Holiday Hangover

As I’ve mentioned a gazillion times before, I simply adore Lifetime Original Movies – especially the holiday movies.  They call it “Fa La La La Lifetime” and I’m a total sucker for it.

This past holiday season brought us a gem called Home By Christmas starring one Linda Hamilton.  You remember Linda Hamilton – “Beauty and the Beast” and the first couple “Terminator” movies, and other stuff.  She was always kind of neat looking, right?

Linda HamiltonNice, huh?  Well, she doesn’t look like that anymore.  She’s allowing herself to age naturally, without Botox or face lifts or anything like that.  And you know what?  I respect that.  The look they chose for her, however, was unflattering, and the acting is crap.

Linda Hamilton Home By ChristmasLook.  I’m not so sure that I believe in plastic surgery and all that stuff, but I am not sure I don’t.  If Linda wants to grow old gracefully, that’s totally fine by me, but don’t play a role that’s supposed to be about 10 years younger than you look, and while you’re at it, don’t play the part like you’re totally whacked out on Valium the whole time.  Unless I’m also whacked out on Valium, in which case I don’t care.  Just kidding.  I don’t take Valium.  They make Xanax for that now.

Anywhoo, the storyline is this.  Linda’s husband is leaving her, even though she is the perfect wife who makes sure she home cooks meals and gives clothes to the women’s shelter and supported her husband through all this whatever and she has this teenage daughter and BAM!  The husband is leaving, Linda ends up with nothing, the kid wants to live with the husband and his new dish, and Linda winds up living in her car.  Lucky for her she befriends an old man who owns a diner/antique shop (?) with a very attractive son, AND a woman who is also homeless but still manages to look good.  Then they start a business or something.  And Christmas is all saved and stuff.

Sorry to spoil it for you.  I know you were really looking forward to the next Fa La La La Lifetime in the hopes that they’d play it again.  Well, by then you will have forgotten about this post, and I will have already told you everything that popped into my little brain while watching the crap-fest Unanswered Prayers (yep, they made a movie out of the plot of a GARTH BROOKS song) and you will be rushing out to buy that little gem on DVD.

To tell you the truth, I started this post in December.  I’m just now getting around to publishing it.  I’ve been kinda busy.

Update:  I originally had a picture of Aughra from The Dark Crystal in here to illustrate the drastic difference between what Linda Hamilton has looked like in pretty much every other movie I’ve seen her in, and what she looked like in this one.  I realize now this might have been insensitive of me, even when I laughed out loud when I thought about the idea.  I’ve removed the picture, as I believe it is what spawned more comments than usual (or, like, ever) all by people defending Linda Hamilton and indicting my “review” of her “look.”  I am in no way a fashion or makeup or appearance “reviewer.” I am someone who watches entirely too much TV and too many movies, has snarky thoughts, and puts them on a website.

I think Linda Hamilton is great.  I stand firmly behind the earlier stated opinion that the movie was ridiculous, poorly written, and that Linda Hamilton’s performance in it was weird.  Simpering.  Bordering on creepy.  And the hair color was all wrong, and made her look older.

Linda was 50 when she made Home By Christmas – if she was playing her own age that would have made her around 32 when her kid was born, which is younger than I am now.  So I’m not hating.

I really don’t know what else to say.  The movie was silly, and she didn’t look her best.  Unlike now, after her season on Chuck:

linda hamiltonGreat, right?  That’s what you get when you google Linda Hamilton Chuck.  Here is a picture from 2008:

linda hamilton 2008And here is a whole damn forum on people arguing on this same point (that I didn’t even make, by the way) back in 2008 when that photo was taken.  http://boards.straightdope.com/sdmb/archive/index.php/t-484928.html

This is a picture of her from the latest season of Chuck:

Linda Hamilton Chuck 2011She looks better here then she did in that 2006 movie I saw, and in that 2008 picture I found.  I only found the 2008 picture because y’all got your panties all in a wad.  I decided to research a little more, see.  So I could be less ignorant as to illicit less Linda Hamilton Is Awesome Don’t Dare Criticize a Movie of Hers and Imply She Might Look a Little Rough, Or We Will Make You Feel Super Guilty and Spend a Few Hours Obsessing About This type of comments.  So then I looked for the 2011 pictures, and she doesn’t look the same.

