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      <title>Film:Lethal Weapon</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/films/Lethal_Weapon/20195/default.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<table width='100%' style='font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><tr><td><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t86250dsnon.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' /></td>
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<strong>Title:</strong> Lethal Weapon<br/>
<strong>Year:</strong> 1987<br/>
<strong>Director:</strong> Richard Donner<br/>
<strong>Plot:</strong> LA cop Martin Riggs (<a href="/players/P____91479/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Mel Gibson</a>), whose wife has recently died, is a loose cannon with a seeming death wish. This makes him indispensable in collaring dangerous criminals, but a liability to any potential partners. Roger Murtaugh (<a href="/players/P____27278/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Danny Glover</a>), a conservative family man who wants to stay alive for his upcoming 50th birthday, is partnered with Riggs. As Riggs gets to know Murtaugh and his family, he begins to mellow, though his insistence on using guerilla tactics to catch criminals is still (put mildly) above and beyond the call of duty. The main villain is The General (<a href="/players/P____62392/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Mitchell Ryan</a>), a drug dealer responsible for the death of the daughter of one of Murtaugh's oldest friends. The General is also in charge of a deadly, militia-like gang of smugglers. Adding fuel to the fire is The General's chief henchman, played with all stops out by <a href="/players/P_____9844/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'>Gary Busey</a>. Moviegoers familiar only with the relatively tongue-in-cheek Lethal Weapon sequels may be amazed to find out how dangerous and unpredictable Riggs is in the first Lethal Weapon -- and how likely it seems that Murtaugh might not survive until fade-out time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide<br/>
<strong>Times Tagged:</strong> 27<br/>
<strong>Number of Lists:</strong> 51<br/>
<strong>Number of blog posts:</strong> 4<br/>
<strong>Number of discussion threads:</strong> 1<br/>
<strong>SpoutRating:</strong> 3<br/>
</td></tr></table>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:51:56 GMT</pubDate><spout:Title>Lethal Weapon</spout:Title><spout:Year>1987</spout:Year><spout:Director>Richard Donner</spout:Director><spout:Plot>LA cop Martin Riggs (&lt;a href="/players/P____91479/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Mel Gibson&lt;/a&gt;), whose wife has recently died, is a loose cannon with a seeming death wish. This makes him indispensable in collaring dangerous criminals, but a liability to any potential partners. Roger Murtaugh (&lt;a href="/players/P____27278/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Danny Glover&lt;/a&gt;), a conservative family man who wants to stay alive for his upcoming 50th birthday, is partnered with Riggs. As Riggs gets to know Murtaugh and his family, he begins to mellow, though his insistence on using guerilla tactics to catch criminals is still (put mildly) above and beyond the call of duty. The main villain is The General (&lt;a href="/players/P____62392/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Mitchell Ryan&lt;/a&gt;), a drug dealer responsible for the death of the daughter of one of Murtaugh's oldest friends. The General is also in charge of a deadly, militia-like gang of smugglers. Adding fuel to the fire is The General's chief henchman, played with all stops out by &lt;a href="/players/P_____9844/default.aspx" style='text-decoration:underline'&gt;Gary Busey&lt;/a&gt;. Moviegoers familiar only with the relatively tongue-in-cheek Lethal Weapon sequels may be amazed to find out how dangerous and unpredictable Riggs is in the first Lethal Weapon -- and how likely it seems that Murtaugh might not survive until fade-out time. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide</spout:Plot><spout:TimesTagged>27</spout:TimesTagged><spout:taglevel>Tag Target (&gt;10)</spout:taglevel><spout:Numberoflists>51</spout:Numberoflists><spout:NumberOfBlogPosts>4</spout:NumberOfBlogPosts><spout:NumberOfDiscussionThreads>1</spout:NumberOfDiscussionThreads><spout:SpoutRating>3</spout:SpoutRating><spout:FilmCoverURL>http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t86250dsnon.jpg</spout:FilmCoverURL><spout:SpoutFilmDetailURL>http://www.spout.com/films/Lethal_Weapon/20195/default.aspx</spout:SpoutFilmDetailURL><spout:type>Film</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Loaded Weapon 1</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/risselada/archive/2009/8/11/43484.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t86250dsnon.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/5353/default.aspx'>Risselada</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/risselada/default.aspx'>Risselada Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 8/11/2009 2:04:12 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Loaded Weapon 1 I guess the full title of this film is National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1.  I could never really figure out what the connection was between the different films with the "National Lampoon's" prefix was, but I just looked it up and realized it's just the name of a production company.  You know that the films are always comedies, and probably could have the descriptions of "zany", "crude", or "base" attached to them.  Most people will think of Animal House or the Vacation movies (written by the recently departed John Hughes).  Although I just found out the first ever National Lampoon's film was titled National Lampoon's Disco Beaver from Outer Space.  But Loaded Weapon 1 is actually a bit different in that it's pretty much a spoof movie, where the others aren't.  Obviously trying to work within the style created by the Zucker Abrahams Zucker team who did Airplane! and The Naked Gun, this film is much more based on a sequence of gags than really building complex character or scenarios.  