December 19, 2013
— Ace There is some question about this. Some people are claiming it's not a Christmas movie, but rather "just a movie set at Christmas."
I say yes it is a "Christmas movie," at least by the standards set by other acknowledged "Christmas movies," but only because I'm bored and I don't feel like writing about Obamacare.
The Naysayers claim that a Christmas movie must be about, you know, Christmas, or mostly about Christmas. Which seems like a reasonable position to take, until they begin listing the movies they call "Christmas movies:" Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Story, It's a Wonderful Life.
But are these movies really about Christmas?
I'm afraid people playing the Traditionalist Card here have exposed themselves to trump by another Traditionalist Card: a real Christmas movie is about the birth of Jesus, yes? That is, after all, the Reason for the Season.
So why are corporate fantasias like Miracle on 34th Street said to be "Christmas movies"? Santa is -- well, let's put it out there. Santa is a pagan wood spirit who was called "Saint Nick" during Christianization of Northern Europe in order to bring the Germans, Norsemen, and other Odin-worshippers along.
"Santa" is not Christmas. Santa is greeting card bullshit.
A Christmas Story is based on a series of short stories, most of which had nothing at all to do with Christmas, which were written together as a single movie, with "Christmas" serving as unifying device and bookend for the episodic material contained within it.
The movie begins with a trip to Santa at the store, and ends with Christmas. Almost nothing between these Christmas bookends has anything at all to do with Christmas. The opening, the Red Ryder BB gun parts, and ending are all from the same story, which are arranged before, in between, and after the other unrelated episodes to give the film a sense of narrative coherence.
Furthermore, it's, again, about the corporate notion of Christmas-- presents and greedy children.
It also contains strong sexual imagery.
This is your idea of a "Christmas movie"? Those lamps look like special orders for Satan's Bordello.
It's a Wonderful Life is Christmas-themed, but the story, obviously, has little to do with Christmas tradition. The Christmas setting is incidental-- George Bailey obviously could have chosen to commit suicide after January 1st. In fact, we all know now that that's when he would have been more likely to do so.
Christmas does not enter into the story at all, except in terms of background props and imagery. In fact, Christmas imagery is used to create an ironic contrast with Bailey's suicidally-depressive inner state and outward rage. (And yeah, he rages, drunk and ugly.)
These movies are chiefly not "Christmas stories," but other sorts of genre movies which are simply set during Christmas for thematic reasons.
Which is what Die Hard is. What's Die Hard about? Well, it's about a man who travels during the Christmas season to reunite with his family. That is very Christmassy. The dramatic arc is about being a better person for one's family, and the movie ends with a marital reconciliation.
In addition, a black cop redeems himself by shooting a German to death on the street.
The main story in Die Hard, sure, is about opposing a Greedy Thief who's executing a complicated hostile takeover and making the hero's life hell. But then, that's also the story of It's a Wonderful Life.
Sure, the Christmas stuff is mainly background props and music and people occasionally mentioning Christmas.
But how is that any different that the acknowledged "Christmas movies"?
Oh I know, I know: "You can't have a Christmas movie that features so many people being violently killed."
Ben Hur just emailed me to disagree.
Can't say the f-word in a Christmas movie?
Well, Ralphie says it, doesn't he? Yeah I know, he says "Fuuuuudge" but we all know what he really said.
Posted by: Ace at
02:58 PM
| Comments (292)
Post contains 665 words, total size 4 kb.
Posted by: Pontius Pilate at December 19, 2013 03:01 PM (8ZskC)
Posted by: grammie winger at December 19, 2013 03:02 PM (P6QsQ)
Posted by: Sort-of-Mad Max at December 19, 2013 03:02 PM (DLu2s)
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at December 19, 2013 03:02 PM (zfY+H)
Posted by: soothsayer at December 19, 2013 03:02 PM (yzlKi)
Posted by: sven10077 at December 19, 2013 03:03 PM (9jfyN)
Posted by: --- at December 19, 2013 03:03 PM (MMC8r)
Posted by: teej at December 19, 2013 03:03 PM (GX2fm)
Posted by: Romeo13 at December 19, 2013 03:04 PM (lZBBB)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 19, 2013 03:04 PM (Zm0GY)
The movie 'RED'...the first one...is a Christmas movie.
It was set during Christmas, and there are decorations and Christmas trees throughout the movie.
Posted by: wheatie at December 19, 2013 03:04 PM (5Nhsl)
Posted by: soothsayer at December 19, 2013 03:04 PM (yzlKi)
Posted by: President Choad-Load at December 19, 2013 03:05 PM (vHRtU)
Posted by: Romeo13 at December 19, 2013 03:05 PM (lZBBB)
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at December 19, 2013 03:05 PM (jr78B)
Posted by: President Choad-Load at December 19, 2013 03:06 PM (vHRtU)
Posted by: eman at December 19, 2013 03:06 PM (EWsrI)
Posted by: Nevergiveup at December 19, 2013 03:06 PM (t3UFN)
Posted by: Romeo13 at December 19, 2013 03:07 PM (lZBBB)
Showing up with one or more large black men whose job it is to energetically punish disobedient children? While that would of course be a perfect Samuel L. Jackson shouty black guy role, you are not going to see that in any Hollyweird productions any time soon.
On the nice side, Saint Nicholas is credited with having revived three murdered children. On the not so nice side, also with being the patron saint of... burglars. Had you ever wondered where that business about coming down the chimney started? Wonder no longer.
