18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

OFFICIAL RULES
-Movies, TV shows/specials, Short Films & Cartoons Count

-The movie or TV show DOES NOT need to be holiday oriented. It could simply take place during the holiday season (i.e. Batman Returns, Gremlins, Die Hard, etc.)

-Although the movie doesn't have to take place during the holiday season, a MAJORITY of the film HAS to take place during the holiday season. No movies with just one scene during the holiday season. If you're not sure, ASK!

-Any holiday from Thanksgiving through New Years Day may count

-A film can only be viewed once, UNLESS you watch it and then watched it again with a commentary

-There is no global goal, shoot for a personal goal. Whatever you want your goal to be go for it. For returning participants maybe your goal should be to beat a previous year's goal.

-Again, like past years there will be a THREE Wild Card option to include movies or TV shows you might watch during the holiday season that is not holiday oriented. Some families have watched movies like Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory every Christmas So anything is allowed, up to 3.

-Specials such as the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, New Years Rockin' Eve, etc. can count, but you MUST watch the entire special in order to count it.

-PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE number your lists! If you do not number your list it will not count towards the challenge

-It doesn't matter how you see the film, VHS, DVD, Blu-Ray, HD-DVD, Laserdisc, YouTube, Streaming services, Theatrical release, it can be counted. Just have fun.

-The challenge will begin at dusk on Saturday, November 19 2022 and will end at dawn on Monday January 2, 2023.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

New CBS-TV animated Christmas special.
https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/dvdtalk...a1c0429b61.jpg

Reindeer in Here

Premieres Tuesday, Nov. 29 at 8:00 p.m. ET on CBS
Featuring the voice talent of Candace Cameron Bure, Donald Faison, Henry Winkler, Adam Devine

Candace Cameron Bure is having a busy holiday season. Along with her producing and acting duties over at Great American Family, Bure has also voiced a character in a new CBS animated holiday special, Reindeer in Here. Based on the award-winning Christmas book, Reindeer in Here is the heartwarming story of how Blizz (Adam Devine), a young reindeer who has one antler that is significantly smaller than the other, and his unique group of friends band together to save the future of Christmas. In doing so, they unknowingly create a magical holiday tradition like no other.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

https://cimg2.ibsrv.net/gimg/dvdtalk...f475d10d02.jpgThe special comes after the singer announced the dates for her two-day Christmas revue, which will take place on Dec. 11 in Toronto, Canada and Dec. 13 in New York City.

Filmed in New York’s Madison Square Garden, the upcoming special will feature the singer-songwriter performing a selection of her festive holiday hits, including the chart-topping perennial favorite “All I Want for Christmas Is You.”

https://www.tvguide.com/news/ultimat...ls-guide-2022/

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Personal checklist:

ANIMATED
Rudolph the red nosed reindeer
Mickeys Christmas Carol
Frosty the snowman
A charlie brown Christmas
Flintstones 1960: A Christmas Flintstone
Bugs bunny looney Christmas Tales

TV EPISODES/SPECIALS
WKRP: turkeys away, Jennifer's home for Christmas, Bah humbug
Newsradio: XMas Story, Christmas, Stupid Holiday Talent Show
A Muppet Family Christmas

MOVIES
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
Ernest Saves Christmas
Scrooged
Elf

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

I didn't know if anyone was still doing this challenge. I'll see if I can put a list together.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

The height of my Christmas spirit was 2019, after a good friend who loved Christmas passed away. I vowed that year to figure out why she loved Christmas so much. I think I got the idea by watching this stuff. The last two years I spent with my girlfriend. We broke up in January, so I’m trying to find the spirit alone this year once again. I want to watch the new stuff like Spirited, The Santa Clauses, A Christmas Story Christmas, Violent Night, as well as discover some stuff I’ve not seen, which might be tough as I feel like I saw everything there was to see in 2019. I plan to hit all the usual classics. I didn’t watch Gremlins for the horror challenge this year to save it for this one. Plus, my Christmas Eve tradition of a Die Hard and Home Alone double feature will remain, even if I watch them before then. I hope everyone has a great holiday viewing season this year!

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

What does everyone plan on starting with? I'd probably watch the parade, charlie brown, maybe Garfield. Also Planes, trains and Automobiles. Rankin Bass special Mouse on the mayflower is on youtube. One must for me is the looney tunes short "porky pig and Tom turk."

