Christmas Movie Reviews # 5

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A NANNY FOR CHRISTMAS

Smart young career woman Ally (Emmanuelle Vaugier) needs a new job and she thinks she has found one when Samantha (Cynthia Gibb) a busy Beverly Hills advertising executive/mom offers her a position.
Danny Donner (Dean Cain) is the tough-guy owner of a chocolate company who wants a major ad campaign immediately and Samantha’s firm is given the job and it turned out that what she needed was a Nanny to her two well-mannered kids to give her the time to work on it.
Although Ally was disappointed she takes the job and finds that she needs to put some fun in the children’s lives while working on some ideas for the campaign herself in her spare time.
The events that follow lead to the Christmas that changes everyone's worlds forever.
Sierra McCormick and Jared Gilmore play the children, Sarah Thompson plays Ally’s friend and Richard Ruccolo provides the romantic interest in this delightful comedy of little white lies, holiday wishes, and a young woman who finds love in the most unexpected place by becoming A Nanny for Christmas.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE TOWN CHRISTMAS FORGOT

The Benson family are on their way through a blizzard to a luxury resort for the Christmas holiday when their car breaks down.
They are rescued by mechanic Coleman Burkins (Phillip Jarrett) and taken to Nowhere, a sleepy Colorado town, which was more like a Ghost Town since the local mine closed.
Due to weather and the required spare part for the car being in another town the family end up being stuck in the dying town until the weather clears.
Initially they are appalled, no shopping Mall, no latte’s, cell service or cable TV but they do find things to do.
Banker Charles Benson's son Nolan (Azer Greco) befriends the grumpy old toy shop owner and persistently charms him into becoming the Santa in the Christmas pageant which his mother Annie (Lauren Holly) helped to organize with local diner owner Samantha (Stephanie Belding).
Daughter Trish (Torri Webster) discovered a young band and joins in to perform a set at the pageant.
In between everything else Charles got stuck in the mine with the mechanic, whom he befriended, and in the end Charles turns out to be the towns Christmas benefactor.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – ONE MAGIC CHRISTMAS

In this uplifting Christmas offering Gideon (Harry Dean Stanton) is a Christmas angel, sent by Santa, to help wife and mother Ginny Grainger (Mary Steenburgen).
He must show her the true meaning of Christmas, not just presents and materialistic things, but the people she cares most about in the world, however it is no easy task as Ginny is a cynic, and furthermore she hates Christmas.
And in addition She and her family, husband Jack (Gary Basaraba) and two kids, Cal (Robbie Magwood) and Abbie (Elisabeth Harnois) have fallen on hard times, making it even harder for her to believe in anything that can't be seen.
But Gideon thinks he can find a way to make Ginny believe again with help from Abbie, and a trip to the North Pole to see the big man himself.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS SPIRIT 2011

A cynical youth, Riley (Aaron Jaeger), whose mother Sarah (Maureen McCormick) is about to lose her job right before the holidays, is visited by a magical Christmas spirit called Hope (Vanessa Angel).
She gives him a task to help another family regain their Christmas spirit and by so doing get it back for himself.
Alexandra Paul, Jason Brooks and Mariah Buzolin star as the family in crisis but Janet Carroll steals the show as Grandmother Betty.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS MAIL

In this holiday romantic comedy, Kristi North (Ashley Scott) works two months out of the year and always doing the same job, hand writing responses to the children who wrote Santa letters.
Santa Claus, her father, sends her to a different post office depot every year and in the film she’s in Del Vista, California.
However the Del Vista branch is managed by the egotistical Richard Fuller (Lochlyn Munro) who has no Christmas spirit whatsoever and won’t even allow any Christmas adornments.
He also believes Kristi to be a corporate spy so he enlists the unwilling assistance of mail carrier Matt Sanders (A.J. Buckley) as assistant manager, and primarily his job was to spy on Kristi and report back to Fuller.
As a single man taking care of an eight year old child, his orphaned niece Emily (Piper Mackenzie Harris), Matt takes the job solely because he needs the money.
Unbeknown to him Emily writes to Santa about her Christmas wish which is to see her Uncle Matt happy.
Santa's response, via Kristi, who is unaware that Emily's Uncle Matt is the same as the Matt she works with, leads to Emily trying to act as matchmaker which is where the fun begins.
However as a result of reluctantly trying to do his spying job Matt gets closer and closer to Kristi and in the process, Matt and Kristi start to fall for each other.
But all does not go smoothly and Fuller reveals all to Kristi out about Matt's clandestine work which almost drives them apart but everything comes good in the end of a very enjoyable seasonal romantic comedy.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE CHRISTMAS CANDLE

The enchanting village of Gladbury lies deep in the heart of the English countryside, however it is no ordinary English village for legend has it that every 25 years an angel visits the village candle maker and touches a single candle in the Chandlers.
Furthermore whoever lights the blessed candle receives a miracle on Christmas Eve.
At the dawn of the electric age however in 1890, the centuries old legend might have run its course and come to an end.
Especially when David Richmond (Hans Matheson), a progressive young minister, arrives in Gladbury.
The villagers discover that he preaches about a different kind of miracles, and his formula consists of good deeds and acts of kindness.
However David's quest to modernize Gladbury sets him at odds with the old world Chandler Edward Haddington (Sylvester McCoy) but he finds an unlikely ally in the lovely sceptic, Emily Barstow (Samantha Barks).
David also tries to replace the candles in the church with electric light but things go amiss while the Chandlers wife Bea Haddington (Lesley Manville) is unable to find the Christmas Candle.
So when the candle maker fights to preserve the legacy of the Christmas Candle and David Richmond tries to embrace modernization, the miraculous and human collide in the most astonishing Christmas the village of Gladbury have ever witnessed.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHRISTMAS WITH THE KRANKS

A fun Christmas movie in which Luther Krank (Tim Allen) is fed up with the commerciality of Christmas anyway but when only daughter Blair (Julie Gonzalo) leaves and goes to another country he decides to skip the holiday and go on a vacation cruise with his wife Nora (Jamie Lee Curtis) instead.
All they have to do then is resist the pressure from their neighbours to participate in the house decorating contest and survive all the other seasonal nonsense.
But when their daughter calls on Christmas Eve and says she’s coming home for Christmas, it causes an uproar in the Krank household as the family scrambles to create a perfect Christmas from scratch in 12 hours will hilarious effect when the pesky neighbours suddenly become their allies.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME OF THE YEAR

A sweet and amusing holiday romantic comedy in which busy single mom Jennifer Cullen (Brooke Burns) finds that the overwhelming tasks that go along with Christmas have taken the joy out of the holidays for her.
Trying to find the must have gift for her son Brian (Connor Christopher Levins) and trying to provide a traditional Christmas Dinner for her almost fiancé Richard Windom (Woody Jeffreys) and his parents was driving her berserk.
Then her Uncle Ralph (Henry Winkler) arrives at her home with the young, handsome Morgan Derby (Warren Christie).
Morgan's love of Christmas, and life, is contagious and as Jennifer glumly navigates through the holidays, she soon realizes that what she has needed most of all in her life was suddenly right under her nose.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A GOLDEN CHRISTMAS

Jessica (Andrea Roth) is a federal lawyer who returns to her parent's home for Christmas with her son and hopes to surprise her parents by announcing she is going to buy the house.
However she soon discovers that the house where she grew up had already been sold to a stranger, Michael (Nicholas Brendon).
Jessica looked for ways to buy it back again by hook or by crook but he is as determined to keep the house as she is to steal it from under him.
The answer to the conundrum lies in a long ago summer vacation when a boy called “Han” and a girl called “Leah” spent the summer together and even buried a time capsule in the woods.
Alley Mills and Bruce Davison star as Jessica’s parents in the lovely Christmas story with a happy ending.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CALL ME CLAUS

Lucy Cullins Whoopi Goldberg, a very successful, but an even crankier producer at a home shopping network, who hires an actor named Nick (Nigel Hawthorne) to play Santa Claus on the network she gets a lot more than she bargained for because Nick really is Santa Claus.
The twist in the tale of this fun Christmas offering is that he faces mandatory retirement after 200 years in the red suit and he must find his replacement by Christmas Eve and Lucy is his number one choice.
She is however very reluctant and if he fails to convince her then the world will face dire consequences.
A really fun film and inspired casting to have a black woman Santa Claus.

