Favorite Christmas movies

[Arcadia]

I have to brag a bit and admit I got it right away. Possibly because that's one of my all time favorite scenes.

[Hikari]

Not a 'favorite' but a charming seasonal movie that was new to me . . . 

THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS  (2017)

Dan Stevens (Beast; Downton Abbey) displays zany comedy chops as Charles Dickens in a madcap imagining of how 'A Christmas Carol' came to be.  Dickens is the best-selling novelist of all time, and was one of the forerunners, and chief practitioner of the novel as social commentary.  50 years before Conan Doyle killed off Sherlock Holmes, mid-Victorian Londoners were weeping into their tea over the fate of Little Nell.  In 1842, Dickens toured sold-out venues in America and became the world's first truly international celebrity author/showman.  But he was broke after his last three novels had disappointing sales and he'd borrowed heavily against future royalties from his publisher.  He needed a hit and fast.  6 weeks before Christmas 1843, he conceived of a 'Christmas ghost story'.  Drawing inspiration from his own troubled life and the colorful characters in it, he did the near-impossible and had 'A Christmas Carol' in bookshops a week before Christmas.  Every copy promptly sold, and the book has never been out of print since, earning the distinction of being one of the best-selling titles ever.  The movie takes us into the author's creative process, in which characters like Scrooge (Christopher Plummer, born to this) appear in his study as living people . . and proceed to hound the author until he finishes the story.  Not a 'kiddie' film.  More  suited for adult enthusiasts of this childhood classic and older preteens and teens who revisit this story every year.

 

[Artemis]

You can argue that there is Christmas in Study in Pink too.

Don't forget The Abominable Bride and The Final Problem!

 

[Artemis]

45 minutes ago, Hikari said:

THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS

I saw that movie too and liked it a lot.  I shall have to add it to my list of annual Christmas films.

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

1 hour ago, Artemis said:

Don't forget The Abominable Bride and The Final Problem!

OK, I'll bite -- where are the Christmas references?

[Artemis]

The Abominable Bride:

The Final Problem:

 

Bonus: The Great Game.

Also A Study in Pink:

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

3 hours ago, Hikari said:

THE MAN WHO INVENTED CHRISTMAS  (2017)

Your description reminds me a bit of Shakespeare in Love.  Sounds entertaining!

[Hikari]

https://www.buzzfeed.com/eleanorbate/benedict-cumberbatch-grinch-interview

I'm making the case that this interview with Benedict goes here because he did it while on the press tour for Grinch and he mentions playing the Grinch in it.

I am a certified Cumbercookie (using this term instead of the un-PC one I actually prefer) . . but I can honestly say, and I hope no one will hurl cyber tomatoes at me for saying it, but---If I ONLY knew Benedict from this interview, I would not be a Cumbercookie.  In it he exudes all the solid masculinity of Ralph Fiennes as M. Gustave in 'Grand Budapest Hotel.'  Partly it's the 'Stache, the hatred of which I have no words for.  But I have often thought that BC bears a strong resemblance to R. Fiennes when in non-Sherlock mode, particularly with lighter hair.  Now that he's older I really, really think so.

Don't get me wrong, I love M. Gustave--he totally made that movie.  But M. Gustave is, strictly speaking, not into women, though he will perform sexual services for a generous gratuity.  Not saying Ben would stoop to that, haha . .but the resemblance is defintely there.

[Artemis]

I just hope mustaches aren’t going to come back into style, the way beards did (which I also hate, but not quite as much).  They’re very aging and look hideous on almost everyone, in my opinion (apologies to anyone here who may be sporting a mustache).

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

Sometimes aging can be desirable. My brother had a mustache when he was in his thirties, and he finally looked like an adult.  (Then by the time his wife made him shave it off, he'd developed some wrinkles.)

[Artemis]

By the way, "The Man Who Invented Christmas" is currently free to watch on Amazon Prime, if anyone has that.

 

[Sheerluck]

Die Hard.

[Arcadia]

Trying not to.  

[T.o.b.y]

I don't really have a Christmas movie because the holidays are traditionally "all screens off" time at my family.

