Christmas Movie Review: ***^Red One (2024)

 Santa (J.K. Simmons) has been kidnapped.  Callum Drift (Dwayne Johnson) as head of security is in charge of getting him back.  Zoe (Lucy Liu) head of the Mythological Oversight and Restoration Authority announces what has happened, and provides information to Callum about who hacked their system, Jack O'Malley (Chris Evans).  They go to visit him and he indicates he didn't know what he was hacking, and the buyer was anonymous.  Zoe hires Jack to help with the pursuit and places a tracker on him,  He is working with Callum who is reluctant to take him along.  However using Jack they find Ted (Nick Kroll) an information broker.  He divulges Gryla (Kiernan Shipka), the winter witch as the buyer.  As soon as Gryla's name is pronounced she is able to perceive this and sends snow monsters.  Ted is frozen.  They then travel to the home of Krampus (Kristofer Hivju), Santa's estranged adopted brother.  He is Gryla's ex.  He always thought things should be rougher for those on the naughty list.  Krampus is not involved, but Gryla has borrowed from him the Glaskäfig, which can be used to trap someone naughty.  Santa is in a similar device which zaps his magical power and keeps him unconscious.  Gryla wants to punish anyone who has been on the naughty list.  She tests this on Jack and his estranged son Dylan (Wesley Kimmel).  Being in adjoining Glaskäfig cells they are able to talk.  As they talk they warm up to each other.  The Glaskäfig begins to melt as they are no longer naughty and they are freed.

In tracking Jack's tracker they discover he is at the North Pole.  Santa has been held there the whole time, as have the elves and Mrs. Clause (Bonnie Hunt).  Gryla's sons have been helping her.  The rescue Santa and a big confrontation ensues, in which Santa is able to capture Gryla with the help of the elves.  Then on to save Christmas.

I found this to be an enjoyable Christmas movie but not a classic.  

Book Review: The Truth About Santa

The Truth About Santa: Wormholes, Robots, and What Really Happens on Christmas Eve, by Gregory Mone, Bloomsbury, New York, 2009.
The author is a contributing editor to Popular Science magazine.  He uses this knowledge, and his imagination, to paint a picture of Santa Clause as a man using alien technology and also the use of wormholes and time machine, and substitute Santas, and hibernation to explain how Santa is able to deliver so many presents Christmas Eve.  The author goes to far, insinuating that Mrs Clause is less than faithful "because she is hot." and that the elves protest having to change the diapers of Santa Clause and the substitute Santas when the hibernate.  My younger brother wrote a better story about Santa's use of technology.

Movie Review: The Miracle on 34th Street: The 20th Century-Fox Hour (1955)

This was a remake of the 1947 original with Natalie Wood and Maureen O'Hara.  I really enjoyed this remake.  It cut out some of the fluff, like the broojaja with the drunk Santa.  Kris Kringle had already been hired as the Macy's Santa in this version.  Santa was showing himself to see if he could regenerate the Christmas spirit which he felt was becoming too commercial.  He took on as his test case Susan (Sandy Descher) and her mother, the Macy's executive Doris Walker (Teresa Wright).  The other principle characters are Thomas Mitchell as Kris Kringle and Macdonald Carey as Fred, the lawyer friend.  The story is very much the same as the original, but is presented in only 50 minutes, so they had to cut some out.  This left Kris Kringle attacking a psychologist without much provocation.  Consequently if he had not been found incompetent for mental reasons he probably would have gone to jail.  As it was, the lawyer got him off using the U.S. Post Office letters and Santa was able to complete his duties Christmas Eve.  I just wonder what would have happened had he not gotten out.

