MovieChat Forums > One Magic Christmas (1985) Discussion > Are you Kidding a Christmas Movie???

Are you Kidding a Christmas Movie???

posted 15 years ago by abstractist
24 replies | jump to latest

One of the main characters, Gideon, is only missing a van and a puppy or kitten.

"Don't tell your mother about me."

He is the creepiest angel ever dreamed up by anybody.

Long duster, cowboy hat, and talking to kids, in their bedrooms, without their parents permission, are you kidding, can you say Child Molester?

This story never should have gone past 1st half reading, then trash can here it comes.

Casting, what was the casting person doing, going through a divorce?

This guy Gideon was last seen on a sex offender's web site.

Don't get me wrong he may be a really nice human being, but he looks creepy, too creepy to be an angel.

Imagine some 5 or 6 year old child seeing this guy playing an angel; and then meeting a child molester and thinking he is an angel.

Duh dump this movie.

[–] indyjonesandy 15 years ago

This is a darn good movie. A great movie about giving a woman her Christmas spirit back. It's people like you who want to make everything so politically correct that have made hollywood churn out the garbage family movies that they make today.
This film is a classic. Of course you forget thet Gideon is an angel that gave his life rescuing a child from drowning many years ago on christmas. That's why he's wearing that western garb. Harry Dean Stanton did a great job in this role and this really is one of my favorite christmas movies.

[–] kali1998 15 years ago

It's a terrific movie. The original poster wasn't being "politically correct". S/he just got hung up on some twisted idea that Harry Dean Stanton comes across as a pedophile, which says more about the original poster than the movie.

I'm surprised at some of the hate for this movie on these boards but these boards are filled a lot of negativity in general.

[–] YankeeDood 10 years ago

indy, I fully agree

Bruce Lee was real. Batman was never real.

[–] Altozanero 15 years ago

Really?

Your 'strong' mind just stereotypes everybody you meet or see?
You "judge a book by its cover" eh?

Most modern media (films, satirical cartoons, etc) ridicule simple minds like yours.

Ironically, these sort of films are about YOU.

[–] Moss-37 15 years ago

I guess that's the way this country has become nowadays regarding adults interacting with children.But I wonder if you say the same thing if the angel was for example,Michael Landon in his 'Little house on the Prarie garb',near enough the same style of cowhand clothing...the thing is you never know who was worthy of an Angel just by looking at them and not what they were inside.

[–] druhanp 15 years ago

Most pedophiles are friends and family members, not strangers. However, when this movie was made society was not as gripped in hysteria about strangers and Gideon's oilskin clothing was actually kind of trendy.

[–] Lets_talk_about_that 15 years ago

To the OP: having been a little kid in the 80s, when this film was made, I can tell you that it was a different time and there was no child molester hysteria like there is in this day and age. Gideon was simply an old cowboy with a wise and kindly face, not a shady figure out to abuse kids. In the story, he lost his life as a ranch hand while saving someone from drowning, thereby earning the position of an angel.

[–] creature_of_the_nite 15 years ago

Im with tourmalyn on this one. the OP oughta get a life. it's a fu*kin children's film - it's not going to desensitise kids to pedo's and molesters. dont be so ignorant! i saw this film as a child in the '80s myself - the only thing i took away from it - as a child, anyways - was that angels and Santa are real.

so sick of peoples' ignorance and prejudices these days...

[–] Val-El 14 years ago

Wonderful movie! Mary Steenburgen? what can you say about an icon!

[–] suzan28 11 years ago

well that's kind of not true

it did exist back then...like another poster said, with people that you trust...

but that's not what I'm assuming that this movie was about....

you're not supposed to put in those things about Christmas movies...

saying so and so's creepy.

when you think about it, wouldn't santa be the biggest one of them all...

breaking and entering....

and you know all that kind of stuff...

lol

susan

To the OP: having been a little kid in the 80s, when this film was made, I can tell you that it was a different time and there was no child molester hysteria like there is in this day and age. Gideon was simply an old cowboy with a wise and kindly face, not a shady figure out to abuse kids. In the story, he lost his life as a ranch hand while saving someone from drowning, thereby earning the position of an angel.

[–] blueoktober 13 years ago

You do realize he was an angel, do you not? What a bunch of moronic people.

[–] SteveH2002 12 years ago

Agree with the OP here. Stanton's behavior is pretty much in line with the way child molesters operate. Befriend a young child, talk with them in private, tell them these communications are secret and don't tell your parents.

I'd think twice before showing this to a young child, just because it's sending out a mixed message. Ginny even tells her daughter at one point 'don't talk to strangers,' but the movie presents the stranger as a Christmas angel.

If you can overlook that it is a pretty sweet story. Stanton is very good, and I didn't pick up the creepy/weird vibes. Still wouldn't like any young kid going off on 'adventures' with a stranger.

I'm sure this wouldn't get made today without a heavy rewrite. It works as a Christmas story - Mary rediscovers the Christmas spirit - but no major studio, Disney especially, would allow the Gideon's story to be presented this way.

[–] darvis_86 12 years ago

Yup. I agree with everything you said. When I saw this as a child, I ignored everything my parents taught me and went out looking for strangers.

Hey everyone, listen to SteveH2002. He knows everything and what kids will believe when it comes to a movie.

[–] dormerjam-1 12 years ago

The reason it would require a "heavy rewrite" is because of PC thugs like you using movies to teach your kids instead of doing it yourself. I guess E.T. wouldn't get made today either without "heavy rewrites" because you wouldn't want your kid to hide an alien in the house and then help him escape. What a dolt you are...

[–] SouthernCross88au 12 years ago

Yeah, right. This movie will make young children go up to strangers and make them think they are angels just as much as movies with guns and violence will make people go out and shoot people. Is that what your conclusion is? What a bunch of garbage!

What makes me worried are people like you finding this topic so interesting and creating more pedophile hysteria.

When love feels like magic you call it destiny.WhenDestiny has a sense of humorYouCallItSERENDIPITY

[–] jarth-2 12 years ago

One of the main characters, Gideon, is only missing a van and a puppy or kitten.

"Don't tell your mother about me."

He is the creepiest angel ever dreamed up by anybody.

Typical words from an idiot like you. This is the best Christmas movie ever.

[–] YankeeDood 10 years ago

Yeah, these millennium brats will call just about anyone walking on the street a "molester" thanks to MSM fear-mongering that just happens to be quite profitable, surprise.

Bruce Lee was real. Batman was never real.