5 Forgotten Action Movies Set Around Christmas

 

Christmas time brings Christmas cheer, festive atmosphere's, the season of giving and Christmas movies. While some like cheesy Christmas romantic movies (looking at you Hallmark), or Christmas comedies. Others prefer some good ass-kicking and shootouts for Christmas movies, we all know Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, and Batman Returns are Christmas movies. What about the movies set around Christmas you don't remember? There's quite a few of them and here are 5 to refresh your memory.

5. Detective Knight: Redemption

                                     

This 2022 film stars Bruce Willis in his series of Detective Knight films. Detective Knight is doing a bid after the events of the previous film Detective Knight: Rogue. However he negotiates to get released and help save the Christmas season after a jailbreak gets him jammed up. He has to stop The Christmas Bomber and The Real Saints Of Christmas terrorizing the city. The film of course has some inspiration and remnants of Die Hard.

It's available to watch on Tubi.

4. Assault on Precinct 13

So technically this movie takes place on New Year's Eve, but the Holiday season encompasses Thanksgiving til New Years. With Christmas and New Year's a week apart the Christmas season is New Year season as well. This 2005 remake of the John Carpenter original, follows Ethan Hawke as a struggling Detroit police officer who is working the holiday with a skeleton crew. His precinct is set to be closed, but has to accept some prisoners who have to be rerouted due to a dangerous storm approaching. One of those prisoners is mob boss Marion Bishop played by Laurence Fishburne, before they know it the precinct is under attack and they must band together.

Assault on Precinct 13 is currently not available for free on any streaming platforms.

3. Money Train

I just went through my new years spiel with the previous entry, and here we are again. This 1995 film stars Woody Harrelson and Wesley Snipes in their third film together, and Jennifer Lopez before she shot to stardom a couple years later in Selena. The trio are a pair of NYPD officers assigned to work the subway system of New York City, and help protect the money train which collects fares at every station. In their way is Donald Patterson (Robert Blake) who runs the subway system, hates their unorthodox ways and any obstruction to the money train running on time. After some hardships, Harrelson's Charlie decides to rob the Money Train on New Year's Eve.

Money Train is currently not available for free viewing on streaming platform.

2. Enemy Of The State

This 1998 film by Tony Scott starring Will Smith and Gene Hackman was ahead of the curve on it's commentary on surveillance. Will Smith plays Robert Clayton Dean, a lawyer unknowingly swept up in a murder coverup from a high-ranking government official against a politician. He soon needs the help of a recluse ex-CIA agent played by Gene Hackman to clear his name and get out of the mess. The movie does not dwell on it's Christmas season setting, but you will notice Christmas lights in the background of various scenes. And the kind of kick-off point when Dean get's thrown into the thrust of thing's he is doing Christmas shopping in a lingerie store for his wife.

Enemy Of The State is currently not available for free streaming (long live physical media).

1. Long Kiss Goodnight

There is a running joke amongst movie fans and Hollywood in general that writer/director Shane Black loves some Christmas. Lethal Weapon is set during that season, along with Iron Man 3, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, and Last Boy Scout (though I don't remember it). And this film The Long Kiss Goodnight starring Geena Davis and Samuel L. Jackson. Geena Davis plays Samantha Caine an amnesic woman rising her daughter alongside her daughter in a small town. After a car accident she slowly starts gaining new lethal skills she knew she had, and alongside P.I. Mitch (Samuel L. Jackson) she sets out to find her real identity. Besides snow on the ground, there's a Christmas parade and decorations everywhere to let you know it's set during Christmas. 

The film is currently available on Pluto.

Read More

5 Christmas Specials You Don't Remember

 

Christmas time is a very festive time of the year. It brings Christmas lights and decorations, music, movies, special episodes of television series. And those Christmas specials to cash in on the spirit, there are Christmas Specials that are classics and must watch every year. Specials such as Charlie Brown Christmas, A Year Without Santa Claus, and Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer to name a few. It's customary that for every classic that's watched every holiday season, there are several people just don't remember. 

