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clarktooncrossing · 6 months

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Giraffe's Eye View: Christmas Specials Special (2023) | Barbie in Nutcracker

Chestnuts are roasting on an open fire. Jack Frost is nipping at your nose. Mom and dad can hardly wait for school to start again. All the dogs in the neighborhood somehow learned to bark Jingle Bells in sync. Yet retail workers are still more annoyed with Mariah Carey. Snow is getting shoveled, tossed, and formed into sentient beings leading parades without permits. It makes for an excellent distraction as the Krampus abducts children for bad behavior. Fruitcake is exchanged only to find its permanent home in the garbage. Terrorists have hijacked the Holiday office party right before your boss can give you a Jelly of the Month Club membership as your bonus. And of course, the Turducken has returned to wreak its fiery vengeance upon an unsuspecting world! If all this doesn’t put you in the Christmas spirit, perhaps these following Holiday specials will!

Greetings people of today and robots of tomorrow! It is I, Santa Clark, your geeky giraffe friend with a deep love of Christmas! My obsession for the yuletide is rivaled only by Maleficent’s hatred for it, which is saying a lot considering she once teamed up with Mad Madam Mim to kidnap the literal Spirit of Christmas. Yes, that really happened. I know this due to my annual pilgrimage to the Island of Misfit Specials, home to obscure or nerdy festive media ranging from movies, TV episodes, and comics. It’s no easy journey. Constantly I find myself confronted by sinister snowmen, genocidal gingerbread men, and worst of all, crappy commercials. Getting stabbed in the foot by a candy-cane wielding cookie is one thing, but I swear I’ve seen that ad for Wilbur’s White Elephant Gift Emporium more times than I’ve seen Miracle on 34th Street! Sometimes at night I catch myself reciting that jingle. Wilbur’s White Elephant Gift Emporium: Where Christmas meets Convenience! Huh, maybe Maleficent had a point.

Nah, my deep-rooted appreciation for this time of year can weather even the most moronic marketing! It helps that most of the merry media I’ve seen have put me in the perfect Holiday mood! Examples include the time a Ninja Turtle found himself trapped in a truck full of stollen toys, a drunk department store Santa stumbling onto a wish-granting magic bag, Big Bird nearly becoming a popsicle, Gwenpool waking up in a world where Galactus took the place of jolly ol’ Saint Nicholas, a terrifying tree stump trying to slaughter some saps over a stupid ship war, and the year when Death gave the Little Match Girl the greatest gift of all. Needless to say, I thought I had seen it all. That is, until I took my friends on a trip to the Island, tasking them to find me new, strange, seasonal specials to review! Some of them were fair, finding me festive favorites as comforting as coco in front of the fireplace. Others were fiendish, wanting to feed off my misery like Gremlins after midnight. Regardless of how naughty or nice my companions were, I’ve compiled all of their suggestions into a makeshift advent calendar! So stay tuned everyday until Christmas to see how badly my buddies can shred what little sanity I have left.

On the first day of Christmas, my buddies gave to me...

Hoo boy, what a way to start. Now you’d think my friend Molly (molly420) would’ve made her choice due to the magnificent Margot Robbie vehicle that came out earlier this year. Honestly, Harley Quinn’s humorous turn as the iconic blonde bimbo had nothing to do with this. I’ve been trying to get this special written for a while now and Molly missed her chance to partake the first time around. Knowing I’d offer myself up to being tormented again, she set an alarm on her phone to remind herself to suggest Barbie in Nutcracker when the opportunity presented itself the following year. That kind of disturbing dedication I can oddly respect. Still doesn’t stop me from feeling annoyed. Jolly as I may be, Nutcracker turns me into a Scrooge! My love of Christmas only goes so far when I’m bored out of my mind in an auditorium, watching confused toddlers prance around on stage, the titular toy soldier clashing against a dude in a bargain bin rat costume. How can a show be so tedious yet so trippy? No wonder I made a comic comparing my going to see it to the five stages of grief. My love of Barbie isn’t much higher, her only being interesting whenever she’s in a Pixar picture. Say what you will, but Barbie and Ken’s relationship in Toy Story 3 gave us Ariel and Batman flirting. Any argument you have is invalid. Still, perhaps I’m being too harsh. I’ve praised an adaptation featuring Mickey and Minnie before, so there is precedent for decent retellings of this tale. Will Barbie manage to pull off something similar?

