Ep. 54: A Holiday Celebration

Alex and Lee ring in the holiday season by sharing favorite holiday memories, favorite festive films, and a holiday wish list for accessibility.

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Transcript

Lee Pugsley
Happy holidays, everyone, and welcome back to another episode of The Dark Room, where two blind cinephiles illuminate the sighted. I'm Lee Pugsley.

Alex Howard
I'm Alex Howard.

Lee Pugsley
And this is a podcast hosted by two legally blind guys for film lovers of all abilities. And it's crazy to think that this year is almost over, and we are very much in the height of the holiday season. So we thought it would be fun this year to do a little warm and cozy holiday episode. In the years that we've been doing this podcast, we realized that we hadn't ever done one of these. So it's going to be fun just to talk about the holidays a little bit and celebrate the holiday season in the different ways that we celebrate it. So Alex, to begin with, I'll throw it over to you. What does the holiday season mean to you? And do you have any favorite holiday memories?

Alex Howard
So being Jewish, obviously, I don't celebrate Christmas. I celebrate Chanukah. And generally, I really like the vibe of the holiday season, just like out and about. I love everything's cheery, everything's like, sweater weather, warm. Everyone's in a good mood. I just like the vibe of it. It's like my holiday is a different time sometimes and sometimes at the same time. So it's like, sometimes it's in November. So sometimes I'm done with my holiday by the time the holiday season is still going. But I just like the vibe of everything anyway.

Lee Pugsley
I totally connect with that. I love the hustle and bustle of everyone stopping, the festive decorations and the lights. And I was thinking about this the other day, and I think one of the reasons I really like Christmas lights or holiday-themed lights is because they're bright, and so I'm able to see them more clearly. And anything that has bright illumination is always really exciting to me, and also for visual reasons, helps me enjoy the full effect more.

Alex Howard
Oh, that's interesting. Yeah, I never thought about it before. Yeah, I can see that. And I definitely agree with you, although this year, I felt like I went to the LA zoo lights, and some of them gave me a little bit of a migraine because sometimes the blue light triggers me. It hasn't happened before this year, but this year has been a little bit more sensitive. But usually, yes, I really like all the lights and stuff.

Lee Pugsley
And I also like the spirit that people have around the holiday season. It just seems like people are more kind, generous, and giving, and not to say that people aren't like that the rest of the year, but it almost seems like there is more of an intentional focus on, let's really think about what the holiday season means, and let's do our best to celebrate that, and to give to other people, and think beyond just ourselves. And I really appreciate that about the holiday season, too.

Alex Howard
Oh, yeah, I definitely agree. There seems to just be a pep in everyone's step, you know.

Lee Pugsley
100%. Now, do you have any favorite holiday memories from Chanukah? Or I guess it could be even Thanksgiving or just anything that sticks out to you.

Alex Howard
Yeah, I think my favorite holiday memory was spending Chanukah in Israel. I went on birthright. Usually people go in the summer, but I went in the winter because I figured out that Chanukah was going to be going while I was there. And so I wanted to see what it was like to do Chanukah in Israel, and it did not disappoint. It was so cool. It's kind of like Christmas here. They had a bunch of colorful donuts in the shops and a giant menorah in the town square. It felt very... Just like here with Christmas, it felt like there with Chanukah was great.

Lee Pugsley
That's incredible. I honestly can't think of any better place to celebrate Chanukah than in Israel during that season. I mean, that really would be a once in a lifetime sort of experience. I can only imagine.

Alex Howard
Yeah, for sure. Yeah, that's how I felt, too. What about you, Lee? Do you have any favorite holiday memories?

Lee Pugsley
I think that one of the favorite holiday memories that comes to mind, and this more a tradition, is just going with my mom or my grandma to get the Christmas tree from a Christmas tree lot in Idaho. And it was snowy over there. So it really felt like a white Christmas. And we would go, when we would pick out our Christmas tree, you'd go home, you'd smell that fresh pine scent, and then we would just decorate it together while we were listening to Christmas music. Sometimes my mom or my grandma would bake cookies. And it was just a really special time as family to ring in the Christmas season and to make it very festive. It's one of those memories that I'm always going to hold very dear to my heart. And now that my mom and grandma are both passed away, it's one of those things that's very special to me, and I'll always hang on to that.

Alex Howard
That's really sweet. Yeah. And I see why you're such a big fan of the holidays, too, because it probably brings you back to that time, all the smells and everything. That's really cool.

