15 School days of Christmas

There are two things that almost every Star Wars fan can agree on: The old Lego holiday special, made in the 1970s, is bad, and the movie The Rise of Skywalker was a mess. So it comes as no surprise that combining the two would result in a bad Star Wars adventure. The Lego Star Wars Holiday Special, from writer David Shayne and director Ken Cunningham, is mostly a simple hop through Lucasfilm h...

It’s that time of year again, when the weather is getting colder, pumpkin spice is switched over to peppermint, and the radios are flooded with Christmas music. However, not everyone considers this “the most wonderful time of the year.” Pretty much any complaint about the Christmas season will be met with a chorus of Scrooge references, but a dislike for the holiday is completely justifiable. C...

Dolly Parton’s new Christmas movie musical, Dolly Parton’s Christmas on the Square, is sure to please avid fans, but the subpar plot will not intrigue others. The movie focuses on a small town that is being sold to make way for a shopping mall. Dolly Parton’s character, an angel, is tasked with helping another angel by the name of Felicity change the heart of the town’s owner, Regina Ful...

Teens across the world love Christmas, with the music being one of the most beloved parts of the season.  However, the numerous attempts by artists in recent years to create their own holiday hit have failed miserably. Most teens have ignored the holiday releases of current stars and have continued to listen to the classic Christmas songs.  For example, “White Christmas” by Bing Crosby was rele...

Indie pop group The Bird and the Bee has released its first Christmas-themed album, “Put Up the Lights,” which is pleasant but a little simplistic. The Bird and The Bee consists of vocalist Inara George (the “Bird”) and instrumentalist/producer Greg Kurstin (the “Bee”).  The eight-song album has several covers of holiday classics, like “Sleigh Ride,” “Deck the Halls,” and �...

Amid the catastrophic dumpster fire of 2020, a joyous, heartwarming holiday season spent with family and friends is more vital than ever before. Though some are hesitant or unable to physically congregate with loved ones, most Americans need to create authentic, empowering Christmas spirit and get a needed psychological uplift. Of course, 2020 has delivered enough cataclysmic events for an entire dec...

The new Netflix original Midnight At The Magnolia has been a hit, but it is as predictable as any Hallmark movie. This story takes place in Chicago as two childhood best friends, Maggie (Natalie Hall) and Jack (Evan Williams), host a popular radio show that brings them on a journey they would have never expected.  Jack and Maggie first are told to introduce their partners to their families ...

For the fans of holiday cheer and tradition, the hunt for the best 2020 Christmas songs is over. These five new songs are sure to make it onto everyone’s next holiday playlist. From country through boy bands to pop, listeners’ holiday expectations are guaranteed to be exceeded.  Dan + Shay’s “Take Me Home For Christmas” has made a mark on the charts. Aside from their amazing voices, D...

Tori Kelly puts her own twist on classic Christmas music on A Tori Kelly Christmas.  Kelly covers a large number of traditional Christmas songs, like “Joy to the World” and “O Holy Night.” However, she goes in a more pop direction, creating a more upbeat Christmas album.  Kelly’s impressive vocal range is prevalent throughout the album, adding enthusiasm to the songs, which is not usually seen in ...

For many people, the holidays are about spending time with family and friends. Whether it’s Christmas, Hanukkah or St. Nicholas Day, families usually get together for the holidays. But this year, is that really a good idea? This holiday season will be much different than what we have seen in past years. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic,  visiting family and friends, especially out of state, will...

In the annual holiday debate between real trees and fake ones, the fake trees win easily. That’s because a fake Christmas tree can do everything a real Christmas tree can do, and more. A fake tree can have more value, because it can be passed down through your family for generations, while a real Christmas tree dies each year. A fake tree is much safer than a real one. About 160 house fires per year have star...

If The Fates Allow is the perfect choice of holiday music for theater fans this year.  The album features a mix of holiday classics in addition to original compositions, and it is marketed as being “a Hadestown holiday album,” featuring the vocal talents of the cast of the Broadway musical Hadestown. Most prominent throughout the album are Jewelle Blackman, Yvette Gonzales-Nacer, and Kay Trinidad, wh...

During the holidays, many people want a significant other to do fun activities with. The rom-com Holidate provides tips on how to get someone.  Emma Roberts plays Sloane, whose family makes fun of her for being single, and whose mother tries to set her up with many guys. Sloane ends up meeting Jackson (Luke Bracey). Since Jackson and Sloane are both single, they decide to become each other�...

With Christmas just a few days away, here are some great last-minute gift ideas:  For Mom: Moms tend to find themselves feeling stress with their duties while motoring for the family. A gift that is simple yet goes a long way is a neck or back warmer. That way, Mom can sit comfortably as she goes through her day. For Dad: Dads like funny yet reasonable gifts. Examples can be coffee mugs with funny sa...