Hello everyone! 🙂

Welcome to ‘Bradley’s Basement’ blog and I’m Tim Bradley!

These past two days, I’ve enjoyed checking out three Christmas films released at Showcase Cinema in Nantgarw close to where I live. They include ‘Elf’, ‘Home Alone’ and ‘Home Alone 2: Lost In New York’. I’ve really enjoyed seeing these films on the big screen.

I saw ‘Elf’ on Friday evening, and I saw the first two ‘Home Alone’ films on Saturday. It’s no surprise ‘Elf’ gets re-released at cinemas lately, as it’s a very popular film to see at Christmas time. I did Day 2 of my 2024 ‘Advent Calendar’ on ‘Elf’ quite recently as well. 🙂

One of the things my Dad commented on about ‘Elf’ was that apparently, the ‘film tells you where the best coffee in the world is’ and it happens to be in New York City. If you know what I’m on about regarding ‘Elf’, it’s one of the funniest scenes featured in the film.

Despite ‘Elf’ being a very successful Christmas film over the years, it’s surprising that the film never got a sequel after it. And I don’t mean the 2010 Broadway musical called ‘Elf’ nor the 2014 stop-motion animated TV special called ‘Elf: Buddy’s Musical Christmas’. 🙂

I mean a proper live-action sequel with Will Ferrell and everyone else. Maybe Jon Favreau isn’t keen on doing a sequel to ‘Elf’ and he’s a very busy actor and director anyway. We’ve also lost James Cann, Ed Asner and Bob Newhart, so it probably wouldn’t be the same. 😐

I still enjoyed the film with a cup of Costa hot chocolate as well as a chocolate chip cookie. I laughed quite a lot whilst watching ‘Elf’ on the big screen and it’s amusing to see Will Ferrell playing Buddy in his green elf costume and often looking out of place in New York.

On Saturday, my parents and I had a Christmas meal before we saw the first two ‘Home Alone’ films in the afternoon. I’m glad we did that, and it was nice to see the two films one after the other. The first two ‘Home Alone’ films are the best in the series in my opinion. 🙂

Arguably, the first ‘Home Alone’ film is better than the second film and it’s easy to see that. It was great when hearing some audience members laughing at the traps Kevin set for Harry and Marv once they broke into the McCallisters’ house. The film itself is also pretty captivating.

Incidentally, I did Day 8 on the first two ‘Home Alone’ films for my ‘Advent Calendar’ this year. It was interesting to hear my Mum say she enjoyed the first film more than the second film, and that’s fine. Many people would say that about the first ‘Home Alone’ film.

I do find when watching these classic Christmas films, you do find yourself relaxing to them when watching them on the big screen. I was feeling quite comfortable in my cinema seat whilst watching the first ‘Home Alone’ film, even during some of the hilarious scenes.

Macaulay Culkin must get a lot of attention for being in the first two ‘Home Alone’ films, especially at Christmas time. He’s very into the role of Kevin when playing him in the first film and it’s funny to see him interact against Joe Pesci as Harry and Daniel Stern as Marv.

When I saw the second ‘Home Alone’ film called ‘Lost in New York’, I had a cup of Costa hot chocolate and a chocolate chip cookie like I did with ‘Elf’. It was good to see the film with a hot chocolate and a cookie. Once again, it made me feel so cosy and Christmassy.

I know a lot of the comedy from the first ‘Home Alone’ film is repeated in the second film, including the ‘Angels with Filthy Souls’ segments (which I’m still amazed were exclusively made for the ‘Home Alone’ films), but it was very entertaining and enjoyable to watch. 🙂

It’s fascinating how the film’s writer John Hughes redid the ‘Home Alone’ formula in the second film by setting the story in New York for Kevin, especially at the Plaza Hotel. The Donald Trump cameo still gives me the giggles and Tim Curry is excellent as the concierge Mr. Hector.

I think the fact I’ve seen the first ‘Home Alone’ film more than the second film over the years gives me good reason for why I enjoy the second film so much. This is especially when Kevin’s not stuck at home and he’s able to go to various places within New York City itself.

Incidentally, it’s amazing Macaulay Culkin’s brother Kieran played his cousin Fuller in the first two ‘Home Alone’ films. I easily mistook Ron Canada who plays the cop in Times Square meeting Kate McCallister, Kevin’s mother, for being in the first two ‘Die Hard’ films.

That was Reginald VelJohnson, actually. All in all, it’s been great to revisit ‘Elf’ and the first two ‘Home Alone’ films at the cinema recently. I’m currently looking forward to checking out some new films at the cinema as well as some more classic Christmas films at home.

Thanks for reading!

Bye for now!

Tim 🙂