12 Movies of Christmas: Santa’s Ride

By Geeky Gem

Yes, I know Christmas is over and that Santa has packed his sleigh away for another year but it got me thinking what could Santa also use. I sat down and I had a think about what other vehicles Santa could use if he ever wanted to pack the sleigh away for good, so here is another good old list.

Kitt – Knight Rider

Now if Santa ever wanted to rock up and leave your present’s in style this would be the way to do it. Plus he good programme Kitt to tell him if the child at the house had been naughty or nice. Kitt is one of the coolest cars around, and he can talk whats not to like. Go on Santa give it go.

The Van – The A-Team

Now if Santa wanted a bit more room for his sack’s of present’s he would be better of with another 1980’s classic  The A-Team van. It can still pick up seed and has some guns should he come across a stick up or whatever. The Van could really work for him you know.

Batmobile – Batman

If Santa wanted something a bit more Hi-Tech he could always go with frankly awesome Batmobile, it has all the bells and whistles and not only that its fantastic looking. I mean come on who doesn’t want ones theses bad boys to drive around in.

Aladdin’s Magic Carpet – Aladdin

I guess this more of topless vehicle and I am not sure Santa would want to be out in the open in the night’s air in late December. However I guess he could just wear layers and that would keep him warm.

Bumblebee – Transformers

This was an easy choice who doesn’t want a car that can turn into a kick ass robot. Santa may like this for just that reason who knows. At least Bumblebee could talk to him through the radio and keep the evil Autobots ay bay.

They you go Santa just a few ideas for if you eer want yo pack up your sleigh and give the reindeer the night off.

My Geeky Trivia

By Geeky Gem

So over the last few weeks, the other members of All Geek to Me have picked their favourite festive movies and now it is my turn with my all time favourite christmas movie.

In the song, “This is Halloween,” the lyrics “… tender lumplings everywhere…” refers to “Tender Lumplings,” a song done by composer Danny Elfman when he was with Oingo Boingo.

Patrick Stewart did the original introduction for the movie, which can be heard on the film’s soundtrack.

Tim Burton has said the original poem was inspired after seeing Halloween merchandise display in a store being taken down and replaced by a Christmas display. The juxtaposition of ghouls and goblins with Santa and his reindeer sparked his imagination.

Tim Burton had hoped to direct, but placed Henry Selick in the director’s chair instead as Burton was busy working on Batman Returns and had Ed Wood in pre-production. Selick estimates that Burton was present 8 to 10 days total during production.

In the original poem written by Tim Burton, the only characters that existed were Jack, Zero and Santa. All the other characters were made up for the movies, although he describes some of the presents which were given out, including in some cases the names of the children.

Danny Elfman did the singing voice for Jack because Chris Sarandon said he did not have a good singing voice.

It took a group of around 100 people three years to complete this movie. For one second of film, up to 12 stop-motion moves had to be made.

In the scenes with the street band, especially inside the town hall, there is a small man inside the bass that is based on Danny Elfman.

There are only two shots in the entire film that were filmed at normal speed (24fps), one is the opening overhead shot of the trees in the forest and the other is the bugs falling into the molten pit in Oogie Boogie’s lair.

It is stated in “The Making of…” book that the most difficult shot to film in the entire movie is the shot in which Jack is reaching for the doorknob to Christmasland. Viewers can see the perfect surround reflection of the forest around Jack in the background.

There we have it folks the trivia for my favouite Christmas movie, what will next week bring.

12 Movies of Christmas: Look to the Sky

By Geeky Gem

I know today marks the release of what I am hopping to be an awesome movie, yes folks today is Hobbit Day. No I was going to write about the Hobbit today but seen as I wrote about it back on movie of the month I think I have said all I need to say. So today I shall be taking you through a list of other creatures I think could pull Santa’s slay.

Pegasus – Clash of the Titans

I think Pegasus is awesome and would look great helping Santa on his busiest day of the year. How cool would this look, alright it may not be able to land on your roof but it would look amazing.

Toothless – How To Train Your Dragon

Did you really think I would miss a dragon off this list. Of course I went for one of the nicer ones, Toothless can be trained but Santa would need Hiccup in order to help him fly. However who cares it’s a freaking dragon.

Flying Monkeys – The Wizard of  Oz

Now I am unsure how useful a flying monkey would actually be but I thought Santa could always give it a go. I mean he could get them to pull the slay at least, he would just have to keep them out of sight as they look a bit scary.

Buckbeak the Hippogriff – Harry Potter

Now Beaky is one the most beautiful creatures on this list, but he is also really cool. Buckbeak could totally help Santa and would get all his delivery done in record time I bet. Only problem is you would hae to leave a dead ferret out for him instead of a carrot.

Thestrals – Harry Potter

I know Thestrals are not the most good-looking of creatures and yes it is another Harry Potter animal but I think they would do an awesome job of helping Santa. Plus you wouldn’t be able to see them.

