Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Never forget the true meaning of Christmas.

Merry Christmas and God bless you.

Geeky Christmas!

Merry Christmas Eve everyone! And as usual, it's time for some fun geeky Christmas pictures! And after Christmas time, I'll get back to reviewing in full force with Doctor Who and Star Wars reviews and so much more! I hope everyone has a Merry Christmas.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Favorite Christmas Music

Merry Christmas everyone! While today's post isn't movie, it is music related, specifically, Christmas music! My favorite are usually more of the classics, especially by Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole, but there are newers ones that are also a lot of fun. Please comment below with your favorite Christmas songs.

"White Christmas"

"Jingle Bells"

"Joy to the World"

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

"Jingle Bell Rock"

"The First Noel"

"Silent Night"

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"The Muppet Christmas Carol" (1992) Review

I (Hamlette) first saw The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) when I was in college.  It became an instant favorite, and a friend and I made a point of watching it together every year before our Christmas break.  But after college, I didn't watch it again for more than a decade, so when I started it up last night, I was a little apprehensive as to whether or not I would still enjoy it.  

Happily, I did!  In fact, I think I like it better now than I did back then.  I've seen several other movie versions since then, so I had more to compare it to than just Charles Dickens' original story.  While some movie versions can get too sticky-sweet or too silly, the Muppet version blends humor and heartfelt emotion expertly.

First off, this version benefits greatly from Michael Caine playing Ebenezer Scrooge.  Having someone able to convey so much depth with the simplest gestures really grounds the story in reality and keeps it from getting over-the-top goofy.  Caine earns our sympathy from the first.  We glimpse a lonely, unhappy man beneath his growl and bluster, which means he doesn't have to work to win us over, but instead can help us explore our own attitudes about generosity and helping others by letting us watch him learn about such ideas.

Secondly, framing the story by using Dickens as a narrator is a great idea because he can simply explain parts of the story instead of having to show every piece acted out.  This shortens the movie, of course, and also helps keep kids engaged and allows the filmmakers to inject some extra humor now and then without messing with the story too much.  Gonzo as Dickens and Rizzo the Rat as Rizzo the Rat help us navigate the Victorian era, discuss literary devices like omniscient narration, and generally make me laugh a lot. 

A Muppet Christmas Carol has lots of songs too, and they're actually quite singable.  My favorite is "It Feels Like Christmas," and you can listen to the whole soundtrack here on YouTube.

The whole movie has a great blend of references to The Muppet Show and unexpectedly touching moments.  When I watched it last night, I had tears in my eyes more than once.  It's family-friendly, except that the ghosts can be a little too scary for young children.  I think my 8- and 5-year-olds could handle it fine, but my 4-year-old would be freaked out, so I'm waiting to show this to them all until next year.

If you'd like a little taste of what this movie is like, here's the trailer:

Next year is the 25th anniversary of this charming Christmas movie.  If you haven't seen it yet, or haven't seen it lately, find a copy and try it out!  

Top 10 Comedies: Part 3

The third and final part of my Top 10 Comedies list is here! If you the first two parts, you can click here for part 1 and here for part 2.

3: Hot Fuzz

While Shaun of the Dead was a lot of fun, Hot Fuzz sold me on Edgar Wright's skill as a director in a film that both funny and intriguing enough to be a real mystery.

Plot: 9.4/10- Considering that Hot Fuzz is a comedy that is intentionally parodying the crime and mystery genres, the mystery and plot is surprisingly competent.

Hot Fuzz's plot is well written with the audience being given enough information to figure out the mystery, while also being a smart satire on the genre. At some points, the movie actually feels like a serious, well written mystery with some great humor thrown in.
Characterization: 8.2/10- As with Edgar Wright's Shaun of the Dead, the two main characters in the film have satisfying character arcs. Nick Angel is a likable protagonist, and his extra dedicated demeanor often results is some great humor.
Humor: 9.3/10- Edgar Wright's British satirical humor is right up my alley, and Hot Fuzz is full of it. While the movie is not necessarily hilarious all of the time, the jokes rarely miss, especially if you are an action movie fan.  Also, the movie is rated R for a reason, and the deaths in the movie are gruesome with plenty of blood to comedic extent, providing you have a sick sense of my humor like myself.
Overall: 9.2/10- Overall, Hot Fuzz is an intelligent and often humorous action comedy that also has one of the best and most competent plots of any comedy. Edgar Wright's is a genius when it comes to comedy and satire, and Hot Fuzz is his best work to date. (you can read the full review here)

2: Some Like It Hot

Some Like It Hot, the classic comedy that follows two guys, Joe and Jerry, who disguise themselves as women and join a band to escape from the mob. Ranking number one on AFI (American Film Institute)'s comedy list, Some Like It Hot is the quintessential comedy that anyone that considers themselves a film fan should watch.

