Christmas Movies

[bundabergdevil]

We watched 8-Bit Christmas on HBO. I'd seen the trailer and had high hopes that this late 80s-era comedy about a group of kids trying to secure a Nintendo would be a lot of fun. It was but it just didn't land the nostalgia like, say, Stranger Things. It was also pretty transparent about trying to be the 80s Christmas Story in its approach and character similarities --- unfortunately, the writing was not as good, the narration not as engaging, and the characters not as fun.

Don't get me wrong, it had it's moments but had really hoped for more.

[wilson]

We watched 8-Bit Christmas on HBO. I'd seen the trailer and had high hopes that this late 80s-era comedy about a group of kids trying to secure a Nintendo would be a lot of fun. It was but it just didn't land the nostalgia like, say, Stranger Things. It was also pretty transparent about trying to be the 80s Christmas Story in its approach and character similarities --- unfortunately, the writing was not as good, the narration not as engaging, and the characters not as fun.

Don't get me wrong, it had it's moments but had really hoped for more.

Hot take: A Christmas Story is trash.

[bundabergdevil]

Hot take: A Christmas Story is trash.

Fight me.

[aimo]

Hot take: A Christmas Story is trash.

Fight me.

I'm with bbd. I saw it in the theater waay back in the day. Still a classic to me.

[Phredd3]

I'm with bbd. I saw it in the theater waay back in the day. Still a classic to me.

Both my parents grew up in the Midwest, and A Christmas Story pretty much encapsulates my family's history as passed down to me by my parents. The bullies, the swearing, the snow suit, the neighbors, the obsession with turkey, the mother who pulls certain family strings, the quest for the forbidden present. Heck, I even grew up listening to reel-to-reel tapes of my father's old radio programs. I can't NOT love it.

Nobody else in my immediate family understands how great it is. If it's not part of your history, you just don't realize how funny it actually is. My siblings and I laugh uproariously. Most of the "sleazy creepy" vibe you may be getting is actually humor. And really funny humor at that (at least for us).

[SouthernDukie]

Hot take: A Christmas Story is trash.

I know it’s become in modern classic, but I never watch it. It does nothing for me. Doesn’t seem “Christmassy” at all. Give me the original Miracle on 34th Steet and It’s a Wonderful Life. Throw in the White Christmas, and other classics of like manner, and I’m very happy.

[duke74]

I know it’s become in modern classic, but I never watch it. It does nothing for me. Doesn’t seem “Christmassy” at all. Give me the original Miracle on 34th Steet and It’s a Wonderful Life. Throw in the White Christmas, and other classics of like manner, and I’m very happy.

Old school. Love it!

[Acymetric]

I know it’s become in modern classic, but I never watch it. It does nothing for me. Doesn’t seem “Christmassy” at all. Give me the original Miracle on 34th Steet and It’s a Wonderful Life. Throw in the White Christmas, and other classics of like manner, and I’m very happy.

I agree with this almost completely, but will add a second hot take: It's a Wonderful Life was a good movie, that I watched once and don't feel especially compelled to watch again.

Just started Peaky Blinders, sad I am late to this. Only saw two episodes so no spoilers please, but a fun start.

I've tried to start that show several times and never end up making it through the first episode (nothing especially wrong, just doesn't grab me). Good luck, and report back!

[mph]

I know it’s become in modern classic, but I never watch it. It does nothing for me. Doesn’t seem “Christmassy” at all. Give me the original Miracle on 34th Steet and It’s a Wonderful Life. Throw in the White Christmas, and other classics of like manner, and I’m very happy.

Hold on. A Christmas Story seems less Christmassy to you than White Christmas? White Christmas is 15 minutes of Christmas on the front end, 15 minutes of Christmas on the back end, and 90 minutes
of nothing to do with Christmas in the middle!

And, yes, if you must know, I AM a little bitter about having to listen to my wife and sisters-in-law sing Sisters whenever they are together for the holidays.

[SouthernDukie]

Hold on. A Christmas Story seems less Christmassy to you than White Christmas? White Christmas is 15 minutes of Christmas on the front end, 15 minutes of Christmas on the back end, and 90 minutes
of nothing to do with Christmas in the middle!

And, yes, if you must know, I AM a little bitter about having to listen to my wife and sisters-in-law sing Sisters whenever they are together for the holidays.

Sorry, just now reading this. I think I’m the old geezer here when it comes to Christmas-themed films and TV series. Most any Christmas film from the 60’s forward I’ll usually turn my nose up at. Christmas-themed TV episodes after the 90’s generally aren’t my thing either.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

Hot take: A Christmas Story is trash.

