My Ten Favorite Christmas Movies: Some Will Make You Think, All Will Bring Good Cheer
Dec 22 '05
The Bottom Line These movies always make me feel good in one way or another Isn't that the important thing in a movie?
Well, I finally finished wrapping all my Christmas gifts, there are ginger cookies baking in my oven, so I thought this would be the perfect time to write my favorite list of Christmas movies..actually I’ve been writing them down on a note pad for the last few weeks as they pop into my mind or when I’ve finished watching them but wouldn’t you know it, I can not for the life of me find that pad anywhere right now, so hopefully the 2 ginkgo pills I took an hour ago will help me remember as I write away…These are my favorites and in no particular order
ONE
Miracle on 34 th street:
The original, though the second one was good, I still favor watching Natalie Wood, with those beguiling, wide, innocent eyes, try to believe in Santa Claus after being told by her mother, that Santa really doesn’t exist...Her mother is head of the department that hires men to be Santa in the annual Macy‘s Thanksgiving parade and when her latest Santa gets drunk the real Santa just happens to be in the neighborhood and is hired...When he tells everyone his true identity things get a bit out of hand...Is he able to keep his promise to the little girl and can he make her believe in him? Will the world believe after the mail to Santa is delivered to the courthouse during his competency trial? If you or your children haven’t seen this one then run, don’t walk, to your nearest Video store
TWO
A Christmas Carol:
The first one filmed in 1938 is still the one I find I enjoy the most. Yes, Scrooge certainly has been played by quite a few actors in other versions of this classic story by Charles Dickens, but somehow I enjoy watching the actor in this one as he watches his life; past, present and future, unfold before him when the spirits come to take him away on Christmas Eve leaving Scrooge a different man at the end of his journey’s. The only fault I find with this film is that when he visits tiny Tim’s household things are bit too cheerful and pleasant for the poverty they endure due to the small wages poor old Cratchit earns. But, a happy ending prevails and one we all want to see.
THREE
A Christmas Carol:
The one with Patrick Stewart as Scrooge: I know I just said I enjoyed the first version the most but coming in second is this one...Stewart does such a great job in this role and, with the advent of better special effects, the scenes with the ghosts are much scarier and fun at the same time to watch. The Cratchit household has a more realistic feel of what it must have been like for those with low incomes in those days, a drearier feel of helplessness so, when the happy ending unfolds, and Scrooge sees the error of his ways the difference stands out
FOUR
A Christmas Story:
This is a movie my dear sister Robin turned me on to this year and what a cute little movie it is...Filled with funny fantasies that 9 year old Ralphy has when he dreams of his ultimate Christmas gift, a “genuine red flyer carbine action air rifle". He will do whatever he can to get the message across to his parents and Santa Claus whether begging or dropping hints whenever he can...Along the way we are taken back to those good ole days of the 1940’s in a small town when things were a bit simpler. Its charm is the way his dreams are shown in clever vignettes, which take this film out of the ordinary Christmas children’s movie category.
FIVE
Polar Express:
Another new favorite of mine that examines the belief and disbelief of Christmas, the meaning of Christmas and of course, Santa Claus. Tom Hanks in his many roles in this film will take you on a roller coaster train ride to the North Pole. Along the way there are many lessons to be learned about what is important to us all...The animation is dazzling...Get on board for the ride of a lifetime in this film that is destined to be a Christmas classic.
SIX
Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer:
When I see this movie is on TV, I seemed to be drawn to watching it once again...It reminds me of the days my daughters were little and looked forward so much to seeing the story unfold one more time as poor Rudolph has to deal with being the odd little Reindeer when his shiny red nose is noticed by all the other little Reindeer. The claymation animation used in this cartoon movie is very clumsy by today’s standards but still effective when little kiddies watch the big old snow monster, as I learned when I watched my 3 year old grandson's expressions the first time he saw it...Then, when Rudolph became the hero, the joy was still evident and was on his little face.
SEVEN
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Chevy Chase takes parenting to new heights in this truly silly but very funny movie. He wants nothing more than to give his family the perfect Christmas, with the perfect tree that he goes out into the forest to cut down himself, which of course, is way to big for the house. Hilarious results ensue when the entire family shows up to share the holiday including the cousin from hell with his family in the wreck of an old motor home. When Chase doesn’t get the Christmas bonus he expected the results would be disastrous if this wasn’t the Griswalds family we were watching. More important, once again was the lesson learned about the meaning of family and the spirit of Christmas.
EIGHT
Elf
Another new movie for me and one I really didn’t expect to like...I’m not too crazy about Will Ferrell since he left Saturday Night Live but this is a cute story about a baby who accidentally crawled into Santa’s bag on Christmas Eve and was whisked away to the North Pole...There he was raised by Elves and thought of himself as an Elf. But soon his size became a problem so his Elf “parents” decided it was time he returned to his world...That’s when the problems began and the lessons in the movie were learned. Ferrell did a good job without going completely over the top as he has done in a few of his other movies and, as I said, I actually did enjoy this movie to my big surprise.
NINE
It’s A Wonderful Life
What would a Christmas movie list be without this classic film being included? Though I sometimes think I never want to watch it again I find myself being inexplicably drawn to it when I see it playing on TV. This vintage movie from the 40’s tells the tale of a small town hero who makes a wish and, when it’s granted, finds out how much his wish affected everybody in the town just by the very nature of how he has led his life and how he was so important to so many others and the town itself...James Stewart played this part with such complexity and warmth, that to this day I think it was his best role. Lionel Barrymore is the ultimate Scrooge and should have played that role in one of the Christmas Carol movies.
TEN
Bad Santa
I saved this movie for last since it was so bad it was good, especially for anyone who has a warped sense of humor or just likes a bit of perversity in their Christmas movies. I guess I fit one of those categories since I really enjoyed the movie once I thought about it and how much it made me laugh out loud.
Billy Bob Thornton plays a Santa Claus in a big department store who, with his partner, a dwarf, or a small person, as is the politically correct term to use these days, are only there as Santa and Elf to rob the store as their ultimate goal. The fact that he has a change of heart when he becomes involved with one of the kids shows that there is good in most people after all...His language and humor are not for the faint of heart though so be forewarned. I know there is another version called Badder Santa but I haven’t seen that one only heard about it but I think I’ll stay away from that one.
Honorable mention goes to a Television special I love, Saturday Night Live Christmas..Though not a movie this is one hilarious and enjoyable Christmas treat and one I recommend to all who want a big laugh or many big laughs.
Well, I guess that’s it, I think I remembered them all, my top ten list of movies made to be enjoyed during this season of good will and good cheer...I want to wish each and every one of you a happy holiday, Merry Christmas, Happy Chanukah, whatever the holiday you celebrate or whatever you wish to call it, and a very Happy, Healthy and Safe New Year
 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
© 1999-2009 Shopping.com, Inc.