Merry Christmas Everyone/Christmas List

So yes, it is Christmas tomorrow. And I don't mean to sound like the Grinch, but I really couldn't give two flying cow-pats about it. As some of you may know, my beloved Grandma passed away on Thursday morning and I can tell you, it has hit me rather hard. I haven't really been eating or sleeping or doing anything properly lately, and even this blog post is a bit of a stretch. However, I remembered that the lovely Diana at Aziza's Picks made a blogathon that really cheered me up. Basically, she asks us to imagine if money/location/time wasn't an issue and what we'd buy our fellow bloggers for Christmas. Since giving people stuff always makes me happy, I thought doing this might do the trick. So here's what I get some of my fellow bloggers for Christmas:

Firstly, Diana. Since you've been sifting through quite a few foreign films, I'd love to get you Krzysztof Kieslowski's Three Colours trilogy, preferably the Criterion versions. I'm not sure if you've seen them yet, but they're really fantastic.

Tyler at Southern Vision, you would probably love Criterion DVDs too, but I'd rather buy you The Room, for LOLs.

Ruth at Let's Be Splendid About This, a life's supply of Coke. Because Coke is the best. And lot's of tea. And a big Totoro plush.

Sati at Cinematic Corner, I would actually love to get you a really nice kind of sketchbook/diary thing, so you can jot down any inspiration you have for the beautiful designs on your blog. And on the cover, I'd put pictures of Lee Pace and Idris Elba to remind you of the beautiful things the world is capable of, haha.

Nikhat at Being Norma Jeane, I'd give you magical powers so you could tell Johnny Depp to make better movies. And since you love Doctor Who, every time I saw this on Mighty Ape I thought of you.

Ryan at The Matinee, I'd also get you a life's supply of the best tea in the world. And more hours in the day, because I'm never quite sure how you watch so much and write so much!

Jessica at The Velvet Cafe, something rather simple: a huge hug for being there for me more than a few times this year. I suppose that could come with a ticket to NZ, so you can revisit us in all of our LOTR glory.

Mettel at Mettel Ray's Movie Blog, since you loved Looper so much, I saw on their Facebook that you can get a replica of the pocket watch Joe uses. And then you could put a picture of JGL in it!

Anna at Defiant Success, I'd get you all of the seasons of Downton Abbey because you need to be introduced to how sexy Dan Stevens is on that program.

Alex at And So It Begins, I'd get you this cool special edition of The Dark Knight Rises (assuming you have Blu-Ray) because you were one of the only people to vociferously stand by it throughout the year.

Asrap at Whoa, This is Heavy! - I think you'd get a kick out of this book I bought for one of my friends.

Mette at Lime Reviews and Strawberry Confessions, this may sound a little random but I would get you a duvet cover that is made up of all of these different, strange fabrics. Because that would reflect the feeling I always get from how rich and fashionable your blog is, especially with those fashion pieces you do.

And Lesya, formerly of Eternity of Dream, a Blu-Ray player, and all of Christopher Nolan's films on Blu-Ray to go with it.

As for me, I already know most of what I'm getting for Christmas - money for my trip to Japan in two weeks. I'd also love for Grandma's wedding and engagement rings to be enlarged so they can actually fit on my fingers instead of squeezing the crap out of my pinky finger, some frames to put her photos in and an Oscar for Matthew McConaughey. And to meet Jessica Chastain. And for The Dark Knight Rises to get a little more love. And Killer Joe on DVD because I'm still eight months too young to watch it and I really want to show it to my friends. Why yes, I am sadistic.

Anyways, I'd like to wish everyone who reads this a very Merry Christmas. There is no certainty that I'll be back to blogging frequently, but I do want to do some year-end retrospectives. I hope that everyone has a great day, and thanks for everything this year!

Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas (post #400!)

Today, Christmas Day, happens to coincide with my 400th post on this blog. Geez, it wasn't that long ago I was at 300!

Anyhoo, it's nearly the end of Christmas here, and I'm about to settle in to watch my annual Christmas movie...Meet Me in St. Louis. It's the second Judy Garland movie I've watched today, as I caught the screening of The Wizard of Oz screening earlier today. I've had a pretty good day, I got enough presents, which should allow me to fill up my DVD collection some more (me is happy). I've also eaten a lot...but hey, it's Christmas, it only happens once a year.