Lee Pugsley
And it's so interesting, too, celebrating the holidays season in Los Angeles, where we currently live, versus in Idaho, where I grew up. Because once again, in Idaho, you have the cold, you have the snow, so you see everyone in hats and mittens and with sleds and hot chocolate and fireplaces. And in LA, the weather is obviously a little bit different. So I'll be honest, it was a little off-putting to me when I moved to California and I would see Santa Claus in, like, shorts under a tree ringing the Salvation Army Bell, or Christmas lights on palm trees and all that. So it's definitely taken some getting used to. But I can really appreciate the different ways of celebration here. There's a lot of similarities, even though we don't have the cold weather like I did growing up.

Alex Howard
Oh, for sure. I can definitely sympathize with that. We've been out to see my son Trace a few times during the holidays. And all the snow, it's definitely a way different vibe. I really like it with all the snow, but it's also very hard to travel in all of that. But yeah, it's a very different vibe here. But I also think LA, there are certain spots, like the Grove, the Americana. I feel like that really gives you the Christmas sense because they have all the music going, all the the giant tree. Disneyland also gives you that vibe a little bit.

Lee Pugsley
Absolutely. And when you're out and about in those areas, it just makes you feel like you're a part of something bigger than yourself. And the holidays always feel like a very unifying time where people come together. And I think that's a really beautiful thing.

Alex Howard
Yeah, 100%. I agree.

Lee Pugsley
Well, moving forward into thinking about holiday movies now, because our podcast is focused on film, let's go ahead and talk about some of our favorite holiday movies. And to start off with, I just want to let everyone know that these movies that we are talking about may be directly holiday-themed, or they may just be movies that, for whatever reason, or family traditions or anything else, just put us in the holiday mood. So Alex, I know that both you and I have selected five of our favorite holiday movies, and we're going to rank those. So I'll start off with you. What's your number five spot for favorite holiday films?

Alex Howard
So there aren't any good Chanukah movies. I mean, There's Eight Crazy Nights, but I'm not a huge fan of that movie. So the only one I would mention would be the Rugrats Chanukah Special, but that's only a half hour, hour, 45 minutes, something like that. So it doesn't really count as a movie. And so I didn't put it on this list also because I don't know that it has AD. I just wanted to mention that as an honorable mention, I really like the Rugrats Chanukah Special. But most of the movies on this list are Christmas movies that either broke through the mold that I ended up watching and enjoying despite me not celebrating Christmas, or they include Chanukah in some way, or like you said, have that vibe of just the holiday season in general. So my number 5 is Home Alone. I definitely grew up watching Home Alone. Home Alone 1 and 2. But I think Home Alone 1 is definitely one of my favorites. I haven't watched it in years, but when you think of holidays, I still think about Home Alone, and it does have AD on Disney Plus as well.

Lee Pugsley
And another component about the audio description for Home Alone specifically, both one and two, is I feel like audio description for that movie is so important because there's so many visual gags.

Alex Howard
Oh, I definitely agree. It's a lot of physical humor in the AD. I haven't watched it with AD personally yet, but I would bet it plays a big part in your enjoyment of it.

Lee Pugsley
I have watched it with AD once, and I was so glad that it actually had AD because for those people who are completely blind or for people like us who have lost vision over the years, it still makes it a very enjoyable experience. I'm so glad that they went back and described that film. And this is also a hot take for me, but I actually think that Home Alone 2 is better than Home Alone 1. And maybe that's just because I love New York, but I'll still stand by it.

Alex Howard
Yeah. It's usually like you watch one, then you watch the other, because they're both pretty good.

Lee Pugsley
And also the John Williams score feels very holiday as well, even though there's not necessarily any Christmas songs or holiday songs within that score. It just put you in a very holiday mood.

Alex Howard
Yeah, for sure. I also heard a cool story the other day that John Candy, he's in the first one, obviously, and his role, he was the lowest paid actor on the movie because he didn't want to take money for it. He took the SAG bare minimum, which came out to $414 or something. And then he improvised his whole monolog because he only has that one scene. And then Fox wrote him a check for $500. And in the memo, it said, "Keep the change, you filthy animal."

Lee Pugsley
That's really interesting. I did not know that, but thanks for enlightening me about that.

Alex Howard
This is from a TikTok. So if we can believe everything on the Internet, you know, that's true.

