Friday, December 7, 2018

TV SCREENINGS: A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

Well, here we are with another timeless holiday classic!

Hey guys! Whatsoever Critic here!

And last night, we decided to do another DVD/TV SCREENINGS episode on another holiday special. Last time, we did Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer. And now, we're giving Charlie Brown a go.
So, this was our viewing of A Charlie Brown Christmas.

(Opening Scene)
LBF: This is so cool. I remember watching this every Christmas!
WC: Me too.

(Charlie meets Lucy at her "doctor" stand)
WC: You know, Christmas doesn't have to be overwhelming.
LBF: Yeah, but I understand where Charlie's coming from. All that commercialism can be a doozy at times. Like with Black Friday shopping and...
WC: So yeah, they're gonna tell us that it's not about the material things. I get it.

(The kids learn that Charlie Brown is directing their play)
WC: What a bunch of posers...
LBF: This is kind of like Rudolph, with him getting bullied. And now that I think about it, these Christmas movies have some kind of pattern.
WC: No, no. Leave that to the Hallmark and Lifetime movies that get shoveled out every year. Those darn things are so repetitive. You can't even come up with anything original nowadays!

(Snoopy mimicks Lucy)
LBF: This part always gets me laughing.
WC: (laughing)

(Sally has a crush on Linus)
LBF: That girl's always goo-goo ga-ga over Linus. That's always a good laugh, right?
WC: I remember seeing some fan art about that. I assume this is a running gag that this series has?
LBF: Well, I think someone in my family told me that there was a, uh...
WC: The comics?
LBF: Yeah. That's it. Comics. I can totally see this being a thing in the original source material, 'cuz this is funny.

(Charlie Brown is asked to get a Christmas tree)
WC: They're gonna ask him to get a really big tree for that one show.
LBF: What, they think he's made out of money?
WC: Well, why not? They asked for an aluminum tree.

(Linus plays Jingle Bells on the piano--the way Lucy is asking)
LBF: This part is awesome.
WC: This just proves that abstract rules over concrete.
LBF: What do you mean?
WC: In other words, anything sells for art... Like everything is too simple nowadays.

(Charlie Brown is bullied for bringing a small tree)
WC: Why are you guys laughing? He got you a tree!
LBF: Yeah! And isn't this supposed to be a Christian play?
WC: Um... not the best ones.

(Linus explains the Biblical story of Christmas)
(Both girls are silent, as this scene plays out)

(Charlie goes out to decorate the small tree, but fails)
LBF: I'd fix it up too, if I had a small tree like that.
WC: Yeah. Maybe some tinsel and ribbon.
LBF: Poinsettas?
WC: Oh yeah. And those.

(The kids fix the tree to where it's VERY decorative)
LBF: I can see someone saying "Yeah right" to this.
WC: I know, but you know that saying "The thought that counts"?
LBF: Yep.
WC: I mean, it's Christmas. They took some liberties, and that's all it is.

DISCUSSION:
LBF: I remember watching this every year around Christmas.
WC: Same here. Like, there's pretty much absolutely nothing wrong with it. There's a reason why this one is timeless, why it's a classic.
LBF: And what you were saying earlier about the Hallmark and Lifetime movies... you're right, because those movies are so repetitive. It's like they share each other storylines.
WC: If those movies were to watch this and the other Christmas specials, then maybe they can learn from them, because let's face it: they're unoriginal. But here... this special has a great message--and that's one reason, if not just one, reason why this turned out to be timeless.
LBF: I couldn't agree more, Critic.

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Wednesday, November 28, 2018

TV SCREENINGS: Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)

Hey guys! Whatsoever Critic here!

Since Christmas is already upon us with Thanksgiving over and the holiday shopping, we were recently graced by CBS, when they aired this holiday classic last night. So, LarryBoy Fanatic and I decided to post our reactions to this TV special--and I'll admit, it's been a long time since we've since this classic that came from our childhoods.
So, I hope you'll enjoy this special DVD/TV SCREENINGS blog post!

(Sam the Snowman introduces himself)
WC: I think Burl Ives had a good time doing this.
LBF: Yeah. Has he ever done anything else?
WC: I don't know.

(Rudolph is born)
LBF: Oh my God! He's so cute!
WC: It's been a few minutes, and already you're all goo-goo ga-ga over him?
LBF: (laughing) I can't help it! It's cute!