Did she get plastic surgery?  Did she put on a little (I think much-needed) weight?  I’m not saying she SHOULD HAVE or NEEDED TO get plastic surgery, but did she?  Because that’s one way to get rid of wrinkles.  Or maybe the other photos were less makeup.  Which looks better?  What can I say that won’t piss people off?

Whatever she looks like, she’s usually a really fine actor and sounds like a real peach.

 

 

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23 thoughts on “Holiday Hangover”

  1. It’s a shame that a woman like Linda Hamilton, who is secure enough in her own skin to age gracefully without the aid of Botox or plastic surgery, is slammed by reviewers like you rather than applauded for their effort. Linda is still a beautiful and vibrant woman and, I know you will be shocked to hear this, I actually enjoyed Home By Christmas and yes it is a part of my home library! Have you checked Linda out on Chuck? For a 50+ year old woman she manages to still kick ass pretty well.

  2. While I have no problem with Linda Hamilton aging gracefully, and choosing not to get Botox or any other facial modification (as I stated in my post), I thought that the movie’s dialog and Linda’s character were laughable. I spend a lot of time cracking on Lifetime movies, but obviously I watch them, so I like something about them. Usually it’s the cheese factor. Linda’s simpering, sweet, wide-eyed and naive character got under my skin. Added to the fact that the costume director allowed her to wear a BOW in her hair, ala some little girl, highlighted negatively Linda’s natural aging. The makeup was all wrong, the hair color was unnatural. If Home By Christmas was intended to depict a woman aging gracefully that has to learn to fend for herself, it made a mockery of the character Linda was supposed to play. I respect the woman, which is why I didn’t show a thousand press shots that show her mature, surgery-free face – I simply commented on the movie, and how she appeared in it. My amusement stemmed from that, not the fact that Linda Hamilton has some wrinkles. I’m sorry if I offended you, but I’m sure she doesn’t consider that flick anywheres near the pinnacle of her career.

  3. I think she looks great! She is a 55 year old woman who looks like a 55 year old woman. And that is very unusual in her line of work. She has a life and she lives it. She has lines in her face and she has earned every single one of them!
    Personally, I liked Home By Christmas. It was a very nice, sweet holiday movie. The kind of feel good movie that is nice to see around the holidays. I love the happily ever afters.

  4. Linda Hamilton may look more wrinkled and aged than what most actors and performers her age may look like (usually when made up / not everyone is blessed with perfect skin or great genetics), probably mostly due to her heavy smoking, though health problems, sun exposure and stress can also affect the skin, but I’m glad she’s not another fake and plastic “Barbie” doll. She’s a great actress and person of character and strength. She’s also a genuinely sweet and friendly person. She may not look like Hollywood’s or the fashion industry’s impossible, and often plastic/fake/photoshopped high standards of “beauty” but she is comfortable with her skin and has accepted to age gracefully, not caring what critics say about how she looks; she has more important things to do, like live her life as best she can, without hurting anyone.

  5. I am offended by your review of Linda ‘s appearance in this film. I personally loved this movie as it is a family, feel-good, kind of movie that is right in line with the Christmas holiday it represents. Having personally met Linda, many times, I can honestly say that she is the most down to earth, natural person I have ever met. She does NOT care about hair and makeup or a person(s) outer appearance. I applaud her for not wanting to conform to Hollywood standards by having surgery or using Botox etc.. It is not who she is! Linda’s strength of character and inner beauty outshine the need for all un-necessary enhancements pushed upon actors and actresses these days. She is an award winning actress who’s work speaks for itself. Wrinkles be damned, ROCK ON LINDA!!!!

  6. I would take a hundred Lindas, who prefer to be who they are without becoming characatures of their younger selves. Hello; Meg Ryan. Or worse yet, unrecognizeable like Joan Rivers. If she is happy in her own skin, who has the right to tell her that she’s wrong and should alter the face that life gave her?

  7. My irritation with this article is:

    Being in the cosmetics field with a prestige skin care line I can tell
    you…..when a woman uses basic skin care and isn’t effected by health your
    skin can look wonderful. When a person is effected by medicine, smoking, sun
    damage her skin can have fewer good days and more bad days.

    When makeup artists want to hide or exaggerate the effects of aging in a
    role they can really make it look so natural that we think the actress is
    looking “bad”.

    I am vain enough to like to look nice after having bad acne and being made
    fun of it in HS and college. I am grateful to have access to skincare
    because of my job and it’s a habit I have for life to never go to bed with
    makeup on, etc.

