Duncan’s Traditional Christmastime Game

A view of Duncan's Christmas game
Woody Kineval, Don, Noah, Eric, and Geoff admiring the chaos.

One of many HAWKs traditions is the Christmastime game at Duncan’s house sometime during the holidays.  Often the game is set in the War of 1812 and often in the winter.  This year Duncan hosted an American raid on a British encampment in Canada in the winter.  The American objective was to capture supplies, loot, and plunder.  The British objective was to hang onto their gear.

Kurt, Noah, Don, and Eric
Kurt, Noah, Don, and Eric

In the past, Duncan has used a variety of different rule sets, including GASLIGHT, for these games.  This year Duncan wanted to try using my G.A.M.E.R. rules that are under development.  In general, though there are questions about a set of rules that are still under development, the system worked well enough.

Dave's men rushed to the front, and then couldn't the broad side of a barn.
Dave's men rushed to the front and then couldn't the broad side of a barn.

Each player had two six-man groups and a leader to control.  Dave’s troops had high morale (“guts”) but terrible accuracy (“shooting skill”).  He rushed forward toward the enemy and then missed with nearly all his shots and Don laughed at him and taunted him.

Kurt and Noah
Duncan, Kurt, Noah, and Don

There was a furious melee in the woods just behind the plantation house, where Noah is seen in the photo moving his troops.  After the melee, which lasted a few turns, Eric was victorious, and Noah was out of the game.  Don taunted Noah too.

Hot and heavy fighting developed around the central plantation house

On my side of the table, Bruce occupied the brown building in the picture and then proceeded to decimate Jim’s and my forces.  We thought Bruce’s forces were snipers armed with Gatling guns.  On the first or second turn, Rob incapacitated my officer.  The officer had moved to the edge of the woods in the center right of the picture to locate the enemy.  He found them, but didn’t live long enough to let the troops know.  By the end of the game Rob and I had ground each other to a pulp, but he managed to capture two cows.  Don taunted me as well.

The game was a lot of fun.  Lots of folks brought cookies and snacks, so the holiday season pig out continued unabated as we battled.

Thanks to Duncan for hosting!

What Makes a Movie a “Christmas Movie?”

The characters from Santa Claus is Coming to Town

I got in a discussion recently about what makes a movie a Christmas movie.  (By the way, in this post, I will use the term “movie” liberally, applying it to 22-minute short animated shorts as well as live action feature films.)  The movie in question was March of the Wooden Soldiers, starring Laurel and Hardy.  While most people don’t know who Laurel and Hardy were, I still find their shorts and features entertaining.  I’ve always considered this a Christmas movie, probably because it was shown on television around the holidays when I was a kid, no one had cable television, and you had to be home to watch these holiday favorites the one or two times a season they would be on television.

I have always considered this movie (and the sad Disney remake, Babes in Toyland, despite Annette) to be a Christmas movie.

But what about this movie makes it a Christmas movie?  Santa Claus appears for a few minutes in one scene, but the movie doesn’t revolve around a Christmas message or even a storyline remotely related to Christmas.  It features clever effects (for its time) depicting nursery rhyme characters.  The humor is light and clean — as would be expected of a movie of its vintage.  The story is uncomplicated and fun, with a happy ending.  Perhaps what makes a movie a Christmas movie is clean family entertainment, a few laughs, and a happy ending?  Is that enough to be considered a Christmas (or holiday) movie?

Is death and mayhem that happens to occur on Christmas Eve a Christmas movie?

While I like Die Hard and even the second film in the series, just because it takes place on Christmas Eve I can’t consider this a Christmas movie.  Somehow dozens if gruesome killings doesn’t seem like a family, holiday movie to me.

I never considered this a Christmas movie until my daughter watched it yesterday and claimed it is.

While You Were Sleeping is among my favorite chick flicks, but I never considered it a Christmas movie.  My daughter recently claimed that it is, and I think she is right.  It takes place at Christmas, and many of the scenes revolve around Christmas celebrations and traditions.  The ending is a bit sappy, but it ends on a high note and is generally a very family friendly film.

Frosty the Snowman takes place at Christmas, features Santa saving the day, and talks about the magic of Christmas snow.
Frosty the Snowman takes place at Christmas, features Santa saving the day, and talks about the magic of Christmas snow.