Posted by: Stephen Colbert and Jon Stewart at December 19, 2013 03:07 PM (gqT4g)
Posted by: Mindy at December 19, 2013 03:07 PM (GRLuN)
Posted by: Conservative Crank's iPhone at December 19, 2013 03:08 PM (bplKi)
Posted by: eman at December 19, 2013 03:08 PM (EWsrI)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 19, 2013 03:08 PM (Zm0GY)
Posted by: real joe at December 19, 2013 03:08 PM (xXhgd)
Posted by: Lincolntf at December 19, 2013 03:08 PM (ZshNr)
Posted by: HeatherRadish™ needs a beer at December 19, 2013 03:09 PM (ZKzrr)
Any movie that makes you feel "Christmassy" is a Christmas movie.
For me :
Christmas Story (Reminds me of the innocence of Christmas/Sata/Childhood
Its a Wondeful Life : Reminds me of the basic good that is (I hope) in all people
Christmas Vacation: Once a year you need to get drunk and excoriate your family (but come back together in the end.....family FIRST)
Posted by: FITP at December 19, 2013 03:10 PM (e4i/A)
Posted by: eman at December 19, 2013 03:10 PM (EWsrI)
I usually put Lethal Weapon (it opens with Jingle Bell Rock you know) and Battle of the Bulge (there is a Christmas Tree in Robert Ryan's headquarters) on the watch list too.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living... at December 19, 2013 03:11 PM (P/gm7)
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at December 19, 2013 03:11 PM (jr78B)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 19, 2013 03:11 PM (Zm0GY)
Posted by: FRONT TOWARD LEFT at December 19, 2013 03:11 PM (V3kRK)
Posted by: grammie winger at December 19, 2013 07:03 PM (P6QsQ)
I re-watched The Bishop's Wife last week-end. It and White Christmas are great Christmas movies: peace on earth, good will toward men.
Posted by: Retread at December 19, 2013 03:11 PM (cHwk5)
Posted by: OG Celtic-American at December 19, 2013 03:11 PM (vHRtU)
Posted by: Romeo13 at December 19, 2013 03:12 PM (lZBBB)
Posted by: ScoggDog at December 19, 2013 03:12 PM (6/+vz)
Posted by: Circa (Insert Year Here) at December 19, 2013 07:11 PM (jr78B)
--------------
Ya, and with armies. It's gonna get loud. No more Silent Night.
Posted by: grammie winger at December 19, 2013 03:12 PM (P6QsQ)
Posted by: Sam in va at December 19, 2013 03:13 PM (ONCPP)
Posted by: OG Celtic-American at December 19, 2013 03:13 PM (vHRtU)
Posted by: Waterhouse at December 19, 2013 03:13 PM (qBfwJ)
This detracts from the mayhem how?
Plus, Judge Rheinhold.
Posted by: HeatherRadish™ needs a beer at December 19, 2013 03:13 PM (ZKzrr)
Posted by: Andy Sullivan with Bells On! at December 19, 2013 03:13 PM (RJMhd)
As far as Christmas movies go, Batman Returns is kinda hit and miss.
But it's still a lot better than its two sequels.
Posted by: junior at December 19, 2013 03:14 PM (UWFpX)
Posted by: teej at December 19, 2013 03:14 PM (K4AdI)
Posted by: Franch Dressing at December 19, 2013 03:15 PM (ZPrif)
Posted by: dogfish at December 19, 2013 03:16 PM (nsOJa)
Posted by: Lincolntf at December 19, 2013 03:16 PM (ZshNr)
Posted by: Conservative Crank's iPhone at December 19, 2013 03:16 PM (bplKi)
Posted by: Deety at December 19, 2013 03:16 PM (ad4e8)
Posted by: Mountaindogsix at December 19, 2013 03:16 PM (pyhr6)
Posted by: Y-not at December 19, 2013 03:16 PM (zDsvJ)
Posted by: Beryl at December 19, 2013 03:16 PM (S3rPW)
Posted by: George Lynch at December 19, 2013 03:17 PM (h+2SD)
Posted by: Memories at December 19, 2013 03:17 PM (spLeu)
Posted by: Buzzion at December 19, 2013 03:17 PM (Th1n8)
Posted by: Gary Busey at December 19, 2013 03:17 PM (sOtz/)
Posted by: alexthechick - Really Universe Really? at December 19, 2013 03:18 PM (Gk3SS)
Posted by: robschr at December 19, 2013 03:18 PM (qZ52+)
Posted by: Lucky Pierre at December 19, 2013 03:18 PM (5fSr7)
Posted by: --- at December 19, 2013 03:18 PM (MMC8r)
Posted by: awkward davies at December 19, 2013 03:18 PM (WK8VM)
Posted by: Hans Gruber at December 19, 2013 03:19 PM (aTXUx)
Posted by: Romeo13 at December 19, 2013 03:19 PM (lZBBB)
No one would make that program today.
Posted by: Y-not at December 19, 2013 07:16 PM (zDsvJ)
Not only would no one make that today, IIRC, when it is shown these days on network TV it sometimes is edited.
Posted by: Retread at December 19, 2013 03:20 PM (cHwk5)
@55 The Santa is Odin meme is spreading.
--------------------
Old news. Dresden Files did it a while back in one of the more recent books.
Posted by: junior at December 19, 2013 03:20 PM (UWFpX)
It would be straight-to-video and only sold at explicitly Christian bookstores.