Which is fine with me.  I love that stuff when it's done well.  And I feel that Loaded Weapon 1 was done well.  I have seen it a handful of times, and just pulled the shrinkwrap off a DVD that I've had in my house for a while after buying it on clearance to show my girlfriend.  I think she fell asleep like she usually does, but I still had a great time. It's a short little film, as it should be.  It's primarily a spoof of The Lethal Weapon movies which I have never seen.  I have seen enough pieces of them and know the basic plot that I'm still able to enjoy what they are spoofing.  A good spoof somehow gives you an insight into what the original scene of a movie it is spoofing was like even if you haven't seen it.  It's hard to explain how this is done, but if you GET the joke, you can sense where it's coming from.  One of the most striking things about the movie I think is how many cameos there are.  Here's a list: Dr. Joyce BrothersJames Doohan (Scotty)F. Murray AbrahamCharlie SheenDennis LearyCorey FeldmanPhil HartmanJ.T. WalshErik EstradaLarry WilcoxPaul GleesonWhoopie GoldbergChristopher LambertBruce Willis And Denise Richards (although she was not at all a celebrity at that time) Of course you have the main characters played by Emilio Estevez who was pretty well known then.  Samuel L Jackson was less well known.  But then you got some other funny performances from John Lovitz, Tim Curry, Kathy Ireland, and of course the wonderful William Shatner, who tries to pull off such a goofy voice here. So if you want some laughs, and to see a "gratuitous beaver scene" check this movie out.  Like I said, it's short and sweet. Rating: 9/10<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 11 Aug 2009 18:04:12 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>Risselada</spout:postby><spout:postto>Risselada Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>8/11/2009 2:04:12 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Loaded Weapon 1 I guess the full title of this film is National Lampoon's Loaded Weapon 1.  I could never really figure out what the connection was between the different films with the "National Lampoon's" prefix was, but I just looked it up and realized it's just the name of a production company.  You know that the films are always comedies, and probably could have the descriptions of "zany", "crude", or "base" attached to them.  Most people will think of Animal House or the Vacation movies (written by the recently departed John Hughes).  Although I just found out the first ever National Lampoon's film was titled National Lampoon's Disco Beaver from Outer Space.  But Loaded Weapon 1 is actually a bit different in that it's pretty much a spoof movie, where the others aren't.  Obviously trying to work within the style created by the Zucker Abrahams Zucker team who did Airplane! and The Naked Gun, this film is much more based on a sequence of gags than really building complex character or scenarios.  Which is fine with me.  I love that stuff when it's done well.  And I feel that Loaded Weapon 1 was done well.  I have seen it a handful of times, and just pulled the shrinkwrap off a DVD that I've had in my house for a while after buying it on clearance to show my girlfriend.  I think she fell asleep like she usually does, but I still had a great time. It's a short little film, as it should be.  It's primarily a spoof of The Lethal Weapon movies which I have never seen.  I have seen enough pieces of them and know the basic plot that I'm still able to enjoy what they are spoofing.  A good spoof somehow gives you an insight into what the original scene of a movie it is spoofing was like even if you haven't seen it.  It's hard to explain how this is done, but if you GET the joke, you can sense where it's coming from.  One of the most striking things about the movie I think is how many cameos there are.  Here's a list: Dr. Joyce BrothersJames Doohan (Scotty)F. Murray AbrahamCharlie SheenDennis LearyCorey FeldmanPhil HartmanJ.T. WalshErik EstradaLarry WilcoxPaul GleesonWhoopie GoldbergChristopher LambertBruce Willis And Denise Richards (although she was not at all a celebrity at that time) Of course you have the main characters played by Emilio Estevez who was pretty well known then.  Samuel L Jackson was less well known.  But then you got some other funny performances from John Lovitz, Tim Curry, Kathy Ireland, and of course the wonderful William Shatner, who tries to pull off such a goofy voice here. So if you want some laughs, and to see a "gratuitous beaver scene" check this movie out.  Like I said, it's short and sweet. Rating: 9/10</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Starts a little slow, but finishes off with a bang</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/the_mow/archive/2009/5/7/42116.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t86250dsnon.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/148616/default.aspx'>The_MOW</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/the_mow/default.aspx'>The_MOW Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 5/7/2009 6:17:26 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Undercover Los Angeles Police Officer "Sergeant Martin Riggs" is too close to taking his life over the death of his wife, who was killed in a car bombing meant for him. And just as he is about to pull the trigger to end it all, something enters his head and makes him put the gun down. He is quite unstable, and nobody wants to be his partner. On the other hand, "Sgt. Roger Murtaugh" (Danny Glover), who works in Homicide, is stable, with a wonderful family. He has turned 50, and wants to make it to his retirement. To his surprise, he is given a new partner, a partner nobody wants to work with -- "Riggs." An old buddy of "Murtaugh" wants him to kill those responsible for giving his daughter the drugs that pushed her into jumping off a high-rise. These bad guys are lead by "General Peter McAllister" (Mitch Ryan) and "Mr. Joshua" (Gary Busey), both of whom has Special