Rogue One: The Surprise of 2016

I love Star Wars more than most things. Surprisingly, I didn't write on The Force Awakens. But I wanted to write on Rogue One because it was so much better than I thought it would be and it has opened up some new exciting possibilities for the the Star Wars universe.

After I saw the first trailer for it, I was pumped for The Force Awakens. I knew it was going to be amazing and it was. I was more skeptical about Rogue One. It is the first film in the Star Wars franchise that isn't apart of the main Star Wars story. I remember watching the first trailer and just thinking, "Huh, this could be really good or really bad." And then the big news hit six months ago or so regarding the major re-shoots for the movie and I thought, "Man, they have to change that much? Or some studio guys are really screwing with it?" So I went to into Rogue One with as open of a mind as possible, without too much expectation. It wasn't a perfect movie (neither was The Force Awakens, mind you) and it has been getting some mixed reviews, but it definitely blew me away and, for me, was one of the biggest surprises of the year.

Rogue One takes place right before A New Hope. It tells the story of the ragtag group of rebels led by Jyn Erso and their mission to obtain the secret plans for the Death Star. I want to get right into talking about all that I loved about this movie. Warning: this will be filled to the brim with spoilers!

I was really curious to see how close Rogue One would be to the other Star Wars films. Would there be a scroll? The same closing credits? Would they use swipes? I was pretty pleased with the direction they went with this film. It had some similarities to the main Star Wars movies but it definitely proved itself as a stand-alone movie. The cinematography and editing was different and the score was by Michael Giacchino and not John Williams. The score wasn't as good as Williams', which isn't surprising, but I liked that it was different. It was also a completely different Star Wars film because it wasn't revolved around Jedis or the Force. It was more about the rebellion and the political and military leaders of the Empire more than Jedi vs Sith, which I thought was very interesting.

One of the criticisms I have heard about Rogue One is that the characterization isn't great; the characters aren't as likable as those in the original trilogy and The Force Awakens. I will agree that we didn't get to learn enough about the main characters to be truly invested in them but I will argue that it made sense not to share everyone's full backstory. Every main character dies; there is no Rogue One sequel that we should be expecting. And it made sense to kill the main characters off because none of them are in A New Hope. Even though we didn't get to learn a ton about these characters, I still loved them. Ragtag groups on missions is one of my favorite movie tropes. It's why Guardians of the Galaxy, The Breakfast Club, and The Goonies, just to name a few examples, are some of the best films. I loved the rebels. I actually really liked Jyn Erso. Compared to Rey, she was more flawed and seemed a bit more real. I still love Rey but Jyn is a good character and I hope she gets her own fanbase like Rey. K-2SO was easily one of the best parts of the film; he was so sassy. Cassian, Bodhi, Chirrut, and Baze were all interesting in their own ways. I came away from Rogue One loving all the characters.

There were some good additions of classic Star Wars characters in Rogue One. Darth Vader had some awesome scenes. He was kickin' the crap out of rebel soldiers at the end of the film looking for the plans. But the most amazing part was when Darth Vader said "I hope you choke on your aspirations" while choking Krennic. He made an actual pun while choking somebody. Incredible. Another critique I heard regarded the CGI versions of Tarkin and Leia. Some people saw the CGI as distracting and that it may not hold up thirty years from now. I say you could say that about any movie that uses special effects. Technology changes and I don't know how they would have made Rogue One without Tarkin somewhere. The motion capture was actually quite impressive. Obviously at times you could really tell it was CGI but I thought it looked pretty good and it didn't take away from the overall movie for me. They also used stock footage of the rebel pilots in A New Hope, which was pretty awesome as well. And, of course, R2-D2 and C-3PO had to make a short appearance.

The finale was the most amazing part. I can't get over it. It gets you so amped to watch A New Hope. In fact, I saw Rogue One last night and I'm watching A New Hope now because I couldn't wait any longer to watch it. The ending flows perfectly into the beginning of Episode IV. And the scene where Jyn and Cassian are hugging and the light is overtaking them is a beautiful shot.

Rogue One does have some flaws. Most of us are aware of the old news of the Rogue One re-shoots, some people claiming that over 80% of the movie was re-shot. I think it shows, in some good ways and some bad. I'm really glad they didn't include the "I rebel" line from the trailer, 'cause man, that was just some bad writing. But the beginning of the movie did feel pretty rushed. They jump from planet to planet and character to character so fast, you have to wonder if that wasn't effected by the re-shoots. I also think the transition from Bodhi getting tortured to losing his mind and then being alright really quickly was, again, all very rushed. But I do think that the later three-fourths or so of the movie really makes up for the shaky beginning.

I just love the explanation for the flaw in the Death Star. It makes so much more sense that somebody who hated the Empire was the main architect of the Death Star; he would include a flaw that could so easily destroy it. I also love the feel that you get from the old Star Wars films. George Lucas was heavily inspired by World War II when making Star Wars and you can see so much of it in both the original trilogy and the prequels. We had a lot of political meetings and speech-making in the prequels and in Rogue One we get a gritty, realistic battle scene. (And it took place on a beach - reference to D-Day perhaps?)

Overall, there was a lot I really liked about Rogue One. I just love the idea of a ragtag group of rebels stealing the plans to the Death Star. It's such a great concept and they executed it well. People might be asking now, "Did we need Rogue One? Does it add to the Star Wars universe in a good way?" I would say yes. It changed the way we looked at the Death Star and the Rebel Alliance, adding new layers to what we already know or thought we knew, which enhances the Star Wars universe in a very good way. My skepticism is gone. I had a great time with Rogue One and I can't wait to see it again.