Posted by: HeatherRadish™ needs a beer at December 19, 2013 03:20 PM (ZKzrr)
Posted by: Dr Spank at December 19, 2013 03:20 PM (xlX1p)
http://youtu.be/baFmgjwptic
The Night the Reindeer Died
Posted by: sven10077 at December 19, 2013 03:20 PM (9jfyN)
Posted by: shredded chi at December 19, 2013 03:20 PM (m+AZt)
Posted by: Ian S. at December 19, 2013 03:21 PM (102Hx)
Posted by: real joe at December 19, 2013 07:08 PM (xXhgd)
I think of it as "that Christmas Story with the annoying little kid whose constant whining makes me want to puncture my eardrums with an ice pick." I guess I'm one of the exceedingly few who never cared much for that movie.
Also, "Brazil": totally a Christmas movie.
Posted by: Sandra Fluke's solid gold diaphragm at December 19, 2013 03:22 PM (e4elg)
Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at December 19, 2013 03:22 PM (dCwZe)
Posted by: ScoggDog at December 19, 2013 03:22 PM (6/+vz)
Posted by: Lincolntf at December 19, 2013 03:22 PM (ZshNr)
Posted by: Mustbequantum at December 19, 2013 03:22 PM (MIKMs)
Have you ever seen Holiday Inn?
It is the movie the song "White Christmas" debuted in. It isn't really a Christmas movie either but it is a better movie than White Christmas.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living... at December 19, 2013 03:22 PM (P/gm7)
---------------------------
My grandchildren set up the Nativity set last night. The four year old insisted she was the only one who could place Mary and the Baby Jesus, and anyone else who dared touch them was in Big Trouble. The two year old boy kept attacking one of the Wise Men with the donkey while making monster noises.
Posted by: grammie winger at December 19, 2013 03:23 PM (P6QsQ)
Posted by: JackStraw at December 19, 2013 03:23 PM (g1DWB)
Posted by: Hans Gruber at December 19, 2013 03:23 PM (aTXUx)
I would watch the hell out of that.
Rare Exports is really good.
Posted by: alexthechick - Really Universe Really? at December 19, 2013 03:23 PM (Gk3SS)
I thought the best Christmas movie was Passion of the Christ.
Kinda gives the why for the season.
Posted by: Ook? at December 19, 2013 03:23 PM (FBkKA)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 19, 2013 03:24 PM (Zm0GY)
Posted by: Count de Monet at December 19, 2013 03:25 PM (BAS5M)
@66 I don't really buy the non Christian origins of Santa Claus. That seems more like an attempt to de-christianize his easily identifiable origins to Saint Nicholas.
-----------------
One of the Discworld books, "The Hogfather", indicates that the local stand-in for Santa Claus (the aforementioned "Hogfather"), is an evolved hold-over from the ancient, less civilized and more superstitious (as in, "the crops were bad this year which means that the gods must be displeased with our current king; let's kill him and appoint a new one - I mean randomly select a new one using the completely random lottery that we oversee") times. I don't know much about Saint Nicholas myself, but I wouldn't be surprised if there are some strong arguments that the current Santa Claus is a combination of both the real Saint Nick and some earlier pagan beliefs. At the very least, the background of the Hogfather would seem to suggest that the belief has been around for a while.
Posted by: junior at December 19, 2013 03:25 PM (UWFpX)
Posted by: Lincolntf at December 19, 2013 07:16 PM (ZshNr)
That would be awesome on Halloween. Or, "Attack of Satan's Flying Death Squids." I'd watch that.
Posted by: Jane D'oh at December 19, 2013 03:25 PM (lVPtV)
Posted by: CAC at December 19, 2013 03:26 PM (yi0NU)
Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at December 19, 2013 03:26 PM (dCwZe)
Posted by: Socratease at December 19, 2013 03:26 PM (3V4IJ)
Posted by: Y-not at December 19, 2013 03:26 PM (zDsvJ)
It is why I laugh my ass off at the Nontroversy* of whether Santa is black or white...
*(shout out to Bikeboy the Jazz Falutist)
Santa Claus is the evolution of Proto Germanic Odin worship integrated slowly into Christianity.
You know how I am not supposed to opine on other culture's traditions beliefs and customs because "imperialism" and all that?
Yeah oddly I don't see the Germanic Winter Solstice celebration getting the same space as say "man day" is gapped by DOD policy when we send US troops to 'ghani.
The Christian missionaries had this habit of melding Pagan deities with Saints in a con job to make the shift to monotheism more palatable...
worked like a charm too it is why we Europeans sing Paens to Jolly Old Saint Nicholas in warm bromides while engaging in cultural tells more at home in Proto Scandia than Turkey where Nicholas really rolled.
The bastards are undermining the things that bound Eurasia into a common culture....
so grab a rhetorical mini gun and demand reciprocity of respect.
Posted by: sven10077 at December 19, 2013 03:26 PM (9jfyN)
Posted by: shredded chi at December 19, 2013 03:26 PM (m+AZt)
Posted by: The Dude at December 19, 2013 03:27 PM (vJdyz)
Posted by: Count de Monet at December 19, 2013 03:27 PM (BAS5M)
Posted by: Epobirs at December 19, 2013 03:28 PM (bPxS6)
Posted by: Andy Sullivan with Bells On! at December 19, 2013 03:28 PM (RJMhd)
Posted by: ace at December 19, 2013 03:28 PM (/FnUH)
Posted by: The Dude at December 19, 2013 07:27 PM (vJdyz)
--------------
I don't think I remember that one. I'll have to look it up.