Lee Pugsley
Fair point. Well, I guess it's my turn now, and I will go with my number five. And just when you thought that I wasn't going to talk about this movie anymore since a few years ago, here it does resurface, and that is The Holdovers. I think it's one of those movies that came out recently that I feel like very much feels in the vein of a Christmas classic, more of a modern one, obviously. But I don't really need to say much more about it. We both know how much I love this movie and raved about it when it was Oscar season a few years ago, but I still stand by it. It just puts me in the holiday mood and really well-acted, really compelling story, and I find it moving every time I watch it.

Alex Howard
Yeah, that's a great movie. I know I saw it at TIFF 2023, and I have not watched it since then. I've been meaning to revisit it.

Lee Pugsley
Well, maybe this is the time to do it, and it does have AD as well.

Alex Howard
It very well might be the time to do it. I know. Another shout out. I'm working at the Holidays Made Here event at Warner Brothers Studio Tour this holiday season. I'm literally there for three weeks. But if you want to come to the Gilmore Girls event at Warner Brothers, come visit me at the info booth over there. I don't know if I'll have time to watch The Holdovers because I'm working 14 out of the 18 days that they're open. But that's definitely one that I want to keep in mind and go revisit.

Lee Pugsley
Yeah, you're going to have a very festive time over there. And yeah, I'll reiterate that, if anyone is in the Los Angeles area and wants to come meet one of the co-hosts of the Dark Room podcast, go to Warner Brothers to the Gilmore Girls display and say hi to Alex.

Alex Howard
Yeah, it's going to be super cool, especially if you're a Gilmore Girls fan, they're going to have so much stuff. I think they said they have 47 things you can interact with and do there. It's crazy.

Lee Pugsley
Yeah, that sounds like a lot of fun. So what's your number four?

Alex Howard
My number four is La La Land, which I know is not technically a Christmas movie, but I think it came out in December. I think it definitely gives those comfy holiday vibes. And the only reason it's so low is because it's not really a holiday movie. So I kinda bumped it down a bit. But I was looking at what's showing at Rooftop Cinema Club this weekend, and one of the movies was La La Land, and I was like, "Oh, that makes sense. That kind of has that vibe." So yeah, that's why I put it on here because I just got reminded of it, actually.

Lee Pugsley
That's awesome. And I love the fact that's on your list. I always associate La La Land with the holidays as well. I wouldn't necessarily classify as a holiday film, like you were saying, but I can understand why it sticks out to you because it did come out in December. And when it did come out, I remember seeing it multiple times during that holiday season. So definitely sticks in my brain as a film that I engage with very heavily during the holiday season. And it's a beautiful film. It's a masterpiece. I mean, there's nothing more to really say about it other than it's a spectacular film, and I look forward to the next rerelease of it, which could be coming up next year because it'll be the 10-year anniversary.

Alex Howard
Yeah, isn't that crazy? La La Land came out 10 years ago. I love that movie. And God, I cry every time I watch that movie. So I also watch it when I have an interview, a job interview. It really pumps me up and gives me confidence because Emma Stone's audition in the movie, I feel like it's similar to doing a job interview in the entertainment industry. So I watch it for that, too. But I cry every time I watch the movie. And I feel like this time of year, for some reason, you want to watch movies that make you cry, at least for me. So yeah, La La Land is definitely one for me.

Lee Pugsley
And I believe that there is a scene in the movie that takes place around Christmas time.

Alex Howard
I think so, too. Yeah.

Lee Pugsley
Towards the beginning of the movie, I remember he's playing Jingle Bells or something. He, meaning Ryan Gosling, is playing Jingle Bells at a restaurant or something like that.

Alex Howard
Yeah, I think you're right. And funny enough, not to bring it back to Gilmore Girls about everything, but one of the sets that they're using, that they use in Gilmore Girls, that they're going to be using during the event that I'm working, was that coffee shop that was on the Warner Brothers lot, and they're using it for the Gilmore Girls thing this holiday season.

Lee Pugsley
That's so cool.

Alex Howard
So what's your number four, Lee?

Lee Pugsley
My number four is a very classic movie that I used to think was super boring when I was younger, but It's A Wonderful Life with Jimmy Stewart from 1939. And it does have audio description from what I researched, although it's traveled from streaming service to streaming service, and the AD track is very inconsistent and doesn't always travel with it. So if you are looking for It's A Wonderful Life with AD, just be aware that it's really hit or miss, unfortunately, and such is the issue with a lot of movies that travel with or without AD tracks. That being said, the movie itself is very thought-provoking. It's a beautiful movie that really makes you reflect on your life, on who you are as a human being, and on what matters in life. So I really enjoy this movie. Have you seen it?

