Gyroscopic Investing

Since the Christmas season is right around the corner, I was hoping to start putting some good Christmas films in my Netflix queue--but not the usual overtly secular films full of Santa, elves, flying reindeer, and talking snowmen. That probably eliminates at least 95% of Christmas-themed films, so this is not a simple request.

This year, what I'm trying to find are the best Christmas films that are actually at least somewhat Christian: i.e., they mention Jesus Christ or at least don't shy away from featuring religious-themed decorations like nativity scenes and carols with religious lyrics. It doesn't necessarily need to be a preachy film--my only requirement is that the central theme of the movie cannot be that the meaning of Christmas is to believe in Santa Claus or "Christmas miracles."

I suspect that most such films--if they actually exist--were made more than about 40 years ago. (Example: A Charlie Brown Christmas, in which Linus actually reads from a New Testament passage [Luke 2:8-14] to illustrate the meaning of Christmas, was released in 1965--almost 50 years ago.)

Looking forward to hearing your suggestions of the best Christian Christmas films!

My wife & I watched Kirk Cameron's "Saving Christmas" last Sunday. It's partway between storytelling & documentary, but didn't come across to me as either preaching or dry biblical research. It was certainly a different way of looking at Christmas, however.

My wife & I did enjoy the movie, although it's not really the type of movie to watch over & over. My 9-yr-old also enjoyed the movie, but wouldn't want to watch it again. My 3-yr-old thought it was boring but dutifully sat through it all without a peep.

I couldn't say whether some of the interpretation would jive with every Christian, but seeing as there are over 40,000 different denominations, I'd say that regardless.

Still, my wife & I came away from the movie feeling more upbeat about the holiday season.

That's a tall order.

How about:

It's a Wonderful Life

Miracle on 34th Street

WildAboutHarry wrote: That's a tall order.

How about:

It's a Wonderful Life

Miracle on 34th Street

Those are both fantastic movies, two of my favorites in fact.  ...But there's nothing particularly Christian about either one.

Xan wrote:

WildAboutHarry wrote: That's a tall order.

How about:

It's a Wonderful Life

Miracle on 34th Street

Those are both fantastic movies, two of my favorites in fact.  ...But there's nothing particularly Christian about either one.

Well, It's a Wonderful Life does involve a guardian angel. It's not particularly Christian, true, but at least it hints at something religious. Miracle on 34th Street, however, is completely secular and Santa-centric if my memory serves.

It's been a little while since I've seen either.  I think on the surface, you're right: It's a Wonderful Life has praying and angels.  But the lesson (IIRC) is entirely works righteousness.

Miracle on 34th Street is less overtly religious.  But the theme is faith, through and through.  In general, Santa is sort of a works-righteousness version of Jesus.  But THIS Santa is a faith-based Santa, a much better figure of Jesus.

Suzie: You couldn't get it because you're not Santa.  You're just a nice old man with whiskers like my mother said, and I shouldn't have believed you.

Doris: I was wrong when I told you that.  You must believe in Mr. Kringle and keep right on doing it.  You must have faith in him.

Suzie: But he didn't get me the...  That doesn't make sense, Mommy.

Doris: Faith is believing in things when common sense tells you not to.

Suzie: Huh?

Doris: Just because things don't turn out the way you want them to the first time...  You've still got to believe in people.  I found that out.

(I'm not quite sure I like that definition of faith, but that it comes up at all is big.)

Fred: It's not just Kris that's on trial.  It's everything he stands for.  It's kindness, joy, love, and all the other intangibles.

And of course the climactic trial, where Kringle will be committed for saying he's Santa.  The mind-blowing defense being, "I intend to prove that Mr Kringle IS Santa Claus".  Obviously the trial has echoes of Pilate, and the defense reminds me of CS Lewis's trilemma.

As an aside, here's a fascinating article about the real St Nicholas, who was a pastor from a wealthy family who provided dowries for girls to get married and avoid ending up as prostitutes.  Also he attended the Council of Nicea.
http://pastelder.blogspot.com/2013/12/h ... ember.html

I rest my case 

And not to derail the thread, but perhaps the worst Christmas movie:  Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny.

WildAboutHarry wrote: And not to derail the thread, but perhaps the worst Christmas movie:  Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny.

Nothing beats Bad Santa for worst (well not counting Santa horror movies).  It's outright appalling and worse-than-usual Hollywood crud.  How garbage like that even gets made boggles my mind.

My vote goes to It's a Wonderful Life.  I thought it was somewhat faith-based.

There's always Jesus Christ Superstar if someone wants to kick it up a notch.

Would "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" count?

Full disclosure: when it gets really cold I sleep in nice, cozy, warm Grinch pajamas. They fit me :-)

Jan Van wrote: Would "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" count?