Forces military training. The same type of training that "Riggs" has while he was in the military. One thing that really carries the movie is the chemistry between Glover and Gibson, who was launched into superstardom with the role of "Riggs". Gibson is possibly the most memorable of the two actors in this movie due to taping into the part of his personality needed to play the role of a guy who wants to take his own life, but something keeps him going despite thinking about killing himself daily. Glover is the perfect straight man for Gibson. He plays the role where he can't help but take a risk that "Riggs" has no problem with. Busey, who has played similar roles that are much meaner, does a good job. However, he appeared to hold back just a little bit to make his character a real bad guy. Ryan was not as strong as a bad guy, but his performance isn't that bad. There are some predictable elements in this movie. One of which is that the bad guys find out where "Murtaugh" lives, and kidnaps his oldest daughter (Traci Wolfe, whose only movie credit is this role). The action scenes, which are spread out a little too much in my opinion, are intense and spectacular. The music and editing really help these scenes to keep you on the edge of your seat at times. The pace of this film is done nicely. If any scene lagged, they quickly passed without notice. The direction was also done pretty nicely. In my opinion, this would be a pretty good choice for the next time you want to rent a movie.<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 07 May 2009 22:17:26 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>The_MOW</spout:postby><spout:postto>The_MOW Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>5/7/2009 6:17:26 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Undercover Los Angeles Police Officer "Sergeant Martin Riggs" is too close to taking his life over the death of his wife, who was killed in a car bombing meant for him. And just as he is about to pull the trigger to end it all, something enters his head and makes him put the gun down. He is quite unstable, and nobody wants to be his partner. On the other hand, "Sgt. Roger Murtaugh" (Danny Glover), who works in Homicide, is stable, with a wonderful family. He has turned 50, and wants to make it to his retirement. To his surprise, he is given a new partner, a partner nobody wants to work with -- "Riggs." An old buddy of "Murtaugh" wants him to kill those responsible for giving his daughter the drugs that pushed her into jumping off a high-rise. These bad guys are lead by "General Peter McAllister" (Mitch Ryan) and "Mr. Joshua" (Gary Busey), both of whom has Special Forces military training. The same type of training that "Riggs" has while he was in the military. One thing that really carries the movie is the chemistry between Glover and Gibson, who was launched into superstardom with the role of "Riggs". Gibson is possibly the most memorable of the two actors in this movie due to taping into the part of his personality needed to play the role of a guy who wants to take his own life, but something keeps him going despite thinking about killing himself daily. Glover is the perfect straight man for Gibson. He plays the role where he can't help but take a risk that "Riggs" has no problem with. Busey, who has played similar roles that are much meaner, does a good job. However, he appeared to hold back just a little bit to make his character a real bad guy. Ryan was not as strong as a bad guy, but his performance isn't that bad. There are some predictable elements in this movie. One of which is that the bad guys find out where "Murtaugh" lives, and kidnaps his oldest daughter (Traci Wolfe, whose only movie credit is this role). The action scenes, which are spread out a little too much in my opinion, are intense and spectacular. The music and editing really help these scenes to keep you on the edge of your seat at times. The pace of this film is done nicely. If any scene lagged, they quickly passed without notice. The direction was also done pretty nicely. In my opinion, this would be a pretty good choice for the next time you want to rent a movie.</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: 10 Most Depressing Holidays in Movies</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/archive/2008/11/12/37255.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t86250dsnon.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/9325/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/spoutblog/default.aspx'>SpoutBlog on spout.com</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 11/12/2008 3:00:44 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> I saw Christmas decorations in a storefront Sunday, so I guess it’s already time to break out the holiday movies. And it’s evidently time for distributors to release holiday fare to theaters, even if Desplechin’s A Christmas Tale (Un conte de Noël), which hits theaters this Friday, isn’t exactly the latest crowd-pleasing installment of the Santa Clause franchise. In fact, with such ingredients as estrangement, mental illness, alcoholism and cancer, it doesn’t seem like a very happy holidays kind of film. Even if it is actually a comedy.
But then how many holiday movies are completely void of depressing themes and scenes? I’m sure to have grown up thinking more about the homeless, suicide and family dysfunction from films set at Christmas and Thanksgiving than I did thinking about the happiness that comes with these holidays. One of the most tearjerking moments for me as a kid was certainly seeing Mickey Mouse crying over his dead son in Mickey’s Christmas Carol. It’s no wonder so many people get sad this time of year. Movies are influential, and for every bit of slapstick we see this season, there’s potentially room for thoughts of abandoned children to go along with it.
Worse for our tearducts are the films that aren’t necessarily thought of as “holiday movies,” which are typically more honest about how much of a bummer holidays can truly be. So get out your hanky and check out our list of ten most depressing holidays in movies:


