Movie Review: RED ONE

By ABBIE BERNSTEIN 11/15/2024
RED ONE movie poster | ©2024 MGM / Amazon Studios

Rating: PG-13 Stars: Dwayne Johnson, Chris Evans, Lucy Liu, J.K. Simmons, Bonnie Hunt, Kristofer Hivju, Kiernan Shipka, Wesley Kimmel, Mary Elizabeth Ellis, Nick Kroll Writer: Chris Morgan, story by Hiram Garcia Director: Jake Kasdan Distributor: MGM/Amazon Studios Release Date: November 15, 2024 The premise of RED ONE contains all sorts of intriguing Northern and Eastern European folklore: not only Santa Claus, but some darker figures as well. This could have made a great Rankin-Bass special, either with conventional animation or RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER-style puppetry, or even a live-action fantasy, a la the NARNIA films. However, RED ONE, directed by […]Read On »


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THE BLOODLINE OF YULE: Author Maria Alexander on her Christmas horror trilogy of novels – Exclusive Interview

By ABBIE BERNSTEIN 04/26/2021
SNOWED book cover | ©2021 Ghede Press

THE BLOODLINE OF YULE trilogy consists of three YA novels by Maria Alexander: SNOWED, SNOWBOUND, and SNOWBLIND. The three books take the connections between jolly Christmas elf Santa Claus and demonic Yuletide entity Krampus and posit that he’s really the same being, the Klaas. Depending on what mood he’s in, the Klaas can manifest as either Santa or Krampus. He spends most of the year in his icy snowbound fortress at the North Pole, but can find anyone with The List. In SNOWED, the Klaas’s son and heir apparent Aidan runs away and meets mortal tech-whiz teenager Charity Jones. The […]Read On »


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Exclusive Interview with the IT’S A SPONGEBOB CHRISTMAS stop motion special creative team

By A.C. FERRANTE 12/06/2012
IT'S A SPONGEBOB CHRISTMAS | ©2012 Nickelodeon

For over thirteen years, SPONGEBOB SQUAREPANTS has been a Nickelodeon cartoon staple and even though there have been Christmas episodes over the years, there’s never been a stop-motion Christmas special. That’s all changed with IT’S A SPONGEBOB CHRISTMAS! which takes the little sponge who lives under the sea and forces him to deal with Plankton’s evil plan to turn everyone into a jerk for Christmas. The special already aired on CBS and will be making its Nickelodeon debut tonight. ASSIGNMENT X spoke with co-directors Seamus Walsh and Mark Caballero as well as producer Chris Finnegan about the complicated process in […]Read On »


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Movie Review: RISE OF THE GUARDIANS

By ABBIE BERNSTEIN 11/25/2012
RISE OF THE GUARDIANS movie poster | ©2012 DreamWorks

Rating: PG Stars (voices): Chris Pine, Alec Baldwin, Hugh Jackman, Isla Fisher, Jude Law, Dakota Goyo Writer: David Lindsay-Abaire, based on the short film and book by William Joyce Director: Peter Ramsey Distributor: DreamWorks Animation SKG RISE OF THE GUARDIANS is a 3D animated feature that brushes off the hoarfrost from notions like the importance of a child’s sense of wonder and makes something entertaining and even sometimes moving from it. Scripted by David Lindsay-Abaire from William Joyce’s short film and novel, RISE OF THE GUARDIANS actually feels like a fairytale, the kind that used to enthrall most of us […]Read On »


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Exclusive Interview: ARTHUR CHRISTMAS director Sarah Smith finds a new spirit of Christmas

By CARL CORTEZ 11/28/2011
Arthur in ARTHUR CHRISTMAS | ©2011 Sony Pictures Animation/Aardman Animation