Acting: 9.3/10- Tony Curtis and Jack Lemmon star in my favorite roles from the duo. Their performances make the concept of two guys dressed as women really work. Marilyn Monroe is surprisingly good in her role of the ditzy blonde, and while she might not have the most depth as an actress, she is great at playing this type of role.

Humor: 10/10- Screwball comedy at its finest, Some Like It Hot's humor is the epitome of classic humor. Trying to describe the humor is difficult, but it is something that you need to see for yourself. 

Overall: 9.5/10- Some Like It Hot's screwball humor might not appeal to some of today's audience; however, if you enjoy comedy or movies in general, at least watch this classic.

1: Ghostbusters

"Who you gonna call!? Ghostbusters!" Yeah, Ghostbusters is my favorite comedy of all-time!

Acting: 9.9/10- Bill Murray, Dan Aykroyd, Sigourney Weaver, Harold Ramis, and Rick Moranis: with a cast like that how could the movie not be amazing!? Bill Murray is at his deadpan finest as Dr. Peter Venkman. His reaction and delivery of the witty dialogue is absolutely perfect. Despite Murray's scene stealing performance, Aykroyd, Weaver, and Ramis are not out shined in their roles.

Humor: 10/10- Ghostbusters might not be the comedy that makes me laugh the most, but Ghostbusters is the most fun to watch and rewatch. When I rewatched the film for the first time since I was a kid about two years ago, I did not expect it be nearly as smart as some critics had said, and yet it far surpassed my expectations. 

Overall: 9.5/10- With a witty script and a surprisingly competent plot, Ghostbusters continues to prove why so many hold it in such high regard!

What are your favorite comedies? What do you think of my list? Please comment below and let me know. Also, thanks everyone for comment and making this one of the more successful posts in a long time. My next list is probably going to be Top 10 Villains since it received the most votes.

Honorable Mentions: Beverly Hills Cop, Elf, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Lego Movie, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, The Pink Panther, The Great Dictator, Spaceballs,

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Top 10 Comedies: Part 2

My Top 10 Comedies list continues with four more entries! Also, do not forget to check out the first part of the list by clicking here if you missed it.

7: The Other Guys

One of Will Ferrell's lesser known comedies, The Other Guys takes the standard buddy cop premise and delivers a personal cult classic of sorts.

Characterization: 7.7/10- Despite being a comedy, the two main characters, Gator and Terry, actually have some decent character drama thrown in amidst the comedy. Of course, it is not on the level as some truly classic comedies, but it really does work.

Acting: 8.9/10- Will Ferrell gives the same reliably hilarious performance that you expect from him, and Mark Wahlberg gives my favorite performance from his career. However, the best part is the chemistry as the actors play off of each other. Plus, with guest stars like Samuel L. Jackson, Dwayne Johnson, Steve Coogan and Michael Keaton, how can it not be ridiculously funny!

Humor: 9.4/10- The Other Guys is the type of film had me laughing so much that it hurt. The jokes are not always the most clever, but the dialogue is some of the most quotable since Ghostbusters. Nearly five years after watching the first time, The Other Guys is a film that my family and I still quote to this day.

Overall: 8.3/10- The Other Guys might not be nearly as high on other comedy lists, but it is a comedic classic in my book that made me laugh, and when it comes to comedy, that is what matters most.

6: Monty Python and the Holy Grail

Despite my original review of Monty Python and the Holy Grail not being quite as positive as the opinion of others, since that review, my opinion of it is a lot more positive than before.

Plot: 7.6/10- The plot follows a comedic take on King Arthur's quest for the Holy Grail, and as with most satirical films, the story is not all that important for anything other than delivering the comedy, and in that respect, it does so extremely well.