Movie: Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Depressing holiday: Thanksgiving
It’s likely that John Hughes is a real drag on holidays. His scripts feature kids forgotten at Christmastime (Home Alone and its sequels), poor teens who get cartons of cigarettes as presents (The Breakfast Club) and yuletide kidnappings (Christmas Vacation). Thanksgiving seems to be the most melancholy for him, though, as is clear from the bittersweet road trip movies Dutch and Planes, Trains and Automobiles, the latter of which is up there with the saddest “comedies” ever made. Sure, it ultimately has a happy ending, but those last few minutes leave you bawling as you watch the montage and subsequent scene revealing John Candy’s true living situation.

Film: The Apartment
Depressing Holiday: Christmas
It’s sad enough to be a lonely bachelor on Christmas Eve. It’s even sadder to be loaning out your home as a lover’s hideaway on such a night. Saddest of all, though, has to be returning to said apartment to find a half-dead woman in your bed who has attempted suicide with your sleeping pills (bonus points for her being your crush). The Apartment also has one of the more depressing New Year’s Eves on film, even if it does kind of figure into a “happy” ending.

Film: Lethal Weapon
Depressing Holiday: Christmas
Sgt. Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) is also a lonely man on Christmas Eve dealing with suicide, but here it’s the contemplation of his own. While watching Bugs Bunny’s Christmas Carol on TV and thinking about his dead wife, he loads up his gun and wrestles with his demons. It’s one of the most heart-wrenching scenes to ever be included in an action movie.

