Darth Maher

For me, the show is cute. But it feels more “manufactured” than Boy Meets World. It was shocking to hear that it got cancelled though.

jholmes

Ha. That is really funny. :-) True. And yet they're strangely compelling.

I saw an article about how Hallmark Christmas movies are more needed than ever this year due to the angsty political climate. True.

I find it interesting that pretty much the universal message in these movies is that kindness, generosity and the simple life = good and commercialism/greediness = bad. Pretty much the opposite of public policy these days.

shadokitty

I just finished a good documentary that counted for this Challenge. All about the 1987 Rose Bowl champs, Arizona State. It talked a lot about the actual game.

jholmes

We just watched "Just Friends" (2005) with Ryan Reynolds (he plays part of it in a fat suit). It takes place entirely during Christmas. Really hilarious rom com. Recommended.

shadokitty

I stumbled across an entry for this Challenge without even trying just now. I was watching an episode of Roger Raglin Outdoors , on the Outdoor Channel, and it turned out that the family’s hunt was just before Christmas.

LJG765

I just watched "It's Christmas, Carol." I enjoyed it and liked Carrie Fisher in it.

The companion movie on the disc, "The Wishing Tree," was alright, but a little dark visually. Looked like an older film the picked to pair with the first.

LJG765

If anyone is struggling for the Oscar entry in the checklist, Holiday Inn qualifies-won for Best Music, Original Song. I'm torn on this movie. I like it but Ted is such a jerk in it. I'm not a fan of the blackface/Lincoln song either. It was normal for the times, but that segment has not aged well.

I'm on my way to completing the checklist. Watching a version of the Christmas Carol tomorrow night and that takes care of that one and the based on a novel one.

That just leaves the New Year's Eve ones. Anyone have any suggestions? I have some that I could watch for the TV episode, but am looking for new ones for that one and the special. I'll likely watch New Year's Eve for the movie though.

Bluelitespecial

I'm going to be done within the next few days including my New Year's viewing. I continued my Christmas Eve tradition of watching Christmas Eve on Sesame Street this morning. Also since football is on today, I figured it would be fitting to watch the Friday Night Lights series finale "Always". It is a Christmas episode in case any forgot.

ADD:- Alicia Witt was in the FNL finale, I totally didn't recognize her, but after watching so many Hallmark movies, its a surprise to see her here.

Doc Moonlight

STAR IN THE NIGHT is a short film that is included on the CHRISTMAS IN CONNECTICUT DVD or Blu-Ray (it was also shown on TCM the other night). It was the first dramatic film directed by Don Siegel, who went on to direct DIRTY HARRY, THE LINEUP and many other classics. It won an Oscar for Best Short Subject in 1945.

For a New Year's Eve film, I'll repeat my recommendation of THE PHANTOM CARRIGE of a few posts ago. It's also a silent film from the 1920's if you need to get those checklist items filled.

jholmes

I thought It's Christmas, Carol was just ok. I liked Carrie Fisher but the woman lead was such a bitch. Yeah, I know, Scrooge character. Still unappealing.

For New Year's Eve movie, Ghostbusters II qualifies and so does Trading Places, which is the one I watched. It was fun. Holds up pretty well. There are a few NYE TV episodes on Hulu. The special is a bit harder. I've found lots of Christmas specials on Hulu but not so much New Year's Eve. I figured I'd just watch the live countdown on Dec 31st. but maybe someone else has suggestions for NYE Specials?

Bluelitespecial

We’ve had debates here before about Ghostbusters 2 counting as a Christmas movie. I say it does as there is numerous references to it being set during the holiday season plus the finale is on New Year’s Eve.

jholmes

I found it on a list of New Year's Eve movies. Same with Trading Places.

jholmes

This should count for a NYE speical. It's only 1:09 long and sounds good.
https://www.amazon.com/New-Years-Eve...7s+eve+special

The ABC, CNN, etc. specials this year start at 8 so that's a hefty 4 hours to watch the whole thing.

After Jan 2, I want to catch up on all the 2017 horror movies that make year's best lists. I've seen a number, but I have quite a few still to watch.

shadokitty

I just finished my first view of Christmas Eve. I was browsing the Dish Guide and came across Andy Williams Christmas Classic , on Insp.

LJG765

Hmm, this may be a possibility, I watched it a few years ago, but I remember liking it. I do need the 1920s still, but I usually can fill this one and the 30s in pretty quickly with a short of some sort. But it'd be nice to get a 2-fer.

She was particularly bitchy, you're right. I didn't mind it too much, tbh. Ghostbusters II is a good suggestion as well! I haven't watched Trading Places in years, either...now I'm getting too many movie suggestions! I'd watch them all, but my nieces are coming this week and with the holiday tomorrow, I won't have a ton of watching opportunities this week.

This looks like a possibility. I even have some promo credit at Amazon...something different and not what I'd normally watch, so it definitely is peaking my interest. Thanks!

I've tried watching those NYE countdowns but they usually bore me after about an hour or so. I'll flip to them for the last 20-30 minutes and that's about it. Plus, our local channels tend to switch just before the ball drops and go to their own fireworks. More often than not, they screw the switch up and I miss both!

Thank you all for the suggestions!

TheBigDave

I agree. I've seen It's Christmas Carol a couple times. And the lead character is so obnoxious that she ruins the whole movie. She's completely unsympathetic. You want to see her get a comeuppance rather than a redemption.

shadokitty

Merry Christmas, everyone. I hope you all have a safe and happy holiday.

The Monkees

Wow, I really petered off these past few days, just really fell out of the spirit.

Merry Christmas everyone!

jholmes

Merry Christmas all! Hope you have a great day.

I'd love to go see The Shape of Water today, but it's not close to us here in Lancaster, PA. Dang theaters. Might drive an hour tomorrow to see it.

Trevor

Oh, The Shape of Water is worth the drive, such a beautiful film.

Merry Christmas everyone! I'm here at work enjoying Elf for perhaps the 40th time. If forced to pick a film to watch everyday, it might be this.

jholmes

I've found a rash of Christmas themed disaster movies on SyFy. Watching Snowmageddon now. Sort of like Hallmark movies production value/acting wise, but with disasters. Nice change of pace. :-)

There's also Christmas Icetastrophie, 12 Disasters of Christmas, Christmas Twister, Ice Quake. Amazon has them too.

shadokitty

I felt like watching sports tonight, so I watched a couple double credit entries for both challenges. First I watched the Cactus Bowl, on ESPN. After that was over I watched one of the Christmas basketball games, on WatchESPN.

davidh777

I watched Christmas Lodge thinking it was a Hallmark movie, but it wasn't. (It's "Thomas Kincade Presents," and one of the DVD "special features" is an order form for a pic of a representation of the movie.) I mean, Hallmark movies are inexpensively produced and formulaic, but this one was quite a bit worse. It also had a religious angle that I wasn't expecting.

Annoyingly, the DVD wouldn't let me skip or fast-forward the trailers, which is not-unheard-of, but even the Stop and Pause buttons were disabled.

BobO'Link

It sounds like you got hold of a rental version of the disc. If not, IMHO that's inexcusable! I got one like that from Hastings before they shut down. I demanded a refund - and got it.

shadokitty

I stumbled upon something for this Challenge just now as I was watching something for the TV on DVD Challenge. I was watching an episode of Bowlife on the Sportsman Channel, which turned out to be a Christmas episode. It was all about stories being told of Season 1 hunts while the family was decorating their Christmas Tree.