I'm pretty fortunate that most of the movies/DVDs/shows I watch are of above-average quality. I've used some of the best resources in magazines/friends/the internet to ensure that I filter out the garbage the best that I can and I try to catch as much of the good stuff as possible.
Once in while, though, I watch something that makes me feel changed after watching it. Once in a while, I watch something that so moves me, I'm not sure if I will ever be the same again.
In the waning hours of 2006, I watched one of those movies.
Joyeux Noel ("Merry Christmas") was one of the most beautiful, powerful things I've witnessed in a long time. This movie (now on DVD) told the story of the infamous "Christmas Truce" in World War I.
I heard about the truce a few years ago, and I found the whole thing amazingly unbelievable. On Christmas Eve, 1914, enemies put down their guns, rose from their trenches and celebrated Christmas together. Naturally, the Powers That Be didn't want word getting out about the unwarlike behavior, so actual proof that the truce occurred is hard to come by. But there is proof.
Enough proof that writer/director Christian Carion was able to piece together accounts and create this wonderful (fiction, but "based on real events") film.
In the movie, German forces face French and Scottish troops, and, in a miraculous series of events, they end up coming out of the trenches and meeting each other. They share stories, show pictures of their loved ones to each other, even play football (soccer) against one another on Christmas Eve and through Christmas. They allow each other to bury their dead on the day Christ was born and come together to celebrate the birth of their savior. Even though their states are enemies, the humanity of the individuals allowed them to find peace with each other-- even if it was for only a day.
I won't go it it any more (I'm tearing up just thinking about the movie-- not that it's sad-- it's just that wonderful), so as not to spoil anything. But, seriously, rent this movie. It's amazing.
The movie itself is worth the time, but it really behooves one to also watch the Interview with Director Christian Carion in the special features area after watching the movie. He goes over the history and research (in a very lively way) he put into the preparation of the movie. He also shares anecdotes he discovered (and wove into the story) and proves just how much truth is in the fiction of the movie.
Full disclosure alert: the movie is a French film, and the director (wisely) chose to have the characters speak in their own languages, so the Scots speak English, the French speak French and the Germans speak German. The non-English languages are subtitled. But you cannot let that deter you. Man-up and watch (read) this movie.
I have given a large number of "highly recommend"s in this blog, but this gets my highest. I have not watched or read anything this excellent in the entire year of 2006.
If you find it half as profound as I have, you will find you've changed a little inside as well.
Monday, January 01, 2007
Premieres and Notables Jan 1-Jan 7
Happy New Year! I'm back and trying to keep up with things as usual.
Monday, 1/1:
Craploads of college football. Pick a network and you'll find some dumbass bowl on it. I've got nothing against college football, but I do have something against the unabashed marketing of it. These student-athletes are being raped so their schools can make some coin. It's just wrong.
If you think I'm harsh here, wait until the bullshit "March Madness"...
High Maintenance; E!. 10 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Another moronic reality series from a network that used to have some respect. This piece of garbage gets the hired help's perspectives of their employers on Beverly Hills.
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations; Travel Channel. 8 & 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
I really dug Bourdain's book Kitchen Confidential (highly recommended), but I just couldn't get into this show. I guess I just don't understand great food.
Next; MTV. 4:30 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Remember when MTV had shows worth watching? Yeah, me neither.
Tuesday, 1/2
Dirt; FX. 9:00 pm CST. Series Premiere.
The first hour-long drama at FX that sounds like crap. Courtney Cox stars as an editor-in-chief of a tabloid rag. I haven't heard a single good thing about this show. I'll check it out because I'm stupid, but no reason for anyone else to make the same mistake.
If I've scared you off of a new show at 9 pm Tuesdays, why don't you jump over to TBS at 9:00 and watch My Boys. It's not great, but it's pretty entertaining. Plus, it's got two of my favorite supporting actors: Jim Gaffigan and Kyle Howard.
Oh yeah, Show Me the Money moves to Tuesdays at 7 pm. (Does anyone watch that show? I haven't met 'em...)
Wednesday, 1/3
Wired Science; PBS. 7 pm CST (but check your local listings). Series Premiere.
A new series inspired by Wired magazine.
Beauty and the Geek; CW. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.
