What Your Mother And I Must Know Is...

Black Christmas (1974)
Dir - Bob Clark

My absolute favorite Christmas flick, and one of my favorite films of all time. This pre-dates Halloween as a slasher film and really creates a highly suspenseful, frightening atmosphere without showing much of any graphic violence. One of the few films to really give me the creeps, and if you know anything about me that's saying quite a bit. I watch this every Christmas and it's one reason to actually look forward to the season for me.

Yes, this is directed by the same guy who made A Christmas Story.

I Want to See Her Nipples

Scrooged (1988)
Dir - Richard Donner

And this is my second favorite adaption. Murray is hysterical and it's a really fun take on the same old story.

Bonus tally: Between this two versions of A Christmas Carol I watched an episode of George Burns Comedy Week from the 80s on YouTube that's called Christmas Carol II: The Sequel. This sees Scrooge go too far on the giving side and is once again visited by the three ghosts who show his the error of his new pushover ways. It's pretty great and the cast includes Roddy McDowell, James Whitmore, Samantha Eggar, Ed Bagley Jr and more. The quality is kind of crappy but you can watch the half hour below.

A Very Green Christmas

The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Dir - Brian Henson

One of my two favorite adaptations of Dickens' A Christmas Carol so I decided to start my Christmas Day with a repeat viewing. Some great songs, Michael Cane is wonderful as Scrooge, it has all of your Muppet favorites and Kevin as Tiny Tim!

Scary Santa Legend

Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale (2010)
Dir - Jalmari Helander

My second time watching this new genre Christmas classic. A great Finnish film that takes a different country's perception of the Santa legend and twists it a bit. I absolutely adore this film and can't wait to watch this come every December for many, many years to come.

Shitter Was Full

Christmas Vacation (1989)
Dir - Jeremiah S. Chechik

Everyone knows this film, everyone loves this film, and it's completely justified. After dozens and dozens of times seen over the past 22 (!) years I still find myself laughing out loud consistently. Probably the best of the Vacation films, with the original a VERY close second. It was great to see it in 35mm on the big screen again for the first time since its original run.

What's in the Drawer?

The Magic Christmas Tree (1964)
Dir - Richard C. Parish
Weird Wednesday

There are no words. See this at all costs and make it a holiday tradition as I have these last few years. Truly magical.

Right Jolly Old Elf

Sint (2010)
Dir - Dick Maas
Horror Movie Night

Check out my full review HERE on Horror's Not Dead!

Mogwai

Gremlins (1984)
Dir - Joe Dante

Another Christmas classic!

Camcorder Christmas

Coopers' Christmas (2008)
Dir - Warren P. Sonoda

Saw this on Netflix Instant an decided to watch because I love Jason Jones and Samantha Bee on The Daily Show. The film isn't too special but there are a few pretty funny moments.

Do You Believe in Magic?

Becoming Santa (2011)
Dir - Jeff Meyers

Glad that Hulu had this new doc available in time for the Christmas movie watching season. We follow a man who decides to become a Santa in attempt to recreate the magic of the season he no longer feels. This is something I can completely relate to as all of the fun and excitement of the holidays just isn't there for me anymore. Through this doc you get to see someone help create that magical feeling in children and ultimately in himself. Surprisingly touching and always fun.

Take it Easy on the Pepsi

Home Alone (1990)
Dir - Chris Columbus

Not much really needs to be said about this film, it's just greatness.

I also picked up my own cheese pizza to each whilst watching. It's the only way.

Wrestling with the Season

Santa's Slay (2005)
Dir - David Steiman

For a movie that stars a wrestler as a killer Santa this kicks some ass! You would think it would be horrible but the end result is a fun ride that plays with the myth of Santa and you get to see Fran Drescher killed. Heh.

Turbo Man

Jingle All the Way (1996)
Dir - Brian Levant

This is only the second time, and second year in a row, that I've seen the film but it will become a regular around the holidays for years to come. No, it's not very good but there's something enjoyable about this quest of the hot gift of the season. How can you really go wrong when the leads are Arnold Schwarzenegger and freaking Sinbad?!

