One Christmas, although it might have been New Year's or Thanksgiving, a film played on one of the 3 channels I got on the TV in my bedroom. I think this was around 1996 or 1997. I guess the TV station was out of order, because this film played at least 10 times in a row. I don't remember the whole thing, but it didn't have much to do with the holidays. A blond boy was on some sort of unexpected adventure, and he ended up in the sea facing a terrifying old man-- maybe Davy Jones, or dead pirates. For a kids movie, it really wasn't that happy. I really liked it and have had no luck the 8 or 9 times I've searched for it using what I can remember. It may have even been a Russian or other Western European film.

The closest thing I can think of would be James and the Giant Peach.