ember 2006
9
Day-after sales spawn bargain hunter hell
u C aliey L athrop _________
Staff Reporter
Black Friday: the day after
Thanksgiving when Americans
get up at unheard of hours to
hunt bargains at stores that
promise low prices for anyone
daring enough to brave the
elements and the mobs. Are the
supposed bargains worth it?
Although most stores opened
as early as 5 a.m., some heralded
in shoppers on Thanksgiving
night. Reports of people being
injured while pursuing discounts
are on the rise. Last year at a day-
after-Christmas sale altercation,
a woman had to be hospitalized
for injuries she sustained during
the event. When Playstation 3
was recently unveiled, there
were long lines with people
camping out waiting for
the sales to begin.
In Milwaukee,
Wise, a man
was severely
injured after
running
into a pole
and hitting
his head
during the
mad dash
into the local
Wal-Mart.
Is getting a
bargain really worth
the aggravation, frustration
and humiliation? Watching the
old Christmas movies, in which a
happy little family has a good old-
fashioned holiday, complete with
big dinner and presents is rarely
the case anymore as America
is becoming more
commercialized. Are
a few discounted-
gifts really
worth it?
Maybe, maybe
not.
In this
country, we
have a lot of
money. Not all
of us are rich,
but (especially in
West Linn,) we seem
to fare pretty well over
the holidays. Everywhere, there
are food drives and toy drives. I
think we should be spending these
holidays being thankful for what
we have; not our possessions, but
our families. Whatever happened
to the day after Thanksgiving, the
day that was spent lying on the
couch watching Miracle on 34th
Street and eating leftovers? Why
have we replaced it by going out
to buy more junk that w ell never
need anyway?! I find it appalling
that the consumer market
overshadows the true meaning of
the holidays.
Forcing stores to open at a
normal time would not solve the
problem. Consumers would be
outraged! Some Americans are so
obsessed with making money and
saving it, that no one would be
happy (except for those of us who
don't care what happens these
mornings). Maybe we should all
just stop and take a deep breath.
It won't be the end of the world if
you don’t get that iPod for a tiny
bit cheaper than any other day
of the year. Stopping the sales
might, however, eliminate the
injuries that occur every year.
I'm not going out the day
after Christmas, and I didn't go
out the day after Thanksgiving.
I'll be asleep. I dón't see a point
in getting up before dawn,
braving the cold and the crowds,
and spending money I don't
have!
The question is, what matters
more to us: our families or stuff?
Everyone says that the holidays
should be spent being thankful
for what they already have. So
don't set that alarm for 4:30 a.m.;
doing so could result in physical
or psychological injury, and
really, only the retail industry
benefits.
Classics give gifts no human can match
m J ohn C ampbell _____________
Entertainment Editor
It's December yet again,
w hich means the holiday season
is in full swing; stockings are
hung by the chimney with
care, families gather for their
yule tide celebrations and full
grown adults beat each other to
get the newest Tickle-me Elmo.
For those looking to relax this
holiday with a bundle of DVD's,
fear not. Here are eight holiday
films you may not be aware of.
"National Lampoon's
Christmas Vacation," has
becom e a m odem classic.
Starring Chevy Chase
("Caddyshack"), it is the story of
a m an who's trying to create an
old-fashioned family Christmas.
Through the stupidity of his
cousin, selfishness of his boss,
and dementia of his great uncle,
Christmas is ruined. This may
sound like a bit of a downer, but
the spirit of Christmas solves all.
Those familiar with the work
of Charles Dickens know he
wrote one of the most famous
Christmas novels, "A Christmas
Carol." There are numerous film
versions of the book, w ith the
m ost original being "Scrooged"
directed by Richard Donner
("Superman") and starring
Bill Murray ("Ghostbusters").
M urray plays a selfish television
executive who is visited by
three ghosts on Christmas eve.
This version adds humor and
creative m odem day updates
that enhance the original vision
of Dickens' novel.
Christmas and the obstacles he
encounters on his quest. Full of
humor, heart and just a dash of
Christmas spirit, "A Christmas
Story" is a classic the whole
family can enjoy.
W hen thinking of holiday
movies "Die Hard" is not usually
the first thing that comes to
mind, but for action lovers, it
is one of the best. It stars Bruce
Willis ("Pulp Fiction") as an
off-duty cop visiting his family
on Christmas eve, while at his
wife's office party terrorists take
over. This forces him to jum p
into action and save the day.
"Die Hard" is not your typical
holiday movie, but it does have
a surprising am ount of yuletide
spirit in betw een its gun fights
and explosions. If this sounds
good, check out "Die Hard 2:
Die Harder" which also takes
place on Christmas eve.
For cult film lovers there is
always "A Christmas Story."
A box-office failure when it
was originally released, it has
developed a huge following
with merchandise including
action figures, T-shirts, and
numerous other products. The
film stars Darren McGavin
("Kolchak: The Night Stalker")
and is the simple story of little
boy who w ants a BB gun for
For a much darker take
on the holiday season there
is "Bad Santa," starring Billy
Bob Thornton ("Friday Night
Lights") as a career criminal
who gets jobs as a department
store Santa only to rob the mall
on Christmas eve. The film is
not for everyone. It has a lot of
cursing, drinking, and generally
horrible things. For those who
can embrace the film's dark and
absurd nature, they will laugh
the whole way through.
For those interested in a more
heartfelt holiday film there
is "All I Want For Christmas,"
starring Ethan Embry ("That
Thing You Do"). It tells the story
of a brother and sister trying to
reunite their divorced parents
for Christmas. The film manages
to be funny and touching
without being too sappy or
sentimental. A brief cameo by
Leslie Nielsen ("Airplane") as
Santa is also well worth the
price of the rental.
For those Tim Allen fans out
there, no holiday is complete
without a viewing of the 1994
classic "The Santa Clause." Allen
("Home Improvement") stars
as Scott Calvin, a successful
business man who knocks
Santa off his roof. This forces
Scott to become the new Santa
Claus. The film does a great job
of poking fun at its legendary
figures while also keeping a
certain amount of holiday spirit.
For those interested, this is only
the first installment of a trilogy.
Christmas is not the only
holiday celebrated during this
season and while I have only
listed Christmas movies, there is
one Hanukkah film that is worth
a look: "The Hebrew Hammer"
is a hilarious send-up of 70's B
action movies. Adam Goldberg
("Saving Private Ryan") stars as
a Jew ish private eye who must
save Hanukkah from Santa's
evil son. The movie is hilarious
without being offensive.
These are only a select few of
the numerous holiday movies,
TV specials and animated
favorites that are available on
DVD this holiday season. There
are hundreds of other choices
to choose from but the eight
films listed above are a good
start. So in between the egg-nog
swilling, present opening and
general holiday festivities, enjoy
a classic film or two.