    I love Linda’s “look”, she’s comfortable in her skin and it shows. Can’t
    this person write about something constructive?

    “Rusty”
    Pati Hough Bader

  8. The name of this blog perhaps should be “Sometimes about Horse’s Arses”.

    You step out with comments that you play willy-nilly with after readers call you out.

    You ask: What can I say that won’t piss people off?
    Perhaps find a charity and perform good works instead of posting rude images poking fun at a person.

    Perhaps you will educate yourself about a subject BEFORE you fly off and post something on the internet.

    Why are people coming out of the woodwork to call you out?

    1) Linda has loyal fans, why? she is amazingly available to her fans and has a startling honesty about her life. We feel protective about someone this human.

    2)Because on the www there are just too many people who feel they wield real power. Want to hold power in your hand, go do something good for it.

    Don’t feel you get off easy by saying an Act of Contrition, 2 Hail Marys and posting other images of Linda.

  9. I haven’t seen the movie ‘Home For Christmas’ so can’t comment on it, but I know that nearly all actors have done movies that turned out to be not a good choice. During the time when those unflattering pictures of Linda Hamilton were taken and maybe during the time of that movie she may have not been in the best of health. Like I mentioned before, health problems, smoking, stress and other factors, can cause skin problems and a haggard appearance. And even the most beautiful person can some times get an ugly photo taken them on a bad day when they didn’t looked or felt their best. I don’t believe she has gotten any kind of plastic or cosmetic surgery done; she’s spoken very recently about it and said she hasn’t and wouldn’t. I believe the reason she may look better now it’s because she’s feeling healthier and happier.

    Here you’ll find more recent pictures of Linda, these were taken on March 26th, 2011 at her Malibu home where she sponsored Ken-Mar Rescue – Brunching with Stars Charity Event: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.10150189692524475
    And here she is in Lisbon: https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=oa.10150189162899475
    You can see other her pictures in this facebook Linda Hamilton Fan Group.

  10. Hey Elizabeth..I don’t speak your language but, I understand what you said about Linda and let me say you..the only one thing certain that you said.. is that you have a “little brain” and, I can add..”a very little brain” !! If you have taken since december to publish this shit.. and if you are so busy..perhaps, you should occupy your time in something else useful !..don’t you think?..and by the way..I would like see your face at the age 54 years, dear ! ..just let me say you, you will be not remembered for this fucked post!..estupid woman!
    And Linda will be loved and remembered forever by all of us fans!
    Linda is the best of my life! ..and, you are nobody at all!
    I can kick your ass!..and to do you swallow your poisoned words!

  11. Rusty – to my knowledge I only had about 6 readers so this “power” you talk about, I didn’t know I had. And Monica – I don’t use the f word on my blog. I wish you wouldn’t.

    I’m sorry I offended you Linda Hamilton fans out there. As I’ve stated MORE than once, I think she’s a fine actor and I have no “problem” with the way she looks. I made a comment as is my right to do so, since it’s my darn website. If you don’t like reading what I write, don’t.

  12. No offense taken here Elizabeth, just adding my 2 cents worth:
    I think that the woman has a lot of courage NOT
    having plastic surgery in the plastic world of Hollywood. KUDOS to her!

    As a portrait painter, I have always thought an older face to be so much more
    interesting. It makes one really question the so-called standards of beauty out
    there.

    Having painted people’s faces for years, one gets quite good at reading them, and hers is one that has been ravaged by pain and sorrow. My heart goes out to her.

    Young and smooth IMHO doesn’t always mean beautiful. Take Dolly Parton
    for example or Joan Rivers, who had both had so many surgeries that “somethin’
    just ain’t right”. The look great from far away, but up close, they look
    embalmed, LOL

    Thanks for posting the article and for the food for thought : )

  13. “Usually it’s the cheese factor. Linda’s simpering, sweet, wide-eyed and naive character got under my skin. Added to the fact that the costume director allowed her to wear a BOW in her hair, ala some little girl, highlighted negatively Linda’s natural aging. The makeup was all wrong, the hair color was unnatural.”

    Now I will have to check this out, haven’t seen the movie “Home for Christmas”. I must agree that the cheese factor can be a real detriment in some movies and the costuming and makeup can really undermine and mask the true beauty of certain actors..

