ScreenFish

where faith and film are intertwined

Christmas

6.13 Deck the HALLMARK CHRISTMAS MOVIES

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A young executive has her life changed when she’s called to a remote small town at the Christmas season and falls in love with mysterious stranger… er… wait… An attractive wannabe baker has her life changed when she runs into an ex from her past before the big baking competition… no… um… A reporter has her life changed when she meets a prince… I mean…

‘Hallmark Christmas Movies’ have become a genre unto themselves. Featuring ‘cookie-cutter’ storylines and generic plot twists, the films have grown in popularity in the last few years yet are not without controversy as well. This week on the show, ScreenFish’r Heather Johnson and newcomer Christine Embree join us to look at the appeal of these similarly dissimilar films, how their characters stand up in a 21st Century world and what they say about the Christmas season.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, Alexa (via Stitcher), Spotify or Soundcloud! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts or Google Play!

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

6.13 Hallmark ChristmasDownload

5 Days of Christmas GIVEAWAY #3: Digital Copy of JOKER

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Forever alone in a crowd, failed comedian Arthur Fleck seeks connection as he walks the streets of Gotham City. Arthur wears two masks — the one he paints for his day job as a clown, and the guise he projects in a futile attempt to feel like he’s part of the world around him. Isolated, bullied and disregarded by society, Fleck begins a slow descent into madness as he transforms into the criminal mastermind known as the Joker.

To enter, simply like or share our post on Facebook. For a bonus entry, like or share the post on Twitter and Instagram.

The winner will receive a digital copy of Joker on iTunes.

All entries must be completed by 11:59pm on Wednesday, December 18th, 2019.

5 Days of Christmas GIVEAWAY Day 2: Die Hard Colouring Book

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Welcome yourself to the party with the Die Hard Colouring Book!

Experience Die Hard in a fresh and creative way with this authorized tie-in coloring and activity book featuring favorite scenes and quotes from the beloved classic movie. This unique prize features some of the movie’s best moments, recreated in detailed black-and-white line drawings, including:

  • Hans Gruber and his posse crash the Christmas party at Nakatomi and take the tower hostage;
  • John McClane’s limo ride with Argyle;
  • The tension-filled crawl through the building vents; 
  • John’s morbid message delivery to Hans (written on the corpse of one of Hans’ men);
  • The famous bloody footprints;
  • And of course, John leaping off the Nakatomi tower.

The winner will receive a copy of the Die Hard Colouring Book.

To enter, simply like or share our post on Facebook. For a bonus entry, like or share the post on Twitter and Instagram.

All entries must be completed by 11:59pm on Tuesday, December 17th, 2019.

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch: Lost and Lonely for the Holidays

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The Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) and his loyal dog, Max, live a lonely life atop the snowy crest of Mount Crumpet. Ostracizing himself from the Whos down in Whoville (the tall and the small), his main source of frustration comes during Christmastime when his neighbors celebrate the holidays with a bang. When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter this year than ever before, the Grinch hatches a scheme to steal Christmas and end the Whos’ jovial celebration once and for all.

Produced by Chris Meledandri (Despicable Me), the greatest challenge facing Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch seemed to be whether or not The House That Minions Built could tell a story that lived up the legacy of the iconic original. Thankfully, the latest incarnation of Dr. Seuss’ classic tale is an engaging romp that treads enough new ground to feel fresh and—dare I say it?—even necessary. (Incidentally, what impressed me most about the film is that, despite coming from Illumination, the humor is mostly spared from going full ‘Minions’ with bathroom humor, allowing it to feel somewhat timeless and charming.) Star Benedict Cumberbatch plays the titular villain with snarling glee as he plots against the seemingly naïve Who’s (even if he isn’t quite as much of a ‘mean one’ as previous incarnations). What’s more, this film seems to have a lighter bounce and sense of play than in the past, making it more accessible to even younger viewers.