Here Are 5 Christmas Special's you likely don't remember

5. Munsters Scary Little Christmas

                                   

In the mid-90's Fox tried to bring back the 60's sitcom family The Munsters into pop culture. They had a TV movie to "reintroduce" the family and this special followed. Released in 1996, the film follows the Munster family as young son Eddie get's homesick and wants to return to Transylvania. His father Herman decides to do a Transylvanian Christmas, but soon everything just goes left. Including Santa and his elves needing assistance from The Munsters to ensure Christmas actually happens that year.

The film is available on Youtube to watch.

4. Santa, Baby!

                                     

This 2001 special that aired on Fox boasted several legendary entertainers as members of it's cast. The like's of Gregory Hines, Patti Labelle, Vanessa Williams, and Eartha Kitt. The film follows a struggling songwriter Noel (Gregory Hines) who with the assistance of his family and a partridge finds the Christmas spirit once again. This special was produced by animation powerhouse Rankin/Bass but for some reason is rarely aired. 

A rip of I believe the original airing is currently available on YouTube.

3. The Town Santa Forgot

Airing on NBC in December 1993, this Holiday special follows the story of a young boy named Jeremy Creek. Jeremy was a mischievous, selfish kid who surely would end up on the naughty list most years.  One day after being punished he decides to write Santa a letter of all the toys he wants, an substantial list by the way. When it reaches Santa he assumes the letter came from a town and not just one person.

Jeremy is dismayed Christmas morning and he realizes Santa forgot to pay his town a visit. He however learns a valuable lesson about Christmas, giving to others and the Holiday Spirit.

Produced by Hanna-Barbera, the special was a staple on Cartoon Network and Boomerang cable channels for years. Unfortunately it's no longer aired and not available for streaming, the most you can find it is on some third party sites if you look hard enough.

2. Jingle Bell Rock 

                                                        

This ABC original special aired in 1995, produced by animated powerhouse Dic is actually intriguing and a bit ahead of it's time with what kid's would understand. Santa Claus has been too generous rarely putting anyone on the naughty list, as such his operation has ran out of funding and he has to lay off his elves. With the likelihood that Christmas will be cancelled for children all across the world, one elf named Buddy set's out to Hollywood and write's a song to enter a talent contest. Buddy has hopes of winning to give Santa the earnings and save Christmas.

The special is available on YouTube from a few different sources.

1. Have Yourself A Goofy Little Christmas

This special aired in 1992 and is canon in the Goof Troop episode list, originally airing as a one hour special and broken up in subsequent airings. It also sadly was the finale of the series, which while sad isn't a bad way to go out. The special follows Goofy and his son Max as they follow their neighbors to Aspirin, Colorado for the holidays. The only thing is Goofy isn't exactly welcomed, but he ends up saving the day anyway.

Only season 1 of Goof Troop is currently available on Disney Plus, unfortunately this special is not available. 

Read More

5 Celebrity Video Games You Don't Remember

 

One day I was aimlessly scrolling through instagram and found a reel referencing a Kris Kross Sega CD video game. I had never heard of it, so I asked some friends and they never heard of it, did a quick google search and sure enough it was an actual game. So me being me that sent me down the rabbit hole of video games featuring celebrities. We all remember 50 Cent's video game, or though not one celebrity but a whole record label in Def Jam Vendetta. And of course the arcade game that is Michael Jackson's Moonwalker or even his dancing game on Wii.

Here are 5 video games featuring celebrities you either never heard of or don't remember.

5. Power Factory: C+C Music Factory

It's very easy to see how this game has been forgotten to time, as C + C Music Factory is really a one-hit wonder group. However, in the early 1990's their song Gonna Make You Sweat was just about in every movie scene or commercial were folks were up and dancing. I guess it's not surprising they were tapped to lead an cutting edge game.