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Tonight, I’m doing a Thanksgiving theme. Starting with Son in Law, the only Pauly Shore movie I like, then moving in to Pieces of April, which I’ve never seen. Then, either Dutch or Planes, Trains, & Automobiles. Tomorrow morning, maybe Home for the Holidays before jumping into the Christmas stuff.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

One of my favorite Christmas specials has always been the Nature episode, 'Christmas in Yellowstone'. And it's on YouTube, so watching it right now.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Right now on PlutoTV is a Christmas time episode of the price is right. Bob has his Christmas plad jacket on. I love that Pluto TV mainly airs early 80s episodes. I could just remember toddler me being around the house while the folks had the TV on for the noon news and the Young and the Restless. The candy cane and wreath decor, plus the "tpir express" that the girls used to ride on in showcases.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Haven't watched Nature in ages. Lost PBS with the 2009 digital switchover. I remember recording an episode with penguins and another one about hawaii.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Just finished up a double feature of A Christmas Story (1983) and A Christmas Story Christmas (2022)…

The original classic was a movie I liked, but never understood why it was considered such a classic. That said, it finally sunk in this time. It was a nostalgia piece about what it was like to be a kid at Christmas during your childhood. I didn’t see that movie until I was an adult, when the Christmas magic had faded from my memory.

The newest sequel is a pretty decent follow up. Losing a parent is hard. I lost my mother in 2017, so Ralph’s loss hit home to me as Darren McGavin passed away and thus, so did his character at the beginning of the movie offscreen. His return to the same house from the first one has possibilities and seeing Flick and Schwartz again was great. Even better, Scut Farkus was now a cop and a likable character this time around for his brief appearance. Not as good as the original, but still a decent movie with a lot of mods to the first one.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

You going to bother a rewatch of A Christmas Story 2 or A Christmas Story Live?

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

I’ve never seen either, but I’ll get to A Christmas Story 2 before the end of the challenge. It doesn’t look too good, so I skipped it tonight, but I feel like I should watch it to complete the franchise. Probably won’t do the Live, though.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

I saw some of Live and it was okay, but I find the original very overrated. I grew up without cable and never heard of the movie until 10th grade.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

I decided to take advantage of having Apple One this morning, and just finished A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving. It's not quite the same without Dolly Madison commercials that used to air when I was growing up watching them on tv, but still nice to watch.

I recently started a new job, but it's completely remote, so that should help when I want to watch something.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Yeah, I'd have to agree. It certainly doesn't warrant a 24-hour TBS marathon it gets every year, which is pretty much how I originally found the movie. Nobody I knew growing up ever mentioned the movie to me before. So, I was completely underwhelmed for years after my first viewing. I enjoyed it much more than usual this year, but still not a favorite of mine, as I much prefer Home Alone over it.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

I raced to finish my November Comedy checklist early, so now I can go full holiday for the rest of the year.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

I kicked this challenge off with the delightful Spirited, a movie my entire family adored. It might not be the holiday movie we deserved, but it was the one we needed. Next up is Planes, Trains and Automobiles.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Just FYI, if you have bought it during the current Criterion sale, The Last Waltz was filmed on Thanksgiving weekend.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Spending the night watching the Santa Paws movies on Disney Plus. They’re f’n ridiculously bad, but there’s just something about them I like. Talking dogs. I don’t get it, but maybe one day I’ll watch Air Bud and the rest and it’ll make some sort of sense. Doubt it, though.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Thanks for starting this, I just never had the time to get it going. I'll do my best to participate this year!

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Yeah, I didn’t grow up with the original and never thought much of it. The stage version was better—still not great—but I haven’t watched the recording of it.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

I might have to give this one a chance.

Started with Thanksgiving Friends episodes and then A Christmas Story. The 2nd is also on the list. Not my favorite but my sister loves it and since I'm at her house we're watching them.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Guardians of the Galaxy Christmas Special is funny as hell. Best new viewing so far…

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

I'm all in on this one. I've always watched *some* Hallmark Christmas movies, but the past few years I've taken it seriously, creating ranking lists on letterboxd and attempting to watch nearly all the new releases. I will do the same this year. I'm nearly up to 40 already in 2022. But some of those were before this challenge began.

My husband thinks I'm schizo since I love both horror and Hallmark movies. Maybe I am. :lol:

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

I like both as well, but Hallmark can wear really thin on me due to the similar plots of all of them. I’m a horror guy at heart, but I love the warm fuzzies as well.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

I know what you mean. Surprisingly, Hallmark scripts have been noticeably better this year (some duds not withstanding). They've had more unique storylines than the usual "city career girl goes home to save the family inn". Which is SUPER welcome. GAC is still stuck in that rut, though.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

My wife watches every new movie. She actually has an app for a Hallmark Movie Checklist to keep track of whats coming out and what she watched already. She'll give me updates... like Im at 100% of this block of movies.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Some of those friends episodes are new to me. Got the blu set when it was on sale. Wanted to give the show a watch as I miss that late 90s era of (nbc) sitcoms: seinfeld, frasier, wings, newsradio, Caroline in the city, just shoot me, third rock from the sun. Liking it.

Planning on getting most of the TV episodes out of the way soon.

Anyone see CBS's A Christmas Proposal last night? I only caught some from the other room. It had Delgado from csi Miami and that woman from all rise. She was also gypsy on the flash. It was charming.