Comedy: 9.4/10- Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a treasure trove of unforgettable quotes, classic scenes, and hilarious satire! While some of the jokes do fall a bit flat, the ones that hit the mark are incredibly memorable. Whether it is King Arthur's duel with the Black Knight or the use of coconuts to create the sound of a horse's gallop, there are many parts of the film that I continue to quote and reference today, maybe even more so than any other film on this list. However, the humor is not quite as strong in the middle portion of the film compared to the first and last parts, although it is still humorous. Of course, the film's humor is very specific with its British wit and satirical comedy, so not everyone will find it funny.

Overall: 8.5/10- Monty Python and the Holy Grail is a classic through and through. From the unforgettable quotes to the hilarious satire, the film is just all around brilliant!

5: Groundhog Day

Groundhog Day is the one comedy on this list that everyone probably has at least heard of, and most have seen, or at least should have seen by this point.

Plot: 9.7/10- Without a doubt, Groundhog Day's plot is the best ever for a comedy. The term "Groundhog Day" is used to refer any situation where a character relives the same day endlessly; it is ingrained in pop-culture. As for the execution, it is fantastic! Even though the movie slows down towards the end, the use and idea for the concept is positively brilliant!

Comedy: 9.2/10- Most of the humor comes from the use of the concept to create well written and hilarious situations. One might expect the film's repeat parts to get old, but it never does. Along with the repeat humor, Bill Murray's classic deadpan comedy is a highlight. 

Overall: 8.6/10- Groundhog Day is a comedy that everyone needs to watch at some point. It is ingrained in pop-culture, and the film itself is hilarious (obviously).

4: Shaun of the Dead

My first experience with an Edgar Wright film, Shaun of the Dead demonstrates how a comedy can be more than just funny.

Characterization: 8.7/10- Considering that most comedies have flat characters that are only present to create laughs, Shaun of the Dead's characters are surprisingly likable, and the main ones even have well written character arcs. Some dramas do not even feature characters this well written and memorable!

Humor: 9.4/10- Edgar Wright's brand of humor is British, and therefore, it is dry and witty rather than crude. Since humor is entirely subjective, if you do not like British humor, you will likely not enjoy Shaun of the Dead's comedy. On the other hand, if you are like me, then you should find the movie hilarious. The dialogue is well written, and Edgar Wright's quirky directorial style is bold and unlike anything else; I love it!

Overall: 8.7/10- Overall, Shaun of the Dead is a smart comedy with surprisingly well realized characters and a unique directorial style by Edgar Wright, which results in my favorite zombie flick to date. (You can click here for my full review.)

What do you think of my list thus far? Please comment below and let me know! Do not forget to check back soon for final part of this list.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Top 10 Comedies: Part 1

More so than any other film genre, comedies are incredibly subjective and entirely based on the viewer's taste in humor; a joke that one person finds absolutely hysterical might not even be funny to another person. My personal taste in humor lies in several genres mainly, satire, British wit, and classic slapstick/farce. However, crude comedies are not something that I find all that funny, because it is just not my thing. If you enjoy them, that's fine, but it's not for me. With that out of the way, for the list, I am only including films that are strictly comedies, which means action comedies and films like Back to the Future and The Princess Bride will not be included on the list. Also, even though a movie with a higher rating might rank below one with a lower rating, this list is focusing on the comedic element more so than the overall plot, characterization, ect. Now let’s get this list started!

10: Airplane!

1980s' Airplane! is a classic in the parody genre. While Airplane! is likely the film that spawned many of the unbearable modern parody flicks, it's quotes like "Surely you can't be serious. I am serious. And don't call me Shirley" are unforgettable classics, and the film is partially responsible for launching Leslie Nielsen's film career.

Plot: N/A- Being a straight parody film, Airplane! does not really have much of an actual other the pilots on a plane are sick and someone must bring the plane down safely, although this plot is among the absurdity of continuous parody.

Humor: 9.2/10- With my knowledge of classic films, recognizing most of the films that were being parodied was not all that difficult. However, if you are not familiar with many of the films referenced, you will probably not get many of the jokes. With that said, Airplane! certainly made me laugh a lot throughout the film. 

Overall: 8.0/10- As far as parody films go, Airplane! is the one of the first and still one of the best, and if that sounds interesting to you, give it a watch.

