marvin...
"It's a Wonderful Life" is a classic, but hard to watch, as it is a painful movie, full of deep insight. I watch it occasionally, but life's too short to rewatch depressing things.
What else do I like? Well, "Die Hard" and "Die Hard II" are decidedly Christmas Flicks in the Beans Family. What is more appropriate than fighting against great odds to meet family.
Other than that, well, I avoid most Hollyweird Christmas movies. Why? Because Christmas is supposed to be about family, renewal, life, Christ and such. Giving, learning to give, opening your bitter lonely heart to possibilities of love or such. Hollyweird for the most part sucks at making these types of movies.
So, well, Christmas movies I like. Pretty much any holiday movie with Lacey Chabert, Dean Cain, Danika McKellar, Alicia Witt, a variety of B List actors and actresses who get snubbed by Hollyweird because they actually have values and don't show their hoobies, junk, business, butt, or...
So... Many movies on Lifetime, Hallmark, UP, BYUTV. Pleasant little comedies, Contemplative redemptions, Gentle love stories.
I will dig out a list later, as I have a cake and a lasagna to prep and bake.
Oh, yeah, there's a Finnish movie out there called "Rare Exports." The Finns get it.
That last one is on my list of things to watch.
DeleteDon't confuse the ingredients for the cake and the lasagna, just sayin'.
Pu-leese! Yeesh. Some people. Lasagna is Lasagna. Chocolate Cake is Chocolate Cake. They shall not meet, except in the digestion tract.
DeleteWhew, glad to know that you have a handle on that.
DeleteWhat time is dinner? Asking for a friend...
We watch "Rare Exports" every few years. Yep, not your average Christmas movie, snd it's a sign of the aging process that it slipped my mind.
DeletePreviews looked good.
DeleteNot long ago, I had one of those "where are they now?" moments while wandering down the YouTube rabbit hole. Zack Ward, who plays the bully Scut Farkus in "A Christmas Story" turns up here starting at the 0:16 mark--
ReplyDeletehttps://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ginOii7N6HI
Not to imply that I am a fan of the Transformer movies. There are some OK moments, but for my taste, the plots are paper thin, and the non-stop CG action literally wears me out. I'd rather re-watch "Forbidden Planet".
I also find it interesting to watch Jimmy Stewart in "Mr. Smith Goes to Washington" followed by "It's a Wonderful Life", his first film after WWII.
I like the 1951 version of "Scrooge".
Scut joined the Army! Cool.
DeleteJimmy Stewart, loved that guy, and not just because we wore the same uniform. Great guy.
The '51 version? I'll have to track that down.
It is the superb Alistair Sim version!
DeleteAh ha! That one, I've heard it's good. I'll add it to the list.
DeleteThe Alistar Sim version is probably my favorite, as overall, it is the one done the best. Mr. Sim does a magnificent Scrooge. I will grant, however, that George C Scott's Scrooge, was without a doubt the best performance of the character, but then, Mr. Scott was a one of a kind actor.
DeleteThe 1938 version with Reginad Owen, is also quite acceptable, and it has probably the least annoying Tiny Tim. Gene Lockhart, June's dad, was a very, very good Bob Cratchitt.
I must confess to a great fondness for 1970's SCROOGE. Albert Finney WAS Scrooge in that musical, and, along with the Scott version, has a most enjoyable Ghost of Christmas Present. Alec Guiness was really, really good as Marley. ( Beware the rats, they....nibble ). I must watch SCROOGE at least once every Christmastide.
I fear I must join the anti-Bill Murray crowd, so I cannot have an opinion of Scrooged, never having seen it. I am also not that fond of Partick Syewart, but that might be based on my great distaste for Jon-Luc Picard. He was a pretty good Scrooge, though, I must grant him that.
There was a time, when i would have has A Christmas Story as one of my favorites, but the 24 Hours of A Christmas Story has taken care of that, I have seen it too many times.
The Homecoming, the pilot for The Waltons, remains a favorite of mine. I am also watcher of The Polar Express, and Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol. On the 27th, I am going to The Desert Star multiplex in Lake Delton, to see the Peter Jackson colorized film of WWI, that is going to be part of what I get myself for Christmas. A present in January, since i work at a resort, and cannot have my own Christmas until Mid January, will be either a S&W M&P15-22, or a HK VP-9.
