The Nativity Story

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Nativity Story!

Original image located here. Accessed 19th December 2025

Here's a curve ball for you all: The tackling of a religious-themed film.
I have been wanting to see this for quite some time but I've always held it off - this is because I have been on the internet long enough to know that talking about religion is asking for trouble. 
But seeing as it's that time of the year.....

To adapt a story from the Bible is similar to adapting Shakespeare: The material has been done countless times before so the challenge lies in finding a new angle. So what does this movie do?
What I find interesting is that the director is one Catherine Hardwick: Future director of the first Twilight movie. And while her interest in desaturated colours is present here and her approach may be heavy-handed (A choral version of Silent Night playing at the end? Seriously?), there are some striking visuals at play here. I also admire the realistic approach this movie takes. I am also impressed to see a pre-fame Oscar Isaacs giving a compelling performance as Joseph. And the sci-fi nerd in me finds it amusing to see Alexander Siddig playing the Angel Gabriel. 

But what really makes this movie works is that it tells the story of a couple going on a journey and facing various trials and tribulations before before and during. And that's where the movie really shines, being gripping and finding a strength in both it's simplicity and sensitivity. 

So may I conclude this post by wishing you all a Merry Christmas. 

Scrooged

   And this week's Friday night movie has been... Scrooged!

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd December 2023

I have spoken previously of my admiration of A Christmas Carol and how the source material is strong enough that it can adapted so many times and still work. So it was only a matter of time before I came across this.
On paper this sounds like it has potential: Bill Murray playing the Scrooge role? And it's updated with Scrooge playing a TV bigshot? And it utilises an adaptation of the original text as a framing device? Sounds like something that could work. So does it?

Watching Scrooged, I can't shake the feeling that it was looking over Ghostbusters' shoulder, with the presence of Murray, the use of horror & fantasy and ingenious special effects. Also it is difficult to ascertain the mood the movie is going for, with it starting being critical of Christmas sentimentality before giving up by the end and embracing it.
But in the end, this movie works because of Murray - proving that he is his best when he gets to play complete jerks. The afore-mentioned framing device works, and I will admit that I enjoyed the speech at the end.

You know, when I was a kid, I saw the music video to Put a Little Love in Your Heart on rage and wondered what movie it was selling. Now I know. 

Incidentally, would anyone else want to watch The Night the Reindeer Died?

Anywho, hope you all have a Merry Christmas. 

The Holiday

And this week's Friday Night movie has been... The Holiday!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th February 2023

This movie came to me as something of a challenge. Because one thing that attracted me was the knowledge that it was a rom com with Jack Black in a key role. Nothing special about that you might think but the writer/director, Nancy Meyers, said the role she gave Jack was one especially written for him. Personally I feel that Jack Black can only play one character so to see him try something different is certainly welcome.

So what we have here is a Christmas movie (two months late I know but stay with me here) where a British woman (Kate Winslet) and an American woman (Cameron Diaz) switch houses and the adventures they have in the other country.
So yeah, I liked this one. Some say the rom-com may be cheesy and archaic but there still much to admire in this movie. Winslet is fun to watch, Black certainly stretches out to try something new and Diaz does this shtick with ease. There's some great laughs and these characters are treated with an empathetic eye. Sure it may be predictable but I will certainly welcome any rom-com that takes it's subjects seriously and doesn't really on gross-out humour and embarrassing situations - must be that feminine touch at play here.
You know, on the DVD case, there's the a critic quote that says that this is better than Love Actually. And I will not contest it.

The Muppet Christmas Carol

And this week's Friday night movie has been... The Muppet Christmas Carol!

Original image located here. Accessed 23th December 2022

Yeah I've already seen this one but it still ranks as my favourite interpretation of Charles Dickens' tale. That may sound absurd but I stand by it because:
a) Muppets are awesome
b) it retains Dickens' prose via Gonzo (as crazy as that sentence reads)
c) Michael Caine gives his all and is magnificent, proving that his insistence on doing it seriously paid off incredibly
d) It actually shows Scrooge learning from what the Spirits showed him
e) It has the scariest Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come

So yeah, I may have seen this before (multiple times in fact) but it never gets old and it has never been ravaged by the passage of time, 

Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Miracle on 34th Street (1994)!

Original image located here. Accessed 16th December 2022

Back in 2019, I saw the 1947 original. So why not watch the update?
I suppose it will be inevitable that comparisons will be made between the two. But I am willing to give this film a chance and allow it to stand up on it's own two feet.