Christmas Carols and Songs # 2

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 40 JINGLE BELLS

Despite the general awfulness of the Christmas song there are however always exceptions to the rule and I have a short list of personal favorites.
Without exception all my choices not only include the song but the best performer of that song and so in no particular order here is my fortieth selection.

“Jingle Bells”
Written by James Pierpont
Performed by Rosemary Clooney

Dashing through the snow
Over the fields we go
Laughing all the way
Bells on bobtail ring'
Making spirits bright
What fun it is to laugh and sing
A sleighing song tonight!

Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way.
Oh! what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.
Jingle bells, jingle bells,
Jingle all the way;
Oh! what fun it is to ride
In a one-horse open sleigh.

A day or two ago
I thought I'd take a ride
And soon, Miss Fanny Bright
Was seated by my side,
The horse was lean and lank
Misfortune seemed his lot
He got into a drifted bank
And then we got upsot.

A day or two ago,
The story I must tell
I went out on the snow,
And on my back I fell;
A gent was riding by
In a one-horse open sleigh,
He laughed as there I sprawling lie,
But quickly drove away.

Now the ground is white
Go it while you're young,
Take the girls tonight
and sing this sleighing song;
Just get a bobtailed bay
Two forty as his speed
Hitch him to an open sleigh
And crack! You'll take the lead.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 52 THE WEXFORD CAROL (GOOD PEOPLE ALL, THIS CHRISTMASTIDE)

"The Wexford Carol" ("Good People All, This Christmastide")
Irish traditional

Good people all, this Christmas time,
Consider well and bear in mind
What our good God for us has done
In sending his beloved son
With Mary holy we should pray,
To God with love this Christmas Day
In Bethlehem upon that morn,
There was a blessed Messiah born.

The night before that happy tide,
The noble Virgin and her guide
Were long time seeking up and down
To find a lodging in the town.
But mark right well what came to pass
From every door repelled, alas,
As was foretold, their refuge all
Was but a humble ox's stall.

Near Bethlehem did shepherds keep
Their flocks of lambs and feeding sheep
To whom God's angel did appear
Which put the shepherds in great fear
Arise and go, the angels said
To Bethlehem, be not afraid
For there you'll find, this happy morn
A princely babe, sweet Jesus, born.

With thankful heart and joyful mind
The shepherds went the babe to find
And as God's angel had foretold
They did our Saviour Christ behold
Within a manger he was laid
And by his side a virgin maid
Attending on the Lord of Life
Who came on earth to end all strife.

There were three wise men from afar
Directed by a glorious star
And on they wandered night and day
Until they came where Jesus lay
And when they came unto that place
Where our beloved Messiah lay
They humbly cast them at his feet
With gifts of gold and incense sweet.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 41 JOLLY OLD SAINT NICHOLAS

Despite the general awfulness of the Christmas song there are however always exceptions to the rule and I have a short list of personal favorites.
Without exception all my choices not only include the song but the best performer of that song and so in no particular order here is my forty first selection.

“Jolly Old Saint Nicholas”
Lyrics by Benjamin Hanby
Music composed by Johann Pachelbel

Jolly old St. Nicholas, Lean your ear this way!
Don't you tell a single soul, What I'm going to say;
Christmas Eve is coming soon, Now, you dear old man,
Whisper what you'll bring to me: Tell me if you can.
When the clock is striking twelve, When I'm fast asleep,
Down the chimney broad and black, With your pack you'll creep.
All the stockings you will find Hanging in a row;
Mine will be the shortest one, You'll be sure to know.
Johnny wants a pair of skates, Susie wants a sled
Nellie wants a picture book, yellow,blue and red
Now I think I`ll leave
to you
what to give the rest
Choose for me dear Santa Claus
you will know the best.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 50 TORCHES

"Torches"
Composed by John Joubert

Torches, torches, run with torches
all the way to Bethlehem!
Christ is born and now lies sleeping;
come and sing your song to him.
Ah, Ro-ro, Ro-ro, my baby,
Ah, Ro-ro, my love, Ro-ro;
sleep you well, my heart’s own darling,
while we sing you our Ro-ro.
Sing, my friends, and make you merry,
joy and mirth and joy again;
lo, he lives, the king of heaven,
now and evermore. Amen.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 42 THE TWELVE DAYS OF CHRISTMAS

Despite the general awfulness of the Christmas song there are however always exceptions to the rule and I have a short list of personal favorites.
Without exception all my choices not only include the song but the best performer of that song and so in no particular order here is my forty second selection.

“The Twelve Days Of Christmas”
A traditional folk melody by English composer Frederic Austin
Performed by The Spinners

On the first day of Christmas my true love gave to me
A partridge in a pear tree

On the second day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Two Turtle Doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the third day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the fourth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the fifth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the sixth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Six Geese A-laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the seventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Seven Swans A-swimming
Six Geese A-laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the eighth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Eight Maids A-milking
Seven Swans A-swimming
Six Geese A-laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the ninth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids A-milking
Seven Swans A-swimming
Six Geese A-laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the tenth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Ten Lords A-leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids A-milking
Seven Swans A-swimming
Six Geese A-laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

On the eleventh day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords A-leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids A-milking
Seven Swans A-swimming
Six Geese A-laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
And a partridge in a pear tree
On the twelfth day of Christmas my true love gave to me
Twelve Drummers Drumming
Eleven Pipers Piping
Ten Lords A-leaping
Nine Ladies Dancing
Eight Maids A-milking
Seven Swans A-swimming
Six Geese A-laying
Five Golden Rings
Four Calling Birds
Three French Hens
Two Turtle Doves
And a partridge in a pear tree

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 46 SWEET LITTLE JESUS BOY

Sweet Little Jesus Boy
Music and lyrics written by Robert MacGimsey

Sweet little Jesus Boy
They made You be born in a manguh [manger]
Sweet little Holy chil'
Didn't know who You wus [was]
Didn't know You'd come to save us Lawd
To take our sins away

Our eyes wus bline [was blind]
We couldn't see
We didn't know who You wus [was]
Long time ago You wus bawn [was born]
Bawn in a manguh [manger] low

Sweet little Jesus Boy
De worl' [the world] treat You mean, Lawd
Treat me mean too
But please, Suh, fuhgive [Sir, forgive] us Lawd
We didn't know 'twas You

Sweet little Jesus Boy
Bawn [born] long time ago
Sweet little Holy chil'
An' we didn't know who You wus [was]

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 43 2000 MILES

Despite the general awfulness of the Christmas song there are however always exceptions to the rule and I have a short list of personal favorites.
Without exception all my choices not only include the song but the best performer of that song and so in no particular order here is my forty third selection.

“2000 Miles”
Written By Chrissie Hynde
Performed by The Pretenders

He's gone two thousand miles
It's very far
The snow is falling down
Gets colder day by day
I miss you

The children will sing
He'll be back at Christmastime

In these frozen and silent nights
Sometimes in a dream you appear
Outside under the purple sky
Diamonds in the snow sparkle
Our hearts were singing
It felt like Christmastime

Two thousand miles
Is very far through the snow
I'll think of you
Wherever you go

He's gone two thousand miles
It's very far
The snow is falling down
Gets colder day by day
I miss you

I can hear people singing
It must be Christmastime
I hear people singing
It must be Christmastime

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 47 THIS ENDRIS NIGHT

This Endris Night
English traditional Music and lyrics authorship unknown

This endris1 night I saw a sight,
A star as bright as day,
And ev'r among, a maiden sung,
"Lully, bye bye, lullay."
This lovely lady sat and sang,
And to her child did say,
"My son, my brother, father dear,
Why liest thou thus in hay?"
"My sweetest bird, 'tis thus required,
Though I be king veray,
But nevertheless I will not cease
To sing 'Bye bye, lullay.'"
The child then spake in his talking,
And to his mother did say,
"Yea, I am known as heaven-king
In crib though I be laid.
"For angels bright down on me light;
Thou knowest 'tis no nay.
And for that sight thou may delight
To sing, 'Bye bye, lullay.'"
"Now, sweet son, since thou art a king,
Why art thou laid in stall?
Why dost not order thy bedding
In some great kinges hall?
"Methinks5 'tis right that king or knight
Should lie in good array.
And then among, it were no wrong
To sing 'Bye bye, lullay.'"
"Mary mother, I am thy Child,
Though I be laid in stall;
For lords and dukes shall worship Me,
And so shall kingès all.
"Ye shall well see that kingès three
Shall come on this twelfth day.
For this behest give Me thy breast
And sing, By by, lullay."
"Now tell, sweet Son, I Thee do pray,
Thou art my Love and Dear—
How should I keep Thee to Thy pay6,
And make Thee glad of cheer?
"For all Thy will I would fulfill—
Thou knowest well, in fay7;
And for all this I will Thee kiss,
And sing, By by, lullay."
"My dear mother, when time it be,
Take thou Me up on loft,
And set Me then upon thy knee,
And handle me full soft.
"And in thy arm thou hold Me warm,
And keep Me night and day,
And if I weep, and may not sleep,
Thou sing, By by, lullay."
"Now sweet Son, since it is come so,
That all is at Thy will,
I pray Thee grant to me a boon8,
If it be right and skill9,—
"That child or man, who will or can
Be merry on my day,
To bliss Thou bring—and I shall sing,
Lullay, by by, lullay."

