STACK #158 Dec 2017

DVD&BD FEATURE

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'Tis the season to be jolly, and what better source of merriment than chucking a Chrissy classic on theTV on the morning of the 25th? Knowing full well just how many there are to choose from, we've put together a selection of some of our – and JB Hi-Fi's – favourites. But why choose just one? Head in-store now and grab a stockingful. Words Amy Flower

ELF Will Ferrell tones down the crudity for this family- friendly tale that’s quickly become a Christmas favourite. He’s Buddy, an elf who has grown up to become, well, rather buddy big. Actually, he isn’t an elf of course, but he was raised by them, so the elven life is all that he knows. Still gripped by ancestral urges, Buddy heads to NYC to find his dad – a guy whose name is a Santa’s naughty list staple. HOME ALONE If you read the title and didn’t think of Macaulay Culkin and THAT face he pulls on the poster then congrats, you’re the alone one now! Eight-year-old Kevin McCallister is at home for the Christmas holidays. Not unusual in and of itself, except that his neglectful parents have jetted off to Paris without him. With scary neighbours and burglars to deal with – plus not knowing if he’s been missed – Kevin has a lot to deal with. BAD SANTA If you’re all sunshine and lollipops at Christmas, that’s cool – and understandable. But some cynical types prefer the "bah humbug!" approach – like conman Willie Soke (Billy Bob Thornton). Willie dresses as Santa simply to rip off department stores and set himself up for another year of self-loathing and drunken debauchery. But his sweet set-up could come to an end in this hilariously wrong Christmas favourite.

IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE The absolute pinnacle of Christmastime movie joy for many, even though it isn’t a dedicated Christmas film. In actual fact it’s quite dark – George Bailey (James Stewart) is on the verge of suicide on Christmas Eve. An angel is despatched to save him, and we then witness many of the selfless things he's done for others. Will he earn his wings and have a happy Christmas? If you don’t know the answer, do treat yourself. OFFICE CHRISTMAS PARTY Getting sacked at Christmas sucks. Or, if you survive a downsizing cull, having your party nixed also, well, sucks. So, what’s the solution? Defy the bosses and put on the biggest, baddest, bawdiest shindig imaginable in order to impress a potential new client who, if he comes on board, will save everybody’s jobs. It’s a great idea – assuming that things don’t get way out of hand, of course... WHITE CHRISTMAS It was introduced in 1942’s Holiday Inn , and the massive popularity of the song – still the biggest selling single ever – inspired this movie. Two former army entertainers (Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye) team up post-war as a song and dance act. Upon meeting a female double act, they’re smitten, and follow them to their Christmas show at a lodge. Cue all manner of seasonal romantic mix-ups – and Bing crooning. THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS Hey, creepy stop-motion puppets need Christmas too! Few do creepy better than Tim Burton, and this tale that he penned is ground zero for off-kilter Chrissie joy. Jake Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloween Town, encounters the similarly holiday- themed Christmas Town, and he’s an instant convert. Bored with the usual battiness of his holiday, he tries a Christmas re-engineering of Halloween Town, but it all goes a whole lot wrong.

NATIONAL LAMPOON'S CHRISTMAS VACATION

This John Hughes-penned Christmas classic, the third Chevy Chase Vacation flick, sees the Griswold family aiming for a pleasant holiday season. Despite dealing with everyday annoyances, family bickering, electrical problems, unexpected guests and an unreceived Christmas bonus, Clark remains positive. Well, until, jelly... The funniest Vacation of all, and terrifyingly typical of the season of “peace and goodwill” for many.

Check out the range of Cracker Christmas Classics at

until 7th January 2018.

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DECEMBER 2017

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