Sunday, December 6, 2009

Christmas Movies?

***See you soon?: University Bookstore Mill Creek, Monday 12/7, at 7:00P and Parkplace Books Kirkland, Thursday, 12/10, at 7:00P. Free cookies! A reading! Free gift-wrapping at both stores!***

Well, our CHARLIE BROWN CHRISTMAS videotape finally bit the dust, leaving us with THE GRINCH WHO STOLE CHRISTMAS (not the live-action version--I hate people running around in stuffed suits) and A CHRISTMAS STORY. It's taken the kids a few years to warm up to the latter. The narrator uses a lot of big words and most of the jokes are aimed at adults. Watching the movie did yield the classic family story a couple years ago, however: Scott made peppermint fudge, and when my youngest saw it on the counter, she said, "Daddy made a big pan of the f-word."

In any case, two movies does not a Christmas movie collection make, and I have been requested to make some new purchases. But which family-friendly videos should I go for? Scott suggested MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET, but I know the black-and-white will not go over big. There's ELF, I suppose. Moviefone suggests DIE HARD and LOVE, ACTUALLY and James Joyce's THE DEAD, among others, but since I squirm when Ralphie fondles the leg lamp in front of my children, I don't think those will work.

There are always the classics they show on TV, Rudolph and such. But since I clock out from parenting at 7:30, I can't keep the kids up till when they run those shows in prime time. (Prime time isn't called prime time for nothing--last night we popped in Jack Black's YEAR ONE, which got awful reviews. All I can say is, the reviewers weren't Jack Black fans. If you liked NACHO LIBRE, and I really, really did, this one's for you. Who knew Cain and Abel could be played for laughs?)

If anyone has suggestions out there, I'd love to hear from you.

3 comments:

  1. Gotta get the Muppet version of The Christmas Carol. It really is great. We got it after someone from book club suggested it last year.

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  2. We like Home Alone 1 & 2. There's a 1994 Miracle on 34th Street with Elizabeth Perkins and Mara Wilson (it might be considered more girl-friendly than boy-friendly, though)

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  3. I agree with Melissa: "A Muppet Christmas Carol" is an absolute must. My daughters are now 17 and 20, and Christmas still isn't Christmas without that movie! If your kids like Veggie Tales, I liked "The Toy That Saved Christmas." It has a bit of a Dr. Seuss feel but with the humor of Veggie Tales. "The Santa Clause" is also funny, but it may be a little older than your youngest, especially if there is still a strong belief in Santa at your house.

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