  14. Thank you, Sonia! Those are great pictures. I’m afraid to put them in the post, however, because Rusty here comment again. Not to mention Monica, who deemed my post so very offensive that she decided to drop the f bomb in a comment and inform me she can kick my ass.

  15. And Rusty – I perform plenty of good works, and am active in several charities. This is my FUN blog where I have FUN. I will continue to have FUN. I LOVE that readers called me out. It made me realize that my original post was pretty insensitive, but didn’t change my mind about the film, or Ms. Hamilton’s performance in it, so I got more interested, did a little more research, and posted a couple more pictures. Which is my right, since this is my website. You can have your own website where you talk all day long about how much you love love love Linda Hamilton. I would link to it, and leave you lovely comments.

    But as for “getting off easy,” whatever. My site, my words, my choices. Thanks for reading.

  16. I just want to add that compared to some Lifetime movies I’ve seen, Home by Christmas was actually very good. I know what you mean about most being corny – especially the Christmas ones. Linda Hamiton has a long career of playing characters that are getting in touch with their strength. If someone has been raised in an environment where they have been taught to be strong and independent it might be hard to understand anything else, but Linda’s characters have inspired her fans to stand on their own two feet for often the first time in their lives. That’s a big reason why we love her. This character was no exception to the rule – she hit rock bottom and pulled herself out of it to eventually make a new start in a good life for herself. I have certainly spent time watching much worse things on TV. And as for how she looks, I have met her in person several times also and I agree, she is the nicest celebrity I have ever encountered in years of going to Sci-fi conventions. She makes everyone feel special and appreciated. Once you have been around her for a few minutes you can’t help but see only a very special and beautiful lady.

  17. I can’t believe someone had the audacity to blast Meg…”I would take a hundred Lindas, who prefer to be who they are without becoming characters of their younger selves. Hello; Meg Ryan.”

    I know Meg and the caliber person she is and find this utterly distasteful, rude and opinionated…. ok not really, well really on the post being distasteful blab la bla, but really on the Meg being a good person and all – but that’s a different story –

    I do however appcreate a good oxymoron, coated in hypocritical irony – which I will sarcastically point out – by Ms. Ignatius Riley s’ informed aforementioned comment – not only did she maliciously attack Meg and Joan through verbiage far more aggressive than anything mentioned in the Hamilton article, but by so in this manor strengthened Elizabeth’s entitlement to her opinion as well.

    Not only that – they misspelled characters in their comments. And If I caught a spelling mishap then perhaps the Rapture did manifest and we are in some kind of Terminator Hell?

    Bottom Line – Linda’s done some great stuff and Hollywood Photography is smoke and mirrors – or Adobe Photoshop – pick your poison. But in truth that pic of her resembled *analogy deleted*.

    Just Say’n,

    C.C.

  18. @Monica – Elizabeth may have “a very little brain”, however yours is empty – to hide this fact I suspect is the reason why you ‘shout’ so loudly – do you have any capacity to understand your behavior here is totally inappropriate?

    Don’t bother replying to “kick my ass” honey…I doubt I could get low enough down the evolutionary ladder to hold a conversation with you; not that I wouldn’t enjoy a battle of wits with you, it’s just that you are unarmed and it wouldn’t be a fair fight.

  19. THIS IS WHY FREE SPEECH IS A BAD THING.

    but since everyone else enjoys it so much….

    @Monica: If you ever came anywhere close enough to liz to make me even a little nervous, you would be visited by three fairies from the William and Mary Women’s Rugby team. You are straight clownshoes, since the only ass you CAN kick is the burro on your half an acre in El Salvador. Liz is three times the man you’ll ever marry and twice the woman you’ll ever be.

    @Rusty: The only person “getting off easy” here should be you. Perhaps if you spent more time pleasing yourself and less time lording yourself over others you wouldn’t be such a….jerk off. Ironic.

    Are your lives so completely boring and devoid of meaning that you would become so incensed over a freaking internet blog? Your rabid responses do not serve Linda Hamilton well, I assure you, as you both lack her intelligence, charm, and most importantly, her SENSE OF HUMOR.

    Use your heads people. (That’s those lumps three feet above your asses.)

  20. I know Elizabeth personally and you won’t find a more empathetic person on the planet. She is kind and generous to a fault. But the writer doesn’t always equal the person. In fact, writing is a lot like acting or role-playing. Take her writing for what it is, entertainment and move on.

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