Certainly not in the art department she won’t! Admittedly this is a direct-to-video movie from 2001, a time when computer animation was still finding its footing. Not to mention, this movie was one of the first to use motion capture, employing the world famous New York City Ballet to provide the dancing seen on screen. In a time when Gollum wasn’t even a fully realized character yet, that’s actually impressive! Really, I have to tip my hat there. Everything else looks like a sugar plum fever dream. This is one of those movies you never want to pause ever! The lighting is lackluster, the textures are terrible, and any movement outside of the dancing is stiffer than a board. This animation has aged like eggnog! Still, it’s not the worst cartoon content I’m critiquing this Christmas. At least it succeeds in making Barbie look as plastic as ever.

Speaking of our pink protagonist, our story starts with Barbie (Kelly Sheridan) in the middle of instructing her ballet class. A class that consists of one brat failing to master a basic move. Business is booming! Seeing her sole source of income struggling, our blonde ballet instructor halts class in order to tell a self-insert fanfiction where she takes on the role of Clara. She is visited by her adventurous Aunt Drosselmayer (Kathleen Barr) on Christmas Eve, bringing with her a horribly rendered Nutcracker. Her niece is smitten by the doll cuz some peeps have kooky kinks. She even goes so far as to bandage up its arm when her brother breaks it. Great, now he can’t come with Clara to Cowboy Camp! Despite the busted limb, the wooden warrior is able to ward off an army of malicious mice that invade the house later that night. Leading these vile vermin is their king, voiced by the GOAT, Tim Curry. Oh Tim, you’re the gift that keeps on giving! He is the savory pinch of salt that can turn any drab slab of beef into a five-star steak. He is the shiny red ribbon tied up on that piece of coal you found in your stocking. He is the guy who has it out bad for Christmas if this and Belle’s Enchanted Christmas are any indication. As per usual he adds sinister charisma to an otherwise forgettable fiend.

A shame he’s not in the movie for long. Upon waking up, Barbie takes a page out of Clark Griswold’s guide to exterminating pests by covering the critter in a coat before bashing its brains out with a hammer. Or at least that’s what should’ve happened. Rather she stands still long enough for the Mouse King to use his magical scepter to shrink her down like Ant-Man. Only after does she repel the rodent via meekly kicking her slipper at him. Brilliant strategy Barbie, G.I. Joe’s got nothin’ on you! Especially since now you’re the same size. Left wondering how to return to normal, the suddenly sentient owl perched atop her grandfather clock swoops in to exposit. Oh sure, she could’ve prevented this from happening by simply eating the mice, but that’d be too logical. Jee, thanks ya' feathery fool. Instead she tasks the two with finding the Sugar Plum Princess, a magical maiden from the Kingdom of Parthenia who went missing years ago. Only she can help Barbie regain her tall status as well as dethrone the mousey monarch.

Thus off they’re sent to this magical realm, encountering freakish fairies, rampaging rock giants, multicolored mares, and the always bickering Captain Candy (Ian James Corlett) and Major Mint (Christopher Gaze). Whenever these two aren’t repressing their obvious sexual tension they’re blaming the missing Prince Eric for their troubles. He's the reason for their many woes! A sentiment shared by the few survivors still living here. Dang, you folks have a nasty habit of misplacing your monarchs. Maybe you ott’a start tagging them.

Whatever happened to Prince Eric? According to Mint his friend was next in line to rule before finding himself smitten by a red-headed fish girl who saved him from a sinking ship. Shirking off more of his responsibilities led to the Mouse King eventually seizing power, the tiny tyrant transforming the prince into the very same Nutcracker (Kirby Morrow) escorting Barbie in the present. A plot twist so obvious even our heroine saw it coming a mile away. Props to this picture for subverting expectations but that just makes Barbie’s inability to figure out the bigger reveal all the more moronic. Cuz yeah, no freak’n duh she's the Sugar Plum Princess! No doubt all of you figured that out as soon as the name was dropped. By the end Barbie finally figures it out herself, using her powers to grow back to full size, squish the Mouse King under her hot-pink heel, then dance an annoyingly long amount of time with her now human boi toy. Hey, might as well get your money’s worth out of those New York Ballerinas.

