christmas – NZ Film Freak

Mystery in White – J. Jefferson Farjeon

mystery in white.jpg

Writer: J. Jefferson Farjeon
Genre: Murder mystery/crime thriller
Released: 1937
Blurb: On Christmas Eve, heavy snowfall brings a train to a halt near the village of Hemmersby. Several passengers take shelter in a deserted country house, where the fire has been lit and the table laid for tea – but no one is at home. Trapped together for Christmas, the passengers are seeking to unravel the secrets of the empty house when a murderer strikes in their midst.

—

This was one of the first murder-mystery novels I had read, and it got me hooked on the genre.

I think it was after having read an Agatha Christie Miss Marple novel that I decided to investigate the genre further online, and this book came up. I’m not even sure why or how.

Nevertheless, despite it being a book written in the thirties, it was so well written. It was impeccably easy to read, which made it so gripping.

I probably should have told you about this book before Christmas since it is set on the night of Christmas Eve. But never mind!

It’s about a train that gets stuck in an unexpected snow storm. A group of passengers decide to try and walk through the snow to reach a nearby town, but end up taking refuge in an empty house.

What’s strange about it is that the fire is on, the table is laid and a knife has been left out. There are locked rooms and strange occurrences. Then murder strikes!

Storylines intertwine and different character perspectives show the crime from different angles. I loved every page of it! You get so lost in the mystery of it all, and best of all, the ending is brilliant.

The characters are all from different backgrounds with strong personalities – including a chorus girl, an elderly bore and a psychic.

It did get a bit messy within the final chapters, but I’m hoping I interpreted correctly.

A fabulous read! I still think about it often.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

Serendipity

Director: Peter Chelsom
Writer: Marc Klein
Released: October 2001
Starring: John Cusack, Kate Beckinsale
—

Sara: [Serendipity is] such a nice sounding word for what it means: a fortunate accident.

This is our Christmas film because it’s set at Christmas time in snowy New York – so magical!

It’s a fantasy romance film about fate, and whether you should act on impulse or allow life to take the wheel. When Sara (Kate Beckinsale) and Jonathan (John Cusack) meet on Christmas Eve by chance, Jonathan falls in love with her straight away, but Sara believes they must leave it to fate.

If they are meant to be together, then fate will bring them back together. So, Sara leaves after a beautiful night together in hopes of seeing him again.

Ten years on, fate couldn’t have directed them further apart. But, they can’t stop thinking about each other despite not having been in touch since that one magical night. They go about trying to find each other again, and a comedic adventure ensues!

It’s an easy-to-watch romance with a ‘too good to be true’ magical storyline. Which, I am in no way complaining about. I love magical romances.

John Cusack has a brilliant comedic energy about him, and Kate Beckinsale has a wonderful elegance to her without being too ‘perfect’.

I love how both characters have philosophical sidekicks (Jonathan’s friend Dean (Jeremy Piven) and Sara’s friend Eve (Molly Shannon)) to put their ridiculous missions into perspective.

Eve: And if you’re smart enough, you learn from your mistakes. You figure it out. You… you think. You realize that life isn’t some elaborate stage play with directions for the actors. Life’s a mess, Sara. It’s… it’s chaos personified.

I love the deep and meaningful nature of this film. The underlying tone is one of strength and empowerment to do what you want, and to get what you want.

Eve: You see, that is what happens when people get hooked on the new-age life. They end up sitting at home burning candles for mister right, when mister good-enough-for-right-now is waiting at the corner bar!

You’ll walk away feeling nothing but happiness with a new-found faith in love, and a new-found sense of power over your life.

Dean: You know the Greeks didn’t write obituaries. They only asked one question after a man died: “Did he have passion?”.

It’s one of my favourite rom-coms, even though you need a decent amount of suspension of disbelief! The only thing missing was an inspirational soundtrack, I think.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

Top 4: Favourite Festive Films

Four best christmas films You may have noticed I have done this post before.

You are correct.

Cats under the Christmas tree This time last year, I gifted you people with a splendid collection of my personal Christmas film favourites. However, I am here to refresh this post with one additional film.

