"If everything seems under control, you're just not going fast enough."
-race driver Mario Andretti
-race driver Mario Andretti
Just time for a quick-y today. I need to pack up yesterday's stash sale yarn and invoice buyers. Then I have to go to the store for vittles (Baby Boy/Family Man, his beloved, and grandson Conner are coming for dinner tonight.) Then back home to bake brownies and rustle up a big ol' mess o' spaghetti.
The holiday season is in full swing on my television. Today alone I have had a choice of Elf, The Santa Clause, or The Holiday. And the day is still young (unlike me.)
If I watched these movies more than once a year, I suspect I would be less fond of them. But because they only come round once a year, I usually watch each of them once during the month of December. Like difficult family members, a once a year visit often suffices.
My favorite new seasonal movie is probably The Family Man. I love how Nic Cage's character discovers one Xmas just how much he has been missing out on, in his quest for success. Gets me every time when the little girl rings the bell on her bicycle and Cage realizes he is about to lose his family.
My favorite classic is Holiday Inn. This one came before White Christmas and features the incomparable Fred Astaire as sidekick for the Bing-ster instead of Danny Kaye. Although not all the movie takes place during the Christmas season, the quiet simplicity of Bing Crosby's initial rendition of the holiday classic beats the manufactured schmaltz of the latter film's version hands down (in my humble opinion.)
So leave me a comment and let me know what you favorite holiday film is and why.
Or conversely, what holiday movie should be "boiled with (its) own pudding, and buried with a stake of holly through (its) heart" to paraphrase Ebeneezer Scrooge.
I'm thinking Ernest Saves Christmas.
-shudder-
Just to spread the joy around, I will be giving away a free pattern (of your choice - Spruce excluded) to one commenter a day through Christmas, randomly chosen by Mrs. Claus (just me - don't get too excited).
I'll announce the previous day's winner in each post this month, If you are the winner, email me your preference at susanpandorf@comcast.net and I'll email your pattern right out to you.
Doesn't that sound like a lot of fun?
Friday's winner is: Lydia & Saturday's is: Deborah. Email me, girls...
Now aren't you glad you left a comment?
49 comments:
my fave isn't exactly a christmas movie, but it does have the most amazing holiday ending. STEPMOM with Julia Roberts and Susan Sarandon. the whole christmas thing at the end of the movie always makes me cry those mixed up sad/happy tears.
Color me surprised that you posted on Sunday!
Two movies that I try to watch each Christmas season is Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol (the young Scrooge singing on the stool in the classroom gets to me every time), and - even though it's not a Christmas movie - The Trouble with Angels. The Christmas scenes (visiting at the retirement home, and Mary sneaking in to watch the sisters sing/celebrate in the chapel) are always touching to me. I do agree that Family Man is a good one, and I enjoy Cage's performance. The animated/claymation type classics are still enjoyable - but you are absolutely correct, Susan, in that they are bearable only because they are once a year. :)
My favorite is actually probably White Christmas. I love the songs and the dancing. I have never gotten the humor in Elf and I could certainly living with never seeing A Christmas Story ever again. I was so annoyed by that movie *yuk*
Abs
I don't have a favorite Christmas movie. I read a book when I was in fifth or sixth grade about a girl celebrating Christmas during the civil war. Loved the story, can't even remember the title or author. Of course, I don't have that book, either.
Holiday Inn is one of my favorites (Which way is Connecticut? LOL), my other staples for the season are How the Grinch Stole Christmas (original), Scrooge (Alistair Sim) and A Muppet Family Christmas (Jim Henson and Fraggles!). The Bells of St. Mary's is also on the list. :)
My favorite is Christmas Vacation. It reminds me of many of our family get togethers. Sigh.
Holiday Inn is my favorite, too. Although I do love all of Bing Crosby's movies :)
My favorite movie of all times takes place during the holidays. It's "Moonstruck" with Cher and Nicholas Cage. Because it takes place near the holidays, you seem to believe there is magic in the air.
Mine is the old Alistair Sim version of a Christmas Carol, largely because it's my mom's favourite and I've watched it at Christmas as far back as I can remember.
My favorite Christmas movie is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation. Why? Is so nice to laugh myself silly after the stress of the holidays
It's such a toss up. I tend to rotate between three; It's a Wonderful Life, Christmas Vacation, and the Muppet's Christmas Carol. Each one has its own lovely amazing qualities!
Have you ever watched Christmas in Connecticut with Barbara Stanwyk - lots of fun and probably our fave.
I have joined a new group on ravelry to knit 10 shawls in 2010 and am wondering which of your patterns to use for at least one of my shawls , you have such lovely patterns we are spoilt for choice
my favourite film is white chrsutmas , i just love the romance and the setting of it , i curl up on the couch with a blanket and watch it with a box of hankies lol
My favorite holiday movie is White Christmas. Every Christmas my daughters & I sit down on Christmas Eve to watch it. Now my grandaughter has joined us in this tradition.
My favorite holiday movie is "Miracle on 34th street". must be viewed with poporn and a big box of tissues.
arly
It's only like half an hour but A Charlie Brown Christmas still moves me.
I like both Grinch movies and try to catch them every year. I also try to find the Peanuts specials but don't always find them.
I did watch the 12 Men of Christmas on Lifetime last night and it was a cute movie.
