Films are something that we all look towards for escapism – the action, the humour, the romance, the animation. Sometimes these can hold so much more meaning then just an image on a screen and create narratives and memories in our own lives. Welcome to the sister article to Music Memories where we take a look at some of these personal stories attached to films.

Film: Small Soldiers
Original Release Date: 1998

It’s weird, It’s Christmas and I feel like I have to mention this film. I have been abroad many years for Christmas but I always like to be nosey to see what is on television in the festive period. As early as I can remember this film has been on around boxing day and in the last few years I think it has disappeared and that makes me sad. How Die Hard is a Christmas film for many, Small Soldiers also represents it for me.

Ok, I admit it right this second – I think I have only seen it in it’s entirety once or twice. Family members always had it on in the background so I have seen bits of it a lot throughout the years.

The nineties really was a time for toy to come alive and cause havoc, we only spoke the other week about the teddys are Christmas that did so. This film is a lot more masculine and dark I guess you could say.

I know I have only seen it a handful of times but the storyline is very dark but also really interesting. It is a film that is family fun on the dark side sort of like Gremlins level and it can be brutal.

Facts about Small Soldiers

• This movie featured music by Led Zeppelin, a band notoriously strict about how their music is used in films, games, and other media.
• The murder of Phil Hartman before the premiere caused his character to not appear in any print ads (which had almost no human characters).
• One of the only PG-13 movies to ever be sold on videocassette in a clamshell case. Also the last
• The skull on Alan’s desk is a Gremlin skull
• The piranha next to Alan’s computer is a reference to Piranha (1978), also directed by Joe Dante.