Still, The Grinch sets itself apart from previous versions through its sense of grace and support towards others. While we’ve seen the Grinch as either traumatized by lost love (live-action) or simply… well… mean (animated), this vision shows him as a lonely curmudgeon. Alone in the orphanage as a child, Cumberbatch’s Grinch has deliberately tried to pull himself away from others, not out of hatred but out of jealousy. Having never been invited to be a part of any sort of community, the Grinch simply doesn’t understand the blessing of being surrounded by people that care about you. (Or, he’s at least oblivious to it, as his friendship with Max and Fred would indicate.)

Conversely, however, the Grinch’s isolation is held in contrast to the Who’s desire to come together and, more specifically, Cindy Lou Who’s quest to help her mother. Out of love and respect for what she sees her mom sacrifice for their family, Cindy Lou sets out on a quest to [literally] wrestle Santa to the ground in order to ensure that her request gets through to the North Pole. Rather than give Santa a list of gifts, all she cares about is seeing her mother get the help she needs. Like Cindy Lou, this film has a much firmer grasp on the meaning of the holidays and, as a result, the film’s climactic reunion with the Grinch seems far more significant. This vision of The Grinch understands what it means for a community to lovingly support those in need—and the importance of grace that breaks through in its midst.

On video, the film transfers beautifully (especially in 4K which really allows the color to pop onscreen). Special features include 3 mini-movies (yes, two of them feature the Minions), Cindy Lou’s Yule Log and a sing-a-long version of “You’re a Mean One (Mr. Grinch)”. However, one of the most interesting pieces is also the most simple. A short video entitled “Any Who Can Draw” allows viewers to put their artistic skills to work to draw characters from the film, an activity that my whole family enjoyed.

Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch is available on 4K, BluRay, DVD or Digital Download.

To hear our podcast on The Grinch, click here.

The Grinch (Benedict Cumberbatch) warns his dog Max and reindeer Fred about the seductive power of the Santa cookie as he trains them to help him steal Christmas in “Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch” from Illumination.

GIVEAWAY! Dr. Seuss’ THE GRINCH!

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Who says Christmas has to be over?

In Dr. Seuss’ The Grinch, the beloved titular villain and his loyal dog, Max, live a solitary existence inside a cave on Mount Crumpet. His main source of frustration comes during Christmastime when his neighbours in Whoville celebrate the holidays with a bang. When the Whos decide to make Christmas bigger and brighter, the disgruntled Grinch realizes there is one way to gain peace and quiet. With help from Max, the green grump hatches a scheme to pose as Santa Claus, steal Christmas and silence the Whos’ holiday cheer once and for all.


The winner will receive a copy of the Dr. Seuss’ THE GRINCH 4K Ultra HD/Blu-ray Combo Edition and a Grinch hat.

To enter, simply like or share our post on Facebook and answer the following question in the comment section: What is your favourite Dr. Seuss story and why?

For a bonus entry, like or share the post on Twitter and Instagram.

All entries must be completed by 11:59pm on Monday, February 4th, 2019.

 

Dr. Seuss’ THE GRINCH will be released on Blu-Ray on Tuesday, February 5th, 2019

5.07 ReImagining THE GRINCH

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With the return of THE GRINCH in theatres, Illumination attempts to revive a Christmas classic. Starring Benedict Cumberbatch as the titular villain, this version of the famed holiday fable creates some different sensibilities from past versions. This week, Steve welcome ScreenFish’rs Heather Johnston and Alan Sharrer to talk how the story has changed, social justice and reconciliation.

You can also stream the episode above on podomatic, SoundCloud or on Spotify! Or, you can download the ep on Apple Podcasts, Google Play or more!

5.07 The Grinch

Want to continue to conversation at home?  Click the link below to download ‘Fishing for More’ — some small group questions for you to bring to those in your area.

Thanks Heather and Alan for joining us!

