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(as if there's not already enough people doing this)Thursday, December 15, 2005
Top 7 Christmas movies
After watching It's A Wonderful Life and Miracle On 34th Street this week, I was thinking about my favorite movies that always show up this time of year. So, I decided to list my favorite holiday movies - well, I'm not limiting this strictly to movies, but am also including the Christmas specials you see on television every year as well. (By the way, I chose 7 because that's my favorite number.) These are the shows everyone should watch every year, in my opinion. I've seen all except one so far this year.
7. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
The Grinch was (and still is) a little creepy, but this was always fun to watch. He's angry, mean, maybe evil, and he does everything he can to stop the Who's from enjoying Christmas. But he realizes, as they arise and sing on Christmas morning, that Christmas isn't about all of the gifts or food or decorations, and he is transformed. And for some reason I've always loved the song that the Who's sing at the end on Christmas morning.
6. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
I loved this one as a child, even though the Abominable Snowman always frightened me when I was very young. I remember how great I always thought it was to see the reindeer and sleigh take off at the end with Rudolph leading the way. He was different, and an outcast, but they all found out that he had something to offer after all. I love watching my kids watch it now.
5. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
You can't help but feel sympathy for Charlie Brown. But as he struggles with the meaning of Christmas and it's commercialism, Linus comes through with a fantastic scene where he recites the Christmas story from scripture. One of my favorite Christmas program moments.
4. Miracle on 34th street (1947)
Crazy old man thinks he's Santa Claus. A woman and her little girl don't believe in Santa Claus. A good story about believing, having faith - even when it goes against common sense.
3. A Christmas Story (1983)
Darren McGavin and Peter Billingsley are both just fantastic in this movie. I remember a few years back it seemed It's A Wonderful Life played every day during December, and they finally cut it back. Now it's this movie that seems to be on constantly. And I'll sit and watch at least part of it every time I find it on.
2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
My favorite Chevy Chase movie will always be Fletch. But this is certainly one of his very best, and better than the other Vacation movies as well. There's nothing quite like Christmas with the Griswald's.
1. It's A Wonderful life (1946)
You just can't get any better than this. I've actually not seen many Jimmy Stewart movies, but I can't imagine him being any better than he was in this one. He thought he was poor, with the money having disappeared, but realizes he's rich in the things that really matter. Even more so than he imagined. My favorite line is still at the end: "To my brother George, the richest man in town."
I watched the documentary on the DVD this year and learned that this didn't really become a classic until the early 70's (it was largely forgotten about after it left theaters in the late-40's). When the copyright ran out, stations could show it all they wanted without paying royalty's, so it started getting a lot of airtime, and now we can't imagine Christmas without it.
Getting ready for 2006
Check out Greg Taylor's post regarding some tools to use in 2006. All 3 of his suggestions look like very good resources.
7. How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
The Grinch was (and still is) a little creepy, but this was always fun to watch. He's angry, mean, maybe evil, and he does everything he can to stop the Who's from enjoying Christmas. But he realizes, as they arise and sing on Christmas morning, that Christmas isn't about all of the gifts or food or decorations, and he is transformed. And for some reason I've always loved the song that the Who's sing at the end on Christmas morning.
6. Rudolph The Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
I loved this one as a child, even though the Abominable Snowman always frightened me when I was very young. I remember how great I always thought it was to see the reindeer and sleigh take off at the end with Rudolph leading the way. He was different, and an outcast, but they all found out that he had something to offer after all. I love watching my kids watch it now.
5. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
You can't help but feel sympathy for Charlie Brown. But as he struggles with the meaning of Christmas and it's commercialism, Linus comes through with a fantastic scene where he recites the Christmas story from scripture. One of my favorite Christmas program moments.
4. Miracle on 34th street (1947)
Crazy old man thinks he's Santa Claus. A woman and her little girl don't believe in Santa Claus. A good story about believing, having faith - even when it goes against common sense.
3. A Christmas Story (1983)
Darren McGavin and Peter Billingsley are both just fantastic in this movie. I remember a few years back it seemed It's A Wonderful Life played every day during December, and they finally cut it back. Now it's this movie that seems to be on constantly. And I'll sit and watch at least part of it every time I find it on.
2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
My favorite Chevy Chase movie will always be Fletch. But this is certainly one of his very best, and better than the other Vacation movies as well. There's nothing quite like Christmas with the Griswald's.
1. It's A Wonderful life (1946)
You just can't get any better than this. I've actually not seen many Jimmy Stewart movies, but I can't imagine him being any better than he was in this one. He thought he was poor, with the money having disappeared, but realizes he's rich in the things that really matter. Even more so than he imagined. My favorite line is still at the end: "To my brother George, the richest man in town."
I watched the documentary on the DVD this year and learned that this didn't really become a classic until the early 70's (it was largely forgotten about after it left theaters in the late-40's). When the copyright ran out, stations could show it all they wanted without paying royalty's, so it started getting a lot of airtime, and now we can't imagine Christmas without it.
Getting ready for 2006
Check out Greg Taylor's post regarding some tools to use in 2006. All 3 of his suggestions look like very good resources.
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