If the movie is about Christmas, it is a Christmas movie.
If the movie is set around Christmas time, it is not a Christmas movie.
Opinions?
To me, if it is a big part of the plot then it qualifies. For example, Die Hard is a christmas movie.
I agree it should be about Christmas, not merely set around Christmastime, to be a "real" Christmas movie.
I have no idea about DIE HARD because I've never seen it and actually hope to go to my grave without seeing it. Didn't interest me in the slightest and all the casual cinephiles coming out every December insisting it's a Christmas movie have turned me against it.
Quote from: Rev. Powell on December 20, 2023, 05:00:52 PM
I agree it should be about Christmas, not merely set around Christmastime, to be a "real" Christmas movie.
I have no idea about DIE HARD because I've never seen it and actually hope to go to my grave without seeing it. Didn't interest me in the slightest and all the casual cinephiles coming out every December insisting it's a Christmas movie have turned me against it.
After watching Everything Everywhere All At Once, I decided that no one else's opinion on a movie was going to influence if I watched something or not ever again, so I can understand that.
(https://i.gifer.com/1h4G.gif)
Can you spot Christmas in this Christmas movie?
(https://i.imgur.com/uWjgaye.png)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQkkHleQARw (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HQkkHleQARw)
Quote from: Rev. Powell on December 20, 2023, 05:00:52 PM
I have no idea about DIE HARD because I've never seen it and actually hope to go to my grave without seeing it. Didn't interest me in the slightest and all the casual cinephiles coming out every December insisting it's a Christmas movie have turned me against it.
I watch it very occasionally (most recent watch was a few weeks ago, prior to that probably about 5 yrs ago) and I do have to say that despite all the incessant fanboy-esque hype it generates and the fact it has almost become a cliche of the whole 'action' genre, it is one of those films that manages to be engaging from start to finish... imho
Quote from: claws on December 20, 2023, 11:47:16 PM
Can you spot Christmas in this Christmas movie?
(https://i.imgur.com/uWjgaye.png)
Christmas tree in the corner :wink:
Quote from: Rev. Powell on December 20, 2023, 05:00:52 PM
I agree it should be about Christmas, not merely set around Christmastime, to be a "real" Christmas movie.
I have no idea about DIE HARD because I've never seen it and actually hope to go to my grave without seeing it. Didn't interest me in the slightest and all the casual cinephiles coming out every December insisting it's a Christmas movie have turned me against it.
I saw it in 1988 in a huge cinema with more than 500 seats and a giant curved screen: I liked it but if you haven't seen it on the big screen, you won't like it much on DVD or Blu Ray.
Quote from: claws on December 20, 2023, 03:42:04 PM
If the movie is about Christmas, it is a Christmas movie.
If the movie is set around Christmas time, it is not a Christmas movie.
Opinions?
Lethal Weapon and Gremlins would qualify for Christmas movies.
Quote from: Allhallowsday on December 20, 2023, 11:39:18 PM
(https://i.gifer.com/1h4G.gif)
When Allan Rickman fell like that, it was like he was holding onto my shoulders trying not to fall: scary movie moment indeed. :buggedout:
They reused this scene in
Die Hard With A Vengeance.FBI guy: "The name Gruber mean anything to you, Lieutenant?"
[Close shot of Bruce Willis' face, shot of Hans Gruber falling]
John: "Rings a bell, yeah."
www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkKrYqt0nRw (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gkKrYqt0nRw#)
:buggedout: :buggedout:
Hmm....complex and layered discussion.
For me the theme of Christmas in terms of being intertwined with the story, capturing the time of year (in it's negative or positive elements), and of course having a good story are the three big elements of making a good Christmas movie. No matter if a mainstream Christmas movie (examples A Christmas Story, Miracle on 34th Street, Home Alone) or an alternative Christmas movie (Die Hard, Black Christmas, Krampus).
INVASION USA? :smile:
what movies happen to take place at xmas, but make no real attempt to highlight this or combine it with any of the plot / overall atmosphere...?
there's one film whose title escapes me that I only realised takes place at xmas after multiple viewings
Argento's Deep Red (1975) has an important flashback taking place on Christmas. The rest of the movie doesn't take place on or mentions Christmas.
I have no horse in the "Defining A Christmas Movie" horse race - but for the record/for Rev....... the first DIE HARD is a nicely executed man-against-the-odds action thriller w/ predictable but satisfying character beats. Each sequel was diminishing returns, however, and I honestly kind of hated DHWAV. After DH2, which was known colloquially (and briefly officially) as DIE HARDER, naturally I was expecting a.) DIE HARDEST, and b.) a film at least remotely in the same league as the first two. I actually think DHWAV is weaker, lazier, and less exciting than A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD! Sadly the producers were only ever interested in occasional cash-ins, not in delivering an ultimate/culminative outing for John McClane. And sadly we'll never see a DIE HARDEST now, at least not w/ Bruce.
