Friday, December 12, 2008

Top Christmas Movies

1. A Christmas Story - I cannot say it is truly Christmas until I have seen this movie. I probably end up watching parts of the movie every year and never get the whole way through. Once I decided to just sit down and watch it from start to finish. I found out I really liked the movie even better after watching it all without commericals. This movie is now as traditional to me as anything else.

It has humor, heart, and captures what Christmas means to children especially well. The director, Bob Clark also directed another famous Christmas movie, Black Christmas. That was a horror movie which is said to have spawned such slasher movies as Halloween. Good work Mr Clark.

2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - Another personal favorite of mine. This is called Christmas Vacation but the Griswold gang never leaves Chicago. Instead all of the family visits and the hijinks ensue. I love the humor and dark comedy of the movie. The film still makes me laugh everytime I see it and has many memorable lines and performances. This is an annual holiday must watch for me.

3. How The Grinch Stole Christmas - Not sure this one needs much explanation. The movie is short but is bure bliss. I love the voice of Boris Karloff and the animation is classic. If you haven't seen this yet, where the hell have you been? Ps, this is the 1966 version, not that Jim Carrey stuff.

4. Elf - A new movie that has really started to make its way as a must see every year type film. Will Ferell plays Buddy the Elf, who goes to NY after being born and raised as Santas Elf in the North Pole.
The direction and look of the movie are very well done. Credit John Favreau for a job well done. The movie is for all ages and is a good family movie with many memorable scenes that leave you laughing. Also look for a cameo from Peter Billingsley, who plays Ralphie in A Christmas Story.


5. Scrooged - Bill Murray is hilarious in this re-telling of A Christmas Carol. I never really liked the story of A Christmas Carol, as you can probably tell by my list. But this more modern version is done with a lot of dark humor and Murray is just great as a mean boss who learns the errors of his ways.

6. The Nightmare Before Christmas - Before it sold out this was a really neat little movie. Ok it still is a neat movie. I remember making my dad see this movie because I thought it looked cool way back in 1993. The movie shows an outsiders look on Chirstmas, and has many memorable songs and images. The movie is just fun.


7. Die Hard - Ok, so the movie is more about terroists than Christmas...BUT it is offically a Christmas movie! Bruce Willis' character John McClane even writes HO HO HO NOW I HAVE A MACHINE GUN on a guy in his own blood, tell me thats not Christmas spirit!

8. Home Alone - A movie I really was into as a kid. Now I just have fond memories of the movie and wondered what happened to Malkuly Culkin. The movie is more about a kid alone and Christmas but does revolove around the holiday and he even goes out and buys his own tree. I wonder if kids today are still impressed with this movie as I was back in 1990, wow 1990! Where has the time gone?


9. Gremlins - Gremlins rules, it is both funny and scary, if your 12 or younger. The movie takes place during the Holidays. Billy gets Gizmo as a Christmas present from his dad. Did I mention that Gizmo is so frickin cute? Here is photographic evidence:
If you haven't seen this movie you are sure missing out. It uses puppets, no CGI in this movie. Gremilns will always have a spot in my heart and the fact that it takes place at christmas is all the better.


10. Frosty the Snowman - I am going with the animated version for this one. I just think the look of Frosty from the animated version is very iconic to me. I really enjoyed this as a kid and think it still hold up well to this day.



...Well thats my list for this year. It could change depending on what new movies come out but if you haven't seen this great holiday movies I suggest you go rent them and enjoy the holidays!

5 comments:

slasherflix said...

Pretty good list. But have to take out ELF and NBC for me.Elf's okay just hasn't reached classic for me. Don't get me started on NBC, all I can think of when I watch that is fuckin Hot Topic nerds wearing all the shitty merchandise, and Disney won't even sell Haunted Mansion stuff now just NBC stuff at the park. NBC is not Punk Rock. Anyhow here's my list.

1. CHRISTMAS VACATION
2. BLACK CHRISTMAS
3. ALL RANKIN/BASS FEATURES
4. CHRISTMAS STORY
5. SILENT NIGHT DEADLY NIGHT
6. GREMLINS
7. CHRISTMAS EVIL
8. BAD SANTA (UNRATED)
9. JACK FROST (HORROR)
10.JUST ABOUT ANY VERSION OF A CHRISTMAS CAROL.

Colonel Mortimer said...

You forgot two obvious choices: It's A Wonderful Life (which Amy insist we watch every year) and A Charlie Brown Christmas. Also a more recent film set during the holidays that might be worthy of this list one day is Kiss Kiss Bang Bang.

And how could you forget A Star Wars Christmas Special!!! Life Day forever!

Mummbles said...

Maybe obvious for you. I have seen both and they failed to make the list. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang was in the running though.

Anonymous said...

Gremlins? Come on...and Die Hard? LOL...come on dude, you've seen more Christmas movies than these that you didn't have to resort to putting these on your list.

Mummbles said...

ah yes, i believe anyone can write there own lists by A)writing them or by B)signing up for one. it is free to do so on this web site, as per usual this is just one persons thoughts and observations.