Alex Howard
I have not seen it. This is one that I did not watch growing up. I should watch it because I heard my brother and my mom talking about it over Thanksgiving. I should watch it, but I know I want to watch it with AD.

Lee Pugsley
Yeah, hopefully when you do watch it, wherever you find it, the AD track is still present there. And it's also a movie that I feel like you could watch anytime. I know that it traditionally is around the Christmas time when everyone talks about it and everyone watches it. But it's not just a holiday movie. I think that you could watch it any time of the year, and it's just as relevant and can have just as much poignancy and entertainment value, because it does take place around Christmas. But a lot of the movie is just going through this man's life.

Alex Howard
Yeah, I think I've seen like, you know, they did... What was the one with Ryan Reynolds? Was that a take on It's a Wonderful Life?

Lee Pugsley
Spirited, the Apple TV movie?

Alex Howard
Yes.

Lee Pugsley
It's a take on A Christmas Carol, but I feel like A Christmas Carol and It's a Wonderful Life have very similar themes, and they hit at the same point as well, which-- This is not in my top five favorite list, but Spirited is a fun movie as well. I had a good time with that movie.

Alex Howard
Yeah, that's a very fun movie. I agree.

Lee Pugsley
And the songs are catchy. I know that's a subjective opinion because some people really don't love the songs at all, but I had a good time with it.

Alex Howard
Yeah, I'll have to check out It's A Wonderful Life.

Lee Pugsley
Now, what's your number three?

Alex Howard
This is another one that broke through from my childhood. The Will Farrell comedy of it all, I think made it for everyone, not just a Christmas movie. And I actually own this on 4K with audio descriptions. So that's another reason why it's on the list. I haven't watched it yet with AD.

Lee Pugsley
Elf is such a classic movie, and it's one of one of the more modern holiday films that really made the cut. Because with all the new movies coming out in the last, I don't know, 25 years or so, it's really rare when a holiday movie can cement itself in the canon of movies that people will consider classic holiday films that are essential viewing every season. And I feel like Elf really stands out in that regard. And to your point, it's just a really fun movie as well. Very festive, very enjoyable. The comedy, in it's great. And I feel like Will Farrell was at the height of his comedic chops at that point in time. So it really lands so nicely.

Alex Howard
I totally agree. And I quote it way too much during the holiday season. Whenever I see Santa, I'm like, "Santa, I know him"! It's just like, it's so quotable and so good.

Lee Pugsley
100%. And there's always that line, "Good luck, Buddy. Hope you find your father. Hope you find your dad." That's always a very quotable line as well. 

Alex Howard
Yeah.. So Lee, what is your number three?

Lee Pugsley
My number three is It's probably the most unconventional film on this list. It is still definitely a holiday film. It's called Mrs. Santa Claus with Angela Lansbury from the voice of Mrs. Potts in Beauty and the Beast and the show Murder, She Wrote, among many other things. She's a legend. Unfortunately, she's passed away. But this is a movie about the wife of Santa Claus, Mrs. Claus. It was a Hallmark Hall of Fame TV movie that was broadcast on CBS in the 1990s. And I just find this film so delightful. Most people don't even know it exists because it was a made for TV movie, and it's a Hallmark movie. And that's not everyone's cup of tea. What I really liked about it, though, is that it was written by one of my favorite Broadway composers, Jerry Hermann, who also wrote shows like Hello Dolly. So the music's really catchy. The production numbers are really fun, and it really feels like a stage musical, and I think that it should be brought to the stage. Unfortunately, it doesn't have AD right now, and I wish it did. But in general, Hallmark movies are very hit or miss with AD. There are some I know on Prime Video, and I believe Peacock, or at one point in time, Peacock had some Hallmark Movies with AD. But it's very out of the ordinary, I guess, for Hallmark Movies to get AD. Still, I would recommend it if you like musicals. It's not going to be a movie for everyone, but it's been a classic for me ever since I first watched it when I younger, and I watch it every year now.

Alex Howard
That's so interesting. I had never heard of this movie. So, yeah, thanks for putting it on our radar.

Lee Pugsley
Yeah. Well, at least you know that it exists now. And for those listeners out there, you also know that it exists. So check it out. If the mood hits you, it's a very rewarding experience, I can assure you.

Alex Howard
Is it streaming anywhere?

Lee Pugsley
I believe it's streaming on Hallmark Plus, and you can also rent it on Apple or Amazon. All right, looks like we are to number two for you, Alex, and what do we have here?