Posted by: grammie winger at December 19, 2013 03:28 PM (P6QsQ)
Posted by: Lincolntf at December 19, 2013 03:28 PM (ZshNr)
Posted by: kathysaysso at December 19, 2013 03:28 PM (6H6o8)
Posted by: The Dude at December 19, 2013 03:28 PM (vJdyz)
Posted by: navybrat at December 19, 2013 03:28 PM (AW7Gr)
Posted by: Y-not at December 19, 2013 03:29 PM (zDsvJ)
Posted by: wte9 at December 19, 2013 03:29 PM (2BJaL)
Posted by: Mustbequantum at December 19, 2013 03:29 PM (MIKMs)
"Now little boy, what would you like Santa to bring you for Christmas?"
"Santa, I want a longbow!"
"You mean a crossbow?"
"No dammit -- longbow!"
Posted by: Laurie David's Cervix at December 19, 2013 03:29 PM (kdS6q)
Posted by: teej at December 19, 2013 03:29 PM (e0nsQ)
My favorite Christmas movie?
Living La Vida Loco, Christmas in Vietnam!
No snow or elves, but a large tree in a forward firebase, stripped of all greenery from ground fire, and instead of an angel topping the tree, a dead NVA soldier blown into the air and impaled in the top of the denuded tree.
Merry Christmas and Peace on Earth!
Posted by: Doctor Fish at December 19, 2013 03:29 PM (pJF+c)
Very Xmassy.
Posted by: 13times at December 19, 2013 03:29 PM (fGPLK)
Posted by: prescient11 at December 19, 2013 03:30 PM (tVTLU)
Posted by: wte9 at December 19, 2013 03:30 PM (2BJaL)
@113 I don't think I remember that one. I'll have to look it up.
------------
I'm guessing that it's the one with the department store Santa Claus who finds a bag that produces an appropriate gift for whoever visits Santa that year. Pretty good episode, and the remake series did a good version of it as well.
Posted by: junior at December 19, 2013 03:30 PM (UWFpX)
Posted by: Count de Monet at December 19, 2013 03:30 PM (BAS5M)
Posted by: junior at December 19, 2013 07:30 PM (UWFpX)
yeah, one of Art Carney's best performances of his career. Don't remember the remake version
Posted by: The Dude at December 19, 2013 03:31 PM (vJdyz)
Posted by: Y-not at December 19, 2013 03:31 PM (zDsvJ)
And 'Hogfather' is also a terrific Christmas movie, albeit set in a world that doesn't have Christmas.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0765458/?ref_=nv_sr_5
Posted by: Epobirs at December 19, 2013 03:31 PM (bPxS6)
Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at December 19, 2013 03:32 PM (dCwZe)
Posted by: Buzzion at December 19, 2013 03:32 PM (om+Nx)
Posted by: Andy Sullivan with Bells On! at December 19, 2013 03:32 PM (RJMhd)
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at December 19, 2013 03:32 PM (zfY+H)
@120 I reread the Hogfather every year.
--------------
Death as a department store Hogfather (Santa) in that book is hilarious.
"But it's a sword!"
"It's educational."
But she'll cut herself with it!"
"Then she'll have received an education."
(probably misremembering the exact phrasing of that last line)
Posted by: junior at December 19, 2013 03:32 PM (UWFpX)
Saint Nick was totes real bro....
nobody argues he was not....
St Nick was tied in with Odin and Christianity coopted the German Yule season into its rituals.
Its okay Easter morphed into the Roman Spring Fertility Festival in the early Salad days of Christian Insurgency Religious CoOpting and I favor it.
At the end of the day the power of His word does not demand the eradication of the target culture but its peaceful and harmonious integration.
God doesn't sweat Christmas the party he sweats Christmas the Birth of His Son as gift to man.
Posted by: sven10077 at December 19, 2013 03:32 PM (9jfyN)
Posted by: teej at December 19, 2013 07:29 PM (e0nsQ)
----------------------
Teej - do you know "Joseph's Song", originally by Michael Card?
Same idea, from Joseph's point of view:
"Father, show me where I fit into this plan of yours
How can a man be father to the Son of God?
Lord for all my life I've been a simple carpenter -
How can I raise a king?
How can I raise a king..... "
Posted by: grammie winger at December 19, 2013 03:32 PM (P6QsQ)
Posted by: OG Celtic-American at December 19, 2013 07:13 PM (vHRtU)
They did "Santa Claus"
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0053241/?ref_=fn_tt_tt_2
Posted by: Bertram Cabot Jr. at December 19, 2013 03:33 PM (VpMO0)
OT but had to post from the front lines. My wife is an insurance agent and just sent me the following :
COVERED CALIFORNIA YOUR SERVICE IS A BIG PILE OF YOU KNOW WHAT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On hold for three hours, they disconnected me, waited an hour each for two on-line chats and got disconnected, e-mailed three places and faxed them and no response!
UUUGGGGGGG
On top of that, I think she makes $18 dollars if she signs someone up.
Posted by: The Jackhole at December 19, 2013 03:33 PM (nTgAI)
Posted by: baldilocks at December 19, 2013 03:33 PM (36Rjy)
Posted by: ScoggDog at December 19, 2013 03:33 PM (6/+vz)
Posted by: Macauley Culkin at December 19, 2013 03:33 PM (HsJeN)
Posted by: Illuminati at December 19, 2013 03:33 PM (6tYVV)
Posted by: kathysaysso at December 19, 2013 03:33 PM (6H6o8)
Totally Christmas.
Think about it.
My thoughts exactly. After all, when does Enzo the Baker (for your father, for your father) and Michael (that's my family, Kate, it's not me, IOW denying God) help to defend the Pater Familias (God) against the bad guys (Satan and his minions)? That's right, at Christmas. We know this because there are lights in the hospital. The movie insists upon itself because it's proselytizing.