5 Old School Christmas TV Specials

A long time ago, even before I was born, there was such a thing as a TV holiday special. This was the glorious age of the variety show, TV programs that boasted comedy, music, story, and dance. hosted by some of the greatest entertainers of the time. Christmas holiday specials were either special episodes of TV shows or hour-long programs hosted by musicians or comedians. Even though I wasn't able to experience any of these amazing specials live, I grew up watching some on DVD during the Christmas season. I wanted to share with you five of the funniest, silliest, and all-around entertaining Christmas TV specials.

A Muppet Family Christmas (1987)

One of the most underrated Muppet programs ever is A Muppet Family Christmas. It aired on ABC in 1987. Kermit and the gang are off to the country to surprise Fozzie's mother on Christmas. This short TV special was one of the most ambitious Muppet productions ever because it was one of the few shows to feature four Muppet franchises: the Muppets, Sesame Street, Fraggle Rock, and Muppet Babies (as live-action Muppets). It also includes a guest appearance from Gerry Parkes playing his "Doc" character from Fraggle Rock and a small, cute cameo from Jim Henson himself. A Muppet Family Christmas is great because it literally has every Muppet you can imagine. It also includes some great renditions of classic Christmas songs, such as "Jingle Bell Rock" sung by the Electric Mayhem and a hilarious Big Bird and Swedish Chef duet singing "The Christmas Song." If you love classic Muppets, you need to watch A Muppet Family Christmas this year.

The Donny and Marie Christmas Show (1978)

If this picture doesn't make you want to watch the Donny and Marie Christmas Special, then you are crazy. The Osmonds were a successful, multi-talented family band, the Mormon equivalent of the Jackson Five. In the mid-seventies, two of the siblings, Donny and Marie, starred in their own variety show. Their 1978 Christmas special had the siblings join their family in a cabin in Utah for a country Christmas. Interspersed with clips from Donny and Marie concerts, the entire family gets ready for Christmas Eve with plenty of singing and dancing. This was the first Osmond Christmas specials that had the Osmond wives perform and had rare guest appearances from the Osmond grandmothers. Goofy and silly surely describe this TV special, but it's also heartwarming and nostalgic, making it a perfect watch for the holiday season.

A Special Sesame Street Christmas (1978)

The same year the Donny and Marie Christmas Special premiered, another Christmas show was aired on CBS. A Special Sesame Street Christmas had the Sesame Street gang and a slew of guest stars including Leslie Uggams, Ethel Merman, and Dick Smothers try to get Oscar the Grouch into the holiday spirit. This Christmas special screams the 1970's, from the outfits to the camera work. It includes a nice variety of Christmas songs as well as a parody of Charles Dickens' A Christmas Carol. One fun cameo is that of a young, be-froed Michael Jackson, hanging garland and reading a book on ghosts. A Special Sesame Street Christmas is a cute and enjoyable holiday watch, and it's all brought to a close by Oscar finally getting some Christmas cheer from the real star of the show: the fluffiest kitten ever named Tiny Tim. 

Pee-Wee's Playhouse Christmas Special (1988)

I have a weird appreciation for Pee-Wee Herman. His 1980's show was kitschy, bizarre, and creative. His 1988 Christmas special was just as kitschy, bizarre, and creative. It's Christmas at the Playhouse and Pee-Wee and his friends are getting ready for Santa's arrival. We get to see holiday twists on regular segments from the show, such as King of Cartoons, the magic screen, and a Penny Cartoon. The guest appearances are incredible. Dinah Shore sings a never-ending rendition of "12 Days of Christmas." Cher learns the magic word of the day. Frankie Avalon makes Christmas crafts. Little Richard learns how to ice skate. This is just the tip of the iceberg of strange guest star performances. Pee-Wee's Christmas special is one of the weirder things you might watch this Christmas, but that's what makes it amazing.

John Denver: Montana Christmas Skies (1991)

One of my family traditions is watching the John Denver Montana Christmas Skies on Christmas day. John Denver is one of the greatest singers that blessed this world. He spanned genres, made great collaborations, and produced lots of TV specials. Montana Christmas Skies stars John Denver and his guests Clint Black, Kathy Mattea, and Patty Loveless. Most of the special takes place in a barn, reminiscent of the first Christmas. It also includes clips of John Denver performing some of his most beloved songs in concert. This program includes a good mix of both spiritual and fun Christmas songs. If you want a good old-fashioned American Christmas special to watch, this is the one. Plus, you get to hear George Burns talk to John Denver on a horse. What's better than that?

Unconventional Christmas Movies

Every December, families gather together and huddle around the television to watch the Christmas classics: It's a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, A Chistmas Story, Elf, just to name a few. These movies are great, but you may feel like you've seen them so many times. Maybe you just want to watch a holiday movie with a twist. There are definitely darker Christmas films out there, like Nightmare Before Christmas or Krampus.  But if you want something different and new to watch this year, here are some unconventional Christmas movies you may have overlooked.

Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Tim Burton once said that his two favorite holidays are Halloween and Christmas. Before he mixed those two holidays into the ultimate festive stew in Nightmare Before Christmas, he created a Christmas wonderland in the finale of his dark fantasy cult hit Edward Scissorhands. It was Johnny Depp's first collaboration with Burton and Vincent Price's final film role. Edward Scissorhands tells the story of a man created by a kindly professor who dies before he can replace his creation's scissored hands with real hands. He is discovered by an Avon saleswoman named Peg and is invited to live with her and her family. Edward must then try and fit into suburban society and the rest of the neighborhood tries to accept him as well. There are a lot of wonderful Burton-esque elements in this film including a likable and misfit lead, "normal" pastel sets competing with dark twisted scenery, a musical score that's both magical and somber. Dark and light come together most beautifully when Edward, a gothic hero if there ever was one, makes it snow for the first time in this town by making an ice sculpture of Kim on Christmas. At the very end of the film, the now elderly Kim says she knows Edward is still alive in the mansion because it snows every winter. Having a tense and heartbreaking battle during Christmas is very much a Tim Burton move. And even though the ending is a little sad, we all let out a sigh of relief to know that Edward is safe and Kim really does love him. Edward Scissorhands is a modern fairy tale that reminds us that magical things can happen, especially during Christmas.


Die Hard (1988)

Die Hard is a groundbreaking movie in a lot of ways. It turned comedic television actor Bruce Willis into an action star. It was Alan Rickman's first film role. And it is considered to be one of the most entertaining action movies of all time. Coming from someone who isn't a huge fan of action movies, this film struck me. It has good acting, clever writing, and it's tense as all get-out. Die Hard is about American hero John McClane, a New York cop. On Christmas Eve, he suddenly finds himself  up against German terrorists led by Hans Gruber at the Nakatomi corporation, the place where his wife works. Argyle the limo driver said it best: "If this is your idea of Christmas, I gotta be here for New Year's!" This could be any old action movie, but it was spruced up in the best ways with some great one-liners and fantastic music choices. The Christmassy 9th Symphony playing when the terrorists find the money and the jazzy rendition of "Let it Snow" following the epic climax are a few examples of Die Hard using stylistic choices to break away from genre norms. If you want an edgy, rough-around-the-edges Christmas movie to watch this year, definitely check out Die Hard. 

Gremlins (1984)

"This is Christmas, not Halloween!" exclaims Rockin' Ricky, everyone's favorite radio DJ, on the night hundreds of evil green monsters take over Kingston Falls. With writer Chris Columbus and executive producer Steven Spielberg comes a 1980's classic that we often forget is a Christmas movie. Billy Peltzer receives the most interesting Christmas present on the block: Mogwai, a strange creature with Chinese origins, who is nicknamed "Gizmo" by the family. There are only three rules to follow: don't shine bright lights or sunlight on it, don't get water on it, and don't feed it after midnight. Of course all these things happen and so Gizmo multiplies and creates hundreds of demonic gremlins that take over the town. Gremlins is a great example of black comedy, especially set against a Christmas backdrop. In fact, Spielberg was worried that the film might be too dark at times (remember Kate's speech on why she hates Christmas?) Director Joe Dante stuck to his vision and was able to create a holiday film that's both sinister and fun. Almost a decade before Nightmare Before Christmas was terrorizing Christmas with shrunken heads and present-eating pythons, gremlins were turning the snowy Christmas wonderland of Kingston Falls into a seedy and decrepit ghost town. And speaking of gremlins, they looked amazing. Puppets, mechanical figures, and even marionettes were used to create the Mogwai. And they still hold up today; I even thought how much worse the film would have looked if they had made the gremlins all CGI. So if you're in the mood for a dark and twisted holiday movie, don't bypass this mischievous Christmas classic. 

Batman Returns (1992)

Tim Burton's Batman arguably changed the way we think of superhero movies. And although he generally tends to stay away from sequels, he directed Batman Returns, which was almost as financially and critically successful as the first. This Batman film tells the story of two villains in the Batman rogues gallery: Penguin and Catwoman. Penguin teams up with business mogul Max Shrek to take over Gotham while Catwoman tries to kill Shreck out of vengeance. Batman must put a stop to it, all during Christmastime. This film has some interesting aspects. When you've got Christopher Walken and Danny DeVito playing villains, you can't go wrong. And when you've got Paul Reubens showing up as a cameo playing the Penguin's father, you know you've really got something special. Again, Tim Burton can mix Christmas with some diabolical plot points and dark set pieces to really make something unique. You've got evil clowns attacking the lighting ceremony of the Gotham City Christmas tree. There's a penguin army that shoots rockets off their backs, destroying the most Burton-looking zoo you've ever seen. What I found really intriguing with this film is that while in some parts it is darker, more adult, and more serious than previous superhero movies, it still maintains some camp (did anyone else cringe at the line, "Eat floor. High fiber."?) Don't spend this Christmas pining for the new Wonder Woman or Guardians of the Galaxy. There is a superhero Christmas movie you can watch this year while waiting for your faves to return.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005)

Seeing Lucy walk through the wardrobe to discover the wintry landscape of Narnia is one of the most magical moments in cinema. The 2005 adaptation of the C.S. Lewis classic was a great film, telling the story of the four Pevensie siblings discovering the fantastical world of Narnia through an ordinary wardrobe. In Narnia, the White Witch has made it permanently winter, and it is never Christmas. The Pevensies must find Aslan the lion and round up an army to stop the White Witch. One of the greatest parts of the movie is when Father Christmas arrives in Narnia and gives presents to three of the Pevensie children: a sword and shield for Peter, a bow, arrows, and horn for Susan, and a dagger and healing potion for Lucy. Because of Father Christmas, the Pevensies realize that Narnia is starting to change for the better because Christmas has finally come. The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe is not only a great fantasy movie, but it's a wonderful film to watch during Christmas. The beautiful snowy scenes will get you in the festive mood. And because this film is a Christian allegory, you can watch it reminding yourself of the true meaning of Christmas, even with talking beavers and centaurs.