Released in 1993 on Sega CD, the game featured players editing videos to some of C + C Music Factory's games. Actually when you think about it, it was ahead of it's time as about 13 year's later the Nintendo Wii debuted which clearly took hints from this game.

4. Aerosmith-Revolution X

Aerosmith is a legendary rock band, and lead singer Steven Tyler has always had that enigmatic charisma about him. Which is typical with celebrities and the entertainment world someone thought it would be a good idea to make a video game and use the group's likeness for it. Thus we got Revolution X, an arcade game released in 1994.

The plot of the game is Aerosmith have been taken hostage by a group meant to evoke a new world order. The primary player's mission is to save all the members of the group through various levels. The game engine was similar to T2: Judgement Day arcade game and was a critical and fan success. Eventually making it's way to home consoles such as Nintendo and Sega.

3. Jet Li: Rise To Honor

Released in 2004 on Playstation 2, Jet Li: Rise To Honor is a bit of a odd game to be honest in the sense that while the name and likeness of Li grace the title and cover. As well as the fighting style and references to film's of his, the main character is not Jet Li rather a fictional character Jet Li plays. It's kind of confusing at least in my opinion why that decision was made.

The cut scenes of the game are even presented like a movie, and the plot is a bit more in depth than a traditional video game of that time. It received favorable reviews, but not enough to make a sequel.

2. Spice Girls-Spice World

Released in 1998 as the Spice Girls phenomenon was winding down due to Ginger Spice separating from the group. The game is another one that was ahead of it's time and displayed game play that would be perfected year's later with the Wii. In this game players are tasked with getting the Spice Girls ready for a live performance. This is done with choreography, picking which song out of 15 listed the group will perform and then "recording" the performance.

The game received a lot of criticism for the design of the group and the graphics. In addition to the lack of additional features to enhance the game play such as wardrobe changes. For all of the faults, I'm sure diehard Spice Girl fan's love the game regardless.

1. Wu Tang: Shaolin Style

If you know much about Wu-Tang, you know the group is heavily influenced by martial art's films of the 1970's. So it should be no surprise when a video game based on the group was created they followed the same path. Released in 1999 on Playstation, the plot focuses on Master Xin the last master of the Wu fighting style who is kidnapped in Staten Island. It is up to some of his last students coincidentally Wu-Tang to rescue him.

The game is mostly played in fighting tournaments inspired by games such as Mortal Kombat, Tekken, and Street Fighter. It was also known for being very gory and graphic with blood for a video game during that era. It also allowed four players to play at one time, quite revolutionary for Playstation at the time. 

Read More

10 Of My Favorite Song's From Musicals

 

 Wicked the film adaptation based on the Broadway musical has been dominating the box office since it's debut the week of Thanksgiving. It has made almost $400 million worldwide in just a few short weeks. Sitting at a 2 hour and 40 minute runtime, I plan to see the movie when it releases for home viewing (I'm always good for a nap in movie theaters these days by the way). The popularity of the film got my brain running about song's from my favorite movie musicals. 

Just to clarify, I classify a musical as a film where the music advances the narrative not just a movie with performances in it. With that here are 10 of my favorite songs from musicals. 

10. Grease-You're The One That I want

The finale of the 1978 classic film Grease. The song is a reflection of the 1950's era that the film (and play) is set in. It's an infectious pop and rock and roll beat that will make you tap your toes soon as you hear it. The carnival scene help's sell the song and the vibe that everyone is just having a good time. As a single it has sold 4 million copies and it is still played in many films and commercials. Quite frankly it is a classic.

9. Little Mermaid-Under The Sea

Disney produce's some of the catchiest and timeless movies in the history of filmmaking. The Little Mermaid is no exception, and I love me some Under The Sea. Especially when my daughter who love's Disney Princesses was in her everything Little Mermaid phase. I could not help but to sing the song over and over again. Inspired by sounds of the Caribbean including genres such as calypso and reggae Under The Sea even if your too cool for school will have you do a little dance. Honorable mention Kiss The Girl is another favorite from this film.

