I usually start sneaking Home Alone before Thanksgiving. Not this year. One thing led to the next and I haven't watched Home Alone (my favorite) at all. Nor have I watched any other Christmas Movies all the way through. Turn them on. Turn them off. Don't feel like it. Ugh. Thank you Covid we hate you. Anyway...I just got done watching one that was new to me.
Put on Netflix and the first one that came up was starring Kurt Russell. Ugh. Why Kurt Russell? Ugh. What's so great about Kurt Russell? I can't think of even one thing. But I put it on because I was wrapping gifts for a special day tomorrow. I was so far behind this year. I needed a little inspiration.
WOW I LOVED IT!!! And...Kurt Russell was awesome in it!
I enjoyed Christmas Chronicles too -- both the original and its sequel, though I haven't watched them yet this year. I recommend Falling for Christmas. It's about a spoiled, rich young woman whose father owns a popular, major ski resort in Colorado, who after an amnesia inducing cross-country skiing accident is discovered and rescued by a widowed and struggling ski lodge owner and his adorable little daughter, who nurse her back to health and care for her until she eventually recovers her memory. After that, it becomes somewhat predictable, but I enjoyed the story, and it had a lot of likeable characters (including the woman's father) and some touching moments and reconciliations.
No precept or claim is more suspect or more likely to be false than one that can only be supported by invoking the claim of Divine authority for it--no matter who or what claims such authority.
The new Guardians of the Galaxy Holiday Special was kind of fun. It made me laugh a few times.
It occurred to me this year that my Christmas spirit comes from holiday specials, Christmas commercials and decorations. I suppose the Christmas themed graphics in football games also helps.
Religion is for people whose existential fear is greater than their common sense.
On your recommendation I watched that movie and enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation. Yet another movie my family enjoys almost every year is Amahl and the Night Visitors, an opera by Gian Carlo Menotti. Even if you may not be an opera fan, you might very well enjoy watching it. It tells the beautiful and touching story of a poor crippled boy and his mother who were visited by the Magi on their journey to find and worship the newborn Christ child, and the miracle resulting from that visit.
It was commissioned by NBC and first performed by the NBC Opera Theatre on December 24, 1951, in New York City at NBC Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center, where it was broadcast live on television from that venue as the debut production of the Hallmark Hall of Fame. It was the first opera specifically composed for television in the United States.
It was broadcast annually for some years after that first performance around Christmas time. Here is a more recent version I discovered just today that I particularly enjoyed.
No precept or claim is more suspect or more likely to be false than one that can only be supported by invoking the claim of Divine authority for it--no matter who or what claims such authority.
Put on Netflix and the first one that came up was starring Kurt Russell. Ugh. Why Kurt Russell? Ugh. What's so great about Kurt Russell? I can't think of even one thing.
I would think a Jersey girl would like a guy that once starred in a movie where New York was an apocalyptic wasteland. Then again, I've never left the Western US and my understanding of the NYC/Jersey rivalry might be outdated or just plain ignorant.
That being said I don't like most Christmas movies. Never have, I find them too saccharine. I loved Dr. Seuss as a child. I learned to read by memorizing his books as my mother read them aloud and deciphering the text later on my own. Still respect him as an adult, so the original cartoon Grinch is one I love. A Nightmare Before Christmas is also a favorite. Then there's Die Hard. I don't mean that ironically. I'm tired of the argument that a movie that takes place at a Christmas party with Christmas movie tropes and Christmas related one liners isn't a Christmas movie. I will die on that hill.
Anyways, the only Christmas movie I watched this year was Violent Night. I found it mildly amusing.
On your recommendation I watched that movie and enjoyed it. Thanks for the recommendation.
It really is mostly fluff or what I imagine a Hallmark movie to be, but I liked it because it was situated in Scotland and I didn't have to think about the plot. I think there's a place for that kind of film. I'm glad you enjoyed it!
Yet another movie my family enjoys almost every year is Amahl and the Night Visitors, an opera by Gian Carlo Menotti. Even if you may not be an opera fan, you might very well enjoy watching it. It tells the beautiful and touching story of a poor crippled boy and his mother who were visited by the Magi on their journey to find and worship the newborn Christ child, and the miracle resulting from that visit.
