Let's get one thing straight: I hate Christmas. And what's one of the worst parts? The ridiculous films and TV shows that show up on TV rerun around this time. Let's take a look at some of the most annoying:
Rankin-Bass TV Specials: OK, I get it, it was a part of childhood. What was more special at Christmas than Rudolph or Frosty in glorious stop motion? At this point though, its getting annoying. Call me a Scrooge, but it seems like after the fortieth time of having to listen to them on the TV, they get old. FAST
The Christmas Episode: It is a rule in the TV world that every show MUST have a Christmas episode, no if ands or buts. Sitcoms usually have the Christmas episode in the usual format: the characters try to do something for Christmas, it all goes wrong, but its all heartwarming in the end. But dramas are even stranger. Ever watch some of House's Christmas episodes?
Hallmark Channel Original Movies: If you do get Hallmark Channel, you know they are infamous for their TV movies, which seem to always revolve around romance and tragedy, especially at Christmas. They are even cheesier at Christmas. Imagine if you will: single mom drops her daughter's letter to Santa in the mailbox, and asks Santa for a boyfriend. Well, look who shows up on her doorstep the next morning! It stuff like this that makes me want to hurl dafodills.
Here are some holiday movies I actually ENJOY:
The Santa Clause: Yeah, OK, its on TV a lot too. But think about it: the plot was so original and heartwarming at the same time and tapped into something we love about Christmas: believing in something good in the world. The sequels though...don't go there.
Scrooge: If you have never heard of this 70's musical based on A Christmas Carol, you are in for a treat. Starring Albery Finney and Alec Guiness (AKA Oni-Wan Kenobi), this interpretation is a cult favorite for its humor and catchy musical numbers. The performances and settings are both great, making this one a true Christmas classic.
It's A Wonderful Life: Do I even need to explain? Its like an antidepressant for holiday depression.
Happy holidays from the Best Picture Project! First picture coming soon!
Wednesday, December 8, 2010
Tuesday, November 23, 2010
Sequels: This Time Its Personal
Well, we're taking a detour for a moment from the Best Picture thing, mostly due to the fact that the first movie, Wings, still hasn't arrived in the mail. No matter though. I actually have something to post!
Today while I was eating dinner, I spied an ad for Tron: Legacy on a soda can. Which made me realize something: who is Disney actually marketing to? It's a pretty reasonable question in my opinion....after all, the original film is only twenty eight years old, and I'm pretty sure many of Disney's target audience (e.g KIDS) hasn't even been around that long (unless many of you have been secretly living in your mother's basement).
There is a very simple answer to the question of why Disney would put out a sequel to Tron: it's a cool movie.
Think about it: computers, Jeff Bridges, glo-lite motorcycles...it's all something a lot of boys would probably want to watch (OK, maybe not Jeff Bridges, but you get the idea). And that is EXACTLY what Disney is hoping for. They are currently in the process of re-branding themselves. For the past few years they have come to be known for their G-rated princess movies and well done Pixar films. They realize though that they are sort of missing out on a key demographic here: boys.
Boys like adventure, fantasy, sci-fi, death, doom, destruction, heroes and villains. Not Sleeping Beauty. Disney has realized this, and is now trying to turn itself around. In 2009, Disney bought out Marvel comics, as well as created and launched Disney XD, a network that broadcasts programs for guys 8-12. They want guys to want to go see that next Disney movie instead of the next Transformers. Hence, Tron: Legacy.
I personally am very curious to see what Disney has in store in the next couple of years. Just yesterday they announced that Tangled would be the last princess movie for a while. I think catering to this new demographic is going to allow Disney to move forward and be more creative in the subject matter they pursue. This is not your parents Disney (or is it???)
Saturday, November 20, 2010
Cinematic Economics
Think fast! What is America's biggest export?
A. Fudge
B. American Flags
C. Barry Manilow Cover Albums
D. All of the Above
If you picked E, NONE of the above, you would be correct. In fact America's biggest export is none other than something we all love to love and loathe: culture (no, I don't consider Barry Manilow culture; get over it).
We Americans love our culture. Its so diverse, and colorful, and distracts us from really getting anything meaningful done, like laundry, or quantum mechanics. We elevate movie stars to gods, we take in hours of TV at a time, we eat at McDoanld's every week....think about it. We are culture creatures.