Posted by: pep at December 19, 2013 03:33 PM (6TB1Z)
Posted by: Andy Sullivan with Bells On! at December 19, 2013 03:33 PM (RJMhd)
Then there's Planes, Trains, Automobiles.
Posted by: Count de Monet
That's a Thanksgiving movie.
Close but no cigar.
Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at December 19, 2013 07:32 PM (dCwZe)
What difference, at this point. does it make?
Posted by: Count de Monet at December 19, 2013 03:34 PM (BAS5M)
Posted by: real joe at December 19, 2013 03:34 PM (xXhgd)
Posted by: toby928© Of Crazy Toby's Health-arama at December 19, 2013 03:34 PM (QupBk)
Posted by: awkward davies at December 19, 2013 03:34 PM (WK8VM)
Posted by: --- at December 19, 2013 03:34 PM (MMC8r)
Halloween, but I'd watch it for Christmas.
By the way, I'm old school when it comes to Christmas classics. Love, Bing Crosby, Sinatra, etc.
And GET OFF MY LAWN.
Posted by: Jane D'oh at December 19, 2013 03:35 PM (lVPtV)
Posted by: puddleglum at December 19, 2013 03:36 PM (15w2J)
Posted by: Count de Monet at December 19, 2013 03:36 PM (BAS5M)
and Jesus was sorta Joshua Bar Joseph's stage name possibly....
doesn't really matter in the end what matters is His word and the faith.
Baldi a merry Xmas to you and yours...
I wish you all happiness and future success.
Posted by: sven10077 at December 19, 2013 03:36 PM (9jfyN)
Also: Die Hard 2: This one even has snow!
Posted by: Lizzy at December 19, 2013 03:36 PM (ruxvM)
That has the potential to become a Christmas Klassic.
*shoots self in leg*
Posted by: Jane D'oh at December 19, 2013 03:36 PM (lVPtV)
Posted by: shredded chi at December 19, 2013 03:37 PM (m+AZt)
Posted by: Socratease at December 19, 2013 03:38 PM (3V4IJ)
Posted by: Lizzy at December 19, 2013 03:39 PM (ruxvM)
Posted by: shredded chi at December 19, 2013 07:37 PM (m+AZt)
Agree. When Hanks said he wished Barky could serve a third term, I swore I'd never spend another dime watching his damned films.
Posted by: Jane D'oh at December 19, 2013 03:39 PM (lVPtV)
Posted by: CAC at December 19, 2013 03:39 PM (yi0NU)
Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at December 19, 2013 03:39 PM (dCwZe)
Posted by: OG Celtic-American at December 19, 2013 03:39 PM (vHRtU)
Posted by: OG Celtic-American at December 19, 2013 03:40 PM (vHRtU)
Posted by: CAC at December 19, 2013 03:40 PM (yi0NU)
I think when they show it on tv they just skip Lincoln's Birthday.
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living... at December 19, 2013 03:41 PM (P/gm7)
Christmas scene CoLC.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=84oOfzTmc5g
Posted by: 13times at December 19, 2013 03:41 PM (fGPLK)
Posted by: --- at December 19, 2013 03:41 PM (MMC8r)
Posted by: Daybrother at December 19, 2013 03:41 PM (svE8s)
Posted by: toby928© Of Crazy Toby's Health-arama at December 19, 2013 03:41 PM (QupBk)
Posted by: puddleglum at December 19, 2013 03:42 PM (15w2J)
Posted by: --- at December 19, 2013 03:42 PM (MMC8r)
We're about to eat some thrown-together pasta stuff.
Later.
Posted by: Jane D'oh at December 19, 2013 03:43 PM (lVPtV)
Groundhog Day was A Christmas Carol, but without the ghosts.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 19, 2013 03:43 PM (8ZskC)
Posted by: teej at December 19, 2013 03:43 PM (J3IzX)
Posted by: Y-not at December 19, 2013 03:43 PM (zDsvJ)
Posted by: ace at December 19, 2013 03:43 PM (/FnUH)
Posted by: eman at December 19, 2013 03:43 PM (EWsrI)
Posted by: Mustbequantum at December 19, 2013 03:44 PM (MIKMs)
Posted by: ace at December 19, 2013 07:43 PM (/FnUH)
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I think they usually run it around Easter / Passover.
Posted by: grammie winger at December 19, 2013 03:45 PM (P6QsQ)
Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 19, 2013 03:45 PM (h4eud)
Posted by: Adam Smith's Invisible Pimp Hand at December 19, 2013 03:45 PM (WdbF7)
Posted by: eman at December 19, 2013 03:46 PM (EWsrI)
Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at December 19, 2013 03:46 PM (dCwZe)
Posted by: CAC at December 19, 2013 03:46 PM (yi0NU)
don't they show it every christmas? Posted by: ace
Every Easter, heathen
Posted by: Dr Spank at December 19, 2013 03:46 PM (xlX1p)
Posted by: toby928© Of Crazy Toby's Health-arama at December 19, 2013 03:47 PM (QupBk)
Posted by: The Dude at December 19, 2013 03:47 PM (vJdyz)
Posted by: --- at December 19, 2013 03:47 PM (MMC8r)
Or Monty Python and the Holy Grail. It's got a rabbit.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 19, 2013 03:48 PM (8ZskC)
Posted by: --- at December 19, 2013 03:48 PM (MMC8r)
Posted by: Dr Spank at December 19, 2013 03:48 PM (xlX1p)
Posted by: toby928© Of Crazy Toby's Health-arama at December 19, 2013 03:48 PM (QupBk)
Posted by: toby928© Of Crazy Toby's Health-arama at December 19, 2013 03:49 PM (QupBk)
JC's dad had not even been born yet.
