Sappy or Cynical? What’s Your Preference in Christmas Movies?
Posted: December 25, 2011 Filed under: just because | Tags: Christmas movies open thread 17 CommentsEven though I’ve never been a huge fan of Christmas, I used to love to break out the hankerchiefs and watch “It’s a Wonderful Life” every year on New Year’s Eve.
And I admit to sobbing while watching “Scrooge,” starring Alister Sim–the absolute best version of Dickens’ “A Christmas Carol”–back in the day. This version is great because it shows how Scrooge got to be so messed up. He was abandoned by his parents, left to spend Christmas alone at his boarding school.
I even liked the remake with George C. Scott as Scrooge. These movies would only be shown on TV once during the Christmas/New Year’s season, and I kind of looked forward to seeing them again each Christmas season.
Then at some point, maybe during the 1980s, the copyrights ran out on some of those great old holiday movies, and the TV stations started showing them about 25 times a week beginning around Thanksgiving. Now I simply can’t get through “It’s A Wonderful Life” anymore. It’s been totally ruined for me. I even got a bit sick of “Scrooge,” when I couldn’t turn on the TV without seeing it.
My taste now runs more toward black comedies like Bad Santa, which IMHO has to be the best Christmas movie ever. There are also some Christmas-themed horror movies–those can be fun if you’re in the right mood.
For anyone who happens to stop by tonight, would you please tell us what your favorite sappy or cynical Christmas movies is? I promise I won’t laugh at you if you like the sentimental ones. I totally understand. I can still be sucked in. Here are a few clips just to get you started. First the Sappy: a clip from Scrooge with Alistair Sim,
and one from We’re No Angels with Humphrey Bogart and pals as escaped convicts.
And now some cynical ones: Billy Bob Thornton in Bad Santa,
and Dennis Leary as a burglar who ends up having to play marriage counselor for a squabbling couple at Christmas time.
And here’s a bonus Christmas horror movie–just a mild one.
Now, what are your favorites?
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I was going to post the trailer from Black Christmas, but it seemed too tasteless…
I’ve been watching horror movies. Frankly, they are much more realistic than the sappy stuff portrayed in these maudlin movies. We may have gotten lotso junk for presents, but mostly what I remember are drunk aunts, cousins that wanted to be with their friends, and family feuds.
“Earnest Saves Christmas”.
I don’t think I’ve seen it, but I’ve seen one of the other Ernest movies. Is it really funny?
The kids and I really enjoy it. Typical Earnest mayhem with a feel good theme.
Still love “It’s a Wonderful Life”, no matter how much water has gone under the bridge.
There’s no doubt it’s a great movie about the Depression and about depression (psychological). I should try watching it again after all these years of staying away.
Sorrry I missed you all last night. I lost my electricity for some reason. There wasn’t a storm or anything, but it was out for hours.
I know this is rather sadistic, but I love this movie – Santa’s Slay. Opening scene
Okay, I”m up for that!!!! Looking to rent it RIGHT NOW!!!
This is a quaint bywater tradition: North Pole Nutrias!! I thought I’d never have something that makes me feel like christmas but it’s a new orleans bywater tradition:
once you got northpole nutria, you never go back
with me it bad-der-santa the unratede version
Just to add some shlock – a Christmas special I watch ever single year for the last 40 years. I guess it would qualify as sappy, but it is the muppets.
And to all a goodnight (Christmas scene from Little Women…)
For me, Christmas isn’t Christmas without It’s A Wonderful Life. Unbelievably, both Frank Capra & Jimmy Stewart were Republicans. That movie should be the story of the Occupy movement. I’m old enough (nearly 62) to remember when it wasn’t on TV. I saw the Marlo Thomas remake in 1977. Loved it until I saw the Capra original. Also love Christmas in Connecticut with Barbara Stanwyck. And, I love Bill Murray’s Scrooged, which rarely shows up on basic cable any longer. It’s my favorite take on Dickens’ Christmas Carol.
“It’s a Wonderful Life” 🙂
Even though we’re Jewish and don’t celebrate Christmas, the Alistair Sim “Scrooge” is one of my favorite movies. For whatever reason, I couldn’t find it on any t.v. station this year.
There’s currently a Dickens exhibit at the Morgan Library in New York. Among the treasures is an original copy of “A Christmas Carol.” It’s opened to the front page, and I could clearly read the famous first line, “Marley was dead.”