Post #423293 by DJ Terence Gunn on Thu, Dec 11, 2008 2:16 PM

For those who enjoy strange, kitschy, eerie Christmas-oriented films just as much as the serious classics, like I do, you may wish to check out The Flaming Lips film 'Christmas On Mars' (2008).

No doubt they, too, are fans of B grade Sci-Fi films, and films like 'Santa Claus' and 'Santa Claus Conquers The Martians'.

http://christmasonmars.cinemapurgatorio.com/

The only problem I have with this film, is the problem I have with any other modern day attempt at an homage to past kitsch: it's conscientiously kitschy. Real kitsch -- or more accurately defined, what is later to be termed 'kitsch' by critics, purveyors, and other self-appointed connoisseurs of what is good taste -- is not self-conscious of itself; not conscientious that it is going to be termed kitsch, nor does it set out to be.

And speaking of which, here's a great site for fans of K. Gordon Murray's 'Santa Claus' and his follow up film shorts 'Santa's Little Helpers', 'Santa's Fantasy Fair', 'Santa's Enchanted Village', 'Santa's Magic Kingdom':

http://www.kgordonmurray.com/index.html

One will note that many of the latter film shorts were filmed in various Santa's Villages in California in the 1960s. These films trigger something within me; something from my childhood. I also remember going to a Santa's Village somewhere in the early 1970s -- though I don't recall it being in California.

Above: Santa's Village, Skyforest, California, circa 1960s