Over the next two weeks the Nanu contributors will be releasing a series of five track playlists of Christmas music. After they have all been released there will be a chance to vote on your favourite as well as the Nanu casino online Nanu Ultimate Christmas Playlist, released just in time for your journey home.
Track 1: Elton John – Step Into Christmas
Track2: Destiny”s Child – 8 Days of Christmas
Track 3: Emmy the Great & Tim Wheeler – Home for the Holidays
Now only 13 days left, this week is becoming a hassle. Yes, you”ve had some delightful fun watching the films recommended to you on this very blog, you need to remember the miracle of Christmas. And more importantly, you need to be reminded that miracles can happen – even
if that miracle is surviving another handful of days before the rest that Christmas hopefully brings for you. Today”s choice is a miraculous Christmas Classic
So, a confusing recommendation today, as I couldn”t choose which version of the two magnificent films to choose. Not because I don”t have a preference, but because I know too many people will prefer one over the other, but please boys and girls this is Christmas – there is no need to fight. So, take a chance with the version you”d like to enjoy, if that”s revisiting your fave, of experimenting with the original, and
if you”ve seen neither give at least one of them a go. Little girl basically cutes the fuck out of Christmas and we”re left with a Santa Claus that actually exists. God bless er little casino jameshallison girls. Christmas and religion suddenly got a bit more confusing. If that doesn”t float our boat, then why not try today”s alternative film…
Rob VanAlkemade
So, this is a documentary with Morgan Spurlock involved at some point in it”s production about consumerism and Christmas. It isn”t as hard going as you”d imagine, focusing on the figure of Reverend Billy and his mission to remove the shopping from Christmas. Along with his all singing and all dancing Church of Stop Shopping Gospel Choir, Billy tries to get festive shoppers to realise the error of their ways, and apprehending shoppers in their natural
environments – the bawdy and violently commercial stores that litter American streets. The sentiment is interesting, and don”t be put off by the religious undertones, there is something interesting going on here – but it doesn”t do enough as a documentary to be worth your time at some other time of year. It”s fine, and well put together, if not a little meh. You know? This might not be the miracle you need tonight, but it might make you feel better about the bah humbug inside you…
Two Weeks To Go – Just fourteen days until Christmas. Holy Crap, you are thinking to yourself, I remember waking on January the 1st 2012, bleary eyed like a new born child (admittedly if that new born child had been raised in its mothers” womb on a diet of a beer, rum and jaegerbombs). And now the proximity of Christmas is devastatingly
Having watched this film more times than perhaps any other in the history of cinema, seeing Home Alone again for the first time in 15 years or so was a humbling experience. So many questions were answered that I did even think to question. I knew every movement, line and expression as if it were my own skin – but only by tone and visuals alone. I knew next to nothing of whatever the hell was going on – the plot having barely registered in my tiny pre-school skull. Sure it made perfect sense now – why, for example, they had seemed to live in a massive house, yet still have to share some sort of bizarre commune with their extended family. A commune that spent hundreds of dollars on delivered pizza and holiday trips across the Atlantic to Paris in first class seats. What”s more, Culkin”s brattish character took on an extra dimension of annoyance that I had only heard uttered by parents disputing the film. I hardly imagine there is a soul reading this who hasn”t enjoyed at least this original edition of the Home Alone series – a series which it is apparent will be returning to our screens in the not too distant future – but take a moment to relive the moment, and revel in the new experience this film, and remember and appreciate in advance what family at Christmas time could mean, if you embrace the lonely child in all of us.
If you don”t want the sentimentality of Home Alone – or perhaps this is something you have to wait “til you are home to watch, a holy film that cannot simply be seen on a whim – then we of course have our alternative film to see you through the day…
I don”t think there is an alternative film in this series that stands in such stark contrast. This is no-one”s classic christmas film, and has little sentimental value to anyone. Ben Affleck”s christmas comedy sees him play a rich executive whose heartless lifestyle has seen him alienated from all that you hold dear in life – family and friends. Trying to fill this void, Afflect returns to his family home, only to find a different world to that which he remembered – and money lets Affleck hire the family that live there to fulfill his christmas desires. It doesn”t sit well as a film, and is more heavily flawed than even my mistake interpretation of Home Alone could ever be, but you know what – you might find something to treasure in this after all.