That being said, one change made is the sub-plot the makers added with Bryan and Dorey. And in all honesty it didn't do that much for me. But what DID work for me is Richard Attenborough's performance as Kris Kringle. The man owns every scene he is in and gives the role plenty of gravitas. Indeed, you could make the argument that he is exactly how one expects Santa Claus to act.
I will also admit that, compared to the original, the winning argument is handled more successfully. So one-up to the remake.
So yeah, not a bad movie

It's a Wonderful Life

And this week's Friday night movie has been... It's a Wonderful Life!

Original image located here. Accessed 24th December 2021

Okay so I'm cheating as I have already seen this movie.
And it may be easy to bag this movie as being flogged to death at Christmas time, being replicated many times since (what if...?) and being required viewing for people struggling with self-worth.

But you know what? Both such observations and the passage of time has done little to diminish the power of this movie. Indeed, if this film has been revisited many times over the years, over many a Christmas, it is for a very good reason.
And yes, i will admit it did indeed leave a personal resonance
I mean how can you not with that final scene?!

A Christmas Story

And this week's Friday night movie has been.... A Christmas Story!

Original image located here. Accessed 20th December 2019

Apparently this is a beloved Christmas movie. And yet somehow, it;s one that has gone unseen by me. Maybe I was too busy watching Die Hard Joyeux Noel to notice? No matter, looks like 2019 is the year that situation is rectified.

At first I had no idea what to make of this movie. But, within time, it showed it's hand: It was really making a mockery of tropes associated with Christmas: A scary Santa, a kid who gets his dream present of a rifle, Christmas dinner at a Chinese restaurant among others.
Yet at the same time, this movie still has another trick up it;s sleeve: it is indeed a look at childhood and does so successfully. It indeed definitely resonates with sincerity, even for a grumpy curmudgeon like myself. And despite this movie taking a swing at Christmas tropes, it is still capable for some genuine heart (the final scene with Mr and Mrs Parker comes to mind).
It would appear that this is a beloved Christmas movie for a good reason.

Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

And this week's Friday night movie has been... Miracle on 34th Street (1947)!

Original image located here. Accessed 13th December 2019

Well it's that time of year....
I think we all know this one: An elderly gentleman is hired as a store Santa and shows signs he genuinely believes he is the man himself - all of which leads to a court case.
For a movie over seventy years old this certainly holds up well. Sure there's some interest value in seeing a young Natalie Wood but really the movie itself rests on the shoulders of Edmund Gwenn.
Much like the character he plays, he shows Santa the way we expect him to: Kindly, empathetic towards children, multilingual, knowledgeable of toys and trying to see the best in everyone.
Indeed, there is a reason why this has been a beloved Christmas classic for many years. And now I know

Scrooge (A Christmas Carol (1951))

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....Scrooge (A Christmas Carol (1951)!

Original image located here. Accessed 22nd December 2017

Last week I saw the adaptation of A Christmas Carol which starred George C Scott. This week, I'm watching the adaptation of A Christmas Carol which starred Alistair Sims. This is largely because these two actors are largely considered the best to have taken on the role. Sims, in particular is often recognized as the one all actors have tried to replicate since.

And you know what? Such a reputation is well-deserved. Okay, so the movie is kinda hurried and, to be honest, is more effective as a horror movie than a Christmas one, but it is ultimately Sims' show. He pretty much embodies Scrooge's contempt and lack of empathy. But the real treat is at the end when Scrooge is happy. It was a delight and one gets the feeling his change was akin to a dam-burst. In fact I do believe that Sims' does the 'Happy Scrooge' better than anyone else.

A Christmas Carol (1984)

And this week's Friday night movie has been.....A Christmas Carol (1984)!

Original image located here. Accessed 15th December 2017

I've always had a soft spot for A Christmas Carol. When i was a kid I was drawn to the ghost/horror element and the somewhat sarcastic nature of the title (well it seemed sarcastic to me).
But when i became an adult, I realize that the themes of redemption and turning one's life around for the better is indeed a powerful one.

As for the movie itself, well, it's well shot, there are some chilling moments and the ghosts are very imaginative in their presentation. But ultimately, the whole movie rests on the shoulders of George C Scott as Ebenezer Scrooge. And what a job he does: he's funny, bitter, angry and a jerk all at once - so there's something to be said for the scene on Christmas morning ("I'm as merry as a schoolboy!").

Joyeux Noel

And this year's Christmas Eve movie has been.....Joyeux Noel!

Original image located here. Accessed 23rd December 2016

Errrr....wow, I came into this movie not knowing what to expect (beyond the general concept of it being based on the WW1 Christmas Truce) and I came away impressed. A superb movie and certainly gripping. It's also interesting to see a war movie which focuses on the different sides involved.

But really, this movie is about a bunch of soldiers from three factions who, despite the war going around them, desired for a peace and, on Christmas Eve, put down their weapons and joined together in solidarity. And in a year which saw the lines of division grow even wider, I think we can all learn something from that.

Have a Merry Christmas