DVDs are killing the Christmas Spirit at my house

[mitchedwards]

The last couple years, my daughters would go crazy when Oz or Polar Express would come on. It just felt like the holidays when they came on.

Last year, they got the DVD's and now can care less when they come on TV.

I told my wife to never buy them (or me) "Christmas Story", because it does not feel like Christmas Eve without that playing in the background while I put toys together.

HAve you see the sequel to Christmas Story? it runs in the family? I beleive it will be on cable tomorrow as well

[BendyZaius]

Bad Santa with Billy Bob Thornton is not only the greatest christmas movie ever made, it may well be one of the greatest films ever made, period. If you get it or rent it, get the unrated version "Badder Santa", and don't let the kids watch unless you want them to develop a new vocabulary (luckily I only have cats). We'll be pulling it out tonight for our annual "Dec 23, wrap presents, watch Bad Santa and drink 4 bottles of wine" night

[Adam West]

I love the new digitally remastered version of a Charlie Brown Christmas. It looks great on an HDTV so no need to upgrade to Blu Ray. It also has a special feature on the making of a Charlie Brown Christmas.

Something that was pointed out that never really occurred to me is the opening scene (when they are skating) is Snoopy grabbing Charlie Brown and Linus by the blanket and flinging them around. You see Charlie Brown go crashing into a tree but what happened to Linus? Apparently, in the original airing, it was sponsored by Coca-Cola so Linus goes crashing into a Coca-Cola truck which was edited out later.

It was also interesting to hear that they literally wrote and developed the entire program in about 3 weeks. Schulz was opposed to the jazz music of Vince Guaraldi and wanted Classical instead. The network was opposed to Linus' biblical monologue but Schulz insisted. The network execs hated the final cut and considered yanking it but it was too late. Needless to say the rest is history.

I do enjoy watching Christmas Story with my kids and other programs. My 9 year old is now quoting lines from the movie. I think his favorite is "Randy laid there like a slug. It was his only defense."

[mego73]

Having stuff on video is a double edged sword, you actually watch it less because you have it and can watch it anytime but it's better than being at the whim of the networks for showing your favorite stuff.

I just got The Polar Express blu ray and I am determined to carve out a time to watch it through before Christmas.

I've already watched Rudolph (on CBS, to see it in High-Def) and will watch Charlie Brown and Frosty.

[Duncan]

For those of you with bad taste and Directv, the Trailer Park Boys Christmas episode will be on channel 101 on Christmas Eve. They will also be showing Santa & the Martians.

[toys2cool]

I've already watched X-mas story about 20 times this year

[MIB41]

I pretty much schedule viewings of Christmas shows with my DVDs. I do that mainly because shows like Rudolph, Santa Claus is coming to Town, and others are butchered so badly to make room for commercials, it just isn't worth watching on TV anymore. We watch alot of the classics when we're wrapping presents. Like last night I put in 'A Year without a Santa Claus' and that was a good filler while we wrapped. Hey why have the DVDs if your not going to watch them? Between September and November I typically rearrange our bookshelf to match up with the holiday at hand. It's a fun time to pick from the library as it were.

[ctc]

>Hopefully under the tree.

MST3K: The Esssentials. Has this, AND "Manos: The Hands of Fate."

Don C.

[LincoMego]

We have several Christmas movies/ TV specials on DVD but they get put away with Christmas decorations and are only available to the kids around Christmas. It is a plus being able to watch them without commericals and at a time that is conveinient for the entire family. We love all the traditional stuff mentioned here. My girls love the Miser Brothers from "A Year Without A Santa Clause". Of all the stuff the last few years "Prepand Landing" hasbeen the best. I can see us adding that to are yearly line up.

I noticed Miracle on 34th street (Original)is not even being shown anyone has the scoop on that??

Kingdom Warrior i noticed this too. They are showing the 70s and 90s remakes but not the original. The original is the only one I care about watching. I also wonder why its not being shown.

[palitoy]

Get a PVR, my kids figured out how to record things (I didn't teach them) and I think we know have EVERY Christmas special made on it. I mean they recorded the She Ra one for cripe's sake!

Three words: MST3K Santa Claus.

Tradition, word!

Or six words: MST3K Santa Claus Conquers the Martians.

Hopefully under the tree.

[LonnieFisher]

The modern world of greed has killed Christmas. When Christmas stuff is on clearance before the holiday, it makes me wonder where the "spirit" of the holiday went. I picture the old indian pollution commercial only with santa and the clearance aisle in the giant department store.

[kingdom warrior]

Actually I've gotten use to the fact that Christmas on Tv sucks...Honestly I don't care for the commercials or those little freekin ads in the movie advertising other stuff so distracting. Plus ABC family's christmas movies SUCK!!!!!

I went out and bought all my Fav Christmas movies so I can watch them with my family without interruptions......

I noticed Miracle on 34th street (Original)is not even being shown anyone has the scoop on that??

[theantiquetiger]

,..and did anyone else count? The first movie I saw being advertised as such was on 31 days before Christmas. Do they take days off in between?

The "official "25 Days of Christmas" on ABC Family started on Dec 1st, but they were showing Christmas movies/specials before that.

[Rallygirl]

.

The ABC Family "25 Days of Christmas" didn't seem to have to selection they have had in the past.

,..and did anyone else count? The first movie I saw being advertised as such was on 31 days before Christmas. Do they take days off in between?

[UnderdogDJLSW]

We don't have cable at home, so I my wife and I didn't have the DVDs, we'd not be able to show the kids some of the other classics that don't get broadcast anymore like Santa Claus is Coming to Town or Frosty or Year Without a Santa Claus. My daughter has taken to reading the TV listings in the newspaper so I knew over a week ago that ABC had I want a Dog for Christmas Charlie Brown was going to be on last night. lol. Grinch cartoon is on Wednesday.