An MST3K Christmas movie double header

Here's a Christmas gift from me. Two absolutely awful holiday movies, made hilarious via comments by the crew. Both movies are streaming on youtube. However, if they don't work for some reason, do a search on youtube.com using the words "Santa Claus" and "MST3K" and they'll pop up. As I like to say in PC vernacular: Seasonal Salutations everyone!

"A Child's Christmas in Wales"

 I read "A Child's Christmas In Wales" every Christmas Eve. It's a time-honored tradition (along with watching the Queen's speech) that goes back to when my daughters were little and I think I've only missed reading it one or two times. I saw this special, narrated by Denholm Elliot, several years ago on CBC. It's a beautiful retelling of the Dylan Thomas classic. Hopefully this link will work. If not, do a search for it on youtube. Merry Christmas to all!
4.5 out of 5 stars

"The Angel"

Based on a true story, "The Angel" is the gripping saga of Ashraf Marwan, the son-in-law of President Nasser of Egypt. It takes place in the aftermath of the 6-Days War between Egypt and Israel. Ashraf, brilliantly played by Marwan Kenzari, negotiates with the Mossad to sell them state secrets. While he appears to be an Egyptian traitor, his ultimate goal is peace between the two countries. The movie is based on the best-selling novel, "The Angel: The Egyptian Spy Who Saved Israel" by Uri Bar-Joseph. I had never heard Ashraf's story, and I feel he deserves to be a household name.
4 out of 5 stars.

"Into the Forest"

This loosely falls into the "Post Apocalyptic" genre, which is a favorite of mine. The story revolves around two sisters, brilliantly played by Ellen Page and Evan Rachel Wood. They live with their father in the middle of the woods, somewhere in the Pacific Northwest. When power outages mysteriously occur around the country, they have to fend for themselves. When their dad dies in an accident, they're totally on their own. While it's somewhat slow-moving, Or, "nuanced" as some critics like to say, it's a beautiful shot and acted drama, that will hold your attention right until the end. The movie is based on a novel, that I'll have to look for.
4 out of 5 stars.