I have to see A Muppet Christmas Carol for it to really be Christmas. That and the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
OFB, Jim Carrey's Grinch is OK, Mike Myers is the one ass-raping memories with the Cat in the Hat.
Originally posted by ringmistressYou may not believe this, but one year, I pretended I was a mistress (of the S&M variety). I was told I had the right voice for it. Just wanted to let you know that.
Originally posted by gugsI have to see A Muppet Christmas Carol for it to really be Christmas. That and the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
OFB, Jim Carrey's Grinch is OK, Mike Myers is the one ass-raping memories with the Cat in the Hat.
Here's what's wrong with Jim Carrey's version of The Grinch - aside from the fact that it's annoying, unfunny and has Jim Carrey in it, of course. (Sorry, I got tired of him a long time ago and haven't enjoyed anything he's made since The Cable Guy, with the possible exception of Man On The Moon - probably because that was a very rare example of a movie where he didn't just play Jim Carrey. But I digress...)
Ron Howard - who's work I generally like - didn't seem to understand the point of How The Grinch Stole Christmas. He remembered the general plotline, but the moral was lost completely along the wayside somewhere.
In the book and cartoon, the Grinch - not due to any tacked on childhood trauma or sexual repression, but merely due to his shoes being too tight, his head not being screwed on just right and the fact that his heart was two sizes too small - decides that Christmas, complete with all it's noise, noise, noise, noise - is something he can't stand in the least, and that the best way to remedy the situation is to steal all the presents and decorations and trees and the roast beast and the who-tinglers and who-tumblers and everything else (except a crumb too small for even a mouse).
But then, and this is the important part, when the Whos down in Whoville wake up the next morning - it doesn't matter. They still come together and join hands and sing - without ribbons, without tags, without packages, boxes or bags. The Grinch realizes that Christmas, perhaps, doesn't come from a store - that Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. And he returns the presents and the decorations and the Whos rejoice and the Grinch's heart grows three sizes that day and the Grinch, he himself, carves the roast beast.
In the movie - after an hour and a half of annoying tacked-on plotlines meant to stretch a story that needed to add three songs to fill a half-hour cartoon - the Whos awake on Christmas morning... and are pissed. Royally, steamingly pissed off. (Everyone except the equally annoying sainted Cindy Lou Who - who eventually brings the rest of the town around, but only after fits of rage and threats to kill the Grinch.) And then Jim Carrey comes down and sings like an asshole and the movie's over. They've got time for dozens of pointless side sequences, but they can't squeeze in the fucking moral of the fucking story?!
Don't get me wrong - I'm sure The Cat In The Hat is just as terrible. (Dr. Suess must be spinning in his grave. His money-grubbing widow should be ashamed of herself. He'd have never approved of any of this - or the Broadway musical, or the kids show, or the action figures or any of it.) The difference is that there's no way I'm actually going to spend money to see that one.
But the tragic thing is - that one was sucessful too. Which means we'll get a steady stream of comedians in laytex costumes mugging for the camera until they're out of Dr. Suess books to ruin. Tom Green as The Lorax, anyone?
"I already know nobody likes me. I don't need a whole holiday season to rub it in." - Charlie Brown
Originally posted by Mayhem And let us not forget the ever-depressing tear jerker known as "Nestor the Long-Ear Donkey" ...
My mom said that I used to cry and cry when I was a wee lad over that movie ... still can bring a tear the the eye.
"Nestor the Long-Eared Donkey" is actually included on the "Year without a Santa Claus" DVD........and how this thread got this far without someone mentioning "Year without a Santa Claus" starring Mr. Heat Miser & Mr. Snow Miser is baffling to me.
As for the live action Grinch movie - I have never seen the movie but I have never known a child to need parental guidance to read a Dr. Seuss book......
5 Time 5 Time 5 Time 5 Time 5 Time Wiener of the Day Runner-up
CHRISTMAS VACATION for the simple reason that, any Christmas movie with the line: "Honey, have you checked our shitters?" is a must see.
Also, unlike many of you, I absolutely love A CHRISTMAS STORY and will watch it as long as I can stay awake. A simple movie, with a simple story, that shows that not all families are "perfect" at Christmas time.
Originally posted by gugsI have to see A Muppet Christmas Carol for it to really be Christmas. That and the original How the Grinch Stole Christmas.
OFB, Jim Carrey's Grinch is OK, Mike Myers is the one ass-raping memories with the Cat in the Hat.
