Movie Monday With Fred!- Deep Rising (1998)

 

This Monday Fred recommends: Deep Rising (1998)

 

It's been a little while since we've had a creature-feature on here. And what better one to come back to the genre than this film here!

Hijackers board a luxury ocean liner, but discover that the entire passengers and crew have mysteriously vanished. What caused their disappearance? But, more importantly, can the hijackers make it off the ship alive?

Much like Broken Arrow (1996) last time, this is just a solid movie for a good time! It's not a hidden classic of the genre, but if you're looking for a fun flick, look no further. This is a movie that knows exactly what it is and knows exactly how much tongue-in-cheek it should be, while also taking itself just seriously enough to solidify the threat. 

And on that last point, this movie can be surprisingly gory in some spots. Nothing too gruesome, but just enough to earn itself that "R" rating. You have gooey dead bodies, an axe to the head and a quick scene of a guy having been partially digested! And the creature that does most of these things is great in terms of design, but unfortunately lacks in execution. They used CGI for the whole thing (as far as I'm aware) and...well, it didn't look great then and looks worse for wear now. Though, I suppose there's a charm to that; kind of like a homage to the 50s creature-features that came before. And no, I'm not going to spoil the creature here. Much like Tremors (1990), part of the fun is discovering that along with the characters! Though, I suppose the new cover art gives it away now, which is a shame. But since the original art (pictured above) tells you absolutely nothing about what the film is, I guess is why they changed it up.

The cast here is all pretty good as well! Treat Williams has a good unexpected every-man charm as the main hero, Finnegan. Kevin J. O'Connor adds a little more fun as Finnegan's right-hand man. Famke Janssen is good as a thief that managed to survive. And Wes Studi is always great to see and adds a little acting weight to the cast!

Behind the camera you have Stephen Sommers. And if you take nothing else away from this film, just view it as a template he would later use on The Mummy (1999)! It's all there: the likable characters, the menacing threat, the spotty CGI in some places (LOL!). 

Needless to say, if you enjoy Tremors (1990) or The Mummy (1999), you're going to have a good time here. 

Have you seen Deep Rising (1998)? Has it been awhile since you did? If you haven't, did you like it? Let me know in the comments below!

Until next time I hope everyone has a great day!

The Positives About The Star Wars Sequels

 

I, like many others, was not the biggest fan of these sequels. There were too many cooks in the kitchen and there wasn't anyone to make sure that it all stayed on course or make sure there was one cohesive story from beginning to end. Then, you had two directors that didn't like what the other had done before, so they set out to "correct" what was setup prior. Which is a shame because there were things that both brought to the table that would've been interesting if they had followed through with some of them.

Now, here comes the part where you click away from the article; I think The Last Jedi was the best of the sequels...

You still here? Good! Let me briefly explain. 

Don't miss understand me, I am fully aware, and acknowledge, that the movie has a lot of problems. Was it the right choice to to make Luke a grumpy hermit? No, probably not. Killing Snoke so quickly, after building him up? Again, probably not the best of choices. Though, I will agree with everyone unequivocally that there was no reason for Holdo to not let Poe know what the plan was; all it did was make the situation worse!

But the reason why I like it the best out of the three is simply because I hate being bashed over the head with nostalgia. A little is fine and fun, but The Force Awakens and The Rise of Skywalker did basically nothing except nostalgia bait the audience for over 2 hours. And for all its faults, I at least felt like The Last Jedi was trying something a little different. It doesn't all work, but of the three it's the only time I feel like I'm watching a somewhat new story in the Star Wars saga.

Now to get back on track with the point of this article. 

Despite the many, many flaws of the sequels I do believe there are some positives for this trilogy. And I just wanted to go through a few of them in no particular order.

Finn And Poe

We are introduced to these two in The Force Awakens and they were instantly a very likable duo! The chemistry between John Boyega and Oscar Isaac (respectively) was really engaging. I wanted more of it, but the movies decided to either split them up or not really get back to that dynamic again. Which is a shame as there was more they could've explored with Finn being a former Stormtrooper and Poe being a solider for The Resistance.

