Bo Ling Chop Suey Palace as it appeared in A Christmas Story in 1983.Yesterday Tom read some Christmas wishes online that went something like this: we wish you a happy day, whether you are celebrating around the tree or going out to a movie and then a Chinese restaurant. I thought, my gosh, we are going to be an alternative stereotype this day! Because, as I wrote, we celebrated around the tree on the 24th, so on the real Christmas day we went to the opening of Sherlock Holmes and ate out afterwards at our favorite Chinese restaurant. It wasn't this one, which was used in the movie A Christmas Story, but was our favorite local Chinese restaurant, where we walk in and they know us, and even know what we like to order. We went with friends and had just the best time. The restaurant was packed and the man who waited on us said it's like this every Christmas. Incidentally, I loved the movie. It doesn't hurt that it stars two of my favorites, Robert Downey, Jr. and Jude Law, as the great detective and Dr. Watson. All the trailers have shown lots of action, but there are also quieter, more contemplative parts. I have never enjoyed these characters as much as in this film. And Rachel McAdams was great as Irene Adler. You get to see London as it really must have been in those Victorian days. I could almost feel the air and smell the smells.
Jude Law is quite high up on my personal "Top Ten" of handsome men :-)
ReplyDeleteYour mentioning of your favourite Chinese restaurant reminded me that I should, really, soon go to the Chinese restaurant round the corner from where I live and tell them that one of their most regular and enthusiastic customers - my husband - won't ever be back for another meal :-(
Ah, yes, Librarian. And Mr. D. isn't so bad himself. :<)
ReplyDeleteHow very sad they will be. And how hard for you to have to do.
How timely - we just watched the end of A Christmas Story, and the children have been inappropriately singing 'ra ra ra ra ra' continuously.
ReplyDeleteI am pleased to hear you liked Sherlock. I am going tomorrow, while the rest of my family watches The Squeakwel. Looking forward to it immensely.
Raidergirl, I love your note! After you see it, email or come back to let me know what you think, if you want and have a minute. I have a link to a great write-up about it to give you.
ReplyDeleteNan, glad your Christmas was a good one! Thanks for the review of Sherlock Holmes-John and I want to see it in the next few days!
ReplyDeletethat's a movie I want to see, too!
ReplyDeleteI am glad you had a good Christmas. I want to see the Sherlock Holmes movie so I am glad to hear you liked it.
ReplyDeleteThis surprises me a bit. The trailers make me not want to see this film at all. It seems almost anti-Holmes.
ReplyDeleteHow funny! Movie and Chinese must be the thing these days. A friend of ours who is a divorced father told me he was taking the kids to see a movie and then go out for Chinese food on Christmas day. Sounds fun to me!
ReplyDeleteI'll be interested to hear what each of you thinks of the movie. Thomas, I just emailed you a link to an article talking about Downey as Holmes. I think you'll like it.
ReplyDeleteNan,
ReplyDeleteThanks for the movie review. I'm thinking of venturing out in the snow later today to see a movie. And seeing one where historical London is depicted may be just the ticket I'll buy.
Merry Christmas -- on the third day.
Janell
Where's that lovely deer going in such a great rush? Lovely photo!
ReplyDeleteRound here the deer are on the move as well, also the turkeys and our snowshoe hares.
Next time I go to the big city I will go to a Chinese restaurant.
ReplyDeleteGive me something to look forward to. Best Wishes to you and yours.
We had Chinese for Christmas a few years ago and I think it's a great tradition! Also, it was the only restaurant in town that was open!
ReplyDeleteI like your personal Christmas Story. What a relaxing, authentic way for you to spend the day. Traditions only "stick" if they really suit us... otherwise we're kind of going through the motions.
ReplyDeleteWe ate a Tibetan meal, which I haven't written about yet. The main dish was a kind of dumpling called "Momos." I prepared them with what we had on hand, rather than buying a lot of special ingredients. They reminded me of pot stickers. So, we went to Asia for our Christmas dinner inspiration too.
Come by and see my stroll with Maude if you want!
I loved the film. We saw it yestereday. Mr. D portrays S Holmes a bit darker than the actors have. But it worked well. I liked the way that Mr. Watson was portrayed also - wasn't as much of a side kick in this movie.
ReplyDeleteMy son is going to see this one tomorrow with a group of friends. Your Christmas story sounds great and I'm glad that you all had such a wonderful time!
ReplyDeleteWhat a wonderful way to spend the day! And that movie sounds fabulous. RD Jr. has become one of my all-time favorites. I loved him in Ironman and Zodiac. And Jude Law... I'm with Librarian. He's pretty easy to look at!
ReplyDeleteYear ago, when we celebrated Christmas with the girls sometime around New Year's Eve, Rod & I would spend our quiet Christmas Day at the movies. We need to get back to that tradition...
Janell, it certainly isn't pretty. All those scenes on Christmas cards don't show the real mess. Sometimes there was so little color, it almost seemed like it was in black & white. Just so well done.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, you have such a good eye! That deer has just watched Tom put down some food and is running toward it. :<)
Thank you and the same to you, Ernestine. Wish I lived closer and we could go together!
Tara, I think that's the thing. And it was the same in A Christmas Story, set all those years ago.
Aisling, you cook the most interesting dishes! And do such original things with your family. I love it.
Jodi, in the review I read Downey describes them as an 'eccentric old couple!' I thought this was great. Though I thought the darkest, darkest Holmes was Jeremy Brett. I just couldn't watch him, though fans thought him brilliant. I liked Downey's humor, and the twinkle in his eye that often appeared.
Staci, my son who is 24, and our friend's son who is 20, both really liked it. I wonder what your son will think.
Les, my favorite, favorite RDJr. role is in Home for the Holidays, which I watch every year, and think about the rest of the year. He is utterly brilliant in it.
I need to get a copy of Home for the Holidays! It's been years since I've watched it. Yes, RD is fantastic!
ReplyDeleteLes, it is one of my favorite movies. I think it tells great truths about families and human beings in general. There is warmth and humor among the troubles. I've tried several times to write about it here, and I haven't yet been able to capture my feelings.
ReplyDeleteSounds like a lovely Christmas holiday - both days.
ReplyDeleteThanks for mentioning about the violence in Sherlock Holmes. I've been wanting to see it but the trailers make it look like it's very violent. Now I'm definitely going to go see it.
Oh, Margot, I sure hope I haven't steered you wrong. There is some violence, but it is a PG-13. Honestly, I think most of the 'action' was shown in the previews, though there is a bare-knuckle boxing (or whatever it is called) scene.
ReplyDeleteI'm SO relieved that you liked the movie! I've been looking forward to it for a long time, but some of the reviews I've read haven't been so great. But if YOU liked it, I'm sure I'll be safe!
ReplyDeleteOh, Heather, such a responsibility! Hope you don't feel you've wasted your time. :<)
ReplyDeleteNan - No, I completely trust you. ;)
ReplyDeleteHeather, I heard yucky reviews on the Reelz channel last night and totally disagreed with them!
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