Merry Christmas!
I know, I know. I’m inconsistent. It’s been months since my last post.
I’ve been busy?
Actually, I have been busy. I finally released the memoir! Woo-hoo!
But that’s not why I’m here. I’ll dive into that later. Paperback copies are available if you’re interested, and I know you are. But I still need to put together a Kindle version and get the website in order and a bunch of other small, aggravating things. I’ll do all that sometime in January.
So, why am I here? For the only reason that matters this time of year. There’s a burning question that must be answered.
What makes a Christmas movie?
I know most of you are probably like “It’s about Christmas! Duh! You suck, Casey. Go jump off a cliff you raging asshat. Nobody likes you anyway.” I understand your thoughts and concerns, and I’m still searching for that perfect cliff, but hear me out.
Is a Christmas movie a movie about Christmas? Or is it just a movie with events that take place around Christmas? There’s a difference. A lot of people will cite a movie like “Home Alone” as their favorite Christmas flick, but “Home Alone” is not about Christmas. The events of the movie just happen to take place around Christmas. You could plug in any other holiday and the same things would happen.
So, is “Home Alone” a Christmas movie?
Now, there’s no arguing that films like “A Miracle on 34th Street” and “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Story” are definite Christmas movie classics. You could even throw “Elf” in there, though I’ve never personally seen it. But, if “Home Alone” is to be considered a Christmas movie, then I present the following others to be considered as well:
Die Hard
Die Hard 2: Die Harder
Lethal Weapon
Batman Returns
Trading Places
Edward Scissorhands
Now, I ask you, when you gather round the fire with family on Christmas day to spend quality time with one another, what do you want playing over the proceedings? Do you want George Bailey learning the true meaning of life and Christmas? Do you want Ralphie in his bunny costume? Do you want Will Ferrell acting like Will Ferrell?
Or do you want John McClane saving the denizens of Nakatomi Plaza from the vile, yet charismatic, Hans Gruber? The Dark Knight doing battle with the hideous Penguin? A guy with scissors for hands giving housewives haircuts?
I think you know the answer.