Come Celebrate Christmas with Chelledun's Ten Favorite Christmas Movies!
Dec 12 '05 (Updated Oct 31 '06)
The Bottom Line There's nothing like a great Christmas movie!
Ok folks, I just finished finals and I'm finally ready to really kick off the holidays. ‘Tis the season to grab your family and friends to watch a great Christmas movie! The ten following are my very favorites. Feel free to leave comments about yours.
10. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer - Just about everyone has seen this claymation classic. Between the poor, misfit reindeer with the glowing nose and the unpopular elf who wants to be a dentist, its easy to see why this movie has been such a classic. My favorite part is Rudolph and Herbie’s visit to the “Island of Misfit Toys.” There is just something so charming about the dysfunctional toys I find myself wanting to take them home!
9. Babes in Toyland - (The 1986 version) Now that I watch this movie as an adult, I realize it is kind of odd. However, I have a soft spot in my heart for this film featuring the adventures of young Lisa Piper (Drew Barrymore) and her visit to Toyland. Babes in Toyland also features Richard Mulligan as the evil Barnaby who lives in a bowling ball. When he gets in a bad mood, he rolls his house up and down the streets of Toyland knocking over people and animals. Does that sound like a great movie or what? Ok, its pretty cheesy but I still love the scenery of “Toyland” and its really funny to see Keanu Reeves as “Jack-be-Nimble.”
8. A Mom for Christmas - My sister and I watched this movie dozens of times on the Disney channel each holiday season. A Mom for Christmas stars beautiful Olivia Newton-John as Amy Miller, a department store mannequin who comes to life to grant a girl’s Christmas wish to have a mom for the holidays. The film is touching, if a little corny, and has a great soundtrack featuring Olivia.
7. The Santa Clause - Tim Allen stars in this very funny movie about a Scott Calvin, a man who accidentally becomes forced to assume the role of Santa Clause. This is a nice family movie with enough humor to keep adults entertained, and the North Pole scenery is beautiful. My whole family enjoys watching this together every year at Christmas. Do, however, avoid the heinous sequel.
6. Miracle on 34th Street - Whether you are watching the old version or the new version, this is a great movie. Kris Kringle has come to town, and taken a job working as a department store Santa. Of course, silly adults fail to see the obvious and poor Kris faces persecution for being crazy. This film always has me believing in Santa!
5. Home Alone - Although McCauley Caulkin annoys me in general, this is a pretty fun holiday film. A frazzled family in a rush to leave home for the holidays forgets one very important thing – their young son Kevin. He has to foil two persistent (but stupid) burglars, Harry and Marv (Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern) while celebrating Christmas in his own style. Of course it’s unrealistic, but this movie made me laugh a lot when I was a kid. The elaborate booby traps Kevin sets up for the burglars are especially entertaining, if a little bit violent.
4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas - If you haven’t seen this animated Christmas classic, you are a grinch! The Whos in Whoville make a big, huge, deal about Christmas every year. The Grinch, a grouchy green guy who lives in the mountains above, does not like Christmas one bit. Of course, this means he wants to stop Christmas from coming by stealing their toys, food, and presents. In the end everyone learns a little bit about the true meaning of Christmas. I love the songs from the film and the brightly colored animation.
3. Elf - Will Ferrell stars in this off beat 2003 Christmas tale. Buddy, an elf, comes to realize that he is different from the other elves. Santa finally lets him know that this is because he is actually a human child and his father lives in New York City. Ferrell plays this role like he was born to. He has a childlike innocence that is charming and this movie makes me laugh out loud every time I see it. Even trying to board an escalator at the mall is amusing when Buddy tries it. My complete review is available here.
2. Christmas Eve on Sesame Street - If you watched Sesame Street as a child, or your children watch it now, don’t let the holiday season go by without viewing this film. This is Sesame Street as its finest, as all the characters prepare to celebrate the holidays. The general theme features Big Bird trying to learn how Santa gets down a chimney. This story is intercut with adorable skits and songs. I love a scene where little kids give their input as to how Santa comes down the chimney, as well as one where Cookie Monster can’t finish writing a letter to Santa because he keeps eating his writing utensils. There are also some touching (if somewhat corny) songs by the talented cast. I always love hearing Alaina Reed Hall sing as Olivia, and I find myself humming the songs from this film for days after I watch it. Full review is available here.
1. The Muppet Christmas Carol - I think this is, hands down, the best Christmas movie for kids and adults to enjoy together. Even if you’ve seen the Christmas Carol a thousand times, you’ve never seen it Muppet-Style. The characters come together with human actors to tell the story of the Christmas carol in a way that is both hilarious and touching. Michael Cain stars as Scrooge, Kermit as Bob Cratchit, and Gonzo tells the story as Charles Dickens. The songs are catchy and fun, especially with a chorus of dozens of muppets singing. I love everything about this movie from the cameo of the Swedish Chef singing an uninteligable version of “Deck the Halls” to the joyful song Kermit sings as he heads home to celebrate Christmas with his family. You’ll want to watch this one more than once! For my complete review, click here.
Honorable Mention:
-A Garfield Christmas
-National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
-White Christmas
*Check out my Top Ten Favorite ANIMATED Christmas Movies!
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.