The Best of 2013...Part Four...The Best Movies of the Year!

Happy New Year!

But before we get too far into it, let's take a look back at the best of what I saw and reviewed around these here parts.

Ready?

Set...

Go!


First, let's give some Honorable Mentions.

These movies are good. 
Really. Good.

However, they aren't "Great", and I put great in quotes to say that one viewing was probably enough.

These are the Schindler's Lists...Saving Private Ryan...etc. etc... the big epic dramas that one viewing was enough.  Powerful viewing, enjoyed it a lot, but can't see myself wanting to sit down and watch it again.

Through no fault of their own, sometimes that's just how movies are. 

First-

Django Unchained -



I officially no longer hate Quentin Tarantino films.  This movie was amazing on many levels.  Hilarious. Heartbreaking. Disgusting.  Sometimes at the same time.  It's a powerful movie that is definitely worth a viewing if you have not seen it.

Argo -




Why I no longer give Ben Affleck any grief on anything.  He's really a good actor, and his tenure behind the camera has helped him hone his craft in front of it.  It's a gripping drama, and well worth a viewing.


Now, on to the ones that I want to sit down and watch again.

And again.

;)


These are 10 of the Best Movies I Watched in 2013:


 Here Comes the Boom-




Every list should have some "What the heck?!?" candidates.  My entire list could qualify in many critic circles.  However, that's okay.  I like what I like, and I'm fine with that.  Leading off the list is a comedy that shouldn't work with Kevin James a high school teacher who goes into Mixed Martial Arts to make some money to help his school.  Again, there's a heart in this film that you're not expecting when you go into it, and it sneaks up and grabs you.  You leave the movie feeling good, and that's a wonderful way to feel after any movie.

Dredd-

The best comic book adaptation of the year that you may have missed.  Gone is Sylvester Stallone.  Insert Karl Urban, a great actor who, again, if memory serves, never has one minute of screen time without his helmet on.  That's impressive, and note-worthy in Hollywood where actors insist that their mug be shown as much as possible.  Urban owns the screen as Dredd, and I would love to see a sequel with him donning the helmet once again.

Pitch Perfect -

 Yep, I admit it.  This movie was hilarious, and I just watched it again recently, and I still found it incredibly funny.  The songs are well done.  The dialogue is crackling.  There's very little that I don't like about this movie.  Except that my wife doesn't enjoy it as much as I do.  But I get that a lot. ;)

Iron Man 3-

A Marvel movie in the Top 10?  This shouldn't come as a surprise to anyone who knows me.  We cap off the Iron Man trilogy with a Christmas present that wraps up Robert Downey Jr's tenure as Tony Stark in his own films...at least for now.  Things go out with a bang, as the many armors of Iron Man are put to rest.  This is both a good and bad thing.  I understand that the point of this movie was to show that Tony Stark IS Iron Man, whether he is in the suit or not in the suit.  A little forced and clichéd throughout, but overall, I enjoyed it.  Yes, including the Mandarin. :)

42 -

A baseball movie?  I don't even like baseball! Except when it is well done in movie form.  This is one of those instances.  However, it is so good, it couldn't just get an honorable mention, it deserves to be put into rotation with Field of Dreams and other cinematic masterpieces that celebrate America's pastime.  Also, an important look at how America used to be, and how far we've come (and how far we've yet to go) as a people.

Rise of the Guardians -

How about that, Rise of the Guardians wound up cracking the final list after all.  So you've had 3 opportunities to hear that this was the best animated movie of the year.  Hopefully you've managed to believe me on at least one of those occasions and have watched it for yourself.  You're in for a visual treat.

Fast and Furiou 6 -

What a bittersweet moment this is.  Losing Paul Walker puts this franchise into a tailspin.  I have some ideas on how they should proceed with # 7 to write him out of the storyline and allow the franchise to grow and evolve with this loss.  Back to # 6 though, and this was a great romp that built on the incredible Fast Five and took it to the next level.  Setting up # 7 with the closing moments of this film just built on how great this franchise has become.  The change in directors was going to be something different, and now that the entire tone is going to shift, it will be interesting to see what Vin Diesel and company have in store for us.

Now You See Me -

I love a good heist film.  At its center, that's exactly what this film about magicians truly was: a heist film.  It was very well done and I enjoyed every twist and turn that the movie took us on.  Even the predictable plot twists were enjoyable, aided by a remarkable all-star cast that didn't doom the movie to failure.  The inevitable sequel is coming, and it's got some big shoes to fill, but I'm certainly looking forward to them trying.

Life of Pi -

You could stop and say that this was the most beautiful movie that has been shot in years, and that could be enough.  When you factor in the story that goes along with it, that's the icing on a great cake.  Some people may not like the message that the film delivers, but it's a message that people haven't liked for a long, long time.  I liked it, and the movie has gotten better with repeated viewings.

Thor: The Dark World -

The best movie of the year, and it happens to be a Marvel film.  My bias must be showing. :)  That's okay, this movie was an amazing triumph for the franchise.  It's the sequel that is superior to the original, which bodes well for the future of Marvel films.  Iron Man was unable to pull that off.  Whether there will be a third Thor movie or not, the franchise at least goes out on a high note, but hopefully  it's not done yet.  And if the studio is taking notice, they will realize that what the fans want is more Loki. 