Kylo Killing Snoke And The Throne Room Fight

As I mentioned earlier, I don't know if it was the right decision to kill off Snoke that early with all that build up. But the way they did and the subsequent fallout from it was one of the highlights from The Last Jedi for me. I like that Kylo Ren wanted to usurp his master, fully embrace the Dark Side and take control of The First Order. Then the fight with Snoke's Elite Praetorian Guards was very cinematic (though some of the choreography is fairly clunky with some very accommodating stuntmen)! I love the red background as Rey and Kylo battle the guards, moving back and forth, and around each other; not only are they fighting to protect themselves but each other as well. Then as the throne room burns around them they both try to convince the other to join them in their cause.

Expanding The Force

This is one that I never really understood people's issue with. Why wouldn't people want an expansion of what The Force can do? I really enjoyed the concept of being able to see, touch, and pass things through The Force. Not only visually, but just lore wise as well. And I don't mind the Force Healing, I just think they could've handled it a little better.

The Kylo vs. Rey Fight On The Ruins Of The Death Star

Probably one of the best duels from this trilogy; I like the feel of this fight. It's the last one Kylo and Rey have against each other and it almost has the weight needed to stick the landing. But the trilogy's issues rear their ugly head again, because we never got some truly great character beats between these two. But I think the setting is great with them fighting on the half-sunken wreckage of the Death Star as the waves crash around them, threatening to wash them away. And I like that when Kylo senses that Leia died, and he gets injured, it started to ignite his change of mind about the path he was truly on.

Han Solo's Appearance In The Rise Of Skywalker

And following up with that last pint is this scene. Not only was it great to see Han Solo back one last time, but I love the ambiguous nature of his return. Was he a Force ghost? Or was he just Kylo's conscience taking the form of his father? Either way you want to look at it, I think it's one of the best moments from the trilogy. I like how it echoes their last moment together from The Force Awakens, but this time Kylo needs the extra push to turn him back to the Light Side. And I think both actors do a great job here!

Captain Phasma

This one hurts the most out of this list for me! Such a cool character and I was really excited to see what they'd do with her. But--going back to the problems with the movies--the creative team didn't do anything with her character after The Last Jedi. And they could've brought her back after she "died" in that film to have one final confrontation with Finn. Think how much cooler it would've been to see Captain Phasma and Finn fighting onto of one of those Star Destroyers in The Rise of Skywalker! Seeing those two having one last fight was one of the things I was really hoping to see from that movie, but was unfortunately let down in that aspect of it too. And they could've even designed her armor to have been repaired in a fun and menacing way.

As a side note, if you haven't read her stand alone comic, you should! It details what happened to her between The Force Awakens and The Last Jedi. And it's a pretty good read. You get to see more of her character and just how far she's willing to go to save her own skin! Definitely go check it out!

The Kylo vs. Rey Fight Through The Force

This just a visually exciting scene to watch! I love the concept and execution of it. I know if you were to show it from one of the perspectives of the other characters it'd look like Rey or Kylo Ren were just swinging wildly at thin air, but for us the audience it's a fun moment! And I like that it expands on some of the moments that came before it, like Kylo finding water droplets on his glove after he and Rey have their first connection through the Force. Or when he snatches the beaded necklace from her to learn her location. But it also helps set up the moment later when she passes the light saber to him. All in all I think it was a unique way to have a light saber battle without it feeling like all the other ones.

Kylo Ren

Okay, I lied a little earlier. I wanted to save this one for last!

Easily the best thing about the whole trilogy. Honestly, if he was the focus of the story the movies would be a little better for it. Adam Driver must have back problems from holding those films up. Which is funny to think about now, because at first I wasn't the biggest fan of his character in The Force Awakens. He seemed too whiny and threw temper tantrums at, what seemed to be, the drop of a hat!

But as the trilogy came to a close, he quickly became the most interesting character. I liked the idea of him basically being seduced back to the Light Side and fighting against it. And as mentioned earlier, him killing Snoke and taking over The First Order, and wanting Rey to join him was exciting. His moments with Han Solo were both very solid (though TFA got a little too heavy handed with the visual symbolism) and showcased his mindset and struggles at both ends of the trilogy. And those are just a few examples.

 It's a shame the movies turned out the way that they did, because if the had more connective tissue and weren't trying to undo what came before his character could've been something special.