Also, this time I’ve included quotes from my cat-loving, film-tolerating brother, who dresses his fur-babies up as Christmas-themed characters. (See right)

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A Christmas Carol
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writer: Charles Dickens
Released: 2009
Featuring: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Collin Firth and Bob Hoskins
—

“Bah! Humbug!”

An enchanting tale directed by one of my favourites: Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump and Back to the Future) using motion capture – like Time Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.

Charles Dicken’s novel, A Christmas Carol (published in 1843), was brought to life with every bit of wonder, magic and fantastical detail intact.

Scrooge was perfectly played by the comical Jim Carrey. Carrey played multiple characters including all three ghosts: Christmas Past, Present and Future. Some scenes were pretty scary, and other scenes were really comedic; Carrey plays both genres easily.

I remember seeing this at the movies when it came out. It was extraordinary in 3D.

The only kind of person I know who doesn’t like this traditional classic, is a modern, Aussie-dwelling cat-lover…
Who has said that, to enjoy A Christmas Carol as much as I do:

You must be blind, deaf and have no will to live.

Jodie’s rating: 8.5/10

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The Polar Express
Director: Robert Zemeckis (Again! Genius.)
Writer: Chris Van Allsburg
Released: 2004
Featuring: Tom Hanks and Josh Hutcherson (before he was cool)
—

“One thing about trains: it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on.” – Conductor

Another motion capture film by Robert Zemeckis!

The Polar Express is about a child (Josh Hutcherson) who has serious doubts in the existence of Santa, and the magic of the holidays is slowly fading for him. One Christmas eve, the deafening sound of a train wakes him up. It’s the Polar Express, destined for the North Pole.

I think it is such a magical film. Along the way, the most bizarre things happen, with some beautiful shots. My favourites being the ‘hot chocolate’ scene where the children on the train are served hot cocoa in the most extravagant way!

My second favourite scene is when we follow the journey of a lost train ticket: out the window with the wind, settling on the snow before being kicked up by a pack of wolves, snatched by a swooping eagle… In 3D it was fantastic.

My favourite characters include the ‘hobo’ (Tom Hanks), and the two train drivers. But the conductor (also Tom Hanks) has some great lines. Hanks has the best voice for children’s stories.

In response to the question of, ‘what do you think about the Polar Express‘, cat-lover says:

It looks boring.

Jodie’s rating: 8.5/10

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Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Director: Ron Howard
Writer: Dr. Seuss
Featuring: Jim Carrey
Released: 2000
—

“Max help me… I’m feeling!”

A comedy about the Grinch: a Christmas-hating recluse. The story explores the idea of commercialism and what Christmas is really about. Despite this heavy, typical ideology, it’s such a pick-me-up story.

It’s bright, absurd, funny and crazy! I love it.

[opens phone book] Alphabetically! Aadvarkian Abakeneezer Who, I… HATE YOU!
Aaron B. Benson Who, I hate you.
[looking into book]
Hate, hate, hate. Hate, hate, hate. Double hate…
LOATHE ENTIRELY!

Probably the best family Christmas comedy.

The person with fur-children reckons:

It’s funny.

Jodie’s rating: 8/10
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Arthur Christmas
Director: Sarah Smith
Writers: Peter Baynham and Sarah Smith
Starring: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Ashley Jensen, Marc Wootton, Laura Linney, Eva Longoria, Ramona Marquez and Michael Palin
Released: November 2011
—

Grandsanta: Do you know Arthur? There IS a way!
Arthur: It’s impossible!
Grandsanta: They used to say that it was impossible to teach women to read! Follow me!

Arthur Christmas was as magical as the Polar Express, and as imaginative as The Grinch. I laughed out loud – almost choking on chocolate-covered scorched almonds. A fabulous feel-good festive film for sure. With super weird and diverse characters.

Arthur Christmas explores and explains every question we have about Santa Claus: How does he deliver billions of presents in one night? Do the reindeer get tired? How does he fit down the chimney? How old is Santa? Is he on a benefit for the rest of the year, seeing as he only works one day a year?