Film: The War at Home
Depressing Holiday: Thanksgiving
Like Martin Riggs, Jeremy Collier (Emilio Estevez) is a Vietnam vet, and also like Riggs, he has trouble putting his gun away during the holidays. Unlike Riggs, though, Jeremy’s weapon is directed at his father (Martin Sheen) rather than himself, and that leads to a less-depressing but no less disheartening situation.

Film: A Midnight Clear
Depressing Holiday: Christmas
One of the most bittersweet war films ever made, A Midnight Clear is set during Christmas, 1944, in the middle of WWII and involves an intended holiday truce between American and German troops. Unfortunately, things go wrong. Not only does the film remind us currently that so many soldiers are away from home and potentially fighting on Christmas, it also displays some depressing truths about humanity and war that are saddening regardless of the season.

Film: The Ice Storm
Depressing Holiday: Thanksgiving
This movie (which could also qualify for yesterday’s list of best dysfunctional families) reminds us of how sad Thanksgiving can be on an historical level thanks to the sardonic pre-dinne grace said by Wendy (Christina Ricci) regarding both America’s tradition of killing and robbing the Indians and its gluttonous disregard for the starving people around the world (didn’t we all go through that holiday protest phase?). Oh, and it features one of the most unsettling death-by-electrocution scenes ever.

Film: Gremlins
Depressing Holiday: Christmas
The present holiday of this horror comedy classic is pretty sad considering all the death and destruction being caused by little green monsters, but the real depressing Christmas is the one from the past that Kate (Phoebe Cates) tells about. You know, the one where her father broke his neck and died on Christmas Eve while playing Santa Claus. And by recalling the details so slowly and in depth (she could have just simply said that her dad died on Christmas), she makes it even more somber a story than is welcome at such an already fearsome occasion.

Film: Critters 2: The Main Course

Depressing Holiday: Easter
Obviously taking a cue from Gremlins, this sequel similarly involves little creatures terrorizing a small town during a holiday. And while not quite as gloomy for a young viewer as the earlier, better film, Critters 2 does feature a relatively upsetting scene in which “the Easter Bunny” is attacked by Crites and then crashes through a church window, ultimately bleeding from the mouth, dead.

Film: Groundhog Day
Depressing Holiday: Groundhog Day
Not that anyone really celebrates this “holiday” (neither school nor post office is closed), but whatever. Though treated as black comedy, there is something quite depressing about all those suicide attempts made by Phil Connors (Bill Murray). It’s enough to cast a shadow (yuk yuk) on all the happiness that otherwise would come from Groundhog Day if it actually involved celebratory activities.