Warning: Recommended for 18+ mature audiences.

9: National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is, hands down, the funniest Christmas movie ever, for at least, and my favorite in the National Lampoon's Vacation series. Also, I considered including Elf on this list, but I am not sure if it is enough of a comedy to be included.

Acting: 8.5/10- Chevy Chase as Clark W. "Sparky" Griswold, Jr., arguably his most iconic role, gives his best performance of the franchise with even a scene or two of surprisingly competent drama, but of course his comedy scenes are the highlight. Randy Quaid returns as Cousin Eddie, and if you have seen any of the Vacation films, you know that he is always the best part!

Humor: 9.4/10- Christmas Vacation is full of the jokes and humor that you come to expect from the franchise. Even though humor lies more in the cleanish lowbrow territory, which is not what I usually enjoy, it makes me laugh, and it is the type of film that is enjoyed most while other watching it with others. 

Overall: 8.1/10- National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is the principle of comical Christmas disasters with plenty of humorous Holiday antics.

8: Clue

Of all the movies on this first part of the list, no others are as witty and well written as Clue. However, being that the film is not strictly a comedy like the others on the list, it is not ranked as high. 

Plot: 8.8/10- Clue's plot is somewhat of a standard whodunit murder mystery, with a few plot twists along the way full of murder and scandal, and it actually rather competent. What sets it apart is the inventive ending, which I will not spoil. 

Humor: 9.3/10- Most of the humor is through the smart and witty dialogue. Some of the humor is black comedy with some very funny moments with the murder victims, although most of the comedy (and even the deaths) are played in a very lighthearted tone. However, unlike a lot of comedies, the humor is not constant with a large part of the movie focusing on the mystery. As with all comedies, humor is subjective to one's taste, but to me, the witty, dry, and occasionally dark humor is positively hilarious.

Overall: 9.0/10- While not groundbreaking by any means, Clue is an all around entertaining, funny, and intriguing whodunit mystery. Not everyone will find Clue nearly as enjoyable, but that is the case with many cult classics.

What are some of your favorite comedies? Do you like any of these films? Please comment below and let me know. Also, please let me know what you think of this new list format.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Doctor Who: Last Christmas Review

Doctor Who returns again for its annual Christmas special in "Last Christmas."

*Spoilers Ahead*

My experience with the Doctor Who Christmas specials is a bit odd. In America, when the series was first airing on the Sci-Fi channel, now renamed "SyFy," they never aired the Christmas specials on Christmas. It was not until Matt Smith's era that the Christmas specials aired on Christmas day, so the earlier specials are not all that memorable for me compared to the rest of the episodes of each season, which means I cannot really compare those earlier specials to the new ones. With that out of the way, let's move forward with the review.

Opening with Clara encountering Santa Claus on her rooftop, Santa promptly attempting to explain that what she is seeing is completely normal. Of course, the Doctor pops in with his TARDIS and takes Clara away on a new adventure.

As soon as the dream crabs were introduced, my first thought was the facehuggers from Alien. Honestly, nothing makes me squirm more those facehuggers from Alien, and the dream crabs reproduced some of the nail biting tension that made Alien and Aliens so great, albeit to a lesser degree. To top it all off, the old guy, whose name I am sure no one remembers, actually said the dream crabs were like the face huggers from Alien. After explaining the movie what the movie is about, the Doctor replies with the humorous line "Alien?! That's offensive! No wonder you keep getting invaded!" Finally! Doctor Who actually acknowledges the existence of a sci-fi film! 

Additionally, the designs of the weapons and the set are all reminiscent of the Alien franchise, with other elements reminding me of John Carpenter's the Thing, and it all makes sense as to why everything looks futuristic since this is a dream world. 

My favorite aspect of the dream-crabs is how they use multiple dream levels to ensnare their victims, and it reminds me of Inception, but in a good way. Throughout the episode, various things, like Clara meeting Santa on the rooftop, stood out to me as possible plot holes, yet, as the episode continued, all of the small things were promptly and cleverly answered. The dream world added another layer to the usual creepy suspense that Moffat's best work features, and it is very conducive to his style of writing. The scenes with the dream crabs are fittingly suspenseful, particularly the scene with Clara under the table, which also reminded me of one scene from Aliens.

