by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
Time to revisit some favorite childhood memories through the miracles of modern technology. The holidays have always been popular film projects from George Bailey to the green grinch. Here’s a few film release on DVD I’d suggest to rekindle your yule log and get in the spirit of s fun-filled Christmas.
No list would be complete without It’s a Wonderful Life. Frank Capra’s feel-good masterpiece has become a holiday favorite for many people thanks to repeated TV showings beginning in the 70’s. While the film doesn’t show up too much on television anymore, fans can watch it anytime they like on one of it’s many DVD incarnations, the most recent being a 60th Anniversary Edition. This single disc release includes supplements like a tribute to Capra, a documentary hosted by Tom Bosley and the original theatrical trailer. Extras aside, the film itself is well worth the cost of the disc and deserves a spot in any DVD collection.
Just like my previous pick, Miracle on 34th Street is one of those films that make even the muggiest of Florida Decembers feel like Christmas. Luckily the latest DVD release for this delightful tale got the treatment it deserves. With the 2-disc special edition DVD fans can watch the film in either its original black and white or in eye-popping Technicolor. Supplements include an audio commentary track by Maureen O’Hara, featurettes, a promotional short, a poster gallery and more.
Before Jim Carrey donned the green suit, Dr. Seuss’ Christmas classic could be seen on the small screen with this television adaptation. After 50 years of charming children and their parents, the film gets a complete makeover and a supplement-filled DVD release that is well worth owning. Bonus features include making of featurettes, biographies, the animated story “Horton Hears a Who” and much more.
Long before children’s cinema required a hard-drive, artists used stop motion animation to bring their characters to life. Rankin/Bass Productions came out with some of the most recognizable examples of stop motion animation ever created, including holiday favorites Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer and Frosty the Snowman. On this special DVD both of these quintessential holiday films can be found alongside Rankin/Bass classics Santa Claus Is Comin’ to Town, The Little Drummer Boy and Cricket on the Hearth.
Who would have thought that the mastermind behind the lens of A Christmas Story, one of America’s most beloved Christmas classics, was responsible for a gory slasher flick just a few short years earlier? Set during Christmas break at a sorority house, a group of unsuspecting girls become prey to a murderous psychopath hiding out in their attic. Black Christmas was the inspiration for films like John Carpenter’s Halloween and When a Stranger Calls. A remake of this horror classic will hit theaters on Christmas day, but a special edition DVD of the original will be available on December 5th. Pick it up and have yourself a twisted little Christmas.
It’s hard to believe Macaulay Culkin was once a sweet little boy with a winning smile and a bright future ahead of him, especially after seeing his mug shot on www.TheSmokingGun.com. Luckily we have photographic evidence by way of his holiday blockbuster Home Alone. The film recently got the special edition DVD treatment which includes tons of bonus features including audio commentary by Culkin and director Chris Colombus, making of featurettes, deleted scenes and much more.
Based on a sappy country song, this made-for-TV movie is about two families- one with an absentee father that misses the important things in life and the other with a dying mother whose son is trying to give her one last good memory. After airing 4 years ago on network TV, the tear-jerker is now available to own on DVD. Parents be warned: tissues and parental guidance are strongly suggested for this one.
Billy Bob Thornton makes being naughty nice in this twisted Christmas tale about an oversexed con man who poses as Santa to rob department stores. This is a film that’s definitely not for the kids but makes for a fun evening once the little ones have gone to bed. The Director’s Cut, which is 10 minutes longer than the previous releases, removes many scenes that were erroneous and really goes for the jugular. If you like raunchy humor with a kick, this is the Christmas flick for you.
This British romantic comedy is another one that’s just for grown ups but well worth your time, even if you’re a Grinch. Love Actually is made up of a series of vignettes about people falling in and out of love during the holiday season. While their stories are seemingly unrelated, their connections become clearer and clearer by the time the film concludes. The film has yet to get a proper DVD release here in the US but, priced at under $10 on Amazon.com, the barebones disc is well worth your time and money.
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