Here's what's wrong with Jim Carrey's version of The Grinch - aside from the fact that it's annoying, unfunny and has Jim Carrey in it, of course. (Sorry, I got tired of him a long time ago and haven't enjoyed anything he's made since The Cable Guy, with the possible exception of Man On The Moon - probably because that was a very rare example of a movie where he didn't just play Jim Carrey. But I digress...)
Ron Howard - who's work I generally like - didn't seem to understand the point of How The Grinch Stole Christmas. He remembered the general plotline, but the moral was lost completely along the wayside somewhere.
In the book and cartoon, the Grinch - not due to any tacked on childhood trauma or sexual repression, but merely due to his shoes being too tight, his head not being screwed on just right and the fact that his heart was two sizes too small - decides that Christmas, complete with all it's noise, noise, noise, noise - is something he can't stand in the least, and that the best way to remedy the situation is to steal all the presents and decorations and trees and the roast beast and the who-tinglers and who-tumblers and everything else (except a crumb too small for even a mouse).
But then, and this is the important part, when the Whos down in Whoville wake up the next morning - it doesn't matter. They still come together and join hands and sing - without ribbons, without tags, without packages, boxes or bags. The Grinch realizes that Christmas, perhaps, doesn't come from a store - that Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more. And he returns the presents and the decorations and the Whos rejoice and the Grinch's heart grows three sizes that day and the Grinch, he himself, carves the roast beast.
In the movie - after an hour and a half of annoying tacked-on plotlines meant to stretch a story that needed to add three songs to fill a half-hour cartoon - the Whos awake on Christmas morning... and are pissed. Royally, steamingly pissed off. (Everyone except the equally annoying sainted Cindy Lou Who - who eventually brings the rest of the town around, but only after fits of rage and threats to kill the Grinch.) And then Jim Carrey comes down and sings like an asshole and the movie's over. They've got time for dozens of pointless side sequences, but they can't squeeze in the fucking moral of the fucking story?!
Don't get me wrong - I'm sure The Cat In The Hat is just as terrible. (Dr. Suess must be spinning in his grave. His money-grubbing widow should be ashamed of herself. He'd have never approved of any of this - or the Broadway musical, or the kids show, or the action figures or any of it.) The difference is that there's no way I'm actually going to spend money to see that one.
But the tragic thing is - that one was sucessful too. Which means we'll get a steady stream of comedians in laytex costumes mugging for the camera until they're out of Dr. Suess books to ruin. Tom Green as The Lorax, anyone?
Ronnie Howard's version certainly didn't hold true to the meaning, and I can see why you're pissed about that. I was just looking at it as cheap fun with a bit of heart thrown in. The movie is funny, the cartoon sends a message. It may seem shallow, but looking for a message in a Jim Carrey movie is usually like looking for a needle in a haystack. That said, I found Bruce Almighty and, to a lesser extent, The Truman Show, to be both funnier and having a better overall message.
Originally posted by ringmistressYou may not believe this, but one year, I pretended I was a mistress (of the S&M variety). I was told I had the right voice for it. Just wanted to let you know that.
Ditto on Christmas Story. I'm going to be buying my dad and my brother Christmas Story figures/toys for under the tree. Suncoast Video is an awesome store. I believe they have the leg lamp; not as big as the original but I may be getting that for dad.
What we need is a Gen-X version of Christmas Story. Re-do the movie but set it in the 80s. I'll be the first one in line.
Allow me to add to the "It's not Christmas until I HEAR" list: any Dr. Demento Christmas broadcast. Some of my most cherished memories from the mid-80s are getting to stay up late during the holiday break (Dr. Demento didn't get played on my local station until 12 midnight on Monday night-Sunday morning) and listen to "demented" Christmas music. The Mackenzie Brothers, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, etc. Classic stuff. I'm trying to remember more songs/skits but I can't right now.
