Holiday movies highlight the best of our values
Brooklyn: I loved reading Stephen Greenwald’s and Paula Landry’s Dec. 31 op-ed “How holiday movies build entertainment empires.” Of the movies they mentioned, my favorite is “Home Alone 2: Lost in New York.”
Year after year, I watch this movie for the residual uplifting it provides me during the holiday season and after its conclusion. Little Kevin, a precocious 8-year-old, again becomes a hero, besting two adult thieves while exposing the pretense and buffoonery of a famed hotel’s employees, all with side-splitting hilarity. It is so refreshing to watch something where the endless reservoir of childhood’s innocence and good-natured mischief can supply a little kid with ingenuity, pluck and the resilience needed to overcome danger and loneliness during the holiday season.
While New York embraces him with its assertive yet poignant Christmas spirit, Kevin also befriends a homeless woman who in turn has been embraced by silence and pigeons, and with sweet gentility shows us how important it is to be open-minded about, and not afraid of, those who have become marginalized by a society bent on marching on even while watering down our standard of life.
Similar to other holiday favorites, this movie draws its style from a genuine concern for the less fortunate among us, giving us a way to end the anti-social streak we sometimes harbor and to dial down our acquisitive nature. That is a pretty good reason that holiday movies will continue to be popular year after year. Vasilios Vasilounis
Not believable
Brooklyn: Congrats to Demi Moore for her Golden Globes win for “The Substance.” She deserved it. On the other hand, the film itself is very problematic. No, not for the last 20 minutes. The main premise of “The Substance” is that Moore’s character has split into two bodies but is still of one mind. The sole reason she is sacrificing the health of her old body is so that she can experience life again as an attractive young woman. But as the story progresses, it is apparent that they aren’t actually experiencing each others’ lives, which means Moore’s older self gets absolutely zero gain from using the substance, neither in social status or personal experience. So, why continue with the experiment?! Obviously, to drive the story. Sorry, it makes no sense. Peter Magnotta
Opens things up
Glendale: Voicer Dennis Burge believes that the three-point shot is ruining professional basketball. Well, Dennis, it was adopted/added because many people thought the constant dunking was ruining the game, and the three-point shot opened up the inside. In addition, the game of basketball was also looked at as only for the tall players, and that a shorter player was at a huge disadvantage. The three-point shot has erased that position. You may think the success rate is high but it isn’t. Making a three-point shot takes skill, and a success rate above 40% is considered good, however, 40% for a regular (two-point) shot is dismal. There is talk about moving the three-point shot out, however, there is an issue with the corner three since there is nowhere to move it since you may have to take away seats (aka money) if you widen the court. Thomas Murawski
Stop the losses
Brooklyn: Now that the MTA has succeeded in getting the congestion pricing toll tax put into effect, will they collect the millions of dollars that slip through their fingers from individuals who use public transportation, bridges and tunnels? The turnstile-jumpers, people not paying on buses, and cars that conceal their license plates with covers or phony plates who beat the system are going to increase with the public turning to MTA facilities. How about straightening out your act before you come to the public again with your hands out for an increase in tolls, saying not enough money is being collected? The MTA must be held accountable with all the funds that come its way. William Blitzer
Same as it ever was
Whitestone: What is going on in this city of ours? The FDNY union calls congestion pricing a “looming public safety crisis.” Our firefighters have to use their personal cars to get to the firehouses when they are needed. What about when they must return to the firehouse and they are refused an exemption in this or any situation? Are we nuts? All because we have accepted more people than this city can hold. Is this wonderful idea going to help the MTA? Never! Clean up the subways and get police to patrol them on off-hours, or soldiers at main busy stations or quiet lonely ones. And on top of it all, soon we will pay a higher fare. This has been their MO for the 50 years I have been riding the subway. Oh, subway is not working right, many delays, etc. Notice: Fare going up three months from now. How’s that? Marlene Torino
Slow-roll it
Richmond Hill: Way back when congestion was first an issue, having all deliveries done in the evening was proposed. This would have been a good first step and let the powers that be build on it. Doing one thing at a time has always been the smartest. As of today, everyone is pissed off and not willing to cooperate. Robert Clolery
Voted for it
Larchmont, N.Y.: New Yorkers might be up in arms over all the crime in the city, especially on the subway, but it’s their fault. New Yorkers vote in liberal and progressive politicians who care more about the rights of criminals than the rights of victims of crimes, resulting in the release of criminals on charges that are not bail-eligible, putting these miscreants back on the street and subway to assault and kill again. Until New Yorkers wise up and get rid of these misguided lawmakers in the City Council and elsewhere, crime will continue to plague the city, and New Yorkers have no one to blame but themselves. Cecily Carrigan
Historic win
Parlin, N.J.: To Voicers Michael Udolf, Marty Wolfson, Robert Wyshynski and Chalky White: All of you couldn’t have put it any better describing the convicted felon we now have going to the White House. I never thought I would see the day that someone so corrupt and criminally minded would be voted in to run our country! This is truly one for the history books! Diane Y. McCovery
Raw memory
Floral Park, L.I.: Every time I read or see coverage of the Jan. 6 attack on our Capitol, I cringe. To see that tyrant Donald Trump back in the White House is more upsetting than ever. He belongs in jail, no other place. Regina Rossi
Heads in the sand
Jacksonville, Fla.: It’s reported that in 2022, Congress authorized a commemorative plaque recognizing the police officers who rose to the occasion to defend the Capitol Building against Heir Trump’s rioters. But as of January 2025, that plaque has yet to be hung inside the Capitol! And no Republican will answer why! The Trump-clan Republicans are just bowing down to a dictator. Carl J.C. Hafner
Ask abroad
Madisonville, Pa.: To Voicer Fred Schoeneborn: When Trump visits a foreign country, he pushes his way up front to get in the photos. He doesn’t care who he elbows aside to be front and center. If you have any friends or family who have lived or are currently living overseas, ask what the opinion of Trump is over there. You might actually learn something. Not that you’d either believe or like it. Tom Mielczarek
Terribly absurd
Edinburgh, Scotland: No sooner had I finished a weekend letter concerning the whole Elon Musk/Trump/ Nigel Farage horror story than it turns out that Musk — the ketamine king — has already had enough of the U.K.’s con-man-in-chief Farage. Trump, of course, features nowhere. He’s golfing while bitching about the possibility of flags being at half-staff during his inauguration in honor of a man who actually did some good for America, Jimmy Carter. But I digress. This would all be comical if it weren’t for the chaos and catastrophic collateral damage of this delusional, end-of-empire, fascist bun-fight and orgy of lunacy. Amanda Baker