This drama sees an executive lose his perfect life and have to find work in a fast food restaurant. If you can find it, you might be able to revel in something a little different, with a similar message of what christmas is really about – people. Check out this trailer of the independent film, and find something special.
Over the next two weeks the Nanu contributors will be releasing a series of five track playlists of Christmas music. After they have all been released there will be a chance to vote on your favourite as well as the Nanu Nanu Ultimate Christmas Playlist, released just in time for your journey home.
Track 1: Sufjan Stevens – That Was the Worst Christmas Ever
Track 2: The Weepies – All that I Want
Track 3: Slow Club – Christmas TV
Track 4: Frightened Rabbit – It’s Christmas So We’ll Stop
Monday has returned and it isn’t even the last week before Christmas. This week is perhaps the grimmest of all the weeks – knowing full well that the glorious Yule time is mere days away, yet still not the reward for the next five days of penance is a real killer. To get you through this Monday – fucking Monday of a week that isn’t even the one that gets you there – you are going to want something to make you laugh, but which isn’t the real deal, yet. Give this a shot tonight for those Christmassless December Blues…
your opinions of him following various spats and rumours circling his involvement with Community – a show in which he returned to his brilliance, albeit briefly – there are few funnier films than this which feature Chase. Sure, he’s known for much significant works – and there are even Christmas themed Chase films that are more worth your time than this – but this will entertain you, I guarantee. It’s about a guy who gives up his job to go and become a writer in the hills. It’s silly. It’s slapstick. It kinda has some Christmas in it, but nothing to make you long for the real deal.
This is the unnecessary but inevitable sequel to the original and often well loved original “The Santa Clause” which stars Tim Allen as a guy who struggles with the fantasy and joy of Christmas. Some of you might be saying to yourself – “well if after the first one *spoiler* he’s kind of okay with being the whole Santa thing *spoiler end* then how can they make an entire film
that follows on from that?” You know what, fuck you. Who the fuck cares? How are you even buying the premise of the first you bizarre bastard? This isn’t Godfather 2 by any stretch of the imagination, and as a sequel it fits in perfectly with the soppy sentiment and humour. Just sit the hell down and relax, there’s a pale imitation of a Christmas film to get you through this dire day. Christmas isn’t about perfection – it’s about being thankful for what you’ve got. At least for people outside of America – those inside have a day to do that about a month in advance so I guess Christmas is then about Jesus or something? NOW GO AWAY.
Over the next two weeks the Nanu contributors will be releasing a series of five track playlists of Christmas music. After they have all been released there will be a chance to vote on your favourite as well as the Nanu Nanu Ultimate Christmas Playlist, released just in time for your journey home.
Every Christmas I long to perform a karaoke duet of this song. I have also been known to listen to it outside of the acceptable Christmas period. A belter to kick off with and much better than the John Travolta/Olivia Newton-John version…
Track 2: Chuck Berry – Run Rudloph Run
This one is featured in not one, but two Christmas films! That bit in Home Alone when they”re running for the plane and in
Jingle All the Way when Arnie is racing to buy a Turbo-Man. Iconic film moments about running, I think you”ll agree.
Track 3: James Brown – Let”s Make Christmas Mean Something
Taken from his album ‘Funky Christmas’ and adding some funk and soul to my playlist, James Brown screeches Christmas joy in his inimitable way.
Track 4: Elvis Presley – Blue Christmas
This song choice of Christmas heartbreak is inspired by The Saving and Loan’s cover of the song, performed at Song by Toad’s Christmas Party. If I could, I would have that version. But Elvis does those dulcet swoon-inducing tones pretty well too.
Track 5: Peter Auty – Walking in the Air
Actually not Aled Jones, he just took all the credit. This is probably my favourite Christmas story. I have it narrated by Bernard Cribbins on vinyl. I melt like a snowman every time I hear it.