Possibly even a Loki movie?

Yes please!


So that concludes 2013 in movies.

I'll be back tomorrow to begin tackling the 300 + movies that will add up to the best and worst, and everything in between for 2014.

As always, thanks for reading!

The Best of 2013...Part Three...The Animated Movies

Another year, and another wave of decent animated films to enjoy for the whole family.

What I've learned though?

Pixar is slipping, and all of the other studios are closing the gap.

It hasn't translated with many critics and audiences, yet, and that's a shame.

However, if Pixar (and Disney for that matter) wants to retain their crown, they've got to step up their game.

Now, on with the countdown!


Hotel Transylvania -

Sony Animation returns to the best of the year listing with one of Adam Sandler's best performances in ages.  It simply took a cartoon to make it happen.  Surrounded by his usual cohorts, the gang lends their voices to some of horror's finest creatures of the night to bring a coming of age love story between a vampire and a human.  Filled with lowbrow humor (as to be expected) but with a surprising amount of heart it was one of those surprising films to find that I liked it as much as I did.

The Croods -

Conversely, the first of 2 Dreamworks films to hit the list, I was actually a bit disappointed that I didn't like it more than I did.  Perhaps it's the Flintstone factor? ;)  Again, it was good, just not quite as good as I had hoped for.  Sadly, that seems to be the balancing act for animated films: They either miss or shoot well past my expectations.  In 2014, I guess I need to either set the bar really low for every film, or not pay attention to what is coming out until it shows up on my doorstep.

Monsters University -

Pixar returns with a prequel to one of my favorites of all time.  Good, but not great.  That's been the status quo from Pixar for the last 3 years (Cars 2, Brave and now this).  While it was great to have Crystal and Goodman back together again (for the first time!) as Mike and Sulley, it was missing the heart (Boo) that made the first one so memorable for me.

ParaNorman -

I totally expected to hate this one.  Looking an awful lot like a Tim Burton production, which I would have loathed (remember Frankenweenie?) this was a movie that was smart, well-written and had more heart than I ever expected.  Not your typical animated feature, but I think if you've overlooked this one, you've really missed out on an underrated gem.  Streaming on Netflix if you haven't seen it.

Wreck it Ralph -

So close to the best movie on the list.  It was fun. Funny. Well written. Great voice cast. Beautifully lush animation. Wonderful story. Willing to see a sequel.  Just a great fun time.  However, it loses the edge, ever so slightly to the next film on the list.  But when it comes down to it, it's comparing animated apples to animated oranges.  They are both delicious, but they are totally different fruits.  If you want to have a good time for 90 minutes, this is your film right here.  However, if you want to be mesmerized by a story that digs a little bit deeper, then you finish the year with...

Rise of the Guardians -

Dreamworks scores big, at least here, with one of the most hauntingly beautiful animated films you'll get to see.  Everything I said about Wreck it Ralph, Rise of the Guardians does as well.  However, replace Funny with Amusing as the laughs are not nearly as big and broad in this film.  Plus, if your heart strings aren't plucked when you discover Jack's center, you're even colder than Jack Frost is.

:)

Tomorrow: This is it, the best of the best of the year.  Will any of these films from the last three days make the final cut???

The Best of 2013...Part Two... The Horror Films

The future of horror looks funny.

And that's a good thing!

I've mentioned before that with Horror/Scary movies, I have to be very careful with my selections.

As I am normally the only one that will watch, I have to pick and choose my battles (movies) carefully if I'm going to lock myself away for 90 minutes some night, or over the course or 2 or 3 nights.

Or in the event my honey watches with me on some date/movie night... it better not be too blood-soaked/gory or gruesome.

It's a fine line balancing act, but it can be done.  You just have to choose wisely.

In recent years, it was getting harder and harder to find anything that I even remotely wanted to make time for. 

I was nearly turned off a few years back from the entire horror genre with the Saw franchise and its ilk when the kills just become too graphic.

The pendulum had swung from "gotcha" and make you jump to sadistic realism that was stomach churningly awful.

But in 2013 I found that Horror had discovered something recently that had been done well sporadically in years past:

A sense of humor.

In fact, 6 of the 7 movies on the list are humorous in tone, 5 of those I labeled as Zom-Coms as the year went along and I realized how fun these movies were fast becoming.

Here are the best of those budget Zom-Coms that you might have missed:

John Dies at the End - 

A street drug that sends people to other dimensions.  Aliens ready to invade and take over Earth.  Maybe a tad more sci-fi than horror, this was quite a bit of crazy fun and shouldn't be missed.  You could never quite figure where the plot was going next, and maybe that was part of the film's charm.

A Little Bit Zombie - 

What happens when a mosquito transmits the zombie virus to a human host?  Hilarity, naturally.  Infected, but not totally turned, a groom-to-be fights off the zombie urges to feast on flesh, and his fiancée and best friend try and help him make the transition to partially undead.  Meanwhile, there's a pair of zombie hunters hot on his trail.

