4 Shots From 4 Holidays Films: Santa Claus, Babes in Toyland, Santa Claus Conquers The Martians, Scrooge


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.

4 Shots From 4 Holiday Films

Santa Claus (1959, dir by Rene Cardona)

Santa Claus (1959, dir by Rene Cardona)

Babes in Toyland (1961, dir by Jack Donohue)

Babes in Toyland (1961, dir by Jack Donohue)

Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (1964, dir by Nicholas Webster)

Santa Claus Conquers The Martians (1964, dir by Nicholas Webster)

Scrooge (1970, dir by Ronald Neame)

Scrooge (1970, dir by Ronald Neame)

4 Shots From 4 Holiday Films: Holiday Inn, It’s A Wonderful Life, Miracle on 34th Street, White Christmas


4 Shots From 4 Films is just what it says it is, 4 shots from 4 of our favorite films. As opposed to the reviews and recaps that we usually post, 4 Shots From 4 Films is all about letting the visuals do the talking.

4 Shots From 4 Holiday Films

Holiday Inn (1942, dir by Mark Sandrich)

Holiday Inn (1942, dir by Mark Sandrich)

It's A Wonderful Life (1946, dir by Frank Capra)

It’s A Wonderful Life (1946, dir by Frank Capra)

Miracle on 34th Street (1947, dir by George Seaton)

Miracle on 34th Street (1947, dir by George Seaton)

White Christmas (1954, dir by Michael Curtiz)

White Christmas (1954, dir by Michael Curtiz)

A Tugboat Christmas


Ok, very few people here probably know that I, pantsukudasai56, am a rough and tumble sailor.  12346436_1086624831368893_8501589540086335528_n

Well, fact is, I am.  I may not be the most active of sorts, but I do try now and again to post up something for special occasions.  Well, Christmas is one of those special occasions, and for that, I have a little Christmas story to share that a sailor can appreciate.  I know this is a little off from the usual content that this site provides, but I hope that it can still be appreciated.

Twas the night before Christmas
And all through the tug,
Only the deckhand was stirring
The tea in his mug.

The dock lines were hung
By the fiddly with care
In hopes that crew change
Soon would be there.

The tug’s crew was nestled
Safe in their beds
All thankful the pilots
Had taken their meds.

Me, out of my float coat,
And warm woolen cap,
Had just settled in for
A short off-watch nap.

When down in the galley
There arose such a clatter
I rolled right back over-
didn’t care what’s the matter.

While the moon on the breasts
Of the calendar girls
Gave luster to New Year,
They twinkled like pearls.

When what to my wandering eyes should appear?
But a rusty old crew boat
Approaching, too near.

With a little old driver,
All Cajun and thick
I could tell right away,
That he wasn’t too quick.

More rapid than eagles
His curses, they came
As he yelled at his deckhand
And called out bad names.

Go faster!
Get moving!
He was boozed up and drooling!
He had a pistol!
The kind used for dueling!

He was dressed in his besties,
From his head to his testes
Three coonskins, a gator’s hide
And 2 robin’s nesties.

His eyes, they were bloodshot-
His dimples, all hairy
His hair smelled like onions,
His nose was quite scary.

Then up to the wheelhouse
The drunk Cajun flew
With reckless abandon,
Like he’d been sniffing glue.

And then with a clinking
A clunk and a shutter
He flew to the stacks
And slid down like butter.

But he spoke not a word
And went straight to his work
He ate all our junk food
This guy was a jerk!

No gumbo? He asked
Nay Nay, he demanded
For a spontaneous rampage,
It seemed like he’d planned it.

And laying his finger
Beside of his nose
He emptied its contents,
As if blown from a hose.

As I watched from my room
With great confusion,
I couldn’t make any sense
Of the midnight intrusion.

Then he sprang to his crew-boat
Still belching black smoke-
I know I’m up early
But this must be a joke!

And I heard him exclaim
As he steamed out of sight
“I drive boats by day,
And I pillage by night!”

Then up from my nap
I was suddenly wakened
It was all just a dream—
But why am I naked?

A special Christmas Eve sing-along with your friend, necromoonyeti!


Jingle bells!
Jingle bells!
Jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh-Oh!
Jingle bells!
Jingle bells!
Jingle all the way!
Oh what fun it is to ride in a one-horse open sleigh!

Dashing through the snow!
In a one-horse open sleigh!
O’er the fields we go!
Laughing all the way!
Bells on bobtail ring!
Making spirits bright!
What fun it is to ride and sing a Slayer song tonight!
Oh—Auschwitz!
The meaning of pain!
The way that I want you to die!
Slow death!
Immense decay!
Showers that cleanse you of your life!

Am I doing it right?

Merry Christmas Shattered Lens!

The Husbands of River Song: Christmas Jolly Fun! Spoiler free Doctor Who Preview!


I got a screener of this years Doctor Who Christmas special, all I am going to say is, “Spoilers Sweetie” And Whovians will know what I mean!

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And as much as ‘Melody Pond‘ says that…. I won’t spoil the episode for anybody with my preview!

Ok, let me first get this out of the way: watching, writing and reviewing at the same time….

I despise Steven Moffats’ writing of Doctor Who, and I am not the only one, but his Christmas episodes do bring something to the table.

Alex Kingston is back as ‘River Song‘; complete with ‘sonic trowel‘ and all! But, there is a catch, She is now married to the HUGE cyborg King Hydroflax.

River, trying to pull off another hoax, gets caught by The Doctor. She doesn’t recognize him and he gets to play around with that, reversing their roles before.

 

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The Doctor going back into the TARDIS was a beautiful scene! Alex and Peter manage to pull off a heart felt and kindred feeling. Literally, this was the best scene between The Doctor and a “companion” since Rory and Amy.

Got to give props to Greg Davies and Matt Lucas, their performance was enthralling as well.

I have never warmed up to Peter Capaldi as “The Doctor“, just do not like the way he portrays him. But I will admit, this is one of the best Doctor Who Christmas specials ever! Give me a season with Peter Capaldi and Alex Kingston and I will take it forever!

I felt this season of Doctor Who was one of the worst of the modern version; but this Christmas episode might be one of the best episodes ever! Heart-warming, laughable and engaging. I actually loved it!

Definitely Christmas night viewing with the family worthy. I laughed and got teary-eyed all at the same time!

Here is the trailer and you can watch the Doctor Who Christmas Special, The Husbands of River Song, Christmas night on BBC America at 9pm.

 

Getting In The Holiday Spirit #5: Santa In Animal Land


Personally, I would think that seeing Vincent Price telling the story of Scrooge would get anyone into the holiday spirit!  But, just in case you need more incentive to be merry and bright, check out Santa in Animal Land!

Santa in Animal Land was made in 1948 and … well, you just have to watch it.  This 9-minute short film deals with a bunch of creepy (but kinda cute) animal puppets who are angry to discover that Santa does not bring toys to either animals or puppets!

So, they send Kitty Kat out to track down Santa and get to the bottom of things…

Enjoy the creepy cuteness of Santa in Animal Land!

(And again, thank you to Xmas Flix for introducing me to so many interesting Christmas films!)