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Tuesday, December 13, 2022
Angelo Badalamenti Merges With the Infinite
Composer and the gentleman who scored my middle high school years, Angelo Badalamenti, has passed.
Monday, December 12, 2022
Hallmark Holiday Watch: Lucky Christmas (2011)
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| for the record, I don't believe there's any snow in this movie |
Format: Peacock (apparently now carrying old Hallmark movies...)
Viewing: First
Director: Gary Yates
So, did I watch this 11-year-old, largely forgotten Hallmark movie because it stars Elizabeth Berkely, she of Jessie Spano of Saved by the Bell fame?
Buddy, you know I did.
Let's get to it.
Is the movie good? No.
Is it Berkley's fault? In no way. She's doing what she can here.
Sunday, December 11, 2022
Friday Holiday Watch Party: A Christmas Melody (2015)
Watched: 12/09/2022
Format: Amazon Watch Party
Viewing: First
Director: Mariah Carey (...I KNOW!)
I thought it was very strange that A Christmas Melody (2015) does not play more on Hallmark's two 24/7 Christmas movies channels. It stars Hallmark favorite Lacey Chabert and America's Accidental Christmas Mascot, Mariah Carey, with a supporting role from the omnitalented Kathy Najimy. I mean - seems like a winner, as far as Hallmark goes. I was wondering if Carey had some deal that made it financially onerous for Hallmark to run the movie, or there was some extenuating circumstance. But, no.
Friends, this movie isn't very good.
I mean, sure, you could blame the fact they gave a whole movie to Mariah Carey to direct (no, she did direct it), but something is wrong at the script stage and it feels like 2015 was a year Hallmark's writers were still figuring out the formula and forgot to do things like give the male romantic lead any inner life so he doesn't seem creepy.
Saturday, December 10, 2022
PodCast 224: "Lois And Clark- S4E11" - a Superheroes Every Day Holiday Episode
Format: HBOmax
Viewing: First
Decade: 1990's
Director: Michael Vejar
Danny returns! To talk the 1996 Holiday installment of a Super-favorite. Join us as we get merry in both the 5th and 3rd dimension, talk all-things Superman, where this show fits in to the expansive history of The Man of Steel and how this episode works as a Superman story. So what happens when Howie Mandel arrives and wants to conquer the world? Our man picked the wrong holiday to try that one.
SoundCloud
YouTube
Music:
Lois and Clark Main Title - Jay Gruska
Holidays 2022
Friday, December 9, 2022
Friday Watch Party: A Christmas Melody
When it comes to people who have tried to make a career out of Christmas media, it's hard to top Ms. Mariah Carey and/or Ms. Lacey Chabert. Way, way back in 2015, this power duo teamed up for a single Hallmark movie. Hold onto your hats, because this one was also directed by Mariah Carey. I'm pretty sure its about a kids' singing competition or concert or some nonsense.
Anyway, this combo is like loading your 5 lb. bag of Christmas with like 100 lbs. of Christmas, and we're gonna do it, and we're gonna like it. No, I have not seen the full movie, just parts of it, which seems impossible.
We're gonna Holiday the @#$% out of this %$#@.
Day: Friday - 12/09/2022
Time: 8:30 Central, 6:30 Pacific
Service: Amazon Streaming
Cost: $3-$4
Happy Birthday, Teri Hatcher
Happy Birthday to actor Teri Hatcher, who is generally just a fantastic idea, but also a vital part of the Legion of Lois Lanes. She is therefore of special note to this internet website which sometimes talks about Superman media.
Here's hoping she has a great b-day doing whatever a Teri Hatcher does.
Thursday, December 8, 2022
Christmas Watch: Christmas in Connecticut (1945)
Watched: 12/08/2022
Format: HBOmax
Viewing: Unknown
Director: Peter Godfrey
Looking at those previous posts, it's remarkable how much the movie has grown on me, and I clearly forgot to write it up at least one other time.
Anyway, this is how I will end every Christmas from now on.
Tuesday, December 6, 2022
Doc Watch: Santa Camp (2022)
Format: HBOmax
Viewing: First
Director: Nick Sweeney
The basic concept for Santa Camp (2022) contains all the volatility you'd expect of a movie that decides to use the familiar cultural touchstone of Santa Claus and the people who play him in malls, parades, personal appearances, etc... to explore modern social wars and challenges of diversity and inclusivity.
The movie clearly has a POV, but it's also one that is never stated directly by the filmmakers - this is a doc that lets people be themselves for good or ill on camera. So, it lives in editorial choices. Who knows what was left on the cutting room floor? Maybe some stuff was worse? Maybe items that were innocuous are cherry picked for context? But when you're letting Proud Boys speak for themselves, it's hard to say how much nuance you're losing.
Opening with a meeting of a grand council of Santa's of New England, a role and career choice for aging white men who have a very certain look, we get an idea of who has been a Santa - who embodies jolly ol' St. Nick in our physical space rather than paintings and cartoons. To my surprise, this group of very similar older guys have already decided that maybe Santa needs more options for the public than just older, white, paunchy men, and they're in agreement that they need to start diversifying by inviting new recruits to their annual weekend retreat known as "Santa Camp".
Saturday, December 3, 2022
PODCAST 223: "The Nine Kittens Of Christmas" (2021) - a Hallmark Holiday PodCast w/ Maxwell and Ryan
Watched: 12/2/2022
Format: Hallmark Channel
Viewing: Second
Decade: 2020's
Director: David Winning
Maxwell and Ryan explore the concept of Hallmark Christmas movies via a single entry. How does it reflect the formula? How does it differ? What is the formula and why? And why so many cats? So think hard about your unshakeable Christmas traditions, grab a cup of cocoa and warm up in the cheery glow of a podcast that is alight with Christmas cheer.
SoundCloud
YouTube
Music:
Jingle Bells - Jingle Cats
White Christmas - Jingle Cats
Links:
Holidays 2022
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