All the Christmas Movies That I Have Seen
1. Arthur Christmas (2011).
Before I saw this movie, I was beginning to think they stopped making good Christmas movies. I mean, sure,
Nothing Like the Holidays was not a bad effort, but it was hardly a classic. And most other Christmas films I've seen within the last decade -- with
one obvious exception -- did not even try to approach the same level as
NLtH.
Then came this flick and my faith was restored. Granted, when you have the reliable vocal talents of Jim Broadbent and Hugh Laurie, it is kinda hard to make a
bad Christmas movie. But writers Sarah Smith and Peter Baynham give it their best shot anyway. And although only time will tell if this film is as fondly remembered in 2052 as
It's a Wonderful Life and the original
Miracle on 34th Street are today, I would like to think that the odds are in this film's favor. If nothing else, Arthur Christmas' humorous but good-hearted quest to do the right thing on Christmas Eve is a pleasant alternative to the usual "dysfunctional-and-proud-of-it" Christmas movie that has so recently become the rage.
2. Rise of the Guardians (2012).
This year's
Arthur Christmas. Granted, it is a bit darker than
AC and less traditional than your average holiday movie. But in its own way, it works.
When I first saw the trailer for this movie, I feared that Alec Baldwin's very untraditional take on Santa Claus -- among other things, his version speaks with a Russian accent, carries two swords and proudly displays two arm tattoos that say "Naughty" and "Nice" -- would end up ruining the movie. But I was wrong to think so.
Not only was Mr. Baldwin's Slavic Santa surprisingly charming, but so were Hugh Jackman's Australian Easter bunny, Chris Pine's Impish-American Jack Frost and the oh so silent (and definitely not Neil Gaimanish) Sandman. For that matter, I also liked Isla Fisher's Tooth Fairy character though it was a bit surprising for me to see Ms. Fisher in a role that was so Earth Motherly after seeing her play so many ingenues on the silver screen.
If there is one flaw in the movie, it is the way that it veers away from any of the traditional religious elements associated with Christmas. But then the same thing could be said of many classic Christmas movies including
Arthur Christmas. And quite frankly, I would prefer that Hollywood stay away from such religious works as
The Little Drummer Boy and
The Night the Animals Talked lest they receive the same dismal treatment that
Dr Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas received from director Ron Howard. After all, there are worse things a good Christian could watch than a shamelessly pagan Santa Claus.
Labels: Alec Baldwin, Arturo Navidad, Chris Pine, El Origen de los Guardianes, Hugh Jackman, Hugh Laurie, Isla Fisher, Jim Broadbent, Mitos, Películas Navideñas I, Películas Nuevas IV
