This film was HORRIBLE!!!


First, I love Christmas movies. I recorded this off of the Hallmark channel a few days ago, I can't believe I sat thorugh this CRAP of a movie. The film was SO FRIGGING dark, it was harldy enjoyable. The actors looked like they were as bored as can be and the story was way to depressing. There are way too many loose ends that are never explained and the film does not deliver in it's ending. I was shocked to hear all of the positive reviews for this film but to each his own. The best Christmas movie to come out recently has been The Polar Express. Steer clear from this one folks!

reply

I've got to agree...this will NOT be on my movie favorites. I kept watching, hoping it would get better. It's like a depressing version of Touched by an Angel. For all the message of hope Gideon's supposed to bring, HE even looks depressed in this.

You've got a dysfunctional family who's getting kicked out of their house after the father loses his job. You've got an angel whom I can't imagine ANY child approaching...he looks like the scary child snatcher guy. Most of the movie is depressing, for unknown reasons the mother doesn't like the Christmas holidays. Husband's been out of work for six months, she's the sole breadwinner; she wants to scrimp on Christmas presents, get's irritated when her daughter mentions Santa Claus and shoots down her husband's idea about spending the last of their savings on opening a bicycle shop.

Then things get even weirder when, after a family tragedy, Gideon has the little girl Abbie go to see, not God, but Santa Claus at the North Pole. Which also turns out to be a bizarro heaven where other good people end up after dying. This movie seems to be afraid of actually putting God into this and substitutes Santa.

Mary Steenburgen acts like a Stepford wife for all the emotion she put out. When tragedy strikes you'd think she'd be in hysterics, but she walks around numb. Even times when you'd expect her to be grabbing her children up after finding out they're okay, which happens more than once, she barely seems responsive. You finally get a smile out of her at the end, but that's simply too long to deal with all the drama and trauma. I think I'll stick to the more warm and fuzzy original Hallmark movies.

reply

Well, the argument that she should have gone to see God in Heaven rather than Santa in the North Pole is a weak one, obviously.

But the criticism that it's too depressing is a valid one and is one that many have made. Personally, I don't find it too depressing and I think the payoff at the end is tremendous, but very dark films like this one can be too much for some to handle as entertainment, and limits this film among mass audiences.

I don't really understand the criticism of Steenburgen's performance. The level of emotion she displayed was spot-on. The character is in shock -- and Steenburgen plays that beautifully.

reply

First of all, he is referred to as Nickolas and Santa Claus. As St. Nick he gives Gideon(an angel) his Christmas assignment. Sounds Christian to me.

Second, the point of Ginnie being in a daze is part of her inability to express emotion or relate to the Christmas season. She is closed to life around her and even with the tragedies, she finds it hard to express emotion. The final scenes at the mailbox, and with Santa, she transforms into this radiant person who is open to the world.

The movie is about resurrection.

reply

Sounds like this person totally m issed out on the message of this movie and doenst understand the meanings behind the magic of the movie. It truly shows what we should be thankful for and that makes it wonderful. No way would that word Horrible fit this movie. Im a person with compassion, sentiment, heart so I get moved by stories like this. I feel a person that is more hard edged wouldnt get that and ive seen those kinds of people at the theatre or a play and they cant even laugh at things that are outright funny. They just dont get it and I have a hard time understanding people that have not much heart and feeling to them.

reply

Good and bad. While it's has the trappings of a Christmas movie and the ending works well enough for me. But there are some things that might disturb and unduly influence small children. Call me paranoid but Gideon is creepy. Imagine your kid talking to a stranger like Gideon and believing him. In the movie, Gideon is an Angel, but in the real world, Gideon might be a sex offender that lure kids with magic tricks. because of that, I wouldn't consider it a 'family' movie. For grown-ups who like a Christmas-movie fix, it's okay.

reply

I agree with you to an extent.
I felt this movie was very unrealistic and that girl was very annoying (glad her brother gave her some reality checks at least, ha!).
But I have to give credit to Stanton and Steenburgen for obvious reasons. Otherwise I think this movie is just mediocre.

Up All Night Revisited!
http://usaupallnight.bravehost.com

reply

I had a dream a few weeks ago about a Christmas movie where a 3-year old got SHOT.

Not far off base, I remembered THIS movie!!

Sure, it was dark, and cranky, and oddly, REALLLLY close to how crabby parents REALLLLLY are! SO
In essence, it may have been cheesy, but with all the tragedy that goes down, even with the magic repairing it, at least this movie didn't play it safe 100% of the time like most holiday films do. You could really relate to it, even if in the end it was kind of a half-assed movie.

reply

[deleted]

You've met one now. TPE is my fav holiday movie.

[/i]Bruce Lee was real. Batman was never real.[/i]

reply

You judge too harshly and favorite a film spoiled by special effects rather than this gem of a film. But as they say to each his own. Merry Christmas

reply

Yeah, as if The Transformers series is masterpiece, nope.

[/i]Bruce Lee was real. Batman was never real.[/i]

reply

Personally, I think the film was wonderful – and so does my family.

reply