Alex Howard
So my number two is actually one I've recently discovered in the last five years or so. It's Gremlins. And I think it's pretty obvious why I like Gremlins because it's horror holiday adjacent. And I love the cuteness of Gremlins and then also the horror element. It's just so my kind of movie, just the kid meets creature thing. I love that stuff. Yeah, Gremlins is my number two. It just I recently got AD on Prime Video. I don't think that's been there forever because I didn't think it used to have AD at all. And it might also have AD when it comes on Netflix, but I don't think it's there right now. So, yeah, definitely recommend Gremlins if you haven't seen it, it's awesome.

Lee Pugsley
I was just talking to a friend about this movie, and I've seen it once quite a while ago. I remember thinking it was interesting, entertaining, but also a little too weird for my taste. I can totally see why it's a movie that you would like and resonate with. And I'm willing to give it another chance at some point in time because I didn't dislike it. It's just a movie that didn't necessarily stick with me in the same way that it sticks with you. But I'm glad to see it's on your list because I'm very much a fan of those unconventional movies that can break the mold when we think about holiday films. And Gremlins definitely fits that mold very well.

Alex Howard
Oh, for sure. And it has that... Because I think it's Chris Columbus, right?

Lee Pugsley
Yeah, it is.

Alex Howard
It has that early Harry Potter feel, just that vibe that Chris Columbus brings to his movies.

Lee Pugsley
Also, speaking of Chris Columbus and Harry Potter, I think that Harry Potter also feels very holiday to me. It's not on my list of top five favorite holiday films, but Harry Potter, the franchise, is one of those things that always feels very right for October, November, and December, because there's elements that could be for Halloween. There's elements that could be there for the Christmas season, and it just feels very warm and cozy, I guess.

Alex Howard
Oh, I agree. Yeah, it's not on mine either. I know. I thought maybe we'd get to number two and you'd be like, "The whole Harry Potter franchise." But yeah, I agree with you. They're great holiday movies. And actually, I did my training at Warner Brothers last week, and we were in the Starbucks where the gift shop is. And they're playing Warner Brothers holiday music And one of the songs that they'd go to is the yule ball song from the fourth movie. And I was like, "Oh, I mean, I guess this is a holiday song." But yeah, Harry Potter definitely gives holiday vibes as well.

Lee Pugsley
And I could see how Gremlins would be a precursor to a world like Harry Potter as well.

Alex Howard
Yeah. Yeah, definitely. So what is your number two, Lee?

Lee Pugsley
My number two is The Muppet Christmas Carol, which once again, is for people that like the Muppets, I would say. Although if you don't like the Muppets, I think it's very enjoyable as well. I actually feel like the script for this movie is quite witty, and every time I watch it, the humor always lands. The jokes never get old, even though I watch it every year. And it's Kermit the Frog, Ms. Piggy, Gonzo, all the Muppet characters retelling a story of A Christmas Carol with Michael Caine, one of the great actors of our time in this movie, too. And he does a fantastic job. It's so interesting, too, because all the Muppet characters are pretty goofy and a little off the wall. But Michael Caine plays it very straight-laced, and he does it very seriously and commits to it like any other film that he would commit to. So I think that dichotomy of this serious Scrooge character with the comedic timing and antics of the Muppets really works well and just makes for such a joyful and delightful experience. It does have AD as well on Disney Plus, and I have watched it with AD. And I think that there's little nuanced things that the Muppets do that I didn't pick up on before when I was watching it with AD. So I appreciated the fact that it could make it fresh in a way for me, too.

Alex Howard
That's awesome. And yeah, I have not seen this either, so I might have to check this out.

Lee Pugsley
Yeah. Did you grow up with the Muppets at all?

Alex Howard
I did. Like Muppets: Treasure Island and the Peanuts as well. I mean, the Peanuts are in the same boat as the Muppets with the holiday stuff as well.

Lee Pugsley
100%. And A Charlie Brown Christmas is not on my list, but it is one of those movies that's always enjoyable to watch at the holiday season. I mean, it's a TV special like the Rugrats, so it's only a half hour. So I guess that's why I left it off this list.

Alex Howard
Yeah. And I think those are also on Apple TV plus with AD, too, the Peanuts ones.

Lee Pugsley
They are. And I think there might be some other Peanuts holiday specials as well. I haven't watched all of them, but I do know they exist. All right, so now we are to the number one. And what's the number one holiday film for you?

