« The Grinch and Me | Main | Yeah. I know. It's not Thursday. »
December 6, 2006
Season’s Scandals
Brace yourself: shocking confessions ahead!
Okay, here we go. My name is Beth, I turned 30 this year…and I have never seen “It’s A Wonderful Life.” Not once. Even by accident.
I’ve managed to glean the basic plot over the years, thanks to various SNL spoofs and the very highbrow and cutting-edge Beavis and Butthead Christmas special, “It’s a Miserable Life.” But I somehow never got around to viewing the original, perhaps because I am immature and enjoy shocking Mr. Tall afresh with this news every December and hearing his subsequent rant on how I’m only hurting myself by being a cultural philistine and P.S., I’m also un-American and probably a flag-burning pinko to boot.
Oh, and I’ve also never seen “White Christmas” or “Miracle on 34th Street” (although I did read the actual book for that one, so I get partial credit.)
But I have my own traditions.
I adore the original, cartoon version of “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and my favorite holiday movie of all time is “Better Off Dead.” My brother and I watch it every year without fail. (In fact, last year the dogs gave me the DVD of “Better Off Dead” for Christmas. Aren’t they thoughtful?) Have you guys seen “Better Off Dead”? It’s a classic, you know. “Two dollars…cash!” Ring any bells? No? How about: “Do you have any idea what the street value of this mountain is?” “And to drink: Peru!”
Okay, maybe I’m the only one who considers “Better Off Dead” a hilarious holiday classic. But John Cusack is so cute! (Although I will admit that it may be one of those movies that you have to be exposed to during a critical point in adolescence—once you’re an adult, the comic genius gets lost in translation…or so says Mr. Tall. But then again, he’s the one who touted “The Sure Thing” as a cinematic masterpiece, and I have no idea what in the Sam Hill he’s talking about.)
So it’s time to expand my horizons. Recommend some good holiday movies to watch. Like “Olive the Other Reindeer”…was that any good? Just don’t say “It’s A Wonderful Life”, because, after 30 years, I have to keep the streak alive.
Posted by Beth at 11:23 PM | Comments (18)
Comments
My two latest favorite holiday movies are "Bad Santa" and "Ice Harvest." Both have Billy Bob Thornton who generally gives me the heebie jeebies and feature much cussing and violence. "Ice Harvest" is extremely violent, too. Have I mentioned I'm not really a holiday person?
The LC Eileen
Posted by: Eileen ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.literarychicks.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at December 7, 2006 12:32 AM
I just turned 30 this year too, and I've seen the ending to "It's A Wonderful Life" but that's it. The Hubs just doesn't get understand how I could not want to watch it a million times like he does. I've never seen Miracle or White Christmas (I just thought this was a song).
"Better Off Dead" - LOVE that movie. "Hey! Yes, zomezing is wrong!"
Let's see. Movies we used to watch every Christmas were "Emmit Otter's JugBand Christmas" and "The Electric Grandmother" I haven't seen either one in ages because they just don't show them anymore. I wonder if they ever put those on DVD?
Posted by: Charity at December 7, 2006 8:00 AM
We love pretty much ALL the Rankin/Bass holiday specials. Although, I was SO upset that they'd redone "Rudolph the Rednosed Reindeer and the Island of Misfit Toys" in CGI. I refused to watch it. It's just not the same without all the campy 8mm cinematography. LOL
"I want to be a dentist"
Posted by: Jen at December 7, 2006 9:07 AM
Oh, I love Emmett Otter!
The best Christmas show of all time is, of course, A Charlie Brown Christmas. Oddly, ever time I watch it, I start craving Dolly Madison Zingers. Do they even make Zingers anymore?
Posted by: Whitney at December 7, 2006 10:13 AM
They do indeed make Zingers! We have a Dolly Madison store here in town, you can get 3 boxes of Zinger or other goodies for $5. My family loves the "Bread Store" though, we never really buy bread there! LOL
Posted by: Charity at December 7, 2006 11:52 AM
"Gee, I'm real sorry your mom blew up, Ricky."
Ahhh, another who knows my love for this movie. My Christmas viewing includes Elf and Love Actually. And of course those other shows that you don't watch.