Little Women (1994)

The 1994 retelling of the Louisa May Alcott novel is a wonderful film about sisterhood and growing up. It is about the March family during and after the Civil War. Four sisters - Meg, Jo, Beth, and Amy - all very different and yet very close, must learn to face some of life's greatest challenges: war, illness, death, love. It's one of my favorite films and one of my favorite performances by Winona Ryder. Much of the beginning of the film takes place during the winter in Concord, Massachusetts. This house is beautiful, especially surrounded by snow. In one of the most touching parts of the film, Beth, recovering from scarlet fever, is well enough to get out of bed and play the piano for everyone on Christmas. Even through all the winter scenes, the Christmas part of the film is fairly short. But it's so moving and joyful that it lingers with you throughout the rest of the film. If you want something a little different to watch this season, definitely give Little Women a chance. You will fall in love with the characters and get to experience a Concord Christmas.

Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone (2001)

Having just read the book, I saw Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone in theaters when I was eight years old. Was there a more magical time for any millennial at that age? This was our Star Wars, our E.T., our Wizard of Oz. This film introduced one of the most successful franchises of all time and it did an excellent job of doing so. During Harry Potter's first year at Hogwarts, we not only get to see Halloween, but we get to see Christmas. After the tense troll sequence during Halloween, it was nice to see Harry have a relatively calm Christmas holiday. And really, is there anything better than a Hogwarts Christmas? Hagrid drags a gigantic pine tree into the castle. The Great Hall is lined with huge Christmas trees, decorated by magic from Professor Flitwick. Ron and Harry wake up to presents under a tree in the Gryffindor Common Room. This is also the part where Harry gets his invisibility cloak, which as we all know, is an integral part of the plot. And nothing beats the heart-wrenching John Williams score played over Harry and Hedwig exploring the snowy grounds of Hogwarts. The scene where Harry first goes downstairs on Christmas morning and is surprised to see he actually has presents is so touching. It's so reminiscent of what it's like to be a kid on Christmas. And when you watch this movie again fifteen years later, it really makes you feel like a kid. So do yourself a favor, watch The Sorcerer's Stone and enjoy a Hogwarts Christmas this year. 

7 Memorable Christmas Episodes from Sitcoms

Almost every TV show, no matter the genre, does at least one Christmas episode. Sitcoms often have some of the best Christmas episodes. Whether it's because of the hilarious and relatable holiday shenanigans your favorite characters get into or whether it's because the Christmas episode is often the most heartwarming or touching episode a comedy can offer, Christmas sitcom specials are super enjoyable to watch. Some of these episodes include important changes for the show, were creatively groundbreaking, or have even becoming culturally iconic. Here are seven Christmas episodes from sitcoms that were particularly memorable.

7. "Citizen Knope" - Parks and Recreation

In the fourth season of Parks and Recreation, we find American hero Leslie Knope running for City Council. In "Citizen Knope," Leslie has been suspended from her job and must find ways to still participate in the department. Meanwhile, Ben Wyatt looks for a new job and the rest of the Parks Department decides to combine forces to get an amazing gift for Leslie because, as we all know, she is the best gift-giver ever known. Unfortunately, Leslie learns that her poll numbers have dropped significantly and her campaign team drop her campaign. The episode ends on a happy note as Leslie's suspension is lifted and her friends give her two great Christmas gifts: a gingerbread model of the Parks office and their idea to become her new campaign team.

This episode has some awesome moments. It is the beginning of the running gag of Ben getting hired to work for Barney Varmin's accounting firm and then quitting immediately. We get to see some of Leslie's greatest gifts, including the painting of April killing the Black Eyed Peas. The gingerbread house office is also incredible, with Tom's expensive fudge and Donna's M&M desk dyed silver. But most of all, it was one of the most heartfelt moments on the show. Leslie's friends becoming her campaign team was a huge turning point for this season. The entire Parks department decide to dedicate so much of their time for Leslie after she has dedicated so many years of her life for other people. Parks and Recreation is a comedy show that has an incredibly inspiring protagonist, which is a little unusual compared to other sitcoms. "Citizen Knope" showcased her unrelenting service and how great of an example she is to her friends. Plus, who doesn't love angry marshmallow Ron?

6. "A Benihana Christmas" - The Office

The Office shared some great work Christmas parties with us. In this episode, we are blessed with two Christmas parties. Carol has just broken up with Michael the day of the office Christmas party. To cure his boss's blues, Andy takes Michael, Dwight, and Jim to Benihana for lunch. Meanwhile, Angela is planning a Nutcracker-themed Christmas Party and has banned Karen from helping. Pam feels bad and decides to work with Karen to make a fun Christmas party. Later, the Benihana four return with two waitresses as dates for Andy and Michael. As the night continues, the office decides that Pam and Karen's Margarita Christmas party is much more fun than Angela's party and Michael can't tell the two waitresses apart. The episode ends with Pam, Karen, and Angela making peace and combining parties. Michael then invites Jan to Sandals, Jamaica; she says yes.

Getting two Office disaster Christmas parties for the price of one is great. Angela is incredibly funny in this episode. It was also great seeing Pam and Karen working together and being friends. "A Benihana Christmas" is also a major episode for the series because it marks the "official" beginning of Michael and Jan's tumultuous and hilariously awkward relationship. "A Benihana Christmas" had not only two office Christmas parties, but some of the funniest moments in Office history: Dwight describing how to kill a goose to a Benihana waitress, Pam's Christmas gift to Jim: a fake CIA mission for Dwight, and Angela singing her favorite song, "The Little Drummer Boy."