 

And those are just a few of the things that I think the sequels did pretty well. I just wanted to take some time to highlight some of them as I feel it's too easy to tear these movies apart. And as I said earlier, I'm not the biggest fan, but these aren't the worst movies to ever exist either, they are just not as cohesive of a story--with some questionable choices-- as they should be. But under the right circumstances they can still be fun as long as your expectation are tempered.

But what do you think? Are these some of the positive things for you from the sequel trilogy? Do you have any others to add? Or do you think there are absolutely no redeeming aspects to these film? Let me know in the comments below!

My Top 5 Favorite Westerns

What happened to this once great, and prevalent, genre of movies? Between the 1950s to 1980s the Western genre was very abundant; though they were starting to lose their appeal by the 80s. After that time, they all but dried up and blew away with the cliched tumbleweed never to have been really seen again. There were a couple in the early to mid-90s, then again in the early 2000s and 2010s, but they've never stayed around for longer than one or two fleeting movies at a time. 

Now, you can argue that they genre just evolved to be included in, and melded with, others; such as SciFi (i.e. Firefly), Horror (i.e. Bone Tomahawk), Comic Book (i.e. Logan or Jonah Hex) or Modern Day (i.e. Justified). But a standard western needs to make a return, and soon. And I'm talking good guy vs. bad guys (or at least morally grey characters fighting each other), saloons, shootouts, quick-draw duels on main street at the stroke of high noon, large sweeping vistas and little to no CGI, and characters riding off into the sunset! Whether it's throwback to the romanticized cowboy or a revisionist take on an old, retired gunslinger; these are stories that could use a resurgence! And if for no other reason than for Hollywood to produce something other than mostly Comic Book adaptations (don't get me wrong, I enjoy Batman and Spider-Man movies, but a variety would be nice)!    

And with all that out of the way, here are some of my favorite Westerns of all time!

 

 

5. Django Unchained (2012)

This is the newest movie on this list, but that doesn't make it any less of a modern classic of the genre!

Bounty-hunter Dr. King Schultz frees Django--a slave--and enlists him into his profession to track down wanted men. But soon after Django needs his help to find his wife that was sold to a ruthless plantation owner.

If you've ever wanted to see Quentin Tarantino tackle the western genre, this is it! A highly stylized revenge flick with all the Tarantino dialogue you can handle! And while the story is rather simple (like many stories of the genre) it's his characters, dialogue and style that help this one stand out!

And this film is chock-full of great actors! Christoph Waltz is a treat as Schultz, employer and mentor to Django; Jaime Foxx gives the right amount of style and determination to Django; and Leonardo DiCaprio is mesmerizing as the sadistic Calvin Candie! And that's not to forget the rest of the cast comprised of Samuel L. Jackson, Walton Goggins, James Remar, Jonah Hill, Don Johnson and many more!

And what more is there to say here? If a Tarantino directed western is something you've been looking for, then it's there waiting for you to enjoy! Then go check out The Hateful Eight as well! 

4. High Plains Drifter (1973)

Looking for something that might have a slight supernatural bent? Then look no further than High Plains Drifter!

When a gun-slinging stranger rides into the town of Lago the townspeople quickly plead for his aid to protect them from returning outlaws. But little do they realize the stranger not only has a high cost for his services, but also have his own motives for being in the town.

Clint Eastwood decided to continue his Man With No Name persona (though this is not related) that he had been widely known for, and made this as his first western he directed. And what a film it is too! There's something to be said about a movie whose protagonist could be just as dangerous as the men he's supposed to be defending the town from. And I think that's why it's one of my favorite westerns. Watching the stranger wreak his own havoc on the town as his motives become more clear throughout the runtime is one of the best aspects of the film. It gives the story an extra sense on danger and dread until its ambiguous final shot.

Performances are good all around as well! Clint Eastwood, as The Stranger, had all but perfected this type of role by this point, and is just as good here. But I think one of the standouts is Billy Curtis, as Mordecai, one of the few townsfolk that are decent and try to do the right thing.

Go check this one out as soon as possible! If you like The Man With No Name Trilogy, you'll like this one as a spiritual successor!  

