p e n g u i n d e v i l

Ah yes, the Christmas time is here again and we have been doing our Christmas mostes this year. Including, of course, some movies. This is really the first year that Elinor can really enjoy some of the classics from my youth (which, of course, I would rather have her enjoy than the ones that have been put out most recently. Of course, I am speaking of the Rankin/Bass specials! The ones that we have watched this time around are Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer and Santa Claus is Coming to Town. Now, rightfully, Elinor really appreciates Rudolph, which I also think is the best of the bunch (probably one of the best Christmas specials of them all, right up there with A Charlie brown Christmas). Not only is there the endearing story of Rudolph trying to fit in, but we also follow Hermey the poor little elf who wants to be a dentist, Yukon Cornelius seeking his Silver and Gold and the great and scary Abominable Snow Man, all who are seeking happiness. Yes it is a corny story of trying to fit in, but it is really great! The Rankin/Bass stop-motion characters and environment are just great to watch… But the high-light is, of course, the Island of Misfit Toys and their rad King Moonracer! Even though the Abominable Snow Man scared Elinor a bit (oh, those teeth), this one is highly recommended!

Santa Claus is Coming to Town, on the other hand, doesn’t really strike my fancy. Yes, it is the origin of Burgermeister Meisterburger, but as “the story of Santa Claus” I don’t really by it. In fact, I don’t see why anyone would need to tell the story of Santa Claus, just let him be. Plus, he is rather obnoxious of a character in this one.

Without Elinor (as in, more adult entertainment) we again watched the George C Scott version of A Christmas Carol. I find this to be a quite good version. Though I don’t find Scott to be the most convincing scrooge, he is a fine actor and he is sufficiently blustery to pull it off acceptably. But the other actor to watch this for tis the great David Warner (of Time after Time and Time Bandits) as Bob Crachit. The Tiny Tim character though, I found rather too annoying.

And finally, tonight we watched A Christmas Story. This one always confused me. It came out when I was a teenager, and one who had no interest in Christmas movies, so I don’t think I realized that it was newly released. I never got around to seeing it and until a couple of years ago I had always thought that it actually dated from the 50’s or 60’s! Anyway, the good old story of a little boy who wants nothing in the world more than to get a Red Ryder BB Gun for Christmas It is quite fun and whimsical and stars Darren McGavin (the Night Stalker!) and a lamp that looks like a reject for the Rocky Horror Picture Show. Plus, I think we can all relate to it. I certainly did have a Red Ryder BB Gun and I did hit myself in the face at least once with a ricochet… Though I neither lost an eye or broke my glasses and it didn’t hurt nearly as much as what I did to me thumb with it.