Following on from Friday”s theme, tonight happens to be the X-Factor final. Now for many I can understand that the X-factor is thoroughly entertaining television programme – and that opinion is absolutely fine, to a certain extent. However, what Cowell”s series has done for the British institution of the Christmas No. 1 borders on
hateful (View the source of this page if you want to see what I really think about it – it”s a bit grim).
Cowell has ripped music, soul from it”s pure heart, cut off the head and instead fucked its bleeding stump with a commercial efficiency and monotonous anger that would make Genghis
Kahn blush. There is more imagination and joy to be found in a rectal examination from your granny then there is any successful offshoot from that vulgour, and contemptible show.
If Simon Cowell could have his way with narrative storytelling, then art as we know it would be for the chop – and the death of all culture would be a noble end. As such, tonight I though we should celebrate Christmas in all it”s commercial vulgarity, and exploit that to watch something playful and fun – and an adequate kid”s film to boot if you think you”re child is up to it.
Joe Dante, 105 mins They say a dog isn”t just for Christmas, but for life. Giving anything live, you have to treat your pet with care and attention. In the world of Gremlins, the new pet has three simple rules to abide by if you wan”t to look pokies online after them: don”t give them water, don”t feed them after midnight, and keep them away from bright light. I”d quite enjoy a version of this film where these rules weren”t broken in any way, as Gremlins would make a killer pet. As it is though, the world of cute animals turns to horror in this delightful faux-horror from the 80s. One thing you have to admire about the 1980s, is their use of special effects. Despite age not looking fondly on the technique, the care and attention that working on these effects with a reality – as
– gives them a bodily presence that just works. Made today, this would be a waste of your time, but with what”s used this film is a delightful relic of when movies were something truly special. But if you aren”t up for a horror film, maybe take a look at our alternative film…
Satoshi Kon & Shôgo Furuya, 92 mins It may not feature horror, but Tokyo Godfather is a gem of a film that could not be further from the dire glitz and zombie-esque glamour that is the re-animated corpse of popular music intrinsic with the X-Factor. Set in Tokyo, as much in the animated tradition of the east as it is in its capital, Tokyo Godfathers follows a homeless community in their festive struggles. This has heart in buckets where X-Factor is even running low on coal, and is unfortunately lost from most people”s radar; if you get a chance, please watch this and share it as it is a film which deserves to be seen. And if you”ve yet to experience anime, prepare to sink some hours in watching some quality films…
Saturday night coming up to Christmas, you want something everyone can watch on a couch, maybe with a loved one, or maybe stroking your favourite pet dog, and just laugh like it’s nearly bloody Christmas (it really truly honestly is nearly bloody Christmas folks). Why not give these two light hearted holiday films a go – both are very mainstream and easily accessible for a Saturday night that doesn’t need a single thought.
Bob Clark, 94 mins To many, “A Christmas Story” is a classic that has to be seen but until now it had resolutely been off my radar. This is a comedy by former Porky’s director Bob Clark, and plays around the story of a child living in America in the 1940s. All he wants for Christmas is a red bb gun. Hilarity ensues, and rediscover the true meaning of Christmas… an American Christmas. The film is probably more suited to children than it is adults, but it tries to present comedy on two levels – on one, the very physical and visible level for children, and the other the knowing voice of Christmas seen with experience in hindsight – with the protagonist’s voice-over revealing like an aside, the truth and conspiracy of what is going on.
Terry Zwigoff, 91 mins Yes, it really has been that long since this bizarre piece of holiday nastiness was released, and maybe time to reconsider how you felt about it. Billy Bob Thornton plays a conman out to swindle various shops and establishment’s using a Christmas themed scheme that works like a charm, until his ability and determination fade with the onset of alcoholism and exhaustion. His life slowly declines into a ceasepool of his own foils, until he accidentally falls into the company of an eight year old child – fat and bullied without a father figure in his life. As with every film about Christmas, the characters learn “the true meaning” of Christmas, disguised in a comedy film that deserves more affection than has been given it previously – but don’t expect these revelations to be as finely tuned as one might expect. There is 2/3 of a good film in there, tangled between a christmas plot, a frustratingly juxtaposition
of rudeness and sweet sentiment, and vulgour attempts to be crude that aren’t nearly as funny as you’d imagine, which with a good edit or a rewrite could have been saved. As it is, the late Bernie Mac’s character in the film adequately expresses the frustrations inherent in the film – he is utterly irrelevant to the plot, and confusingly inconsistent, but still hilarious in small doses.
