Well, you know it's Christmas around here when I start peering at the calendar and saying things like "I'd better get started if I want to get all my watching done" or "I need a schedule: last year I didn't get to the Carol until Boxing Day - that CANNOT happen again."
There are certain things that need to be read, watched, heard or sung during Advent. Some during Christmas, as well (by this I mean after the 25th), but mostly I like to start early. During the Twelve Days I can take in multiple viewings of A Child's Christmas in Wales, A Christmas Carol, and Nestor the Long-Eared Donkey. And The Nutcracker.
But Advent needs to be stocked with The Grinch, It's a Wonderful Life, Jack Frost, The Snow Queen, Charlie Brown Christmas, Love Actually, A Christmas Story, and the Muppet Christmas Carol.
I've managed three so far -- The Snow Queen, Love Actually, and The Birth of Christ. The last one is new to me - Dave and Joe shared it with me and I've waited since the spring to watch it at the right time. It's a marvellous cantata of original choral and orchestral pieces, narrated by Liam Neeson. Loved it.
One special which I never see anymore and I wish so much was available on DVD, is "Quartet Plus Four at Christmas". It's a little Canadian production featuring the very talented, Halifax-based Blue Engine String Quartet, and it used to air on Vision TV every year. I haven't seen it for a few years now, though, and I'm afraid my grainy, poor-quality recording (complete with commercials) from nearly a decade ago will not last forever.
So, what's on your Christmas viewing list?
4 comments:
Our list isn't as long as yours. We did How The Grinch Stole Christmas, tonight with the girls - they were seeing if for the first time - so we got to see it for the first time again. We do Birth of Christ and the Messiah DVD's a couple several times each. On Christmas Eve, every Christmas Eve, we watch the old A Christmas Carol. We also will watch 'Nativity' - a British movie about a Christmas pagent and have added 'Arthur's Christmas' which is way better than we ever expected it to b.
We just finished watching Arthur Christmas and had forgotten the HUGE amount of Canadian content in it ... if you don't have it rush out and get it for you and the kids. Guarentee you all laugh out loud at least twice.
We are going to see a live production of A Christmas Carol next week. Fun.
Clearly I should have stopped by your blog before asking for movie recommendations. What a list! Thanks. Gotta get to the library with it.
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