My snark should’ve made it clear by now how this adaptation isn’t for me. That’s not to say there aren’t things I liked. For starters, I appreciated the writers’ attempt to turn what’s normally a string of random sequences into a coherent narrative. Granted, they never explain how Aunty Drosslemeyer came into possession of the Nutcracker, why the Sugar Plum Princess went missing in the first place, or how Barbie suddenly learns how to use her magic, but still the effort is there. Overall the script wasn’t as brain dead as I feared it’d be. Then again, perhaps it didn’t seem as stupid due to the talented voice cast reading it. Aside from Curry, the ensemble is stuffed with My Little Pony alumni, Starlight Glimmer delivering a decent performance for our main star. Clearly she struck a chord with audiences considering how many times she’d reprise this role afterwards. Out of all the cast though, Kirby Morrow as the Prince was the weakest link, his voice never matching the character design. Not to mention, they had the audacity to cast Curry and never give him ONE stink’n song number? Screw this movie not being a musical, you don't cast a Sweet Transvestite without letting them sing! It’s a crime punishable by death! Atop of that, the pacing is peculiar in places, the plot twists are obnoxiously obvious, and the animation is just adequate. By no means is this a masterpiece.

It is, however, a great excuse to spend time with my cousin. Being a fan of Barbie for as long as she’s been alive meant she was the perfect person to call to borrow a copy from. We got together and had a laugh at the movie’s expense, my cousin unable to ignore the apparent flaws either. Fun times were had, and what more could I possibly ask for? At least now I don’t have to review any more versions of Nutcracker… right?

INDEX | NEXT REVIEW >

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esonetwork · 5 months

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The Church on Ruby Road Review | Earth Station Who

New Post has been published on https://esonetwork.com/the-church-on-ruby-road-review-earth-station-who/

The Church on Ruby Road Review | Earth Station Who

The Fifteenth Doctor meets Ruby Sunday and they share a high-flying adventure against some low-down nasties. Mike, Mike, Mary, Shannon Clute, and Dave Chapman unwrap the first Christmas special in six years.

We want to hear from you! Please write to us at [email protected]. Also, please subscribe and rate the show on iTunes, Google Plus, or wherever fine podcasts are found. Feedback is always welcome and much appreciated.

Links Listen to older episodes of the Earth Station Who Podcast ESW on iTunes ESW on Stitcher Earth Station Who on Spotify Make-A-Wish Foundation The ESO Network TeePublic Store The ESO Network Patreon

Promotion Earth Station DCU

If you would like to leave feedback or comment feel free to email us at [email protected]

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rapha-reads · 5 months

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The Church on Ruby Road [spoilers]

First of all: Fifteen is AMAZIIIIIING. I swear I'm going to try and be normal about him, but his energy! His joy! His connection to his feelings, the emotional depth! That moment when he says "I've adopted, I've just discovered that recently", and then his tears when he realises what happened to Ruby, and then how soft and gentle he was with baby Ruby.

I keep remembering Bill's words about Twelve: "With some people you can smell the wind in their clothes." - and that's exactly it with Fifteen. You can feel not only the age, the experience, the heartbreak and trials the Doctor has gone through, but also, and maybe more importantly, the healing, the love, the joy, the endless curiosity about the universe, the limitless desire to always learn and discover new things. Fifteen is the sum of all the previous Doctors, and he's carrying that weight, but he's also something new, something exciting. The trauma is still there, but he's not letting it weigh him down anymore. Even when he has a moment of doubt, when he says "Maybe I'M the bad luck", a previous regeneration would have left - he stayed and let Ruby make her choice. There's growth there.

We definitely are in a new era of Doctor Who. New New Who? New Who 2.0? Modern Who? Do we have a name yet or is still being debated?

Anyway, secondly. Ruby! Aw, she sounds so cool and kind! The mystery around her birth mother is thrilling without taking the precedent over anything else. Either her birth parents aren't that important, though it's Doctor Who - there's always something else, and I wouldn't be surprised if she's a Time Lord kid, or even the Doctor's child themself - or maybe Jenny's child, the Doctor's granddaughter? I'm just wildly theorizing at this point, never mind all of that.