Frosty the Snowman, featuring Jimmy Durante singing the title song which he made a hit in the 1940s or 1950s, always aired during the ramp up to Christmas, so I always considered this a Christmas movie.

A Charlie Brown Christmas has a clear Christmas message.

In retrospect, these Rankin Bass Christmas movies often portray Santa as not so nice, but they are Christmastime staples at our house — and probably yours.  Is any movie with Santa Claus a Christmas movie?  Rudolph has to be considered a Christmas classic; most of your favorite versions of many holiday songs are the Burl Ives version from this movie.

This version of A Christmas Carol is arguable the best adaptation of the Dickens Classic.

And of course, there have been many versions of A Christmas Carol.  It think it would be hard to argue that this is not a Christmas movie.  If you haven’t seen this version, you are missing out.

This version of A Christmas Carol is not as good as the Alistair Sim version, but it's still quite good.
Patrick Stewart is a terrific actor, and he makes this a solid version of A Christmas Carol.

The Patrick Stewart version is quite good — and his radio adaptation of him reading the story is worth the money as well.

Holiday Inn debuted the classic song, "White Christmas."
Holiday Inn debuted the classic song, "White Christmas."

Holiday Inn takes place across a full year of holidays, but it debuted the song “White Christmas,” and the movie’s finale takes place on Christmas Eve with Bing reprising the song and winning the girl.  While largely overshadowed by its big budget, VistaVision follow-on, this is a terrific movie to watch at Christmastime.

White Christmas is an excellent movie that takes place at Christmas and involves a Christmas present for Bing and Danny's general after WWII.

Though most of the dancing and singing sequences have little to do with Christmas, the basic plot that Bing and Danny pull together a nice Christmas present for their former commanding general is both fun, heartwarming, and tear jerking.  All of us former military folks aspire to that level of loyalty and respect; few achieve it.

Going My Way has a tear jerking ending on Christmas Eve.
Going My Way has a tear jerking ending on Christmas Eve.

If you don’t have to brush away a tear at the end of this movie, you are pretty callous.  I don’t know if this is a Christmas movie, per se, but it ends at Christmas and has a warm feel throughout.  This is the movie that make Bing Crosby a movie star as well as a singing star.

The follow-on to Going My Way, this is a forgotten, feel-good movie.
The follow-on to Going My Way, The Bells of St. Mary's is a forgotten, feel-good movie.

Bells of St. Mary’s is decidedly not a Christmas movie, but as wholesome family entertainment, this is great for the holiday season.

"Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" was first heard in Meet Me in St. Louis and became a hit for Judy Garland and others.

Meet Me in St. Louis is a movie that is NOT about Christmas, but it ends at Christmas and featured a hit single, “Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas.”  Apparently if a movie ends at Christmastime, it is often considered a Christmas movie.

Another example of a movie that has nothing to do with Christmas, ends at Christmastime, and is considered a Christmas movie.

The Little Drummer Boy has a clear Christmas message.
The Little Drummer Boy has a clear Christmas message.

The Little Drummer boy has a clear Christmas message.  While not as enjoyable as some of the other Rankin Bass movies, it is nonetheless well worth the time to watch it.

A Year Without a Santa Claus portrays Santa in a little better light than Rudolph.

A really forgotten game, It Happened on 5th Avenue takes place at Christmas and has a heartwarming feel.

It Happened on 5th Avenue is a terrific, though forgotten, film.  It involves a group of (oddball) strangers who meet around Christmastime in New York City, work through their troubles, change for the better, do nice things for each other, etc.  If you haven’t see this movie, you are missing a really great movie.

Miracle on 34th Street is a heartwarming tale that not only takes place at Christmas, but has a pretty good warm Christmas feeling about it.

There have been a few remakes of this classic, but none match the original.  Based on a short story, this a fun movie about a man who thinks he is Santa Claus and all the things he does to help a number of people.

The Home Alone series has no Christmas message, per se, but they take place during the Christmas season. Is that enough?
How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a classic cartoon with a solid Christmas message.
A Christmas Story is a hilarious and nostalgic look at Christmas through the eyes of a child.

