Christmas with a Capital C

This movie was done really well. I loved the message about taking Christ out of Christmas. I was equally pleased with the presentation of the Bible. There were only 2 parts in this movie that I think could have been written more accurately to portray Christianity. The first situation was at the beginning when the family was talking about the book that they were reading (vampires falling in love) which is easy to see as supporting the Twilight series. This to me is distasteful and didn't need to be in there. Any other thing could have been discussed between mother and daughter instead of promoting Twilight. If you truly love God, why would you want to put this demonic stuff in a Christian show? The second situation I wish was rewritten was the part when the dad was talking with the son about his "girl" friend. The father asks his son if she's cute. He responds with a yes. Then the dad (without knowing anything about the girl) comes back with, "That's my son!" This portrays to all boys that you should look for a good-looking girl and to all girls that acquiring physical beauty is important if you want to find a guy. What does it say in the Bible about beauty? Beauty is deceitful, but a woman who fears the Lord is to be praised. If these 2 scenes were taken out of this movie, I would have rated it probably a 9. I am just tired of seeing weak Christianity portrayed on television. Now, Courageous is not a weak Christian film and I would give that a 10!

I haven't seen this movie, but I have to comment on the others reviews here. I hate how people are so quick to criticize and become "offended" at every little thing they can get their hands on these days. Christmas may have started as a Christian holiday, but now it is a secular holiday. It's Hanukkah, Kwanza, Christmas, and every other winter gift giving season in one. There are a lot of people of every faith that celebrate Christmas. It's a time to set aside to be nice to each other, spread a little more love than the rest of the year, give and get gifts that say "you're special to someone" and generally feel better than the rest of the year. There's not a lot to feel nice about these days, and the fact that people attack the celebration of Christmas because it happened once to be a Christian holiday is abhorrent. It didn't even start as a Christian holiday. It used to be a pagan holiday and was turned into a day to celebrate Christ's birth because it was convenient for the church because everyone was celebrating at that time anyway. It has changed again. Ask almost any child who they think of when they think of Christmas and they won't say Jesus, they'll say Santa Claus. I would say you should be ashamed of yourselves for denigrating something that should make everyone feel better about everyone else, but it's Christmas time, so I'll just say Merry Christmas to you all, regardless of religion, and consider this message strongly the next time you think about badmouthing Christmas.

BEWARE OF BOGUS REVIEWS. SOME REVIEWERS HAVE ONLY ONE REVIEW. WHEN ITS A POSITIVE REVIEW THAT TELLS ME THEY WERE INVOLVED WITH THE PRODUCTION. IF ITS A NEGATIVE REVIEW THEN THEY MIGHT HAVE A GRUDGE AGAINST THAT PRODUCTION. NOW I HAVE REVIEWED OVER 200 Christmas MOVIES. I HAVE NO AGENDA. I AM FARE ABOUT THESE FILMS.

This film is not a love it or hate it film. What this film is passable entertainment with a lesson about??

In this film Christmas has always been an exceptional time of love and tradition in the small town of Trapper Falls, Alaska. Hometown of Mayor Dan Reed (Ted McGinley) looks forward to each year with enthusiasm. Together with his brother Greg (Brad Stine), they dedicate time away from their adventure tour company to drape the town is Christmas cheer. When Dan's old high school rival Mitch Bright (Daniel Baldwin), a mean-spirited and embittered militant atheist returns home after 20 years, Dan is immediately suspicious. Mitch is a highly successful big city lawyer who has never wanted anything to do with Trapper Falls. The rivalry re-ignites when the frustrated Mitch takes offense to what he sees as the town's violation of his rights. Mitch wants the Nativity scene removed from the front of City hall and the word Christmas switched to Happy Holidays on all signs. Fifty years of tradition are now challenged not by an outsider but a former member of the community. As the conflict escalates it goes beyond one person's opinion but magnifies into an entire town problem when Mitch enters into the mayoral race to have Dan replaced.

Now I am very liberal. I liked this film. Its not great but it is sweet. The motivations of everyone in this film is understandable. Now people who made this film had an agenda to say that there is a war on Christmas which is not true.

"Retailers Love Christmas". I worked all over the USA and have always said "Merry Christmas" and nobody said "I shouldn't" and no customer ever complained.

Now my Christians readers would you get mad if a Jewish Person said to you "Happy Hanukkah"? I doubt it. Normal people would say "Thank you" or "Same to you".

Happy Holidays came about only because it was cheaper for stores to have a window painted with just one message and no re-paint for Hanukkah. That's all. When I worked at stores I never got in trouble for saying "Merry Christmas".

Now back to the film. AS film the plot is passable. the film moved quickly along. The film has a conclusion that I find almost laughable but the message isn't laughable.

Small Children will be bored. Some adults too. But what comes through is that "Christmas is a time where we should open our minds and our hearts"

I will say that Christmas With A Capital C has one undeniable value. If you want to know the kind of place that spawned the Palin family and inflicted them on the world than this film is a must. Wasilla where Sarah Palin was mayor was just the kind of place you see here with Ted McGinley as chief executive.

This looks like a most homogeneous community when McGinley's old rival Dan Baldwin comes back. He's seen the great big world outside and made a small fortune doing it. For some reason he's decided to be the Grinch and is starting a lawsuit to get the nativity scene removed. The 'war' on Christmas is a big theme in the evangelical circuit where this played.

Baldwin does have ulterior motives and they are discovered, of course. I only thought that Stephen Baldwin went the Christian route. I've always said Thanksgivings are most interesting when the Baldwins gather. Now more than ever.

Nancy Stafford late of Matlock plays McGinley's wife and part of the reason for Baldwin's Grinch like behavior is as always beautiful. Christmas With A Capital C is not overtly preachy and could be enjoyed in a theater as well as a church.

Why is it that Christians don't seem to get the long-settled Constitutional issue of not putting religious displays on public property? And that said issue doesn't affect private property, including privately-owned stores? The very premise of this movie is based on a lie. It doesn't matter if it's a "tradition" to put a nativity scene on the grounds of city hall; the Supreme Court ruled decades ago that it violated the First Amendment. Also, not even the most hardcore atheist is "offended" by Christmas; pointing out that it's unconstitutional is NOT the same as being offended.

In the film's defense, though, it does feature a drug-addled Daniel Baldwin attempting to act, Ted McGinley acting out every "regular Christian guy" trope and Brad Stine acting like a crazy homeless guy. I assume he's just aplying himself.

Rather than actually watching this movie, I suggest watching Hugo & Jake's review of it on You Tube. They explain the issues in a much more entertaining fashion than I.