Christmas TV, Films etc: Old and New🎄 📺

I've just been watching Patrick Stewart's version of A Christmas Carol. I've never seen it before and I thought it was extremely good. Very true to the book and much darker than some of the other versions.

Yes Silverlining we saw Dinner For One on New Year’s Eves when we lived in Germany.
It didn’t tickle me but it is a German favourite as you say.
I have laughed heartily at Nation Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation this afternoon although that humour would not be everyone’s; it is slapstick.
I am also looking forward to Miranda Hart’s Christmas DVD - 2 Christmas special episodes from 2010 and 2012. It’s so good to have a good laugh.

I love Dinner For One. I always thought Freddie Frinton was funny what ever he did. Also on my list for Christmas are National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation, Love Actually, The Muppet Christmas Carol (I like the Jim Carrey version too), Alistair Sim's Scrooge and somewhere I will fit in the BBC's Box Of Delights which I've got on DVD.

A boy called Christmas, The flight before Christmas, Arthur Christmas, three of my favourites.

FannyCornforth

Silverlining yes, I’ve seen Dinner For One. I think that it’s quite creepy, and yes, not at all funny.
It’s definitely an odd cultural phenomenon!

I remember seeing a programme ( most likely a BBC 4 programme ) ages ago which said how popular Dinner for One was in Europe.

Thanks Meryl
And I’ve just found this,
Chestnut it’s on Christmas Day at 9pm
www.whattowatch.com/watching-guides/doc-martin-christmas-special-2022-all-we-know-about-the-final-ever-episode

I've seen Dinner For One. It isn't my kind of humour at all.

Chestnut
Here’s the BBC Xmas guide.

ukchristmastv.weebly.com/bbc-2022.html

Silverlining yes, I’ve seen Dinner For One. I think that it’s quite creepy, and yes, not at all funny.
It’s definitely an odd cultural phenomenon!

One of my favourite Christmas films is the relatively unknown, One Magic Christmas. I manage to see it every year. Its just a lovely little film.

Elf is a favourite. We have our 2 youngest children at home so we watch that on Christmas Eve clad in new Christmas pyjamas . The children, not me.

Love Actually is OK

I'm going to be very brave and say It's a Wonderful Life is my least favourite. Sorry!

In Germany every New Year’s Eve the main tv channels put on Dinner for One with Freddie Frinton, it’s often on more than once during the day and is watched by millions. Oh how they laugh, they love it. We didn’t know it till we were visiting over Christmas and ( forced to) watch it. They could not believe we had never seen it. I struggled to even smile while they were all in stitches.
I wonder if it’s just Germany or if other European countries are similarly fanatic about it.
Has anyone else seen Dinner for One?

Blondiescot

*TerriBall*, I'm with you when it comes to Love Actually. Worst film ever!

I wouldn’t go as far as ‘worst film ever’, but I don’t like it either.
I’m not a fan of Richard Curtis (Four Weddings is okay as it has a few redeeming features, especially John Hannah and Charlotte Coleman).
As an aside - Love Actually was the last film that I saw in the cinema!

We have 3 series of The Detectorists to catch up on but in reality we often end up listening to radio shows instead.

I've been having some trouble trying to actively avoid any Christmas-related viewing, along with searching for 'ordinary' radio!

Chestnut

I could never watch anything every year! I would quite like to see National Lampoon's Christmas as I like Chevy Chase and haven't seen it in many years. I've no idea if it's on because my Radio Times hasn't arrived in the post. I expect I'll miss lots of things if it doesn't arrive in time.

I'm looking forward to the Christmas specials of Doc Martin and others (if I find them).

Nat Lampoon’s Christmas is on now🤣on Sky, am laughing at it.
Doc Martin, yay I love that.
Detectorists is on Boxing Day.
Watched A Christmas Carol Goes Wrong last night, what a laff.

I saw the second half of The Holiday on tv one night and couldn’t stop watching it even though it’s not the sort of film I usually watch. Saw I then borrowed a dvd so I could watch all of it. I love it. Although I often wonder who’s looking after the dog most of the time.

TerriBall, I'm with you when it comes to Love Actually. Worst film ever!

The new animated version of scrooge(a Christmas carol) on Netflix, watched it with the grandchildren yesterday. We all thought it was very good, and although it’s animated it’s not just a kids film.

I agree Chestnut, Love Story is never on tv, I'd like a trip down memory land and watch some of those 1970 films again.

A scary film I've watched a couple of times from that era is Black Christmas it made me jump out of my skin when I first went to see it.

I do like the Home Alones 1 and 2. The Holiday, in particular the first part of it, the snowy Hollywood version of picture perfect England in the quaint cottage. In fact I love any of those highly idealised versions of England in the winter, the beginning of Hook when grown up Peter Pan played by Robin Williams goes back to London with his children to stay with Grandma Wendy, Bridget Jones, Paddingtons etc., such mind numbing, schmaltzy, comfort can be nice in the depths of winter. Although I always thought Love Actually surpassed all levels of ridiculousness as far as over the top whimsy is concerned, it's got to be up there as one of the most cringe making films ever

Thanks but I don't have Amazon Prime (on principle). I manage to work out my deliveries so they are always free, without paying for Prime. 😉

You can buy it on Amazon prime Chestnut £2.49.

Oh The Box of Delights!

Years ago a film called The Last Winter was often on at Christmas. A very bittersweet Canadian film. I’d love to see it again. I may have it on video somewhere. And I meant to buy the DVD’s of The Children if Green Knowe and The Box of Delights but didn’t get round to it. I’d love to see them again.

You know what is just never on TV and featured a snowy Christmas scene in New York and that was Love Story. Why is it never on TV; has it been banned or something?

Muppets Christmas Carol, The Holiday, Scrooged, Scrooge, 2 versions of Miracle on 34th Street, It's a Wonderful Life, Die Hard and Serendipity will all make an appearance at some point over the next two weeks.

We've already watched Black Christmas (1974 horror film) which after all these years still gives me the heeby jeebies.