Over the next two weeks the Nanu contributors will be releasing a series of five track playlists of Christmas music. After they have all been released there will be a chance to vote on your favourite as well as the Nanu Nanu Ultimate Christmas Playlist, released just in time for your journey home.
Track 1: Jona Lewie – Stop the Cavalry
Track 2: Eartha Kitt – Santa Baby
Track 3: Sleigh Ride – The Ronettes
Track 4: Irving Berlin & Bing Crosby – White Christmas
Track 5: Wizzard – I Wish It Could Be Christmas Everyday
Is money a little tight this Christmas? Are you running out of time to buy sackloads of presents? Do you simply have too many friends? Then a Secret Santa could just be the thing for you! I have organised and taken part in many “secret” festive gift-giving activities over the years, and have come up with this handy, step-by-step guide to carrying out a Secret Santa to rival the actual Lapland-based operation.
YOU WILL NEED:4 – 40 people Any less, there’s no element of surprise; any more, it becomes a little unruly. Pieces of paper with all your Santa-ees names on them If you can write them all on sticky labels (that still have the backing attached, of course), all the better. They can then double as the present label and there’s no risk of handwriting giving someone away. A hat, box, bag, bowl etc from which to draw the names There are two ways to do this:
Make everyone pick names at once. Getting people to gather all in the one place at the same time can be logistically tricky. However, it means that everyone is ready to go and saves you the job of chasing people up (never fun).
Leave the hat/box/bag/bowl/etc somewhere where everyone has access to it with a big sign explaining the Secret Santa procedure. This is generally more convenient for everyone but the organiser, who will inevitably have to send a few “so… the secret santa…” texts. Also cannot guarantee that people won’t look at the name labels left in the hat/box/bag/bowl/etc. Risky.
I personally recommend Option 1 for groups of 10 or fewer people, and Option 2 for larger parties.
A budget£5 – Big Groups You might get your best pal, or you might get Tony from HR who you think you maybe once cc’d into an email. In these situations, I stick by a Jay-Z inspired motto of LOW MONEY, LOW PROBLEMS. Expectations in a £5 Secret Santa are rock bottom: joke gifts are the norm and a real present is an unexpected delight. Anything better than a Boots bath bomb will suffice. Top Tip: Never, EVER buy anyone a bath bomb. £10 – Extended Friend Groups Breathe a sigh of relief here – you no longer have to buy all your pals presents! For the most part you should know what everyone is in to (unless someone’s relatively new boyfriend/girlfriend is unexpectedly included out of politeness. Those rules are simple: don’t buy them a bath bomb. In all seriousness, unless they are teetotal, the best option there is probably a nice bottle of wine). The budget isn’t high enough for anything outstanding/from Urban Outfitters, so it’s time to get creative and create tangential links between hobbies and your chosen presents. Top Tip: For the most part, a few smaller things looks more impressive than one big thing: add a nail varnish or a couple of pin badges to the main part of the present and it instantly seems more fulfilling. £20+ – Close Friends/Flatmates/Family/Cult Members Bringing out the big guns with a £20+ budget suggests you really mean business. I recommend a 2-good-present-to-1-small-comedy-present ratio within your budgetary framework. This is not the
time to be generic, either – if you’re willing to spend that much on someone, you must know and like them at least a little bit. Therefore, in-jokes should take pride of place within your wrapping, and functional presents should be banned. Top Tip: Learn a (rare) lesson from Love Actually’s Mia and treat your recipient to something they want, not something they need. An end in sight Pick a date on which to exchange your gifts, ideally no earlier than the 20th December to allow maximum purchasing time. It’s a nice excuse to have a big Christmas dinner or movie night. With any luck, everyone will be delighted with their gift(s), and you’ll have saved a pretty penny.