Perhaps what needs to be explained here though is what culture actually is. Some anthropologists will argue with me, but I say culture is what holds society together. It is something shared by everyone in a town, city, country that makes that place what it is and helps to unite it.
Its like being in a family, a really big family, but nonetheless family. You become tuned into everyone's little idiosyncrasies from the moment you are brought in. You listen to your sister's piano music pounding through the walls, your smell your mother's cooking...its all unique and special. That's how we you do things in your house. You feel a connection to that, nostalgia for burnt meatloaf and Jingle Bells and all the things that make your home, home. It may not be the nicest, but its yours, and you feel attached to it.
Americans have an interesting culture though. We have reached the status as one of the most powerful superpowers on planet Earth, and a lot of our culture seems to reflect that wealth and glamor of being on top. Some of it's totally superficial, and our art reflects that (as in any given hit number one pop tune).
Another consequence of America being on top though is that we ourselves have the power to export our culture. A prime example of this is how American food has traversed the globe.
In the form of hamburgers, submarine sandwiches, and fried chicken, American food has become popular in places such as China, Brazil, and Italy. By opening up fast food places internationally, our culture 'home' as it were is growing.
No form of culture though is quite as American and as gigantic as the motion picture. Movies are an America invention, starting out with the invention of the kinescope by Thomas Edison, of light bulb fame. It is here that the movie industry first blossomed into something BIG.
In 1929, the first Academy Awards® were held in Hollywood to honor outstanding achievements in film, the pinnacle of American culture. I'm not saying that other cultures haven't been involved in these awards, they have. I'm just saying that this is an American invention, celebrating one of our best loved art forms. This blog is dedicated to showcasing the best picture winners from 1927 to the present day. I will proceed to watch all of these films in chronological order and provide some insight into the cultural significance of each one, worthy or not.
America may be the creator of the Academy Awards®, but great film can be found all over the world. That's what the Best Picture is all about: the finest film of a year, a slice of cultural experience from times long past.
A. Fudge
B. American Flags
C. Barry Manilow Cover Albums
D. All of the Above
If you picked E, NONE of the above, you would be correct. In fact America's biggest export is none other than something we all love to love and loathe: culture (no, I don't consider Barry Manilow culture; get over it).
We Americans love our culture. Its so diverse, and colorful, and distracts us from really getting anything meaningful done, like laundry, or quantum mechanics. We elevate movie stars to gods, we take in hours of TV at a time, we eat at McDoanld's every week....think about it. We are culture creatures.
Perhaps what needs to be explained here though is what culture actually is. Some anthropologists will argue with me, but I say culture is what holds society together. It is something shared by everyone in a town, city, country that makes that place what it is and helps to unite it.
Its like being in a family, a really big family, but nonetheless family. You become tuned into everyone's little idiosyncrasies from the moment you are brought in. You listen to your sister's piano music pounding through the walls, your smell your mother's cooking...its all unique and special. That's how we you do things in your house. You feel a connection to that, nostalgia for burnt meatloaf and Jingle Bells and all the things that make your home, home. It may not be the nicest, but its yours, and you feel attached to it.
Americans have an interesting culture though. We have reached the status as one of the most powerful superpowers on planet Earth, and a lot of our culture seems to reflect that wealth and glamor of being on top. Some of it's totally superficial, and our art reflects that (as in any given hit number one pop tune).
Another consequence of America being on top though is that we ourselves have the power to export our culture. A prime example of this is how American food has traversed the globe.
In the form of hamburgers, submarine sandwiches, and fried chicken, American food has become popular in places such as China, Brazil, and Italy. By opening up fast food places internationally, our culture 'home' as it were is growing.
No form of culture though is quite as American and as gigantic as the motion picture. Movies are an America invention, starting out with the invention of the kinescope by Thomas Edison, of light bulb fame. It is here that the movie industry first blossomed into something BIG.
In 1929, the first Academy Awards® were held in Hollywood to honor outstanding achievements in film, the pinnacle of American culture. I'm not saying that other cultures haven't been involved in these awards, they have. I'm just saying that this is an American invention, celebrating one of our best loved art forms. This blog is dedicated to showcasing the best picture winners from 1927 to the present day. I will proceed to watch all of these films in chronological order and provide some insight into the cultural significance of each one, worthy or not.
America may be the creator of the Academy Awards®, but great film can be found all over the world. That's what the Best Picture is all about: the finest film of a year, a slice of cultural experience from times long past.
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