3. Deadwood Series/Movie (2004-2006/2019)

It might be a slight cheat to have both the show and the movie in this spot. But the movie concludes the story that the show started, so I'll allow it. Plus it's my list and there's nothing you can do to stop me!

Set in Deadwood, South Dakota during late 1800s in a rough mining camp. The show follows the lives of Al Swearengen, the local brothel and saloon owner; Seth Bullock, a former lawman trying to start a new life; and Wild Bill Hickok--along with many others. Their lives begin to intertwine as more and more outside disturbances--such as a new saloon owner, a wealthy tycoon and the U.S. Government--begin to move into the camp.

And that's about the best, and shortest, description of the show I can get across as it's a show packed with side-characters and subplots for it's 3 season (and movie) run. And that's the best thing about this show, it's so rich with a diverse cast of characters that you get a pretty good sense of pretty much everyone's wants and motivations throughout it runtime. Now, there are standouts, of course; Al Swearengen, played by Ian McShane, is hands down the best (and most prominent) character as you watch him do everything he can to scheme to keep control of what power his has on the camp. Then you have Seth Bullock, played by Timothy Olyphant, a retired lawman just wanting to start a new life by opening a hardware shop to sell goods to would-be miners hoping to strike gold, but as time goes by he once again has to put on the badge.

And make no mistake, while there are some villainous characters here, the good ones are just as likely to do something questionable as well. Every one of these characters tend to do things that will suit their own interests, and they tend to help others if it will benefit them in some way. That's not to say they're all cutthroats or anything, they just feel like they make more human choices in the end.  

So, if you're looking for a different type of western, look no further than Deadwood!

2. Tombstone (1993)

What a fun, almost perfect, movie this is! If you know someone who's never seen a western before, this is the best one you could possibly show them!

Wyatt Earp and his brothers, Morgan and Virgil, arrive in the town of Tombstone looking to make their fortune and become reacquainted with an old friend, Doc Holiday. But soon after they are thrust into the roles of lawmen, when a group of outlaws calling themselves, The Cowboys, begin to terrorize the town, leading to the historic shoot-out at the O.K. Corral.

Easily the most re-watchable film on this list! And for good reason! The cast here are all excellent, bringing the right performance to all their characters. Sam Elliot and Bill Paxton, as Virgil and Morgan respectively, while not having a ton of screen time, make their presence felt both on and off screen. Powers Boothe looks like he's having a ball playing the villainous leader of The Cowboys and Michael Biehn stands out as his right hand man.

And, of course, there's Val Kilmer as Doc Holiday. And what else is there to say that hasn't already been said about this performance? The movie becomes even more electric every time he is on screen and any actor that plays Doc Holiday will forever be in the shadow of that legendary performance!

Wondering where Kurt Russell is for my praise of this film? I wanted to give him his own solo spot. I feel when people talk about this movie they always bring up Doc Holiday first, and for good reason. But it always feels like Kurt Russell's turn as Wyatt Earp gets almost pushed back to a secondary character, like Virgil and Morgan, when he is quite literally the glue that holds this film together. Not only did he bring the right type of stoicism to the role, but rumors have it (and Val Kilmer later confirmed it) that he stepped in behind the camera to ensure the film stayed on track and they got the shots they needed; basically doing some ghost directing. And I think that's worthy of some praise!

So, if you, or someone you know, are looking for an all-around great western, look no further than Tombstone!

1. Unforgiven (1992)

God. Damn. For me, this is the best western ever made. While the others helped solidify my growing interest and appreciation for the genre, this one got me through the door! Before I was introduced to this masterpiece (not a word I throw around a lot, mind you) I never really cared much for western movies. I always saw them as the typical "good guys in white hats fighting bad guys in black hats" or more like "John Wayne" type of westerns. The characters never seemed particularly interesting to me as most of them were good guys out to win the day. And before you ask, I wasn't introduced, or cared about, the Spaghetti Westerns that came out before. It wasn't until my dad bought this movie on DVD and suggested I might like it as it wasn't what I considered a typical western; and he was absolutely right!

Unforgiven follows William Munny(Clint Eastwood), a retired gunslinger, as he and his old friend Ned Logan (Morgan Freeman) take on one last job to help a young bounty hunter known as "The Schofield Kid"(Jaimz Woolvett).