What's interesting is her relationship with her adoptive mother. That scene where Ruby disappears and her mother forgets about her, and the colours themselves literally bleed out, and the joyful, kind, generous woman we've come to know suddenly turns bitter and sad and cold... Man, that scene messed me up. Makes you think about coincidences, about how and when you meet people and you can never know how important they are in your life, because sometimes the influence they have on you are so subtle, so diffuse, it's impossible to see it. Not the first time this happens in Doctor Who, though, time travel does have that impact. Butterflies and all that. But the impact is always the same heart-wrenching feeling.

Third, the language of rope! By which I mean, I was talking with my brother (huge Whovian like me), and he was telling me that he's a bit worried about RTD's decision to go towards fantasy stories. Well, magic is just another language, after all, isn't it? It's just science that we haven't been able to decipher yet. So, fantasy and science-fiction? They go hand in hand, actually. If the TARDIS is a wooden box that's bigger on the inside and can travel through time and space, then sure, why not, goblins exist, they eat baby, they can also move around time, and their science is the science of ropes and wood. Totally plausible in this world. Wouldn't be weirder than that time Ten met Satan in a pit, or Eleven had an ongoing feud with evil snowmen, or Twelve rode on Santa's sleigh, or Thirteen talked to a frog from another universe. That's cool. Love it.

Right. Well. I'm excited for this new series. It's shiny and fresh, it's something else! Moving forward without forgetting the past. And apparently we're going to meet the Beatles? I love historic episodes! And go to some new planets, meet some new aliens, deal once again with holes in the fabric of the universe (not new, but maybe done in a new way?)... This is going to be great. Next episode in Spring, though? At least it's not another full year of wait.

#doctor who #doctor who spoilers #dw spoilers #doctor who christmas special #the church on ruby road #fifteenth doctor #ruby sunday #russell t davies #rapha talks #rapha is being a whovian #dw episode review #dw review #dw theories #whovian rambles

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linesonscreens · 5 months

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Let's Read Peanuts (Yes, all of it) – March 1953

There are lots of great strips I just don't have room to comment on. I strongly encourage everybody to read the full month at the official GoComics page. Today's month starts HERE.

Mar 1, 1953

Torn between being irrationally angry at this boomer-ass “kids these days” take and loving that room's aesthetic.

Also I'm pretty sure that this is the song in question for those who are curious.

Mar 3, 1953

I haven't been showing them because the joke is bad and I hate it but there's a whole bunch of strips about Lucy's bread and butter sandwiches and her insistence that they be folded over and not cut. I'm guessing it's a thing Schulz's daughter was doing at the time.

Mar 7, 1953

A mildly antagonistic relationship is forming.

Mar 8, 1953

Living with Lucy must be a special kind of personal hell.

Mar 13, 1953

Careful, that girl will crush your abnormally large head like a grape. I've seen her do it.

Mar 15, 1953

Nice to see Schulz finally figured out how to draw thought bubbles.

Mar 26, 1953

Solid punchline, but the best part is actually the casual dig Schroeder drops in the second panel.

Thoughts:

Watched A Charlie Brown Christmas for the first time in decades over the holiday and it's... fine? I think it's something I respect more than enjoy. There are specific moments that I like and certain artistic decisions that I think work phenomenally (the jazz soundtrack, for example). I even like the message despite not being in any way religious.

But man, it's kind of a mess. I was constantly distracted by awkward cuts, animation errors, weird line readings, and all kinds of other issues. Plus the whole “we need to get this Christmas play ready” plotine just kind of gets dropped at the end and that really bugged the hell out of me. I don't think that this is the animation team's fault, apparently they only had 6 months to write and animate the entire thing, but the lack of polish really shows and I wish they had just a bit more time to tighten things up. Then again, that same jankyness gives the special a certain human touch and charm which I suspect is a large part of why a lot of people still like it even today. So who knows if changing things would make it more enjoyable.

Overall I think this special still ~mostly~ holds up, even if it's not my favorite piece of animated Peanuts media. It's over before you have time to get mad at the parts that don't work and at the end of the day when the kids decorate the tree and start singing I felt the feelings it wanted me to feel. And really, that's all it needed to do.