Movie Review: ***^Arthur Christmas 2011)

This was a delightful Christmas movie.  This is a British/American collaboration between Aardman Animations and Sony Pictures.  This movie presents Santa Claus (who many believe is due for retirement) and his sons, the older, capable and the younger, mail room klutz.  Santa Clause, and his older son have a smooth operation, computerized, with a rocket powered sleigh, and everything is in order--except one child is missed.  Steve the older brother (Hugh Laurie) feels almost 100 percent is OK, and convinces his father, Santa (Jim Broadbent) the same.  However Arthur (James McAvoy), the younger brother worries about the little girl who will wake up without a toy.  Grandpa Santa (Bill Nighy) is seeking some honor for the last time, and takes Arthur to the barn with the old sleigh, and the flying reindeer.  Just like that they are off, but going through many adventures and bumps on the way.  It takes quite of bit of doing to get that bike there, and many times all seems lost.  However, in the end, all of the Santa realize they had lost the true meaning of Christmas.  For next year Santa is retiring, and younger brother who still believes, is going to be the next Santa, and Steve will be the top executive.  Imelda Saunton plays Mrs. Claus.

Christmas Movie Review: **I'll be Home for Christmas"

This Christmas season fare stars Jonathan Taylor Thomas as a spoiled brat, Jake, and Jessica Biel as his girlfriend, Allie.  He is so caught up in his own world, he doesn't want to go home from school for Christmas, but is tempted when his father offers him a car, and old antique.  He plans to travel home with his girlfriend, but a rival kidnaps him and leaves him in the desert with a Santa suit glued on.
This is not a very good movie.  It may be cute at times with the things that happen to someone traveling cross country in a Santa suit with no resources.  The idea of the movie is that Jake grows and matures, and starts to really appreciate his family.  (He turns down the car int he end.)  But he is still misusing others, stealing a sleigh even at the end.  Everyone is just suppose to accept his greater need.

Christmas Movie Review: ***Santa Baby

This is a cute little movie which shows the daughter of Santa Clause, who is a business consultant in the real world, and has come home to take over the family business as Santa has had a heart attack.  Being at home, she has some ideas to implement, less cookie breaks and more automation.  However her boyfriend follows her and he wants to purchase the North Pole and put in a mall.  She feels she has ruined Christmas, but things work out in the end, and she gets a new boyfriend.  Jenny McCarthy is Santa's daughter and George Wendt plays Santa.

Christmas Movie Review: Single Santa Seeks Mrs. Claus (2004)

I almost thought it was a waste to review this movie, as the plot is so very close to the movie "My Santa."  However, this movie was the first, and "My Santa" the copy.  Most movies create the scenario where Santa'a son (Steve Guttenberg) has to be married in order to take over as Santa.  They both find women who are sceptical of Christmas, the women have sons, the Santa's have a side kick.  In this movie he is named Nick, while in the other Chris.  The women in both movies has a suitor, more wealthy it appears.  In this version the woman comes out and states the theme to her friend, money or love.  The friend suggests money, ,bit she chooses love.  May we all choose love.

Christmas Movie Review: Matchmaker Santa

This is a cute little Hallmark Movie of Santa making up and bringing to pass some Christmas wishes from the past, like I want to meet my one and be madly in love.  This is a story of two couples who are mismatched, who in fact with Santa's help find the right match, at a small little town where they still believe in Christmas. Santa manipulates things by making the car not start, moving from place to place, getting a bear to hang around, etc., etc.  Lots of stars:
Melanie and Dean are being matched (Lacey Chabert and Adam Mayfield).  Unpartnering Melanie is Dean's boss Justin (Thad Luckinbill) but he meets an old flame, Blair (Elizabeth Ann Bennett).  Donovan Scott is Santa, John Ratzenberger the mayor, mechanic and Florence Henderson is an older woman in town.

Theatrical Review: Macy's Yes Virgina, There is a Santa Clause

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgfZx4_cYxY&list=HL1386914546
This is a children's musical version of the Virginia story.  Charlotte is just as mean as the other versions, and her cat is awful at the first.  The scraggly Santa dances with the birds, which is very well done.  The little friend of Virginia, Ollie, has something to say, which I missed in the other versions.
I’M NOT VERY BIG

AND I DON’T LIKE TO SHOUT.

BUT I’VE SOMETHING TO SAY

THAT I MUST GET OUT.

MY BEST FRIEND IS SAD,

AND THAT MAKES ME SAD TOO.

AND THIS PLAY SHOULD BE HAPPY

FOR HER, ME... YOU.