And while that doesn't sound like much of a story--or at least a worn out one--it's how it's told that keeps you engaged until the end.

This is a dark film, filled with characters with dark pasts. It's a very grounded film giving off a more authentic feel to how the west might have been in some ways. This is not a good guys vs bad guys film; these are morally bankrupt people trying to make a living or maybe just trying to redeem their past sins.

This movie is downright perfection for me. Everything from the performances--I dare you to take your eyes from the screen whenever the characters are present; to the cinematography with its gorgeous color pallet and wide expansive shots. Even the editing is exactly how it needs to be, allowing the characters time to breathe; for you to get to know them and in turn allow them to grow. Make no mistake, this is not a fast paced, action packed movie, its a slower character driven piece. But when the violence does start it has the the right amount of weight to it that this story should.

Let's backtrack to those performances for a moment. Clint Eastwood gives one of, if not the, best performance of his career as William Munny; bringing us a world-weary man who never really reconciled with his past, thrust back into it once more. Morgan Freeman brings the smallest of levity as William's friend and old partner. Gene Hackman is great as the antagonist, giving the right amount of menace, but also humanity. And Richard Harris has a memorable role as an aged gunfighter, who may not be as true to that persona as he lets on; tying him into one of the revisionist themes here.

God, I miss movies like this!

And I could continue to gush about this film all day if I could, but I think I'll leave it at where it is. I cannot recommend this movie enough. If you like westerns, or just slower character driven movies, you can do any better than Unforgiven! 

And that's my list! Let me know what you think in the comments! And what are some of your favorite western?

 

And before we go, here a few quick bonus recommendations!

Open Range (2003)

Kevin Costner stars as a former gunslinger forced to take up arms when a corrupt lawman threatens him and his cattle crew.

The Hateful Eight (2015)

A bounty-hunter and his prisoner take refuge from a winter storm in a cabin full of other shady characters!

The Quick and the Dead (1995)

A woman enters a dueling contest to seek justice for her father's death.

3:10 to Yuma (2007)

A rancher agrees to watch over an captured outlaw before being put on a train to Yuma for his trial.

The Shootist (1976)

 A terminally-ill gunfighter looks for a way out on his own terms while still holding on to his dignity.

True Grit (2010)

A farm girl hires a tough U. S. Marshall to track down the man who killed her father.

Blazing Saddles (1974)

 

In this western spoof, a corrupt politician hires a black sheriff to try to ruin the town. But he soon finds out the sheriff is a formidable adversary to his plot!

Movie Monday With Fred!- Broken Arrow (1996)

 

 

This Monday Fred recommends: Broken Arrow (1996)

 

Does anyone remember this movie? I feel like this one that gets lost in the discussion of decent action flicks from the 90s.

A rogue U. S. pilot steals two nuclear missiles and threatens the country. Now his former co-pilot, with the help of a local park ranger, are the only ones that can stop him. 

This really is a solid little action movie. It's nothing too flashy, but it is a fun way to spend a couple of hours. And sometimes that's all you need. Not every action movie has to be a classic or defining film of the genre, sometimes its nice to just watch a movie that knows exactly what it is. And all it wants to do is entertain you. 

 

 And entertain it does. You have many different shootouts in different locations, like a mine and train, along with a few hand-to-hand fights. And you have a little cat-and-mouse moments as our protagonists try to survive groups of armed men, while our villain puts his plan into action. Unfortunately, one of the major problems with a movie like this is that it's simple and not much to it. And to keep it an unspoiled experience for first time there's not much to really talk about without getting into the details of the set-pieces, and I don't like spoiling that anymore than actual plot details.

 

The cast here are all pretty good. Christian Slater, as Riley, does a good job as the betrayed co-pilot, and friend, trying to stop the nefarious plans from taking hold. Samantha Mathis, as Terry, is a pretty good side-kick to Riley as she is given a bit to do and isn't too much of a damsel in distress. But, it's John Travolta, as Deakins, that is the absolute standout! He chews every bit of scenery he's in. It might be a little over-the-top, but it is fun to watch him as he looks like he's having a blast playing the villain. Something he'd lean into a a little more the following year with Face/Off (1997).