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 44 CHRISTMAS TIME (DON’T LET THE BELLS END)

Despite the general awfulness of the Christmas song there are however always exceptions to the rule and I have a short list of personal favorites.
Without exception all my choices not only include the song but the best performer of that song and so in no particular order here is my forty fourth selection.

"Christmas Time (Don't Let The Bells End)"
Written by Al Stillman, Francis Patterson, Justin Hawkins, Victor Young, Edwin Graham, Daniel Hawkins
Performed by The Darkness

Feigning joy and surprise at the gifts we despise over mulled wine with you
On the 25th day of the 12th month
The sleigh bells are in time ringing true
How we cling each Noel to that snowflake's hope in hell
that it won’t end

Don’t let the bells end
Christmas time, just let them ring in peace.

Well the weather is cruel,
and the season of Yule warms the heart, but it still hurts.
You’ve got your career, spent the best part of last year apart and it still hurts
So that’s why I pray each and every Christmas day that it won’t end

Don’t let the bells end
Christmas time, just let them ring in peace.

Christmas time, don’t let the bells end
Christmas time, don’t let the bells end

Dust underneath the mistletoe leaves when you’re not here,
You went away upon boxing day,
Now how the hell am I gonna make it into the New Year.

Christmas time, don’t let the bells end
Christmas time, don’t let the bells end

Christmas time, don’t let the bells end
Christmas time, just let them ring in peace.

Christmas time, don’t let the bells end
Christmas time, don’t let the bells end

Christmas Movie Reviews # 4

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - CHRISTMAS MIRACLE (2012)

In the small town of Summit View there is a snowstorm blowing through on Christmas Eve.
It’s so severe the roads are almost deserted apart from a group of vehicles that become stranded on a remote road on the outskirts of town.
The occupants of the stranded cars take refuge in a nearby abandoned church.
James Mason (Aaron Pearl), is an ex-priest, who following the death of his wife and child is running away from his life and his vocation.
Darryl (George Canyon), is a Dyslexic EMT who dreams of becoming a doctor but believes that dream will never materialize.
Drake (David Nykl) and Madeleine (Lori Triolo) are a wealthy married couple whose marriage and its problems all revolve around money.
Nick (Randal Edwards) and Christy (Siobhan Williams) are newlyweds who have only been married for three days and have done nothing but argue
Joe Wells (Dan Payne) is the only local and is separated from his wife Mary (Allison Hossack), largely because of their differing views on how to manage their autistic son, Matt (Valin Shinyei) who runs away from his babysitter and walks through the storm to the church under his own steam.
Together the group must learn how to manage through the various dilemmas they face by working together.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - THE NIGHT BEFORE THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

The Night Before The Night Before Christmas is a crazy Christmas fantasy for all the family, brimming with festive spirit.
Santa (R.D. Reid) sets off on his Christmas duties a day early, but ends up crashing into the Fox family's house where he not only loses his memory but also his magic sack of presents.
If ever Santa needed help it was now but the modern and broken Fox family are scarcely up to the task.
The parents Angela (Jennifer Beals) and Wayne (Rick Roberts) are preoccupied with work and the kids Toby (Gage Munroe) and Hannah (Rebecca Williams) aren't particularly festive.
But the clock is ticking so it's up to them to help Santa find his magical bag of toys and or Christmas will be ruined so they are forced to set their own petty problems aside and work together and rediscover how much they enjoy being together and realise that maybe they need to reprioritise their lives.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – LUCKY CHRISTMAS

Holly Caroni (Elizabeth Berkley) is a terminally unlucky single mother and wonders if her luck will ever change but as Christmas approaches she buys a lottery ticket.
And her luck does appear to change when she wins a million dollars but she is soon brought down to earth when she realises her winning lottery ticket is in the glove compartment of her recently stolen car.
Harmless construction workers Joe (Mike Bell) and Mike (Jason Gray-Stanford) are behind the theft of the Holly’s car at the end of a drunken evening.
So Mike comes up with a master plan to befriend Holly so he can return the ticket discreetly but he unexpectedly falls in love with Holly and learns there are more important things in life than quick money in time for the holidays.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – DECK THE HALLS (2006)

Optometrist Steve Finch (Matthew Broderick) loves the all the Christmas family traditions he has developed over the years in the town of Cloverdale, Massachusetts.
In fact he is a bit obsessive about it and has a schedule of activities for his wife Kelly (Kristin Davis) and children Madison (Alia Shawkat) and Carter (Dylan Blue) starting on December 1st.
Steve is proud to be the go to guy for anything Christmas related in the town at Christmas.
Then the Halls move in to the house across the street and they are cut from very different cloth.
Buddy Hall (Danny DeVito) is a salesman who can sell anything and soon becomes the new go to guy in town for all things Christmas.
His wife Tia (Kristin Chenoweth) and twin daughters Ashley and Emily (Kelly and Sabrina Aldridge) quickly become friends with their counterparts in the Finch household but Steve and Buddy are soon butting heads.
Which only gets worse when Buddy becomes obsessed with decorating his house with so many lights that it will be visible from space.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – JINGLE ALL THE WAY

Howard Langston (Arnold Schwarzenegger) is a salesman for a mattress company and is very busy with his job and constantly lets down his son, so with Christmas coming he is determined to get him the must have toy for Christmas which is an action figure of his son's television hero, Turbo Man.
Unfortunately for Howard, he leaves it until Christmas Eve and every store is sold out of Turbo Man figures so Howard has to schlepp all over town and compete with every other tardy father including a mail man named Myron Larabee (Sinbad) to find a Turbo Man action figure.
A great slapstick free for all ensues and climaxes at the Wintertainment parade which will feature Turbo Man himself.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – MR MIRACLE

On his first time in human form a trainee Guardian Angel Harry Mills (Rob Morrow) has to pose as an English teacher to help a young woman, Addie Folsom (Britt Irvin) to find the confidence to change her life before Christmas.
If he fails Harry can say goodbye forever to his own Earthly existence.
Along the way he’s got a lot to learn about life as a human with the help of his seasoned heavenly mentor, Celeste (Michelle Harrison).
After her father’s sudden passing, Addie is living with her mom Sharon (Sarah-Jane Redmond), while attempting to finish her degree.
The important story revolves around her childhood nemesis and neighbour, Erich (Andrew Francis).
As Harry bumbles his way along as her teacher he constantly comes up against the principle Mr. Conceito (Malcolm Stewart) with amusing results.
And while helping Addie to see the wonderful things she can’t see in herself while learning a few life lessons of his own along the way.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE LONG KISS GOODNIGHT

I would have to admit that this is not a conventional Christmas tale but it is a rather good one nonetheless.
Samantha Caine (Geena Davis) is mother to 8 year old daughter Caitlin (Yvonne Zima) living in Honesdale, PA.
Samantha has a job teaching school and a boyfriend and is singularly unremarkable but for the fact that she had no memory of her life before she awoke from a coma eight years earlier.
But when she received a bump on her head in a car accident she begins to remember small parts of her previous life.
Along with a bargain basement private investigator, Mitch (Samuel L. Jackson) she digs deeper.
As a result she remembers more and more of her previous life until finally she finds out she is really Charly Baltimore a deadly assassin.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – DEFENDING SANTA

Sheriff Scott Hanson (Dean Cain) is responding to the report of a broken down vehicle on Christmas Eve and stumbles upon a sleeping Santa in the snowy woods.
Kris Kringle (Bill Lewis) then spends nearly a year in a coma and when he awakes he is put on trial to defend his identity before he can find his sleigh and get back to the North Pole.
With Christmas in doubt the small ski resort town has to learn to "believe" and Sheriff Hanson, a dad and widower, begins to fall for Santa's court-appointed defence attorney, Sarah (Jud Tylor).

