scrooged
one thing i find myself missing every year around this time is the christmas movies in the states which provide a kind of cinematic countdown to the big day. from thanksgiving to 25th december, there’s something for everyone, and everyone has their particular favourite – “a charlie brown christmas”, “how the grinch stole christmas” (animated original or jim carey remake), “a christmas story”, or the claymation “rudolph” (which ever fails to make me cry). these are all movies which evoke childhood holiday memories for me – but almost none of them are shown over here. there is no “miracle on 34th street”, no “white christmas” with bing’s classic song rendition, not even the very dickensian “a christmas carol“. i’ve heard tell of “its a wonderful life” being shown, but I’ve never actually seen it, so it remains unsubstanitated rumour. hell, i’d even settle for some recent xmas stinker, like “elf” or “the santa clause”.
no – these things are not a christmas tradition over here. what *are* christmas traditions include the christmas number one pop single (including songs like the ridiculously depressing “mad world”, the annual contribution from the ancientand laughable cliff richard, and hits by “bob the builder” and “mr. blobby” – and, i kid you not, they even bet on this at the bookies), the queen’s christmas day speech, and getting too pissed at the pub to make it to midnight mass.
no – i can’t watch “frosty the snowman”, but even as i type, jonno is watching terry pratchett’s “hogfather”. turtle worlds, death, and pigs. this is what passes for christmas season viewing in britain.
bah humbug.
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christmas movies 
Comment by Anglofille
18.12.2006 @ 15:40 pm
I remember this from last year when I was living in London. It was very depressing. However, I fled London to spend the holidays in Paris and they showed “It’s a Wonderful Life” on Christmas Day! That was very unexpected and though it was all in French, I was pleased to see it.
Comment by vanessa
18.12.2006 @ 16:06 pm
oh sweetie! g is watching charlie brown christmas right now. It’s the second one onthe DVD, I’ve never seen it before now.
Do reg US DVD’s play on UK players? May be a stupid question- but isn’t there some thing were not all dvds play on every player….
if they do let me know…..
Comment by suzer
21.12.2006 @ 11:19 am
me too:( i did buy one this year which i don’t have at home–a christmas carol with george c scott, but one just ain’t enough…