Christmas movies

[Murfreesboro]

Lol

Apparently they had some kind of celebratory bash about it up in Chicago this weekend, with many of the OC present, including Bill Murray. They were also honoring Harold Ramis.

[TheHeadlessHorseman]

I've been watching some new Christmas movies, and to be honest, most of them suck, which is why I prefer to watch the classics. However, there are some new movies that I actually liked, and I'll start with the best movie first. As usual, I won't give any spoilers.

The Best Christmas Pageant Ever - Yes, that's the actual title of the movie. It's about a young group of uncontrollable siblings that force their way into the Christmas play and the whole town is against their involvement. I didn't know what to expect from this, but it was a heartwarming movie to watch, there were so many funny moments that had us laughing though the movie, and the kids were just adorable. I promise that you will enjoy this movie if you watch it.

Dear Santa - This was a fun movie that takes place during the holidays, but doesn't really focus on Christmas. It's hard to explain the plot, so I'll just post the original summary below.

Likable 6th grader Liam writes to Santa asking him to prove that he’s real. But Liam is dyslexic and accidentally sends his letter to Satan instead, who shows up at Liam’s house, excited to have his first fanboy letter and wanting a little of Liam’s soul.


It's a Wonderful Knife - I'm sure you can already guess that this movie is a horror parody just from the title. It's interesting because The Simpsons already used the same title in a episode years ago. The movie was fine, and worth a watch if you are looking for something different. Also, the old guy from X-Files was in it, even though it wasn't for long, and you might know the guy that plays the killer as well because he's been in some good movies.

Have any of you watched any good new Christmas movies this season?

[Andybev01]

Yesterday I finished a Norwegian Christmas movie called 'The Snow Sister', on Netflix.

First of all it's dubbed in english, but it is perhaps the best dubbing.I have ever seen, and you almost don't notice it, so don't let that put you off.

It's based on a children's book and it deals frankly with some heavy topics, but suitable for most kids and most adults.

It gave me vibes like 'Coco' did, and I enjoyed it very much, and have added it to my permanent Christmas roster.

[Murfreesboro]

I haven't seen anything new this season, but I've heard good things about both TBCPE and Dear Santa/Satan. I think I'd enjoy them both.

At my son's in Chicago we binge-watched a season of a show called True Detective: Night Country. It came out maybe last winter, and stars Jodie Foster as a police detective in an Alaskan town north of the arctic circle. She's investigating a weird multiple murder which connects to an unsolved murder from 7 yrs prior. It's set at Christmas, and the arctic night has just started. It has supernatural vibes, and I was enthralled with the setting. Both my son and I felt a little let down by the conclusion, but for most of the time, it was engrossing. It's not for kids, though.

[Andybev01]

2 of my siblings lived above the arctic circle in Alaska at different times.

They agreed that the landscape and light is spectacular but that they could have done without the cold.

[Murfreesboro]

Interesting. What got them up there?

[Andybev01]

The sister married a mining engineer.

His proposal was a ring that he made from the first gold he mined, a 40 cal. pistol and a full-sized Dodge diesel pickup truck.

How could she have said no?

The brother had just got divorced so he took his Carpentry skills up north to clear his head, and do a lot of fishing.

[Murfreesboro]

What terrific engagement gifts! That tv show I mentioned, Night Country, involves a mining operation.

My father was divorced before he met my mother, and he also went to Alaska (from Mississippi!) to clear his mind. He worked in lumbering up there, so, not as far north as your brother. My father was a lawyer, so it was a big change for him to do that for a couple of years.

[Andybev01]

For Alaska those were completely practical gifts.

I'm not an outdoor enthusiast so wouldn't venture that far north.

Hanging out at the beach is more my speed.

[Murfreesboro]

Your Oregon beaches are freezing, though. My sons and I waded at Seaside on Aigust 9, 2020, IIRC. Lots of folks splashing around there. And I thought, "I don't know how they can immerse themselves in this." I'm used to the Gulf of Mexico. I figured the water in Oregon in August was about as warm as it was ever going to get. There was also a stiff wind blowing across the Pacific that day that felt as if it had come from Siberia.

[Andybev01]

LOL!

Yes, a summer day at an oregon beach can be...brisk.

Two of my nephews are planning a week surfing on a southern oregon beach, and that involves insulated wetsuits.

[Murfreesboro]

Yes, I can believe it. In fact, we drove along the Columbia River on our way to Portland, and we saw people surfing in wetsuits along the river. The next day, when we pushed on to Astoria, we saw a colony of sea lions along the river. It's beautiful country up there, and very exotic to a Southerner like me.

[Andybev01]

Growing up here you tend to take it for granted, but after 26 years in California I have a renewed appreciation for the beautiful PNW.

[Murfreesboro]

Oregon really is beautiful. That 2020 trip was a Lewis & Clark excursion, but we'd never been to the big parks in Wyoming, so of course we had to see Grand Teton and Yellowstone. Wyoming was so amazing that I feared it would turn out to be the high point of our trip. But Oregon turned out to be every bit as amazing as Wyoming. It was also neat to see my younger son experience the Pacific for the first time. My older boy has made travel a high priority in his life, so he's seen tons of places. But my younger son, not so much. After Astoria, Fort Clatsop, and the L&C End of Trail monument at Seaside, we took the coastal highway south to Florence, then veered inland for Crater Lake. I loved Oregon.

[Andybev01]

I'm ashamed to say that although I was born and brought up here I've never visited Crater Lake.

Even more astounding? my new place is less than a 2 hour drive away.