Detention - 

It's the Breakfast Club vs. Zombies.  A group of high schoolers face the zombie apocalypse from the detention room.  Naturally with a cast that size...

They're not all going to make it out alive.

Cockneys vs. Zombies - 

The Brits tackle a zombie invasion at an old-folks home.  Featuring, bar none, the greatest zombie chase in the history of zombie chases.  This one was a whole lot of fun, and I quite enjoyed it.  Those Cockneys are a tough lot to kill!

Warm Bodies - 

The one probably everyone heard about on this list was Warm Bodies.  A very well done horror love story, that has more heart and soul than any of the Twilight films.  :)

Toning down the gore and amping up the love and humor, this was the best of the bunch of Zom-Coms for the year.

Yep, a kid-friendly zombie movie.  If you're going to bring the next generation of horror fans into the fold, this was a fun way to start.


Naturally, with the success of The Walking Dead on AMC, Hollywood has taken notice and finally threw some money at a big budget zombie film, and they enlisted Brad Pitt to make it happen.

World War Z - 

The trailer looked amazing, and the movie actually lived up to the hype.  Naturally, I prefer slow zombies, but they made a logical reason behind why these zombies were fast, so I have no arguments with their decision.  Very well done, and I anticipate a sequel, Pitt-free or not, I'll be willing to take a look.

Finally, the best horror film of the year?

Cabin in the Woods - 

The most horror...check!  The funniest dialogue...check!  This one had it all, and it had it in great doses.  A smart film for fans of horror, and fans of good movies in general.  An intriguing premise filled with twists and turns at every corner.  Give it a spin and see what you think.


Tomorrow, things will get a little more family friendly! :)

The Best of 2013...Part One...The Documentaries

As 2013 winds down, it's time to take a look back at the best of the best this year offered in the form of movies and entertainment for the year.

When I did the Worst of the Year back on Thanksgiving, I mentioned that 45 made the "Best Of" countdown. 

By taking a look at some of the genre-specific titles, I want to give some last minute love to some of 2013's best that might otherwise miss out on a Top 20, 15...10 listing but deserve a shot at one last mention on this page. 

Just in case.

So without further ado, here's the documentaries that enthralled me this year.  Many are still streamable on Netflix, Amazon Prime, other websites or running on cable.

Never Sleep Again: The Elm Street Legacy -

Starting things off with a fairly comprehensive look at the Nightmare on Elm Street Franchise.  It's a fond, and fun, look back at the little budget horror film that reinvigorated the horror genre, then quickly devolved into parody.  Freddy Krueger instantly became a pop culture sensation, and the rest, as they say, is history.  It's been a long time since I've visited any of the original Elm Street films, but even the worst was better than the pale relaunch that lacked any of the style and substance from the original series.  New interviews with about 95% of the cast and crew makes this pretty much THE comprehensive look back at Elm Street.  And I must confess, A Nightmare on Elm Street was always creepiest when they were living a nightmare and didn't realize it, then JOLT, they were awake.  Kept the movie audience on our toes!

Moving from horror, to interesting PBS series comes:

Nova- My Life as a Turkey -



I had no idea what to expect in this little charmer about a man who raises wild turkeys from birth and the interesting things he learns from them along the way.  Turkeys are very smart birds, and you will run the gamut of emotions in this little hour long look into the life when man becomes one with nature.  He teaches the birds as they grow, but they both end up learning from one another.  Uplifting, yet ultimately sorrowful, it's still very much worth a look.

One that keeps things light, and reminds us why The Tonight Show as an institution will never go away...

American Masters: Carson-The King of Late Night-

There was only one Johnny Carson.  I was lucky enough to catch the last few years of his career as I was growing up.  I'd often stay awake for the monologue, then out like a light.  This documentary offers a mostly comprehensive narration of Carson's career using bits of old audio and many interviews with those that worked alongside him over the years.  He was invited into everyone's house weeknights, and the longer he's been off the air, and the more imitators to the crown have come (and gone), the more lasting his legacy really becomes.

Switching gears, time to give the WWE some love...




CM Punk: The Best in the World
The Life and Times of Mr. Perfect
WWE: Top 25 Rivalries in History
WWE For All Mankind: The Life & Career of Mick Foley

All four are solid productions, and all worth a viewing to professional wrestling fans.  The WWE is really hitting their stride at putting out high quality documentaries on their wrestlers, and it is a welcome look at the lives of these guys who give their all to entertain the fans on a nightly basis.  I think that even the casual fan, or non-fan could watch any of these documentaries and begin to see the passion that these guys have for what they do, and why the fans love to watch.

Yes, even if it's fake.

:)

So from guys dressing in tights, to guys dressing in red...

Becoming Santa -







A fun look at what it takes to become a Santa by attending an actual Santa school.  The best part, the documentary also interweaves a history of Santa Claus throughout the narrative.  Very entertaining look at the holiday, and would totally recommend you watch it...next holiday season.

;)

Finally, we go back in history to World War II!

Nova: 3D Spies of WWII
Secrets of the Dead: Churchill's Deadly Decision
Garbo the Spy



Two are great, informative pieces about World War II history that you may not be that familiar with.  Both are engaging and very entertaining.