Posted by: Hope at December 7, 2006 12:56 PM
National Lampons Christmas Vacation is a classic to us! We watch several times during the holidays. I remember Emmet Otter!! I've been looking for it to show my kids!
And "I want my 2 dollars!" is classic!
Posted by: Brandy at December 7, 2006 1:57 PM
In our family we have always watched A Christmas Story and The Family Man is a good one too.
Posted by: Maureen at December 7, 2006 2:23 PM
The Ref is my favorite Christmas movie. Kevin Spacey, Denis Leary and Judy Davis. Denis is a cat burgler who accidently takes Kevin and Judy hostage. Kevin and Judy are husband and wife who are not getting along at the time. Love it!
Posted by: Helen at December 7, 2006 11:05 PM
"Two dollars!! I want my two dollars!!" Love, love, love that movie!! My absolute favorite Christmas movie of all time is "A Christmas Story", have to watch it every year. "You'll shoot your eye out!" I also love "The Ref", great movie. Now, you have to watch "White Christmas" if only for the "Sisters" song, "Heaven help the mister who gets between me and my sister, and heaven help the sister who gets between me and my man..." I know, I know, I'm a total Christmas movie geek. :)
Berni
Posted by: Berni at December 7, 2006 11:33 PM
Yes, yes, yes! The Ref!
Best. Holiday. Movie. Ever.
It's probably also the most quoted movie around our house, especially, "Um, I'd like a ruling on that."
Posted by: Whitney at December 8, 2006 8:42 AM
Not exactly seasonal but we usually have a few DVD-athons over the holiday season. High on the list: Lord of the Rings-athon, Harry Potter-athon, Star Wars-athon.
Posted by: Michelle C at December 8, 2006 9:36 AM
Yeah! Other people who love The Ref! DH and I watch it every year -- it's our own little tradition. :-) I can't remember the exact line, but my favorite is when Christine Baranski whacks her son on the head and says something like "Shut up! It's Christmas!" My second-favorite line is "Lady, your husband ain't dead. He's hiding!"
I like the old Rankin-Bass specials, but my favorite Christmas special is still A Charlie Brown Christmas.
I have to admit, I've never gotten the appeal of Better Off Dead, although I did see it during my Crushing on John Cusack phase -- Beth, how can you not like The Sure Thing?!
I've also never seen Miracle on 34th Street, but I did watch It's a Wonderful Life one year when I was laid up with the flu and TBS was showing it 24/7...
Posted by: Rebecca at December 8, 2006 10:19 AM
I guess I'll admit to never seeing "A Christmas Story". I've seen clips, but never the movie...sad, I know...
Posted by: Jen at December 8, 2006 10:29 AM
But the best line from Better Off Dead... when she told John Cusack that Ricky kept trying to put his testicals all over her. EWWW, the visual!
Posted by: Teble at December 9, 2006 12:50 AM
That's it! I'm going to Michelle's for the holidays. My 'howse' boss won't let me watch that many movies in a row, let alone in the same genre. On the other subject of holiday classics, I've seen them all, but Better Off Dead. I may have seen bits and pieces, but I can't remember. So, I'm gonna' take in that flick. Charlie Brown Christmas has the best soundtrack by Vincent Giuraldi. Oh, the boss simply goes mad, because TNT shows a 24 hour Christmas Eve "A Christmas Story" event. The best seen is when mom dumps the wrapped up bowling ball in the old man's lap without notice. The old man curls up and says in a diminutive high voice "Look honey, a blue ball."
Posted by: Brian at December 9, 2006 9:06 AM
Well, spit and bother. Sorry people about the spelling- scene, not seen.
Posted by: Brian at December 9, 2006 11:04 AM
I have never seen "A Christmas Story". Ever. Not even a snippet. My favorite movies are the Rudolph movies--every year my family and I would sit down and watch them--they used to come on in the evening during prime time. Loved them! Miracle, White Christmas--awesome.
However, I have never even heard of "Better Off Dead" and "The Ref". These are Christmas movies? Cult classics? My god daughter loves that Tim Burton movie, "The Nightmare Before Christmas." I've never seen it myself. Guess I'm just not a movie person...
Posted by: Sheri at December 9, 2006 4:42 PM