Finding a new take on the familiar Santa Claus adventures is a formidable task, but writer-director Sarah Smith and co-writer Peter Baynham were up for the challenge with the new animated film ARTHUR CHRISTMAS. A CGI co-production between Aardman Animation and Sony Pictures Animation, the story follows wayward Santa Claus offspring Arthur – a well-to-do nebbish who believes in the true spirit of Christmas, but will sadly never be next in line for the Santa job with his much more together older brother Steve – who has completely streamlined the Santa operation for dear old Santa dad with a state-of-the-art […]Read On »


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Movie Review: ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

By ABBIE BERNSTEIN 11/23/2011
ARTHUR CHRISTMAS Movie Poster | ©2011 Sony Pictures

Rating: PG Stars (voices): James McAvoy, Hugh Laurie, Jim Broadbent, Bill Nighy, Ashley Jensen, Imelda Staunton Writers: Peter Baynham & Sarah Smith Director: Sarah Smith Distributor: Columbia Pictures Release Date: November 23, 2011 Some fantasy subgenres are so populous that they have arguably outgrown the designation of “sub”: the lovelorn vampire, the quest through mystical lands, the zombie apocalypse. Add to this list (and check it twice) the genre of Santa having gift delivery issues on Christmas Eve. The newest iteration of this last is ARTHUR CHRISTMAS, the first 3D CGI animation (as opposed to stop-motion Claymation) offering from Aardman, […]Read On »


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CD Review: HOP original soundtrack

By DANIEL SCHWEIGER 05/08/2011
HOP original soundtrack | ©2011 Varese Sarabande Records

Composer Christopher Lennertz could open up a pet store for wiseacre talking animals based on how many of these critters he’s given speedy energy to, but amidst cages filled with chipmunks, dogs, birds and cats, it’s the bunny who’s got the best pedigree. For in a genre that often turns out to be a dragged-along parents’ equivalent to cleaning up after a hyper puppy, HOP is a pleasingly seditious all-ages delight in every department, its Easter bill paid in style by Lennertz’s rambunctious stylings. His thematic melodies run like a mad dervish through HOP’s double-entendres and slapstick gags instead of […]Read On »


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The X List: Horror For the Holidays – Ten Christmas Films That Will Disrupt Your Silent Nights

By PETER BROWN 12/24/2010
RARE EXPORTS - A CHRISTMAS TALE - U.S. Poster | © 2010 Oscilloscope Laboratories

While everyone else is cuddling up to a copy of A CHRISTMAS CAROL,  A CHRISTMAS STORY, NATIONAL LAMPOON’S CHRISTMAS VACATION, heck, even some people still watch WHITE CHRISTMAS, we here at ASSIGNMENT X thought it was high time to give credit where bloody credit is due to the films that have an unconventional way of celebrating Christmas cheer – namely one of sheer terror. That’s why we invite you to celebrate a little horror for the holiday’s with us, chronicling ten unconventional films that are just as worthy as the umpteenth incarnation of A CHRISTMAS STORY retold on any one […]Read On »


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DVD Review: BLACK CHRISTMAS – Special Edition

By CARL CORTEZ
BLACK CHRISTMAS movie poster

For decades, many cited HALLOWEEN as being the first true slasher film, igniting a subgenre that continues strong to this day, but it was this curious little exploitation film that set the bar for all slasher films to come.

It’s the holiday’s again, so now, is as good as time as any to revisit why BLACK CHRISTMAS, is hands down the best Christmas-themed horror movie (sorry SILENT NIGHT, DEADLY NIGHT).


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TV Review: WAREHOUSE 13 – Season 2 – “Secret Santa”

By T.K. DEHN 12/08/2010
Eddie McClintock, Joanne Kelly in WAREHOUSE 13 - Season 2 - "Secret Santa" | ©2010 NBC Universal

When Los Angeles businessman Larry Newley (Paul Blackthorne, erstwhile star of Syfy’s THE DRESDEN FILES) has his home vandalized by an apparition that twinkles and swooshes, it means Pete (Eddie McClintock) and Myka (Joanne Kelly) have to say goodbye to their separate plans to spend Christmas with their respective families.


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