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Post by Bungle on Oct 28, 2007 14:32:27 GMT
It's nearly that time again for Christmas films to be lined up for the end of December. But what to buy? Two years ago the blind purchase of Dolly Parton's Unlikely Angel was a spectacular success, and it has had many outings since. Last year though we had Angela Lansbury's Mrs Santa Claus, a crushing disappointment. Now I have just given money to an evil bootlegger for a copy of Dolly's A Smoky Mountain Christmas which just sounds amazing from the synopsis. Country music superstar Lorna Davis (Dolly Parton) is overwhelmed and disillusioned by her career and loneliness. She plans a trip to a friend's cabin in Tennessee's Smoky Mountains to escape and recuperate during the Christmas season.
Upon arriving at the cabin, Lorna finds it has become the impromptu home of seven orphans who are hiding from the orphanage in town. The children actually discover her sleeping in one of the beds, (an allusion to the Seven Dwarfs finding Snow White) to which the youngest girl proclaims: "I know who she is. She's the Angel."
Because they both have secrets to keep - the orphans don't want to be found by the orphanage and Lorna doesn't want to be found by anyone from LA - they agree to keep each other's presence at the cabin a secret. Lorna then quickly builds strong friendships with the children, although it takes a while to win over cautious Jake, the eldest brother in the family.
Little does she know, Lorna has been followed to the cabin by a sleazy and enterprising paparazzo (Dan Hedaya), who is determined to reveal her hidden location. In addition to the paparazzo, Lorna faces a mountain "witch woman," Jezebel, who is determined to kill her for attracting the eye of her lover, the sheriff of the nearby town. So, any further recommendations? TV movies starring female icons are especially appealing. |
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Post by pauliepoos on Oct 28, 2007 14:42:47 GMT
  I haven't seen the former, but the latter is a real treat. The Smoky Mountain Christmas movie sounds truly amazing. Truly amazing. |
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Post by LoveMusic on Oct 28, 2007 15:08:42 GMT
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fused
Su Pollard
Posts: 405
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Post by fused on Oct 28, 2007 17:27:44 GMT
I love The Muppet Christmas Carol. As decent a version of that story as any.
According to IMDB Jessica Fox, A.K.A Nancy from Hollyoaks, voiced The Ghost Of Christmas Past.
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Post by Elly on Oct 28, 2007 21:22:26 GMT
I love The Muppet Christmas Carol. As decent a version of that story as any. Yup, the Muppets rock the festive fun. See also: the lesser known 'A Muppet Family Christmas' which is just the best thing ever, if only for the fact that it's fuck-off huge crossover with the Sesame Street gang AND the Fraggle Rock clan. Ace as. |
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Post by David Hunter on Oct 29, 2007 0:35:50 GMT
What's the one with Mickey Rooney as a tramp who's befriended by a little girl and he turns out to be her long lost granddad? "Home for Christmas"? I think. It would bring a tear to a glass eye.
And there's also 'One Magic Christmas' with Harry Dean Stanton as an angel and Mary Steenburgen which is a great Channel Five afternoon favourite.
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Post by Gordon on Oct 29, 2007 9:38:01 GMT
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jerriblank
Su Pollard
Watch out Tyra - I'm back!
Posts: 361
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Post by jerriblank on Oct 29, 2007 12:56:48 GMT
Ooh you can't beat....  Or there is always this if your family are doing your head in  |
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Post by lowculture.co.uk on Oct 29, 2007 13:12:12 GMT
 I've only seen the first three minutes of this, but on the basis of how amazing those three minutes were I would heartily recommend this to anyone. |
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Post by Steven on Oct 29, 2007 13:47:41 GMT
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fused
Su Pollard
Posts: 405
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Post by fused on Oct 29, 2007 19:59:56 GMT
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Post by Joel on Oct 29, 2007 21:14:18 GMT
The Story Lady!
Jessica Tandy is an old woman who tells stories on local cable and then the evil big TV executive tries to make her super-popular and commercial, so she gets pissed off and gets herself arrested for shoplifiting to get out of the contract. It is spigging awesome. I actually love it - it's so touching.