EACH DAY SHOULD BE FUN

AND BE FULL OF SWELL THINGS

,

LIKE TOY TRAINS AND PUPPIES

AND THE JOY SANTA BRINGS

WHY ARE SOME KIDS SO MEAN

THAT THEY MAKE OUR FRIENDS CRY?

DON’T THEY WANT TO BELIEVE

THATREINDEER CAN FLY?

I’M NOT VERY BIG

AND I DON’T LIKETO SHOUT.

BUT I THOUGHT YOU SHOULD KNOW

WHAT I MUST GET OUT

This is a story of the letter sent by Virginia O'Hanlan to the New York Sun, and the answer she received.  The cast sings the answer at the end, just before we see Charlotte change her mind, as she wants to believe in Santa too.

YES, VIRGINIA, THERE’S A SANTA CLAUS.

HE’S AS REAL AS HOPE AND LOVE.

LOOK AROUND AND YOU’LL FIND SANTA CLAUS

IN THE BOUNDLESS WORLD YOU’RE

DREAMING OF.

EVEN THOUGH YOU MAY NOT SEE HIM

ON HIS SLEIGH THIS CHRISTMAS EVE,

YES, VIRGINIA, THERE’S A SANTA CLAUS.

IT’S TRUE IF YOU BELIEVE

Christmas Movie Review: ***My Santa (2013)

"My Santa" is an interesting Christmas movie.  It pairs Chris Kringle (Mathew Lawrence) as the son of Santa Clause, who for some reason has to find the right Mrs. Clause, Jen (Samaire Armstrong), before midnight Christmas Eve.  They meet as he is a mall Santa, who promises too much to her son, and she wants to give him a piece of her mind.  However she just can't in the end.  He can tell he has picked the right person because his Santa magic starts to become active.  However the person he picks does not believe in Christmas and Santa Clause.  He slowly grooms her, but when the time come and he proposes to her, and tells her who he really is, she thinks he is just crazy.  Things are going so wrong.  However her son reminds her of the magic of Christmas, and when the right gift shows up under her tree, she knows it is him.  But is it too late?

Movie Review: ****Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Claus (1991)

This is a 1991 made for TV movie with Ed Asner as the newspaper editor, Charles Bronson as the ace reporter, Francis Church and Richard Thomas as Virginia's father.  This movie, at the first has many many antagonists.  Co worker at the dock who have racial attitude against Irish, competitor newspaper reporter who have it in for Mr Church.  Church is struggling with alcohol addiction after losing his wife and child to illness.
Basically there are many plot twists.  Virginia's family is poor, and her father loses his job.  She struggles with the Santa Claus question, but this is not a prominent part of the plot, but brings all the characters together at the end.
The question, "Is there a Santa Claus?" in the a very real sense saves characters in the movie, as they find an answer to this question.  And as they find the answer, they also find the Christmas Spirit.  With all the plot changes I was wary of this movie, but the ending really brings you in, and for this alone this movie is worth seeing.

Christmas Movie Review: ***^ Miracle on 34th Street (1994)

This movie has basically the same characters and relationship.  Richard Attenborough stars as Kris Kringle and Mara Wilson as Susan Walker.  Elizabeth Perkins plays Susan's mother and Dylan McDermott her boyfriend.  There are a couple of plot twists which keep this show interesting.  We are introduced to Kris Kringle who intervenes when a hired Santa Claus is inebriated.  Instead of a psychiatrist, the villain is a competitor store owner who is hoping to buy the store where Santa works.  A couple employees are trying to discredit the Santa Claus who is bringing the store back from the brink. The other interesting twist is "In God We Trust" gives the little bit the judge needs to not commit Kris.  The other is the three requests from Susan to Saint Nick and how they come to pass.  Again a classic.

