Green Phoenix - Let's Talk...Lifetime/Hallmark Christmas Movie Tropes

Merry Christmas everybody!

This time of year is the time for Christmas specials and holiday movies and, as is my custom, my annual Christmas special editorial. Last year, I wrote about the Rankin Bass Christmas Film Cinematic Universe, showing all the claymation films connected to each other by their shared mythologies and characters. It was a hell of a good time and far more immersive and substantial than I had initially anticipated. It was a ton of fun to write and motivated me to take a closer look at and discuss another aspect of the holiday season that I'm sure everyone is at least tangentially familiar with, for good or ill.

So this year, I will be discussing the tropes and common narrative elements behind the Lifetime/Hallmark Christmas movies. These films have a not undeserved reputation for their repetitive natures, common story beats and almost disgustingly predictable plot lines. With such a reputation, how could I not end a year that has been filled with so many moments of transformation for myself than by discussing a psuedo-genre of films which are nearly identical?

It's only logical really.

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My Top 5 Yellow Ranger Zords

 

Continuing on the Zord countdowns, allow me to list some Yellow power. Not too much to say on this one, there weren't many Yellow Rangers that stand out highly in my nostalgic mind. Not one of my favorite colors. Regardless, as an adult I have come to appreciate them more. As for the Zords, there are plenty to choose from this time so click "read more" and let's get this countdown started. Remember, one rule is no 6th or Extra Rangers. (Not that any have ever been yellow.)

South Park Chef's Luv Shack (Sega Dreamcast) - Review

 

The existence of this game is kind of shocking. Matt Stone and Trey Parker have stated that they hated the South Park games prior to The Stick of Truth and this game is a good example as to why. I am reviewing the Sega Dreamcast version simply because that is the version I happen to own. Click "read more" and let's take a look at this mess.

Ghost Ranger - My Top 5 White Ranger Zords

Well, this list is a tricky situation. My rules for these countdowns have been only 1 Zord per Ranger and no Extra or 6th Rangers. However, if you don't count Extra or 6th Rangers than there has only been 3 White Rangers so, following those rules would be impossible without limiting this list to 3. So, just this once I am going to have to break a rule, I will allow Extra Rangers but no 6th, which still barely puts us at 5 Rangers. So, click "read more" and let us see what is left.

My Top 5 Blue Ranger Zords

Continuing the Zord countdowns, we are feeling blue today. It is honestly hard to choose out of the blue Zords because they rarely get spotlight episodes outside of their introductions. So, we are going to have to depend a lot on design for these choices, among other lists. Click "read more" to see my list.