Black Christmas is the best horror film ever made.
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SheSaysThat
Jane Asher
"I was so upset, I could barely finish my lunch"
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Post by SheSaysThat on Oct 30, 2007 10:59:53 GMT
Whilst i don't think this film contains any santa's that i remember, it does contain KILLER SNOW!!!! It is also completely and utterly terrible. Which means that i love it.  |
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Post by LoveMusic on Oct 30, 2007 19:37:10 GMT
Thats so funny, i remember laughing at jack frost's original tagline 'chillin' and a killin'
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Post by Becky on Nov 2, 2007 12:23:04 GMT
This is not a 'camp Christmas spectacular' but it is a Christmas film so I'll write it here anyway. I saw 'The Snowman' dvd advertised somewhere, probably Amazon. Its coming out in a few weeks and it said it's narrated by David Bowie. Now as I remember there's no speaking in it, but I'm tempted to buy it out of curiosity.
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Post by LoveMusic on Nov 2, 2007 17:09:52 GMT
It may not be a movie, but Father Ted's xmas special always has to be a part of my xmas!
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Post by Bungle on Nov 2, 2007 20:27:01 GMT
This is not a 'camp Christmas spectacular' but it is a Christmas film so I'll write it here anyway. I saw 'The Snowman' dvd advertised somewhere, probably Amazon. Its coming out in a few weeks and it said it's narrated by David Bowie. Now as I remember there's no speaking in it, but I'm tempted to buy it out of curiosity. There's certainly a version with a Bowie intro - he plays the grown up boy (live action). It's completely superfluous: uk.youtube.com/watch?v=qH8gWGwLClQI much prefer the, equally superfluous, but quite sweet Raymond Briggs intro: uk.youtube.com/watch?v=9SoAzVdarDcThere was a narrated LP of it, cos we used to have it. Can't remember who the narrator was. |
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Post by Bungle on Nov 3, 2007 18:18:17 GMT
Oh, and thanks for all the suggestions. My bootleg of A Smoky Mountain Christmas arrived from Australia (!) this morning - quicker than first class UK post. I'm really not kidding. Anyway, it's a very nice looking bootleg so I'm happy to have spent £12 funding terrorism for it.
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Post by Becky on Dec 7, 2007 19:57:14 GMT
Mrs Santa Claus is on channel 5 on the afternoon of Tuesday 18th December. A Carol Christmas, starring Tori Spelling, is also on channel 5 at 3:45pm on 21 December:  |
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Post by pauliepoos on Dec 7, 2007 20:43:41 GMT
Thank you so much for bringing this to my attention. It features Gary Coleman as the Ghost of Christmas Past! And William Shatner, and the lovely Michael Landes from Love Soup. |
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Post by zoesparrow on Dec 8, 2007 17:29:02 GMT
Last year, while flicking through channels innocently waiting for Santa I found this gem:  It is Christmas movie GENIUS! Check out the plot: -Woman (who does worthy things like working with children) goes around doing Christmassy things while wearing an array of demure knit jumpers -Woman meets Santa, (but is oblivious to the fact despite his large beard and jelly belly) and some how gets talking about her ratty current boyfriend. - Santa brings boyfriend in form of Christmas tree deliverer -They do nice Christmassy things like sitting on snowy benches and ice skating (they even fall down and have a giggle) - Turns out he is not who he seems . . . . |
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richdidnt
Su Pollard
Rabbit not included.
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Post by richdidnt on Dec 8, 2007 17:50:43 GMT
There are only a couple of things you need for Christmas. They mainly include: Snow, a leg lamp, a boy who want's a gun for Christmas and people shouting "You'll shoot your eye out!"  Plus He-Man, She-Ra, A Theme tune with sleigh bells, the Christmas Spirit and Bow & Perfuma singing songs to kids. I watch these two films every year, and the Christmas episodes of Popular and My So Called Life. A couple of gallons of vodka also helps. Ho Ho Ho! |
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