 

Behind the camera you have the legendary John Woo directing here! This is his second American film, and while his harder edges from his more violent Hong Kong films have been a little sanded down, his still delivers some really well directed action scenes! Not as balletic as something like Hard Boiled (1992) or The Killer (1989), but a slightly more grounded take on the gunfights he's known for.

Overall, I think this is a movie that is worth at least one viewing. Just a good competent action movie that will surely entertain you until the very end! Besides, you know that twangy guitar musical cue they used for Dewey's theme in Scream 2 (1997)? Well, they lifted it from this film! The first time I heard it in Scream 2 I was like, "I know this song!".

Have you seen Broken Arrow (1996)? Let me know in the comments below!

We'll be back soon with another recommendation! So, don't forget to give me a follow to stay up to date! Until then, I hope everyone has a great day!

Movie Monday with Fred!-Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

 

This Monday Fred recommends: Die Hard with a Vengeance (1995)

I had sat down the other day for the annual Christmas viewing of Die Hard. And while I think it's one of the greatest actions movies ever made, it got me thinking about the rest of the franchise. And I think it's save to say that the first one is the best, and the fifth one is by far the worst, there's those middle three movies that tend to shift and movie for everyone on how good they are. 

Die Hard 2 (1990) while fun feels a little cartoony to me at times; nothing crazy, but the one-liners and quips are a little more goofy. But overall it's a fun movie, it just has a little too much repetition from the first movie for its own good. 

Then there's Live Free or Die Hard (2007) that could have an argument made for being possibly underrated. I think it's a really fun movie (and maybe I might do a post about at some point). but there are some things that hold it back. Firstly, it being PG-13 was a massive mistake. This franchise should always be R rated, and while they released that version on DVD, it's theatrical release was the watered down version. Secondly, while the action set pieces are a lot of fun, they do tend to be a little over the top and outlandish. And the third thing is the villain isn't the most memorable; though I remember them more that the ones from A Good Day to Die Hard (2013).

But between those films is Die Hard With a Vengeance, and I maybe crazy here, but it feels like this movie isn't as highly regarded as I feel like it should be. At least it doesn't get as talked about as much.

After a bomb is set off in New York, the terrorist makes a demand; to play a game of "Simon Says" with John McClane (Bruce Willis). Pulled from his suspension, while hung over, he must team up with a local store own, Zeus (Samuel L. Jackson), to play the deadly game Simon (Jeremy Irons) has laid out for them. If they fail, he will detonate more bombs around the city.

I gotta say, this has to up there with one of my favorite action movies. The pacing hits the ground running and never lets up until the credits are rolling! Though, unfortunately, that comes at a slight cost; the character development. Where the first film had a better balance of action scenes and good character beats for most of its major players, this one is a little more focused on the action.

But that action is some of the very best in the series. Frantic car chases through crowded New York streets, a brutal (and bloody) shootout in a closed elevator and a bomb on a subway train are just some of the highlights for me. 

On top of that, I enjoy the riddles McClane and Zeus have to work together in order to solve along the way. They may not be deep head-scratchers, but I like when movies give out riddles you can try and solve along with the characters. Though, I must admit, the water jug puzzle still loses me every time I see it. Good thing, I'm not the one that had to solve it!

The cast here are all good! Bruce Willis brings McClane back to that every-man vision (with every-man problems) we watched at the start of the first movie. And that's what the other sequels seemed to forget about the character: he's not supposed to be an over-the-top action hero; he's just supposed to be a normal guy caught in an extraordinary situation.

Samuel L. Jackson is good as Zeus, the reluctant store owner forced to team up with McClane. He just doesn't have a lot going on beyond that. Again, the pacing doesn't allow enough time for some of the characters to grow. But he still gets quite a few memorable scenes with Willis, and they play off each other well enough, that you kind of overlook that fault.

And Jeremy Irons as Simon has a menacing presence over the film from the start, and he doesn't show up physically until around an hour in! He is, by far, my second favorite franchise villain after Hans Gruber. Which is fitting given the connection those two characters have. 