Scott,
DeleteLikely you are already aware of this, but just in case--
"That's why the problem Smith & Wesson has is of such importance. The 15-22 was just banned from use at rifle marksmanship programs offered by Project Appleseed, one of the premier training programs in the country and a peer to the National Rifle Association's safety program.
According to a memo issued by the organization, a series of misfires by the firearm has made it too dangerous to be used until Smith & Wesson offers a comprehensive repair.
The problem is twofold: Shooters have experienced both out-of-battery discharges, a situation in which a gun fires even though it has not returned to the firing position, and "runaway discharges," when the gun won't stop firing. Both situations are very rare, but the fact that several Project Appleseed classes have experienced them suggests there may be a manufacturing problem that needs correction."
The above is a cut and paste from "The Motley Fool" dated Sep 24, 2016. I do not know what the current status is.
On a personal note, I picked up one of these adapter kits a few decades back.
https://www.gunsamerica.com/908174941/MILITARY-SURPLUS-M261-22LR-CONVERSION-KIT-FOR-AR15-M16-INCLUDES-6-MAGAZINE.htm
Works great, although zero drops about 12 inches below 223 @ 50 yds. The 10 round 22 adapters actually fit down inside the 20 round 223 mags. With everything installed and the dust cover closed, it looks to be a standard AR. It's great fun to quietly step up to the firing line with everyone expecting BANG!, and all that happens is blip, blip, blip.
For whatever it’s worth, I currently own an M&P 15-22 and haven’t run into either of those issues. Granted I’ve probably only run 500-1000 rounds through it, but it’s been a great rifle for introducing new shooters of all ages.
DeleteI had an out of battery discharge with the first round I fired with my first -22. S&W took it back, and repaired it. That was in 2009. You would think they would have fixed it by now.
DeleteMy personal Top 5:
ReplyDelete1. White Christmas. We watch this every year, on the same night that we decorate the tree. The kids all grab their sleeping bags and settle in for movie night under the tree.
2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Makes me laugh every year.
3. Home Alone. Again, I laugh every time.
4. A Wish For Wings That Work. Back in the '90s, Outland (Berkeley Breathed's post Bloom County comic) got a Christmas special. This is another one that we watch every year. There's some really well written dialog, which has contributed to a number of our family's in-jokes over the years. Bloom County is also the reason why one of our current feline trio is named Bill The Cat.
5. Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer. Sorry Sarge but the Christmas special is great, and features a whole bunch of other songs of the same novelty record. Another one that we watch every year.
Man, four out of five entries on that list are comedies. Probably 6-10 as well if I'd kept going. Not sure what that says about me, or my family, other than that we usually need a laugh during Christmas time?
Comedies are good, a staple of my earlier existence.
DeleteI can't believe you left out Earnest Saves Christmas, Jingle All the Way, and Christmas with the Kranks.
ReplyDeleteNot in the top five, but I enjoyed those as well.
DeleteOkay, my sarcasm was a little too subtle. Those are actually in the top worst films for the Christmas season! My all-time favorite of course is It's a Wonderful Life.
Delete:)
DeleteSubtlety is lost on me. Takes a 2x4 up side the head to make me see.
I have to watch It's a Wonderful Life. It is necessary for my Yuletide balance of humors!
DeleteI suppose I need to watch it someday while not drunk and on a bus full of drunk GIs.
DeleteNot saying that has ever happened, not saying it didn't either.
Didn't see the Patrick Stewart Christmas Carol, but I did have the priviledge of seeing his one-man stage show of same. That was a tour de force.
ReplyDeleteThe man is a superb actor, I think his director let him down in Christmas Carol.
DeleteHey Old AFSarge;
ReplyDeleteA Christmas Story is good, and check out "Prep and Landing", a TV short made in 2009, and of course "DIE HARD", one of the best Christmas Movies ever made!! LOL Gotta chum the waters
The category was films, shorts, while entertaining, as are TV shows, didn't make the cut.
DeleteWhile I do enjoy Die Hard, "best Christmas movie "ever made" is a bit of a stretch, I mean, it isn't about Christmas at all, it just takes place at Christmas. Doesn't mean I won't watch it this month. ;)
"Die Hard" is all about a man trying to get back with his family for Christmas. Just a few evil thugs get in the way.
DeleteLike Joseph looking for Mary, if the Romans had German accents and were staging a heist in the manger...
Hahaha!
DeleteLike I said, a stretch. :)