I watch it every year. It's the only Xmas movie I watch.
A Christmas Story and It's a Wonderful Life
- Thread starter Trekker4747
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I watch it every year. It's the only Xmas movie I watch.
But what about Die Hard?
I watch it every year. It's the only Xmas movie I watch.
But what about Die Hard?
I meant the only one I watch every year.
That said, Die Hard is a great film. Could take or leave the sequals, though, as they lost that satirical edge.
Was it ever?
I'd go with no because I have never heard of it.
I've heard of it and it's... "funny" but I don't really see it as a Christmas classic. Not on the league with "Mircale", "Life" or "Christmas Story", along with "Carol" and numerous others.
But "Live" and "Story" are two I have two watch every year.
I know a lot of people who try to watch it every year. I know I watch it about as often as I do other Christmas movies\specials.
I've always liked it because it takes some of the Christmas cliches and turns them on their head; Christmas isn't always rosy and wonderful, sometimes things turn to crap.
That's a good article! If that's "an alternate look," though, what's the "normal" way to look at it? That article pretty much describes the way I've always seen the story-- about a life of selfless sacrifice.
But what about Die Hard?Was it ever?
I watch it every year. It's the only Xmas movie I watch.
Die Hard is the best Christmas movie ever.
"Now I have a machine gun. Ho-ho-ho"
It's A Wonderful Life is a holiday movie I can't stand. Luckily, nobody around here has any interest in watching it, but if somebody did want to watch it, I'd be in any other room in the house faster than you could blink. In my personal hell, they play this movie over and over and over.
Is it because of the movie itself or the nauseating number of times the networks used to show it?
I hate the movie, too. Couldn't stand twenty minutes of it the first time I saw it. I don't care for most Christmas movies, mind you. A Christmas Story is good but I would not rewatch it again and again.
^I think that's the problem right there. People are SICK of It's a Wonderful Life. It's been played, copied, ripped off, made fun of, so many bloody times that people just can't stand it anymore. But if you sit down and watch it with an open mind, it's really a beautiful (and rather sad, at times) film.
I have a real fondness for A Christmas Story, just because it reminds me of the way I saw Christmas as a kid. And, let's face it, that film is downright funny. It's charming in it's look at the absurdity of the suburban family Christmas.
But, as far as the quality of the film itself, I think Wonderful Life is clearly the superior film. It's just the perfectly crafted Christmas movie.
I have a real fondness for A Christmas Story, just because it reminds me of the way I saw Christmas as a kid. And, let's face it, that film is downright funny. It's charming in it's look at the absurdity of the suburban family Christmas.
But, as far as the quality of the film itself, I think Wonderful Life is clearly the superior film. It's just the perfectly crafted Christmas movie.
The "problem" with IAWL (like it's the movie's fault) is that after a number of years, people think of it in the abstract. Much like older Trek, many people think they remember it a certain way because they've been doing it for so long, but can't actually tell you why. The debate is no longer concrete. It's based on a memory of a memory of ...
Then, when they actually see it again, they wonder why they thought they disliked it so much.
I DO like Green Eggs and Ham.
--Ted I Am
Then, when they actually see it again, they wonder why they thought they disliked it so much.
I DO like Green Eggs and Ham.
--Ted I Am
IAWL is a charming movie. I went through a "phase" too as a teen where I didn't like it, but now it's a movie I look forward to seeing every year.
I was 11 years old when I saw It's A Wonderful Life in the theater during the original release.
It is just as impressive now as when I first saw it. It made a huge impression on me that continues to this day.
I was fortunate to befriend Frank Capra as an adult and never hesitated to let him know that it was one of my favorite films of all time, along with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It Happened One Night.
One of the greatest Christmas presents I have ever received was actually watching It's A Wonderful Life with Frank several years before he died and getting a personal commentary while viewing it. That memory will live with me till my dying day.
It is just as impressive now as when I first saw it. It made a huge impression on me that continues to this day.
I was fortunate to befriend Frank Capra as an adult and never hesitated to let him know that it was one of my favorite films of all time, along with Mr. Smith Goes to Washington and It Happened One Night.
One of the greatest Christmas presents I have ever received was actually watching It's A Wonderful Life with Frank several years before he died and getting a personal commentary while viewing it. That memory will live with me till my dying day.
I've never been terribly fond of It's a Wonderful Life, though I will admit I haven't watched it in years. I should one of these days.
My Christmas favorite was always Miracle on 34th Street. So precious!
Another sentimental favorite was The Night They Saved Christmas - the Jaclyn Smith TV movie they show on TBS at some point every year. As a child who no longer believed in Santa, I thought it was clever and charming how they explained how Santa managed to deliver all those presents to all those children. And I loved the depiction of the North Pole.
And I appreciate the charm of The Santa Clause. The production designers on that film did a fabulous job. Casting the elves as children was an inspired choice. And this movie reminded me that the whole point of explaining Santa is that you DON'T. Santa is MAGIC. I've resisted watching the two sequels out of fear of sequel disappointment, even though I've heard that as sequels go, these aren't too bad. Still, the original is just so perfect on its own. I love its respect for the magic of the fairy tale.
My Christmas favorite was always Miracle on 34th Street. So precious!
Another sentimental favorite was The Night They Saved Christmas - the Jaclyn Smith TV movie they show on TBS at some point every year. As a child who no longer believed in Santa, I thought it was clever and charming how they explained how Santa managed to deliver all those presents to all those children. And I loved the depiction of the North Pole.
And I appreciate the charm of The Santa Clause. The production designers on that film did a fabulous job. Casting the elves as children was an inspired choice. And this movie reminded me that the whole point of explaining Santa is that you DON'T. Santa is MAGIC. I've resisted watching the two sequels out of fear of sequel disappointment, even though I've heard that as sequels go, these aren't too bad. Still, the original is just so perfect on its own. I love its respect for the magic of the fairy tale.
I credit A Christmas Story with knowing that Chinese restaurants are open Christmas Eve and Christmas Day. It was late and my wife and I were both tired after performing at a service. Everything was closed, we thought, until I remembered that movie and suggested we check out our favorite Chinese place. Sure enough, they were open. It's a tradition of ours now.
I love George C. Scott's and Patrick Stewart's A Christmas Carol, each for different reasons. Both are excellent, and as I get older I find the message evermore meaningful.
I love George C. Scott's and Patrick Stewart's A Christmas Carol, each for different reasons. Both are excellent, and as I get older I find the message evermore meaningful.
The sequels suck, don't waste your time. The second one is OK, but avoid the third like it's smallpox.
I have been watching Freaks and Geeks, and it reminds me of A Christmas Story with the characters and the other all feel. I think it's why my family liked it so much.
And Chinese restaurants aren't open around here, we use to have to order it the day before Christmas Eve.
Oh, and I've never watched A Christmas Story. In all the years of repeats on TBS, nothing from the commercials or other moments I happened to catch ever appealed to me at all. Everything I saw struck me as tasteless. Now, I know from the testimony of many friends over the years that my impression is likely false, but I still have no real desire to see the movie. *shrug*
