Bernstein Family Christmas Movie Page

(Last change to this page: November 15, 2005)

Information about the Christmas Movie tradition is available below. Each link from a movie title goes to the page about the given movie in the Internet Movie Database.

Winner for Xmas 2005: King Kong

The 2005 election took a surprise turn when both Memoirs of a Geisha and Munich opened on December 23 in Western Connecticut, turfing front-runner Walk the Line. With that movie ruled ineligible, the Giant Ape became a foregone conclusion, garnering a five vote plurality on the first ballot and a majority on the second. It should be pointed out that this is the second consecutive year that David’s early choice has prevailed, although this is the first monster movie chosen. Also, at 187 minutes, this is the longest Xmas movie since Reds (194 minutes, with an intermission).

Next year: All the King’s Men, Charlotte’s Web, Arthur (Luc Besson children’s animated feature?), Branagh does As You Like It, Dreamgirls, and a werewolf movie called Skinwalkers. Oh, and Santa Clause 3.

The final 2005 ballot:

Sun City, AZ

Alice Bernstein: The Family Stone
Irwin Bernstein: The Family Stone

San Francisco, CA

Ruth Bernstein: King Kong
Matthew Patchell: King Kong
Zachary Patchell: Minority Ineligible
Nina Patchell: Minority Ineligible

San Antonio, TX

Jon Bernstein: Leaning to King Kong
Jessica Bernstein: The Family Stone
Rachel Bernstein: Minority Ineligible
Miriam Bernstein: Minority Ineligible

Kent, CT

Fran Altvater: King Kong
Ed Bernstein: King Kong
Brynnen Bernstein: Minority Ineligible

Watertown, MA

David Bernstein: King Kong
Kristin McGrath: Fun with Dick and Jane

The Christmas Movie Tradition (Past and Future)

Since nineteen aught and 77, the Bernstein family have collectively chosen a movie to see the day of Christmas Eve. Sometime around 1985, they went national: various members of the clan scattered to far-flung cities, and agreed to continue the tradition by all seeing the same movie even if in different locations. This tradition allows them to do something together as a family and, perhaps more importantly, provides an opportunity to argue, politick, lobby, and otherwise engage in lively debate. At the first Official Christmas Movie Rules Convention (held in Phoenix in 1995), after lengthy debate, all members came to the conclusion that no rules of any sort could be agreed upon. Nonetheless, the tradition continues, and in an effort to bring it into the Information Age, Ed commissioned a Web page to make it easier for all concerned to see up-to-the-minute voting trends. The actual voting is done by conference call; information on this page does not reflect a commitment and is probably intended to deceive.

For more information, to suggest movies, to argue vehemently, or to complain about this page, contact Ed by clicking this link.