JTT + Santa = Awesome

I'll Be Home for Christmas (1998)
Dir - Arlene Sanford
Xmas Insanity 2011

The last XI film is one from Disney starring the Teen Beat heartthrob Jonathan Taylor Thomas and a young Jessica Biel fresh from the set of 7th Heaven. JTT makes a less impressive Santa than Hulk Hogan did last year in Santa with Muscles, but it's still pretty great. Can't really remember too much that I want to say about this, besides the fact that Gary Cole (!) is in it, but there is a pretty chart topping late 90's soundtrack - complete with Smash Mouth poster! Shudder.

Those Damned Liberals

Christmas with a Capital C (2011)
Dir - Helmut Schleppi
Xmas Insanity 2011

I've been waiting over a year to see this, ever since I saw the first trailer on YouTube. This is a Christian made family drama about the horrible "war on Christmas" that everyone is always so worried about. Ted McGinely plays a small Alaskan town mayor that is mostly Christian and a prodigal resident returns from the big city now ready to fight the public Christmas display and wanting to get rid of their beloved holiday (played by professional Alec Baldwin impersonator, Daniel Baldwin).

First you have to realize this is a movie based on a song, that was based on a stand-up routine by a Christian comic. It's not good and VERY one-sided - not that I expected any different. The liberal is made out to be the bad guy and everything is happy in the end. It's as bad as I hoped and unintentionally funny. A good time to have with a beer or two.

Side note: While watching I found that the comedian who is one of the co-stars is also in another Christian family film dealing with abortion. This will be watched ASAP!!!

Toothbrush Attack!

B-Robo Kabutack: The Epic Christmas Battle (1997)
Dir - ???
Xmas Insanity 2011

Our first move of XI was an epic kid's show from Japan and their hourlong "holiday themed" episode. I put that in quotes because there's very little to do with Christmas. It kind of seems like an afterthought. The joy of this Power Rangers-esque show is the shark robot named, appropriately enough, Sharkler. His weapon of choice is a giant toothbrush. How cool is that?!

A weird show with crazy Japanese antics you would expect and a female Santa who rides around on a flying surfboard.

I. Must. Find. This series.

Snowed In

Jack Frost (1997)
Dir - Michael Cooney

Been a couple years since I watched this one but it's still pretty fun and entertaining. A serial killer is turned into a killer snowman who steals kill scenes from Silent Night, Deadly Night and rapes Shannon Elizabeth with his carrot "nose" in the shower. Nothing says Christmas like that!

Elf in the City

Elf (2003)
Dir - Jon Favreau

Haven't seen this since its original theatrical release. At the time I didn't really care for it though. The day before I saw another new Xmas movie, Bad Santa, and it was so crazy and hysterical that to me this just paled in comparison.

I'm happy to report that now, eight years later, this is a movie I really enjoy. A great family Christmas comedy with some funny performances by Ferrell and Deschanel (who sings a damn fine version of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" in the shower). Ed Anser makes a rather good Santa and the concept is fun. I would like to see Buddy go up against the boys from Super Troopers in a maple syrup eating contest though.

High Holiday

A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas (2011)
Dir - Todd Strauss-Schulson

Christmas movies should really only be watched between the window of Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. Sometimes I'll make an exception about halfway through the year but it's not common. Luckily there were still a few theaters around showing this in 3D so I could catch it the day after the great turkey gorging. The other two Harold and Kumar movies are great. The second not nearly as good as the first, but it still has plenty of laughs. Yes, they are stupid but I like it and don't care.

This has some great 3D. I mean really, who doesn't like claymation cocks, slow-mo jizz or beer pong balls flying off the screen? There were a couple of inside jokes here in reference to Kal Penn and John Cho's other works that I was the only one laughing at, as well as some grooming habits of a very naughty nurse. I laughed pretty damn hard a lot and I was probably one of the few in the theater not under the influence of any substance. I do think that Wafflebot is one of the greatest fake inventions ever and I will be keeping my fingers crossed until he becomes a reality.

This is now my second fave in the series and I'll definitely be buying the home release and revisiting for years to come.