Film: Roger & Me
Depressing Holiday: Christmas
Documentaries have the ability to make for the most depressing holidays, because they feature real life events — like a family being evicted from their home on Christmas day. This one is especially grim this year, as it’s possible that with the economy and mortgage crisis what they are that some families across America will be experiencing such a fate this December 25. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Nov 2008 20:00:44 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>SpoutBlog</spout:postby><spout:postto>SpoutBlog on spout.com</spout:postto><spout:postdate>11/12/2008 3:00:44 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>I saw Christmas decorations in a storefront Sunday, so I guess it’s already time to break out the holiday movies. And it’s evidently time for distributors to release holiday fare to theaters, even if Desplechin’s A Christmas Tale (Un conte de Noël), which hits theaters this Friday, isn’t exactly the latest crowd-pleasing installment of the Santa Clause franchise. In fact, with such ingredients as estrangement, mental illness, alcoholism and cancer, it doesn’t seem like a very happy holidays kind of film. Even if it is actually a comedy.
But then how many holiday movies are completely void of depressing themes and scenes? I’m sure to have grown up thinking more about the homeless, suicide and family dysfunction from films set at Christmas and Thanksgiving than I did thinking about the happiness that comes with these holidays. One of the most tearjerking moments for me as a kid was certainly seeing Mickey Mouse crying over his dead son in Mickey’s Christmas Carol. It’s no wonder so many people get sad this time of year. Movies are influential, and for every bit of slapstick we see this season, there’s potentially room for thoughts of abandoned children to go along with it.
Worse for our tearducts are the films that aren’t necessarily thought of as “holiday movies,” which are typically more honest about how much of a bummer holidays can truly be. So get out your hanky and check out our list of ten most depressing holidays in movies:


Movie: Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Depressing holiday: Thanksgiving
It’s likely that John Hughes is a real drag on holidays. His scripts feature kids forgotten at Christmastime (Home Alone and its sequels), poor teens who get cartons of cigarettes as presents (The Breakfast Club) and yuletide kidnappings (Christmas Vacation). Thanksgiving seems to be the most melancholy for him, though, as is clear from the bittersweet road trip movies Dutch and Planes, Trains and Automobiles, the latter of which is up there with the saddest “comedies” ever made. Sure, it ultimately has a happy ending, but those last few minutes leave you bawling as you watch the montage and subsequent scene revealing John Candy’s true living situation.

Film: The Apartment
Depressing Holiday: Christmas
It’s sad enough to be a lonely bachelor on Christmas Eve. It’s even sadder to be loaning out your home as a lover’s hideaway on such a night. Saddest of all, though, has to be returning to said apartment to find a half-dead woman in your bed who has attempted suicide with your sleeping pills (bonus points for her being your crush). The Apartment also has one of the more depressing New Year’s Eves on film, even if it does kind of figure into a “happy” ending.

Film: Lethal Weapon
Depressing Holiday: Christmas
Sgt. Martin Riggs (Mel Gibson) is also a lonely man on Christmas Eve dealing with suicide, but here it’s the contemplation of his own. While watching Bugs Bunny’s Christmas Carol on TV and thinking about his dead wife, he loads up his gun and wrestles with his demons. It’s one of the most heart-wrenching scenes to ever be included in an action movie.

Film: The War at Home
Depressing Holiday: Thanksgiving
Like Martin Riggs, Jeremy Collier (Emilio Estevez) is a Vietnam vet, and also like Riggs, he has trouble putting his gun away during the holidays. Unlike Riggs, though, Jeremy’s weapon is directed at his father (Martin Sheen) rather than himself, and that leads to a less-depressing but no less disheartening situation.

Film: A Midnight Clear
Depressing Holiday: Christmas
One of the most bittersweet war films ever made, A Midnight Clear is set during Christmas, 1944, in the middle of WWII and involves an intended holiday truce between American and German troops. Unfortunately, things go wrong. Not only does the film remind us currently that so many soldiers are away from home and potentially fighting on Christmas, it also displays some depressing truths about humanity and war that are saddening regardless of the season.

