COMMENTARY: Holiday movies and special worth checking out
December 3, 2009
7 p.m. Dec. 13, NBC
What movie could be more fitting for the economic situation of 2009 than a classic centering around the Great Depression? James Stewart’s signature acting helped make this black and white film one NBC plays every year.
Stewart’s character, George Bailey, gives up his dreams to live in the small town he was raised in. His internal struggle to find what truly makes him happy in life nearly pushes him to suicide, until his guardian angel appears to persuade him otherwise by showing him what life would’ve been like without him.
The story here as well has been duplicated throughout the years in many different TV shows, including “The Rugrats.”
“What do you want? Do you want the moon? Yeah that’s it, I’ll throw a lasso up there and give you the moon.”
7 p.m. Dec. 24, TBS [24-hour marathon]
Thanks to TBS, you never have to buy a the movie. Its annual 24-hour marathon running from 8 p.m. Christmas Eve to 8 p.m. Christmas night.
The genius of this story is the faults that allow the family to relate to everyday people. The low budget for Christmas spending, the annoying little brother, bullies, the house falling apart and the dramatic quest to get the one gift you want more than anything. The narrative style voiced by Jean Shepherd inspired a similar approach in “The Wonder Years.”
What makes it work as a marathon is that the story is set up to provide scenes that can all stand out on their own. So in between the lamer parts of the Christmas day parade, you can catch 10 minutes of “A Christmas Story” and then move on to helping mom with lunch for the extended family.
DVD [because it may not appear on TV this year]
Charles Dickens tale from 1842 has been told many times with many different actors — such as the recent 3-D Disney adaptation with Jim Carrey as the infamous Scrooge — but how do you top The Muppets?
They’re the goofy warm hearted creatures generations have grown with. To hear Kermit talk about whether or not Tiny Tim will make it goes right to your heart. Not to forget Michael Caine’s starring role, a Brit with a voice that could make a good movie by reading the phone book for 90 minutes.
This was the first film to be done without Jim Henson, who died just prior to the film’s making. The film is a fairly close adaptation to the book — not including Scrooge’s sister Fan, Fezziwig becoming Fozziwig and Marley becoming the Marley brothers in order to use the heckling old men from “The Muppet Show.”
Henson Productions is known for its fantastic composers who came up with originals for this film, while bringing smiles to faces by having heads of cabbages sing in the opening scene. The family friendly Muppets bring in the randomness their witty TV shows have been known for to break up the age old story.
“Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer“
8 p.m. Dec. 12, CBS
Another special based on a song, but this one is remembered for its distinctive stop motion animation, often mimicked these days in holiday commercials advertising cell phones.
“Rudolph” is actually the longest continually running TV special, hitting screens every year since it debuted in 1964. The ending today depicting the Island of Misfit Toys being rescued was shot a year after its debut because of complaints to NBC about not knowing the fate of the toys.
“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas!” [the cartoon, not the full length feature]
7 p.m. Dec. 8 and 14, Cartoon Network
Perhaps one of the greatest authors of the 20th century, Ted Geisel, better known as Dr. Seuss, brings us an animated feature from 1966 along with the man behind Looney Tunes, Chuck Jones. The cartoon includes the now–classic, “You’re A Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” by written by Seuss and performed by Thurl Ravenscroft.
—Tyler Kingkade is a junior in journalism and mass communication
