Unusual movies, shows to watch on Christmas
So it’s the holidays (holidaze?) yet again. That brings with it plenty of Christmas movies.
Yes, there are such classics as 1946’s “It’s a Wonderful Life” (celebrating its 75th anniversary), 1947’s “The Bishop’s Wife,” 1947’s “Miracle on 34th Street,” 1954’s “White Christmas,” as well as contemporary favorites such as the “Home Alone,” “Bad Santa,” and “Santa Clause” franchises, 1988’s “Die Hard,” 1989’s “National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation,” as well endless modernizations and spoofs of “A Christmas Carol” (most notably, 1988’s “Scrooged”).
Not to mention the endless parade of cartoons, specials, bad holiday comedies (1996’s “Jingle All the Way” and 2007’s “Fred Claus,” anyone?), and Christmas-set horror movies. Then there’s the cheesy yet feelgood Lifetime and Hallmark films. And how can we forget the 24-hour marathon of 1983’s “A Christmas Story,” beginning on Christmas Eve and ending on Christmas Day?
If none of these are your style or if you’ve seen them ad nauseam, here are other holiday-themed movies (and a TV episode or two) that deserve another look.
• “Die Hard 2: Die Harder” (1990): “You’re the wrong guy in the wrong place at the wrong time!” And thank God he is. The often-overlooked second installment in the “Die Hard” franchise also occurs on Christmas Eve, a year after the original. While waiting for his wife Holly’s (Bonnie Bedelia) plane to land at Washington Dulles International Airport, hero John Mcclane (Bruce Willis) discovers terrorists have hijacked Dulles air traffic control system in order to spring a drug czar being flown in from overseas. As a result, all planes must remain airborne with several running low on fuel — including Holly’s. This wildly unrealistic yet spectacularly entertaining flick also has some Michigan connections: It was partially filmed in Alpena and features Detroit native Vondie Curtishall and Farmington High School alumnus Robert Patrick as two of the terrorists.
• “The Long Kiss Goodnight” (1996): Writer Shane Black likes to set his movies during Christmas — 1987’s “Lethal Weapon,” 2005’s “Kiss Kiss Bang Bang” and 2013’s “Iron Man 3” — and this underrated action flick is no exception. Geena Davis plays teacher Samantha Caine, who’s found washed ashore on a beach, pregnant with her daughter Caitlin (Yvonne Zima) and totally amnesiac. After suffering a concussion during a car accident, Samantha discovers fighting skills she’s never demonstrated before, particularly when an assassin comes to her home. Recruiting P.I. Mitch Henessey (Samuel L. Jackson), learns she’s really a CIA assassin who’s been MIA for eight years. They also discover a false flag operation within the CIA. Let the fireworks begin!
• “Enemy of the State” (1998): Set during Christmas, this smartly-written, fast-paced techno-thriller directed by Tony Scott and produced by Detroiter Jerry Bruckheimer eerily predicts the Patriot Act. A group of National Security Agency operatives led by Tom Reynolds (Jon Voight) go rogue and kill a congressman (Jason Robards) who refuses to support new counterterrorism legislation that violates the privacy of citizens. They stage his murder to appear to be a heart attack. However, it’s caught on tape, which is unknowingly placed in the possession of attorney Robert Clayton Dean (Will Smith). Consequently, Reynolds destroys Dean’s reputation and makes him Public Enemy No. 1. His only hope to clear his name is an enigmatic man named Brill (Gene Hackman). Easily one of Smith’s best films.
• “The Man Who Invented Christmas” (2017): This biopic chronicles how Charles Dickens (Dan Stevens) wrote his 1843 novel, “A Christmas Carol,” which gave the world Ebenezer Scrooge and Tiny Tim. He has only six weeks to complete it in time for Christmas, which wasn’t widely celebrated at that point. He’s seen interacting with his characters as he pens his masterpiece, including Scrooge (Christopher Plummer). Despite the odds against him, “A Christmas Carol” is an overnight success and has profoundly impacted Christmas. Speaking of Dickens…
• “A Christmas Carol” (1984): Yes, many have portrayed Scrooge on the big and small screens — Alastair Sim, Reginald Owen, Albert Finney, Michael Caine, Patrick Stewart, Jim Carrey, et al — but few bring the gravitas to the role that Redford High School alum George C. Scott does in this adaptation. Indeed, he gives a tour de force performance. There’s a strong chemistry between him and Edward Woodward’s Ghost of Christmas Present as they exchange barbs with spot-on delivery. After Scrooge is redeemed, in the scene he apologizes to his nephew Fred (Roger Rees), he maintains his dignity and doesn’t grovel as seen in other adaptations. He also can’t help having fun with a tardy Bob Crachit (David Warner). This version closely follows the novel (with minor changes) and is considered the definitive version.