5. "Christmas in the Car" - Bob's Burgers 

Bob's Burgers is one of TV's greatest gifts to comedy in the last five years. The holiday episodes always prove to be wacky and hilarious. In "Christmas in the Car," the Belchers are forced to get a Christmas Tree on Christmas Eve because Linda continually puts up the tree too early and it dies before Christmas. While they are out, Bob asks Teddy to check on a ham that is cooking. While doing this, Teddy gets trapped under the fridge after falling into Louise's trap to catch Santa. Meanwhile, the Belchers become trapped and then chased by a giant candy cane truck. They hide out in a diner and Linda orders her beloved dutch baby dessert. Later, the Belchers confront the truck driver named Gary, who is particularly upset because he has to spend the holidays alone driving to different Christmas parades. The Belchers realize the whole thing was a misunderstanding and they give the dutch baby to Gary as a present. The family then heads home to find Teddy still trapped under the fridge.

The entire episode is an homage to Steven Spielberg's 1971 movie Duel. Bob's Burgers is genius with its references and parodies (they have done episodes based on The Goonies and E.T. just to name a couple). "Christmas in the Car" is a wonderful combination of some of our favorite Belcher-isms: Linda's obsessive personality, Bob ragingly over-analyzing a situation, Gene loving a weird, unknown song or musical group, Louise playing a prank. These are things we know and love from one of our favorite TV families with a fun, holiday twist. Creatively written and weirdly uplifting, "Christmas in the Car" is an iconic Bob's Burger episode and a great watch for the holiday season.

4. "Perspectives on Christmas" - Frasier

Frasier is one of the most successful spin-off sitcoms of all time, running eleven seasons. The show had tons of wonderful Christmas episodes, but one of the funniest, and one of my personal favorites, is season five's "Perspectives on Christmas." The holidays have been stressful for Frasier and company and each character tells their side of the story while getting massages. Martin gets roped into singing for a church Christmas pageant. He is embarrassed because he can't hit the high note of "O Holy Night" so he consults Frasier and Niles for help and keeps it a secret from everyone else. Daphne gets suspicious and after some funny misunderstandings believes Martin to be deathly ill. Meanwhile, Niles ruins his expensive suit and Frasier accidentally tells Roz's Mom that Roz is pregnant. After a big fight between Frasier and Roz and a disastrous Christmas pageant, Frasier decides to get everyone massages to recover from this particularly stressful holiday season.

Frasier had some of the most clever writing for a sitcom and this episode was incredibly smart and funny. It was interesting to see each character's perspective on what had happened. The misunderstanding between Daphne and Martin is classic Frasier humor and the fight between Roz and Frasier dressed up as Santa and Mrs. Claus is also hilarious. But I don't think anything beats Martin trying to sing "O Holy Night" so badly that it makes Eddie hide under a pillow. Frasier is not only funny but it is a deep-thinking and uplifting show and "Perspectives on Christmas" is an episode that showcases the stress that can happen around Christmastime but also how wonderful it is to have loving family and friends, especially during the holidays.

3. "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" - The Simpsons

The Simpsons is the longest running sitcom of all time. When it comes to the holidays, the show is more known for its Treehouse of Horror Halloween specials. But The Simpsons also has its share of Christmas episodes, one of the best being its first holiday special, "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire." Bart getting a tattoo without permission and needing an expensive tattoo removal and Homer not receiving a Christmas bonus combine to make a doomed Christmas for the Simpson family. After working as a mall Santa to make extra cash, Homer takes his meager sum to the dog track to try to earn more money. He bets on a little plucky greyhound named Santa's Little Helper, who loses the race. The angry owner disowns Santa's Little Helper and Homer decides to adopt him. Feeling like he ruined Christmas, Homer comes home dismayed until he discovers his family is over the moon with the new dog.

What's interesting about "Simpsons Roasting on an Open Fire" is that while it is was the eighth episode produced for the first season, it is the first episode that ever aired. Could there be a better intro to a series? While it is strange to see some of the early animation and hear the different voices, it still has some great early Simpsons humor. This episode is wonderful because we see The Simpsons first adopt Santa's Little Helper. For a Simpsons episode, it's also very inspiring. Even though he makes mistakes, Homer tries his best to make Christmas nice for the family. And at the end of the day, everyone is happy with a furry new family member rather a ton of material possessions. If you want to watch a holiday classic this year, you should watch this first episode of America's favorite animated family.

2. "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas" - Community

Community is smart, funny, and, like Bob's Burgers, is a parody machine. One of the most innovative and genius Christmas episodes ever made is "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas." Abed is feeling sad this Christmas, so sad that he has imagined everyone around him as stop-motion characters similar to those from the Rankin/Bass Christmas specials. He has decided he needs to go on a journey to find the true meaning of Christmas. Wanting to help him, his friends decide to go with him and the school's psychology professor joins to turn his "journey" into a therapy session. In Abed's mind, he and his friends arrive at the North Pole. He has turned his friends into Christmas-themed toys and they travel through different lands, searching for the meaning Christmas and losing friends who don't believe along the way. At the end, Abed faces Duncan the school psychologist (now a Christmas wizard in Abed's fantasy), who discovers that Abed is sad because his mother broke the tradition of watching Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer with him this Christmas. Abed's friends rejoin him and he realizes that "the meaning of Christmas is the idea that Christmas has meaning. And it can mean whatever we want." The fantasy ends and the friends all end up on Abed's couch watching Rudolph.

