It’s that time of year. A definite feel to the movies we have watched. Can you see the theme.

Scrooged

Home Alone 1, 2, 3, 5

The Grinch

A Christmas Carol

Muppets Christmas Carol

The Santa Clause 1,2,3

Elf

National Lampoons Christmas Vacation

The Polar Express.

For me I just can’t quite catch the connection. Sure there must be one if I look hard enough.

One of the things that feels amiss this most odd year (that doesn’t work as 2020 is even) is the cinema experience. Before Hawklad we would always have a Christmas trip to the pictures (as my mum would have said). A meal before hand and then a movie. Such a lovely experience. So many wonderful memories.

Taking my mum to see The Horse Whisperer on Boxing Day. She hadn’t been to the pictures in 40 years. She was most puzzled not to watch the Pathe News segment before the movie. She refused to get up at the end and waited until the credits played through. Apparently she was waiting for the National Anthem to be played…

Trips with my partner to see huge blockbusters on Christmas Eve like the Lord of the Rings Movies. Then coming out in time to sing carols in the city centre.

Even after the world changed Hawklad and I kept the tradition going. A changed Aspergers tradition. We would take in the first, early morning screenings of movies like Jumanji and the Rise of Skywalker. Popcorn at 8am works on so many levels. Then we would go and get him his favourite takeout. All before midday.

But this year it’s no cinema. Any trip is just so out of reach for Hawklad and his anxieties. The world has changed. Even the prospect of Wonder Woman and Black Widow epics won’t overcome those fears. Maybe the trips to the Pictures have stopped for good. We will just have to see what the future holds but life goes on. It’s time to recreate that Christmas tradition at home. So we will pick a movie. A good movie. Set the dvd off at 8am. Microwaved popcorn in plentiful supply. The Christmas Cinema tradition continues.

65 thoughts on “Cinema”

  2. My sons and I also enjoyed going to the cinema, followed by dinner at one of our favorite restaurants. It will be a while before I would feel safe to return to such activities. There is no shortage of good home movies to fill the void. Laugh! Be happy!

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  3. I was just listening to Howard Stern interview George Clooney (good interview BTW) and I think George made a good point. The cinemas are closed and probably will be for quite some time. But people still enjoy experiencing a film in the theater and not just streamed to TV, which a lot will be this year and we will watch for something new. I can’t imagine myself going into a theater anytime soon either. But at some point, I would like to experience the theater. We are going through the same movies as you right now. It will be nice to see something new at the theater like we did before!

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  6. We keep trying to get Ben to watch the Christmas movies, but no luck so far🙄 He loves Polar Express and Elf too. A least we finally got Hocus Pocus off repeat… now we’re watching Fantasia which is absolutely okay with me😉 Happy Christmas Eve to You and Hawklad!!
    Santa is coming to Casa Cuckoo tonight (Wednesday Night) we’re a day early because Daughter is working Christmas Night.🎄💌💌💌

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  7. I wouldn’t go to the pictures either! That’s one of the ways to catch the virus! I’m with Hawklad. 😘 But watching all those movies is great! Happy Christmas. May you and Hawklad come up with alternatives that will carry through the years even after COVID!!

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  8. I hope your new tradition brings fresh fun into your holiday. If I’m honest I really do miss going to the movie theater — it’s hard to imagine going back, but then again it’s hard to imagine never going again. Weird times.

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  10. I still enjoy going to the cinema’s, but I prefer staying at home. Too many people talking, and there is now always that ONE person who insists on being on their phone. I used to have a friend who did that. I could NOT believe it!

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  11. You reminded me of the time my sister and I spent an entire day, roughly 10am to 11pm, going to movies. No theater hopping… we paid for everything we watched! And because mega multiplexes weren’t a thing yet, we went to several different locations.

    No nat’l anthem expected we always watch(ed) till the credits end! I recall my dad laughing at the end of Robocop. He was apparently the only person in the theater who noticed the normal prosecution warned had been revised to “and criminal prosecution by enforcement droids.” (I has to google to get the wording)

    I have no traditions to keep or lose. I miss choking on my mother’s Russian Tea Cake (aka Mexican Wedding) cookies on Xmas morning but I haven’t participated in that in well over 30yrs.

    I hope you & Hawklad have a merry & happy Christmas!

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  13. Our cinema at home tradition continues as well. We had Home Alone on early in the month, and Blondie LOVED it. (Twins only came in for the booby traps, the stinkers.) We’ve done Charlie Brown and Polar Express so far, and of course The Snowman. Today I insist we get in Muppet Christmas Carol, Rudolph, and hopefully the Nutcracker also with little Mac Culkin (Iiiii don’t think he’s really a ballerino, though…) Enjoy your little celebration! I’m looking forward to just hanging with the kids and playing some games. A quiet Christmas is still a good Christmas. A blessed day to you both! xxxxxxxxxx

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      1. Scrooged! Bo and I watched that a few days ago. We’ve not yet shown the kids that one yet, but it’s a’ comin’. Just finished the Christmas Carol with George C. Scott, a fav of Bo’s and mind.

        Oh yes, a quiet Christmas is MUCH cheaper. Not free, no, but easier to manage.

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  14. I skipped the Santa Clause trilogy and only watched Home Alone 1, but the rest of your list mirrors my own movie viewing.

    I miss going out to the movies. My late husband was a huge movie fan and we saw everything…even the bad ones. 😀 😀 Our three children were all born in southern California which led movie date-night to turn into weekend at the drive-in… and even more fun.

    I’ll be alone on Christmas Day, streaming Wonder Woman 1984 with no lines or crowds, but there will be popcorn… and wine. 🙂

    Merry Christmas.

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  15. I’m old enough to remember Pathe News. I think some of what I saw gave me lifetime anxieties! Then there was the ice cream lady with her tray and her little light, and yes, the national anthem. Best wishes to you both for a very happy Christmas, 2020 style, XX

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  17. It was one of our Christmas traditions also. Christmas Eve and sometimes New Year’s Eve early doors too. Not this year. But we’ll find something on the tv, get the popcorn out and alter the tradition a smidge. Sometimes you have to start a new tradition xxx

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