Probably my favorite Christmas movie is the original Grinch--but I'm not much for movies, and haven't seen most of them.
While you were Sleeping....I just love it.............anytime of year....doesn't really matter. Love the chance to win one of your patterns.....3/4 way done with Magic Carpet....10 rows a day....one bite at a time....love the pattern and can't wait to start Morrocan days...have all the yarn and everything...my Christmas gift to myself.
White Christmas by far is my favorite Christmas movie and christmas album. It's been a staple in my house for as long as I can remember and now Hubby and I always watch it on Christmas day. :) I should give Holiday Inn a try, shouldn't I?
Without a doubt my favorite Christmas movie is "A Christmas Story" because of the mix of goofy humor and Christmas cheer. It's exaggerated in story, but I remember feeling all the same wound-up excitement that comes from Christmas anticipation when I was a kid as the little boy in the movie does. It's fun. Furthermore, for a while, one of the cable channels would show it for 24 hours straight and I could cut in and out of it during prep and still eventually watch the whole movie.
"Shop around the corner"! A bookstore, correspondence, and James Stewart - what could be better?
teabird / ravelry
Elf is one of my favorite Christmas movies, too. (And um... so is Die Hard.) :)
My favorite holiday movie is "It's a Wonderful Life" because Jimmy Stewart reminds me of my Grandfather. I also love the book "Apple Tree Christmas." Jane, Nebraska Knitter
My favourite movie is A Christmas Carol with Alistair Sims-and I do like Elf too.
Don't know that I have a favorite Christmas movie, they are all OK. I'm weird though, I like fruitcake!
(my Dad's only, however)
I can watch National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation every year and still laugh at it. It's relaxing to see the stress of the Holidays played out with this family.
I would have to go with the original Grinch and the Peanuts Christmas. I rememeber waiting for those to come on when I was a kid. I don't watch many movies anymore but those still remind me of fighting with my brother while watching tv.
For me it's a tossup between Elf (for the humor) and While You Were Sleeping (for tugging at my heartstrings).
I have to go with White Christmas. Not only is it pretty much flawless, but at this point it's reached Family Tradition status, the kind where we basically all have to make the same comments every year as part of the fun. And it has George Chakiris!
My second favorite is probably Scrooged. Bill Murray's speech at the end after he's transformed is all kinds of awesome.
Holiday Inn is actually the only one of the Christmas "traditional" movies I've seen. My friends insist they will change that. I don't know -- Holiday Inn was good enough for me!
my favorite christmas movie isn't ever on tv. it's "timmy's gift" the precious moments movie. I just love it! My favorite christmas book is "treasure in an oatmeal box"... I cry everytime I read it.
sorry, it's actually called Timmy's Special Delivery!
Well although they are not particularly Christmassy, it would not be the same if there was not a James Bond film on over the holidays! Having the surname Bond it is a "must watch" in our house!
Suz
contest posting
I don't have a favourite Christmas movie - actually would have a hard time naming any if asked - but there kinda was tradition in my family as regards Easter. My mom would always love to watch the video tape of Jesus Christ Superstar around Easter until nobody could take it anymore - the she'd switch to the vinyl and go on with "just" listening. It drove me nuts too, but in a strange way I just loved Mary Magdalene's song ... and the beautiful, beautiful actres, of course. She sure severely shaped my image of Mary Magdalene ...
Only when I had grown older and there was no Jesus Christ Superstar did I start missing it and in the meantime I'm as far as seriousely considering I'll try to buy a DVD. Strange ... we really grow after our parents, even if this includes their most weird ticks ...
White Christmas, hands down!
Our favorit chrismas film is Chevy Chase in National lampoon chrismas vacation. we have to look this film at the beginning of chrismas season and at the end: the day the chrismas tree goes out....
greetings Susanne
Hands down favorite is the Muppet Christmas Carol. I remember by older brother taking all of us out to see it when it came to the theater. The whole family can sing it word for word. Last night my sister and I suffered through the newest junk movie from Lifetime "12 Men of Christmas" it was horrible. Stay far away from it.
Hi Susan, hope you are well, I'm imagining how fab your brownies will be, we cannot seem to get a half decent one since dunkin donuts shut down tut. Anyhoo, my favourite holiday film is 'Its a wonderful life', its a must but like you, I watch it through the year too. Hugs Dawn Marie.xx
My two favorites are Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer and White Christmas....
another vote here for Holiday Inn, because it always reminds me of my dad and christmas, and also Miracle on 34th street - the original one tho please. Oh I want to go watch old films now!!!
Favorite: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Nothing better than a good laugh to start the season right ;-)
Boil.. the one they run 24 hours a day about the kid and the BB gun.. detest that movie. Anne aka vibj
I just put the Poinsettia kit on the top of my christmas wish list!
"Meet Me In St. Louis" with Judy Garland is one of my favorite Christmas movies. The movie is divided into seasons, but I still think of it as a Christmas movie and the music is amazing.
My favorite Christmas movie is Scrooged with Bill Murray. There are some parts in there that never fail to crack me up and one that especially makes my sides hurt.
Sorry, it has to be Christmas Story. You gotta love Ralphie and his unnatural need for a Red Rider BB Gun.
I LOVE Elf. My favorite scene in Family Man is when the clerk in the store makes the point about selling your integrity over a lousy ten bucks.
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