Mars S2E6: Christmas on Mars?

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We found water . . . but at what cost?

One of my biggest struggles with the ending of the first season of National Geographic’s series Mars involved pacing. I didn’t feel there was enough of a discussion of potential life on the planet to justify the last-minute declaration of life on the planet. Thankfully, the producers did a much better job with the second season’s ending. Loose plot ends have been tied while questions remain, leaving open the potential for a third season.  That’s about all a viewer can ask for, right?

As the fifth episode ended, Amelie (Clementine Poidatz) was having a caesarean for her firstborn.  A huge bluish-colored baby was taken away . . . leaving her to wonder out loud if she would ever hold the baby.  The good news: the child survived.  The bad news: Amelie still hasn’t held it for two months as its been on a ventilator.  We’ll get back to this drama in a second, but there’s a more pressing issue for both the IMSF and Lukrum groups.

It seems the mining corporation is having a difficult time drilling for water and Kurt (Jeff Hephner), the leader, is as desperate to find some as Marta (Anamaria Marinca) from the IMSF.  He resorts to trying something unproven on a new planet—explosives to break the rock.  In an attempt to bring Marta into the actions (and because his daughter wants to be a microbiologist), Kurt has her make a trip to gather some water for study.  Without checking with Commander Hana (Jihae) first, he proceeds with the explosion, which succeeds in bringing forth water.  Marta grabs a few samples, but the blast triggers an earthquake that completely destroys Lukrum’s compound—and nearly does the same for Olympus Town.  Kurt feels remorse over what his actions caused and feels even more when he goes to check on the other workers, finding the buildings destroyed with numerous casualties.  While he continues his search, he is pinned by wreckage that breaches his spacesuit and kills him.

Our mistakes sometimes have significant consequences.

When Olympus Town can’t get a signal from Lukrum, they rush over to the crash site in an attempt to help. Two groups of workers have survived—one in a protected area of the wreckage; the other (including new member Robert [Sammi Rotibi] in a rover). All make it to Olympus Town safely.

Amelie notices an issue with the ventilator and must make a decision with Javier (Alberto Ammann)—take out the breathing tube to see what happens or simply watch their child die along with the ventilator.  They choose the former option.

Meanwhile on Earth, people know about the earthquake and are seriously concerned if Mars habitation is even a future possibility. IMSF Secretary General Amanda Richardson (Cosima Shaw) isn’t sure what to do, as her vote to sanction Russia for working with Lukrum failed and left her with little to no power.  Lukrum then acquired another agreement with China, making things worse for her.  But the earthquake provided her an opportunity to work alongside an extremely smug Roland St. John (Esai Morales), who suddenly has little leverage politically.  They appear in a joint news conference, where Richardson blindsides St. John with a video from Commander Hana, showcasing that the two groups can get along (this was the basic premise of the documentary sections of the episode) and that life there is possible when Amelie and Javier introduce their daughter Gabriella to the citizens of Earth. St. John vows to get her back, but the episode ends.

There are definitely questions to possibly be answered in a future season (in addition to St. John’s response to Richardson): What became of the water Marta collected? What did she discover?  Was Mike ever released from his cell or was he sent back to Earth? Did Robert return to IMSF? How was Gabriella’s childhood? How did the scientists create the first cloud using their terraforming practices?  I think we need to explore further, National Geographic.

My biggest takeway from the episode was a hypothetical situation. Knowing that Gabriella was the first person born and raised on Mars, I began thinking what it might be like to raise a child with completely different holiday traditions (sort of like Life Day was in the Star Wars Holiday Special).  There would obviously be something with the day humanity landed, the day life was discovered on Mars, and perhaps the day water was found.  But how would holidays like Christmas be handled? Jesus was born to Mary and Joseph in Bethlehem . . . on Earth, not Mars. For kids, there would really not be a context to work with (I’m trying to imagine Joseph and Mary taking care of a baby in a cave wearing space suits, and it’s not working).  Belief in Christmas would have to be . . . on faith.  But it’s a good kind of faith—a faith in the God who created the universe and placed the moon, planets, and stars exactly where he wanted them (see Psalm 8:3-4).