I saw Amahl and the Night Visitors when I was in school, Gunnar. I think it was a live performance but don't hold me to it.
It was commissioned by NBC and first performed by the NBC Opera Theatre on December 24, 1951, in New York City at NBC Studio 8H in Rockefeller Center, where it was broadcast live on television from that venue as the debut production of the Hallmark Hall of Fame. It was the first opera specifically composed for television in the United States.
Interesting!
It was broadcast annually for some years after that first performance around Christmas time. Here is a more recent version I discovered just today that I particularly enjoyed.
I wonder how many years it was broadcast? I might have seen that and not the live performance that I think I did. Who knows? I'll watch the one you linked! Thank you!
LIGHT HAS A NAME
We only get stronger when we are lifting something that is heavier than what we are used to. ~ KF
Put on Netflix and the first one that came up was starring Kurt Russell. Ugh. Why Kurt Russell? Ugh. What's so great about Kurt Russell? I can't think of even one thing.
I would think a Jersey girl would like a guy that once starred in a movie where New York was an apocalyptic wasteland. Then again, I've never left the Western US and my understanding of the NYC/Jersey rivalry might be outdated or just plain ignorant.
I have no idea what that is. This Jersey Girl hasn't lived in actual Jersey for decades so I don't know about the status of the rivalry. I do still visit when I can. I'd kill to be in Manhattan right now.
That being said I don't like most Christmas movies. Never have, I find them too saccharine. I loved Dr. Seuss as a child. I learned to read by memorizing his books as my mother read them aloud and deciphering the text later on my own. Still respect him as an adult, so the original cartoon Grinch is one I love. A Nightmare Before Christmas is also a favorite. Then there's Die Hard. I don't mean that ironically. I'm tired of the argument that a movie that takes place at a Christmas party with Christmas movie tropes and Christmas related one liners isn't a Christmas movie. I will die on that hill.
I know about the Die Hard controversy! I own Nightmare but as I said in the OP I haven't been in the mood for C'mas movies this year. I can't think of any other year that I felt like this. I own the Jim Carey Grinch. I'm well familiar with the original though. You like Seuss, eh? If you have a young child in your life there's a book that you likely never heard of. It's about emotions. It's unlike any of the traditional Seuss books. Love it.
Anyways, the only Christmas movie I watched this year was Violent Night. I found it mildly amusing.
Never heard of it! My favorite is Home Alone. Still haven't watched it yet.
LIGHT HAS A NAME
We only get stronger when we are lifting something that is heavier than what we are used to. ~ KF
I wonder how many years it was broadcast? I might have seen that and not the live performance that I think I did. Who knows? I'll watch the one you linked! Thank you!
The video quality of that recording leaves much to be desired, but it was otherwise an excellent performance and drew great acclaim. The only live performance I ever saw of that opera was our local high school's presentation almost six decades ago in which my dear sister played the part of Amahl's mother in her junior year of high school. To this day, I have never heard anyone perform the part better than she did! The audience was so astounded by her performance that the high school was accused by some of having cheated by hiring a professional opera singer to play the part instead of using a local high school student! She repeated the performance during her senior year, when I was away from home, so I didn't see that one. The following summer she won an all-Northern California talent contest after which she was awarded a full scholarship to study voice at San Jose State University. Because of that, this opera has an extra special affinity for me, in addition to the musical excellence of the opera itself.
I will never tire of it. The intensely moving scene in which Amahl's mother sings about her love and concern for her crippled son never fails to bring tears to my eyes! I found myself tearing up just now while merely writing about it!
No precept or claim is more suspect or more likely to be false than one that can only be supported by invoking the claim of Divine authority for it--no matter who or what claims such authority.
I needed a little inspiration. 
I think it was a live performance but don't hold me to it.
I own Nightmare but as I said in the OP I haven't been in the mood for C'mas movies this year. I can't think of any other year that I felt like this. I own the Jim Carey Grinch. I'm well familiar with the original though. You like Seuss, eh? If you have a young child in your life there's a book that you likely never heard of. It's about emotions. It's unlike any of the traditional Seuss books. Love it. 