Soooo... I guess keep this one in mind for when you're looking for something to get you in the Christmas mood in like... 11 months? (Yeah, I really should have watched this thing earlier so I could post this before New Years. Oh well.)

#peanuts #charlie brown #comics #charles schulz #comic strips #peanuts comics #lets read #patty #snoopy #shermy #Violet #Schroeder #Linus #Lucy #A Charlie Brown Christmas #I should really do a full review of the major specials and movies at some point so I can go into more detail.

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an-american-whovian · 5 months

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• An American Whovian Reviews:

'The Church on Ruby Road's by Russell T Davies.

It's kinda, like, 'Doctor Who' meets ' Gremlins' — with pinches of 'Labyrinth' and 'Time Bandits'.

Most of all: it was a lotta fun — and the chemistry between Ncuti and Millie oozes through the screen.

Psyched to see where they go from here!

⭐⭐⭐ out of five.

#doctor who #an american whovian #whovian #dw #nuwho #a.r.lopez #the fifteenth doctor #the church on ruby road #christmas special #ncuti gatwa #millie gibson #russell t davies #ruby sunday #rtd2 #an american whovian reviews

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cheesecakemermaid1048 · 6 months

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Just watched the bad guy christmas speical.It was pretty good,not amazing by any means.But it made for fun watch.If you want more of bad guys,I suggest checking it out but keep your expectations reasonably low and you will have good time.

#cheese talks #bad guys #the bad guys #mr wolf #mr snake #mr piranha #ms tarantula #mr shark #the bad guy christmas special #cheese reviews

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thehappyspaceman · 4 months

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I Watched Every Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer Special - TheHappySpaceman Reviews

youtube

For a late Christmas special, TheHappySpaceman sits down and reviews every single Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer film and TV special. Yes, even that one.

Feel free to support me on Patreon!

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fiddletwix · 6 months

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AVAHS - The Venture Bros. A Very Venture Christmas Review

AVAHS – The Venture Bros. A Very Venture Christmas Review Plot: It’s Christmastime at the Venture house, and obviously insanity ensues. Breakdown: I’ve only watched a few episodes of The Venture Bros. but I have enjoyed what I’ve seen so far and look forward too watching the entire series. The Christmas special is kinda short and lacking, but it is a bunch of crazy Christmas fun. It’s kinda…

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#adult swim #animation #avahs #Brock is a national treasure #cartoon #cartoon network #Christmas #holiday special #review #the venture bros.

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gryffindorconsultingtimelord · 7 months

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We’re hard at work on this year’s Christmas special! Until then, listen to Elf from last year to tide you over! 🎄

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orangezeppelin · 5 months

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Fuck yeah, I saved the best for last! Today we take a look at Lobo's Paramilitary Christmas.

I also recommend checking out the live-action adaptation of this comic that is a timeless holiday classic on par with Charlie Brown's Christmas.

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#comics #comic review #lobo #christmas #christmas special #Youtube

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clarktooncrossing · 6 months

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Giraffe's Eye View: Christmas Specials Special (2023) | Equestria Girls Holiday Special

On the third day of Christmas, my buddies gave to me...

You’d think with Friendship is Magic concluding its run I’d be out of My Little Pony material to cover, yet that’s about as likely as the Rainbooms ever graduating from Canterlot High. Debuting with a movie in 2013, Equestria Girls is a surprisingly solid spin-off set in an alternate universe where Twilight Sparkle and her friends are human teenagers still facing off against magical menaces. Most students have to worry about getting homework done before Winter break. Our colorful companions may have to contend with one of their peers transforming into a demon. That’s how most of their adventures go, Hasbro green-lighting a tsunami of sequels when the first one turned out to be a cash cow. Don’t know what to get your fellow brony for Hearth’s Warming? Try the all-new Cheerleader Rarity body pillow from Hot Topic! Despite their marketable appeal, the Student Seven were never given an ongoing comic series like their mane counterparts. The most we got were a few one-offs, including 2014’s Equestria Girls Holiday Special, which we’re looking at thanks to my pegasister from across the pond, Fox (@foxhatart). With the lineup of former festive fiascos from Friendship is Magic ranging from heartfelt to horrible, how does this one compare?