However, hands-down, the best documentary would have to go to Garbo the Spy.  It's such a "truth is stranger than fiction" story, you just can't make this stuff up.  Yet, that's exactly what he did, and he fooled the Third Reich, consistently.  Highly recommended if you ever get the chance to watch any of them.

Tomorrow, things get a little scary...

The Last New Review of 2013..."Monsters University"

Every story has a beginning...

Sometimes we just don't see it until later.

The Story:

Mike (Billy Crystal) wants nothing more than to grow up and be a Scarer!  He follows his lifelong goal and enrolls in Monsters University.  It is there that he meets Sully (John Goodman) and to say that the two don't hit it off would be an understatement.  When the boys wind up on the bad side of the Dean (Helen Mirren), they will have to put aside their differences and team with some...underwhelming Scarers if they have any hope of getting back into the Scare Program.

I have gone on record as saying that Monsters Inc. is probably my favorite of all of the Pixar movies.

Billy Crystal is one of my favorite comedians of all time, and the relationship between Boo and Sully brings a tear to my eye every time I watch the movie. 

Yes, still.

So going in to the prequel, I tried to set the bar low. 

Real low.

There's no way that they could achieve that level of greatness in my eyes.

And they didn't.

It's good.

Better than the Cars franchise, and way, way better than Brave.

But not nearly as good as the first Monsters Inc.

That said, I'm okay with that.

It was still pretty funny and as beautiful as Pixar can make it.

The closing montage was a nice bridge between the movies too, and I kicked myself for doubting that John Ratzenberger was finally going to NOT be in a Pixar movie!

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Yes to both.

Beginning tomorrow, it's a walk down memory lane and a look back at some of 2013's higher points.

Too Bad We Can't Do This in D.C. "The Purge"

Some future...

The Story:

In the not-too-distant future, apparently the government has deemed that for a 12 hour period, there will be no Emergency Services provided.  No fire, police or medical.  Want revenge?  Go get it. If it's illegal, it's okay!  This process has successfully reduced crime to almost nothing, poverty is nearly gone.  Apparently the haves get rid of the have nots on this night.  The Sandin family is one of the haves, but when their son takes pity on a bleeding stranger, they are about to be under siege by those celebrating The Purge, and will face death unless they give the man back to be executed.

Well, that was creepy!

Ethan Hawke is the star of the film, and probably the only recognizable actor in the film.  He's the dad, and he just so happens to sell security systems so that people can feel safe on this one night of the year.

The movie is written and directed by  James DeMonaco, who wrote the excellent film, The Negotiator.

Apparently, Ethan Hawke and DeMonaco are great friends, or possibly in cahoots with one another with a production company, because Hawke is in nearly everything that he's worked on since 2005.

It's good to have friends in the business!

This movie was seemingly sold as a low-budget horror movie.  I would disagree with that genre and say it trends more towards thriller/suspense than horror.  Oh, there's blood and violence but not like what you get in the usual horror flick.

While the movie is pretty good, and has a tendency to ramp up the suspense as the film goes along, there were some things I didn't totally agree with, artistically speaking.

The main one: plunging the house into darkness.

Yes, I understand why they did it, but if that is the case, you really need to make the film still visible to the audience.

Get creative with lighting, or have emergency lights that can create shadows without plunging 90% of the screen into black.

That's not mood lighting, that's just poor planning.

From the looks of it, there's already a sequel in the works. 

I'm not too terribly surprised, when you can make a low-budget suspense/thriller for a buck, you get a great return on your investment.

Final Grade: B-/C+ range... again, they were on to something, just some of the choices didn't work that great for me.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I think I'm good seeing it once, but I'll be back for the sequel.

Thursday's 'Never Heard of It' Streamer... "Me Again"

Who says religion can't be funny?

Or at least amusing?

The Story:

Pastor Rich (David A.R. White) is disillusioned with his life.  His wife (Ali Landry) has had enough of their marriage and is ready for a divorce.  His kids don't seem to listen or care about him, and only his best friend Tony (Tommy Blaze) seems to be there for him.  So naturally, he prays for God to show him how life should be, and give him the life he's meant to live.

That's right, Pastor Rich is about to be It's a Wonderful Lifed by God!

So Rich awakens to find that he's in the body of Tony's rich boss.  Naturally, Rich freaks out, has a heart attack and apparently dies.

He awakens to find himself in another body...and another...and another...

All the while, Rich's real body is going through the motions of life, Rich is really stuck in all of these other people.  Yet many of them are close to Rich's family, and through each life that he lives, he learns a little something.

About them.
About him.
About life.

Suddenly it all starts to add up that he is the one making his life miserable, nobody else.

The kids want their dad, just not the dad that has no time for them.

The wife doesn't want to divorce her husband, she's just tired of trying to make their marriage work when he seems so disinterested.

With the addition of Della Reese and Bruce McGill as Big Earl (the Angel), there's enough humor to keep it interesting and enough preaching to keep it grounded on concepts of morality without bashing believers and non-believers alike over the head with a message that you're doing it wrong and THIS is the right way to live your life.