A Christmas Story was a sleeper when it first came to theaters.  It has become a classic staple in our house — despite Ted Turner showing it for 24 hours on Christmas day and threatening to over play it as they did with It’s a Wonderful Life.

The Santa Clause is a modern Christmas movie with good messages and a feel good ending.

Though revolving around the secular, rather than religious, meaning of Christmas, the first two movies in this series are solid family entertainment.  This movie was nice in the way it explained a lot of the Santa mythos.

Christmas in Connecticut has always been a Christmas favorite for me -- though not my kids.

Christmas in Connecticut is a largely forgotten gem in the vein of the screwball comedy.  Involving secrets, hidden identities, an overbearing boss, some fun character actors, and a happy ending, we’ve always considered this a Christmas movie.  Though Christmas is in the title, the fact that it takes place during the Christmas season and involves some celebrations and traditions, makes it clearly a Christmas movie in my book.  Don’t waste your time with the 1970’s remake; see the original.

Christmas Vacation is a very funny movie that takes place at Christmas, but not suitable for younger viewers.
Christmas Vacation is a very funny movie that takes place at Christmas, but not suitable for younger viewers.

Christmas Vacation has many hilarious scenes, but it is not appropriate for younger kids.  Now that my kids are older, this has become a holiday seasons staple. The Christmas message is a little light, but Chevy Chase is trying to make a special Christmas for his family as he goes through a number of slapstick misadventures.

As with all animated shorts by Big Idea Productions, The Toy that Saved Christmas has a strong religious message.

The Veggie Tales videos were originally sold only in Christian book stores but are widely available now.  This one and Rack, Shack, and Benny are my two favorites.  This one is about a group of kids — and a toy, named Buzzsaw Louie — trying to find the true meaning of Christmas.  The whole series of Veggies Tales videos are good for both adults and kids.

The Lemon Drop kid introduced the song "Silver Bells."

Another forgotten gem, The Lemon Drop kids, based on a Damon Runyon story, is about a confidence man who is down on his luck and comes up with a scheme to dress up as Santa and collect money on street corners.  The movie has an ending not unlike the Capra classic Lady for a Day.  This movie also introduced the world to the Christmas song “Silver Bells.”

The Bishop's Wife as a five-star, wonderful movie.

Saving probably the best for last, if you haven’t seen this gem, you are again missing out.  The movie centers around a bishop and his wife who are visited by an angel around Christmastime.  In the end, the Bishop realizes that even he has lost sight of the true meaning of Christmas and family.  There are a number of memorable scenes.  Unlike modern movies this is not about action.  Listen to the dialog.  There is a lot of depth to this film.

So, I started out trying to answer the question,”What makes a movie a Christmas movie.”  Along the way, I highlighted some of my favorite Christmas films, but I’m not sure I answered the question.  While I have enjoyed movies like Elf and Jingle All the Way, I didn’t highlight them in this missive.  I suppose for me, a Christmas movie needs to be family friendly, have a positive message, and largely take place at Christmastime.  While movies like Meet Me in St. Louis and It’s a Wonderful Life are terrific, family friendly films, I’ve never considered them Christmas movies, but perhaps I should.  For me Christmas movies must be the kind of heartwarming, uplifting, sometimes tear-jerking movies that help you get in the “Christmas mood.”  Though March of the Wooden Soldiers has little to do with Christmas, we watch it every year at Christmastime.  Perhaps it is the naiveté of innocence of these films that make them Christmas movies.  So maybe the fact that we can enjoy that innocence year after year as a family is what makes them Christmas movies.  In the same way that many “Christmas songs” are really winter songs that have little, if anything to do with Christmas but help you get in the Christmas mood, maybe that’s what makes Christmas in Connecticut, The Bishop’s Wife, and A Christmas Carol “Christmas movies,” even though they don’t explicitly talk about the true meaning of Christmas or even the secular mythology of Santa Claus.

My kids will soon be moving out and starting their own lives on their own.  We’ll only see them on holidays and the occasional visit.  Our life will be different — and not all in good ways.  But I’ll bet when she get together at Christmas, the movies I highlighted above will be part of our holiday activities.

Are Outfits from Sci Fi Outlandish?