Picking up after the events of Rainbow Rocks, Applejack and I are both heartbroken to discover that Sunset Shimmer has spent the last few holiday seasons alone with no plans to fix it this year. She could just pop on over to Ponyville now that the magical portal outside the school’s been reactivated, but I guess she doesn’t want to risk running into Princess Celestia. Silly Sunset, the Holidays are all about awkward family interactions! Luckily it’s also about people coming together to spread cheer, Sunset’s friends setting up sleepovers at each of their houses leading up to whatever fictional Holiday this is. Yeah, they never specifically call it Hearth’s Warming, it’s just some nondescript winter festival. Look, either give your Holiday a spam name or be prepared to reveal what primary pigment Jesus was! Regardless of what they call it, a fun time is had the first night at Pinkie’s place as crazy costumes are tried on, violent video games are played, Love Actually is watched for the ten-thousandth time, and embarrassing stories are swapped.

Sunset is successfully brought good tidings of comfort and joy, only for her team to turn on her when those same stories are leaked online. All of them accuse the former bully of only pretending to be their pal in order to learn their secrets, turning their backs on the redhead tearfully pleaing her innocence. Mind you that this is all after Sunset helped these twits defeat a trio of sinister sirens intent on enslaving everyone. Yes, her doing all that was part of an elaborate ploy to post humiliating pics of you on Instagram. Glad to see the last two movies have taught these morons absolutely nothing! Soon the rest of the school is singing the same song of social shaming as more stories are leaked. Fa la la la la la, la la la la la!

Just when I think things can’t get any worse, Sunset seeks out her former friends to beg them to believe her, only for the Cutie Mark Crusaders to come forward and confess. Turns out they were jealous of their respective relatives not including them in their plans, so this was their way of getting even. Worse still, it was Apple Bloom that suggested to her sister that it was Sunset doing all of this. At one point the trio even purposefully changed the account’s profile pic to look more like Sunset! So turning our leads into unlikable idiots wasn’t terrible enough, they had to do so to three of my favorite characters too? Fantastic, terrific, wonderful. Why stop there? Let’s reveal that Derpy’s eyes are fine, she’s just been faking it in order to use handicap parking spaces. I can’t tell what’s dumber: the Crusaders doing all of this out of petty jealousy, how easily they’re forgiven, Sunset continuing to help these horrible people afterwards, or that writer Ted Anderson thought this would make for a passable plot! He was sorely mistaken if the comments on his deviantART page are any indication. Jee, I wonder why he deactivated his account. With all due respect to Ted, your wonky writing was poorly paired with Tony Fleec’s admittedly awesome artwork. Out of all the Gen 4 Holiday stuff I’ve looked over, this is hands down the worst of the bunch! Stupid stories like this justified Snowfall Frost’s hatred for the holidays. For the love of Luna, isn’t there ONE good seasonal story starring these students?

Actually, there’s six.

Equestria Girls ended its run in 2019 with Holidays Unwrapped, a series of shorts starring the Student Seven partaking in Holiday hijinks. Such shenanigans include setting up a fake snow day to postpone a test, an elaborate prank that’ll help the Apple Family foil the Flim Flam Brothers, plotting to pull a reverse Grinch for some needy kids, a friend’s last minute effort to get their Secret Santa a present with the aid of the recipient’s bothersome brother, winter warfare in the style of Spielberg's Saving Private Ryan, and the girls dressing up in cornucopia chique in order to please one of their own. Each short is equal parts hilarious and heartwarming, concluding with the cast pulling a Pinkie Pie by wishing the audience Happy Holidays. Personally I believe this was the voice actors giving one last goodbye to the characters they made famous as much as it is to the fans that made this franchise so popular. Outside of a few cameos in A New Generation, the Generation 4 cast has yet to reunite in any meaningful capacity. This might not be some epic finale tying up dangling plot threads or pitting Sunset against her dimensional doppelganger, but personal touches like that is why I believe Holidays Unwrapped to be a worthy send off to this spin off. Plus the aforementioned snowball fight makes the one from Elf look pedestrian in comparison. It was better than that cynical comic if nothing else.