Alex Howard
So I want to mention one. It's not at my number one, but if it counts as a holiday movie, it would definitely be there. It would be The Shining. I just thought of this. It has holiday vibes, you could say, because of the thing in the maze and the ice and the snow and the winter. So it kind of has holiday vibes, but people don't really refer to it as a holiday movie, so it's not on my list. But if you count it, it would be my number one. So my actual number one--

Lee Pugsley
I totally support that. And I think that The Shining is a brilliant movie. And I know that we talked about it recently on our Stephen King episode. But I totally see where you're coming from with that, having the vibes that could fit for the holiday season for you.

Alex Howard
And it's funny because I wouldn't have thought of it as a holiday movie, but there's a certain animated movie that's out on the theaters right now that I don't want to spoil that directly references The Shining, and I was like, :Oh, my God." And it kind of made me think of the holidays. So my number one is The Night Before with Seth Rogen, Anthony Mackie, and Joseph Gordon-Levitt. I love this movie. I know it's not the best movie in the world. It's not going to win any Oscars, but I just think it's totally my like, raunchy, comedy vibe. But also it's very inclusive and like, Seth Rogen celebrating Chanukah. And they mention Chanukah several times. And then he opens a Chanukah present, and it's weed or something. So it's very inclusive in all the holidays, but it's also very funny, and it does have that heartwarming charm to it as well. So that's my number one movie.

Lee Pugsley
I love that. And surprisingly, I've never seen that film before. I love the cast. I think they all do comedy really well. And it's one of those I need to check out. Do you know if it has audio description?

Alex Howard
I think it does. I couldn't tell you where, but I'm assuming wherever you can watch it, it should have it because it didn't come out that long ago. I think it came out just before COVID. So I know it does have AD.

Lee Pugsley
And to go back to something else you mentioned that this movie is very inclusive of all holidays. I really like that. And I wish there were more movies that celebrated Chanukah or had Chanukah at the center of them. Because since I don't celebrate it, it's not a holiday that I'm as familiar with, even though I've learned through the years from people like you and others who do celebrate it. But I would love to see just as many movies about Chanukah as Christmas just to make it more inclusive, and also just to introduce people the new perspectives from things that maybe they're not as familiar with, too.

Alex Howard
Yeah, and I think The Night Before really does it the right way, where It's not just Chanukah. I would say Christmas is still the center of it, but it definitely doesn't ignore it. I think that's the way to go with holiday movies. You include everyone. Yeah, I think I would love to watch this with you sometime. I have it in my collection with AD, so yeah, that'd be fun.

Lee Pugsley
Nice. Let's do it.

Alex Howard
So what's your number one, Lee? And I'm very curious about what it is because I know you love Christmas, but I have no clue what your number one is going to be.

Lee Pugsley
So my number one favorite holiday film is Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, the 2000 version with Jim Carrey, directed by Ron Howard. I think the production design on the movie is spectacular. I think Jim Carrey's performance is is absolutely hysterical and just totally unhinged in the best way possible. It's such a quotable movie. I quote it all the time. I could watch this movie year round and never get tired of it. Actually, when the movie first came out, I watched it in theaters twice in one day because two different groups of friends wanted to go see it, and I was like, "Okay, let's give it a go." And I thought I was going to be bored with it the second time around because it had only been five hours. But It was thoroughly enjoyable just as much as the first time that I'd seen it. And I'm really excited that they're rereleasing it in theaters this week. I'm definitely going to go catch it on the big screen again. It's been a while since I've seen it in that format. So really excited. They also do have AD for it. I believe it's on Peacock right now. And the AD really does add a lot to the comedic gags. There's a lot of visual gags that go on in that movie. And there's a lot of really cool production design that I think the audio description does a great job of describing. And even the costumes and the details of the costumes really add a lot to the whole overall experience of the movie.

Alex Howard
That's so great. It has been years since I've seen this movie. So I would actually really love to rewatch this as well. I would go see it in the theaters this week, but I know they are also rereleasing The Shining, so I will be prioritizing The Shining. But if I have time, I would love to catch How the Grinch Stole Christmas as well. And if not, I can always catch on Peacock with AD. But that's really cool because I know Jim Carrey has a lot of... Usually, his movies, there's a lot of the visual, physical comedy. And you know, Jim Carrey has such crazy emotive expressions and stuff like that. So I'm assuming the AD does a great job of dealing with all of that.

Lee Pugsley
Absolutely. And the reverse of what you just said, that The Shining is being released in theat as well. So I will prioritize The Grinch. But if I have time to get to The Shining, I will also do that as well.

Alex Howard
Yeah, I think you should definitely prioritize Grinch. I would advise that to everyone else, too.