The point of this post isn't to go on about my day, but it's to wish whoever is reading this a very merry Christmas. I hope Santa has been good to you, though I hope most of all that you have a wonderful day with the people you really care about. Because, after all, that is what Christmas is about! After a long hard year, it's what you deserve! Thanks for reading my blog throughout year...this may sound cheesy but that is such a great present you guys are giving me. Again, have a great day!

And here is some Billy Mack, simply because this song was only on once today compared to the fifty (I am not exaggerating) times they played Destiny's Child's '8 Days of Christmas'. I also really love this song, almost as much as I love Love Actually.

Top 10 movies I like to watch at Christmas time

This list may seem a little strange, mainly because most of these movies have absolutely nothing to do with Christmas, but they are all films that have some importance to me...mainly around Christmas time. I'm not a huge fan of actual Christmas movies, and it is always these ones which get me in the spirit.

10. The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

I'm not really sure why this one screams out 'Christmas' to me. I think it's because I like watching movies about peoples lives (see further on in the list) around Christmas, and I can also stand a bit more romance around this time of the year too. In saying that, Benjamin Button is one of my most beloved movies, and I'd take any opportunity to watch David Fincher's most underrated work. If it were just for the scene where Daisy unexpectedly turns up to see Benjamin a while after she pushes him away in Paris.

9. Singin in the Rain



I think this choice probably has something to do with the fact that I watched it a few days before Christmas two years ago, so I always associate it with Christmas. Musicals are the best type of movies to watch around Christmas, mainly because they'll always give you that fuzzy feeling inside (if you're not too cynical). Singin in the Rain has often been voted as the best musical ever made, and it probably is. It has such a charm and more humour than you can shake a stick at, and it's definitely enjoyable.

8. The Philadelphia Story



There's nothing like Katharine Hepburn around Christmas time, I can tell you that now. And I just happen to think that watching black and white screwball comedies is damn cool on Christmas day too...

7. Gone with the Wind

If Christopher Nolan wasn't around, then Gone with the Wind would be my favourite movie. Trust me, I know everything there is to know about this one movie. And Christmas always feels like the right time to watch it (esepcially since I got the 70th anniversary 5 disc edition last year). It's just so epic, and it always makes me feel on top of the world after I finish watching it. 224 minutes of techicolour greatness there. Oh,  and the beauty of Vivien Leigh...

6. Casablanca

Casablanca has always been near and dear to my heart ever since I bought it on Boxing Day in 2007. It's just so romantic and beautiful that it melts my heart every time I watch it. Hey, it always puts a smile on my face too, even after I've been crying right the way through it. If only those people in Hollywood could make a movie that is half as good as this one without being too cheesy.

5. The Wizard of Oz

Is there a better family film? The Wizard of Oz is a particular favourite over here when it comes to holiday movies. I got the beautiful 3 disc set for Christmas in 2008 and it was on TV last year during Christmas afternoon, so it's hard for me not to associate this with Christmas. It just reminds me of how lucky I am to be at home and with my family, and not to wish for something over the rainbow...because that doesn't always turn out great.

4. The Shawshank Redemption

Yeah, I've been told that this one may be a little depressing for Christmas time, but that must be how we do it in New Zealand. I first caught a glimpse of it back in 2005 (I think?) when it was on Christmas night (I didn't watch the whole thing...I was young and slept a lot). I then first watched the whole thing when it was on TV around the Christmas period last year, and was quite frankly amazed by it. And guess what is on tomorrow night? The Shawshank Redemption. I mean, come on, it gives you a lot of hope, and it is the best movie ever made...so why not?

3. It's a Wonderful Life

This is probably the movie on this list that is based the most around Christmas. And let me tell you, this is quite possibly the best Christmas movie ever. From Jimmy Stewart running down the street yelling 'Merry Christmas!' at everyone to the whole town coming together to help his cause, It's a Wonderful Life just shows us all how lucky we are to be living the lives we were given and to have the people surrounding us. Gosh, does this one bring a tear to my eye or what?!