Full disclosure: when it gets really cold I sleep in nice, cozy, warm Grinch pajamas. They fit me :-)

Carrey on Jim (oops), Jan.

Are you of the gentler sex?

... Mountaineer

Mountaineer wrote: Are you of the gentler sex?

No, I'm Dutch 
They didn't carry them pajamas for men but who cares!

Jan Van wrote:

Mountaineer wrote: Are you of the gentler sex?

No, I'm Dutch 
They didn't carry them pajamas for men but who cares!

LOL.  My dad used to tell me that we had some Dutch blood running through our veins; then I determined he was purposely mispronouncing Deutch, likely because of his serving in the European theater in WWII and being almost fatally wounded because of the Deutch a couple of times. 

... Mountaineer

I still contend that Die Hard is the best Christmas movie of all time. 

JK

But while this is possibly a minor hijack, when it comes to Christmas MUSIC, I can't stand the light, fluffy crap... Jingle Bell Rock... I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa... Rockin' around the Christmas Tree... Rudolph... Santa Claus Coming to Town (esp that awful Boss version)

Most of it is garbage.

I absolutely love the really hardcore Christian stuff.  First Noel... Joy to the World... O Holy Night (My personal favorite)... Do you hear... Drummer Boy.


It's almost a black and white difference.  I love almost all of the religious Christmas music... can't stand the "Santa Claus" shit. 

Which is odd, because if I accidentally stop on a radio station that plays Christian rock, you've never seen me move so fast as to change it.


Thought I'd share my odd set of preferences...

moda0306 wrote: It's almost a black and white difference.  I love almost all of the religious Christmas music... can't stand the "Santa Claus" shit. 

I hear you, bro!  Lay down some pipe organs not the kid's crap!

Does A Charlie Brown Christmas count?  I really loved that ugly looking Christmas tree that nobody wanted and Snoopy rescued.

MachineGhost wrote:

moda0306 wrote: It's almost a black and white difference.  I love almost all of the religious Christmas music... can't stand the "Santa Claus" shit. 

I hear you, bro!  Lay down some pipe organs not the kid's crap!

Absolutely. Pipe organs, choirs, orchestras, harps. Here are a couple of really good choral performances:

O Holy Night

Coventry Carol

MachineGhost wrote: Does A Charlie Brown Christmas count?  I really loved that ugly looking Christmas tree that nobody wanted and Snoopy rescued.

Yup, and not only does it count, but it's one of the few mainstream Christmas movies/specials that actually quotes an entire Bible passage. It's kind of in a class of its own.

MachineGhost wrote:

WildAboutHarry wrote: And not to derail the thread, but perhaps the worst Christmas movie:  Santa and the Ice Cream Bunny.

Nothing beats Bad Santa for worst (well not counting Santa horror movies).  It's outright appalling and worse-than-usual Hollywood crud.  How garbage like that even gets made boggles my mind.

My vote goes to It's a Wonderful Life.  I thought it was somewhat faith-based.

There's always Jesus Christ Superstar if someone wants to kick it up a notch.

I can see how much of Bad Santa is offensive BUT I thought it did have some very heart warming moments. Wasn't the over-riding theme one of redemption and that it is human kindness that matters and we shouldn't think of Christmas as just being about getting loads of stuff? I loved the scene where the "Bad Santa" is about to be shot by his partner in crime and asks "why" and then explains that he totally understands why he is going to be shot but wants an explanation as to why his partner in crime wants heaps of fancy stuff.

I have to admit that I'm also a total sucker for animated snowmen. Not just the "walking in the air" movie but also this TV advert we had in the UK http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0N8axp9nHNU

[quote=moda0306]I absolutely love the really hardcore Christian stuff.  First Noel... Joy to the World... O Holy Night (My personal favorite)... Do you hear... Drummer Boy.[/quote]

My favorite in the "hardcore" sphere is Good King Wenceslas.  Very much in the Christmas spirit, even though it is not about Christmas.  Bing Crosby's version is quite good.

"In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing."

WildAboutHarry wrote:

moda0306 wrote:I absolutely love the really hardcore Christian stuff.  First Noel... Joy to the World... O Holy Night (My personal favorite)... Do you hear... Drummer Boy.

My favorite in the "hardcore" sphere is Good King Wenceslas.  Very much in the Christmas spirit, even though it is not about Christmas.  Bing Crosby's version is quite good.

"In his master's steps he trod, where the snow lay dinted;
Heat was in the very sod which the saint had printed.
Therefore, Christian men, be sure, wealth or rank possessing,
Ye who now will bless the poor, shall yourselves find blessing."

Boom!

I don't know why I love this stuff.  It's the ultimate in Christian celebration music, which I usually can't stand.


But you give me O Holy Night on the radio, and it is effing cranked.