Given the time of year (and taking a cue from an NPR story), I thought I'd compile my list of top Christmas movies:
1. It's a Wonderful Life
2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation
3. A Christmas Story
4. Elf
5. Millions
6. Scrooged
7. Die Hard
8. Santa Claus Conquers the Martians (MST3K version)
So, what are yours?
EDIT: Well, I made a glaring omission - Trapped in Paradise. I'd give it an honorable mention. Not a cinematic masterpiece, by any means, but it does have that warm holiday vibe (and the smokin' Madchen Amick). Plus, it is easily found in Wal-Mart's $5.50 bin.
And based on your strong recommendations (and the fact that it's been one of those movies that I've been wanting to see - loves me a good rom-com), I picked up Love Actually. I'll give it a view this weekend.
16 comments:
I concur with the first four. I used to like Die Hard until Bruce Willis inflicted emotional trauma on my dog (damn you Bruce!!!).
I would add:
Meet me in St. Louis (very sweet classic Judy Garland movie)
Love Actually (this is the only time of year I turn into a sappy girl... don't tell anyone ;))
Monty Python and the Search for the Holy Grail. Just because it's appropriate for any occasion. Or rather, I should say -- if there's any occasion for which it is not appropriate, then I don't want to be there :)
Brewster's Millions?
Yeah, I'll second Love Actually, because it's got the guy from the original "Office" and you see boobs (ever so briefly.)
can we include the classic tv shows in this list? Charlie Brown Christmas, The Grinch, The stop-motions, etc.
i really like the first four films. i like Millions, but it doesn't have the emotional resonance of the others (read: i didn't watch it as a child).
that being said, how could you not include Dickens on this list?
spydrz,
spydrz,
you're thinking of Brewster's Place. that was good. but it was a tv show.
No, if I know Spydrz he's definitely talking about Brewster's Millions...it was a movie with Richard Pryor and John Candy. It ruled.
THSE is correct! That was a sweet movie!
were they both on crack at the same time?
law fairy - What did Hudson Hawk do to your dog?
Funny you mention Judy Garland. One of my favorite bits from Santa Claus Conquers the Martians is when one of the captured human children is offered his meal and he says "pills for breakfast?!" to which one of the MST3K crew quips "what is this - Judy Garland's house?". Kills me every time.
I'm with you on MPatSftHG.
spydrz - Never seen it. But I did watch all five Rocky movies within the span of a week once.
THSE - See my post edit.
jasdye - Considering I asked for movies, TV specials and holiday-themed episodes of sitcoms are out (otherwise "Charlie Brown," "The Office" - and maybe a "Wings" episode - would fight for my top spot).
The only straight-up version of A Christmas Carol that I've seen in its entirety is the one done by the Muppets. And that was post-Jim Henson where the voices are off, so that doesn't get a nod from me. I think Scrooged covers Dickens, anyway.
Scrooged? horrible piece of cynical tripe.
bah-flippin'-humbug on you, pal.
Cynical? Dude changes at the end, my friend. Now, if he stayed a prick, you'd have a point.
Bill Murray...two (!) of his brothers...Buster Poindexter...John Houseman...Buddy Hackett. What more do you want?!
not a believable change in the least. therefore, in my mind, it's negated. and, keeping in the spirit of the eighties, it's completely monetarily focused.
wasn't Lost in Translation a Christmas-time movie?
i liked that one.
You have no heart.
And I don't remember Lost in Translation being set around Christmas. But I'll add another to my "Honorable Mentions": Trading Places.
CRAP!
did nobody ever mention 'Planes, Trains and Automobiles"?
I would have had I made a Best Thanksgiving Movies list.
Get with the program.
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