Cute little film.

Now streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: C+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  I won't be running out to buy it, but on a lazy weekend for background noise, it's the perfect crafting/sewing date film.

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Twelve: "The Muppet Christmas Carol"

There goes Mr. Humbug...

The Story:

The classic tale of Christmas redemption as written by Charles Dickens... with a Muppet twist!  Charles Dickens (Gonzo the Great) and Rizzo the Rat narrate the story of Ebenezer Scrooge (Michael Caine) who is haunted by the ghosts of his dead partner(s), Jacob and Robert Marley (Waldorf and Statler).  Scrooge is visited by the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future and is haunted by what he sees.  Will it be enough to change the heart of one so miserly as Scrooge?

Well yes, yes it will.

Is it wrong that this is my favorite adaptation of A Christmas Carol?
Unless you count Scrooged.

:)

But back to this version, yes it  has Muppets...yes it has singing...yes it has Gonzo and Rizzo  working narration...

But. It. Works.

It's magical, and I can't help but think of the tremendous legacy that Jim Henson left us when he passed away.

This, the first feature after his death (and the passing of Richard Hunt - Scooter) showed that the Muppets were in good hands with son Brian Henson at the helm.

And poor Steve Whitmire, welcome to the Muppet Family, please voice Kermit as Bob Cratchit in the first film since the voice of Kermit has passed away.

How's that for tremendous job pressure for your first gig??!!

Yes, the voice is different, how could it not be?  But it's still Kermit, the heart of the green frog we grew up with is still there.

From 1992, now 20 years later, this movie is still magical, and it gets watched at a minimum of once a year around this time.

I probably shouldn't like it more than my kids, but I do.  I grew up on the Muppet Show, so they are very much a part of my childhood, and I still love those guys.

It doesn't hurt that the storyline that the Muppets are tackling is one of the best stories, Christmas or otherwise, ever committed to paper by an author.

The deviations in the story that they take are either to make it work for the story or choice of Muppet (Waldorf & Statler) and the inclusion of Dickens and Rizzo was a stroke of storytelling genius that allowed for comic banter in an otherwise somber (and sometimes frightening!) story.

The musical numbers are all well done, and if you've only seen the version WITHOUT "When Love is Gone", then you haven't seen the film yet.

It's hauntingly beautiful, and you can't help but feel for Scrooge as you watch his heart break when he realizes what a mistake he has made in his life.

I could argue that it's Michael Caine's best performance, yes, ever, in any movie he's ever done.

Some would disagree and cite this movie or that...

But he nailed Scrooge, and I would rank his performance up against anyone who has taken on the role.

Don't let singing Muppets fool you, this is a great adaptation for the whole family.

Final Grade: A+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I own it, and I have the version that includes the song. I hesitate to upgrade to Blu Ray until I know for certain that scene is in there, and not just included as a Deleted Scene extra.

Wishing all of you a Very Merry Christmas!!!

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Eleven: "Elf"

You sit on a throne of lies!

The Story:

Buddy (Will Ferrell) crawled into Santa's (Edward Asner) bag during a visit to an orphanage.  Raised in the North Pole by Papa Elf (Bob Newhart), Buddy has never realized that he's not an Elf...he's human!  In fact, he's the son of Walter (James Caan), who works at a publishing company in New York, and unfortunately has landed on Santa's naughty list.  Buddy sets off to New York to meet his dad, and along the way finds a girl, Jovie (Zooey Deschanel) and becomes smitten.  Then, on Christmas Eve... all of these storylines come to a head as Christmas is about  to be cancelled forever due to the lack of Christmas Spirit.  Can one lone Elf save the day?

Count on it!

It's been 10 years since Elf arrived in theaters.

In that decade, the movie has become a classic.

Or if not a classic, a staple of the holiday season.

There is "The Holy Trinity" of funny Christmas movies.  Scrooged. Christmas Vacation. Elf.

We can discuss and debate which is the best of those movies all season long.

At this house, the holidays don't officially begin until at least one of those movies has played.

Normally, that happens sometime between the first of November and Thanksgiving.

: )

This movie wears its heart on its sleeve, happily.  You cannot watch this movie and not smile.

Yes, even those out there that hate Will Ferrell, watch this movie and not be impressed with the childlike wonder he brings to the role of Buddy.

Surrounded by a great cast, this is Ferrell's best performance, hands down.

Directed by Jon Favreau, he proves equally adept at comedy as he does with action (Iron Man).

It doesn't get much sweeter, or funnier, than this.

Final Grade: A+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Infinitely.  Love this film.

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Ten: "Christmas Vacation"

Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?

The Story:

Clark (Chevy Chase) and Ellen (Beverly D'Angelo) Griswold are back, along with their kids Rusty 3.0 (Johnny Galecki) and Audrey (Juliette Lewis).  This time, they are staying at home and getting the house ready for the in-laws to visit!  It's going to be the best Christmas.... Ever!!!

The Griswolds exist to remind you that no matter how bad  your vacations are, things could always be worse!

The third, and best, of the series returns with John Hughes pulling out all the stops for a Christmas classic, helmed by first time director Jeremiah Chechik.  It was all downhill for him after this film, but what a promising start to a career!