Viewers now have to have faith that National Geographic adds a third season of Mars to their schedule.  If not, I’m thankful for the journey and what I’ve learned along the way.

Ben Is Back: Broken Honesty on a Bruised Holiday

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Ben is Back tells the story of Ben Burns (Lucas Hedges), a nineteen-year-old drug addict who unexpectedly returns to his family’s suburban home on Christmas Eve. From the moment she first sees him, Ben’s mom, Holly (Julia Roberts), welcomes him openly yet remains cautious of her son’s drug addiction. Over a turbulent twenty-four hours, new truths are revealed, and a mother’s unconditional love is put to the test as Holly fights ceaselessly to keep her son sober.

Written and directed by Peter Hedges (About a Boy, Dan in Real Life), Ben is Back is a gritty family drama that proves both compelling and authentic. Although the set-up of the film seems relatively straightforward, the script continues to surprise with its willingness to stare down the inner darkness of its characters. This level of nuance provides the cast with an opportunity to showcase their talent, especially Roberts and Hedges. Without question, this is Roberts’ best role in years and, arguably, one of the best performances of her career. Young Hedges’ portrayal of the damaged and conflicted Ben also holds his own up against Roberts’ powerhouse performance, proving that he continues to grow into his talent.

Throughout the film, Ben constantly reminds his mother that truth is a luxury. While he repeatedly quotes his sponsor’s call for brutal honesty, he also reminds his mother that he cannot be trusted. Committed to delving into his history with unflinching honesty about what he has done and with whom, Ben becomes a walking testament to the belief that we ‘reap what we sow’. Recounting every face, every moment, and every action of his journey, he [now] recognizes that there have been consequences to his actions in ways he could have never considered, whether it be to others or his own soul. (In addition, by setting the film through Christmas Day, the film also adds another layer of complexity by juxtaposing Ben’s battle with addiction with a time of year often seen as celebrating new beginnings.)

On the other hand, Holly’s views her son through the eyes of love and, as a result, has difficulty accepting that he is as ‘bad’ as he believes. While this type of behavior is typical for a parent in this situation—who wouldn’t want to believe the best in their child?—things become more complicated as Holly begins to blur the lines of truth and lies in order to convince herself that things are better than they are. (In fact, at one point, Holly even begins to reframe history by trying to persuade Ben that his behavior really wasn’t all that bad.) There’s a complexity to Roberts’ role as she blends her performance as Holly with both unconditional grace and blurred truth. Her love for Ben pursues him relentlessly as her ‘lost sheep’. However, at the same time, her belief in Ben also borders on manic through her unwillingness to accept the truth about his life. Are there boundaries between love and grace? Ben is Back reveals the complexities of unconditional love and commitment to one’s child, especially when addictions and mental health come into play.

Anchored by remarkable performances by its leads and a solid script, Ben is Back creates a world where one’s hidden darkness must be faced in order to step out on the other side. In doing so, it also manages to successfully subvert the ‘family drama’ by demonstrating the complexities of a parent’s love for a broken child.

Ben is Back is in theatres now.

Santa Claus (Le Père Noël) – A Parisian Adventure

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‘Tis the season of heartwarming holiday movies featuring cute kids, Santa Claus, and the joy of the season. The French film Santa Claus (Le Père Noël), available this Christmas season on VOD, fits these criteria, but in a bit of a twisted way.

Six year-old Victor (Victor Cabal) writes his letter to Santa on Christmas Eve. He wants things most kids want, but more than anything, he wants a ride in Santa’s sleigh. That night, after he’s gone to bed, he hears a noise on the balcony, and there is Santa (Tahar Rahim), who has just descended by rope.

