38.filmfeatures
Monday 14 December 2015
The Courier
Film Editors: Emma Allsopp, Rhian Hunter & Simon Ramshaw
What makes a proper Crimbo?
MEGA FAN
An essential guide to the perfect Christmas film - Emma Allsopp talks mulled wine, mince pies, Christmas spirit and what to watch during your post-Christmas dinner doze
N
vs GIANT CYNIC
Elf
Quite possibly one of the most popular Christmas films of all time - Elf nonetheless divides opinions. James McCoull and Imogen Scott-Chambers decide whether the best way to spread Christmas cheer really is singing loud for all to hear - or if it’s watching Elf.
Mega Fan
Christmas is in the air. The smell of spiced apples, the sound of Mariah Carey, and the sights of crass advertising schemes are truly everywhere. What better way to celebrate the best time of the year with the best Christmas film of all time? And after you’ve watched Love Actually, you can watch Elf. A heartwarming and agelessly hilarious tale of a man searching for the truth of his confused identity in the cold and cruel city of New York, this is a favourite of both kids and adults alike, with good reason: Will Ferrell’s slapstick antics are far from cloying, combining perfect comedic timing with his own personal brand of over-the-top idiocy. And Zooey Deschanel’s in it too, so yeah. Any argument made against this film falls flat against the fact that Peter Dinklage dropkicks a man, so I don’t really feel the need to say anything more than that. James McCoull
ow that the Christmas season is finally here, it’s time to curl up on the sofa with a mug of mulled wine and a mince pie to watch some festive films. But this got me thinking, what makes the perfect Christmas film? Something that goes without saying is that it must be set at Christmas. Yes, this means that favourites such as Die Hard and In Bruges are totally appropriate to watch as a festive film. However, for me, they are missing just a little something called Christmas. While they are both set during the season, there just isn’t any of the fuzziness I associate with the festive season.
“There has to be heartwarming and comic elements, something to make you feel like mulled wine on the inside”
I prefer a film with snow and romance because, after all, it is winter. A great example of this is Bridget Jones’ Diary as in the final scene when Bridget (Renee Zellweger) runs out into a snowy street after everyone’s (well, mine anyway) favourite, Mr Darcy (Colin Firth). This is when they finally get together and embrace in the street and this is exactly what I want from a festive film. It’s Christmassy, snowy and downright adorable (seriously someone do that for me please). If you want more Colin Firth, or Hugh Grant for that matter, then take a look at Love Actually.. Even though I haven’t seen it all the way through, I know it’s a good one. Although there has to be heart-warming and comic elements, something to make you feel like mulled wine on the inside. For this, I find Elf to
Giant Cynic
Imogen Scott-Chambers
loud for all to hear”, for goodness sake! Plus, even with this put aside, it’s still hilarious and bound to put a smile on anyone’s face. But I think most of all it has to be suitable for the whole family. Yeah, you can put Die Hard on, or maybe In Bruges, but is your grandma really going to like the swearing? Sure, she’d love Love Actually and Bridget Jones’ Diary, but would your grandad really like all of the sex? Because of this you need something that is suitable for all, like Home Alone. With this everyone can sit down
and laugh along with Kevin’s (Macaulay Culkin) adventures, and then get sad when they think of Macauley’s strange pizza demise.
“Yeah, you can put Die Hard on, or maybe In Bruges, but is your grandma really going to like the swearing?” So, taking all of this into account my perfect film must actually be Christmassy (sorry, Bruce Willis and Colin Farrell) with snow and romance and a big helping of heart-warming comedy. But I don’t think there is a universal ‘perfect’ Christmas film. As I said earlier, my grandma wouldn’t like the swearing in In Bruges and my grandad definitely wouldn’t like the sex in Love Actually and Bridget Jones’ Diary, Diary and to be honest someone in my family would probably find Home Alone and Elf “too daft to laugh at”. So really, you have to find your own ‘perfect’ festive film, and mine must be sickly sweet, like eating too many mince pies (we’ve all been there).