However, for the most part, the movie runs solely on the wonderful gags and dialogue that John Hughes developed for his cast, led by the perfectly cast Chase as the patriarch of the family.

I'm not here to argue on Chase's behalf as an actor, but for those that fail to find him funny or insist he's never done any good work, I'll simply say you're wrong, here's proof, and move along.

He is the beleaguered "everyman dad" that eventually some form of torture befalls to make the worst plans come to life.

Thankfully, it's Clark who takes the brunt of what goes wrong and provides the rest of us with a blueprint on how to avoid making the same mistakes.

Randy Quaid returns as the creepy cousin Eddie, and is simply outstanding in his performance.  Chase and Quaid have a perfect back and forth relationship throughout the movie that is just hysterical to watch their delivery, along with the funny lines.

It's not Christmas time until this movie plays, and it's one of a few Christmas movies that is not only allowed to play more than once during the holiday season...

It's encouraged!

If you don't already own a copy, it's also currently streaming on Netflix through the holidays!

Final Grade: A+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Owned it, wearing it out... the kids upgraded the house to a blu ray copy last Christmas!  They love me!! Or the movie... : /

: )

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Nine: "Scrooged"

Yule Love It!

The Story:

Frank Cross (Bill Murray) is the youngest TV executive in network history. He has big plans for a live performance of A Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve.  Ah, but when Frank is visited by the ghost of his former boss (John Forsythe), it's only a matter of time before his world is turned upside down as he lives his own version of Dickens' classic tale.

Will Frank learn a valuable life lesson, or is he doomed for all eternity?

Richard Donner directs yet another personal favorite of mine.  I tell you, he's possibly the most underrated movie director of the 80s/90s.

While Murray gets acclaim for his later dramatic roles, this is my favorite role that he has done in his career.  Yep, better than Caddyshack, Stripes and Ghostbusters, to name but three.

He's funny, but in reactionary ways only, which is a great skill for an actor to pull off.

That he seems to be having a nervous breakdown due to the ghosts adds to the comedy of the film.

Unlike versions of the ghosts, these 3 aren't exactly nice or sentimental with Frank.  In fact, Carol Kane as the Ghost of Christmas Present is downright brutal with Frank.

:)

Naturally, Frank learns that the life he could have had with Claire (Karen Allen) is his one big mistake, and that's why I don't consider Scrooged to be a straight adaptation of A Christmas Carol.

  Does it borrow, oh yes, liberally.

But here, Frank, unlike Scrooge, gets the chance to rectify that moment in his life where things went wrong, and win back the love of his life.

Great performances across the board, and if you don't like this movie...

You have no Christmas spirit.

;)

Available to stream instantly on Amazon if you have Prime membership.

Final Grade: A+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  It is owned already and is watched at least once every holiday season.  I'm thinking there will be an upgrade to Blu Ray to keep it lasting forever in the near future.

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Eight: "Fred Claus"

 It's called Rubberneckin' baby....

The Story:

This is the story of Santa's (Paul Giamatti) older brother, Fred Claus (Vince Vaughn).  Needless to say, Fred isn't exactly enamored by Christmas anymore, and he's drifted apart from his little brother over the years, thanks also in some part to the parenting skills, espeically of their mom (Kathy Bates).  Fred is in love with a girl (Rachel Weisz) but is afraid to commit.  When a misunderstanding lands Fred in jail, there's only one person left to turn to.  However, the bailout comes with a condition: Fred's got to come North to work it off during the Holiday Season.  Naturally, Fred doesn't exactly fit in at the North Pole, but when an efficiency expert (Kevin Spacey) arrives, ready to shut the North Pole down, Fred may end up costing the entire world Christmas.

Will Fred work to end Christmas forever, or does he have it in him to help save the holiday?

I don't understand the hatred for this film, I think it's actually pretty fun(ny).

We've discussed Vince Vaughn already.  There's probably no better on-screen con-man/huckster on film these days than him, and Fred is no different.

He's the quick-witted, fast talking Santa's big brother who hates the holiday.

In fact, the reasons behind Fred's dislike both of his brother and Christmas are quite sad, and not entirely Fred's fault.

Sibling rivalry is a given in just about any family, but when your little brother is always gushed over by the parents.  Every time you do something neat, your little brother comes along and does something cooler...

And then he grows up to be Santa and adored by millions?

Yep, that's got to be tough to swallow.

Which turns Fred into the cynical con artist that we meet in this movie.

Amusingly, there is a Sibling Support Group scene that underscores Fred's (and other famous...mostly...brothers) gripes with his brother's success and his considerable lack thereof.

You'll also have a rousing Elvis singalong in the middle of the movie that livens things up and shows that the North Pole could use a little bit of Fred, and Fred certainly could use a little bit of North Pole.

Overall, it's a sweet movie that captures the magic of Christmas, and more importantly, the love and magic of family.

I'm a fan, and look forward to this one each year.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: I liked it, I bought it.  It gets 1-2 spins each holiday season!

Tomorrow... it's the Final Four Christmas movies of 2013!!!  Time is flying!!