• “Miracle on 34th Street” (1947): Yes, this movie is mentioned above but always seems lost in the shadow of “Wonderful Life.” If Christopher Reeve is the definitive Superman, Edmund Gwenn is the definitive Santa Claus. In fact, he won an Oscar for this role. Santa/kris Kringle becomes the in-store Santa at Macy’s in New York City and creates quite the stir. Attorney Fred Gailey (John Payne) must prove Santa is the genuine article. Along the way, Santa befriends a smart yet cynical little girl named Susan (Natalie Wood), whom he must convince he is who he says he is. This movie also stars Maureen O’hara, William Frawley, Porter Hall, and Thelma Ritter in what is an enduring, charming tale that had no business being remade throughout the decades (particularly 1994’s remake).
• “The Nightmare Before Christmas” (1993) The Oscar-nominated animated film from the fertile imagination of auteur Tim Burton was originally a poem he wrote in 1982. Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon), the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, accidentally wanders into Christmas Town. Jack decides that he and his fellow Halloween Town denizens will take it over. He kidnaps Santa Claus (Ed Ivory) and delivers horrific gifts to children worldwide. In the end, he learns the true meaning of Christmas and works with Santa to fix his mistake. The film’s updated stop-motion animation and Burton’s distinct visual style, combined with frequent collaborator Danny Elfman’s musical score, make it a very unique treat.
• “Batman Returns” (1992): Another Burton entry deserving a second chance. Ignore the scenes with Penguin (Danny Devito) which ruin an otherwise worthy sequel to 1989’s “Batman.” It’s the smoldering chemistry of Batman (Michael Keaton) and Catwoman (Michelle Pfeiffer) that heats up this Christmas “tail.” Although enemies as Batman and Catwoman, they are lovers as Bruce Wayne and Selina Kyle. Once they learn who they truly are, things get complicated (quite the understatement). Burton’s distinctive vision of Gotham City set against a Christmas backdrop makes it quite the visual spectacle.
• “M*A*S*H” (1980): In the series’ best holiday episode “Death Takes a Holiday,” Hawkeye (Alan Alda), B.J. (Mike Farrell) and Hot Lips (Loretta Switt) work frantically to save a wounded soldier on Christmas Day. The secondary plot has a touching scene between the haughty Winchester (David Ogden Stiers) and Klinger (Jamie Farr) as they refer to each other by their first names for the only time in the series. Winchester’s line, “It is sadly inappropriate to give dessert to a child who has had no meal,” is profound 41 years later.
• “Buffy the Vampire Slayer” (1998): In the episode “Amends,” creator Joss Whedon shows what a vampire does at Christmas. A heatwave has gripped Sunnydale, CA as a brooding vampire Angel (David Boreanaz) is tormented by ghosts of people he killed before regaining his soul. Guided by the First Evil (Robia Lamorte), the ghosts convince him that killing Buffy (Sarah Michelle Gellar) will ease his torment. Instead, he chooses to commit suicide by basking in the dawn’s early light Christmas morning. Buffy tries to stop him as they argue in a powerful, tear-jerking scene as she tells him, “Strong is fighting. It’s hard and it’s painful and it’s everyday.” This scene alone demonstrates Gellar and Boreanaz’s chemistry and acting chops. As Buffy pleads with Angel, the heatwave turns into a cold snap as redemptive snowfall blots out the sun, saving Angel and giving him a renewed sense of purpose. The episode ends with them walking handin-hand amidst Sunnydale’s snowcovered streets to Christophe Beck’s musical score.