CHRISTMAS

               Well, good morning everyone! Today's word is none other than, 'CHRISTMAS'. Who here doesn't love Christmas? Oh my gosh, this is just the most wonderful time of the year! Everyone gets closer than the usual, the family members who are far come home, there's food, fireworks, the weather is just awesome, everyone is nicer, not to mention the gifts that you receive, (I just love it), and of course...the birthday of Jesus Christ! 

                 The reason why I chose Christmas for today is because I wanted to collect some movies here and share some with you. And of course, Christmas movies too. So, here I go! 

MOVIES:

1) HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS

SYNOPSIS: (BY imdb.com)

     On a tiny snowflake floating through the air, exists the town of Who-ville, home of the Whos. The town is joyously preparing for the coming of Christmas.

However, of all the Whose, a little girl named Cindy Lou Who is feeling depressed, and not at all in the holiday spirit. When her brother and his friends return from climbing Mt Crumpit and claim they saw the Grinch, Cindy Lou grows curious as to the Grinch, who she learns does not like Christmas. While in the Post Office with her Father, Cindy takes some mail to a backroom, and finds the Grinch trying to cause havoc in the mail room. The Grinch scares her, and causes Cindy to fall into the mail sorting machine. To her surprise, the Grinch rescues her.

Cindy then decides to investigate more into the Grinch's past, and interviews several people, including two elderly women who cared for the Grinch, as well as town socialite Margaret May-Who and the Mayor, both of whom were classmates with the Grinch.

This is a cartoon version of  How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (TV 1966)

From the information she collects, the Grinch as a child actually liked Christmas, and even had a crush on Margaret. However, the Mayor as a child, taunted the Grinch about this. The Grinch tries to create a hand-made present for Margaret and shave off his facial hair, but the bad shaving job causes the class to laugh at him, finally causing him to hate Christmas. After that, he ran away to Mt Crumpit.

As Christmas approaches, the Mayor announces the upcoming Who-bilation, where the town nominates a Cheer Meister. While the Mayor looks forward to another unanimous vote for himself, Cindy requests that they nominate the Grinch, feeling he deserves it the most.

With enough votes, Cindy gets the Grinch a nomination, and climbs up Mt Crumpit to deliver it to him. The Grinch does not believe her at first, but reconsiders when he finds out he'll be receiving an award, and that Margaret May-Who will be attending. The Grinch agonizes over the decision to attend (partly believing this is a trick), before appearing to the Who's.

While at first apprehensive, the Grinch appears to be getting into the Christmas spirit, until the Mayor proposes to Martha May-Who, and offers her a car. The ostentatious gift rouses the ire of the Grinch, and he then begins to wreck the celebration, causing mayhem and burning down the Christmas tree. Cindy feels terrible that her plan to make the Grinch feel better has been ruined, and the Grinch returns to Mt Crumpit.

The Grinch feeling worse then ever, decides that this year, he'll stop Christmas from coming, by dressing as Santa, and stealing it. Fashioning a sled, he and his dog Max return to Who-Ville, and make off with all the gifts and festive trimmings. Taking everything to the top of Mt Crumpit, he plans to drop it all over the edge.

Taylor Momsen from Pretty Reckless and Gossip Girl plays the role of a little girl name Cindy.

Back in Who-ville, everyone is sad and distraught, with the Mayor blaming the whole thing on Cindy for inviting the Grinch. Cindy's father proclaims that he actually is proud of his daughter, because he's seen that Christmas is not about presents and decorations, but about being together. Soon a number of other Who's join in and begin singing.

This sound causes the Grinch to pause, wondering how they can be so cheerful. As he watches, the emotion gets to him, and his once shrivelled heart grows 3 sizes. The Grinch then returns the presents to Who-ville, and apologizes for his misdeed. At the same time, Margaret May-Who tells the Mayor she is rejecting his marriage proposal, and that her heart belongs to the Grinch.