Then behind the camera you have John McTiernan returning to direct this sequel. And once again proves that when he is on his game, he can direct the hell out of a movie. He is responsible for some of the best action movies of the 80s and 90s. Every thing from Predator (1987) to Die Hard (1988) in the 80s. And then The Hunt for Red October(1990), Die Hard With a Vengeance(1995) and Last Action Hero(1993) (that is a very underrated movie and I will die on that hill!) and The 13th Warrior (1999) in the 90s. 

 

Simon Says, go give this movie another chance if you haven't seen it in a while. And let me know in the comments what you thought of Die Hard With a Vengeance (1995)!

And we'll be back next time with another Movie Monday with Fred! Until then I hope everyone is having a great day!

My Top 5 Christmas Movies/Specials! And 5 Bonus Ones Too!

Christmas frequently switches places with Halloween for me  which is my favorite holiday. And while the latter objectively has the better movies to watch, the former offers up a nice selection as well!  

Every year these are the movies I most look forward to. I enjoy many Christmas movies/specials, but these stand out among the rest.

So, light up that Christmas tree, get cozy in front of a nice fire and check out these holiday films!

5. Jingle All the Way (1996)

What is a father supposed to do when the toy he forgot to get his son has been bought up at every store in town? Well, if you're Arnold Schwarzenegger, then shenanigans ensue! 

I've always enjoyed this movie since the first time I saw it as a kid. Yeah, it's a little corny in places and any of the "drama" here doesn't really ring true (not to mention it's short lived), but that's okay. It's just supposed to be a fun flick for the family to watch for the holidays. Most of the cast is great in this: Arnold Schwarzenegger, as Howard gets quite a few laughs from just some of his line deliveries alone; the late great Phil Hartman shows up as Howard's goody-goody nosy neighbor Ted and has a couple of memorable moments; but I think it's Sinbad, as Myron, that is the standout. He chews through all his scenes as an over-the-top deranged mailman with the same goal as Howard.

It's a cheesy, but ultimately charming flick for the family.

4. Home Alone (1990)

What is there to same about this one? It's a Christmas classic through and through. 

Kevin McCallister gets left behind as his family travels for Christmas, leaving him home alone while two burglars, known as The Wet Bandits, attempt to break in.

What's not to like about this one. Everything works here, even the slightly implausible concept that a kid would get let behind before his family realizes it as they're traveling to Paris. But everything from the slapstick, to the most of the jokes and even the quieter character moments, sticks their respective landings. Macauly Culkin plays Kevin and he definitely gives a good performance, but it's Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern as Harry and Marv, respectively, that steal the show (we got puns here, people). These two characters are one of the biggest reasons to stay for this film. It is always a fun time watching them try and run the gauntlet of a trapped McCallister house, but the verbal barbs they tend to trade to, not only to Kevin, but between themselves. If you added a third person to their group it would've been the 90's equivalent of The Three Stooges.

And I still wish for a real version of "Angels With Filthy Souls" to exist!

3. A Christmas Carol (1984)

I won't take a long time on this one as everyone knows the story of Ebenezer Scrooge being visited by three spirits on Christmas Eve. But this is hands down my favorite version of the story.

And a lot of that boils down to the cast. George C. Scott plays Scrooge here and gives the character an extra sense of authenticity and authority, along with and extra sense of callousness. Though, he has a reply early on that gets a laugh and satisfies the introvert in me. Then there's David Warner as Bob

2. A Christmas Story (1983)

Despite this movie being heavily merchandised now, I still love it! You all know this simple story of a boy who wants nothing more than a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. 

But, I think for me, it's a movie that works best with all the pieces moving. Ralphie waiting for the day his decoder ring comes in, him and his friends trying to evade the local bully, The Old Man's excitement for winning his Major Award, triple dog dares and an unfortunate visit to Santa. Not to mention Ralphie's, not so, subtle attempts to let his parents know the one gift he wants for Christmas. 

And a special mention has to go out to Darren McGavin as The Old Man. He is easily the best character of the whole show! His nonsensical rants and swearing will always be enjoyable to watch!

1. Christmas Vacation (1989)

This is it. This is my absolute favorite Christmas movie of all time and probably will be until the day I die!

Clark Griswold just wants to have a big old fashioned family Christmas, but one thing after another starts turning it into a disaster.