(Hermey the elf admits to wanting to be a dentist)
LBF: (mimicking the elf boss) A dentist? Don't be silly! You need this minimum-wage job! That makes sense! 
WC: But come on! I hear dentists get paid a whole lot. So why not be a dentist?
(The boss doesn't let Hermey go on a break, and tells him to finish a job, or he's "fired.")
LBF: (mimicking Hermey) Screw you, fat man! I don't wanna be your slave!
WC: Whoa! That was a good impression!
Both girls: (laughing)

(The reindeer games scene)
LBF: Well, that was quick. Rudolph making friends...
WC: Let's see how long that lasts...

(Rudolph meets Clarice)
LBF: They're totally meant for each other.
WC: I know.

(Scene with Clarice after Rudolph's humiliation)
WC: I'd say that this is an interesting story. Like, you can't deny that there are stories like this, where the underdog gets bullied, and it takes a voice of reason to step in and be there for that person.
LBF: This soooo reminds me of my own childhood. I wish I had more friends like that.

(Rudolph meets Hermey, and they sing a song)
LBF: This song... I don't know. Didn't they sing a different song than this? Or have I been so distant from this movie for so long that I had forgotten?
WC: Okay, so I looked it up, and... you're right. The original song was "Fame and Fortune." This one is something "Misfits."
LBF: Okay... So I'm not crazy! Thank God!

(Sam the Snowman shutters at seeing the Bumble the Abominable Snowman)
WC: Wow.
LBF: Even the narrator is scared of this story!
WC: And this scene just keeps going!

(Sam the Snowman sings "Silver and Gold")
LBF: Oh, now he's okay. Wow.
WC: Question... Is this song even warranted?
LBF: I don't get it.

(Yukon Cornelius helps the characters escape)
WC: This guy is friggin' awesome!
LBF: (laughing) Wow!
WC: Keep digging for gold, guys! Then maybe our boy, Sam, will sing a song about it.
Both girls: (laughing)

(The Island of Misfit Toys scene)
LBF: I don't get it. A lot of these toys look normal to me.
WC: Yeah. They would be welcomed in today's world, no doubt.
LBF: Like the elephant? He looks cute. And that owl that swims? That's original! Who would hate on that?

(Rudolph leaves the island to go on his own)
LBF: I don't know. He shouldn't have left the group. They could've worked things out at least. They seem like great people to be with.

(Rudolph stops Bumble from harming his family and Clarice)
WC: (mimicking the monster) Who disturbs my play time?! Playing with my reindeer action figures here!
LBF: (laughing)

(Yukon tackles the monster)
LBF: Why isn't this guy on WWE wrestling?

(Rudolph and friends return home)
WC: About time we get to the apologies.
LBF: Yeah, that's really lame that it had to take this long.
WC: They ain't doing it again next year!

(Yukon returns with Bumble, who's now a good monster)
LBF: Yukon's like a man among men!
WC: Is there anything that he can't do?

(Santa enlists Rudolph to lead his sleigh)
LBF: (mimicks Santa) Hey, Rudolph! We finally have a use for you! Headlights!
WC: (laughing)
LBF: They should've seen this before, but they didn't.

(Ending scene)
LBF: So, yeah. The Misfit toys are finally gonna have homes.
WC: So why did it take them this long?
LBF: I don't know.

DISCUSSION
WC: All this time, I've been avoiding watching this special, because I was thinking that it was weird. I mean, the Frosty the Snowman special was a complete turn-off for me, because it looked weird and sounded weird. But for this one, I'll forgive it more.
LBF: This one, I was able to tolerate more than Frosty, because I understood the story, and I have that personal connection to it. Because being bullied for being different... that's happened to me a lot during my childhood. But anyway, I would definitely watch this again.
WC: Yeah, and... Wow.
LBF: What?
WC: Mom's upset that we didn't tell her that this show was on.
LBF: Well, let's make it up to her. Buy the DVD.
WC: I agree. Don't worry, Mom. We'll make it up to you. By the way, I heard that A Charlie Brown Christmas is gonna be coming out soon. ABC.
LBF: We ain't gonna miss that one!
WC: So final thoughts on this special?
LBF: Yeah. We need to get the DVD.
WC: I just remembered. I have the VHS tape... but I don't know if it works anymore. So, it's best to get the DVD ASAP.
LBF: Right.

Whatsoever Critic

Saturday, November 24, 2018

LarryBoy Superhero Power Pack- LarryBoy Fanatic



---EPISODE 53---

Today we look at the sacred DVD collection that holds everything LarryBoy... or so it claims. Find out if this DVD anthology is a hit or miss!





Breaktime-
Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod


Breaktime
- Silent Film Light
by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution license
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)


Source:
http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100302








Merry
Go- Silent Film Light by Kevin MacLeod


Merry
Go - Silent Film Light
by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a
Creative Commons Attribution license
(https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)


Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-free/index.html?isrc=USUAN1100731




LarryBoy Fanatic