Community took huge risks with this episode and it all paid off. The entire episode is done in stop-motion animation, which is unique for a sitcom. While that seems like it would have taken a very long time to make, I found out while researching that this episode's animation was done in four months and the filming was done in less than two months, which is shorter than the process to make an episode of The Simpsons. Animators who worked on masterpieces such as Coraline and Nightmare Before Christmas helped with the animation. There are also tons of original songs, some that are funny and some that are even a bit heartbreaking. I love that this episode focuses on Abed, who is arguably the most interesting character in Community (and my favorite character). Only he could dream up a Christmas fantasy that is the mix of The Polar Express, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Santa Claus is Comin' to Town. "Abed's Uncontrollable Christmas" is a feat of a holiday episode. With the animation, music, and heartwarming message, it's a holiday special that's honestly bigger than TV and deserves to be a classic.

1. "The Strike" - Seinfeld

Seinfeld went above and beyond with its most famous Christmas episode: it invented a new holiday. 

In its final season, Seinfeld introduced the world to Frank Costanza's made-up holiday called Festivus. Instead of a Christmas tree, there's an aluminum pole (Frank finds tinsel distracting). Christmas dinner includes the Airing of Grievances, in which Frank tells the whole family all the ways they have upset him the past year. Finally, the night ends with the infamous Feats of Strength. George's friends find out about this holiday and are interested, particularly Kramer. At the same time, Kramer, who up until now has never had a normal job, finds out he can go back to work at the bagel shop because "the strike is off." Other great side-plots include Elaine giving a fake phone number to "Denim Vest," Jerry dating the "two-face" Gwen, George giving cards to his workmates that ask for donations to the Human Fund, and Elaine tracking down her card for her free submarine sandwich. The episode ends with the gang at the Constanza's, including Gwen, George's boss Mr. Kruger, and two men from a betting parlor, celebrating/barging in on the Festivus dinner.

The idea for Festivus is based off the sad and hilarious reality of Seinfeld writer Dan O'Keefe, who grew up celebrating Festivus in the 1960's. One difference from the show and his life, O'Keefe said, was that his family used a clock instead of an aluminum pole. His father would nail an old clock to the wall and would never tell his son what it symbolized. What's really amazing about "The Strike" is the cultural impact it has had. People all over the world now celebrate Festivus on December 23rd, just like in the show. They have an Airing of Grievances, wrestle each other to the ground during the Feats of Strength, and even have a dinner similar to the Costanza's. "The Strike" includes so many iconic phrases and references aside from Festivus that are now a part of our pop culture: two-face, Human Fund, Denim Vest. Seinfeld was an innovative sitcom that is a huge part of television history and American culture. Festivus is a part of that as well. I mean, it has its own Wikipedia page for crying out loud. If you want to laugh or need some cheering up this holiday season, make "The Strike" a part of your watch-list this Christmas. And thank your lucky stars every day that you weren't born a Costanza. 

Halloween 2016

Well, October is over and so is one of my favorite holidays. This year I wanted to share with you some of the spooky things I enjoyed this month along with some fun Halloween memories.

This year I dressed up as Mrs. Bates from Psycho. Most of this costume came from the thrift store or from stuff I owned (sometimes it helps when you already kind of dress like an old lady). I need to give major props to my sister for my dead, skeletal, decrepit makeup. She did an amazing job! I wore this costume to a Trunk r Treat on Friday and again on actual Halloween night. A lot of kids were creeped out and and some even asked if I was real. Mission accomplished.

Every Halloween I like to watch as many of my favorite Halloween movies as I can. While I feel like I didn't get to watch as many this month, I did see quite a few new movies, which was a lot of fun. I finally saw John Carpenter's Halloween (1978), which I have been wanting to see for years. The slasher genre isn't my favorite, but the music and cinematography definitely made this a good spooky movie for the season. I spent a lot of October watching the Universal Monsters movies. There were three I saw this month that I had never seen before: Frankenstein (1931), Bride of Frankenstein (1935), and The Invisible Man (1933). These films had some silly moments but the special effects were all incredible, especially for the time. They were perfect for just getting me into the Halloween mood.

I also wanted to only read spooky books this month. There were a few that were really enjoyable. I read a collection of ghost stories written by Charles Dickens. I got this book years ago while I was at college and never read it until now. Dickens is one of my favorite authors and this little book was filled with some good stories. Dickens not only loves ghosts but he especially loves Christmas ghosts so this book could work well for both holidays! I read another collection of spooky stories collected by Alfred Hitchcock in the 1960's. I have tried to read two other collections of his with stories for adults but I couldn't get into them. However, the collection I read this year with stories for teens was pretty fun. The illustrations were amazing and some of the stories were actually quite interesting. I also read a book by Frank Thompson about the making of the movie The Nightmare Before Christmas. I love reading about filmmaking, and animation in particular really appeals to me. If you are interested in stop-motion, animation, or movies in general, you should definitely check out this book. It went into details about everything, from writing the music to creating the puppets.

Lastly, I was on a music frenzy this month. Making mixed CD's is a hobby of mine and I made four spooky mixes this month that I quite enjoyed listening to. I thought I would provide the songs here in case you would like some new music to check out:

Cemetery Songs (all the songs are about graves, funerals, tombs, and all that fun stuff)
1. Nightmare Of You - I Want To Be Buried In Your Backyard
2. The Boomtown Rats - The Elephant's Graveyard
3. The Fashion - The Funeral Dept.
4. The Cranberries - Yeat's Grave
5. Laura Marling - Devil's Resting Place
6. Band Of Horses - The Funeral
7. The Airborne Toxic Event - The Graveyard Near The House
8. Eisley - Many Funerals
9. Coldplay - Cemeteries Of London
10. The Cure - The Funeral Party
11. VEILS - TOMB

