The great "is it a Christmas movie" debate

[Dwarvenhobble]

So some films are explicitly Christmas movies like say Miracle of 34th Street or Jingle All The Way

Others there is debate over. E.G. Die Hard though Die Hard 2 explicitly states it's on Christmas Eve.

So time to make the argument for some films that you believe are non traditional Christmas films or should count as them though they're not explicit about it.

My submission.

Small Soldiers

My argument:

The film is about the release of a hot new toy line which the main selling period for such things is Christmas, with the idea being major shipments are being set to one of the major toy stores.

Throughout most of the film while outside everyone wears coats and often sweaters too.

The female lead in the film wears a distinctly Christmassy fleece jumper thing.





Banners early in the film are advertising the towns own Octoberfest





So over to you.

What are you non traditional Christmas films?

Do you think Small Soldiers should count or does it need to explicitly reference Christmas to count?

 

[BrawlMan]

So some films are explicitly Christmas movies like say Miracle of 34th Street or Jingle All The Way

Others there is debate over. E.G. Die Hard though Die Hard 2 explicitly states it's on Christmas Eve.

So time to make the argument for some films that you believe are non traditional Christmas films or should count as them though they're not explicit about it.

My submission.

Small Soldiers

My argument:

The film is about the release of a hot new toy line which the main selling period for such things is Christmas, with the idea being major shipments are being set to one of the major toy stores.

Throughout most of the film while outside everyone wears coats and often sweaters too.

The female lead in the film wears a distinctly Christmassy fleece jumper thing.

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Banners early in the film are advertising the towns own Octoberfest

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So over to you.

What are you non traditional Christmas films?

Do you think Small Soldiers should count or does it need to explicitly reference Christmas to count?

Small Soldiers is in the style of films like Gremlins anyway, so in a round about way it does kind of count. Even though the movie clearly takes place during the fall. If you want to count it, go right ahead. I ain't stopping you.

My list. I'm including games and TV too

• Die Hard
• Die Hard 2
• Parasite Eve
• Gremlins
• First Blood
• The Death Race remake. Yes, it takes place during Christmas.
• The Big O has an episode that's the equivalent of Christmas, called Heavens Day.

An Ass-Kicking Christmas - TV Tropes

A work/episode/story takes place during Christmas-time, and it's action-packed. "Peace on Earth, Goodwill towards man" kind of gets left by the wayside when some people just want some good, old fashioned fights and explosions. Maybe they're …

tvtropes.org

 

[ObsidianJones]

Well, here's my sideways take on it.

In most action movies, we're in it for the fighting, the kicking, the violence, and the awesomeness of all of that.

And there's usually a tacked on love story.

Think of the Matrix. Who cares how Trinity and Neo felt. Get back to the Gun-Fu. But since there was a love story in the movie, does it make it a romance flick?

The answer would probably be a resounding no. Whatever the movie's central conceit, that's what you name it as. Everything else is a backdrop.

 

[BrawlMan]

. But since there was a love story in the movie, does it make it a romance flick?

The romance I always found the weakest element of the Matrix films, and only seemed to get worse in the sequels.

 

[happyninja42]

The romance I always found the weakest element of the Matrix films, and only seemed to get worse in the sequels.

Any romance with Keanu is....wooden at best.

 

[Gordon_4]

Any romance with Keanu is....wooden at best.

It’s funny actually, of all the ones I’ve seen with Reeves, the Matrix is the one I like best. Carrie Anne Moss has a similar sort of subdued personality to Reeves and I think they connect in a believable if unconventional way. Could have done without seeing them fuck in that cave in Matrix Revolution though.

 

[happyninja42]

It’s funny actually, of all the ones I’ve seen with Reeves, the Matrix is the one I like best. Carrie Anne Moss has a similar sort of subdued personality to Reeves and I think they connect in a believable if unconventional way. Could have done without seeing them fuck in that cave in Matrix Revolution though.

Well honestly, despite what I said, yeah I do think they had pretty good chemistry in that series. The extended fuck scene/interspliced with a giant rave orgy did go on a TAAAAD too long. I actually liked the scene just fine, I think they should've just edited it down by like, well over a minute or more

 

[XsjadoBlayde]

I dunno, I don't really give a toss about trying to "define" genres, if it's good it's good basically. And if it's got snow, I'm throwing it in the Christmas bin, that's about it really. Honourable mentions include Hanna, Fargo, 30 Days of Night, Revenant, Let the Right one in, Horizon Zero Dawn Frozen Wastes DLC, March of the Penguins and much more.

Christmas is all about inclusivity, right?

 

[BrawlMan]

Any romance with Keanu is....wooden at best.

Honestly, I feel Keanu is a good actor, that gets goofed on way too much, because of his role in Bill & Ted. The dude has subtle acting and usually does fine depending the material that is given to him. Especially when he does something different or out of his comfort zone. The dude has range, despite what certain others may say.

 

[happyninja42]

Honestly, I feel Keanu is a good actor, that gets goofed on way too much, because of his role in Bill & Ted. The dude has subtle acting and usually does fine depending the material that is given to him. Especially when he does something different or out of his comfort zone. The dude has range, despite what certain others may say.

Eh, I disagree that he's got a lot of range. I've seen him in roles where he's supposed to play someone with emotions, and it's very hit or miss for me how well he actually does at feeling realistic. I like the guy, and I like most of his roles, including some of his more under appreciated films, but I still don't think he's got a lot of range, and is better when he's left in his comfort zone.

 

[happyninja42]

Eh, I disagree that he's got a lot of range. I've seen him in roles where he's supposed to play someone with emotions, and it's very hit or miss for me how well he actually does at feeling realistic. I like the guy, and I like most of his roles, including some of his more under appreciated films, but I still don't think he's got a lot of range, and is better when he's left in his comfort zone. I think he would do well if they paired him with a more emotive actor, in a duo kind of setup, where he's the straight man of the pair. It usually plays better for him in my opinion.