However, we have a plan.
Movies play a large part in our entertainment schedule.
"What do you want to do?" is usually followed with
"Want to watch a movie?" which is followed by
"YES!"
Diligently, we have compiled a list of Christmas movies, both expected and unusual, to get us in the mood.
Dickens's Christmas Carol makes several appearances on this list. It is a sign of the genius of "A Christmas Carol" that is can be told so many different ways and still be classic. Michael Caine plays one of the best Ebenezer Scrooges. Plus- there's muppets!
I don't really remember this one, but Ian is firm about this pick. Looks crazy saccharine, but Christmas is the one time of year I almost unilaterally let it pass. (When I searched "Prancer" on googel images it came up with woman bent over & in bikinis. Yikes. )
Four Christmases
Seeing Reece Witherspoon & Vince Vaughn on the playbill we pretty much knew what we were in for. Cheesy, expected, and I seriously balked at the mainstream ideal of every happy independent couple actually secretly wants to get married and have a baby...this one barely squeaked by my lowered Christmas standards.
Holla! Another Christmas Carol, this time with Bill Murray. Another perfect embodiment of Scrooge, and one of the best films of Murray's career (besides Ghostbusters of course).
"The film focuses on a group of local reindeer herders
whose Christmas is disturbed by excavations on the mountain. A
scientist has ordered a team of workers to dig open what he calls "the
largest burial mound in the world". An explosive used by the team
uncovers what is referred to as a "sacred grave". However, the occupant
of the grave is still alive. Soon, the reindeer important to the local
people are mysteriously killed, and children and supplies begin to
disappear from the town. It emerges that the occupant is the source of
the original Santa Claus myth; a supernatural being who, rather than
rewarding good children, punishes the naughty. One family, however,
manages to catch the culprit in a trap, and plans to sell it to the
scientist to cover the losses caused by his excavation"
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer
What don't I love about this movie? Island of misfit toys, the Abdominal Snowman, friends compared to "Silver & gold"....this movie is Christmas catnip. If you don't feel Jingle Bells in your soul after watching this, you must be a Jehovah Witness.
Edward Scissorhands
I always loved this movie, but it was only in the most recent watching I noticed all the perfect details. Watch it again and note the carefully selected house colors, the dinosaur hedges, the angel ice sculpture. These elements have to do with a truly great movie, not necessarily a Christmas movie, but the beauty of the snowfall and the underlining meaning of what it means to belong and what makes a family and an individual are perfectly in tune with the ever present melancholy of winter holidays.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
To be honest, I've never had much affinity for Charlie Brown, that little dope. But it's been years, and I'm ready to give him another chance this Christmas season. C'mon Charlie Brown, I'll hold the football.... (review - once I watch - to follow).
Lethal Weapon
Once again, you may question the xmas appropriateness. A list:
- Starts with "Jingle Bell Rock"
- Christmas lights on balcony she jumps off >
- Drinking egg nog when shot
- Drug bust Xmas tree lot
- Storefronts decorated (before Mel Gibson jumps through it)
- "I'll be home for Christmas" at closing
The 80s sax makes it almost unwatchable, but the ridiculous beginnings of buddy cop movies, Mel Gibson's crazy showing through, and Gary Busey get you through.
Rare Exports: A Christmas Tale
Holy Crap - this sounds badass!
"The film focuses on a group of local reindeer herders
whose Christmas is disturbed by excavations on the mountain. A
scientist has ordered a team of workers to dig open what he calls "the
largest burial mound in the world". An explosive used by the team
uncovers what is referred to as a "sacred grave". However, the occupant
of the grave is still alive. Soon, the reindeer important to the local
people are mysteriously killed, and children and supplies begin to
disappear from the town. It emerges that the occupant is the source of
the original Santa Claus myth; a supernatural being who, rather than
rewarding good children, punishes the naughty. One family, however,
manages to catch the culprit in a trap, and plans to sell it to the
scientist to cover the losses caused by his excavation"
Seriously can't wait to watch & tell my thoughts on this Finnish gem.
The Santa Clause
Tim Allen was the (family) man in the 90's. Remember Home Improvement. I loved that family (and JTT). This movie still hits the funny bone as it narrowly dodges the unbareably sweet. Tieing it up in how the next Santa is picked as a legal clause is perfect.
Nightmare Before Christmas
I watch this movie around Christmas. And Halloween. And whenever I get "This is Hallowen" stuck in my head. Which is a lot. Look at Tim Burton makign our Christmas list twice! Almost as Christmasy as he is ghoulish, eh?