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Seven: "The Christmas Card"

I seriously want to live in this town...

The Story:

Sgt. Cody Cullen (John Newton) is serving a tour in Afghanistan.  For the holidays, he receives a random Christmas Card written by Faith Spelman (Alice Evans) who gives him some words of encouragement and invites him to come visit the family if he ever happens to be in Nevada City, California.  When one of Sgt. Cullen's men is killed in a mortar attack, he takes leave to go console the girlfriend, and then winds up in Nevada City.  He meets Faith, and in a nice twist of luck, saves her father (Edward Asner) from getting hit by a car.  Cody is invited to stick around for a bit, exchanging some work at the mill for a place to stay.  He agrees, and all is going swimmingly until Paul (Ben Weber), Faith's fiancé shows up...

Let's hear it for Hallmark!

Not to be outdone in the holiday department, Hallmark made this film in 2006.

Sadly, AT&T does not carry the Hallmark channel so I can't tell you if this film is playing this holiday season or not.

It should be, and if it is, I recommend a viewing.

It's sweet and charming.  A bit of drama with a helping of humor.

Yes, a lot like real life.

Faith's parents are hilarious in their obvious affection for Cody over Paul.  But as all good parents, they mostly want their child to be happy, so they will bite their tongue.

Mostly.

:)
Aside from Asner and Peter Jason, a great character actor, most everyone in the cast was a relative unknown to me.

But if the story is good, and the acting passable, it's hard not to want to watch a good Christmas movie.

That's what we have here.

Count me as  a big fan.

Probably my favorite of these sentimental dramatic romantic films that take place around the holidays.



Final Grade: B+/A-...

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: At least once, every year.  I do own this one, and I'm glad to have it!

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Six: "White Christmas"

A remake and changing  of a previous film that gets it right the second time.

The Story:

At the close of World War II, Capt. Bob Wallace (Bing Crosby) is entertaining the troops under the command of General Waverly (Dean Jagger) who is getting ready to be shipped home.  When the enemy attacks, Wallace is saved by Phil Davis (Danny Kaye) who will use the injury that he sustains to turn Wallace's successful stateside career as a singer into a dynamic entertainment duo that takes the nation by storm.  A decade passes, and the boys find the Haynes Sisters, Betty (Rosemary Clooney) and Judy (Vera-Ellen) at a nightclub event, and Judy and Phil conspire to get Bob and Betty to fall in love, with the ulterior motive that they will get more freedom if their partners are romantically entangled.  The next thing you know, the quartet is heading to a gig at an inn in Vermont, owned and operated by none other than General Waverly!  However, a balmy winter season threatens to shut down the place.  Will there be a Christmas miracle to keep the place operational?

Bet on it!

First the obvious, yes, this film is very, very similar to the Bing Crosby led Holiday Inn. 

However, where that inn opened only for the holidays and had specific song and dance routines based around those holidays, Holiday Inn focuses on Wallace and Davis rehearsing their show at the inn to pump some money into the General's pockets to keep the place open.

Better still, the partnership between Crosby and Kaye is just that, a partnership.  In Holiday Inn, Fred Astaire was a jerk.  Any time Crosby found a girl, Astaire tried to steal her.  Some friend.

So if you're going to choose one for the holidays, it should be this one.  The other encompasses all the holidays, whereas this one ends at Christmas with a wonderful closing number of the title song.

Speaking of songs, yes, this is a musical.  There is singing and dancing.

So if you hate that, you'll want to avoid the movie most likely.

However, as this is a classical musical comedy, the ratio of dialogue/plot to song & dance is very good.  There are stretches of movie before a song breaks out, and many times the songs simply help the narrative of the film, so it's all good.

All of the songs were written by Irving Berlin, and Crosby, Kaye and the ladies do an exceptional job with his body of work.

Plus, I dare you not to get a little emotional at the end of the film when the boys spring their surprise on the General.


Directed by Michael Curtiz, who directed a slew of Hollywood's best films of all time, including The Adventures of Robin Hood and Casablanca.

This one?

Better than those.

: )

Currently streaming on Netflix as of this writing.

Final Grade: A

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Amazingly, with cable broadcasts and streaming on Netflix, I still as yet have to purchase this film.  Maybe next year when it celebrates its 60th Anniversary?

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Five: "A Holiday For Love"

You can go home again...

The Story:

Jacob (Tim Matheson) is sent by his company to his hometown of Athens, Nebraska, to determine who to lay off and who to keep at the local tractor factory.  He arrives in the town pretending to need to make a larger order of tractors, and runs into Emma (Melissa Gilbert) and her daughter, Noelle (Michelle Trachtenberg) who take him in.  Emma just so happens to work at the factory, and is dating the local sheriff (Travis Tritt).  Naturally the two become interested in one another, but when Emma learns why Jacob is really there, will their budding romance survive... and will the small town that relies on the factory?

From 1996, I'm not sure if this was a Hallmark movie or a Lifetime movie, but I caught it sometime between one of those channels.

And I liked it.  A lot.

There is romance.  There is drama.  Plus a touch of humor throughout the film to keep things light.