Complaining aside, Fox at least recommended a comic. Even better, it’s not as depressing as the last comic I checked out where the denizens of the DC Universe tried having a merry yuletide during an apocalypse. All Harley’s mom wanted for Christmas was to not have cancer. Just like all I want is a cheerier Christmas caper starring one of DC’s costumed crusaders.

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raulsparza · 7 months

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I love the recurring theme of random people knowing the doctor for like half a day and immediately clocking him as the loneliest person in the universe and inviting him to dinner

#ive boiled every christmas special down to its bare essentials #doctor who #this sentence made my fiance blow air out of his nose Hard so its passed peer review

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twenty-words-or-less · 1 year

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The Holiday

Summary: English Iris Simpkins (Kate Winslet) and American Amanda Woods (Cameron Diaz) arrange a home exchange to take a break from their romantic woes, if only for a few weeks. Or that's what they think will happen...

Pared-back performance from Jack Black, beautiful scenery, and some funny moments with a surprise cameo make up this Christmas feature with Jude Law being the only weak link in the cast. Not It’s A Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol, but a solid entry in the Christmas movie pantheon nonetheless.

Rating: 2.75/5

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Thanks to Caroline O. for requesting this. If you want a longer-than-usual film review of your own, click here to find out how you can do that.

#a twol special #the holiday #2006 #nancy meyers #romantic comedy #christmas #Cameron Diaz #Kate Winslet #Jude Law #Jack Black #Eli Wallach #Edward Burns #Rufus Sewell #film reviews #film review #twenty-words-or-less #twol

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staczak91 · 2 years

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THE ‘68 COMEBACK SPECIAL Review

So, tonight I decided to take a small break from the studio films and watch The ‘68 Comeback Special for the second time. Although I liked it the first time, I loved it much more the second time around. The first time, I rented it on Amazon, and I was just waiting for the “If I Can Dream” sequence and wondering when it was going to show up. Now that I knew it was at the very end, I could enjoy the show a lot more. And I definitely did!

I just love everything about this performance and show! The sit down portion, the stand up portion, the musical interludes, the gospel number, the finale! It’s all done so well. And you can really tell how passionate Elvis Presley was about getting this just right.

“Trouble” is one of my favorite songs ever by Elvis, and I loved seeing it in the special, and that it was the opening number and played again at the close. Although I still love the original King Creole version more. But it’s still performed with passion and fun, and I’m happy it was included.

Also, I need to talk about Elvis’ singing voice in this special. It’s rough and deep, and I just love the way he sings the songs we all know and love. So rock n roll! Not as smooth as the recorded versions, but I don’t think it’s supposed to be. And I really like that spin!

The gospel number is also one of my favorites, although I’m not Christian in the slightest. Still, though, it’s so powerful and done so well, I can’t help but fall in love with it. And I love Elvis’ red outfit during it and how the colors just pop out at you while watching.

Speaking of Elvis’ outfits, all of them were sharp and on point. The leather outfit is so iconic now, but literally everything he wore in this special looks amazing on him. My personal favorite outfit is the white suit at the end during “If I Can Dream.”

The “Guitar Man” production number is also something really special, full of energy and vibrant as hell. And Elvis looks damn good the whole time! I’d never heard “Guitar Man” before this special, but now it’s definitely become one of my favorite Elvis songs.

“If I Can Dream,” though, is my favorite part of the special, even though it makes me sad when it ends. It’s just so powerful and well-done. I had watched it on Youtube a million times before I finally watched the special for the first time a few months ago, I didn’t know for the longest time it was tied to this special, but it’s the perfect show closer, and really showcases Elvis’ talent as a singer and showman.

But, oh man, the passion in this special is really something else! And I’m in love with it.

So, usually when I want to watch a musical performance, I put on MTV Unplugged in New York by Nirvana. It’s one of my favorite performances and it’s a go to when I want to watch something music related that I own. I own a few concert DVDs but this one is a favorite of mine.

I think I might have to add The ‘68 Comeback Special in the mix for favorite concerts I own now. It’s just so powerful and fun, and Elvis is so endearing in it.

Now that it’s over, I already want to watch it again.

Thanks for listening, guys, and have a great weekend!

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