Publicity shots of Anne Francis from Forbidden Planet
Publicity shots of Anne Francis from Forbidden Planet

I used to think that the women’s outfits in science fiction movies were outlandish and that women wouldn’t dress like that in real file.  While they were sexy, these outfits never seemed very practical.  (I still think that chainmail bikinis are absurd, but lately I’ve begun to think that the outfits in the science fiction movies and shows of the 1950’s through 1970’s foreshadowed today’s fashion in the same way that the Star Trek communicator foreshadowed flip cell phones.) My kids go to a school that requires a uniform in which the girls’ skirts are at a modest length.  What do these teenage girls do?  They “roll” their skirts, rolling up the waist band to raise their skirts three or four inches higher than the dress code requires.  And as soon as school gets out, the girls start waltzing around the malls in outfits more fitting for prostitutes than high school girls.

Sample of 1940's fashions, which continued to get more attractive for about 15 years.
Sample of 1940's fashions, which continued to get more attractive for about 15 years

I will admit that my tastes are a bit dated.  I think the pinnacle of womens’ fashions was reached in the 1940’s and 1950’s.  This post is not meant to offer an opinion that the world is going to Hell, but just to point out that I had a recent epiphany.  Fashions that I thought were ridiculous (though often alluring) in old science fiction movies and television shows were probably not that ridiculous after all.

Here’s what I mean.  In the far future, would women want to wander around in outfits like this?

Examples of miniskirts from Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Forbidden Planet
Examples of miniskirts from Star Trek, Star Trek: The Next Generation, and Forbidden Planet

Or this?

Erin Grey publicity still from the second season of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century
Erin Grey publicity still from the second season of Buck Rogers in the 25th Century

Well, I did a quick search for “skirts” using Bing and looking at “reputable” Web stores, like Target.com.  I wasn’t looking at porn sites or Fredericks of Hollywood, but below is what I found.  Without looking hard, I found these examples below.  People must be buying them!

Really short skirts from "reputable" places like Target.com and other on-line catalogs
Really short skirts from "reputable" places like Target.com and other on-line catalogs

These are outfits I’ve seen girls wearing at shopping malls or social events with their buddies.  Admittedly, these are not outfits I have seen worn by professional women in office settings, but they are outfits worn in public.

So how about form-fitting outfits like this one?  As sexy as this is, would women really wear such a thing except while scuba diving in cold water?

Jet pack girl
Jet pack girl

Or these…

Some random female science fiction outfits
Some random female science fiction outfits

Again, a quick Web search found these examples:

Examples of form-fitting outfits for a quick Google search using the key word "legging"
Examples of form-fitting outfits for a quick Google search using the key word "legging"

Frankly, I have never understood women wearing leggings that leave nothing to the imagination and then wearing seven layers of long shirts and coverups.  Why not just wear something a bit more modest?

Or how about see-through blouses?  Aside from the odd phenomenon in which women reveal more leg and cleavage in formal affairs than in other settings, no one would wear those in public, would they?

Is the see-through blouse from the UFO science fiction series outlandish? See examples of see-through outfits that some are buying to wear in public.
Is the see-through blouse from the UFO science fiction series outlandish? See examples of see-through outfits that some are buying to wear in public.

Except for the purple outfit, which I think is meant for someone on the prowl at a dance club, the other three outfits are things I have seen in stores and other public places.  As someone on the downhill side of 50, there are things I know not to wear anymore; however, most of the women I seen wearing these outfits in public are NOT fashion models from catalogs who can pull off these looks, but they wear them anyway.  So those costume designers were prescient after all!  (By the way, the costume designer for the UFO show pictures above was a woman.)

Another view of Anne Francis from a Forbidden Planet publicity still
Another view of Anne Francis from a Forbidden Planet publicity still

So the next time you are oggling Jeri Ryan (Seven of Nine), Marina Sirtis (Deanna Troi), Gates McFadden (Dr. Crusher), Carrie Fisher (Princess Leia), Anne Francis (Altaira Morbius), Erin Gray (Wilma Deering), or some other science fiction heroine, thinking, “Wow, the twenty-fifth century will be great!” remember that the twenty-fifth century might not be that far off with respect to women’s fashions.

Wow!  The twenty-fifth century will be great!
Wow! The twenty-fifth century is great!