I remember when this film was releasesd, and now it's a classic.

Just watched it last night. One of the few Christmas movies I do own on DVD, along with the Homa Alone movies.

What I love most about 'A Christmas Story' is the era it was set in...and that HOUSE! I want that house!

it's the seasonal story of what it was like for many "boomers".

and heard many of the stories that became a part of A Christmas Story.

Excelsior, ya fathead!

It’s got everything. And a major award!

We watched Vacation last night. My daughter had never seen the whole thing in one sitting.

Really the only xmas movie worth watching.

with Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney, and Vera Ellen. I have probably seen it dozens of times. Holiday Inn is a close second.

Lol 😂

But it started growing on me.

Interesting breaking story involving director Terry Zwigoff and Harvey Weinstein:

Director: Weinsteins prevented me from casting Mira Sorvino in ‘Bad Santa’

December 16, 2017

The director of “Bad Santa” revealed on Friday that he was prevented from hiring Mira Sorvino by Harvey Weinstein — amid accusations the disgraced studio head launched a smear campaign against the actress.

Director Terry Zwigoff tweeted that he had wanted to hire Sorvino but was rebuffed by the studio heads.

“I was interested in casting Mira Sorvino in BAD SANTA, but every time I mentioned her over the phone to the Weinsteins, I’d hear a CLICK,” Zwigoff wrote.

“What type of person just hangs up on you like that?! I guess we all know what type of person now. I’m really sorry Mira.”

His admission came after “Lord of the Rings” director Peter Jackson claimed Weinstein orchestrated a smear campaign against Sorvino and Ashley Judd in an attempt to blacklist the actresses from Hollywood.

<more>

https://pagesix.com/2017/12/16/director-weinsteins-prevented-me-from-casting-mira-sorvino-in-bad-santa/

They say Billy Bob Thornton was playing me. I've since quit drinking.

The best EVAR.

I gotta play a whole bunch of Nutcrackers.

It takes weeks to get all those tunes out of my head-

Dancing sugar plums, snowflakes, flowers,

That is all.

My Top 3 Right Now:
Scrooged
Fred Claus
Scrooge (1949 w/Alistair Sims)

A Christmas Story is great at re-creating the late 40's-early 50's so many of us remember.

It hooked me when I saw those big bulbs on the tree. Remember them well, and if you tried to save them for next year, you'd find that some of the paint covering them had chipped off. It was always a challenge of how much missing paint made the bulb unusable. Generally the least painted ones would be relegated to the wall side of the tree, with the painted bits facing the tree,
to add any remaining color.
the big drama of lighting the tree and blowing a fuse is also spot on.

Best Christmas movie ever
Especially the end, since it's 99% improv.

As I'll posted before on DU:

Sorry, but that's actually a terrible version and possibly Bill Murray's worst film.

Murray totally phoned it in and the director decided that Murry was so funny that he should just ad-lib it.

The late Roger Ebert said it best:

of course Ebert also dissed on great movies like Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid

Consider having Xmas as a federal holiday to be a violation of separation of church and state. If they want to take Xmas off as one of them, provided so many aren't off that day as to cripple the functioning of the office, that's their business.

At least that's today. There's an argument that if the overwhelming majority want something in a democratic society and it doesn't otherwise hurt others, it should be allowed. But those with exquisitely tuned offense sensors both argue for this and against it, depending on their personal whims, so today I'm against being compelled to take a religious observance off by a secular government.

This said as a member of a faith that is forced to observe other's religious days but who has to exhaust sick and personal time and then still lose pay for observing my own, and then if I or my kid gets sick and I have to stay home, I got no sick time left. (Only to be told that I'm not repressed. Now, if I kept Diwali or Eid, then I'd be considered justified in claiming repression. But I claim "Xian" as my religion, so I can't be repressed.)

The religious portions are largely ignored with popularity of Santa Claus. If you can ignore the commercialism, you are left with a liberal holiday promoting charity and peace on earth and goodwill to all, and a time for being with friends and/or family.

PS: Schools systems have been modifying calendars to accommodate student and teachers who worship Eid, Diwali, and other important holidays.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/md-school-system-keeps-jewish-holidays-adds-days-off-for-diwali-lunar-new-year-and-eid-al-adha/2016/01/15/d0aab354-bae4-11e5-b682-4bb4dd403c7d_story.html?utm_term=.512b8d1e1553

PPS: If you have nothing to do on Christmas Day, your local food bank could probably use some help.
http://www.feedingamerica.org/find-your-local-foodbank/

I drove home earlier tonight and just enjoyed the Christmas lights displayed along my path home. I drank it in and thought of loved ones missing this year. It made me focus on family, traditions, life and making memories.

Polar Express
Miracle on 34th Street (the original version)
It's A Wonderful Life

In our house, there is also an offbeat pick - "I'll Be Home For Christmas" with Jonathan Taylor Thomas about a smarmy college kid's efforts to make it home by Christmas Eve. It's a lot of fun.

Love Actually is also a favorite.

Great movie.

I received it as a gift on DVD some years ago. Amazon/BN probably still has it.

Good Omens is currently under development.

Going Postal, Colour of Magic (one or more of early books), and Soul Music that I can think of. Some are animated; some, live action.

Enjoy!

. . .just sayin'

Love them both.