Anyway I used to like to watch old epic war films (KELLY'S HEROES, DIRTY DOZEN, etc) at Christmastime, or otherwise FEARLESS VAMPIRE KILLERS (snowy locale, jingling bells, so festive!), or otherwise SHOCK TREATMENT (bright neon, jingling synths, so festive!). So yeah, my input is no help whatsoever.
2 things:
1 - if the movie takes place around Christmas
examples: Die Hard, Eyes Wide Shut, Batman Returns, Trading Places
2 - if it is a more traditional Christmas movie where Christmas it is central to the plot
examples: It's a Wonderful Life, The Nightmare Before Christmas, A Christmas Story, Elf
I don't consider DIE HARD a Christmas movie. I dunno.
I like ERNEST SAVES CHRISTMAS, and NATIONAL LAMPOON's CHRISTMAS VACATION! and of course the Karloff Grinch.
(https://i.redd.it/mxnlpacb7q7c1.jpeg)
Here ya go- if you dare! (I seen it. Holy f**king Christmas.)
(https://i.imgur.com/gYbyzbv.jpg) (https://lunapic.com)
Quote from: Rev. Powell on December 23, 2023, 03:23:36 PM
(https://i.redd.it/mxnlpacb7q7c1.jpeg)
Photographed by a mentor of mine 😳😳😉
Quote from: RCMerchant on December 23, 2023, 03:29:47 PM
Here ya go- if you dare! (I seen it. Holy f**king Christmas.)
(https://i.imgur.com/gYbyzbv.jpg) (https://lunapic.com)
I did see this last year
that thing is unusually awful
It does look to me like some people only want replies that say what a great alternative to christianity is. Christmas is a celebration that owes so much more than the comparatively recent attempts to coopt the entire religion?
For myself, I prefer to indulge the older religions over newer ones that like to pretend that hey have more to offer. Still, violence and hatred are buried so deeply into the faith of those who like to falsely complain otherwise that I'd rather die than pretend to accept some false offer and be forcibly absorbed than take the chance that I'd be allowed to practice my faith freely.
Quote from: bob on December 23, 2023, 04:46:57 PM
Quote from: RCMerchant on December 23, 2023, 03:29:47 PM
Here ya go- if you dare! (I seen it. Holy f**king Christmas.)
(https://i.imgur.com/gYbyzbv.jpg) (https://lunapic.com)
I did see this last year
that thing is unusually awful
It does capture a certain dreamlike quality... those dreams one sometimes has that are inexplicable yet largely innocuous... not really unpleasant yet completely pointless... frustrating primarily in their refusal to resolve and end quickly!
Quote from: M.10rda on December 23, 2023, 08:09:48 PM
Quote from: bob on December 23, 2023, 04:46:57 PM
Quote from: RCMerchant on December 23, 2023, 03:29:47 PM
Here ya go- if you dare! (I seen it. Holy f**king Christmas.)
(https://i.imgur.com/gYbyzbv.jpg) (https://lunapic.com)
I did see this last year
that thing is unusually awful
It does capture a certain dreamlike quality... those dreams one sometimes has that are inexplicable yet largely innocuous... not really unpleasant yet completely pointless... frustrating primarily in their refusal to resolve and end quickly!
Say what you want about it, but it gifted us some memorable new Christmas songs!
https://youtu.be/UI0b_68fzLE?si=R3SeubN4NnaU4dXY
Quote from: RCMerchant on December 23, 2023, 03:29:47 PM
Here ya go- if you dare! (I seen it. Holy f**king Christmas.)
(https://i.imgur.com/gYbyzbv.jpg) (https://lunapic.com)
It's sad we have two versions of this film (one version tells Thumbelina and the other tells Jack and the Beanstalk) but we don't have a legal unaltered original Star Wars Trilogy. XD
Quote from: Rev. Powell on December 20, 2023, 05:00:52 PM
I agree it should be about Christmas, not merely set around Christmastime, to be a "real" Christmas movie.
I have no idea about DIE HARD because I've never seen it and actually hope to go to my grave without seeing it. Didn't interest me in the slightest and all the casual cinephiles coming out every December insisting it's a Christmas movie have turned me against it.
Die Hard 1 is really, really fun to watch, despite the amount of people who hype it up. For an action flick from the 80s, it's got some good acting and anything with Alan Rickman gets a big plus.
I understand where you're coming from though. People told me how
GREAT The Hangover was. And I
HATED it. But, that's just me.
I also found THE HANGOVER underwhelming after all the hype.
Family is visiting and by majority decree we watched GREMLINS yesterday. Yep - that's a Christmas movie! Christmas is the setting, Christmas is the subtext and often the supertext. Christmas is all over GREMLINS. In some ways one might say it appropriates structural elements from IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE... in a much smarter and more understated way than IT'S A WONDERFUL KNIFE, surely.
I hadn't watched it in at least 30 years. It really holds up... Joe Dante was still in peak form, particularly at the suspense/horror elements. More proof of a steady directorial hand: he coaxes a highly natural, authentic performance out of Zach Galligan, who (based on the WAXWORKS duology I recently revisited) was not an innately gifted nor inherently warm and compelling actor...