Wait, does he even get paid..?

After watching this exciting adventure, you too will feel secure in the existence of Santa, as many of these questions are thoroughly answered with imaginative and quirky explanations.

I got Arthur Christmas free of charge, but it gifted me with a sleigh-worth of amusement and fun.

Person who dresses up cats in his spare time says:

Never heard of it.

Jodie’s rating: 8.5/10

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Have a jolly time.
Jodie.

Arthur Christmas

Arthur Christmas film poster review

Director: Sarah Smith
Writers: Peter Baynham and Sarah Smith
Starring: James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton, Ashley Jensen, Marc Wootton, Laura Linney, Eva Longoria, Ramona Marquez and Michael Palin
Released: November 2011
—

Only just came across this animated festive feast. I had ignored it when seeing it in the bargain bin for sometime, but with a ‘buy two get one free’ deal on, I found myself struggling to pick the third and free DVD.

Stuck between Alvin and the Chipmunks and Barbie in A Christmas Carol, I reluctantly decided on Arthur Christmas as my free movie.

Expecting it to flow with the usual childish predictability typically associated with G rated festive films, my expectations were raised somewhat when I noticed the cast of some of my favourite UK stars.

Arthur Christmas slippers scene - film review James McAvoy (we named our pet goat ‘Mr. Tumnus’ after McAvoy’s performance as this character in Narnia),
Hugh Laurie (everyone knows him from House, but he will forever be the baddie from 101 Dalmatians to me),
Bill Nighy, Jim Broadbent, Imelda Staunton and Ashley Jensen.

So I stepped into my elf slippers, slipped into my Grinch onesie, and cradled my Santa mug (filled with hot cocoa, spiked with rum, with a disappointing amount of marshmallows).

I got my ticket. I was ready to be a passenger on this one-horse open sleigh ride of festive fun. I was ready to deck the halls with wonder and joy. I was ready to let it snow with good tidings, tinsel and turkey.

It was time to bring Santa back to town.

Arthur Christmas sleigh scene - film review Arthur Christmas was as magical as the Polar Express, and as imaginative as The Grinch. I laughed out loud – almost choking on chocolate-covered scorched almonds. A fabulous feel-good festive film for sure. With super weird and diverse characters.

Grandsanta: Do you know Arthur? There IS a way!
Arthur: It’s impossible!
Grandsanta: They used to say that it was impossible to teach women to read! Follow me!

Wait, does he even get paid..?

Arthur Christmas elf scene - film review After watching this exciting adventure, you too will feel secure in the existence of Santa, as many of these questions are thoroughly answered with imaginative and quirky explanations.

I got Arthur Christmas free of charge, but it gifted me with a sleigh-worth of amusement and fun.

Grandsanta: Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Bambi, Dave, you with the white ear, you and you.

Justin Beiber as Santa Clause Oh! And you needn’t be put off by the presence of a Justin Bieber tune – despite the hype all over the DVD cover, I didn’t even notice the song.

Tell every Frosty, Noel, Saint Nick and Rudolf you meet. Unwrap the excitment and glee of the magical North Pole, tuck into the gravy-covered story, and present this snow-covered film to someone whom you can can tolerate for longer than the duration of December 25th.

With this film, it can be Christmas everyday.

Jodie’s rating: 8.5/10

Top 4: Favourite Christmas Songs

Best Christmas songs

I’m honestly not a massive fan of festive music. However, here are four (and a half) songs in my December play list:

Baby, It’s Cold Outside
Written by Frank Loesser in 1944, the original was sung by Ricardo Montalban and Esther Williams, which I just think is a gorgeously dramatic and almost comedic rendition. I love this!

Although the second part is by Betty Garrat and Red Skelton, their version just looks creepy…

However, the first version I heard was by Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone, which I heard in the hilarious movie, Elf.

Updated 2015: Just found this song done by Sharon Van Etten and Rufus Wainwright (he’s on the Moulin Rouge soundtrack)… This is definitely awesome.