8. Hairspray-Welcome to The 60's

If you love Motown music and the sound's of the 60's a blend of doo-wop, soul and rock and roll, you will enjoy this song. The song is about counter-culture and woman empowerment, coming into their own in the 1960's hidden by a beat that one would think was produced by The Funk Brothers themselves (Motown's In-House band). This is another one if you don't at least tap a foot while listening to it, you may not be living right.

7.Dreamgirls-Patience

Patience performed by Eddie Murphy and Anika Noni Rose was an original creation for the 2006 adaptation of the play Dreamgirls. It became so popular that it was eventually incorporated into later renditions of the musical, and for good reason. Meant to evoke social protest song's of the 1970's, the song gives you every bit of feel's as Marvin Gaye or Stevie Wonder did during that time. Eddie Murphy get's to show off his singing chops with a mix of r&b and gospel infused in this song.

6. Lion King-Just Can't Wait To Be King

Ask any Millennial to sing their favorite song from The Lion King, the response is either going to be Hakuna Matata (which truthfully maybe how many of us learned how to navigate through life). Or my favorite I Just Can't Wait To Be King. Not sure if it's the horn's or the drums but when you hear it your bound to just start belting out how you want to be in charge one day. It's just an upbeat fun song that has stuck with me all these years later.

5. Newsies-King Of New York

1992's Newsies still to this day does not get the credit I believe it deserves. I enjoy just about every song in the film but The song King Of New York stands out to me. Maybe it's because everyone dream's of what they would do if they had infinite riches or were "king" for a day. Which makes this song so relatable and fun. The dancing in a restaurant which is kind of absurd when you think about it help's sell the song too.

4. Moana-You're Welcome

This song from 2016's Moana I must admit I just love this song. It's one part a history lesson in Polynesian mythology where the demigod Maui explains everything he has bought to the world. It's two part a damn good catchy Disney song. I enjoy the song so much, I actually was a bit disappointed when we took my daughter to a Disney on Ice show, and Moana was apart of the show and this song was not performed. I was ready to sing along like I was 6 years old.

3. Hairspray-You Can't Stop The Beat

The finale to Hairspray the song's theme is about how time changes and you have to move forward with the changes, no matter how hard one tries to change it. A powerful message about moving towards a progressive society wrapped up in a bubbly, over the top and crowd pleasing song. If you danced to Welcome To The 60's, then you will absolutely be out of breath dancing to this one.

2. Rent-Seasons Of Love

If there is such thing as a perfect song, I think this one personifies a perfect song. The piano keys hooks you in and touches your soul, then the cast have a united boombastic intro singing the chorus. There are several people walking this earth who only know how many minutes are in a full calendar year thanks to this song. The song is relatable to anyone listening in whatever maybe occurring in their life at the time. And then Traci Thomas's high note at the end just take's it home.

1. The Wiz-Brand New Day

This celebratory song in The Wiz is a damn good time. When I need a song to put me in a good mood I often turn to this, and when I need a song that gives me an uplifting message I also turn to this. The song's title A Brand New Day also known as Everybody Rejoice, can be interpreted so many way's. Since the film was a Motown film production, you hear hint's of that Motown sound in the beat. And legends like Diana Ross and Michael Jackson along with Nipsey Russell and Ted Ross, and background vocals by one Luther Vandross just make this song legendary.

Read More

6 Underrated Christmas movie's

 It's December, which mean's if you haven't started it's time to watch our favorite Christmas movies. While there are certain Christmas movies that are a must watch every year. You know the Home Alone, This Christmas, Jingle All The Way, Elf and Christmas Story of the world.

While these classics are must watch, every year and in some cases anytime of year. There are some Christmas movies that should be added to the yearly rotation. I'm here to let you know about those ones if you haven't watched them or heard of them.

