These are some of my favorites.
Please feel free to post others in the comments!
Elf - Just fun, funny, good little message. Nora loves it too!
A Christmas Carol - the one starring Patrick Stewart. I know, many say the George C. Scott version is the best, and one of these days I will have to see it, but this one perfectly captured the essence of the book to me. The old Alistair Sims version is also great, and the Muppet version is fun (and reasonably accurate!).
White Christmas - yes, the story is stupid. The dancing and singing are fun! You can tell this wasn't a role written for Danny Kaye (originally Fred Astair actually), but he seems to have fun with it and makes some memorable moments happen. I have fond memories of this film.
Holiday Inn - Again, stupid story. Fred dances, Bing sings... more about the memories I have than the strength of the film.
Christmas in Connecticut - The 1940's version. For the record, this vision of CT is nowhere near what it is like now, and I kind of doubt it ever was that way. A funny screwball comedy.
It's a Wonderful Life - Nora doesn't like this one. It is a classic, and a great film at that. Great message, well done, funny, heartbreaking... I think all those who have had dreams about what they want to do identify with Jimmy Stewart.
While You Were Sleeping - Funny, romantic, crazy... reminds you why Sandra Bullock is a star (her more recent efforts might make you forget.)
Miracle on 34th Street - don't bother with the modern Richard Attenborough version. The original, with Edmund Gwen as the definitive Santa Claus, is funny and heartwarming and ever so much better. Gwen won an Oscar for his portrayal. And make sure you watch it in black and white. Color ruins the cinematography. Santa can be a way we introduce children to the idea of Jesus... just don't lie and tell them he is real:)
Home Alone - honestly, I haven't seen this since the 90's. But I remember it being funny:) Every kid wants to do this stuff to someone!
Die Hard - yes, it takes place on Christmas Eve! A classic action film, and darn good. If you liked the most recent outing, check out the original. Beware, not so great language abounds.
Some I don't like!
The Grinch - HORRID. Not funny, a waste of film and talent.
Christmas With The Kranks - funny at points, but what a horrible message about Christmas being about the parties, decorations and presents.
The Santa Clause Sequels - the original is funny and pretty good. The sequels are a waste of time.
Anyway, again, feel free to post your favorites in the comments! I left out the TV specials from this list, mostly because I don't consider them films.
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13 comments:
I adore Christmas in Connecticut, and I'm glad you like it, too. It's a classic that I watch every year, and though it's rather silly, I find it highly entertaining. I quite frequently find myself watching National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation and A Christmas Story every year, too.
I am like Nora - I absolutely hate It's a Wonderful Life.
Oh my word! What's with the backlash against "It's a Wonderful Life"?? What an absolutely beautiful movie, in its message and its presentation. I liked it as a teen, and now that I'm a husband and father the last half hour has me bawling my head off uncontrollably every time. We all have grand dreams, but there's nothing more noble than being the good husband and father (or wife and mother) that God intended.
As for favorites - "A Christmas Story", for sure; "Edward Scissorhands", though that's good for any time of year; "The Nightmare Before Christmas", and the 2003 "Peter Pan" with Jeremy Sumpter - it's not specifically Christmas, but there's something magical about it that fits in with the holidays.
I know, "It's A Wonderful Life" is really good. Nora said she doesn't like it because Jimmy Stewart is annoying (as an actor, not the role).
Whatever, I still like it:)
Peter Pan was great. Technically "Narnia" is a Christmas film too, but... they are not limited to Christmas as much as these (except for Die Hard:)
Jimmy Stewart is annoying?? Nora better hope I don't ever meet her in a dark alley somewhere!!
I have nothing against Jimmy Stewart - in fact, other than this movie, I've always liked him. I can't stand the movie because it's 2 hours and 55 minutes of pure depression, and all for 5 minutes of joy at the end. I'll watch the last 5 minutes of it. I'd just rather save my depression and self-reflection for New Year's. =)
If you were talking about Memoirs of a Geisha I would agree with you, but I never thought that about Wonderful Life... There are moments of joy and fun and humor throughout...
Oh well. To each his (or her) own.
Okay, this is getting my dander up. The whole POINT of "It's a Wonderful Life" is that George Bailey HAS a Wonderful Life, which we get to see for the whole movie. There are uplifting moments at every turn - he's just blind to them until the end because he's got this vision of being a world traveler. Someone needs to sit down with akalinear (do I know you?) and watch the movie scene by scene with commentary. :-P
(Dander going back down now.)
Belive it or not, I've never seen the Patrick Stewart version of "A Christmas Carol." As you might have guessed, my favorite is the George C. Scott version... Will be hard to beat in my book, but I'll watch your version if you'll watch mine... ;) :P
Nope, you don't know aklinear. I'll have to have a talk with her involving my cousin Vinny in a back alley;)
It's funny, personal taste is so different. I don't begrudge those who don't like Wonderful Life, because chances are they love a movie I detest, so...
Jesse, I haven't seen the Scott version because... I just never did. Nothing against it. I'll have to see it this season.
All the versions have different high and low points. One thing that is different about Stewart is that he had a one man show as Scrooge, so he really internalized the role. He comes across as a scrooge, but through it you can see his heart is good (much like what his nephew sees) which is missing in many of the portrayals, he is all scrooge, and the transformation is out of the blue.
My thought anyway...
I don't have a favorite version of "A Christmas Carol". What I have are favorite BITS from each. I like Michael Caine as Scrooge, but would like to see him in a version without music and Muppets (as much as I like that version overall). I like some of the extremely vivid images in the George C. Scott version, like the two orphans under Christmas Present's robe. I like the shot in the Albert Finney version in which he turns around to see Christmas Future is a grinning skeleton, and then he falls backward into the open grave and seems to be falling straight toward Hell -- not in the story, I realize, but made for good cinema.
So the version I REALLY like is the one in my head that I'd like to make someday.
Interesting... the Patrick Stewart version also has the orphans under his cloak, and tends to be very vivid in it's imagery.
Like I said, it is my favorite adaption at this point.
I also have a version in my head that I would love to see done some time:)
Word is that Robert Zemekis is making a version now, with Jim Carrey as the ghosts (and I think as Scrooge) and it is that live action/animation stuff he used to make Polar Express and Beowulf. Sounds like it won't be what I want but proves there seems to be room for an infinite number of adaptations!
I like the Patrick Stewart Christmas Carol for the same reason - you actually believe that he is capable of the transformation. Perhaps in part because Patrick Stewart himself is already so "good". You keep waiting for Picard/Xavier to make his appearance.
My favorite Christmas movie, though, is Enemy of the State with Will Smith, Gene Hackman, and Jon Voight. I know it seems as tenuous a Christmas movie as Die Hard, but it does have a strong "getting back to your family" theme that utilizes the Christmas setting.
You know, it's rather odd, but I just don't like the version of self-reflection found in Wonderful Life - but I love A Christmas Carol and the self-reflection and change that Scrooge goes through. I can't explain the difference between the two, but maybe at this point in my life I need to revisit Wonderful Life (it's been a few years).
As for Christmas Carol, I had forgotten about the orphans under the robe bit until I went to The Guthrie (local theater in Mpls) and saw it again on Sunday. I probably need to revisit the movie versions of Carol as well, now...
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