Lady Gaga and the handsomely dashing Joseph Gordon-Levitt have done a cover of it too, but I don’t think it was that great…

—
December Will Be Magic Again
Okay, sure, Kate Bush is a little on the peculiar side, but so is Fiona Apple and Joanna Newsom, and yet we have enjoyed their music. Or at least covers of their songs like when The Decemberists covered Newsom’s song: Bridges And Balloons. So, give Kate a chance with this one, please.

I found it the most magical song to listen to, particularly when reading the lyrics along with the song. Her stories are so enchanting.

Upon the black-soot icicled rooves,
Ooh, and see how I fall.
See how I fall…

Come to cover the lovers.
(But don’t you wake ’em up.)
Come to sparkle the dark up.
(With just a touch of make-up.)
Come to cover the muck up.
(Ooh, with a little luck.)

—
Merry Christmas Everybody
Written and composed by Slade in 1973 – I love this song. It’s a tad melancholy, but I think Christmas can be slow, reflective time of year anyway.

—
Sleigh Ride
Composed by Leroy Anderson during a heat wave in 1946, the lyrics were written by Mitchell Parish in 1950.

However, my favourite version is by KT Tunstall. She’s made it rockier.

—

Just as a side note, although not a Christmas song as such, 17 by Kings of Leon weirdly makes me think of Christmas..? Maybe it’s just the use of bells.

So those are a few to add to your play list this Christmas! Enjoy!
Jodie.

Top 3: Favourite Festive Films

My Favourite Festive Films The holidays are nigh!

Here in New Zealand there will be no snow. No cold nights indoors by the fire. No hot roast dinners at three in the afternoon. Because it’s summer during December. We have humid tropical rain storms, and barbecues on the deck or on the beach.

It’s horrible.

So! I reminisce about white Christmases and relate to fellow Scrooges and Grinches by watching my top three favourite December flicks.

Because I haven’t reviewed any of these movies before, I’ll create short reviews in this piece.

A Christmas Carol
Director: Robert Zemeckis
Writer: Charles Dickens
Released: 2009
Featuring: Jim Carrey, Gary Oldman, Collin Firth and Bob Hoskins
—

“Humbug!”

An enchanting tale directed by one of my favourites: Robert Zemeckis (Forrest Gump and Back to the Future) using motion capture – like Time Burton’s Alice in Wonderland.

Charles Dicken’s novel, A Christmas Carol (published in 1843), was brought to life with every bit of wonder, magic and fantastical detail intact.

I remember seeing this at the movies when it came out. It was extraordinary in 3D.

Jodie’s rating: 8.5/10

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The Polar Express
Director: Robert Zemeckis (Again! Genius.)
Writer: Chris Van Allsburg
Released: 2004
Featuring: Tom Hanks and Josh Hutcherson (before he was cool)
—

Another motion capture film by Robert Zemeckis!

My favourite characters include the ‘hobo’ (Tom Hanks), and the two train drivers. But the conductor (also Tom Hanks) has some great lines. Hanks has the best voice for children’s stories.

“One thing about trains: it doesn’t matter where they’re going. What matters is deciding to get on.” – Conductor

Jodie’s rating: 8.5/10

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Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Director: Ron Howard
Writer: Dr. Seuss
Featuring: Jim Carrey
Released: 2000
—

“Max help me… I’m feeling!”

It’s bright, absurd, funny and crazy! I love it.

[opens phone book] Alphabetically! Aadvarkian Abakeneezer Who, I… HATE YOU!
Aaron B. Benson Who, I hate you.
[looking into book]
Hate, hate, hate. Hate, hate, hate. Double hate…
LOATHE ENTIRELY!

Probably the best family Christmas comedy.

Jodie’s rating: 8/10

Despite these being my favourites, they all have a 6 or 7/10 on imdb… Perhaps I don’t have good taste in Christmas entertainment.

I think the best festive films are enchanting, magical and a tad bizarre. Which is why I picked these, and not the likes of Frozen or Bad Santa.

Anywho!

Have a jolly time.
Jodie.

