Barbara Robinson was in her mid-40s when she published The Best Christmas Pageant Ever. And it’s the type of novel someone middle-aged in the early 1970s would write. It’s very dated by today’s standards as the narrator Elizabeth “Beth” Bradley is recalling the story as it happened when she was younger. But stories about menContinue reading “‘Best Christmas Pageant Ever’ Dated But Overall Moral Is Timeless”
Tag Archives: christmas
‘Red One’ Isn’t So Fun
Red One is one of those movies that seemed better as a pitch idea for a studio executive rather than a movie. I equate to the atrociously bad The Santa Clause in which it all seemed like a good idea until they put it all together. Apparently, in this movie, Santa Claus and the HeadlessContinue reading “‘Red One’ Isn’t So Fun”
The Awkward Darkness Of ‘The Life and Adventures Of Santa Claus’
All good things must come to an end sometimes. By the close of the 1970s, the Rankin/Bass Christmas holiday specials looked very atrocious in comparison to their earlier productions. In 1979, Rudolph and Frosty’s Christmas in July was released and it’s about as bad as it looks. Even at an hour and a half, it’sContinue reading “The Awkward Darkness Of ‘The Life and Adventures Of Santa Claus’”
A Golden Jubilee For ”Twas The Night Before Christmas’ At 50
Of all the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials, I think the 1974 ‘Twas the Night Before Christmas is one of their most underrated specials. While everyone likes Rudolph and Frosty and Ginger Santa and the Miser Brothers. The 25-minute special loosely inspired by Clement Clarke Moore’s A Visit from St. Nicholas is mostly centered around Junctionville, USA.Continue reading “A Golden Jubilee For ”Twas The Night Before Christmas’ At 50″
Merry Xmas, Motherf@$#ers! ‘Long Kiss Goodnight’ Explodes With A $h!tload Of Holiday Cheer
A movie like The Long Kiss Goodnight completes the unofficial decade-long trilogy of Christmas Action Thrillers that began with Lethal Weapon, unseasonably released in the spring of 1987 and continued with Die Hard in the summer of 1988. (Yeah, I know Die Hard 2 takes place on Christmas Eve too, but this is a farContinue reading “Merry Xmas, Motherf@$#ers! ‘Long Kiss Goodnight’ Explodes With A $h!tload Of Holiday Cheer”
A Fantastic Festivus To The Rest Of Us
Happy Festivus to all those out there. Thank you for reading and subscribing. And now the airing of grievances: That’s all. Have a Fantastic Festivus, a Merry Christmas, a Happy Hanukkah and a Kicking Kwanzaa!
‘Simpsons’ Christmas Special Offers Some Justice For Ned Flanders
For the many years, I’ve stayed away from The Simpsons except for the Halloween episodes which lately also lack the savagery of the series’ heyday. The latest special title “Oh C’mon All Ye Faithful” dropped exclusively on Disney-Plus on Dec. 17, the 35th anniversary of “Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire.” Having given up inContinue reading “‘Simpsons’ Christmas Special Offers Some Justice For Ned Flanders”
Dear God! ‘Dear Santa’ Is Awful
Dear Santa is one of those movies that is about a good 15-25 years overdue. And it represents everything that is wrong with the movies made by Peter and/or Bobby Farrelly – they’re always too longer than they should be. At an hour and 43 minutes with credits, this movie would’ve been cut by 20Continue reading “Dear God! ‘Dear Santa’ Is Awful”
The Totally Wackiness Of The Rankin/Bass ‘Frosty The Snowman’
When it comes to Christmas movies and TV specials, you have to have some form of suspension of disbelief. YouTuber Ryan George pointed out in his criticism of Elf that all Christmas movies/shows where people don’t believe in Santa Claus overlook the fact that he’s been delivering presents to their house. I mean, if IContinue reading “The Totally Wackiness Of The Rankin/Bass ‘Frosty The Snowman’”
‘Eyes Wide Shut’ 25 Years Later Still Divides Kubrick’s Fans
One thing I’ve always liked about Stanley Kubrick’s movies is how they grow on you after repeated viewings. Only, I didn’t like Spartacus, but I understand there were problems between Kubrick and Kirk Douglas which caused Kubrick to leave Hollywood and live the rest of his life in England. Kubrick loved chess so much thatContinue reading “‘Eyes Wide Shut’ 25 Years Later Still Divides Kubrick’s Fans”
Zane Says 