Heroic Holiday Films You May Have Overlooked

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Heroic Holiday Films You May Have Overlooked
By Philip Schweier
December 6, 2008 - 07:00

“Jingle Bells, Batman smells...” We all know the rhyme, which is to say that Batman has been associated with Christmas for as long as anyone can remember. Perhaps not to the same degree as Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer, but such is the magic of the holidays.

After such stories as “Silent Night of the Batman” (Batman #219) and “Wanted: Santa Claus – Dead or Alive” (DC Special Series #21), the Caped Crusader’s most widely known involvement was perhaps in the 1992 film, Batman Returns. Director Tim Burton, who went on to create the delightfully dark Nightmare Before Christmas in 1993, set his Batman sequel during the holiday season.

Michael Keaton reprises his role as Gotham City’s guardian angel, this time pitted against Danny DeVito as the Penguin and Michelle Pfeiffer as Catwoman, while evil mogul Max Schreck, played by Christopher Walken, plots in the background. The wintry setting adds a unique quality to what could have been just another super-hero sequel. The crisp air, the quiet of new-fallen snow, as well as the contrast of the bright lights and tinsel, and all help make the Dark Knight even darker by comparison.

But it isn’t the only off-beat holiday offering for those tired of the seemingly never-ending showings of Miracle on 34th Street and A Charlie Brown Christmas (If you’re a fan of the TV show Scrubs, check out their version of the Charles Schulz classic on YouTube).

Die Hard (1988) – For those looking for a high-octane holiday offering, this movie is something of a classic among action films. Until Die Hard, most action films were low-budget fare starring the likes of Chuck Norris or an aging Charles Bronson. Bruce Willis, in his big-screen debut, starred in a film that has become something of a template for the sale of future action films. “It’s Die Hard set on a mountain top (Cliffhanger), or on a battleship" (Under Siege) has become a ubiquitous description for many action films that have followed, including the three sequels.

The film also introduced American audiences to Alan Rickman, who has made a career out of playing snarky characters in such films as Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, Dogma, Galaxy Quest and the Harry Potter films.

The Thin Man (1934) – Starring William Powell and Myrna Loy, this movie launched a witty and charming series of mysteries featuring a husband and wife detective team. In 1957 a television series debuted starring Peter Lawford and Phyllis Kirk. In 1960 DC Comics debuted the Elongated Man, in which Ralph Dibny is also a detective.

Okay, perhaps the Thin Man/Elongated Man connection is a bit of stretch, but there are two very good reasons for it. The Thin Man, based on the best-selling novel by Dashiell Hammett, is set during Christmas, and features Cesar Romero, who would star as the Joker in the 1966 Batman TV series.

The sequel, After the Thin Man, takes place over New Years Eve. A very young Jimmy Stewart co-stars in a role which those tired of his wholesome George Bailey role (It’s a Wonderful Life) may find refreshing.

Radio Days (1987) – Fans of A Christmas Story are sure to enjoy Woody Allen’s nostalgic look back at the golden age of radio. Told through the eyes of a young boy (Seth Green) in Rockaway, NY, the film is a loose-knit series of anecdotes about growing up gathered around the Philco, listening to the likes of the Masked Avenger and the Lone Ranger, culminating on New Year’s Eve.

The film also helps shed light on the unfortunate realities of the world of radio, akin to discovering there may or may not be a Santa Claus. The stalwart heroes we envision in our minds are sometimes portrayed by short, balding actors, but such is the charm of radio. It stokes the fires of our creativity, allowing us to forge in our imaginations far more effective imagery than any that could be put on film

Annie (1999) – The Broadway musical hit based on the long-running comic strip Little Orphan Annie was original adapted for the big screen in 1982. However, it was overly-ambitious and awkward. Disney produced a made-for-TV version, one that’s tight, lean, and doesn’t try to be anything more than what it is. It’s a Christmas cookie of a movie, which is to say it’s sweet and light and not altogether fulfilling, but it helps quiet the kids. It features Kathy Bates, Victor Garber, and Alan Cumming (Nightcrawler in X-Men 2).

Justice League: Comfort & Joy (2003) – Usually, this popular animated series was presented in two 30-minute segments. This holiday show is the only stand-alone episode, as Flash and Ultra-Humanite set aside their differences to brighten the holidays of Central City’s orphans, and Superman and J’onn J’onzz journey to Smallville to enjoy Christmas with the Kents. There, a lonely J’onn explores what Christmas means to the people of Earth. Though light on the action, this particular episode serves as character development for the budding romance between Green Lantern and Hawkgirl.

New Batman Adventures: Holiday Knights (1997) – This fourth-season episode features a trio of holiday tales featuring some of Batman’s deadliest villains.

So you see we come full circle, to the Batman once again. And why Batman, instead of other heroes? Maybe it’s because he’s one of the very few crimefighters who is more like you and me than any other. Not just because he has no powers, but because in so many ways, there is still a great deal of the child in him – the child that existed before the night when he was forced to grow up so quickly.

You may be skeptic, but consider that within Bruce Wayne is the faith of a child. Faith that the war on crime can be won, that good will always triumph over evil, and that one life can make a difference in the lives of so many. That’s what Christmas is all about.

Praise and adulation? Scorn and ridicule? E-mail me at philip@comicbookbin.com