Victor is beside himself, but Santa tells him to go back to bed. But when Santa then drops down to the next floor down, Victor follows. It turns out that the “Santa” is a burglar hitting empty apartments on Christmas Eve, looking for enough gold to pay off a debt to a thug. He tells Victor his sleigh is broken down and he needs gold to make it fly. Victor is eager to help. When Santa gets injured, he teaches Victor how to break into apartments and where to look for gold. They spend the night traveling around the rooftops of Paris and trying to avoid the thugs.

It turns out, though, that Victor will not be satisfied unless he can get that ride in Santa’s sleigh. It is important to him, because there is a special trip he wants to make. He is grieving his father and wants to go to his father’s star to see him.

As the night advances, Victor becomes more and more aware that what they are doing is wrong. He begins to doubt that this is the real Santa Claus. His doubts increase his grief, now having lost both this father and his ideal of Santa. Yet as befits a holiday movie, the interaction between Victor and Santa changes them both. These are the most important presents these two will receive this Christmas.

I can understand how some people might be a bit offended by the way Victor is corrupted in the film. Not only is he taught how to burglarize a home, but Santa encourages him to swear. (Victor is not quite as innocent as we might think.) But that is the way this film seeks to bring some darkness into the holiday story. And without darkness, we may never realize when the light begins to shine. And the interaction between Victor and Santa as the night progresses is, in the end, a star shining in the darkness.

The holiday spirit celebrated in this film is not really holiday specific. Christmas Eve is the setting for telling a story of the encounter between two strangers, and the way the faith of one can transform them both.

Photos courtesy of Under the Milky Way

 

Elliot the Littlest Reindeer: Move Over, Rudolph

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When Blitzen suddenly announces his retirement from Santa’s elite team of reindeer, Santa needs to find a replacement. Filled with dreams of pulling the famed sleigh, Elliot the pony and his best friend, Hazel the goat, set out to prove that he is the horse for the job. As Elliot and Hazel take on the North Pole reindeer try-outs, Hazel learns that Christmas, as we know it, may be headed for disaster. When he discovers that a villainous woman is threatening the family farm back home, Elliot is faced with the biggest decision of his life.

Written and directed by Jennifer Westcott, the film’s sense of wonder and adventure ensures that it will fit nicely into any family’s rotation of annual Christmas. Animated in a style reminiscent of such Christmas classics as The Polar Express, Elliot the Littlest Reindeer has a timeless feel from the outset. Featuring a stellar cast from Martin Short, Josh Hutcherson, Samantha Bee and more, the script also offers them opportunities to shine in each of their various roles. (This is particularly true of Short who voices two different villains in the film.)

At its heart, Elliot the Littlest Reindeer is a tribute to believing in what someone can achieve, even if others don’t believe it’s possible. Though he yearns to pull Santa’s sleigh, Elliot is consistently looked over by those around him simply because he isn’t a reindeer. Although he has the drive, the heart and the ability, he is consistently told that he doesn’t measure up to the others because of his species. By viewing him through only one lens, his peers stereotype him in a way that continues to be limiting. In fact, only after dressing in a reindeer disguise is he respected enough to be included in serious conversation about whether or not he has the talent to achieve his dream. (Interestingly, as he becomes increasingly accepted as a reindeer, Elliot also must struggle with his views of others as he begins to take on the personality traits of the bullies that once intimidated him.) In doing so, the film serves as a reminder of the importance of knowing who we are and the dangers of limiting others with stereotypes.

In the end, Elliot the Littlest Reindeer is an entertaining children’s film that speaks to more than believing in Santa Claus and leaving presents under the tree. By looking at what happens when we view others through one set of lenses, Elliot speaks to the importance of accepting ourselves—and one another—for who we are.

 

For audio of our interview with CG Supervisor Sumira Dhawan, click here.

Special featurette on the Blu-ray is “Meet Eliot.”