CBS cashing in on the hallmark market with three new films.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Seconded.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

I'm a couple of days late but am finally getting in my annual viewing of Planes, Trains & Automobiles...

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

great, exceeded all expectations.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

I'm a bit of a late starter this year, though I did get some good watches in at my sister's. My goal the last couple years has to watch all my holiday movies at least once. There's a handful I watch every year, but I have a LOT of Hallmark type films I picked up for cheap that I've never watched or only watched once. I've been keeping track by keeping the ones watched laying down, so it'd be nice to finish up this year so they all face the same way again! It's doable, but we'll see. It doesn't look like too many on the shelf, but a lot of my cases have 4 or 6 movies in them.

The original is not my favorite movie at all. It's grown on me, but mainly because if it hadn't, Thanksgiving would not be a fun holiday with my sister who adores it. She literally watches it about 5 times a season. I think the second one is definitely watchable and relatable. I lost my father on Christmas Day 15 years ago, and it took a LONG time before any of us were able to fully enjoy the day again. We had to totally redo most of our traditions and plans. My sister's mother-in-law passed away this spring as well, so it's their first Christmas without her. So it definitely hit home for us.

I will say that we all decided the actress who plays the mom in this film (not the original actress, Julie...Haggerty? from Airplane) didn't quite live up to expectations.

This is on my list to watch. Good to know it's funny!

Friends has never been a must see for me. When it originally aired, I was not the demographic it was aimed for. I was more into Buffy, Dawson's Creek and so on. Now that I'm well past the demographic it was aimed at, I still don't feel the connection that those who watched it when it aired did. I will say that it mostly aged well and I can at least sit through a handful of episodes without feeling like my brain is dying. All the ones I saw were new to me, though I'm sure I picked up key phrases here and there. I did appreciate how close they all were and it does remind me of my close friends who are more like family.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

I use that app! :lol:

Thanks for the recs on Guardian of the Galaxy Holiday Special. So much fun. I loved the "Earthings are so weird" song at the start and the whole Kevin Bacon thing was hilarious. They're doing some truly creative things with these shorts.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

And I followed Planes, Trains & Automobiles with the annual viewing of A Christmas Story. It's a long time favorite - I've loved it since I first saw it during its original release. My wife can't stand it... and we would keep the TV on TBS at her mom's house every Thanksgiving - full ACS repeat... These days I just pull the disc and watch it myself - usually on Thanksgiving day - and sometimes put it on the player in the LR, on repeat, for gatherings. This year was a huge exception as everyone (and I mean *everyone*) in the family was sick with something... I had the worst cold I've had in years, my wife had a major asthma attack (still recovering), my daughter, her fiance, and her youngest 2 all got Covid, and my son's oldest and youngest got colds. Other than me, everyone just stayed home. I'd recovered just enough to go to my sister's house (a few minutes drive) to visit my 2 nieces and 2 nephews (3 of them live 6, 8, and 12 hours away and coming home all at once is pretty rare), the 2 respective spouses (one niece, one nephew), and the grand niece and grand nephew (they're cousins - ~20mo. old) - and they had a bit of a scare with the grand niece as she'd been exposed to "hand, foot, and mouth" disease so there was a bit of concern - especially since the grand nephew had just gotten over a rather bad case a few months back. It was a very good visit and we Face Timed with my wife so she at least got to visit virtually. I joked with my daughter that everyone getting sick on at least one major holiday a year seems to be a new family tradition... she was not amused...

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Tonight is CBS's annual airing of Rudoplh followed by the new Reindeer over Here afterwards at 9:01 ET.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

Finishing up Elf (2003) right now. It's another movie that, for years, I had no idea what anyone could possibly like about it. It's just Will Ferrell doing Will Ferrell things, but this movie has grown on me immensely. I went and saw it a couple of years ago at a theater that plays retro stuff and ended up loving it as my best friend had always loved it. When she passed away, I guess I took to viewing it in her honor. But I've grown to like it like she did. Maybe not as much, but I do find myself chuckling at certain things that I used to think were stupid, like Buddy's over-the-top enthusiasm for Santa Claus. I just hope I don't begin to like everything Will Ferrell does.

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

OK... what have you been drinking?!?! I was right with you up until you said "...this movie had grown on me immensely..." I own a copy, mainly for the grandkids, and just can't find anything to like when Ferrell's on the screen. I didn't bother pulling it for viewing as I don't expect any of the grandkids to be watching holiday movies with me this year. Bah! Humbug!

I absolutely respect and understand viewing it as an honor to your friend - but...

Re: 18the Annual Holiday Challenge DISCUSSION THREAD
 

I absolutely love it. I'd in my top 5 Christmas movies. I guess you either love Will Farrell or... not.
I just watched Spirited. I was expecting to love it but it was about 3/5 stars for me. Parts of it just felt stilted and some of the songs were meh. Loved Octavia Spencer though.