2. Forrest Gump



Here is another movie that is usually on every Christmas (or 23rd December mostly), so I can't not associate it with that period of time. But it's not on this year! Oh well, I'll just have to get out the DVD for it's annual watch. Everyone in NZ loves Forrest Gump. And what better time of the year is there to watch it than Christmas time?

1. Meet Me in St. Louis

This is my 5th favourite film of all time, mainly because I will, without fail, watch this every Christmas. Not just because it features the beautiful song 'Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas'. It just has that feeling of family and how great it is to be together, in the place that you love most. It's so light, fluffy and infectious that I feel so upbeat after watching it...the true meaning of 'Christmas spirit'. I look forward to taking the DVD out of it's place on my shelf and giving this a watch again. It's basically the meaning of Christmas to me.

Everybody's Fine

Good, I'm glad. I really wish that they had thought of a different title for Everybody's Fine, like maybe 'Nobody's Perfect'?? That would have definitely been more fitting. And to think this is a Christmas movie. Well, it's nice to see Robert De Niro, the 'best actor in the world' back innit. Even if this movie was released straight to DVD here.

Frank (Robert De Niro) is a retired man who lives all alone and wants to get the family together for Christmas. But all of his family cancel on him, so he decides if they don't want to come to him then he will just go to them. He embarks on a journey across America to see his children, even though he has medical conditions which could be harmed, and discovers what he has been missing all these years.

The cast looks pretty good, practically too good for this to go straight to DVD. How often is it that you have four very talented actors--De Niro, Drew Barrymore, Kate Beckinsale and Sam Rockwell--in the same film?? This film was a surprise, as it was actually very good but had some things marring it's brilliance. First the direction, which seemed very documentary style and came across as a bit whimsical and weird. Second, the lack of character depth. I know there were quite a few characters and we didn't really know that much about them until the end but they all seemed very stereotypical, even though it was obvious that they were far from it. And thirdly was the lack of understanding between the viewer and the film, which made it difficult to watch sometimes.

However, I really liked this film because it was a pleasant film that is underrated on so many levels. There is something for everyone here, and you could find yourself absorbed in it, in short sharp bursts.

Not your average Christmas dramadey, pleasant but lacking something.

6/10

Four Holidays

It's always great to watch a Christmas movie to get into the festive spirit. Four Holidays (2008) is a Christmas movie with a difference: it's not generally for the little kids. Instead, it would appeal more to adults than anyone else, with it's many jokes and funny scenes that adults will actually find funny.
Four Holidays is written by the writers of The Hangover and Ghosts of Girlfriends Past. Let me get this straight: it is way funnier then that terrible Ghosts of Girlfriends Past, but falls short of the hilarious The Hangover. It stars Reese Witherspoon (of Legally Blonde fame) and Vince Vaughn (star of the very funny Wedding Crashers) as Kate and Brad, a couple who spend their holidays avoiding their families.
Brad and Kate plan to jet off to Fiji for Christmas, but due to severe weather conditions, they are unable to fly out. Thanks to an appearance on television, their parents find out where they really are and each one of them invites them around for Christmas. So Brad and Kate are faced with four different Christmases...and they end up finding out a whole lot they didn't know about each other.
Four Holidays also stars Mary Steenburgen, Jon Voight (a.k.a Angelina Jolie's dad), Sissy Spacek (you may remember her from the 1976 horror Carrie) and Robert Duvall (from The Godfather, need I say more) as the parents, and what a lively bunch they are. Relative new-comer Seth Gordon directs, and I hope to see more of his work in the future.
Like The Hangover, Four Holidays has plenty of good lines and some original scenes (particularly the one where Brad and Kate play Joseph and Mary at the Church), but unlike The Hangover, it doesn't have enough 'individuality', as in people won't remember it for long after they see it.
All in all, Four Holidays is great entertainment for adults, and please, I beg you, do not let kids under at least 10 years old see it! And if you're expecting a real Christmas treat, you'll soon forget that this is all about Christmas, because it's really about being with family. That's the best thing you can do this Christmas.
7/10