This blog has a fondness for the festive season. In fact, it could be argued, come December 1st, this writer is the merriest person you'd ever be likely to meet. Come December 1st, every word spoken is laced with tinsel, every look flashes with electric light bulbs, every beat of the heart is pulsating with hope and Joy To The World. Come December 1st.
Sadly, in this world that we live in, you cannot escape Christmas in November. Today, upon watching television, almost every advert had a festive ring/theme to it, even if the product wasn't necessarily for Christmas. This is not unusual in the least, but it's still rather depressing.
Only two things bring joy to this blog on these occasions. The first is the fact that this season is the season where Cinema really comes alive again. This is not suggesting for a moment that the year beforehand has been disappointing - far from it, with the mega hits of The Dark Knight Rises and Skyfall tussling for the top spot in The Culture Section's annual Top Ten to be produced towards the end of the year. But as we approach the season for goodwill, we also approach the season of awards. And so, the big hitters arrive - Seven Psychopaths, Les Miserables, Life Of Pi, Silver Linings Playbook and all the rest, all filtering through as they start their long campaign just to be nominated for awards. This is very good news indeed, and brings the tidings of great joy often promised by the studios, never mind a heavenly choir of angels.
The second reason this blog finds it's ice cold heart in November slightly thawed is this year's John Lewis advert. Over the last couple of years the genius who has obviously been hired just because he/she has amazing ideas specifically for the superstore's festive commercials has produced immense works, often sound tracked by beautiful pieces of music. This year is perhaps the pinnacle, the ultimate triumph. The take of a snowman battling through the elements to buy his snow lady girlfriend the perfect gift she really needs is wonderfully shot and perfectly sound tracked by an awe inspiring cover of Frankie Goes To Hollywood's "The Power Of Love" by new star Gabrielle Aplin. The photography is gorgeous, the music simply beautiful.
This blog would therefore like to anounce two campaigns: first, if you have not seen this advert yet, watch it, NOW, even if you, like this writer, are still a Scrooge up until the December page of your calender. Secondly to John Lewis: this blog believes that you will never, EVER top the wonder of your advert this year. Therefore, this blog suggests you simply repeat it again next year, and the year after that. Make it a tradition. It reduces a friend of this blog to tears every time she watches it. Now that's magic.
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