Home Alone
Instant Classic. The gags are silly and while they do their best to make leaving a kid at home plausible, Home Alone 2 & 3 push this story line. Still - love watching Joe Pesci & Daniel Stern get annihliated. Hot irons, icy stairs, swining paint cans, nail on stairs, broken ornaments....the kid had a plan that beats my protection against home invaders (though I am more worried about Zombies).
Elf
This household will pretty watch anything Will Ferrel does. Though I am not sure if I am totally on board with this film, the man child I am married to loves it and I love him.
DeVito
hits the list again with Matthew Broderick. It is impossible to believe
that Kristen Chenoweth would ever be married to Devito (the woman is a
tiny goddess of talent), but this super cheesy flick almost has you
believing it as he is a silver tongued salesman obsessed with getting
enough lights on his house to be seen from outer space. Yeah, space.
Frosty the Snowman
This one falls awfully close to the painfully cheesy line, but -hey!- it's Christmas.
Batman Returns
3rd Tim Burton! Bam - the man is king of feel good. No, he's just good. And I LOVE the penguin. De Vito - you're a genius. Den of Geek gives an apt review.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon)
30 minutes of Christmas spirit embodied on screen. Suess was a master of the absurb and the wonderful and pairing that kind of children literary mastery with Christmas results in possible the most outright perfect holiday movie of all time.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas (Jim Carrey)
I was so angry when I heard they were re-doing the classic. Then I heard Jim Carrey would play the grinch. Then I saw Cindy Loo Who. I saw the trailer. I thought, this could actually work. And it does.
Jingle All the Way
Oh Arnold. This movie certainly feels a bit different after the whole love-child, sexual harassment, racist /homophobe stuff. What did we expect - he's Austrian. (Just kidding Austrians, you have a lovely country and a thoroughly decent people...besides a few notable stand-outs). This movie is still an entertaining watch and again hammers home the woes of commercialism tied up in this family centric holiday.
Love Actually
Filled with romance & holiday spirit, I suppose this does fall in the chick flick category but I uncategoricaly love it. The oh so dry wit, the American stereotypes, the gritty of love mixed up with fairytale happy endings...I always cry. And I hate to cry.
Gremlins
This movie falls under the unique film category of "Horror Comedy". with these little monsters definitely on the naughty list. Possibly, The worst Christmas gift of all time, these small, furry creatures are found in an antique store in Chinatown. Bad sign #1. Then given to teenage son (bad sign #2), they don't follow instructions (bad sign #3) and an old lady definitely gets hurt. Merry Christmas!
Christmas Vacation
I never watch National Lampoon growing up & I am not sure if that is a good thing or not. Hopelessly cheesy, they somehow still manage to be endearing and perfectly embody the worst stereotypes of what it is to be an American. Even if you don't have a Clark, Aunt Bethany or Uncle Lewis, you feel like you know they are out there in the great planes of the USA.
A Very Harold & Kumar 3D Christmas
The first movie was surprisingly good. The 2nd wasn't half bad. Any chance the 3rd won;t be a multitude of suck? Since Neil Patrick Harris is still going to be in it, I'm in.
It's a Wonderful Life
I saved the best for last. Not just my favorite Christmas movie, this is one of my favorite movies. I love every second of this movie and all I want every Christmas is just to watch this movie.
"What is it you want, Mary? What do you want? You want the moon? Just say the word and I'll throw a lasso around it and pull it down. Hey. That's a pretty good idea. I'll give you the moon, Mary. "
For more great picks from "professionals", Empire online has a surprisingly good list. http://www.empireonline.com/features/30-best-christmas-movies
Update: 2012 Additions
Adams Family
This movie starts with carolers. I already love it and now knowing it has a Christmas reference - adoration.
Babes in Toyland
1 comment:
Some additions you should consider, include:
Magoo's Christmas Carol
Joyeaux Noel (awesome movie)
A Christmas Story
live theater/ballet:
White Christmas (loved seeing this with you)
Nutcracker Ballet
A Christmas Carol
That Finnish one sounds totally bizarre, and interesting. Will be anxious to hear how you liked it.
Love Actually and A Diva's Christmas are annual events for me - and I do love them. Elf is very funny - and has some sparkling moments for a boy film.
Thanx for your list - and for the memories!!
Love,
~ mum
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