Cute Halloween Songs (pretty self-explanatory)
1. Karen O - Strange Love
2. Eels - My Beloved Monster
3. Bishop Allen - Ghosts Are Good Company
4. The White Stripes - Little Ghost
5. Good Night, States - Moonlight
6. Nickel Creek - Out Of The Woods
7. The Hush Sound - You Are The Moon
8. Lovedrug - Spiders
9. Nightmare Of You - I Want To Be Buried In Your Backyard
10. The Shins - Weird Divide
11. Passion Pit - Almost There
12. Mark Foster - Polartropic (You Don't Understand Me)
13. Now, Now - Wolf
14. Grace Potter Ft. The Flaming Lips - My Mechanical Friend
15. Nicole Atkins - Maybe Tonight
16. Grouplove - Underground

You Best Start Believin' in Ghost Stories, Miss Turner... (part one of a mix about ghosts)
1. The White Stripes - Little Ghost
2. Neutral Milk Hotel - Ghost
3. Bishop Allen - Ghosts Are Good Company
4. Radical Face - Ghost Towns
5. Alison Krauss - Ghost In This House
6. Tegan & Sara - Walking With A Ghost
7. Johnny Cash - (Ghost) Riders In The Sky
8. Karen Elson - The Ghost Who Walks
9. Sky Ferreira - Ghost
10. Band Of Horses - Is There A Ghost
11. Laura Welsh - Ghosts
12. L.A. Witch - Haunting
13. The Raveonettes - Attack Of The Ghost Riders

...You're In One! (part two of a mix about ghosts)
1. We Are Scientists - Ghouls
2. Armor For Sleep - Very Invisible
3. Bayside - The Ghost Of St. Valentine
4. The Pack A.D. - Haunt You
5. The Vaccines - Ghost Town
6. Armor For Sleep - Basement Ghost Singing
7. Weezer - Haunt You Every Day
8. Broken Bells - The Ghost Inside
9. Chairlift - Ghost Tonight
10. JOURNALIST - G H O S T S T O R Y
11. Burial - Ghost Hardware
12. Prints - Ghosts
13. Passion Pit - Cry Like A Ghost
14. Ray Parker, Jr. - Ghostbusters Theme


I hope you all had a safe and happy Halloween! Stay spooky until next year xx

Now Playing: Kubo and the Two Strings (2016)

As an avid fan of everything Laika Entertainment has done, I was very much anticipating their latest film Kubo and the Two Strings. It did not disappoint. This film is about Kubo, a boy with one eye who can create magic using a traditional Japanese instrument called a shamisen. He sets off on a quest with some strange companions to collect three pieces of armor that will protect him from his evil grandfather and two aunts who wish to steal his other eye. Along the way, he learns more about the incredible past of his parents. Kubo was directed by Laika CEO Travis Knight and includes the voice talents of Art Parkinson, Charlize Theron, Matthew McConaughey, Ralph Fiennes, Rooney Mara, and George Takei. The film also features a creepy and cool rendition of "While My Guitar Gently Weeps" by Regina Spektor, which plays over the end credits.

I am always impressed by original content in Hollywood right now. I am even more impressed by a smart kid's movie coming out today. Kubo had both of these things. The writing and the twists and turns of the story along with the stunning visuals can keep both children and adults entertained. The film was also funnier than I expected. Based on the trailers, I didn't think it would be in the same vein as ParaNorman but it had a lot of humorous moments. I think my favorite part of the movie was the Sisters, the aunts of Kubo. Man, I haven't seen such cool villains in a kid's movie for a while! They were scary, powerful, and pure evil. And as soon as I got out of the theater, my sister and I were talking about how amazing they would be as Halloween costumes.

I love stop-motion animation. I find it fascinating and you cannot talk about Kubo without talking about the beautiful animation. This film used CGI, animatronics, and stop-motion. In fact, one monster in Kubo, which was basically a giant skeleton, is 16 feet tall with a 20 foot reach -.the largest animatronic figure ever built.  Most main characters were stop-motion figures, but in large crowd scenes, the people in the background are CGI. Laika is also known for using 3D printing to create a wide range of faces for characters, something that is different from stop-motion pictures of the past. While doing some research I was also surprised to learn that the hair on human characters is actual hair styled with silicone and the capes used by the evil Sisters are created by hand-made feathers (about 183 for each cape!) The amount of work put into the costumes for these figures, as well as the sets and Kubo's origami creations is almost unfathomable. But it really pays off in the end, as this movie is visually stunning. The animation goes above and beyond and stands out amongst the Minions and Madagascars. 

Kubo does not skimp on story. This isn't a series. It's not a franchise. And yet the lore is rich. Not everything is explained in great detail and at times I found it frustrating. But after thinking about it for a day or two, I really appreciated it. Because it meant you had to just believe in the magic of this world. Not everything has a logical explanation to it. Kubo draws inspiration from the classic fairy tales and mythologies we all know. There's King Arthur and Harry Potter and even a bit of Avatar: The Last Airbender. But it is still an original fantasy. There is a Moon King who has magical daughters. There are brave warriors wearing magic armor, talking animals, and ghosts. Special robes can make you fly. Eyes are the things that make you human and contain memories. The dead can still be with you through spirit. All these magical elements come together to make a really fascinating story. I also love that Kubo combines inspirations from stories around the world into an ancient Japanese setting. There are storytellers making origami and playing  the shamisens. There are samurais wielding katana. I felt like I was learning something new and the story still had familiarity in it. The magic of Kubo was quite literally the magic.

Kubo and the Two Strings is a children's movie that should not be overlooked. In a sea of brands and franchises and Pixar sequels, it should not be lost. Laika needs all the support it can get - they have yet to disappoint and it is the only studio making movies like this. This is a movie I really encourage everyone to see. It's funny and unique and beautiful. It will make you fall in love with movies again.

