The Elf Blog

Taking Time for the Little Things

Summer schedules are often a bit slower, leaving you with extra little pockets of time.  It's important to use those pockets of time to lay the groundwork to take care of the little things:

• Update your address book and calendar so that you won't miss birthdays, anniversaries, and the like.
• Stock up on stationery and cards so that you'll have supplies on hand to celebrate with or comfort those you love.
• You know those people you've been meaning to call or visit?  Use the slower summer days to do it.
• If you craft, make a few extra presents so you'll have things on hand.
• Make a stack of the books you've been meaning to read or the movies you've been meaning to watch.  Read the books on your hammock and watch the movies on rainy days.
• Take advantage of summer festivals, outdoor concerts, and the like.

Most of all, enjoy!

An Oscar Party

The Academy Awards will be handed out on Sunday night.  The actual ceremony begins at 9 pm Eastern though there will be red carpet specials and other assorted pregame festivities prior to that.

While I will watch the show in solitary splendor, preparing my annual fashion roundup, you may wish to gather your friends to watch, discuss the clothes, debate the merits of the various films, and talk over the indulgent acceptance speeches.

With the evenings entertainment established, thoughts must turn to food.  The following foods have ties to this year's Best Picture nominees:

Red Beans and Rice (The Curious Case of Benjamin Button)

Brats and Sauerkraut (The Reader)

Chicken Curry (Slumdog Millionaire)

Spaghettios (Frost/Nixon -- it was one of Richard Nixon's favorite conmfort foods)

All washed down with ice col d MILK!

Elf's Top Ten Christmas Movies

As promised, here's a list of my 10 favorite Christmas films:

10.  Christmas Story:  I know that many people consider this a modern classic, but I have to admit that I don't love it.  Screechy children using profanity don't amuse me.  And Santa's elves are mean.  Still, it makes the list for its de-sentimentalizing humor.

9. White Christmas: A fun piece of holiday fluff with some great dancing by Danny Kaye and Vera Ellen plus "Count Your Blessings," a personal favorite.  And I covet Rosemary Clooney's dress in the finale.

8.  Elf: An inaccurate depiction of elf culture (we eat vegetables and don't put maple syrup on spaghetti.  Most elves know how to make a lovely marinara).  Still, a favorite for the beautifully decorated toy department and for showing that it's our faith that lets Santa fly.

7. Christmas Carol (Alistair Sim version):  A glorious Christmas story in its most classic incarnation.  It's only so low because I find the Ghost of Christmas Future scary.

6.  A Muppet Christmas Carol: I know, these should be reversed, but I love this version.  The penguin's skating party.  One more sleep till Christmas.  Michael Caine.  Muppets.  It always makes me smile.

5. Holiday Inn:  Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire.  You can't beat that combination for singing and dancing. And the first performance of "White Christmas" is just lovely. Don't you think I should open a Holiday Inn?

4.  It's a Wonderful Life:  I have to take this one in small doses, but I do love it's message about what really matters.

3.  The Bishop's Wife:  Okay, it stars Cary Grant, always a great start. One of the best things about this movie is that it understands that Christmas is about more than presents.  It talks about caring for the poor in an ordered way -- not with the occasional spare change -- and about the important role that good will and tolerance play in bringing peace.

2.  The Santa Clause:  For my money, the best Christmas movie in more than 50 years.  I love everything about this movie -- every single thing.  It explains Santa and the North Pole.  It's good with elves.  And it's all about the power of faith.  Seeing isn't believing.  Believing is seeing.

1.  Miracle on 34th Street (the original): The courtroom scene is one of my favorites in all film. I believe.  I believe.  It's silly, but I believe.

Do you agree?  Disagree?  Want to lobby for your favorite?  Leave me a comment!

Your Favorite Holiday Movies

After the disaster that was Fred Claus, I thought it might be useful to compile a list of favorite holiday films.  Here's your chance to weigh in.  What are your favorite holiday movies?  I'll put them all on my Netflix queue and blog a favorites review list later in the season.

Leave a comment to make sure I get your favorite.

Fred Claus: A Movie Review

I saw Fred Claus this afternoon.  I feel like I wasted two hours and $20 (though the movie ticket was only $6, if you are going to make a movie that bad, you should be required to pay people for their time).

It's a movie that can't decide if it wants to be snarky or heartwarming, so it ends up being neither.  It has no charm or magic or whimsy. 

Underlying it all is the fact that the filmmakers don't seem to get why we celebrate Christmas.  They treat the holiday as something invented out of whole cloth by St. Nick and managed by some sort of corporate holiday conglomerate. 

Department 56 should sue, because the set designs were clearly lifted from their "North Pole Village" though without the sense of magic.

Apart from Santa and his wife (a neurotic and a shrew), the only full-sized person at the North Pole is "Santa's little helper" Charlene, who, despite the ever present snow, goes around every day in a mini-skirt.  The elves are all caricatures -- dressed in velour suits with cutsie hats, shoes with pointed toes, and red and white striped socks (I mean, seriously, can you imagine me in horizontal stripes?)

It's just a bad movie and it feels MUCH longer than two hours.  Don't waste your time on this dud.  I'm sure Rachel Weisz, Kevin Spacey, and Paul Giamatti are spending this weekend writing letters asking Santa to bring them new agents.

Movie Review Alert

I just wanted to let you all know that I plan to see Fred Claus this weekend.  I will post my review after I see it.  Based on the commercials, I am a bit concerned.  It doesn't seem to be an accurate portrayal of Elf Culture.