Towards the end where the "crab-head" versions of themselves attack, it was reminiscent of various other Doctor Who adventures where slow zombie-like creatures lumber towards the adventures. However, the somewhat derivativeness of the scene is not all bad, since it was still decently suspenseful and served to move the plot along. 

Oddly enough, no seemed to care that the old guy actually died. They all had their happy moment on Santa's sleigh, but no one seemed to really like the guy anyway. 

After seemingly escaping the dream crabs' clutches, the Doctor and Clara reunite with a surprise twist. Clara is older, much older. Unfortunately, the makeup for her old-age is not that great. It is not terrible by TV standards, but it still could have been better. 

Having avoided most of the press about whether or not Coleman was returning for another season, the episode almost made me think that this might be her last adventure with the Doctor, so the scenes with her older self were both unexpected and actually rather good. Thankfully, as revealed at the end, Coleman is returning in "The Magician's Apprentice" next year.

As for the supporting cast, Faye Marsay as Shona McCullough is rather fun as she bordered on annoying, but never actually became a hindrance to the story. In fact, her banter with Nick Frost's Santa is rather good. 

Nick Frost as Santa is a lot of fun! He does not receive as much screen time as expected, but he makes the most of it, and the revelation that Santa is a construct of the dreamers' minds to lead them out of the dream world is very clever and Inception-y.

In the end, "Last Christmas" accomplished exactly what it needed to do, bring the Doctor and Clara back together after the fallout of the season finale, and it did so in a smartly written Christmas adventure.

Overall: 9.3/10- Eerie, mind-bending, and wonderfully whimsical, "Last Christmas" combines the best aspects of Doctor Who with a decent Christmas message to create one amazing Christmas special. 

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas!

Never forget the true meaning of Christmas.

Merry Christmas and God bless you.

Christmas Music Playlist

Merry Christmas eve everyone, today's post is about Christmas music. Basically, these are various Christmas songs that I enjoy. These songs are not in any order, and extra commentary is not really necessary. Also, generally, my favorite versions of Christmas songs are by the classic musicians like Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra, and Nat King Cole. Please comment below with your favorite Christmas songs.

"White Christmas"

"Jingle Bells"

"Joy to the World"

"Hark! The Herald Angels Sing"

"Jingle Bell Rock"

"The First Noel"

"Silent Night"

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.

Six Christmas Movies

Merry Christmas everyone! Christmas is upon us yet again, and as always, it is time to discuss my favorite Christmas movies. Unlike my previous Christmas movie posts, this is not a list, but rather several Christmas themed movies that are worth your time. Also, with the exception of a couple of movies, I plan to keep my thoughts on each movie short and concise, because I have already said plenty about each film in the past and because this is not a list. Also, while some of these movies are true Christmas movies, others have more of a Christmas setting.

It's a Wonderful Life

It's a Wonderful Life is the quintessential Christmas film; it there more that needs to be said?

Elf

As far as true Christmas films, Elf is my personal favorite. I will watch it at least once every other Christmas.

Home Alone

Of all the films on this post, Home Alone is the one that I have seen the most. From a critically standpoint, Home Alone might not a "great" film, but as a movie with a lot of personal nostalgia attached to it, I enjoy it.

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

Another hilarious Christmas film, National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation is my favorite entry in the Vacation series, and one of favorite comedies in general.

Die Hard

As it has been argued for many years, Die Hard is not exactly a Christmas movie since you can watch outside of the Christmas season, yet it is set on Christmas and it has Christmas music, it can still be argued as a Christmas film. Regardless of what you think about the movie, it is a classic action movie and one of my favorites.

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya

The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya is a sequel film to The Melancholy of Haruhi Suzumiya television series, which is also highly recommended. Like Die Hard, The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya does not center on Christmas, but rather taking place in the winter around Christmas, like. Of all the films on this list, The Disappearance is easily my favorite film; it is a near perfect mystery character drama. If you missed my review of The Disappearance, you can click here to read it. Another anime Christmas film that people often list is Tokyo Godfathers. 

What Christmas films are your favorites? Do you like any of the ones that I have listed? Please comment and let me know, and check back tomorrow for more Christmas content.

If you want to contact us or have any questions please send an e-mail to johnstarslayer@gmail.com.