I'm not much of a "holiday season" type of guy, but there are actually a few things that keep sneaking up on me around this time of year:
A Christmas Story on TNT--I just love that movie How the Grinch Stole Christmas on Cartoon Network--I haven't seen it in December of this year yet. I saw it in July, though.....?! Trans-Siberian Orchestra in the CD Player National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
My Christmas viewing: -A Christmas Story [Classic!] -National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation [Another classic!] -A Christmas Carol [Alistar Sim version] -Scrooged [I heart Bill Murray] -How the Grinch Stole Christmas [Cartoon, natch]
And last, but not least...the Simpsons Christmas episodes: -"Simpsons Roasting On An Open Fire" (Season 1/1989) The first full-length Simpsons episode after the Tracy Ullman shorts. Homer moonlights as a department store Santa & Bart gets a tattoo. -"Marge Be Not Proud" (Season 7/1995) Bart shoplifts and Marge stops loving him. -"Miracle On Evergreen Terrace" (Season 9/1997) Bart unwittingly destroys all the Christmas presents. Hilarity ensues. -"Grift of the Magi" (Season 11/1999) Who cares what it's about, it's got Gary Coleman! -"Skinner's Sense of Snow" (Season 12/2000) The elementary school gets snowed in, trapping Skinner inside with the children...who rebel. -"She of Little Faith" (Season 13/2001) Lisa goes Buddhist.
FLAMES: 13-8-1-3; 30pts SURVIVOR: PEARL ISLANDS: 5 Remain [Darrah, Jon, Sandra, Burton & Lillian] TOP 10 FILMS OF 2003 [So Far]: Mystic River, Lost In Translation, Finding Nemo, Seabiscuit, Kill Bill V1, X2: X-Men United, Open Range, Pirates of the Caribbean, Matchstick Men & The Last Samurai
My Cake: -Year without a Santa Claus! -A Christmas Story -Rudolph -How the Grinch Stole Christmas -Charlie Brown Christmas
My Frosting: -Any of the other Rakin Bass christmas specials. -Garfield Christmas -Gremlins -"Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" -A Muppet Christmas -Emmit Otter
Everything else is just...well...the stuff you put on the frosting. Like those crunchy sugar flowers!
Originally posted by Barbwire MikeGod it's been years, but didn't MST also do a non-denominational Christmas song that I remember howling in laughter over?
Ahh, yes. "Merry Christmas... If That's Okay". A very awesome song. Probably the second-best thing to come out of the "Santa Clause" episode (the first, of course, being a tie between Pitch the Devil and the horrible demonic reindeer laugh.)
Kansas-born and deeply ashamed The last living La Parka Marka
"They that can give up essential liberty to gain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety." - Benjamin Franklin
Originally posted by Nate The SnakeAhh, yes. "Merry Christmas... If That's Okay". A very awesome song. Probably the second-best thing to come out of the "Santa Clause" episode (the first, of course, being a tie between Pitch the Devil and the horrible demonic reindeer laugh.)
Originally posted by DMCAllow me to add to the "It's not Christmas until I HEAR" list: any Dr. Demento Christmas broadcast. Some of my most cherished memories from the mid-80s are getting to stay up late during the holiday break (Dr. Demento didn't get played on my local station until 12 midnight on Monday night-Sunday morning) and listen to "demented" Christmas music. The Mackenzie Brothers, Grandma Got Run Over by a Reindeer, etc. Classic stuff. I'm trying to remember more songs/skits but I can't right now.
DMC
Did that series include "Santa Jaws"? Someone had made a tape of a bunch of strange Christmas songs for me probably about 10 years ago. They were hilarious, and my brother and I played them constantly. Even my parents liked it (which was odd). Mom never even complained when we played it on the way to Nan's for Wigilia (traditional Polish Christmas Eve dinner). I completely forgot about that tape until you mentioned "demented" Christmas songs, so I'm wondering if what we had was a tape of Dr. Demento's Christmas tunes. If it was, the only thing that's coming to mind is the "Santa Jaws" medley that included "when a shark bit off his head, crisp and clean and even." Ah, Christmas past...
Madness takes its toll. Please have exact change. 093093-012103
12-12-03: Research paper accepted. One giant leap towards commencement!
Let's not confuse the fact that a few naysayers are adamant about not loving A Christmas Story with the majority. I actually never saw this movie until 1 or 2 years ago. Even today, I fell in love with the flick.
And now I'm going to do an about-face and jump straight into the minority and push the George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol. I always thought this was the best version, and it's the only version I'll watch (the Muppet movie notwithstanding).
By the way, I don't know what this means, but after so many replies there is only ONE mention of It's A Wonderful Life so far. Works for me, as I don't ever watch that movie anymore.
Damn you WWE for making me change my sig. I'm sure you have good enough reasons to get rid of Shannon, but that doesn't mean I have to like it. Let me thus be the first to say: BRING BACK DAFFNEY!
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