Ho-Ho-Hollywood: Is it Santa or Satan?

WorldNetDaily.com ^ | Tuesday, November 18, 2003

[JohnHuang2]

HOLIDAY BLUES
Ho-Ho-Hollywood:
Is it Santa or Satan?
From socialist Asner to Thornton's foul-mouthed, drunken thief, 2003 Christmas film crop criticized

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Posted: November 18, 2003
1:00 a.m. Eastern

© 2003 WorldNetDaily.com

Remember "Miracle on 34th Street"?

That was a Christmas movie of a different era.

In 2003, Santa is being portrayed alternatively by an outspoken socialist radical and as a hard-drinking, profane, mean-spirited thief.

In "Bad Santa," debuting this week, Billy Bob Thornton plays a foul-mouthed, drunken thief who poses as a mall Santa so he can pull off Christmas Eve heists.

Billy Bob Thornton as Santa (Photo: Miramax)

Christian film critic Ted Baehr says, "Bad Santa is a raunchy, depressing, deplorable Christmas movie with over 250 mostly strong obscenities and profanities. The fact that it was even made should sadden moral audiences. The protagonist is a nasty, foul-mouthed, alcoholic con man who's mean to children."

In "Bad Santa," Thornton plays Willie T. Soke, a mall Santa who, along with his elf partner, use their holiday positions to rob department stores, cracking open their safes and stealing furs and jewelry.

Rated R, in one shocking scene, the Santa Claus character is shown picking up a young girl and having anal sex with her in a mall dressing room. In another scene, a child asks, "You are really Santa, right?" The Thornton character responds, "No, I'm an accountant. I wear this as a f------ fashion statement!"

"If children do happen to see this movie, and God forbid that drunk or otherwise temporarily insane parents allow it, their knowledge of profanities, sexual exploits, safe cracking, drinking, smoking and playing con games will increase to staggering levels," says Baehr.

There are rumblings in some quarters that the studio behind "Bad Santa" could face the same kind of fallout CBS experienced with its "The Reagans" miniseries. Miramax is a subsidiary of Disney – once known for its wholesome productions geared for children.

"Bad Santa" is not the first controversial Christmas movie of 2003.

There's the current hit "Elf," starring Ed Asner as Santa. In this one, Asner, one of Hollywood's most radical political activists who raises money for the Democratic Socialists of America, brings to the role some of the gruffness he was known for in "The Mary Tyler Moore Show" and "Lou Grant."

"I really had a feeling this Santa's bones were aching at times," he told the Associated Press. "He's wondering if he's getting too old for this job.

"I also had an undercurrent of feeling that this Santa liked to have the occasional or more than occasional nip."

[JohnHuang2]

Tuesday, November 18, 2003

Quote of the Day by South40

[cyborg]

I will stick to It's A Wonderful Life and Toyland... thanks

[weegee]

Rated R, in one shocking scene, the Santa Claus character is shown picking up a young girl and having anal sex with her in a mall dressing room.

This is a false account of what transpired (and I am not a fan of this film, I'll link in the other thread on this film which has my comments later).

I saw this film in a sneak preview last week. "Santa" has anal sex with a adult character (never seen elsewhere in the film) in the "big woman's" dressing room at the department store. All that is shown are legs but the voice coming from behind the dressing room door is clearly adult.

And to think that I was assault for being "hysterical" on the other thread. This film is an anti-Christian Christmas movie and that assertion has nothing to do with this alcoholic portraying a mall Santa.

[weegee]

DISNEY'S NEW SANTA: DRINKS, ROBS, SWEARS AND HAS SEX

To summarize my most damaging evidence that this is an Anti-Christian "Christmas" movie, there is the frequent use of the Jesus/the Lord's name in vain. Additionally there is a moment where a child shares his Advent calendar with Billy Bob Thorton. At one point, the "Bad Santa" character says that it's a "lousy story anyway" (this the birth of Christ, true story of Christmas).

I've got more problems with the film but I'll leave them for the other thread.

[txzman]

I actually think this is a good thing - perhaps it will drive more people into a church to try and understand what Christmas is really about!

[squidly]

I told myself that I wasn't going to make comments about movies I haven't seen. Still, I don't see what the big deal is about a movie in which a mall Santa is a thief. It's got sex, violence, and profanity? What, that's a new thing from Hollywood? Sorry, I just don't get what the fuss is about.

