Top 5 Tuesday- Non-Christmas Movies with Christmas Elements

Something looks a little like Christmas… You may not think of these as Christmas movies, or notice the Christmas elements at first glance, but you might just get away with showing them at your next holiday party… maybe. I can’t guarantee anything.

5. Iron Man 3-

This 2013 superhero flick begins at a New Years Eve party in 1999, and  moves to the Christmas season following the battle of New York in The Avengers,(I’m pretty sure that battle is confirmed as being in 2012). Christmas is never a major plot point, but, like the sci-fi in Star Wars, is an important piece of the setting.

4. Star Trek: Generations-

Though it is a minority view, I am personally a fan of the Next Generation/Original Series crossover film. The reason it can be considered a Christmas movie is the heartwarming Christmas celebration Captain Picard has with his idealistic family inside the dream-like Nexus.

3. Toy Story-

Seeing as Toy Story is a film about the secret life of toys, and toys are often a major part of the gift-giving in the Christmas season, it would make sense that the ending scene of the movie takes place around the Christmas tree. This scene secures Toy Story as a closet Christmas classic.

2. The Princess Bride-

How in the world does a movie about witty, swashbuckling heroes fighting for true love and revenge in a make-believe kingdom have anything to do with Christmas? Well, the Christmas elements actually appear in the story surrounding the story- the scenes with the boy and his grandfather. Some of the decorations in the kid’s room imply that it is either the Christmas season, or fairly soon after Christmas. Try showing it at a Christmas party. Any party is a good excuse to watch The Princess Bride.

1. The Fellowship of the Ring-

As is well known among fans of Tolkien’s Lord of the Rings saga, December 25th was the date that Frodo and his band of adventurers left Rivendell on their grand quest to dispose of the ring. This not only makes Tolkein’s Fellowship of the Ring a Christmas book; it also makes Peter Jackson’s Fellowship of the Ring a Christmas movie.

So, which Non-Christmas movie are you going to watch at your next Christmas? (By the way, I take no personal responsibility for people’s reactions…) Are there any other movies you would include? Let me know in the comments!

This list was inspired by a series of posts by the guys at Strangers and Aliens Podcast. Check out their list of strange Christmas movies here!

Merry Christmas!

Elora

Top 10...Thursday? Awesome Things at the EMP Museum in Seattle

     So, here's what's going on. I've decided to change the schedule for my blog since the previous schedule was getting impossible to keep up with. Instead of posting on Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday every week, I'm going to do a Wednesday post one week, then a Top 5 Tuesday the next. I'll post on Saturdays as often as possible.

     This week I had the pleasure of visiting the EMP (a music, sci-fi, and pop culture museum) in Seattle. I was going to post this list Tuesday, but I was busy returning from my trip that day. Then I was going to post it on Wednesday, until I realized that 'Top 10' sounded better with 'Thursday', than "Wednesday'. Welcome to my thought process. So here is my list of 10 awesome things I found in the sci-fi and fantasy exhibits at the EMP. Basically, it will just be me geeking out. Enjoy.

     Come through the portal of coolness to a world of sci-fi  and fantasy icons.....

10. Original Princess Bride Costumes 

     This beloved fantasy parody definitely belongs among the classics. Can anyone name the three characters  to whom this costumes belonged?

9. Original Princess Bride Blades

     Even if you haven't seen The Princess Bride, (which would be very sad for you),  you've probably heard the line swashbuckling Spaniard Inigo Montoya uses to challenge his elusive rival, the six-fingered man: "Hello. My name is Inigo Montoya. You killed my father. Prepare to die." Here we have the props from their final confrontation: two very nice blades, and the six-fingered man's glove.

8. The Science Fiction Hall of Fame

     A futuristic-looking gallery of photographs and bios of some of the most influential creative minds in sci-fi.

7. Ralph McQuarie Design Sketches




     Ralph McQuarie was the concept artist for Star Wars. Talk about someone who shaped pop culture. Even non-fans recognize Darth Vader's mask, R2-D2, lightsabers and the like. Here are some early sketches of one of the most infamous villains of our time.

6. Lt. Data's uniform from Star Trek: The Next Generation



     Data, the android longing for humanity is probably the most endearing crew member in Star Trek's first spin-off.

5. A Classic Doctor Who Cyberman

     This metallic menace appeared in the 1983 Doctor Who episode "The Five Doctors", in which the first five incarnations of television's favorite Time Lord shared screen time.

4. Lt. Uhura's uniform from Star Trek

     Nichelle Nichols played a unique and revolutionary character in Uhura during the 1960's. Her uniform and communications earpiece are displayed at the museum.

3. A Dalek from classic Doctor Who

     One of the Doctor's arch enemies, this Dalek from 1982 has had its share of action. You probably can't see it from this picture, but one of his gold nodules is missing on the left side. That would be enough to 'In-fur-i-ate' anyone.

2. Darth Vader's Original Lightsaber

     Remember earlier when I talked about how iconic Darth Vader and lightsabers are? Well here is Darth Vader's lightsaber! The original prop from the famous scene where the villain revealed his true identity to young Jedi Knight, Luke Skywalker!


1.

 

     Yes, this is that chair. Captain Kirk's command chair from the groundbreaking 1966-69 sci-fi series Star Trek. Ever heard of it? Being a bit biased toward Star Trek, this was probably one of my favorite things at the museum. Plus, it was surrounded by tribbles.

     This was a fantastic trip. I am so glad I was finally able to peek inside EMP. If you are around the Seattle area, it is definitely something to check out. 

     I would like to especially recommend the Icons of Science Fiction exhibit, (which is where most of these pictures came from). Aside from having fantastic mementos from the history of the genre, it also explores many of the deep questions and themes central to sci-fi.

I hope you had fun taking a virtual tour of the EMP Sci-fi and fantasy exhibits with me. I sure had fun putting it together. I'll be back Wednesday with a new post. Until then,

Keep on glowing in the dark,

Elora