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

Arthur Christmas is the animated tale about Santa's clumsy son Arthur.
Contrary to Popular belief it turns out that Santa’s North Pole operation isn’t just a handful of artisan elf’s and a fat guy in a red suit making toys its actually an exhilarating ultra-high-tech operation hidden beneath the North Pole and run by the Christmas family.
And it’s a family business although it’s a family in a constant state of comic dysfunction and clumsy Arthur turns out to be an unlikely hero who gets put on an urgent mission with his father that must be completed before Christmas morning dawns and that mission is to give out a present they misplaced to a young girl in less than 2 hours.
Arthur is voiced by James McAvoy, with Jim Broadbent and Imelda Staunton as his parents, Hugh Laurie as his brother Steve and Bill Nighy as Grand Santa although my favourite was Bryony and the vocal talents of Ashley Jensen.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CRAZY FOR CHRISTMAS

On Christmas Eve, Shannon McManus-Johnson (Andrea Roth) a chauffeur and single mother, has to leave her son Trevor (Jason Spevack) with a babysitter as she is stuck driving around a wealthy and eccentric client Fred Nickells (Howard Hesseman) who is giving away large sums of money, literally throwing dollars in the air wherever he goes.
The rich man’s actions obviously attract the attentions of the media and as the story proceeds, conflict ensues after a reporter Peter Archer (Yannick Bisson) interviews Fred and we learn a secret he has been keeping for a long time.

Christmas Movie Reviews # 3

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - SANTA WHO?

Santa Claus (Leslie Nielsen) takes a recreational flight on the sleight one night and ends up accidentally falling out.
As a result of the fall he is left suffering with amnesia, but as he was dressed in his red suit as Santa Claire Dreyer (Robyn Lively) got him a job in a department store grotto while hard bitten newsman Peter Albright (Steven Eckholdt) tries to find out who he is.
But it takes the innocence of a small child, Claire’s son Zack (Max Morrow) to save Santa and Christmas.
Leslie Nielsen is wonderful as the confused Santa in a very entertaining Christmas tale.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - A PERFECT CHRISTMAS

Holly Maddux (Claire Coffee) is an advertising executive in New York and dreams of the perfect life, the perfect job, and of course, the perfect man to perfectly sweep her off her feet.
Then one day she comes around after a fall in the street to find the "perfect man" standing over her. And the perfect hunky gentleman helped her up and she hit it off with her new beau immediately.
However Holly soon begins to discover that the pressure to be perfect all the time is not at all as great as she expected.
And perfect Bo (Ryan McPartlin) is nothing more than a mannequin who has come to life and it takes time for her to realise that perfection is much closer to hand than she thought in the shape of photographer Milo Ames (Jeff Ward) and the real love that's been waiting for her all along.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - A CHRISTMAS ROMANCE

Julia Stonecypher (Olivia Newton-John) is a widowed mother with financial woes who lives on her husband’s farm with her children Emily Rose (Stephanie Sawyer) and Deenie (Chloe Lattanzi).
Just before Christmas in the teeth of a snowstorm, Brian Harding (Gregory Harrison) arrives at the farm to serve a foreclosure notice.
Despite her anger towards the man Julia must come to his aid when he crashes his car in the snow and hits his head.
An uncomfortable atmosphere ensue but as it’s a Christmas story there is a happy ending just around the corner.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - IF YOU BELIEVE

Susan Stone (Ally Walker) is a proper Bah! Humbug! Character.
She is a young but jaded book editor who has lost the passion and drive that defined her and the girl of her childhood has been replaced by one who is consumed with self-doubt in her abilities.
Susan has all but given up on happiness and is on the verge of losing her job and is fast becoming persona non grata with her only remaining family.
Then out of nowhere, a cheerful, carefree, full of life seven-year-old girl named Suzie (Hayden Panettiere), surprises Susan at her apartment.
As the story unfolds it turns out that little Suzie is the embodiment of Susan's inner child.
She is the Susan she once was all those years ago and she was there to help the lost adult Susan rediscover and recapture the love of life that she had once had but somewhere along the line had lost.
But it is a new author Thom Weller (Tom Amandes) who truly redeems the modern-day Ebenezer Scrooge.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A BRIDE FOR CHRISTMAS

Jessie Patterston (Arielle Kebbel) is on her third fiancé and is about to tie the knot, but despite her white gown and a chapel full of guests waiting for her grand entrance, she gets cold feet again and bypasses the altar and goes out of the back door.
No one is happy, especially not her fiancé Mike (Sage Brocklebank) or her sister and business partner Vivian (Kimberly Sustad)
It was the right choice for her though, because she realized it wasn't true love she felt for him so she vowed to concentrate on her job and her volunteer work at an animal shelter.
Meanwhile, Aiden (Andrew K. Walker) is having a card game with three of his male, married friends. As the only bachelor present and seemingly a confirmed one, he takes on a bet from the others.
It involved getting a woman to say "yes" to his proposal of marriage before Christmas Day.
Obviously the first lovely lady that Aiden casts a serious eye on is Jessie while he is at an art gallery.
But Jessie has sworn off serious relationships until she finds the one but the charming albeit chronically single Aiden comes along and from then on they have a connection and become closer and closer despite Mike’s efforts to break them up but obviously love will out.
This is a lovely Christmas movie and is a must see for romcom fans.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A CHRISTMAS KISS

Wendy Walton (Laura Breckenridge) is the best designer in Boston, unfortunately nobody knows it yet.
So in the hope of kick-starting her career, she left work as the set designer with the local theatre to take a job as an assistant to Priscilla Hall (Elisabeth Röhm), the most prestigious designer in the city, she is however also the biggest bitch in the city and works Wendy around the clock.
And it was on one such occasion at Ms Hall’s apartment building that Wendy found herself trapped in an elevator late one night with an incredibly handsome stranger.
Where she and the mystery man share an impulsive, romantic, life-changing kiss before the doors opened and Wendy ran out, leaving him in her wake.
But after the spontaneous kiss, the struggling designer unwittingly ends up falling in love with the boyfriend of her demanding boss Adam Hughes (Brendan Fehr) a wealthy philanthropist.
She discovers his identity when she answers the door to him at her boss’s apartment, he however does not recognize her, which made things even more awkward for her when Priscila assigns her to decorate his house for a big party at Christmas.
And as Christmas approached the two of them spent more and more time together and Wendy realized she was falling in love with him.
Meanwhile her boss was not only expecting him to propose to her she was actively scheming to ensure it happened, so where would that leave Wendy?

