FILL: Lost in translation?

[mbarker]

I think I missed something. Today is a holiday here in Japan (the Emperor's Birthday), and the morning show on TV was doing some Christmas stuff. The one that caught my attention was supposedly a ranking by 200 Japanese of Christmas movies. I have to admit, I missed exactly how they posed the question, because... well, let me tell you what they had as the top Christmas movies.

Before they got to the biggies, they talked about The Nightmare Before Christmas, which apparently is pretty popular. Oh, and Jingle All The Way (Arnold Schwartzenegger doing his thing).

And... (fanfare!) the third most popular Christmas movie is... Die Hard!

Huh? That's a Christmas movie? Well...

And the second most popular Christmas movie is... Scissorhands!

Eep? Christmas?

And the top, number one, most popular Christmas movie in Japan is...

(right after the commercial... why did I know they were going to pause for a commercial break?)

Okay, number one! Home Alone!

Huh. Yes, I guess it does sort of involve Christmas, but...

There's something about these choices -- The Nightmare Before Christmas, Jingle All The Way, Die Hard, Scissorhands, and Home Alone -- that just doesn't seem particularly Christmas-y to me? I wonder if "It's a Wonderful Life" or "Miracle on 34th Street" or any of those were on the list?

I wonder what the American popular list would look like? Hum... a quick google search reveals several lists. A Christmas Story? Okay, Home Alone does seem to be a popular one in America, too. But I don't see Die Hard or Scissorhands in there. Here's a thoughtful little piece http://www.pennmanor.net/pennpoints/?p=13587

Maybe Christmas is where you find it? Hope you enjoy your holidays, whatever and wherever you find them.

So what's your favorite Christmas movie?

Comments

[saruby.livejournal.com]

Well, in terms of traditional Christmas movies, it has to be "Miracle on 34th Street (the original with Natalie Wood). But if you broaden the field a bit, I would choose "Love, Actually", which is probably not technically a Christmas movie, but is both a delightful film and decidely Christmas-y in its own way. After that, probably "Elf". Maybe they think Christmas movie means a movie that has something about Christmas in it. Which would not really qualify here, but might in a place where most people aren't Christian and celebrate Christmas as a purely secular holiday (rather than a cleverly disguised secular holiday).

Happy Christmas!

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

True -- that's why I wish I knew how they posed the question. But Die Hard? Ah, well. Yeah, a holiday that is borrowed and built heavily on the consumer side is a bit different from a religious backed one. But Japan has so much fun with it!

[saruby.livejournal.com]

Japan is more honest about it. That may be why they have such fun with it. I bet you don't see a lot of cars with bumperstickers that say "Put Christ back in Christmas".

I like to think of Christmas as a joyful celebration of winter and solstice, but I'm not really Christian. OTOH, I love Christmas carols. The really old religious ones. It's a music thing.

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

Works for me. One of the shows looked at the Akasaka Prince Hotel chef -- apparently the Akasaka Prince Hotel is closing this year, and this will be their last Christmas. Anyway, it turns out that for several years, along with everything else, he has run a special Christmas cookie baking program for kids, using the hotel kitchens. The kids come in, and he guides them in baking cookies.

BUT the cookies aren't for the kids! No, the kids bag them, and then take them to a nearby retirement home, where they give them to the old folks. Very heart-warming, and a great Christmas program, even without the "Christian" side.

[dialyn.livejournal.com]

I'm still trying to work out "Edward Scissorhands" as well as "Die Hard."

Anyway, my favorites are two very old films: "The Shop around the Corner" and "The Holly and the Ivy." I wasn't always the curmudgeon I am today. Those reflect my sentimental, traditionalist side, I guess. Neither film is shown very often anymore, but I remember seeing them at this time of year when I was much younger and they always left me with a good feeling. "It's a Wonderful Life" is shown so often that I tired of it, but it is a good standard.

[mbarker.livejournal.com]

I do remember Edward doing an ice sculpture?

This morning, one of the news shows asked the panel what DVD they would be watching for Christmas. One of the younger women said, "It's A Wonderful Life." The guy said "Toy Story 3." And I've forgotten what the last one said. Of course, I had to ask my wife if we were going to watch a DVD for Christmas. I hadn't realized that this is customary.

She just laughed at me. I guess we're not terribly bound by custom. Oh, well.

[dialyn.livejournal.com]

Yes, the reason snow fell was because he was creating an ice sculpture, but I don't recall that having anything to do with Christmas (I could be wrong).

I just looked up "Die Hard"...apparently the movie begins on Christmas Eve. Well, there's a proper holiday link for you.