As always, feel free to add your own odds ‘n ends in the comments!
ODD: This week’s issue of ToyFare features at least two awesome things: photos of Mattel’s next Mattycollector-exclusive DCUC two-pack (Ultraman and Alex Luthor) and an interview with Geoff Johns by yours truly. Buy it at your local comic shop tomorrow, or I’ll come to your house and smash all your fine china.
END: So far this year I’ve already watched Ernest Saves Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, The Night Before Christmas (that cartoon special with the mice and the clocks), Santa Claus (the weird Mexican version, via MST3K), Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (also via MST3K), A Christmas Carol (the 1984 George C. Scott one, my favorite version), and A Charlie Brown Christmas. And it’s only the 9th! I’ve still got Rudolph, The Year Without a Santa Claus, A Miser Brothers’ Christmas, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Edward Scissorhands, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation and that annual holiday favorite, Die Hard, to go. I have no idea why I’m so into Christmas this year, but it’s fun. We’re spending Christmas with Dr. Mrs. Ghostal’s family in LA this year, and I’m hoping to convince them to watch Die Hard on Christmas Eve.
ODD: Which did more to shape American perceptions of Christmas rituals and iconography: A Christmas Carol or early twentieth century advertising?
END: You know what’s sad? I’ve never seen the Star Wars Holiday Special.
ODD: I took a chance and ordered a DCUC Firestorm from TRU, hoping it’ll turn out to be a Jason Rusch version, since that’s the only one shipping right now. Fingers crossed–I’ll let y’all know.
END: On that note, I’ve gotten a lot of DCUC lately–Artemis, DCUC5, and the Orion/Lightray two-pack. Wave 6 should hit late this month or early next month, and the Starfire/Adam Strange two-pack goes on sale January 15. Waves 3 and 4 seem easy to find–if Mattel and Walmart could just get more DCUC5 out there (and improve the QC), collectors might actually be praising them instead of raging.
Newt
The Night before Christmas with the Clocks and the Mouse is one of my FAVORITE of the old specials. It rarely gets ran anymore but I have it on VHS! YAY! Taped off TV of course. Along with Mickey's Christmas Carol (Including some other shorts that Disney refuses to compile all on one DVD, GRR!)
When the kid throws away his Santa picture… Man that still brings a tear to my eye.
Other required Christmas watching is the CLAYMATION CHRISTMAS! And Gremlins.
Paul
I’m hoping that you get the firestorm you don’t want š
And the Star Wars holiday special isn’t even fun bad. It’s just bad, bad.
PrfktTear
Now I want to watch National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation… nothing gets you in the mood for Christmas like movies!
monkeyboy
i think american advertising has unquestionably affected christmas/holiday rituals way more than a christmas carol.
also, i don’t think many people, even many SW fans, have seen the holiday special. i’ve seen the animated boba short, but i don’t know of anyone really who’s sat through the whole thing. it was only ever broadcast once, so you’d really have to track down a copy or go to the trouble of finding it on youtube.
takeittothemax
I made the mistake of buying the Star Wars Holiday Special. It’s far worse than I ever could have imagined. Bea Arthur in the Star Wars universe is pretty awesome though.
I also consider The Long Kiss Goodnight and Kiss, Kiss, Bang, Bang to be Christmas classics. Also the first Muppet Christmas special with the Sesame Street/Fraggle Rock crossover. Sadly it’s been out of print forever.
Chris
That Ultra Man and Lex Luthor Mattey Exclusive…sigh…I wondered which figures might make me reconsider my "completist" take on DCUC.
Man I hate that two pack. I'd rather get Killer Moth than those two. At least with Killer Moth I get the BAF Kaliback…despite the fruityness of the laughable killer moth.
jumper11
My wife got me The Dark Knight bluray. Word.
Tom-Tom
Odd: I thought that was next Tuesday? Sweet…
End: Did we stop replying like this?
PrfktTear
Time to pop in the He-Man & She-Ra Christmas Special! š
@Poe: I've been meaning to ask, what are the accessories in your Odds & Ends special Christmas edition picture?
-x
Poe
I'll do you one better, PT…
John
The Star Wars Christmas Special is not worth it. I sat through it once. Bea Arthur is the only thing worthwhile in the entire movie (which includes the animated Boba Fett).
My wife asked me to watch it a second time and I fell asleep. I only woke up when she was looking for the remote to fast forward away from the Disco music.
-J-
Esbat
I got 2 walmarts fulla great paint jobbed DCUC 5. I got no complaints about 'em.
Poe
Esb, are you trying to get lynched?
Tom-Tom
(Pulls out Energy Sword)
zaxilla2
that is quite the christmas movie marathon you've got going there. you should throw in Gremlins to boot š
Poe
@Zaxilla: That's a good idea! I haven't seen that movie in ages–I was always much more of a Gremlins 2 fan.
PrfktTear
Gremlins < </b> Gremlins 2