Posted by: eman at December 19, 2013 07:46 PM (EWsrI)
You do know that it's a Serious You Guys topic in the Terminatorverse fandom as to whether John Connor is Jesus.
Posted by: alexthechick - Really Universe Really? at December 19, 2013 03:49 PM (Gk3SS)
Yeah, so? President's Day isn't the real birthday of most presidents either. Its when we commemorate the day, not the actual date.
Posted by: Christopher Taylor at December 19, 2013 03:50 PM (zfY+H)
Posted by: teej at December 19, 2013 03:51 PM (r60DJ)
Barber Shop. It exemplifies the Kwanzaa value of Kujichagulia, which means being an ex-con.
Posted by: Cicero (@cicero) at December 19, 2013 03:51 PM (8ZskC)
Posted by: toby928© Of Crazy Toby's Health-arama at December 19, 2013 03:51 PM (QupBk)
Posted by: eman at December 19, 2013 03:51 PM (EWsrI)
Posted by: ace at December 19, 2013 03:51 PM (/FnUH)
Clarence is the angel who gets his wings. The whole story is loosely, oppositely, based on "A Christmas Story" by Charles Dickens. George Bailey finds redemption through his night-long journey with Clarence the ANGEL.
I find this story quite fitting as a Christmas story/movie.
Posted by: Great Reagan's Ghost at December 19, 2013 03:52 PM (LsJAk)
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living... at December 19, 2013 03:52 PM (P/gm7)
Posted by: eman at December 19, 2013 03:54 PM (EWsrI)
Posted by: ace at December 19, 2013 07:51 PM (/FnUH)
don't get it either but that is the way it shook out in scheduling the movies to be shown on tv happened. And I know Ben Hrr since mom went into labor with me as my dad was a half hour away from finishing the movie.
He has still never finished the flick no matter how many times I've bought it for him over the years
Posted by: The Dude at December 19, 2013 03:54 PM (vJdyz)
Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at December 19, 2013 03:57 PM (dCwZe)
Posted by: JackStraw at December 19, 2013 03:57 PM (g1DWB)
Posted by: Dr Spank at December 19, 2013 03:57 PM (xlX1p)
Posted by: rickl at December 19, 2013 03:57 PM (sdi6R)
Posted by: Anna Puma (+SmuD) at December 19, 2013 03:58 PM (Zm0GY)
Posted by: K,tnx,bye at December 19, 2013 03:58 PM (RPDkq)
Posted by: Buzzion at December 19, 2013 03:58 PM (QnzCK)
Posted by: Dr Spank at December 19, 2013 07:57 PM (xlX1p)
2 Guns wasn't great but okay. Like most modern US comedies, I thought We're the Millers sucked major ass
Posted by: The Dude at December 19, 2013 03:59 PM (vJdyz)
Baldi a merry Xmas to you and yours...
I wish you all happiness and future success.
Posted by: sven10077 at December 19, 2013 07:36 PM (9jfyN)
And to you, Sven!
Posted by: baldilocks at December 19, 2013 03:59 PM (36Rjy)
Posted by: toby928© Of Crazy Toby's Health-arama at December 19, 2013 04:00 PM (QupBk)
Posted by: soothsayer at December 19, 2013 04:01 PM (yzlKi)
Posted by: Ribald Conservative riding Orca at December 19, 2013 04:01 PM (dCwZe)
Posted by: Dr. Jesse Pinkman at December 19, 2013 04:01 PM (h4eud)
Posted by: shredded chi at December 19, 2013 04:02 PM (m+AZt)
How did Jennifer look?
Posted by: Dr Spank at December 19, 2013 08:05 PM (xlX1p)
her cavern tits were noticeable
Posted by: The Dude at December 19, 2013 04:06 PM (vJdyz)
Posted by: Fritz at December 19, 2013 04:06 PM (TKFmG)
Posted by: Illuminati at December 19, 2013 04:06 PM (6tYVV)
Posted by: the guy that moves pianos for a living... at December 19, 2013 04:08 PM (P/gm7)
Well, Ace (maybe sarcastically) just argued that Santa was a pagan wood spirit. So no, not everyone says he is real. Moreover, you should have read the link. Most of what you said is plain wrong:
"If the popular conception that Christmas is of pagan origin is incorrect, some may ask, where did it come from and how did it become such a widespread belief? Like the myth of the so-called "Dark Ages," the source of the mythology surrounding Christmas is the anti-Papist and, later, anti-Christian propaganda of the Protestant Reformation and the Enlightenment. There are in particular two individuals to blame for the invention of the myths.
"In 1743, a German Protestant named Paul Ernst Jablonski, in an effort to discredit the Roman Catholic Church, claimed that the celebration of Christmas was one of the numerous "paganizations" of Christianity which had occurred in the fourth century.8 His grand thesis was that paganizations like the adoption of Christmas had degenerated Christianity from its original purity and led to the creation of the Roman Catholic Church.
"In the late 17th and early 18th centuries, Dom Jean Hardouin, himself a Roman Catholic monk, in an attempt to counter the claims of Protestants that the Roman Catholic Church was the result of paganization of Christianity, unintentionally contributed to the myths about Christmas.9 He attempted, in his writings on the subject, to demonstrate that the Roman Church had adopted pagan festivals and Christianized them without corrupting the Christian gospel.