Well there we have just some of the creatures I think could hep Santa come the 24th of December.

12 Movies of Christmas: Elf

By @hmsbeefnuts

12 Movies of Christmas rolls on here at All Geek To Me, and I have chosen a rather obvious Christmas film, but you know what? If this isn’t one of your favourite Christmas movies, you are without doubt, a cottenheaded ninny muggins. I am of course talking about Elf, and it is without doubt, a must see at this time of year.

I know some people can not stomach Will Ferrel, and if that is the case, you are wrong. He is a genius and this is one of his best roles. As Buddy the Elf, Ferrel brings a wonderful sense of childlike excitement and glee to his human in Elf’s clothing. It is one of the most Christmassy films I have ever seen, as well as being very funny too.

If that’s not enough to convince you, then how about the fact that Tyrion Lannister himself is featured in the film, Peter Dinkledge is hilarious as a short tempered author for hire. Want more? Then how about the adorable Zoey Deschannel as the love interest?

Basically if you don’t like Elf, you are dead inside. I will just leave you with this thought, and something that all Elf fans know for sure, the best way to spread Christmas cheer, is singing loud for all to hear…

12 Movies of Christmas: Rare Exports

By @hmsbeefnuts

Hello friends, and welcome to a rare blog, by yours truly. As a special event type thing over this most festive of months, we here at All Geek To Me have decided to look at some of our favourite festive films, 12 in all, in tribute to Santa, Little Baby Jesus and presents. I love Christmas, and this year is turning out to be a good one so far. It’s amazing how the introduction of a four year old child can liven up Christmas time for someone who has had a Scrooge like existence for the last 2 years. One of the best things about spending time with said child is the wealth of Christmas films that we can watch with him. However, my first choice for AGTM’s 12 Movies of Christmas will not be on the agenda for our festive film fests. This choice is a great little Finnish film that is both full of Christmas spirit, and horror, Rare Exports…

Rare Exports is a great little film. The basic premise is thus; On Christmas Eve in Finland, Santa Claus is unearthed in an archaeological dig. Soon after, children start disappearing, leading a boy and his father to capture Santa and, with the help of fellow hunters, they look to sell him back to the corporation that sponsored the dig. And then there’s Santa’s elves, who are determined to free their leader… (Thanks IMDB!!). Sounds pretty cool right?

Well the Santa in this film isn’t giving anyone a Miracle on any street, let alone 34th, and his nice list seems to have gone missing, this St. Nick is very much all about punishing the naughty, so be good, for goodness sake. I really liked this take on the Santa Claus Mythos, it might not be for everyone, but I would recommend giving it a try, as long as you are cool with subtitles, and naked old men.

Anyway, that’s it for this installment, I’ll be back soon to write about another Christmas Movie, maybe Elf or something, well worth looking forward too though I’m sure. Merry Christmas!!

My Geeky Trivia

By Geeky Gem

Movie Pick by Hmsbeefnuts

This month’s trvia will be a little different from past months, seen as its December I have asked each member of the All Geek team to pick their favourite Christmas movie and I will do trivia about that movie. This week we start with Hmsbeefnuts’ pick.

When this screenplay first emerged in 1993, Jim Carrey was attached to star in the lead.

Terry Zwigoff was offered a chance to direct the film, but turned it down.

Near the end, when Santa is showing Michael his nice list, all of the people on Santa’s list worked on the movie

The scene where the fake Santa is chasing Buddy had to be done in one take because it was too hard to rebuild everything.

The elf Ming Ming, who appears briefly in the beginning of the film, is played by Peter Billingsley, who starred as Ralphie Parker in the classic holiday film A Christmas Story.

Buddy’s 12-second belch was supplied by voice actor Maurice LaMarche, best-known for his cartoon character, “The Brain”, from Pinky and the Brain, and who also did the operatic belching in Animaniacs as “The Great Wakarotti”. LaMarche also worked with Will Ferrell on the animated series, The Oblongs.

When Buddy goes to Gimbels to ask Jovie out on a date the song we hear playing over the loudspeaker is “Christmas Island” sung by Leon Redbone. Redbone also provided the voice of Leon the snowman at the North Pole.

The brief TV news clip showing Buddy walking in Central Park (just before Buddy’s dad and brother find him), and the still picture of Buddy in the news clip, closely mimic the famous 1967 film of an alleged Bigfoot (“Patty”) taken by Roger Patterson and Robert Gimlin.

The sound effect used by the jack-in-the-box is the same sound effect used by the laughing hyenas at the Magic Kingdom at Disney World in Orlando, Fl.

Will Ferrell caused several minor traffic accidents when walking through the Lincoln Tunnel in his costume because people were so surprised to see him wearing an elf outfit.

There we have it for Hmsbeefnuts pick, join me next week for another Christmas related trivia.