I wait with excited anticipation every December for the day to come so I can watch this. Usually it ends up being in a double-feature with A Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve (and in that order as well!). And every year, for many years now, this movie never fails to make me laugh at all the same jokes that I know are coming. The pratfalls are all solid, along with the witty dialogue. The cast, from Chevy Chase as Clark to Mae Questel as Aunt Bethany, all have some pretty good standout moments!

For me, this is my Christmas comfort movie! Even if I'm having a slightly Blue Christmas season, this movie always picks me right up for the finale. And it's one I can't recommend enough for everyone to experience just once for the holiday! 

 

And now for some recommendation! This are all great and are in no particular order!

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)

I think it's safe to say this classic is in everyone's rotation at least once every year!

Home alone 2 (1992)

It might do a lot of the same things as the first, but it is still a fun followup! Plus, Tim Curry and "Angels with Even Filthier Souls"!

Die Hard (1988)

Want something a little more bloody and action packed for Christmas? This is the one for you! Plus, Alan Rickman is always fun to watch as Hans Gruber!

Batman Returns (1992)

Bet this one didn't come to mind before! Not only is it set during the Christmas season, but there's a tree lighting ceremony and mistletoe plays a part here!

Elf (2003)

Just a fun family movie! Just easy watching for the season with a few good laughs! And I'd be a Cotton-Headed Ninnymuggins if I didn't give this one a mention!

Gremlins (1984)

Gotta have at least one Christmas Creature-Feature! And none are as fun as this classic!

And those are my picks! I hope everyone is having a great Christmas season! And I hope you check some of these films/specials out! Let me know in the comments!

Movie Monday with Fred!-Krampus (2015)

 It's been a while since one of these has been posted and what better way to restart the series than by having it in its new home.

This Monday Fred recommends: Krampus (2015)

 

Let's start off the Christmas season with a movie that has quickly earned a spot in my yearly holiday movie rotation.

 

A boy accidentally summons an evil Yuletide presence that begins terrorizing his family just before Christmas.

 

I must admit, the first time I watched this I was expecting more than what I got. Being the follow-up to Michael Dougherty's Trick 'r Treat (2007), a movie that I instantly loved, I think I was expecting to have the same reaction. But that wasn't the case. It actually took me an extra viewing, and it being really cheap at one of my local shops, before I truly came around on it. It's still got it's problems, but there is quite a lot to like here! 

There's a lot of striking visuals peppered throughout this film; particularly a scene towards the end looking like a hellish Pagan ritual that looks like its just getting ramped up! And the creature designs range from great to, maybe, a little goofy (in a good way!). Krampus can be pretty imposing (when he actually shows up), but I'm still not a fan of the choice to cover his face with a mask; it's a little odd and it took me a moment to realize that's what it was while I was watching it. But his minions are all fun and menacing in their own ways as well; an evil angel tree-topper, gnarly teddy bear, a jack-in-the-box that has an extra surprise and gingerbread men (yup, you read that right).

The cast here are all pretty good for what is asked of them. Toni Collete (Hereditary and The Sixth Sense) has some stand out moments and Adam Scott’s (Step-Brothers and many other things) reaction to a sudden realization early in the film gets me every time. David Koechner (Anchor Man, The Office and many other things), Allison Tolman (why Women Kill and The Gift) and Conchata Ferrell (Edward ScissorHands and Two & a Half Men) do well as the obnoxious relatives that come to visit on the fateful night!

As previously mentioned, Michael Dougherty is the director here; he went on to not only write, but direct Godzilla: King of the Monsters and wrote the story for Godzilla vs. King Kong. And while Krampus isn’t as tightly written as his previous film he still brings enough of the holiday aesthetic with this as he did with Trick ‘r Treat. And here’s to hoping the proposed sequel to that film can capture the same magic—or at the very least, a different type of magic!

So, if you haven’t seen Krampus (2015) I highly recommend mend it! And if you have, maybe give it another shot if you didn’t care for. And what better way to do so than on December 5th, otherwise known as krampusnacht!

Tell me in the comments what you thought of Krampus (2015)! And we’ll be back next time for another Movie Monday with Fred!