. . . .
"The common contention that December 25 was instituted in order to replace a pagan holiday already on that date falls apart very quickly in the light of the overwhelmingly evidence that there was no pagan holiday on that date. The contention relies upon the fallacy, still common in neo-pagan and pseudo-Christian circles, that anything pagan must necessarily precede anything Christian chronologically. On the contrary, already in its first two centuries of existence Christianity had exerted a powerful influence on contemporary pagan belief and practice.19 In the second through fifth centuries, there were a number of innovations in Greco-Roman pagan religion and philosophy that were inspired by contact with Christianity." http://tinyurl.com/mnk6can
Posted by: wte9 at December 19, 2013 04:10 PM (2BJaL)
Posted by: AmishDude at December 19, 2013 04:11 PM (QbxUg)
Posted by: Auntie Doodles at December 19, 2013 04:15 PM (JcN7j)
Posted by: toby928© Of Crazy Toby's Health-arama at December 19, 2013 04:15 PM (QupBk)
Posted by: UGAdawg at December 19, 2013 04:18 PM (e/9tl)
http://www.barnhardt.biz/2013/12/06/starting-friday-off-right-3/
Be sure to read all the way to the end.
Posted by: rickl at December 19, 2013 07:57 PM (sdi6R)
The story is good, but the picture at the end is priceless.
Posted by: HTL at December 19, 2013 04:25 PM (hhBXE)
Posted by: Synova at December 19, 2013 04:26 PM (7/PU+)
Right hey miracle of miracles we just happened as Christians to develop independent of Germanic paganism veneration of coniferous trees, the notion of codified rites of hospitality during the yule, and the birth being put around the celebratory rites of Solstice.
I am a lapsed Catholic, I am also a renounced Asatru.
The roots of Nordic Paganism arguably predate the time of Christ by about 8,000 years.
The war between the Aesir and the Vanir represents "something."
The Upper Paleolithic left trails into modernity less visible perhaps than St Nick laying down some whoop ass but there naytheless.
Catholic PR on the issue is not compelling simply for its intonation.
It is extremely fortuitous that He sent the message by the 9 line that Christianity had so many coincidentally similar to pagan rites festivals...
I am reminded of President John Taylor being told it would be fortuitous if he modified His views(alleged) on polygamy.....
very very lucky that every time the faith needed commonality to cool ardor in defense of the old faith it found it.
Posted by: sven10077 at December 19, 2013 04:28 PM (9jfyN)
Posted by: Califemme at December 19, 2013 04:32 PM (MffOI)
Posted by: Auntie Doodles at December 19, 2013 04:39 PM (JcN7j)
Auntie Doodles at December 19, 2013 08:39 PM (JcN7j)
No no there is no evidence that there were ANY pagan holidays at all around the late december period that is usually winter solstice....
http://tinyurl.com/2b9w9u
Like in Hindu faith
http://tinyurl.com/yb6vl5v
which left footprints in Nordic Paganism in all likelihood
Judaism http://tinyurl.com/aqtb9
(not slagging Judaism as a paganist heresy BTW)
http://tinyurl.com/ofav7dg
Like the Caucusian Vainakh in Chechnya....
Like the Yule by my Germanic ancestors
http://tinyurl.com/8x2bx
Like my Saxon ancestors....
http://tinyurl.com/nvwc828
by the Pesians Mithraists.....
yup...Christmas created wholesale by a throat punching Turkish monk
Posted by: sven10077 at December 19, 2013 04:50 PM (9jfyN)
Posted by: Prothonotary Warbler at December 19, 2013 05:04 PM (RGQmh)
Posted by: flodigarry at December 19, 2013 05:04 PM (iaBhk)
Posted by: Hans Gruber at December 19, 2013 05:13 PM (BDH94)
Posted by: Buzzion at December 19, 2013 05:19 PM (MnJ1O)
Posted by: Nancy at December 19, 2013 05:20 PM (CH3mr)
If that does not make you feel all warm and snugglely, in a onesy with a cup of cocoa, in front of the Tannenbaum, nothing will.
Posted by: Evil Blogger Lady at December 19, 2013 05:24 PM (UYjru)
the idiocy of denying paganistic festivals in the latter part of December merits the idiocy in recirpocity of Saint Chuck of Norris Snap Kicking it from the ether whole...
YMMV
Posted by: sven10077 at December 19, 2013 05:24 PM (9jfyN)
John McClane: "Mc" means "son of", so he is "J son of C", re-arranged it's "JC, son of." Son of who? God, of course. John McClane is a Christ figure.
What's his wife's name? Holly Gennaro. Holly, for Christmas, and Gennaro, from the Italian word for January. She encompasses the entire holiday season.
Santa brings presents down the chimney. John McClane sends presents down the elevator shaft (plastic explosives and dead terrorists.)
Posted by: Taro Tsujimoto at December 19, 2013 05:36 PM (celt+)
But in spite of those obvious faults, White Christmas >>> Holiday Inn.
While nobody argues against Astaire > Kaye, it's not like Kaye dancing is chopped beef. But the real difference-maker is , naturally, elbows. As in,
Vera Ellen > (Marjorie Reynolds + Virginia Dale) x 100. In every measurable way, including elbows, dancing skills, legs, eyes, money-maker sugar-shaker, and I could keep going but they'll arrest me.