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE CHRISTMAS SECRET

Christine Eisley (Bethany Joy Lenz) is a single mom struggling as her life is falling apart.
Her ex-husband Brad (Greyston Holt) won’t pay her child support but is petitioning for custody of the children, Zach (William Ainscough) and Haylie (Jaeda Lily Miller),
On top of which they are being evicted from their home before Christmas and her car is on its last legs.
One day she witnessed an accident and saved a woman’s life by performing CPR and her reward was to lose her job for being late to work.
But when one door closes another opens up and she quickly found another job at Betty’s Bakery, and Betty (Nicola Cavendish) turns out to be a great friend and more.
Fortunately Christine finds a magical family heirloom that leads to love in the form of Jason (John Reardon) and general good fortune during Christmas.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THREE WISE WOMEN

One Christmas a young girl, Ellie (Lauren Coe) witnesses her father having an affair and discovers her boyfriend with another girl on the same night and in her anger and frustration she declares she will never love anybody ever again.
As a result, her guardian angel Tom (Hugh O'Connor) is forced to abandon her.
16 years later the young vivacious Ellie has aged into Liz (Amy Huberman) a successful, thirty-something doctor, driven and cold, who is about to marry a man of similar disposition and doesn't fully realize she is settling for less than she deserves.
Arc Angel Green (John Rhys Davies) reassigns Tom and gives him a second chance as her guardian angel to guide her back to the person she should have become.
Unable to speak to her directly he travels through time and enlists the help of young Ellie and the sad, lonely older woman Beth (Fionnula Flanagan) to steer her in the right direction and to the right man.
It’s a lovely Christmas Tale and just the kind of thing we expect from Hallmark.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - A DIFFERENT KIND OF CHRISTMAS

It’s the summer and there’s a new Santa in town (Bruce Kirby) and everyone seems to be happy about it with the possible exception of city attorney of Elizabeth Gates (Shelley Long).
But her son Tommy (Nathan Lawrence) is a regular visitor to the street where Santa had turned his home into a kind of year-round Santa Claus castle where children of all ages could come to see the wonderful presents and no child would leave without a gift.
But Elizabeth steps in to make him stop his “commercial' enterprise” in an area zoned for private homes.
Journalist Frank Mallory (Barry Bostwick) is assigned to write a piece about Santa’s philanthropic generosity and the City Attorney’s public action against Santa but he soon discovers she knows more about Santa than she wants to admit.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – MISTLETOE OVER MANHATTAN

Workaholic Santa Claus (Mairtin O’Carrigan) was exhausted and overwhelmed with the demands of modern children and his wife Rebecca (Tedde Moore) sensed her husband was losing his Christmas spirit.
So believing she can help him recapture his bliss Mrs Clause secretly heads to the one place she knows that the spirit of Christmas must still exist, New York City, which was where she first fell in love with her husband Nick.
However New York was a very different place to the one she remembered and she was beginning to have doubts herself until in a crowded diner, Rebecca befriends a caring cop Joe (Greg Bryk), who was worried about her.
He reveals to her that he and his wife Lucy (Tricia Helfer) were in the middle of a divorce. Rebecca sensed that Joe was still very much in love with his wife, and agreed to work temporarily as the family’s nanny until Christmas.
Rebecca’s hope was that by healing Joe and Lucy’s family, she would show Santa that Christmas miracles are still possible and his job was as valuable as ever.

Christmas Carols and Songs # 1

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 45 THE SUSSEX CAROL (ON CHRISTMAS NIGHT ALL CHRISTIANS SING)

The Sussex Carol (On Christmas Night All Christians Sing)
English traditional Music and lyrics authorship unknown

On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring
On Christmas night all Christians sing
To hear the news the angels bring
News of great joy, news of great mirth
News of our merciful King's birth
Then why should men on earth be so sad
Since our Redeemer made us glad
Then why should men on earth be so sad
Since our Redeemer made us glad
When from our sin He set us free
All for to gain our liberty
When sin departs before His grace
Then life and health come in its place
When sin departs before His grace
Then life and health come in its place
Angels and men with joy may sing
All for to see the newborn King
All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night
All out of darkness we have light
Which made the angels sing this night

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 36 COOL YULE

Despite the general awfulness of the Christmas song there are however always exceptions to the rule and I have a short list of personal favorites.
Without exception all my choices not only include the song but the best performer of that song and so in no particular order here is my thirty sixth selection.

“Cool Yule”
Written by Steve Allen
Performed by Louis Armstrong

From Coney Island to The Sunset Strip
Somebody's gonna make a happy trip
Tonight, while the moon is bright
He's gonna have a bag of crazy toys
To give the groanies of the girls and boys
So dig, Santa comes on big
He'll come a callin' when the snow's the most
When all you cats are sleepin' warm as toast
And you gonna flip when Old Saint Nick
[Incomprehensible] a lick on the peppermint stick
He'll come a flyin' from a higher place
And fill the stocking by the fireplace
So you'll have a yule that's cool
Yeah, from Coney Island to The Sunset Strip
Somebody's gonna make a happy trip
Tonight, while the moon is bright
He's gonna have a bag of crazy toys
To give the groanies of the girls and boys
So dig, Santa comes on big
Come a callin' when the snow's the most
Cats are sleepin' warm as toast
And you gonna flip when the Old Saint Nick
[Incomprehensible] a lick on the peppermint stick
He'll come a flyin' from the higher place
Fill the stockings by the fireplace
So you'll have a yule that's cool
Have a yule that's cool
Yeah, cool yule

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 40 ROCKING CAROL

Rocking Carol
Czech traditional Music and lyrics authorship unknown

Little Jesus, sweetly sleep, do not stir
We will lend a coat of fur
We will rock you, rock you, rock you
We will rock you, rock you, rock you
See the fur to keep you warm
Snugly round your tiny form.
Mary's little baby, sleep, sweetly sleep
Sleep in comfort, slumber deep
We will rock you, rock you, rock you
We will rock you, rock you, rock you
We will serve you all we can
Darling, darling little man.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 37 WHEN CHRISTMAS COMES TO TOWN

Despite the general awfulness of the Christmas song there are however always exceptions to the rule and I have a short list of personal favorites.
Without exception all my choices not only include the song but the best performer of that song and so in no particular order here is my thirty seventh selection.

“When Christmas Comes to Town”
Written by Glen Ballard and Alan Silvestri
Performed by Matthew Hall and Meagan Moore

La La La La La La
La La La La La
La La La La La
I'm wishing on a star
And trying to believe
That even though its far
He'll find me Christmas Eve
I guess that Santa's busy
Cause he never comes around
I think of him
When Christmas comes to town
The best time of the year
When everyone comes home
With all this Christmas cheer
Its hard to be alone
Putting up the Christmas tree
With friends who come around
Its so much fun
When Christmas comes to town
Presents for the children
Wrapped in red and green
All the things Ive heard about
But never really seen
No one will be sleeping on the night of Christmas Eve
Hoping Santas on his way
Presents for the children
Wrapped in red and green
All the things Ive heard about
But never really seen
No one will be sleeping on the night of Christmas Eve
Hoping Santas on his way
When Santas sleigh bells ring
I listen all around
The herald angels sing
I never hear a sound
And all the dreams of children
Once lost will now be found
Thats all I want when Christmas comes to town
Thats all I want when Christmas comes to town

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 41 SANS DAY CAROL

Sans Day Carol
English (Cornish) traditional Music and lyrics authorship unknown

Now the holly bears a berry as white as the milk,
And Mary bore Jesus, all wrapped up in silk:
And Mary bore Jesus our Saviour for to be,
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly.
Holly! Holly!
And the first tree in the greenwood, it was the holly!
Now the holly bears a berry as green as the grass,
And Mary bore Jesus, who died on the cross:
Now the holly bears a berry as black as the coal,
And Mary bore Jesus, who died for us all:
Now the holly bears a berry, as blood is it red,
Then trust we our Saviour, who rose from the dead:

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 38 HERE COMES SANTA CLAUS (RIGHT DOWN SANTA CLAUS LANE)

Despite the general awfulness of the Christmas song there are however always exceptions to the rule and I have a short list of personal favorites.
Without exception all my choices not only include the song but the best performer of that song and so in no particular order here is my thirty eighth selection.

“Here Comes Santa Claus (Right Down Santa Claus Lane)”
Written by Gene Autry and Oakley Haldeman
Performed by Bing Crosby and The Andrews Sisters

Here comes Santa Claus,
Here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus Lane,
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
Pullin' on the reins.
Bells are ringin', children singin',
All is merry and bright.
Hang your stockings and say your prayers,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.

Here comes Santa Claus,
Here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus Lane,
He's got a bag that's filled with toys
For boys and girls again.
Hear those sleigh bells jingle jangle,
Oh what a beautiful sight,
Jump in bed, and cover your head,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.

Here comes Santa Claus,
Here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus Lane,
He'll come around when chimes ring out,
It's Christmas time again.
Peace on earth will come to all,
If we just follow the light,
Let's give thanks to the Lord above
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.

Here comes Santa Claus,
Here comes Santa Claus,
Right down Santa Claus Lane,
Vixen and Blitzen and all his reindeer
Pullin' on the reins.
Bells are ringin', children singin',
All is merry and bright,
So jump in bed, and cover your head,
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.