And they dip to the well yet again... The first season was cute, but made any subsequent seasons pointless. Let me lay it out for you: Hot women who aren't so smart team with smart guys who aren't so hot and the teams help each other pass challenges. They come from different worlds, but ultimately see they're people like anyone else... It's a great show, but if you've seen it once, you've seen them all.
According to Jim; ABC. 7 pm & 7:30 pm CST. Season Premiere.
I used to like this show, but it's like so many network comedies: they sink to the lowest common denominator. Haven't watched it in about three years, so maybe it got better. I doubt it, though...
Knights of Prosperity; ABC. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
I looooved Donal Logue's last show (Grounded for Life), so I've got high hopes for this one, originally titled Let's Rob Mick Jagger. BTW: Jagger is supposed to have an awesome cameo in this pilot, so: Must See!
Check it out before American Idol completely buries this show in a few weeks.
In Case of Emergency; ABC. 8:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Starring David Arquette. That's all you need to know.
This show was doomed from the start.
Thursday, 1/4
The "Must See" Thursday block sounds hot tonight:
My Name is Earl: The gang watch home movies; or what other people call Cops.
The Office: Michael returns from Jamaica, and doesn't want to settle down-- until a risque photo from the vacation is circulated around the office.
Scrubs: A rash of far-fetched mysteries are solved by a cane-wielding Dr. Cox (in an obvious House parody). It's supposed to be awesome.
30 Rock: Jack and Tracy take a trip to a GE golf tournament. Okay, so they can't all be great...
Final 24; Biography. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Series about the final day of dead celebs. The pilot profiles John Belushi.
Friday, 1/5
Beyond the Break; The N. 7:30 CST. Season Premiere.
A second season of the surfboard soap.
Wild World of Spike; Spike. 11 pm. Series Premiere.
A mixed-martial-artist, a skateboarder, and a comedian recreate the world's weirdest sports.
Gunslinger Girl; IFC. 10 pm. Series Premiere.
Anime series for adults. That's all I've got...
Sunday, 1/7
Alma shows up on Desperate Housewives (ABC, 8 pm). That's big news if you're a fan...
And here are series (and season) premieres, shotgun-style:
Just Jordan; Nickelodeon. 6:30 pm
Grease: You're the One That I Want; NBC. 7 pm. A reality competition with people auditioning for the Broadway show. Seriously.
The Surreal Life Fame Games; VH1. 8 pm. I really liked the first and second seasons of the real show, but since then, they've sucked. This sounds even worse.
The Apprentice; NBC. 8:30, Season Premiere. This season is set in L.A. Oooooo. Someone needs to make The Donald go away. Unless he's talking smack about Rosie O'Donnell-- God, he railed on her...
I'm From Rolling Stone; MTV. 9 pm. Aspiring journalists compete for a staff position at the magazine. Now this sounds good. Except it's on MTV. They'll f*** it up somehow...
Living With Ed; HGTV. 9 pm. Follows Ed Begley Jr.'s eco-friendly life. I'd love to watch it, as I feel it's important, but I just don't think it'll be that interesting/good. Sorry, Ed.
Grey's Anatomy; Lifetime. 10 pm. Lifetime begins reairing the monster hit. I think I'm going to check it out. People love this show.
The L Word; Showtime. 9 pm. Season 4 begins.
Shooting Sizemore; VH1. 9:30. Follows Tom Sizemore's attempts to recover from substance abuse. Why why WHY!!!!!!
Message to VH1: YOU SUUUUUUUUCK!
Monday, 1/1:
Craploads of college football. Pick a network and you'll find some dumbass bowl on it. I've got nothing against college football, but I do have something against the unabashed marketing of it. These student-athletes are being raped so their schools can make some coin. It's just wrong.
If you think I'm harsh here, wait until the bullshit "March Madness"...
High Maintenance; E!. 10 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Another moronic reality series from a network that used to have some respect. This piece of garbage gets the hired help's perspectives of their employers on Beverly Hills.
Anthony Bourdain: No Reservations; Travel Channel. 8 & 9 pm CST. Season Premiere.
I really dug Bourdain's book Kitchen Confidential (highly recommended), but I just couldn't get into this show. I guess I just don't understand great food.
Next; MTV. 4:30 pm CST. Season Premiere.
Remember when MTV had shows worth watching? Yeah, me neither.
Tuesday, 1/2
Dirt; FX. 9:00 pm CST. Series Premiere.
