by Kush Bansal | Dec 17, 2018 | Opinion & Reviews
Out of all the movies I have reviewed this month, this is my least favorite. Now I said the least FAVORITE. I like the movie but compared to other movies, it just doesn’t stack up. Needless to say, when I watched this movie for the first time this year, I thought it was a fun, enjoyable movie. Unlike other people who are probably going to slander me once this is posted, I didn’t love this movie to the point where I quote it every Christmas. The main reason why is because it simply didn’t pique my interest. Yeah, it’s a comedy and yeah, it was funny, but it still didn’t have that appeal in which Home Alone or Elf had (fun fact: this is the one movie that I have Christmas lights from). The acting and overall story is very good. It goes like this: As the holidays approach, Clark Griswold wants to have a perfect family Christmas, so he tries to make sure everything is in line, including the tree and house decorations. However, things go very bad quickly when his cousins come to live with him, not only trashing his house but also his Christmas. All things considered, I had a good time watching and I do recommend it to you (This, along with other Christmas movies that I have reviewed, are currently being played in movie theaters today for a low price. I encourage you guys to check them out as they’re cheap and also give you the full experience audiences had when the movie first came out). Regardless of the fact that I didn’t LOVE it, I am going to give this movie an A-. Thank you guys for reading and stay tuned for the final Christmas review on Thursday for Die Hard. Have a nice, non-snowy day (seriously, it’s like fall outside).
by Kush Bansal | Dec 13, 2018 | Opinion & Reviews
This may sound stupid, but after I watched Home Alone I was scared to be in my house without my parents. Granted, that was when I was 6 years old, but something about Home Alone has resonated with me for the last 8 years. From the hilarious and violent scenes of Kevin torturing the house bandits to the simple fear of being left behind, this is my favorite Christmas movie (though I do also love Elf and A Christmas Story) but Home Alone simply has the norms of Christmas that relate directly to me. Now, this is a review, and if you haven’t seen Home Alone then this review is for you. For the rest of us reading, let’s simply look back to our favorite moments from this movie. The plot of this movie is when Kevin McCallister and his family are going to Paris; however, the McCallisters mistakenly leave for the airport without Kevin. As a result, he awakens to an empty house. Kevin becomes excited as his wish came true, well, until he realizes that two con men plan to rob him that very night. This movie is a blast because it not only introduces iconic lines and jokes but also teaches the important lesson of appreciating your family, making this movie a fit for all ages. In the end, I’m going to give Home Alone an A. Thanks for reading and stay tuned for my next review on National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation on Monday. As always, have a wonderful day.
by Kush Bansal | Dec 10, 2018 | Opinion & Reviews
T’was October 30th, 2004…a revolution in motion capture film came upon us. Yes, it was very weird that a Christmas movie was released during Halloween, but this movie is possibly the most mouth-dropping movie ever. Starring Tom Hanks and directed by Robert Zemeckis (director of Forrest Gump), The Polar Express is about a kid taking the train to the North Pole, and while it may seem straightforward, the main character grows as a person by learning about the true meaning of Christmas. I remember seeing this movie on Christmas 2006 (when I was 2) and being entertained from start to finish. While it only scored a mediocre 56% and didn’t make too much in the bank (310.6 million dollars from a 150 million dollar budget), I believe that it was the most mesmerizing Christmas movie ever made. Before I gorge into the visual spectacles of this film, I do believe that this movie suffered from a poor message being conveyed. While this movie was rated G, the message was way too dreamy and fantasy-like for kids. You could argue that it’s a kids movie; however, look at movies such as Toy Story and how it teaches the value of friendship. Other than that, The Polar Express is amazing. The acting from Tom Hanks is one of his best as he perfectly embodies someone who would represent the message of Christmas. The visual effects and sound design are also fantastic because of how they perfectly balance the plot as well as how beautiful everything looks. From every shot of the train to even the facial expressions, it all looks amazing. In the end, I give The Polar Express an A-. Stayed tuned to the Saber Slate for my next review for Home Alone, and as always, have an amazing day.
by Kush Bansal | Dec 6, 2018 | Opinion & Reviews
Can you remember the first Christmas movie you ever watched? You may have watched the Charlie Brown specials or the Grinch, but the one movie everyone seems to remember is none other than A Christmas Story. While movies such as Elf are all classic movies to watch on Christmas Eve night, A Christmas Story was the first in its genre to present itself to the modern audience. Your grandparents may have listened to Frank Sinatra’s Christmas album, your parents might’ve watched It’s A Wonderful Life, but you indulged in that classic known as A Christmas Story. Its plot is so simple: taking place at around the 40s, this movie follows Ralphie, a young neighborhood boy who wants one thing for Christmas, a BB gun. But of course, Ralphie’s mom declines, saying that famous line: “You’ll shoot your eye out”. The entire runtime of 1 hour 34 minutes carries the plot of Ralphie’s wild adventures. From eating soap to getting someone’s tongue stuck to a pole, this movie is a classic. Bob Clark, who was an infamous director in the 80s, simply recognized and familiarized with the interests of kids, going as far as filming a montage of how kids got special offers in the mail, which you have to see the movie to understand 😉 . In the end, I’m going to give this movie an A+. Stay tuned for my next review for Polar Express, and of course, have a fantastic day!