But around that time of the year, I really like to watch BBC's The Office Christmas Special.

[Carol the Dabbler]

Or an "Office" marathon.  Love that show!

 

[Van Buren Supernova]

On 11/9/2018 at 4:56 AM, Hikari said:

Partly it's the 'Stache, the hatred of which I have no words for.

 

On 11/9/2018 at 10:50 AM, Artemis said:

I just hope mustaches aren’t going to come back into style, the way beards did (which I also hate, but not quite as much).  They’re very aging and look hideous on almost everyone, in my opinion (apologies to anyone here who may be sporting a mustache).

 

On 11/9/2018 at 1:25 PM, Carol the Dabbler said:

My brother had a mustache when he was in his thirties, and he finally looked like an adult

 

Someone is not happy with all those mustache dissing guys, prepare for headbutt.

 

[Hikari]

Gradually working my way through my stash of Christmas movies.  Yesterday (like today) was rainy and dreary, so what better antidote to cr*ppy weather than that miracle cure for the doldrums, particularly if one is female?

No, I am not speaking of chocolate, though that's not a bad runner-up.  I am speaking of Richard Armitage's smile, which is like the sun breaking out all over.

THE VICAR OF DIBLEY Series Finale and Christmas Special:  A Wholly Holy Happy Ending (2006)

Geraldine Granger (Dawn French) has been the vicar of Dibley for 10 long years of rural insanity.  The tiny (fictional) village of Dibley (pop. ? but it seems to consist of the 6 or  8 people that make up the parish council, all sharing one brain amongst the lot of them) is in Oxfordshire and has provided Geraldine with a really easy commute all these years . . she lives next door to her church.  When G. gets word that the cottage 2 doors down has been sold to yet another weekending Yuppie Londoner, she hastens down there with Alice (Emma Chambers) in tow so they can give said party a piece of their minds.  "On second thought, I'd just give him a piece of  my mind; you don't have any extra to spare, " she tells her infamously dimwitted BFF/special project/verger.  Only, when Harry (RA) opens the door, Geri is so blinded by his white teeth she completely forgets what she meant to say and falls for him on the spot.

Who wouldn't?

Improbably (but hey, this is a seasonal comedic fantasty) Harry falls instantaneously for the vicar, too, though he doesn't know immediately that she's the vicar because she's not wearing her work uniform.  The name of the first part of this two-part episode is entitled 'Handsome Stranger'.  

Quite.  Handsome isn't even adequate.  Richard (just on the rise here, shortly after North and South revealed a new star in the heavens to the United Kingdom, though we over here were still oblivious ) possesses a masculine beauty that literally makes my eyes hurt to behold.  It hurts so good.

Don't worry if you haven't seen all (or any) of the episodes of this show.  The jokes and characters are of the broadest kind and were essentially unchanged in 10 years . . within minutes you will know everything you need to know about how things work in Dibley.

 

 

[Artemis]

I know it’s a bit late, but this Christmas documentary is pretty interesting and one of my favorites.

”Christmas Unwrapped: The History of Christmas” by the History Channel.

 

 

[Arcadia]

I remember that. Geez, has the History Channel really been around that long already?  

[Artemis]

Yes indeedy.  This film is from back when the History Channel was still mostly about history.   

 

[Carol the Dabbler]

10 hours ago, Artemis said:

This film is from back when the History Channel was still mostly about history.   

  What is it mostly about now?

[Artemis]

Aliens, Bigfoot, giants, survivalists, cars, weapons, competitions, pawn shops; the Curse of Oak Island, Monster Quest, Pawn Stars, American Pickers, Counting Cars, Mountain Men, Swamp People, Ice Road Truckers, Appalachian Outlaws, Top Shot, Ax Men... that’s off the top of my head.

Don’t get me wrong, they have some good stuff, and some historical stuff too.  But those seem to be the exception rather than the rule these days, imo.

 

[Arcadia]

They ran out of history.  

[Carol the Dabbler]

17 hours ago, Arcadia said:

They ran out of history.  

But there's more of it being created every day!!!

[Arcadia]

Imagine my amazement despair when I discovered my first car now qualifies as an antique.