Lee Pugsley
Yeah, it's a great theatrical experience. And if you haven't seen it in theaters, it's very highly recommended to have that experience at some point in time in your life. Let's shift over to what I would like to call our holiday wishlist. So every year, people always have their holiday wishlist of things they want for Christmas or Chanukah. So for us, I thought it would be fun to talk about our holiday wishlist wishlist for film and accessibility, whether it's specific movies that you want audio described that don't have description right now, or just other things in terms of accessibility that you'd like to see this coming year that could be considered gifts to us in the blind and low vision community. With that in mind, what are your thoughts on what you would want on your holiday wishlist for film and accessibility?

Alex Howard
So before I get into ones that I wish had AD, I think a big one for me just got audio description. Kill Bill: The Whole Bloody Affair, a four and a half hour combination of Kill Bill: Volume One and Kill Bill: Volume Two, the way Tarantino intended, somehow got described by Lionsgate and has awesome AD from Laura Post and Nicole Zanzarella. It's just like the dream team did outstanding AD for that. So last weekend, I went to the theater for four and a half hours and watched Kill Bill. It was so cool with AD. So that was a big one off my wishlist. I know that wasn't a holiday movie. But for me, I'd say the big ones holiday-wise, I have three: Die Hard, Krampus, and the original Black Christmas. All of those don't have AD. Two of those are horror. So many of my friends love Krampus, and I'm like, I've seen it maybe four or five times, and I just feel like I get lost in the second half because there's so much going on and there's no description. I've never seen Black Christmas. I know it's a classic, I think it's an '80s Christmas horror movie. Never seen it because it doesn't have AD. I know the remake does, but everyone hates the remake, so I never watched that one either. And Die Hard is obviously like... I mean, I've seen it, but it's one of the higher-regarded Christmas movies. It would have been on my list, but I haven't rewatched it because it doesn't have AD, and I feel like it would be great if that one got it, too. I know Disney has Die Hard right now because it's a Fox movie. So that'd be awesome if they would describe that.

Lee Pugsley
Nice. Those are all really good choices. I've seen two of those three movies. I haven't seen Black Christmas, but Krampus and Die Hard, I've seen. And I would love for Die Hard to have AD because there's a lot of action in it. And I think that the AD would really enhance the experience, especially as my vision has changed over time. It's not the same experience that it was when I was younger, and AD would really help that.

Alex Howard
Oh, yeah, for sure. I bet. And that's another reason why I haven't rewatched it, because I know my vision has gotten worse, too. And I'm like, I don't know if I'd enjoy it as much. But what are some of the ones on your wish list?

Lee Pugsley
So the only other holiday movie on my wishlist is this 1950s movie called Shop Around the Corner, which is what the movie You've Got Mail with Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks was based on. And it's just a nice little holiday rom-com that I would love to see have AD. It's in black and white. It's on HBO Max right now. Really lovely and heartwarming little film, but I would love to see some of those older holiday films that are in black and white. Like that film, there's a movie called The Bishop's Wife. I would love to see some of those films get AD. I think that would just make everything better and more accessible for everyone to fully be able to enjoy them and partake in conversations from people who do like those movies. Beyond that, though, I will say that what I would also put on my holiday wishlist is all the international films from this year's potential Oscars that we have not been able to see, such as Sentimental Value. And what's the other one, It Was Only an Accident. What's that one called?

Alex Howard
It Was Just an Accident. There's also No Other Choice. There's also The Secret Agent. All of those might get nominated for best picture, and none of them have AD.

Lee Pugsley
Yeah. So if I could have any holiday gift from the film industry, it would be to have all of those films audio described, as well as past films that I haven't seen, like Parasite or Roma as well.

Alex Howard
Yeah. Isn't that crazy? That we might be living in a world this year where we only see six out of the 10 best picture nominated because four of them don't have audio description.

Lee Pugsley
Yeah, it's so frustrating. And I think that the thing is, it's not so much that I'm angry about it. I'm just sad that I can't see those movies because I really want to.

Alex Howard
Oh, that's awesome that you're not angry about it because I am. But no, I feel you. Yeah. I think it's all Neon, too, which I don't have a problem calling them out if they're not doing it. But yeah, I agree. I would love that, too. For all those to be described this holiday season, that would be amazing. And I think I think that for SAG awards, you have to audio describe them. But then the question is, okay, does that track make it to the public? Or is that just for SAG voting members? Who knows?

Lee Pugsley
And if that track does make it to the public, will it make it to the public before awards season is over, or will it be when they drop on streaming, and then we might be able to see them?