Peace on earth will come to all,
If we just follow the light,
So let's give thanks to the Lord above
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight,
Let's give thanks to the Lord above
'Cause Santa Claus comes tonight.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 49 THERE IS NO ROSE

"There Is No Rose"
Written by Benjamin Britten

There is no rose of such virtue,
as is the rose that bare Jesu.
There is no rose of such virtue,
as is the rose that bare Jesu.
Alleluia.
There is no rose of such virtue,
as is the rose that bare Jesu.
For in this rose contained
was heaven and earth in little space.
Resmiranda.
(Wondrous thing)
There is no rose of such virtue,
as is the rose that bare Jesu.
For by that rose we may well see
that he is God in persons three.
Pariforma.
(One in form)
There is no rose of such virtue,
as is the rose that bare Jesu.
The angels sungen the shepherds to:
Gloria in excelsis Deo.
(Glory to God in the highest)
Gaudeamus.
(Let us rejoice)
There is no rose of such virtue,
as is the rose that bare Jesu.
Leave all this worldly mirth
and follow we this joyful birth.
Transeamus.
(Let us cross over)
There is no rose of such virtue,
as is the rose that bare Jesu.

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS SONG # 39 FROSTY THE SNOWMAN

Despite the general awfulness of the Christmas song there are however always exceptions to the rule and I have a short list of personal favorites.
Without exception all my choices not only include the song but the best performer of that song and so in no particular order here is my thirty ninth selection.

“Frosty the Snowman”
Written by Steve Nelson and Jack Rollins
Performed by Perry Como

Frosty the Snowman, was a jolly happy soul,
With a corn cob pipe and a button nose, and two eyes made of coal.

Frosty the Snowman, is a fairytale, they say.
He was made of snow, but the children know he came to life one day.

There must have been some magic in that old silk hat they found,

For when they placed it on his head, he began to dance around!

Oh, Frosty, the Snowman, was alive as he could be;
and the children say he could laugh and play,
just the same as you and me.

Thumpety thump, thump, thumpety thump, thump,
look at Frosty go.

Thumpety thump, thump, thumpety thump, thump,
over the hills of snow.

Frosty the Snowman, knew the sun was hot that day,
so he said, "Let's run, and we'll have some fun now, before I melt away."

Down to the village, with a broomstick in his hand,
Running here and there, all around the square,
sayin', "Catch me if you can."

He led them down the streets of town, right to the traffic cop;

and only paused a moment, when he heard him holler, "Stop!"

For Frosty, the Snowman, had to hurry on his way,
But he waved goodbye, sayin' "Don't cry, I'll be back again some day."

FAVOURITE CHRISTMAS CAROL # 51 A VIRGIN UNSPOTTED (A VIRGIN MOST PURE)

"A Virgin Unspotted" ("A Virgin Most Pure")
English Traditional

A virgin unspotted, the prophet foretold,
Should bring forth a Savior, which now we behold,
To be our Redeemer from death, hell, and sin,
Which Adam’s transgression had wrappèd us in.
Aye and therefore be merry, set sorrow aside,
Christ Jesus our Savior was born on this tide.
At Bethlehem city in Jewry it was
That Joseph and Mary together did pass,
All for to be taxèd with many one moe [sic],
Great Caesar commanded the same should be so.
Refrain
But when they had entered the city so fair,
A number of people so mighty was there,
That Joseph and Mary, whose substance was small,
Could find in the inn there no lodging at all.
Refrain
Then were they constrained in a stable to lie,
Where horses and asses they used for to tie;
Their lodging so simple they took it no scorn,
But against the next morning our Savior was born.
Refrain
The King of all kings to this world being brought,
Small store of fine linen to wrap Him was sought,
But when she had swaddled her young Son so sweet,
Within an ox manger she laid Him to sleep.
Refrain
Then God sent an angel from Heaven so high,
To certain poor shepherds in fields where they lie,
And bade them no longer in sorrow to stay,
Because that our Savior was born on this day.
Refrain
Then presently after the shepherds did spy
Vast numbers of angels to stand in the sky;
They joyfully talkèd and sweetly did sing,
To God be all glory, our heavenly King.
Refrain
To teach us humility all this was done,
And learn we from thence haughty pride for to shun:
A manger His cradle who came from above,
The great God of mercy, of peace and of love.
Refrain

An Unentertaining Christmas

Since the advent of Cable and Satellite the quality of the entertainment seems to diminish as each Christmas passes.
It used to be bad enough in the old days when there were only three channels to fill.
Now we allegedly have more choice than we have ever had, although I think the reality is that we merely have more channels.
The terrestrial channels can’t compete and to be honest don’t even try any more to offer anything that we might consider to be of acceptable quality.
Year after year all five channels are packed with a mixture of repeats and things which should never be seen again.
Take this Christmas just gone, I can’t think of one single stand out program that appeared on the terrestrial channels.
To be truthful it doesn’t have to be the latest Christmas schedule as every one is the same.
The Great Escape, Tom Browns schooldays, Mr Chips and the obligatory Sound of Music.
However there are sometimes a selection of new dramas though quite honestly they do flatter to deceive.
I remember one holiday season several years ago one of the offerings was something called Uncle Adolph.
God alone knows what they were thinking.
Ken Stott had the lead role, although he was more reminiscent of Groucho Marx than the Fuhrer and at one point good old incestuous Uncle Adolph was sat knocking out a tune on the piano to impress his pretty young niece and I genuinely thought he was going to burst into a chorus of “Springtime for Hitler”.
To be quite honest the play couldn’t have been anymore ludicrous if he had.
I do still get my bumper Christmas edition of the Radio Times every year and open it with real hope that this year will be better than the one before, but alas.

Christmas Movie Reviews # 2

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - A CAROL CHRISTMAS (2003)

An enjoyable and humorous reworking of Charles Dickens well spun yarn of redemption.
This retelling of the story is of an ego-maniacal driven and heartless TV talk show host, Carol Cartman (Tori Spelling) who is determined to destroy the festive fun in the studio.
However on Christmas Eve she is visited by the ghost of her Aunt Marla (Dinah Manoff).
The story unfolds much as you might expect from then on but the late Gary Coleman is a quite excellent Ghost of Christmas Past and William Shatner steals the show as the Ghost of Christmas Present.
The use of the Star Trek tele-porter effect when he "moved" Carol from one location to another was quite inspired.
There are also very credible performances from Nina Siemaszko as ill-used assistant Roberta and Michael Landes as Roberta’s love interest Jimmy.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - 12 DAYS OF CHRISTMAS EVE

This is a “Groundhog Day” style Christmas Tale.
Calvin Carter (Steven Weber), is a very successful business executive who has it all, but he blatantly neglects all those closest to him.
But on Christmas Eve, all that changes when a large sign on his office building falls on him. He awakes in what appears to be a hospital bed, attended to by Angie (Molly Shannon), a nurse who soon lets him know he has 12 days (12 chances) to get his act together and achieve the "perfect" Christmas Eve.
As each subsequent Christmas Eve slips by he succeeds only in making perfect Christmas Eve’s for himself.
Finally he is told in no uncertain terms that if he doesn’t figure out what he is doing wrong there will be dire consequences.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - THE CHRISTMAS GIFT

George Billings (John Denver) is a successful New York City architect and his boss Thomas A. Renfield (Edward Winter) sends him on a business trip to look over a small Colorado town that he has earmarked for a possible real estate development.
One year earlier, at Christmastime, George’s beloved wife had died so what was meant to be a joyous season is a time of painful memories for George and his seven year old daughter Alexandra (Gennie James).
George decided he would take his daughter with him on the trip for a Christmas vacation and when he and Alex arrived in the small charming hamlet of Georgetown, they discovered that it was a place where everyone, from the very oldest inhabitant to the very youngest child, believed in Santa Clause.
It doesn’t take long for George and Alex to fall under the towns spell, or for George to do the same with the hamlets lovely postmistress Susan McMillan (Jane Kaczmarek).
Unfortunately, on the strength of George's glowing reports, his boss Renfield proceeds with plans to transform the town into a modern ski resort.
Soon everyone, Susan and Alex included turns against George, despite the fact he had already lost his job for protesting against it.
However he wins the inhabitants of the mystical Colorado town back with his daring plan to thwart Renfield and preserve Georgetown's old fashioned charm.
And just to make the whole tale even more special Santa pitches in with a few "miracles" of his own.
But Pat Corley as Taxi Driver Bud Sawyer and the ever reliable Mary Wickes as Henrietta are the icing on the very festive Christmas cake