Christmas Movie Review: ****Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

 This movie presents a young single mother, Doris Walker (Maureen O' Hara)and her daughter, Susan Walker (Natalie Wood) as a mother and daughter who have the attitude of only believing in things that are real, and not in Santa Claus.  It also has a Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) and a lawyer, Fred Gailey (John Payne) who defends Kris when he is being sent to an insane asylum because he insists that he is Santa Claus.  Kris Kingle is a very good Santa, and insists  it is more important for the children to be happy, than any one store to get sales.  There is a company psychiatrist at Macy's who leads the anti Santa Claus movement.  That leads them into conflict.  The case ends up in court, and there is a cute scene with the son of the District Attorney who is prosecuting the case.  The son points out his father told him who Santa Claus is.  His father is try to convince the judge to commit Kris Kringle to an asylum.  The judge is seeking some reason to accept him, and is given this when the U.S. Postal Service delivers letters to him.  Of course Doris had suggested this.  This movie talks about faith, and what faith is.  Doris and her daughter find faith in the end.  I really enjoyed Natalie Wood, and her emotions and expressions.  It is interesting the commercialization of Christmas was a theme over sixty years ago.  This movie is a classic.

Christmas Movie Review: ***Fred Claus

This puts the Santa Claus story in a new light.  Fred is Santa's older brother.  Not everything is cool between the brothers, as Fred has struggled living in the shadow of his younger brother.  Perhaps this is why Fred tends to the naughty side.  Finally, using tough love, Santa insists Fred come to the North Pole to work for the money he is needing.  This isn't a good year for Fred to be at the North Pole, as there is an intense audit going on, and Santa is under threat of being fired, and Christmas abolished.  Santa and Fred eventually air their grievances in a snowball fight, which gets rough, and Santa is left with a bad back.  He cannot deliver presents.  By the rules, only a Claus can deliver presents.  If they are not delivered by morning, Santa Claus will be done away and all the elves fired.  This movie stars Vince Vaughn as Santa.  This movie has some sexual inuendo, an employee who is scantily dressed, so a parent may want to watch this before letting children watch.  This is a made for TV movie.

Movie Review: ***^Yes Virginia There Is a Santa Claus (2009)

This is the 2009 TV remake of this story.  It uses more modern computer enhanced animation to tell the story.  It adds a corner Santa to the story, but the Charlotte is just as mean and spiteful as the original.  I enjoyed it very much, and it has a song from the musical at the conclusion, "Yes, Virginia, There is a Santa Clause."

Movie Review: ****^Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Clause (1974)

I really enjoy this short movie.  It is based on a true story of a little girl seeking to counteract her doubts about Santa Clause.  She wants to believe, but has some doubts.  She finally writes to the paper, asking her question.
I found the real story very interesting, and is presented through this website.
http://www.newseum.org/yesvirginia/
There is also a new musical sponsored by Macy's which is available on You Tube, but also for performing.  I watched this, and even knowing what was coming, was touched by the final number, "Yes Virginia, There is a Santa Clause."
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UgfZx4_cYxY

Christmas Movie Review: ***^Christmas Story

 This is a Finnish film, and it is a very good story explaining where their Santa Claus came from.  He is an orphan, who is finally adopted by a carpenter.  The carpenter not only teaches him the trade, but also leaves him a chest of money.  He then starts as a toymaker who wants to leave toys for everyone, and finishes with a bit of magic.

Christmas Movie Review: The Santa Clause 3: The Escape Clause

***Santa Claus III

  I had never watched this movie before, and was pleasantly surprised.  I enjoyed it more than number two.  Mr. Frost is so evil.  He tricks Scott Calvin into giving up Santa Clause and takes over.  He takes over Christmas.  Every thing goes bad until he is warmed by Lucy's (Calvin's step daughter) magical snow globe.  This was a fun show.

Christmas Movie Review: **^The Santa Clause 2

**^Santa Claus II  The second movie goes a bit too far, with the toy
Santa who takes over the workshop.  The battle between the toys and the elves is mostly just stupid.  However the battle between the two Santas is classic, and the romancing of a Mrs. Claus is fun.  In fact that is the best part of this movie, is the relationship with the school teacher who becomes Mrs. Claus, as required by the Santa Clause (as in rule.)

Christmas Movie Review: ***^The Santa Clause I

I have always liked this movie, and the play on words from different Christmas poems and how they fit in; such as the ladder company.  Tim Allen stars as Santa Claus and is funny as always.  Eric Lloyd plays his son.  I also liked the elves and the magic.  The North Pole is very magical.  The Elf security team is a bit overboard, but a fun show.