[weegee]

I was interested in seeing Elf but have throttled back my enthusism. I'll catch it sometime now or years later, maybe, but I won't be paying.

You'd think that Hollywood would learn their lesson. I think that A Christmas Story was probably the last "great" Christmas movie (and this for a work that had it's origins in Playboy Magazine); the movie is a classic (and while the F-word is hinted at in ACS, Bad Santa drops the F-bomb in Hollywood's version of a shock and awe campaign).

[WackyKat]

"If children do happen to see this movie, and God forbid that drunk or otherwise temporarily insane parents allow it, their knowledge of profanities, sexual exploits, safe cracking, drinking, smoking and playing con games will increase to staggering levels," says Baehr.

So how is the film any different than summer camp?

[weegee]

There have been plenty of crooks at Christmas movies (there was one with Nicholas Cage, there were the Home Alone movies...). The heist aspect is not the offensive part of this film.

The comic chronic alcoholic Billy Bob Thorton portrays is more of a lush than Bobcat Goldthwait was in Shakes The Clown. I found the alcoholism more depressing that funny. I don't think that is why some are outraged about this film.

I'd cite the heavy use of foul language (especially in direct confrontation with small children) as well as the non-nude sex scenes of "Santa" penetrating several different women (including one scene of him removing the panties from a half dressed gal using his teeth while an 8-year old boy watches).

It may be "make believe" but the kids cast in this film were still exposed to some ugly ugly things. There are ways of shooting a film and cutting so that an actor isn't really berating or shouting at kids; this film didn't cop out. I doubt that the audio was looped in afterwards either.

I'm not scared that kids will see this film (but I'd wager that some will someday whether it is on home video or cable). This is definitely a film for adults but I couldn't heartily recommend it to any adults that I know (and I liked Kill Bill Vol. 1).

[Floratina]

As I understand it, "Elf" is a sweet and charming film. It made 27 million on its second weekend, even beating "Master and Commander", which was on its opening weekend. A lot of this business can be attibuted to word-of-mouth. You may be pleasantly surprised by this film.

[martin_fierro]

I'm waiting for Disney to make an equally obnoxious Kwanzaa movie.

[rwfromkansas]

I liked The Santa Claus.

My favs are A Christmas Story and the always-wonderful National Lampoon's.

[carlson]

Dont forget Dan Akroyd in 'Trading Places' as Santa.
That was fuuuuny.

[weegee]

It's not that I will find the storyline of Elf offensive in any way, and I was surprized to see Bob Newhart in the movie trailer (I had a photo taken with him once I dwarfed him so his playing an elf seems like good casting)... I just don't want to add to the box office receipts of a film that has Red Asner. If I wait for home video, it will come out after this season.

Since I didn't get a free pass for this film, I won't be seeing it this year. No matter to me.

[xp38]

There was a film called The Silent Partner from the late 70s in which a Santa robs a bank. Its only incidental to the movie as a disguise though.

[weegee]

The National Lampoon Christmas Vacation is the only one in that series I haven't seen. I'll need to rent it this year; I hope it was better than Vegas Vacation.

[martin gibson]

This film is an anti-Christian Christmas movie ...

DING DING DING!!!!! We have a WINNER!!!

[Oztrich Boy]

The Long Kiss Goodnight: Best Christmas movie ever

[Brooklynman]

I hate to point this out but this is not the first time that someone in a Santa suit has been portrayed as a character that enjoys the SPIRITS of the season. The whole reason that the real Santa had to take the Macy’s gig in “Miracle on 34th Street” because his store clone was a drunk. In the Twilight Zone episode “Night of the Meek” the late Art Carney played a ripple swigging dept. store Kris Kringle. On SNL, John Belushi played what had to be the drunkest Santa to date. Of course in my opinion, even Billy Bob Thornton’s “Bad Santa“ could not be as disturbing as the Santa that pushed Peter Billingsley down the slide by kicking him in the face in “A Christmas Story”.

[MarkL]

Of course in my opinion, even Billy Bob Thornton's "Bad Santa" could not be as disturbing as the Santa that pushed Peter Billingsley down the slide by kicking him in the face in "A Christmas Story".

He didn't kick him in the face! He gently pushed him down the slide. Just because he used his boot to push Peter's face down the slide...

Besides, he would have put his eye out!

Mark