CHRISTMAS CINEMA: Die Hard (1988)
Roderick Thorp wrote the book Nothing Lasts Forever in the hopes that it could be made into a film. Seeing as how Frank Sinatra had just starred in the adaption of Thorp’s The Detective and this story would be a sequel, it seemed like a sure bet. But then the film went into development and it would be […]
CHRISTMAS CINEMA: Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny (1972)
This movie was made for children. Let’s keep this in mind as we discuss it. Sure, it was created by R. Winer to use existing Barry Mahon films — either Thumbelina or Jack and the Beanstalk — and create a framing device of Santa so that it could be released over Christmas. But what emerged was a […]
CHRISTMAS CINEMA: Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
After two well-received web entries, 2003’s Rare Exports Inc. and 2005’s Rare Exports: The Official Safety Instructions, writer and director Jalmari Helander created this ode to the darker side of Santa Claus. A British company called Subzero is doing arctic deep drilling when it discovers that a burial mound contains something hidden. Two boys, Juuso and Pietari listen […]
CHRISTMAS CINEMA: While You Were Sleeping (1995)
Becca said, “Don’t you have one more Christmas movie to do?” I said, “We should watch The Car. Or how about Lizard in a Woman’s Skin?” She then told me she had a surprise for me. This was the surprise. Yes, Sandra Bullock is lonely and working for the CTA when she sees Peter Gallagher every single […]
CHRISTMAS CINEMA: Gremlins (1984)
If I haven’t mentioned it before, I love Joe Dante’s films. They’re all unique and all somehow straddle the line between being mainstream pieces of cinema and anarchic bites against the very hand that feeds them. Gremlins is a great example. On the surface, it’s a cute film for the kids, complete with a cute […]
CHRISTMAS CINEMA: Santa Claus the Movie (1985)
After the father-and-son production team of Alexander and Ilya Salkind finished up with Superman III and Supergirl, what else was left but to explain the mysteries of Santa Claus to children all over the world? Who should direct should an endeavor? How about John Carpenter? No, really. However, the auteur wanted to have a hand in the writing, musical […]
CHRISTMAS CINEMA: Trading Places (1983)
In Italy, Trading Places is shown on TV every Christmas Eve, becoming a classic everyone can love. Here, it’s not remembered as a holiday film. Yet it is — a parable about how much money really matters within a week or so of time within the lives of two very different men. Louis Winthorpe III (Dan […]
CHRISTMAS CINEMA: A Christmas Horror Story (2015)
We love portmanteau movies. Tales from the Crypt, Asylum, Tales that Witness Madness, really anything that Amicus ever did? Yep. However, modern versions tend to be seriously lacking, substituting gore and shock for storytelling and proper use of the form. LIke A Christmas Horror Story. It skirts the very thing that makes the anthology film tick — it has […]
CHRISTMAS CINEMA: Christmas Evil (1980)
I learned about this movie from John Waters and if there’s one thing I know, it’s that John Waters has never let me down. He said of the film, “I wish I had kids. I’d make them watch it every year and if they didn’t like it, they’d be punished.” Christmas Eve 1947: Harry Stadling […]
CHRISTMAS CINEMA: Santa’s Slay (2005)
If you ever wanted to watch a movie where Bill Goldberg hits Chris Kattan with the same sidekick that ended Bret Hart’s career, good news. I have found the movie for you. Yep, the Mason family — including James Caan, Rebecca Gayheart, Fran Drescher and Kattan — are all fighting during Christmas dinner, but Santa arrives […]
You must be logged in to post a comment.