Film: The Ice Storm
Depressing Holiday: Thanksgiving
This movie (which could also qualify for yesterday’s list of best dysfunctional families) reminds us of how sad Thanksgiving can be on an historical level thanks to the sardonic pre-dinne grace said by Wendy (Christina Ricci) regarding both America’s tradition of killing and robbing the Indians and its gluttonous disregard for the starving people around the world (didn’t we all go through that holiday protest phase?). Oh, and it features one of the most unsettling death-by-electrocution scenes ever.

Film: Gremlins
Depressing Holiday: Christmas
The present holiday of this horror comedy classic is pretty sad considering all the death and destruction being caused by little green monsters, but the real depressing Christmas is the one from the past that Kate (Phoebe Cates) tells about. You know, the one where her father broke his neck and died on Christmas Eve while playing Santa Claus. And by recalling the details so slowly and in depth (she could have just simply said that her dad died on Christmas), she makes it even more somber a story than is welcome at such an already fearsome occasion.

Film: Critters 2: The Main Course

Depressing Holiday: Easter
Obviously taking a cue from Gremlins, this sequel similarly involves little creatures terrorizing a small town during a holiday. And while not quite as gloomy for a young viewer as the earlier, better film, Critters 2 does feature a relatively upsetting scene in which “the Easter Bunny” is attacked by Crites and then crashes through a church window, ultimately bleeding from the mouth, dead.

Film: Groundhog Day
Depressing Holiday: Groundhog Day
Not that anyone really celebrates this “holiday” (neither school nor post office is closed), but whatever. Though treated as black comedy, there is something quite depressing about all those suicide attempts made by Phil Connors (Bill Murray). It’s enough to cast a shadow (yuk yuk) on all the happiness that otherwise would come from Groundhog Day if it actually involved celebratory activities.