Posted by: Dominari Nolo at December 19, 2013 05:40 PM (Em374)
Posted by: toby928© Of Crazy Toby's Health-arama at December 19, 2013 05:43 PM (QupBk)
Posted by: Buzzion at December 19, 2013 05:48 PM (ovJAv)
Posted by: Huric Orlong at December 19, 2013 05:48 PM (bJyHk)
We like the part where the little kid gets his first gun. He asks his dad, "is it loaded?" Dad says, "of course it's loaded! It wouldn't do any good if it weren't loaded!"
Posted by: sinmi at December 19, 2013 05:55 PM (+UD5P)
Saint Nicholas in Turkey was dressed up as a mix between a Finnish Lumberjack and a Cossack was he?
I may post in circuitous gibberish Buzzion but in this case I am on fairly solid ground.
Santa Claus as we understand him is quite young.
~1863 or so....
Father Christmas is from at least the mid 1400s.
If Santa Claus is the main crux of our disagreement I surrender the point.
Not because I actually surrender but I am not doing legwork for a bastard who has missed picking up the tab for lad 10077's gifts for 14 years....
Posted by: sven10077 at December 19, 2013 05:56 PM (9jfyN)
Posted by: whatmeworry? at December 19, 2013 05:58 PM (dZGNV)
Posted by: Bond .....James Bond at December 19, 2013 05:59 PM (60C2G)
Posted by: Buzzion at December 19, 2013 06:06 PM (ovJAv)
and you see no "coincidence" that the portfolios of the Saints as patrons of professions argues that they were coopting the Guild role of the Paganistic Gods during the initial to say third generation of integration?
Ms 10077 is about to flog me Buzz I do have a lot of driving on my itinerary.
I am not offering my analysis to generate offense, I am saying that:
1) Christianity's actions were smart
2) in the end it matters not a whit the Church reigns the Pagans withered
3) on matters clerical to me it is Doctrine, Doctrine, Doctrine on that point the Church was unyielding.
Wife pulled a 32 hour day yesterday....
I did not sleep well, as tortured as I make my syntax I would beg your allowance that there is a decided difference in my post quality between the rested and unrested product.
If I do not make a cameo here in the morning I wish you and yours a happy holiday.
Posted by: sven10077 at December 19, 2013 06:12 PM (9jfyN)
Then there is Stone of Destiny, based upon the actual theft by Scottish Nationals of the Stone of Scone on Christmas Day in 1950. It was an act of protest meant to stir a fire under a dormant Scottish nationalist political movement. No one was hurt, the property damage was minimal and when the thieves turned themselves in and returned the coronation stone the Crown declined to prosecute. It was political theater done right.
Posted by: NC Mountain Girl at December 19, 2013 06:24 PM (0mmY9)
I mean it's not Better Off Dead or anything, but it was enjoyable.
Posted by: Fritz (not Fritz) at December 19, 2013 06:29 PM (U0t2o)
Just as a side note, most of Shane Black's screenplays are Christmas movies or set during Christmas.
Lethal Weapon
Long Kiss Goodnight
Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
Iron Man 3
Also KKBB is a hell of a lot of fun. Two words: Michelle Monahan's tits. And spiders.
Posted by: IllTemperedCur at December 19, 2013 06:30 PM (MBqvE)
Posted by: The Mega Independent at December 19, 2013 06:35 PM (4/o9U)
Posted by: Buzzion at December 19, 2013 06:41 PM (U8aHd)
Posted by: The Mega Independent at December 19, 2013 06:51 PM (4/o9U)
Posted by: Optimizer at December 19, 2013 06:54 PM (Mxt9o)
Posted by: oejay44cday at December 19, 2013 07:52 PM (3RFv9)
It starts with the obvious"
Republicans say "Merry Christmas!"
Democrats say "Happy Holidays!"
Includes the since-adopted but at the time merely funny and now, suddenly controversial:
Democrats favorite Christmas movie is "Miracle on 34th Street."
Republicans favorite Christmas movie is "It's a Wonderful Life."
Right-Wing Republicans favorite Christmas movie is "Die Hard"
And finishes with some more obviousness:
Republicans first began thinking like Republicans
when they stopped believing in Santa Claus........
Democrats became Democrats because
they never stopped believing in Santa Claus...
Posted by: Dodd at December 19, 2013 08:03 PM (YijOY)
It's like Christmas at my house, except myself, my wife, and my brother-in-law have the good sense to drink an ass-load of wine during the festivities. Everyone else is underage or afraid of the demon alcohol.
Posted by: RampantConsumerism at December 19, 2013 08:22 PM (2/+6A)
Posted by: Nan at December 19, 2013 09:57 PM (An3IC)
Posted by: Auntie Doodles at December 20, 2013 06:28 AM (JcN7j)
*
*
I know. I wanted to laugh at that scene. And there wasn't a single character who even resembled a real human being in the story.
Of course, I saw it right after watching "Ghsotbusters" for the first time. "Gremlins" might have suffered in comparison.
(And as for the Chinese guy being so "wise": How did his people learn not to feed the gremlins after midnight? Sounds like they made the same mistake at some point, doesn't it?)
Posted by: Wolfus Aurelius at December 20, 2013 06:28 AM (BDU/a)
With all the killing, I thought Die Hard was about Ramadan. My bad.
Posted by: eureka! at December 20, 2013 08:03 AM (at2Vg)
Posted by: Reggie Love at December 20, 2013 09:55 AM (j7ORY)
Happy ending at Murtah's house on Christmas Riggs brings a present.
Posted by: George at December 20, 2013 10:26 AM (E3zeT)
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Posted by: soothsayer at December 19, 2013 03:01 PM (yzlKi)