The first hour-long drama at FX that sounds like crap. Courtney Cox stars as an editor-in-chief of a tabloid rag. I haven't heard a single good thing about this show. I'll check it out because I'm stupid, but no reason for anyone else to make the same mistake.
If I've scared you off of a new show at 9 pm Tuesdays, why don't you jump over to TBS at 9:00 and watch My Boys. It's not great, but it's pretty entertaining. Plus, it's got two of my favorite supporting actors: Jim Gaffigan and Kyle Howard.
Oh yeah, Show Me the Money moves to Tuesdays at 7 pm. (Does anyone watch that show? I haven't met 'em...)
Wednesday, 1/3
Wired Science; PBS. 7 pm CST (but check your local listings). Series Premiere.
A new series inspired by Wired magazine.
Beauty and the Geek; CW. 7 pm CST. Season Premiere.
And they dip to the well yet again... The first season was cute, but made any subsequent seasons pointless. Let me lay it out for you: Hot women who aren't so smart team with smart guys who aren't so hot and the teams help each other pass challenges. They come from different worlds, but ultimately see they're people like anyone else... It's a great show, but if you've seen it once, you've seen them all.
According to Jim; ABC. 7 pm & 7:30 pm CST. Season Premiere.
I used to like this show, but it's like so many network comedies: they sink to the lowest common denominator. Haven't watched it in about three years, so maybe it got better. I doubt it, though...
Knights of Prosperity; ABC. 8 pm CST. Series Premiere.
I looooved Donal Logue's last show (Grounded for Life), so I've got high hopes for this one, originally titled Let's Rob Mick Jagger. BTW: Jagger is supposed to have an awesome cameo in this pilot, so: Must See!
Check it out before American Idol completely buries this show in a few weeks.
In Case of Emergency; ABC. 8:30 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Starring David Arquette. That's all you need to know.
This show was doomed from the start.
Thursday, 1/4
The "Must See" Thursday block sounds hot tonight:
My Name is Earl: The gang watch home movies; or what other people call Cops.
The Office: Michael returns from Jamaica, and doesn't want to settle down-- until a risque photo from the vacation is circulated around the office.
Scrubs: A rash of far-fetched mysteries are solved by a cane-wielding Dr. Cox (in an obvious House parody). It's supposed to be awesome.
30 Rock: Jack and Tracy take a trip to a GE golf tournament. Okay, so they can't all be great...
Final 24; Biography. 9 pm CST. Series Premiere.
Series about the final day of dead celebs. The pilot profiles John Belushi.
Friday, 1/5
Beyond the Break; The N. 7:30 CST. Season Premiere.
A second season of the surfboard soap.
Wild World of Spike; Spike. 11 pm. Series Premiere.
A mixed-martial-artist, a skateboarder, and a comedian recreate the world's weirdest sports.
Gunslinger Girl; IFC. 10 pm. Series Premiere.
Anime series for adults. That's all I've got...
Sunday, 1/7
Alma shows up on Desperate Housewives (ABC, 8 pm). That's big news if you're a fan...
And here are series (and season) premieres, shotgun-style:
Just Jordan; Nickelodeon. 6:30 pm
Grease: You're the One That I Want; NBC. 7 pm. A reality competition with people auditioning for the Broadway show. Seriously.
The Surreal Life Fame Games; VH1. 8 pm. I really liked the first and second seasons of the real show, but since then, they've sucked. This sounds even worse.
The Apprentice; NBC. 8:30, Season Premiere. This season is set in L.A. Oooooo. Someone needs to make The Donald go away. Unless he's talking smack about Rosie O'Donnell-- God, he railed on her...
I'm From Rolling Stone; MTV. 9 pm. Aspiring journalists compete for a staff position at the magazine. Now this sounds good. Except it's on MTV. They'll f*** it up somehow...
Living With Ed; HGTV. 9 pm. Follows Ed Begley Jr.'s eco-friendly life. I'd love to watch it, as I feel it's important, but I just don't think it'll be that interesting/good. Sorry, Ed.
Grey's Anatomy; Lifetime. 10 pm. Lifetime begins reairing the monster hit. I think I'm going to check it out. People love this show.
The L Word; Showtime. 9 pm. Season 4 begins.
Shooting Sizemore; VH1. 9:30. Follows Tom Sizemore's attempts to recover from substance abuse. Why why WHY!!!!!!
Message to VH1: YOU SUUUUUUUUCK!
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