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - MR ST NICK

King Nicholas XX (Charles Durning) is ready to retire and pass the throne to his son, Nick St Nicholas (Kelsey Grammer).
But Nick fails to turn up for the rehearsal of his coronation, preferring instead his lavish Florida seaside lifestyle and his sexy girlfriend.
So he falls out with his father and is enticed into portraying a fictitious Santa Claus for a charity (Mr.SaintNick.com) by Heidi (Elaine Hendrix) and Hector (Luis Garcia).
His only remaining link to the North Pole is his butler Jasper (Brian Bedford) who then hires a new cook, Lorena (Ana Ortiz) who will prove to be Nick’s salvation.
While Nick begins to fall in love with Heidi and asks her to marry him, he is totally unaware that Hector and Heidi are transferring the charity's money into their own account in the Cayman Islands and leaving Nick as the patsy.
Only a miracle can save Christmas with the help of Queen Carlotta (Katherine Helmond).

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - ANNIE CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN

Santa's daughter Annie (Maria Thayer) is to take her first trip away from the North Pole during the Christmas season.
The hope is she will find adventure and love in sunny California.
Annie arrives in Los Angeles and becomes friends with Lucy (Vivica A. Fox), the owner of the Candy Cane Inn and her daughter, Mia (Nay Nay Kirby).
Very soon she finds a job at Wonderland Toys and is persuaded to direct the Christmas Pageant at Mia’s School.
Wonderland Toy’s is an old fashioned Toy store selling old-fashioned toys in a digital world and the owner, Ted (Sam Page) is struggling to stay in business
All the while this is going on a plot hatched at the North Pole to have her fall in love with an unemployed actor named Dean so that her Uncle Chester can take over the business.
But Annie soon realizes that she wants Ted's business to thrive because she has feelings for this Christmas traditionalist.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - THE GATHERING (1977 TV MOVIE)

When Adam Thornton (Ed Asner) learns that he only has a little time left to live, he decides that he wants to make peace with his family.
However that was easier said than done, due mainly to his stubborn nature, but walking out on his wife didn’t help nor did his estrangement with his youngest son after an argument.
When his doctor told him it wasn’t good for him to travel it wss suggested that he invite the whole family to spend Christmas with him.
Although most of them accept, Adam's attempts at reconciliation prove far from easy.

The Gathering is a wonderful holiday treat with just the right balance of sentimentality and saccharin.
Ed Asner is perfect as the estranged husband and father but Maureen Stapleton is simply brilliant as Kate and is by far the best of a very strong cast.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - DEAR SECRET SANTA

Beverly Hills workaholic banker Jennifer (Tatyana Ali) returns home to her small Northern California home town just before Christmas, after her dad, Ted (Bill Cobbs), falls badly while putting up Christmas decorations.
Much to her father’s annoyance Jenny moves into her old room to look after him.
And while she’s at home, Jenny begins getting romantic Christmas cards from an unknown admirer, who turns out to be her old next door neighbour and the unrealized love of her life, Jack (Lamorne Morris).
Which would be perfect but for one small problem, Jack died in a car accident three years earlier.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - HOLIDAY INN

On Christmas Eve Jim Hardy (Bing Crosby), prepares to give his last performance as part of a musical act popular in the New York City nightlife scene with Ted Hanover (Fred Astaire), and Lila Dixon (Virginia Dale).
After the show he and Lila were going to marry and then retire to a farm in Connecticut.
At the last minute, Lila decides she is not ready to stop performing, and says that she has fallen in love with Ted and plans to stay on as Ted's dancing partner.
Heartbroken Jim follows through with his plan and bids the act and the treacherous pair goodbye.
On Christmas Eve one year later, Jim is back in New York City, farm life had proven more difficult than he expected and he was planning to turn his farm into an entertainment venue instead which will only be open on holidays called "Holiday Inn.
Ted and his agent Danny Reed (Walter Abel) scoff at the plan, but wish him luck.

While ordering flowers for Lila, at the airport flower shop, Danny is accosted by employee Linda Mason (Marjorie Reynolds) who recognizes him as a talent agent.
Danny brushes her off and refers her to Holiday Inn and gives her a pass to Ted's club.
That night, Linda sits with Jim and they spin each other a yarn, he says he owns a big club and she says she’s a celebrity friend of Ted Hanover.

Linda arrives at Holiday Inn on Christmas morning where she meets Jim and they both realised they had been fooling each other the previous evening.
They take to one another immediately as Jim is preparing the place for New Year's Eve, and he sings her his new song, "White Christmas".
In New York City Meanwhile, Ted learns that Lila is leaving him for a Texas millionaire.
He gets completely drunk and turns up at Holiday Inn to talk with Jim but ends up performing a dazzling dance with Linda to great acclaim.
Over the following months Jim and Linda fall in love while Ted tries desperately to find his mystery dance partner.
Jim is determined that he should not and as one Holiday follows another he becomes more and more desperate in his attempt to keep Linda for himself that he ends up pushing her into Ted’s grasp.

He spent a lonely Thanksgiving with the Inn closed and was deeply depressed, Linda was in California with Ted making a movie based on Holiday Inn, unable to eat the turkey dinner prepared for him by his housekeeper Mamie (Louise Beavers).
In the end Mamie begged him to travel to Hollywood to win Linda back by telling her exactly how he felt about her.

Jim arrived at the studio on Christmas Eve, there was just one scene left to film and then Ted was taking Linda away to get married.
Jim confronted Ted in his dressing room the pair of them locked him in a closet but he managed to turn the tables on them and locked Ted and Danny in.

The final scene for the movie featured a faithful recreation of Holiday Inn,
Jim is shown around the set by the director when he is left alone Jim leaves his pipe on the set's piano and hides nearby.
When Linda entered the room she sat at the piano, and performed "White Christmas" but when she noticed the pipe on the piano, her voice faltered, and when she continued Jim's voice joined hers.
Jim appeared from his hiding place and Linda ran to him.
As the director yelled "cut" Ted and Danny burst onto the set, but they are too late.

On New Year's Eve, at Holiday Inn, Ted is reunited with Lila and they reprise their partnership.
While Jim and Linda prepare to stay together and run the Inn.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - THE CHRISTMAS SHOES

This is the perfect merging of two separate stories that together make a third.
In the first, a young music teacher, Maggie Andrews (Kimberly Williams), discovers she is dying of a heart condition.
When it becomes obvious there is no hope, her son Nathan (Max Morrow) decides he wants to get a pair of Christmas shoes for her before she dies.
In the second one, ambitious workaholic lawyer Robert Layton (Rob Lowe) and his wife Kate (Maria del Mar) find they are slowly drifting apart.
During the run up to Christmas she baulks at his constant nagging for her to return to work and she decides to take over from Maggie with the school choir and declines a job in Robert's firm.
Things come to a head when Robert's mother passes away, which forces him to reconsider things and his and Nathan's paths cross on Christmas Eve as Robert tries to get a present for his daughter and Nathan finds he doesn’t have enough money for his mum’s Christmas shoes.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - HITCHED FOR THE HOLIDAYS

Rob Marino (Joey Lawrence) is a commitment-phobe so when he breaks up with his girlfriend before Thanksgiving, his big Italian family criticized him for his inability to keep a relationship through the holidays.
Desperate to prove them all wrong and also to fulfil his grandmother's (Paula Shaw) dying wish to see him happy and in love, Rob goes online and finds Julie (Emily Hampshire).
She is another single New Yorker who's meddling Jewish mom (Marilu Henner), who constantly tries to entangle her with unsuitable partners, drove her to seek a temporary boyfriend.
Rob and Julie agree to pose as a couple through the holidays to get their families off their backs.
Things get complicated when Rob's Catholic clan and Julie's Jewish family get too involved.
But as Christmas comes ever closer they discover their fake feelings may be a little too real.