My Brother Lives in China (Doco)

Matthiew Klinck follows his brother, David, throughout his day-to-day life in Guangzhou, China. The culture shock is evident, but with a twist.

David is an English language teacher, so not only does the documentary follow the Westerners learning the Chinese culture, but the Chinese students learning the Western culture.

This documentary is upbeat and exciting; a totally different angle on the interaction between Western and Chinese cultures. The environmental hazards, work ethic and business dealings highlights the divide between East and West.

MBLIC2 — English teacher, David, and his Chinese girlfriend

David and his girlfriend run their own English language company, but when David’s not teaching he’s recording an album with a group of friends. The documentary follows the band as they get an investor, before creative and business priorities begin to clash. These ‘characters’ aren’t quite expanded on enough though, making them seem quite harsh and hard to relate to.

There are a few parts where I think the editing could have been snappier, with a faster pace because it begins to look like a home movie. If this was to be aired on television, a re-edit would probably be needed with an obvious climax and resolution to make the footage have a larger impact.

Marketing and branding needs to be worked on. The title, My Brother Lives in China could be made more catchy. The backwards ‘N’ on the poster does make it look like the film is based in Russia, so perhaps the presentation of the poster could be revised.

The entire movie soundtrack is made up of the band’s music which fits so perfectly! The band, Tomorrow Is No, represents the perfect mix of Chinese and Western cultures in a pop-rock genre really well. Fantastic voice-overs!

The visuals are superbly filmed, particularly in the light-deficient areas.

Overall, a decent watch! I enjoyed seeing a different side to intercultural communication. I think this film is just shy of a seven. It is a great concept, but a faster paced version would pick up the slower points.

Well done to the filmmaker, Matthiew Klinck! Sincerely hope you get funding for the sequel.

Jodie’s rating: 6.5/10

Check out the documentary, My Brother Lives in China HERE

Book me to independently review your favourite song, music video or film here.

Elf

elf Director: Jon Favreau
Writer: David Berenbaum
Released: 2003
Starring: Zooey Deschanel and Will Ferrell
—

‘Son of a nutcracker’! It’s almost Christmas.

Not only did Elf win the poll, but it is also appropriate as it is the festive season. This is a pretty funny Christmas comedy movie with many hilarious one-liners that have really stuck, even after all these years!

Will Ferrell does a great job playing “Buddy the Elf” – the human who was raised by Santa’s elves – who goes on a journey travelling through the seven levels of the candy cane forest, past the sea of swirly-twirly gumdrops, and then, walks through the Lincoln tunnel to discover New York. This is where he finds that he is, in fact, human not elf. Along the way he spreads Christmas cheer, falls in love and meets his biological father.

His child-like innocence makes him relatable to children and misunderstood by adults resulting in very awkward, but funny situations.

This is a fantastical story touching on all of the typical Christmas morals of honesty, family and priorities. Although it is essentially a children’s film (as many festive movies are), it is a very enjoyable movies for the older audiences too, especially since Will Ferrell is in it.

elf_buddy_and_jovie_1 It includes my favourite Christmas song; Baby, It’s Cold Outside, sung by Zooey Deschanel and Will Farrell. The same song on the official soundtrack is by Zooey Deschanel and Leon Redbone which is a great version.

Don’t be a ‘cotton-headed ninnymuggins’, this will be an entertaining Christmas film for the whole family to watch. Although I am not a fan of Christmas movies in general, Elf is a pretty good one, if not storyline-wise, at least for the comedic value of Will Ferrell‘s character.

Jodie’s rating: 7/10

Tag Archives: christmas

Mystery in White – J. Jefferson Farjeon

Serendipity

Top 4: Favourite Festive Films

Arthur Christmas

I got my ticket. I was ready to be a passenger on this one-horse open sleigh ride of festive fun. I was ready to deck the halls with wonder and joy. I was ready to let it snow with good tidings, tinsel and turkey.

It was time to bring Santa back to town.

Top 4: Favourite Christmas Songs

Top 3: Favourite Festive Films

My Brother Lives in China (Doco)

Elf