Edna: Since the Christmas season has started, I've naturally started thinking about holiday movies. For a very long time, my favorite movie was It's a Wonderful Life. Now, I think that had more to do with my sweeping and grand affection for Jimmy Stewart rather than this being a truly heart-warming movie. Because let's face it, ladies and gentlemen, scratch the surface of that movie and you find all manner of depressing things. Suicidal thoughts, economic crisis, skullduggery, stinginess of soul, and a multitude of broken dreams, to name a few. I don't care that George Bailey discovers at the end that his life really is "wonderful." The fact still remains that the awful Mr. Potter goes unpunished for his foul deeds, and poor George not only can't hear out of one ear, but he never got to travel the world and build things like he wanted to. Quite frankly, every time I watch it and get to the part where Mary is hiding in the hydrangea bushes after the high school dance, I turn the blasted movie off because it's all downhill from there. Who needs that kind of depressing movie during the holidays?
Given the above complaints, it might surprise you all to learn that my favorite holiday movie is one that is sarcastic and starts out with a distinct lack of holiday cheer: Scrooged, with Bill Murray. Like It's a Wonderful Life, Scrooged also has as its focus a troubled young man, and it most certainly has its melancholy moments. But the beauty of Bill Murray's Frank Cross is that he knows he's past redemption, and he doesn't care. So it's mighty refreshing when he finds love and happiness at the end, because he didn't even think he was looking for it. Plus, what's not to love about Carol Kane as the surprisingly sadistic Ghost of Christmas Present? Now this is my kind of holiday movie!
Friday, December 5, 2008
Fun Friday: Edna's favorite holiday movie
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11 comments:
We love Lumpy, too! hahaha! Our favorite is The Year Without A Santa Claus!
I loved "Eloise at Christmas" and "Bells of St. Mary's" is my favorite classic holiday movie.
Our favorite family Christmas movie is A Muppet Christmas Carol. We used watched it on YouTube a couple days ago.
It's a Wonderful Life IS a great movie - need to see Scrooged again!
My TWO all time favorite Christmas movies are "It's a Wonderful Life" and "Christmas Carol". Scrooged is funny but soesn't put me in the Christmas spirit the way my 2 favorotes do. I disagree with your review of "Its a wonderful life" its a heartwarming, make-you-feel good movie, nothing depressing about it.
Edna: Well, one of the things I love about being human is that none of us have to agree with one another. ;)
And please don't get me wrong, I'm not saying that "It's a Wonderful Life" is a bad movie. It's just not my holiday favorite.
Interesting twist on fave holiday movies - I must give this one another look - haven't seen it since 1991, I think.
It's a Wonderful Life still rocks my world though - I love all that bleakness which is definitely there under the surface - A Christmas Carol has it too.
Somehow I've made it this far in life without seeing It's a Wonderful Life. Every year we say, "This year we will watch it!" Do love Scrooged though!
Edna,
Have you stopped taking your medication? I watch "It's a Wonderful Life" every year. It wouldn't be Christmas with out it. I like "Scrooged" also, but it is not in the same league as "It's a Wonderful Life." I also like "A Christmas Carol" with Alister Sims and "A Christmas Story" with the "You'll shoot your eye out kid."
By the way, I think Mr. Potter jumped off the same bridge that George Bailey did the next evening, but Clarence wasn't there to save him.
I'm with you, Edna. Definitely Scrooged. It may not be on par with "It's A Wonderful Life" in terms of its classicity (?), but it's a heck of a lot funnier...plus Carol Kane is great. Agreed.
It's a Wonderful Life is a great movie, and I used to watch it every year too, but I haven't the last few years. Don't know why, I guess comedies are a lot more fun to watch over and over again. IAWL is a great movie with a great message, but the last half is not light-hearted (loved the pool scene though). It is kind of depressing that George never got to live his dream, even though he still had a good life. Just gotta be in the mood for it.
Haven't watched Scrooged in years either. I just recall the end where they're singing, and Bill Murray is telling one half of the theater to sing, then the other, trying to get the audience to compete. XD
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