Christmas Movie Reviews # 1

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE HOLIDAY

If you like schmaltzy sentimentality wrapped up in Christmas paper and packaged as a romantic comedy then this is the film for you.
It is the tale of two beautiful women, Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) and Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet),
In London, Iris Simpkins writes a wedding column in a newspaper and nurtures an unrequited love for her colleague Jasper Bloom (Rufus Sewell) who is about to marry another woman.
Across the globe in Los Angeles, Amanda realizes the man that she lives with has been unfaithful with the receptionist.
So both of them find themselves at the end of failed relationships just before Christmas.
Amanda decides to take a two week vacation and surfs the internet where she meets Iris, online through a house exchange website, and Amanda impulsively swaps her L.A. mansion for Iris' country cottage in Surrey for the holidays.
Shortly after arriving at their destinations, both women find the last thing either of them wants or expects: a new romance. Amanda is charmed by Iris' handsome brother Graham (Jude Law) and Iris, with inspiration provided by legendary screenwriter Arthur (Eli Wallach), mends her heart when she meets film score composer Miles (Jack Black).

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – LOVE ACTUALLY

The huge cast of stars (too many to mention by name) pull out all the stops in this uplifting Christmas movie, as characters fall in love, fall out of love, make you laugh, make you cry and thoroughly entertain you.
The multi-threaded storytelling is very engaging and added to it's a lighthearted holiday flavour makes it a film you can watch again and again.
The final scene at Heathrow airport ends the film on a very uplifting note.
I see Love Actually as a new holiday classic.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – HOLIDAY AFFAIR

Holiday Affair is the Christmas season romance of a young widow and a sales clerk who (thanks to her) is unemployed.
I love this film and I am so pleased to have unearthed a previously undiscovered gem.
Robert Mitchum, Janet Leigh and Wendall Corey are the stars of this delightful little film which all centres around an expensive train set.
Janet Leigh has been left a single mum after her husband was killed in the war and works as a comparison shopper when she inadvertently gets Robert Mitchum fired from his job in a department store.
The story then unfolds in a classic love triangle after Mitchum is invited to Christmas dinner with her son and fiancé (Corey).
The eventual outcome is rather predictable but is managed in such an engaging way that you don't feel disappointed.
This movie is a charming example of an un-clichéd Hollywood holiday movie.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – DEAR SANTA

This is certainly cheesy and clichéd yet still manages to be a wonderful movie.
Amy Acker steals your heart as the poor little rich girl, told to do something useful with her life or lose her financial support.
Which she does after inadvertently intercepting a child’s letter to Santa, which brings her into contact with Haydn-Jones and his daughter Olivia Gowan.
She instantly falls in love with him and forms a close bond with her.
Gina Holden is excellent as the evil queen character as Haydn-Jones girlfriend who is at her worst/best when Acker comes between the two of them.
It’s a really sweet Christmas film not to be taken too seriously but is to be enjoyed.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – FOUR CHRISTMASES

Brad (Vince Vaughan) and Kate (Reese Witherspoon) have been together for three years. They are very much in love and spend their time having fun and doing a great deal of things together purely for their own enjoyment.
They have no intention to marry or have children and do their level best not to spend the holidays with their families.
However on Christmas morning, they are on their way to Fiji, having told their two sets of divorced parents that they're off to do charity work.
But the flight is cancelled and when, they are caught on camera by a TV news crew at the airport, they are forced to visit each of their four idiosyncratic parents.
As the day wears on, Brad and Kate remember their respective childhoods and each learns more about the other.
As a result Kate realizes that her life isn’t as good as it could be and finds she wants more from the relationship.
But does she want more than Brad can give?

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – THE FAMILY MAN

The Family man is a Capraesque style film in many ways, in which Jack Campbell (Nicholas Cage) a happy singleton with a successful career as a talented businessman wakes up to find his world turned upside down.
He has everything he could ever want, or so he thinks, then one day he wakes up in a completely different life where he is married to his old college girlfriend Kate (Tea Leoni).
He now lives in Jersey with Kate and their two kids and instead of being president of an Investment House he sells tires for his father in law Big Ed.
He desperately wants his life back, he wants his Ferrari back and not the temperamental family mini-van.
But after a bad start, day by day he become's more comfortable in his new life and starts to see what he's been missing and it turns out in the best Frank Capra tradition that money isn’t everything and love wins out.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – POLAR EXPRESS

The Polar Express is a beautifully animated magical Christmas feast based on the book of the same name by Chris Van Allsburg.
On Christmas Eve, a boy who has come to doubt Christmas boards a magical train that is headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus's home.
The story that unfolds is an engaging adventure aboard the magical train which for the boy and his new friends becomes a journey of self-discovery which shows them that the wonder of life never fades for those who believe.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - TRADING CHRISTMAS

In South Woodbourne, Washington, widowed second grade schoolteacher Emily Spengler (Faith Ford) loves the Christmas holidays, as do all the townsfolk, and she is looking forward to spending the holiday with her grown up daughter, Heather (Emma Lahana), as usual.
However Heather, who is at college in Boston, drops the bombshell a week before Christmas that she is going to be too busy studying to make the long trip home to South Woodbourne.
Emily calls her BFF Faith Kerrigan (Gabrielle Miller) for sympathy after receiving the news and asked her to come for Christmas instead but she is further disappointed when divorcee Faith tells her she is too snowed under with work to make the trip from San Francisco.
Also in Boston lives an unsentimental novelist and English professor Charles Johnson (Tom Cavanagh), who his desperate to break his writer's block and complete his latest novel which is overdue at the publishers.
In addition to his lack of sentimentality, along with his workaholic brother Ray (Gil Bellows), he doesn’t celebrate the season.
Ray, as the owner of his own lucrative business, is trying to decide if he should accept a very generous offer for his company, and advises Charles to do a house swap for the holiday suggesting that a change of scene might well help to unblock him.
And that is where the story really starts.
Emily and Charles meet on a house swapping website and agree to do a one week swap in the lead up to Christmas.
However all does not go well, Emily goes to Boston to surprise daughter Heather only to find on her arrival she has secretly flown to Phoenix with her boyfriend Jason.
Charles meanwhile finds the over decorated house and the over friendly townsfolk of South Woodbourne somewhat over sweet.
But that turns out to be the least of his problems when Emily's best friend, divorced corporate events planner Faith Kerrigan, arrives in South Woodbourne from San Francisco intent on keeping Emily company during the holidays in Heather's absence.
Due to circumstances beyond her control Faith is forced to stay at the house with Charles for the better part of the week.
At the same time Emily sets off the silent burglar alarm in Charles apartment and brother Ray and the Police walk in on her.
Obviously in true Christmas tradition romance blooms in both Boston and South Woodbourne.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - MY SANTA

Jen Robbins (Samaire Armstrong) is a single mother, who works as a writer of human interest stories for the small town newspaper in the town where she has lived all her life.
Alas she lost her Christmas spirit after her ex-husband Paul walked out on her six years earlier when her son Eric (Gabe O'Mara) was only one year old, and to add insult onto injury it was also Christmas Eve.
Despite her disdain for Christmas however, after a number of encounters, Jen finds herself falling under the spell of Chris (Matthew Lawrence), who is the shopping mall Santa Claus.
Eric truly believes that Chris really is Santa although in truth he is Kris Kringle Jr the heir apparent to the magic of Christmas.
He has set his cap at Jen to be the next Mrs. Claus, so that he can continue the Christmas spirit into the next generation.
But that woman has to truly believe in the spirit of Christmas for Chris to be able to take over the reins from his father.
So a cynic like Jen may not be easily persuaded.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER - IT'S CHRISTMAS, CAROL!

An enjoyable and credible reworking of Charles Dickens well spun yarn of redemption.
This retelling of the story is of a driven and heartless publishing executive, Carol Huffman (Emmanuelle Vaugie) who on Christmas Eve is visited by the ghost of her former boss, Eve (Carrie Fisher).
Eve tells Carol that she has lost sight of the things that are truly important in life and that she is there to show her the errors of her ways.
There is a wonderful reference to Dickens in the tale when Eve explains why the normal trinity of ghosts were all represented by her alone, as she was in sole charge of Carol's journey through her past, present and future, and that was because “Chuck” was prone to over embellishments.
It’s very much worth a watch if only for Carrie Fishers mischievous Eve.