Cult Film Friday: Yellow Submarine (1968)

I recently read 100 Best Beatles Songs: An Informed Fan's Guide by Stephen J. Spignesi and Michael Lewis. The Beatles is my favorite band and I love learning about them. In my Beatle-y mood, I decided to re-watch one of my favorite movies, one that has maintained a cult classic status for Beatles fans and is very close to my heart: The Beatles' 1968 animated film Yellow Submarine.
Released during the height of sixties psychedelia, Yellow Submarine received worldwide acclaim, particularly for the music (of course) and the colorful and creative animation.

The plot of Yellow Submarine is constructed by Beatles songs. The peaceful Pepperland has been attacked by Blue Meanies, creatures that hate music, color, happiness, love, and even the word "yes." One Pepperland resident, Fred, is able to escape in the Yellow Submarine. Up on land, he recruits the help of the Beatles. They travel back to Pepperland through various colorful and sometimes dangerous underwater locales, including the Sea of Time and the Sea of Monsters. Once they make it to Pepperland, the Beatles are able to restore color and happiness to the people, and even make the Blue Meanies nice, through the power of music.

The Beatles themselves do not voice their cartoon counterparts (sad, yes, but they do have an adorable live-action segment at the end of the movie), but this doesn't ruin the movie for me. It's still full of Beatles humor and imagery. The writing is incredibly clever and hilarious, reminiscent of The Goon Show and Monty Python. If you enjoyed A Hard Day's Night and Help!, you'll know this film, even though it's an animated movie for children, maintains the silly and surreal humor the Beatles are known for. The music is wonderful. The soundtrack consists of Beatles tunes and instrumental music composed by George Martin.

Let's talk about the animation, because for real. The animation in this movie is everything. It's sixties, it's psychedelic. It's pop art and surrealism. And something I really noticed this time was how the animation would change during each song. The images would try to match the songs; the two art forms go together so perfectly in Yellow Submarine:
1. The first song we hear is "Yellow Submarine." This song plays over the opening titles and uses the main animation for the film.
2. We then hear Eleanor Rigby, which is one of my favorite Beatles songs. The bright, surreal look of Pepperland is gone. We are now in the smog of Liverpool. The colors used are mostly blacks, browns, and greys. The people are drawn more realistically, reminding one of Andy Warhol's photographs. The actions of the people in this segment are repetitive. It all clashes with the Yellow Submarine sailing in the background.

3. We then hear "All Together Now" while the Beatles and Fred travel in the Yellow Submarine. We get to hear this song again during the live-action ending with the Beatles. The animation used is the standard character-driven art we see throughout. At the end of the film, the song plays over images of the Beatles flashing across the screen while the words "all together now" appear in different languages.

4. In the Sea of Time, the Beatles sing "When I'm Sixty-Four." Surreal images shown of the numbers 1 through 64 are very reminiscent of Sesame Street. Perhaps Jim Henson was inspired by this movie?

5. In easily the trippiest part of this movie (and that's saying a lot), the Beatles sing "Only a Northern Song" while the submarine glides through the Sea of Science. Again, Warhol-esque photos of the Beatles flash before us with a strobe light effect. The psychedelic animation certainly matches the song.

6. It's a while before we hear the next song; "Lucy in the Sky with Diamonds." This is one my favorite animated segments of the movie. Again, very pop art, but almost with a slight art deco feel. "Lucy" reminds me of a girl you would see in French posters from the 1920's. It's a very pretty part.

7. The part where the Beatles sing "Nowhere Man" to Jeremy Hillary Boob, Ph.D. used to make me cry as a child! The regular animation is used here but includes a lot of surreal collages mixed with very sixties-looking flowers.

8. The Beatles have made it to Pepperland and they have disguised themselves as Sgt. Pepper's Lonely Hearts Club Band, Pepperland's greatest musical act. Guess which song they sing to revive the people and bring color and happiness back? This segment contains the regular animation.

9. The main animation is also used for the next song, "All You Need is Love," except this time the lyrics of the song are shown on the screen in big, lovely letters.

10. "Hey Bulldog" is the jam of Yellow Submarine, using the regular animation to show the Beatles trying to escape from a pack of Blue Meanie bulldogs.

11. In the heartwarming finale, the Blue Meanies turn good and join with the Beatles and the rest of Pepperland. Psychedelic, vivid animation illustrates the George Harrison tune "It's All Too Much."

Snippets of "Love You To," "A Day in the Life," "Think for Yourself," "With a Little Help From My Friends," and "Baby You're a Rich Man" can also be heard.

Yellow Submarine is an interesting cult film. It is popular among those who love the band; true-blue Beatles fans will know this movie. And yet, you can still find Yellow Submarine merchandise occasionally in stores: a mug here or a notebook there. It's like when you see Breakfast Club t-shirts at Target or something. It's probably recognizable as Beatles-related to the masses, but I am surprised the older I get by how few people have actually seen it.

I watched Yellow Submarine growing up. It was regularly playing in our VCR. As a kid, my favorite Beatle was Ringo; for the past ten years or so, my favorite has been George. It was funny remembering that while watching this recently. I think one of the things I really liked about it as a kid was the beautiful animation. There is always something to look at. There is so much detail in each frame. It's a different movie experience; it encourages audience participation. You can sing along and just enjoy the imagery. I also love the message. You have a chance for redemption; have a positive mindset; all you need is love, which is a belief that is present in many Beatles songs. I think, no matter what, that's ultimately what the Beatles were trying to convey through their music. It certainly is the message conveyed in Yellow Submarine.