In the closing of the film, the town feast is held, with the Grinch carving the Roast Beast. 

2) A CHRISTMAS CAROL

SYNOPSIS: (BY WIKIPEDIA)

       In 1843, Ebenezer Scrooge (Jim Carrey), a bitter and miserly old moneylender at a London counting house holds everything that embodies the joys and spirit of Christmas in contempt, refusing to visit his cheerful nephew Fred (Colin Firth) at his Christmas dinner party with his family, and forcing his underpaid employee Bob Cratchit (Gary Oldman) to beg to take the day off for his own family. That night, Scrooge is visited by the ghost of his former business partner Jacob Marley (Oldman) who had died seven years prior on Christmas Eve and is now forced to spend his afterlife carrying heavy chains that were forged from his own greedy ways. Marley warns Scrooge that he will suffer an even worse fate if he does not repent and foretells that he will be haunted by three spirits that will help guide him.

Again, Jim Carey plays the part of the main character Scrooge

The first spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Past (Carrey), which shows Scrooge visions of his own past that take place on or around the Christmas season, reminding Scrooge of how he ended up the avaricious man he is now. Scrooge had spent much of his childhood neglected by his father over the holidays at boarding school until he was finally brought home by his loving sister Fan (Robin Wright Penn), who died prematurely after giving birth to his nephew, Fred. Scrooge later began a successful career in business and money lending, and became engaged to a woman named Belle (Penn), though she later called off the engagement when he began to grow obsessed with accumulating his own wealth. Unable to bear having to witness these events again, Scrooge extinguishes the spirit with its candle snuffer cap.

The second spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Present (Carrey), which shows Scrooge the happiness of his fellow men on Christmas Day. Among them are his nephew, Fred, who playfully makes jokes with his family at Scrooge's expense, and Bob Cratchit and his family, who are just barely able to make do with what little pay Scrooge gives Cratchit. Scrooge is touched by the Cratchits' sickly young son Tiny Tim (played by Oldman, voiced by Ryan Ochoa) and his commitment to the spirit of Christmas, and is dismayed to learn from the spirit that Tim may not have much longer to live. Before dying, the spirit warns Scrooge about the evils of "Ignorance" and "Want," which manifest themselves before Scrooge as two wretched children who grow into violent, insane individuals.

The third and final spirit is the Ghost of Christmas Yet to Come (Carrey), which toys with Scrooge by chasing him through the streets of London on a carriage before showing him the final consequences of his greed. Scrooge sees in this future that he has died: Fred and his wife are elated to inherit Scrooge's wealth, Scrooge's maid is shown to have robbed him, and the men who attended his funeral had only gone for a free lunch. Tiny Tim is also shown to have died, leaving Bob Cratchit and his family to mourn him on Christmas. Horrified, Scrooge asks the spirit whether the images he has seen are sure to happen or can be changed. To little response, the spirit forces Scrooge to fall into his empty coffin sitting above the fires of Hell.

Scrooge suddenly awakens on Christmas Day to find that all three spirits have visited him in a dream over the course of one night. The story concludes with Scrooge living the rest of his life as a second father to Tiny Tim, and as a changed man who embodies the spirit of Christmas.

 3) THE TWELVE DOGS OF CHRISTMAS

SYNOPSIS: (BY http://www.dove.org)

        Upon being sent to live with her aunt in the small town of Doverville, 12-year-old Emma O'Conner finds herself in the middle of a 'no-dogs' law, Emma with the Mayor and town dogcatcher. In order to strike down their 'no-dogs' law, Emma must bring together a group of schoolmates, grown-ups and adorable dogs of all shapes and sizes in a spectacular holiday pageant. "The 12 Dogs of Christmas" is a fun, heartwarming story featuring a diverse canine cast of over 101 pooches, perfect for all those who love dogs, kids and Christmas.

Very cute!!!

Well, I guess that's it for now :D

Hope you enjoy watching!

Ciao

Liz Yulo Chua here