Star Wars: The return of the prequels
The Star Wars prequels get a hell of a lot of stick, but it’s not all bad. William Leng debates the epic failures and great successes of the much-contested trilogy
F
ear became anger. Anger became hate. Hate became suffering. For most Star Wars fans, the attempt to bring their beloved space opera to a new generation fell under-par, and that’s putting it mildly for many of them (Simon Pegg recently referring to them as infanticide on the part of George Lucas). Much of the criticism claimed that the revamped franchise had changed too much from the originals.While there was certainly a story to be told in the rise of the Darth Vader and the Empire, much of the tone and authenticity was lost. With the hype around Star Wars: The Force Awakens making the buzz that Jurassic World generated sound mosquito-like, it’s time to look back at our last venture to a galaxy far, far away.
When it gets to the 1st of December, all I hear is “I can’t wait to watch Elf!” Elf-mania encroaches upon my life and I just want to hide away watching truly good Christmas films like It’s a Wonderful Life and Die Hard. Elf may well be branded as a warm, family comedy, but in reality it is just two hours of Will Ferrell overacting. Zooey Deschanel plays the exact same character we see her as in 500 Days of Summer (a much better film) and James Caan and Mary Steenburgen make extremely questionable choices to be a part of this substandard, overrated, bland film. I am usually a big fan of director Jon Favreau’s work in both acting and directing spheres, but when it comes to a tale about a boy, raised as an elf at the North Pole, being sent to America to find his real dad and true identity whilst wreaking havoc constantly, I lose my faith in his abilities somewhat. All the hype is unwarranted, this film will not jingle your bells.
be a good choice. What could possibly be more heart-warming than a man raised as an elf going on a big adventure in New York City? Nothing. This is the epitome of aggressive Christmas, the signature quote being “The best way to spread Christmas Cheer, is singing
“Fans were blown away by Darth Maul’s doubleedged saber, Dooku’s curved hilt, Windu’s purple hue and Grievous’ quadwielding abilities”
Lightsabers. If the prequels nailed anything, it was the preferred weapon of the Jedi. A week or so ago my housemate and I shamelessly watched an hour-long compilation of every lightsaber battle from all six films. The original trilogy only made up around 10 minutes of that video. George Lucas understood that the lightsaber was key to the mythology of Star Wars, and that modern special effects could be put to good use in developing the complexities of the Jedi art. Fans were blown away by Darth Maul’s doubleedged saber, Dooku’s curved hilt, Windu’s purple hue and Grievous’ quad-wielding abili-
ties. Not just the weapons themselves but the duels became more spectacular and thrilling, and there was less of those lowly blasters. So uncivilised. While much of the casting for the original trilogy can be seriously questioned (here’s looking at you, Hayden), some of the talent on board cannot be argued with. Ewan McGregor made for a great Obi-Wan, his performances and hairstyle evolving gracefully throughout episodes I-III. Liam Neeson was another (if short-lived) hit, making for a believably wise Jedi master Qui-Gon Jinn. Above all stands the lategreat Sir Christopher Lee as Count
Dooku, somehow elevating the pitiful dialogue to immersive pathos with a simple flick of his eyebrows. A masterstroke in casting. It’s such a shame that a lot of these actors were made to look and sound ridiculous when they could have given so much more (here’s looking at you, Natalie).
“the picture that Lucas painted of a galaxy united by its senate and torn apart by its corrupt leader is fittingly grand for the franchise’s scope”
A bit of a contested factor in the prequels is the story. Many critics were quick to jump on the overtly political edge to the plot, deeming intergalactic trade embargos to be, well, boring. But I disagree, and the picture that Lucas painted of a galaxy united by its senate and torn apart by its corrupt leader is fittingly grand for the franchise’s scope. Mixed with the personal story of Anakin Skywalker’s psychological turmoil and often compelling motives, there was enough human drama amongst the stars to ground the audience. Special mention to the returning John Williams’ brilliantly expanded score too. Don’t get me wrong: the prequels were a messy, money-making farce that took advantage of a new generation. Yet many from that generation, my generation, love the films because they grew up with them. Whether or not George Lucas can rationally be accused of killing younglings is up for debate, especially when all else is said and done. After all, he gave us Star Wars to begin with; a cinematic gift unrivalled to this day.