The Night Before

This 2015 film is a lot funnier than it is given credit for. Starring Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt, the movie touches a very important topic that is often overlooked. That is when life changes force friendships and brotherhoods to adjust things.

The three friends are poised to end a yearly Christmas tradition, but not everyone is completely on board with the idea. The film explores a wild night for the trio as they try to attend an exclusive event that's been eluding them for years.

The Night Before is currently available on Starz.

Christmas with the Kranks

This 2004 film stars Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis as a married couple in a very festive neighbor who decides they are skipping the Holiday cheer. Their daughter is on a peace corp's mission and they decide to take a 10 day cruise to the Caribbean, then at the 11th hour their daughter share's she is coming home for the holidays. What soon ensues is some last minute efforts to get in the Christmas spirit.

It's not a laugh out loud movie, but it has a certain charm to it. Also the older I get the more I understand the Krank's mindset of doing the holiday's a bit different and not being "extra". If you need a Christmas movie you've never seen that is entertaining, You won't be disappointed with the Kranks.

The film is currently available on Disney +, Hulu, and Prime Video.

Deck The Halls

The older you get while you deal with the complexities and stress of life, the little thing's can bring you great joy. Sometimes the joy is decorating your house in the most extravagant way possible, often refusing to be shown up by the competition. That's the basic premise of this 2006 film starring Matthew Broderick and Danny Devito. 

The two are competing neighbors vying for who can decorate their house in the most over the top way possible. Eventually competing with one another in other parts of life. Is it a Christmas classic? if you ask me no. Is it a quality Christmas film that is criminally overlooked? yes. Should you check it out? Absolutely.

It's currently available to watch on Hulu, Disney +, Paramount +, and Pluto. It's also frequently shown on cable TV this month.

The Perfect Holiday

Morris Chestnut and Gabrielle Union starred in this 2007 film, flanked by Terrance Howard, Queen Latifah, Katt Williams, Faizon Love (I guess before the beef) and the late hella funny Charlie Murphy. Gabrielle Union stars as a divorced mom of three just trying to maintain her sanity, while yearning for a new relationship. Morris Chestnut plays a songwriter and part-time Mall Santa Benjamin just trying to find his way. Through some mischievous planning by Union's daughter, the two eventually start dating. 

Of course there are some bumps and hurdles along the way, in the name of love and the Christmas spirit.

You can watch The Perfect Holiday this month on Hulu, Disney +. and Peacock. It typically is shown on BET and Starz during the holiday season. 

Holiday Rush 

This 2019 Netflix Original Movie stars Romany Malco and Sonequa Martin-Green. Romany play's a radio DJ named Rush who is laid off just before the holidays as his radio station is bought by a larger corporation who change the format. He and his four children are forced to readjust their lives and lifestyles and move in with his aunt (music legend Darlene love). He then buys an old radio station with his producer played by Sonequa Martin-Green, soon they face an uphill battle against the same corporation trying to block them from hitting the airwaves.

While also starting a new relationship as they can't resist the sparks flying, and his children having to adjust to their new lives and his new relationship.  It's really akin to a traditional Hallmark movie, but I greatly enjoy it. Give it a chance, you won't be disappointed.

8-Bit Christmas 

Since it's release in 2021, I love this movie and look forward to turning it on soon as Christmas season hit. This HBO Max (now Max) original film stars Neil Patrick Harris and Steve Zahn, taking a queue from A Christmas Story the film follows an adult character named Jake Doyle played by Harris. Who recounts a Christmas of his youth in 1989 when all he wanted was a Nintendo for Christmas. Of course chaos ensues to get one and it's not an easy feat, yet the child Jake learn's a viable lesson that Christmas.

It's funny, it speaks to so many kid's experiences with popular toys and electronics over the years. It has messages of hard work, and family that are important in all stages of life. I highly recommend it as more people learn about the movie, in my opinion it will be a future Christmas classic. 

Read More