I love it. My wife hates it. Subject of much dispute in our home. I am trying to get my kids on my side. I am "that guy" who likes quoting random movies (in case you haven't noticed) and A Christmas Story is the gift that keeps on giving, like the Jelly of the Month Club.

I am also a Jew who is obsessed with all things Christmas related, so that might help explain some of it.

[wilson]

I love it. My wife hates it. Subject of much dispute in our home. I am trying to get my kids on my side. I am "that guy" who likes quoting random movies (in case you haven't noticed) and A Christmas Story is the gift that keeps on giving, like the Jelly of the Month Club.

I am also a Jew who is obsessed with all things Christmas related, so that might help explain some of it.

See, I'm (not Jewish, but) likewise obsessed with all things Christmas. Well, almost all things...I can't stand that one movie. Have never liked it and really have no intention to ever watch it again. It's got this sleazy, creepy vibe that to me is entirely at odds with the season.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I don't see how folks are saying that ACS doesn't feel Christmassy.

It's setting is the weeks leading up to Christmas, has Santa and elves, lots of lights, snow, and is constantly talking about the one present that the kid is dying to wake up to ON CHRISTMAS MORNING. The whole movie is entirely centered around December 25th and the impending disappointment.

I'd love to hear more of an explanation about what's missing from the Christmas based movie that even has the word Christmas in its title.

[wilson]

I don't see how folks are saying that ACS doesn't feel Christmassy.

It's setting is the weeks leading up to Christmas, has Santa and elves, lots of lights, snow, and is constantly talking about the one present that the kid is dying to wake up to ON CHRISTMAS MORNING. The whole movie is entirely centered around December 25th and the impending disappointment.

I'd love to hear more of an explanation about what's missing from the Christmas based movie that even has the word Christmas in its title.

I'm not into a kid desperately wanting a firearm, harboring generation-long feelings of disappointment, and contending with scuzzy bullies in a run-down sepia-toned town that's past its best days. Doesn't put me in the holiday mood at all.

[CameronBornAndBred]

I'm not into a kid desperately wanting a firearm, harboring generation-long feelings of disappointment, and contending with scuzzy bullies in a run-down sepia-toned town that's past its best days. Doesn't put me in the holiday mood at all.

Others have mentioned It's a Wonderful Life. That one checks off a few of your boxes there too. Bullies, run down town, feelings of disappointment, plus it tosses in suicide. Yet because it is set at Christmas time, it's a Christmas movie.

[bundabergdevil]

Others have mentioned It's a Wonderful Life. That one checks off a few of your boxes there too. Bullies, run down town, feelings of disappointment, plus it tosses in suicide. Yet because it is set at Christmas time, it's a Christmas movie.

There are bullies and very adult dynamics and situations in Elf, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, etc. Guns in most of those, too.

[CrazyNotCrazie]

There are bullies and very adult dynamics and situations in Elf, Christmas Vacation, Home Alone, etc. Guns in most of those, too.

And I don't mean to speak out of turn as a Jew in a Christmas discussion, but I'm fairly sure that John McClane's experience in Die Hard is not your traditional Christmas. And I believe all rational voices agree that Die Hard is a Christmas movie.

Though I love A Christmas Story, I fully respect people's right to not like it. But it is definitely about Christmas. Just not necessarily how everyone wants to celebrate it. Though I think that, as others have noted, it has a lot of nuggets of how people actually do celebrate it.

[wilson]

...Though I love A Christmas Story, I fully respect people's right to not like it. But it is definitely about Christmas. Just not necessarily how everyone wants to celebrate it. Though I think that, as others have noted, it has a lot of nuggets of how people actually do celebrate it.

To clarify: I never offered up the opinion that it's somehow not a Christmas movie. I just really, really don't like it.

[SouthernDukie]

To clarify: I never offered up the opinion that it's somehow not a Christmas movie. I just really, really don't like it.

I'm not saying it's not a Christmas movie either. I'm saying it's not Christmassy to me, for the reasons I outlined. And I also really, really don't like it either.

[bundabergdevil]

To clarify: I never offered up the opinion that it's somehow not a Christmas movie. I just really, really don't like it.

Everyone's entitled to their opinions, even the bad ones! It's Top 20 on Rotten Tomatoes and IMDB ratings of all-time Christmas movies so lots of folks think it has something going for it.

I, on the other hand, have not seen It's a Wonderful Life all the way through and likely never will. I'm not sure I've made it all the way through a movie other than Citizen Kane that was produced before the 60s --- can't stand most of them (even the classics). Just find them irritating and fake. Ugh, Zuzu.