Film: Roger &amp; Me
Depressing Holiday: Christmas
Documentaries have the ability to make for the most depressing holidays, because they feature real life events — like a family being evicted from their home on Christmas day. This one is especially grim this year, as it’s possible that with the economy and mortgage crisis what they are that some families across America will be experiencing such a fate this December 25. Originally posted on:SpoutBlog</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: #3...(three way tie)</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/blogs/eagle795/archive/2007/8/29/19075.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t86250dsnon.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/89058/default.aspx'>eagle795</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/blogs/eagle795/default.aspx'>eagle795 Blog</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 8/29/2007 12:23:24 AM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> Kind of follows the buddy movie formula&hellip;cops&hellip;one black, one white&hellip;an implied generation gap&hellip;very different family lives&hellip;one is crazy, one is stable. But the reason formula movies become a formula in the first place is because it is successful. This movie does it better than any of them. Another Christmas movie in the loosest sense, and with the additional benefit of Gary Busey as the bad guy.                                 <br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 29 Aug 2007 04:23:24 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>eagle795</spout:postby><spout:postto>eagle795 Blog</spout:postto><spout:postdate>8/29/2007 12:23:24 AM</spout:postdate><spout:body>Kind of follows the buddy movie formula&amp;hellip;cops&amp;hellip;one black, one white&amp;hellip;an implied generation gap&amp;hellip;very different family lives&amp;hellip;one is crazy, one is stable. But the reason formula movies become a formula in the first place is because it is successful. This movie does it better than any of them. Another Christmas movie in the loosest sense, and with the additional benefit of Gary Busey as the bad guy.                                 </spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Post: Re: WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE ACTION MOVIE??</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/groups/ACTION_MOVIES_ROCK/Re_WHAT_IS_YOUR_FAVORITE_ACTION_MOVIE/333/9881/1/ShowPost.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div><img align='left' src='http://www.spout.com/ProductImages/t86250dsnon.jpg' hspace='10' style='height:80px;' />
<strong>Post By:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/members/5889/default.aspx'>Jymkata</a><br/>
<strong>Post To:</strong> <a href='http://www.spout.com/groups/ACTION_MOVIES_ROCK/333/discussions.aspx'>ACTION MOVIES ROCK</a><br/>
<strong>Post Date:</strong> 5/31/2007 10:20:20 PM<br/>
<strong>Body:</strong> I have a fondness for all the 80&#39;s and early 90&#39;s action movies but I really love Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 2,  and Point Break .<br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 01 Jun 2007 02:20:20 GMT</pubDate><spout:postby>Jymkata</spout:postby><spout:postto>ACTION MOVIES ROCK</spout:postto><spout:postdate>5/31/2007 10:20:20 PM</spout:postdate><spout:body>I have a fondness for all the 80&amp;#39;s and early 90&amp;#39;s action movies but I really love Die Hard, Lethal Weapon, Lethal Weapon 2,  and Point Break .</spout:body></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:love</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/love/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/love/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>love</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 12478</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 336</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 1477</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:08:37 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>12478</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>336</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>1477</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:Classic</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/Classic/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/Classic/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>Classic</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 816</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 312</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 1453</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Sun, 23 Aug 2009 22:54:36 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>816</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>312</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>1453</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:comedy</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/comedy/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/comedy/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>comedy</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 1086</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 253</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 1340</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 08 Dec 2009 21:38:24 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>1086</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>253</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>1340</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:family</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/family/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/family/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>family</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 6288</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 226</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 1138</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Thu, 03 Dec 2009 20:09:21 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>6288</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>226</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>1138</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:romance</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/romance/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/romance/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>romance</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 7160</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 169</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 1002</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 00:50:40 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>7160</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>169</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>1002</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:friendship</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/friendship/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/friendship/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>friendship</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 6791</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 154</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 979</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 09 Dec 2009 05:08:37 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>6791</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>154</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>979</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:death</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/death/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/death/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>death</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 4306</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 140</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 526</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 16 Nov 2009 17:27:13 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>4306</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>140</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>526</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:suicide</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/suicide/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/suicide/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>suicide</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 1828</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 80</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 185</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 04 Dec 2009 01:40:50 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>1828</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>80</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>185</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:suspense</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/suspense/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/suspense/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>suspense</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 129</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 66</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 189</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 03 Nov 2009 17:28:43 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>129</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>66</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>189</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:depression</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/depression/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/depression/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>depression</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 462</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 51</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 87</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Mon, 21 Sep 2009 00:57:50 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>462</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>51</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>87</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:robbery</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/robbery/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/robbery/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>robbery</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 3798</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 42</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 103</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Fri, 11 Sep 2009 21:33:51 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>3798</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>42</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>103</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:police</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/police/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/police/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>police</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 3104</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 37</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 172</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 24 Nov 2009 20:56:49 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>3104</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>37</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>172</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:alcoholism</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/alcoholism/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/alcoholism/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>alcoholism</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 1151</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 35</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 64</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 16 Sep 2009 21:16:58 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>1151</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>35</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>64</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:criminal</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/criminal/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/criminal/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>criminal</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 3388</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 27</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 56</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Wed, 12 Aug 2009 13:02:59 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>3388</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>27</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>56</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
    <item>
      <title>Spout Tag:cop</title>
      <link>http://www.spout.com/members/0/tags/cop/MemberTagFilms.aspx</link><description><![CDATA[<div style='display:block;height:120px;width:400px;font:10px/10px Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif;'><a href='/members/0/tags/cop/MemberTagFilms.aspx'>cop</a>
<strong><br/> Number of films tagged:</strong> 26</br><br/>
<strong>Number of people who tagged:</strong> 17</br><br/>
<strong>Number of times used:</strong> 29</br><br/>
</div>]]></description><pubDate>Tue, 06 Oct 2009 18:28:02 GMT</pubDate><spout:numFilms>26</spout:numFilms><spout:numPeople>17</spout:numPeople><spout:timesUsed>29</spout:timesUsed><spout:type>Tag</spout:type></item>
  </channel>
</rss>