It's also the struggle for a man to return to his hometown where he lost a lot of his childhood, including his father who walked out on the family when Jacob was very young.

However, Christmas is a season of miracles, and maybe...

Just maybe...

With the help of the townspeople...

Jacob is going to come up with a plan that works for the company AND the town.

He'll save the day.  Get the girl.  Live happily ever after.

I'm good with that!

It is available on the ABC Family website: http://abcfamily.go.com/movies
If you don't already own it or haven't seen it in some time.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  Every year around the holidays, and yes, I enjoyed it so much I did track down a DVD of it and it's mine, all mine!

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Four: "Christmas Cupid"

It's never too late... or is it?

The Story:

Sloane (Christina Milian) is a go-getter at a PR firm, but her golden goose is cooked when her star client, Caitlin (Ashley Benson) dies.  However, in true A Christmas Carol fashion, Caitlan comes back to haunt Sloane, and take her on a trip through Christmases past, present and future where she shows Sloane what is truly important in her life.

Can Sloane change her ways in time to win back her true love, Patrick (Chad Michel Murray) ?

Yes, another version of A Christmas Carol.

However, this time it switches to a romantic comedy idea courtesy of ABC Family back in 2010.

I don't think we saw this one until 2011, or maybe last year, but it became a hit in the household, and has been watched many, many times since, especially by a few of the kids who absolutely adore this movie.

Thankfully, I liked the version too, so I'm always happy to have a Holiday movie playing as long as it is one that I enjoy.

This one easily fits the bill, taking the standard Dickens tale and focusing on Sloane's love life versus Scrooge's miserly ways to show how Sloane crushed guy after guy by putting her job before her heart.

Blasphemy, I know.

:)

Anyway, it's a cute little movie and it is streamable on Netflix as of this writing, and probably playing on ABC Family sometime this month as well, and also available on the ABC Family website as well.

Final Grade: B+

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor: Watched it probably half a dozen times, maybe more.  Finally bought it this season, packaged with three other ABC Family Holiday hits! :)

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Three: "Angels Sing"

Life is what you make of it.

The Story:

Michael (Harry Connick Jr.) hates Christmas.  His wife (Connie Britton) and son (Chandler Canterbury) don't share his disdain, but deal with it.  When he was little, Michael's brother died in an accident trying to save Michael.  He blames himself, and has hated Christmas ever since.  His father (Kris Kristofferson) always told him it wasn't his fault, but Michael never believed him.

When Michael stumbles across a house being sold by Nick (Willie Nelson), the two strike up a deal that seems entirely too good to be true.  All that Michael has to do, is keep up the standards that the neighborhood lives up to.  When it turns out that his house is the key centerpiece in an annual holiday lights that people travel the globe to see, it seems that the Grinch is going to steal everyone's Christmas.

Ah, but fate has one more cruel trick up her sleeve that will maybe, finally, open Michael's eyes to the real reason behind Christmas celebrations, and why he has to accept that sometimes, accidents happen.

Wow.

I wasn't sure what to expect with this film.  I'd never heard of it before, and to my knowledge this is the first year it's been released.  Not on Lifetime, ABC Family or the Hallmark Channel.

Saw it was coming out on Netflix last week, put it at the top of the queue, and well, now here we are.

:)

Needless to say, yes, a movie that has Kris Kristofferson, Willie Nelson and Harry Connick Jr. (and Lyle Lovett... among others...) in it:

There will be singing.

But, it is not a musical if that's what you're worried about.

The singing comes naturally, most often in the form of caroling by friends or family.

The message about accidents is a powerful one, and one that Michael doesn't realize until it's far too late.

He felt that he was always to blame for his brother's death but never once did he consider who shouldered a greater burden than he ever could.

My advice?

Bring a tissue to this one, you might find it will sneak up on you and you're going to need one.

Plus, I really want the snowman decoration in the film!!

Final Grade: Solid B  Could possibly push it even higher.

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  It's a deceptive crowd-pleaser with a bit of a sad overtone, but ultimately uplifting message.  I'm a fan, and I think I'll make sure it's in the library by this time next year.

The Twelve Reviews of Christmas...Day Two: "Extreme Christmas Trees"

It's Christmas...

To the Extreme!

The Story:

In 2011, The Learning Channel created a special showcasing some of the biggest, most elaborate Christmas trees around the globe.

They showcase the largest indoor tree in a private residence at the Biltmore Estate in North Carolina.

There's the 35 foot tall lobster trap tree in Maine.

An upside down 3 story tree inside of a 2 story house in England.

A 10 foot charity cake tree.

And many, many more!

No history of trees or anything noteworthy about Christmas.

It's simply straight up, one extreme tree after another.

It's available to stream instantly on Netflix if you are so inclined.  Apparently it should also be airing on TLC on the 21st of December if you'd like to go that route.

Some segments, and trees, are better than others.  That said, there is not a lot of time spent on any particular segment, so they'll all zip by fast enough to not bore you.

Hopefully.

:)

Final Grade: B-

Rewatchability/Purchase Factor:  No reason to purchase it.  I might stream it again in a few years on Netflix, or watch it again on TLC.  I don't think it will go into annual rotation though.