Alex Howard
Yeah, exactly. I would be remiss if, when you said You've Got Mail, I remember When Harry and Met Sally. I would say that is my favorite rom-com of all time. And I always forget that that is a New Year's Eve movie, and technically, it's a holiday movie. So I don't know why that wasn't on my list. I totally blanked on it. But I absolutely love When Harry Met Sally.

Lee Pugsley
Yeah, it's a wonderful film. And Billy Crystal and Meg Ryan are fantastic in that as well. One of the best rom-coms of the canon, I would say.

Alex Howard
Oh, definitely.

Lee Pugsley
Now, are there any other film or accessibility wishes that you would have, whether it's for this holiday season or things that you hope for for next year that you would put on your wishlist?

Alex Howard
For next year? What's the big one I always say, oh, I mean, I guess if I could pick one rerelease that I'm... I've always wanted AD on The Fly. I know I bring that up every time we talk about this, but I want The Fly David Cronenberg to get a great audio description track. I think that would be the one that I always bring up. You know, "Deer Santa, give me the fly with AD."

Lee Pugsley
Yeah, that would be great. I think for me, one of the things that I would wish for for next year, if I could put something on my holiday list right now for the future, would be to get us to the point where audio description tracks always travel with the movies on whatever streaming platform they're going to. I realize that's very idealistic in my wishing. But nonetheless, because it's a holiday wishlist, that's what I wish for for next year.

Alex Howard
No, 100%. And I-- When you were asking me what my wishlist was, I was going through like, Alien, that had AD. I saw it in the years, but it's not anywhere. Back to the Future, it had AD. I saw it in theaters, but it's not anywhere. It's like, yeah, if those tracks, like the Back to the Future track could get on the Blu-ray or the Alien track, just get on Hulu, that would be great because those are two outstanding audio description tracks, and you can't really find them. Back to the Future might be on Peacock. I'm not sure. At least for Alien, it's nowhere to be found.

Lee Pugsley
Just to have that certainty that no matter where we were watching a movie, we would have AD, that would be the dream right there. 

Alex Howard
Yeah. No, 100%.

Lee Pugsley
Well, this has been great. Before we wrap up, do you have any other thoughts on the holiday season or anything that you'd like to add?

Alex Howard
No. I mean, I just like to say Happy Chanukah, everyone. I think this episode is going to drop during Chanukah. Merry Christmas. Happy holidays. I'd also like to say that I am going to Sundance this year for, shockingly, the third year in a row. I don't know how this happened. Four or five years ago, I'd be like, "Ah, I would love to go to Sundance," and now this is my third year. It's crazy. So, yeah, I'm going to volunteer at Sundance. I'll be gone January 20th to February 2nd, so just over two weeks. And I'm so excited because the last two years, I saw at least one of my top 10 of that year's movies in January. So I'm hoping this year I'll get to one or two of my top 10s as well, and it'll last me through the whole year. So, yeah, I'm super stoked, and we will try and pre-record some stuff to put out while I'm gone. And we'll do an episode about it when I get back, too.

Lee Pugsley
Yeah, we will definitely be covering your experience, the slate of movies that you watched over there. And other things that the listeners out there can look forward to is the Oscars Audio Description Roundtable, the Blind Critics Film Society nominations and awards that will be coming up. And then me and Alex are going to be doing our most anticipated list coming up very soon, as well as the top 10 movies of 2025, which will be early next year. So there's a lot of good things that we have planned coming up. But in the meantime, however you're choosing to celebrate the holidays, I reiterate what Alex said. Happy Chanukah, Merry Christmas, Happy Holidays. And I hope that this is a very special and memorable time with you and your loved ones. We are so appreciative of all you and wish you nothing but the very best and every happiness this holiday season. And if you want to reach out to us, you can always do that at DarkRoomFilmCast@gmail.com. That's our email, DarkRoomFilmCast@gmail.com. And you can follow us on Instagram @DarkRoomFilmCast, and subscribe to our YouTube channel @DarkRoomFilmCast.

Alex Howard
And thank you to All Senses Go for making captions on our episodes possible. We preach inclusion, We like to actually practice what we preach and make it so that deaf people can enjoy our podcast as well. And we'd like to thank BlindCAN as well for helping out with editing.

Lee Pugsley
All right. Well, thank you guys so much for listening. Once again, happy holidays, and we'll see you back here next time on The Dark Room.

Alex Howard
Yeah. Stay safe and take care, guys.