K.A.C. 2015 - T - 16 ...

     My Christmas Tree Totoro and all of us welcome you back for today's edition of the K.A.C. !

     So let's review - how many of this year's Kringle's Khristmas Kuties were you able to guess? The correct answers were:

# 1 - Deanna Durbin

# 2 - Rita Hayworth

# 3 - Peter Lorre

# 4 - Ava Gardner

# 5 - Alfred Hitchcock

# 6 - Buster Keaton

# 7 - Elsa Lanchester (as The Bride of Frankenstein)

# 8 - Hayley Mills 

# 9 - Elvira, Mistress of the Dark (aka Cassandra Peterson)

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           Tired of the same repetitive Christmas carols playing over and over this holiday season? Then give a listen to THIS!

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bv2UieD7B0c 

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     Just as a quick follow-up to last Friday's post, I did make it last night to see KRAMPUS at the Revere Cinema - my thoughts? It was quite fun - the film it is most reminiscent of the original GREMLINS (also set at Christmastime), when the warnings have been ignored and the creatures are going on a rampage. The film does lose its way about three-quarters of the way in, throwing everything but the kitchen sink on the screen to see what will stick. Krampus himself is magnificently realized, but (not surprisingly) they have made some changes to the legend (mainly in his legion of helpers - which he has never had - he's usually a one-man operation). The only significant stumble in the film, which my son and I both agreed on as soon as we saw it, was that it should have ended five minutes before it actually does. If you see the movie, you'll know exactly the spot I'm talking about. The ending the film currently has, while not bad, feels like studio interference - not exactly a happy ending, but not nearly as forceful as it could have been if they had ended it earlier. 
 
     The film has a PG-13 rating and even the most squeamish folks (like someone I know) can handle it - if I were going to give it a more holiday-like title, I'd go with IT'S NOT A WONDERFUL LIFE! :) Fun, suspenseful and over the top in a LOT of places, it's a worthy effort from director Michael Dougherty, cast and crew. Go see it! Oh, and somebody really needs to market the Krampus bells seen in the film! 

     Quint from Ain't It Cool News visited the set and gives a good rundown on the making of the film, the special effects and the antics of the cast (particularly the child actors). Be aware there are spoilers regarding the plot, so if you're planning to see the film, you might want to wait until after your viewing to read this:

     http://www.aintitcool.com/node/73890

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     Coming Tomorrow: Reader Submission Day, where we explore the stories YOU have sent in!