Isn’t the theme of the Christmas Carol tied to ancient story archetypes like The Hero’s Journey? Character redemption is so ancient in storytelling, I don’t find the virtues you listed specific to just The Christmas Carol.
That would make sense, though I thought it would be convenient to use Christmas Carol as a reference point for talking about how action movies can still have Christmas-y themes in the midst of their violence and adventure.
You know that I know all about The Night the Reindeer Died, but we will let another reader provide the answer. I’m still anxiously waiting for someone to pick up that storyline and give us a feature length Christmas action flick.
Thank you for your scholarly analysis of each film so that I may refer the deniers that I continue to encounter to this post and spread the Christmas cheer. Your identification of the key Christmas Carol virtues and mapping those to the elements of each film, provides a convincing argument.
One of the other aspects of Violent Night that was rather entertaining was Trudy’s use booby traps inspired by her viewing of Home Alone. It has oft been speculated how many times Marv and Harry would have died as a result of Kevin’s traps. In Violent Night, we get a glimpse of how effective they can truly be.
I should've mentioned the traps building on the Christmas traditions that Home Alone had laid out when it released! Those certainly also add to its credibility as a Christmas movie.
This contributor to Forbes Magazine has a list of his top 10 most violent Christmas movies.
https://www.forbes.com/sites/markhughes/2022/12/22/the-top-10-best-most-violent-christmas-movies-of-all-time/?sh=e4f857c612d8
Personally, the saccharinity of the Hallmark movies makes me violently nauseous.
Interesting! I hadn't seen this as I was writing this week's post!
Haha! They feel like grocery store cookies! The ones that are too sweet!
First Blood as a Christmas movie?? Was there a wreath or some Christmas decorations in the police station?
I remember us talking about that at one point. I think we agreed that it took place right after Christmas but all the decorations were still hung up.
Isn’t the theme of the Christmas Carol tied to ancient story archetypes like The Hero’s Journey? Character redemption is so ancient in storytelling, I don’t find the virtues you listed specific to just The Christmas Carol.
That would make sense, though I thought it would be convenient to use Christmas Carol as a reference point for talking about how action movies can still have Christmas-y themes in the midst of their violence and adventure.
You know that I know all about The Night the Reindeer Died, but we will let another reader provide the answer. I’m still anxiously waiting for someone to pick up that storyline and give us a feature length Christmas action flick.
Thank you for your scholarly analysis of each film so that I may refer the deniers that I continue to encounter to this post and spread the Christmas cheer. Your identification of the key Christmas Carol virtues and mapping those to the elements of each film, provides a convincing argument.
One of the other aspects of Violent Night that was rather entertaining was Trudy’s use booby traps inspired by her viewing of Home Alone. It has oft been speculated how many times Marv and Harry would have died as a result of Kevin’s traps. In Violent Night, we get a glimpse of how effective they can truly be.
Another great post!
I should've mentioned the traps building on the Christmas traditions that Home Alone had laid out when it released! Those certainly also add to its credibility as a Christmas movie.
“ covert heroine trade”. So they were trafficking in persons, not drugs?
It was drugs I'm pretty sure, I don't believe any humans were involved unless they needed to "silence" some people.
Yes, I was just pointing out that spelled heroine is a woman, as opposed to heroin, the narcotic.
Oh thanks! Some of the spelling mistakes slip through when you're on a weekly deadline!