They’re probably the most predictable movies around – of course Santa will make it on time, and no, Christmas will not be cancelled – but I love ‘em anyway.
My favorite is far and away It’s A Wonderful Life. It’s got everything, redemption, Jimmy Stewart, Donna Reed and “Buffalo Girls”.
The 1984 version of A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott as Scrooge, David Warner as Cratchit, and Edward Woodward as the Spirit of Christmas Present. Great music, costumes and sets, and one of the most powerful scenes that is often left out of film adaptations of Dickens’ classic: When Woodward confronts Scrooge with his own words about the “surplus population”, he lifts his robes and in place of his legs are two emaciated hollow-eyed children.
I still remember Woodward’s words: “Are they so unfamiliar to you? They are your children! Their names are IGNORANCE and WANT. Beware of them! For upon their brow is written the word ‘Doom’, they spell the downfall of you, and all who deny their existence!” We sometimes forget how concerned Dickens was with the plight of the lower classes amidst all the Xmas schmaltz, and I think a lot of the moralizing “War on Xmas” crowd would do well to remember Dickens’ message.
Bad Santa, definitely. Possibly Billy Bob’s finest role. And the best kid actor ever.
Ah, Oliver, no! I hate that f*ckin’ movie.
Each to his own, I guess.
Best Xmas Carol made–a much older one with Alistair Simms as Scrooge. But the best Xmas movie of all: the oringinal, animated, Boris Karloff -narratin’ Grinch!
My favorite is A Christmas Story written by Jean “Shep” Shepherd.
Must confess, I’ve really enjoyed “Elf” when I’ve caught it on cable. I tend to dislike Will Ferrel, but this movie makes good use of his man-child persona, and Chloe Sovigne is quite cute, James Caan is perfectly cast as Ferrel’s Dad, with Bob Newhart, Ed Asner, Amy Sedaris, Mary Steenbergen, Andy Richter, and a hilarious scene with Peter Dinklage, it’s a strange, off-center cast for a strange off-center movie.
And did I mention that Chloe Sovigne is really cute in this movie?
Die Hard. It really embodies the true spirit of Christmas.
The claymation/puppet/whatever-it-is version of The Little Drummer Boy has always been my favorite.
Only ONE favorite? I have two…
Last year I threw a Christmas Eve party with a double feature in the media room: Bad(der) Santa (complete, unrated, twisted Terry Zwigoff fun) and A Christmas Story> (for sheer unadulterated boomer nostalgia).
For me, it’s a four way tie: Alistair Sim as Scrooge; It’s a Wonderful Life; Scrooged with Bill Murray; and Christmas Story with Darren McGavin (only boomer nostalgia because of Gene Shepherd’s association with Playboy in the 60’s)
Dammit pidge, you stole mine!
Ah well, there’s always Enemy of the State.
A Christmas Story
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
The Ref
That’s not Chloe Sevigne in ELF. That’s Zooey Deschanel (also Trillian in THE HITCHHIKER’S GUIDE TO THE GALAXY).
My favorite Christmas movie is an old TV special from the 70s. The Rankin Bass animagic classic THE YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS.
If they ever do a live-action remake, George Wendt must play Heat Miser.
http://www.aintitcool.com/display.cgi?id=16549
Best BAD SANTA review ever.
White Christmas and Holiday Inn
A Charlie Brown Christmas
-The Bishop’s Wife with Cary Grant and David Niven.
-The Hebrew Hammer (yes, it’s a Christmas movie! Think Hanukkah Harry saves Christmas)
Concur with jp on Alistair Sim > George C. Scott
Happy War on Christmas, everybody!
My favorite is Holiday Inn, although the blackface scene is an unfortunate plot twist contrived to prevent Fred Astaire from recognizing the girl.
Agree with fd, zadura and jp.
Alistair Sim was truly a Dickensian Scrooge. Defined the role as much as Rathbone did Holmes.
And Christmas Story is now THE CHRISTMAS MOVIE – over Its a Wonderful Life. We have probably watched 10 times. It will be eleven by Tuesday.
So if we rent Bad Santa, it’s a little kick in the nuts of Matt Drudge? Sign me up! Also, I’ll be seeing Apocalypto on Christmas day with my family. I’m quite looking forward to the scene where the jaguar eats the guy’s face.
Sorry to break it to you Adam, but they already did a live action “remake” (was on TV a week ago or so).
And it totally blew donkey balls.
Fix
Adding that its just nice to see that both sides of the aisle can appreciate the greatness of the red ryder carbine-action 200 shot model air rifle with the compass in the stock and that thing which tells time.
As for recent movies, while I think that The Passion of the Christ is a laugh-out-loud classic for the whole family to enjoy, I have to say I’m surprised how much I enjoyed the Polar Express. Impressive CGI work, and I forgot how sweet the story was. 8.5 thumbs up out of 10.
Trading Places is the movie that makes the holidays tolerable. Eddie Murphy when he was still funny, Dan Akroyd when he still acted, and Jamie Lee Curtis with no top (albeit brief).
The one-two punch of Santa Claus Conquers the Martians and Santa Claus Conquers the Mexicans, with the SOL crew of course.
Lets also not forget the Orphan Annie’s decoder pin secret message.
Scrooged!
Ovaltine? Son of a Bitch!
And Santa Claus Conquers the Martians, I would argue, is only watchable in the MST3K edition. Tried sitting through that normally one time, took a month to uncross my eyes.
As a rule I have absolutely no use for Christmas movies…I think “Wonderful Life” is one of the most overrated pieces of crap ever made. The “Married with Children” parody with Sam Kinison cuts the original to shreds.
But if I HAVE to pick one, then definitely the 1951 “Christmas Carol” with Alastair Sim. That damn picture scared the living daylights out of me when I was little.
Is it 2007 yet?
One other thing: how about the worst movie you could ever watch on 12/25? My entry is a double feature of “Back Street” and “Imitation of Life,” the Lana Turner versions. My sister got ‘em one year and insisted on watching BOTH. If ever there was an occasion for the nastiest “Rocky Horror” style callback lines imaginable, that was it…
For sheer quotability, it’s A Christmas Story for me, but White Christmas is a guilty pleasure, and one I’m quite happy to indulge myself with while wrapping stuff and drinking wine.
Oh, and Nimrod, Santa Claus Conquers the Martians will be making an appearance in my daughter’s stocking this year. Hee.
“Buffalo GIRLS”?!?
Has to be the original animated “Grinch” with Boris Karloff. I still get teary when
“All the Whos down in Whoville
the tall in the small
were singing
without any presents at all.”
Good gods, I’m glad I hadn’t even heard word one about that live action YEAR WITHOUT A SANTA CLAUS.
I’d have gone on a rampage for sure.
Not a fan of the movie, but it always brings to mind one of my favorite deep thoughts, by Jack Handy:
“Everyone knows that when you hear a bell ring, an angel gets its wings, but did you that know when you hear a mousetrap, an angel gets set on fire?”
Came across this today:
http://www.fanpop.com/spots/christmas/soapbox/64