Holiday Movie Guide
Getting into the Christmas spirit and looking for something to watch during the holiday season? Here is a list of a dozen movies and TV specials to help pass the time during the wet and chilly month.
Movies
Scrooged (1988)
An updated re-imagining on A Christmas Carol with Bill Murray as a TV executive that exploits the holiday season in order to boost ratings. If you enjoy Murray’s droll performances of the ‘80s then this must not be passed up. A Christmas Carol has been retold many times in different ways, but Scrooged must be the best update; after all, there are now cable channels devoted entirely to exploiting the holiday spirit. Directed by Richard Donner (Superman, Lethal Weapon series).
Gremlins (1984)
A young man is given a strange creature for Christmas that, if not cared for in very specific ways, can sprout mischievous and vicious monsters capable of tearing an entire town to pieces. Guess what happens. You may have forgotten this classic ‘80s farcical creature feature takes place around Christmas. You may have also forgotten that it was produced by Steven Spielberg and co-starred a young Corey Feldman. But don’t forget to give this one a shot, especially if you have kids. Directed by Joe Dante (The ‘burbs).
Love Actually (2003)
It’s Christmastime in London! Here are ten separate but intertwining stories of love during the holidays. Love Actually is one of my favorite movies of 2003 – and it’s easy to see why with a cast of British actors that rivals any single Harry Potter film, including Colin Firth, Martin Freeman, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln, with Elisha Cuthbert, Shannon Elisabeth, January Jones, Laura Linney, Denise Richards, and Billy Bob Thornton. Directed by Richard Curtis, screenwriter of Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Home Alone (1990)
Kevin McCallister (Macauley Culkin) acts out the night before a family Christmas vacation to France. The next morning, in a rush out the door, his family forgets him. Now, two bungling burglars are trying to break into the house and Kevin must defend it. While the slapstick that the movie is best remembered for may not occur until the third act, Home Alone still proves itself to be more than a pop culture nostalgia trip. It’s still a rather solid family film, which isn’t a wonder since it was directed by Chris Columbus (Mrs. Doubtfire) and written by John Hughes (The Breakfast Club).
Elf (2003)
A baby is raised in the North Pole by Santa Clause and his elves. As an adult his differences seem to become suspicious, which leads to a quest to meet his human dad in New York City. This fish-out-of-water tale is another from 2003 (which also brought us Bad Santa) and arguably the best holiday film of the year, as well as possibly Will Farrell’s best comedic performance. Directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man).
The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown, discovers Christmas Town and aims to usurp Santa’s role with hilariously demented results. This stop-motion musical is now a Christmas staple, having been annually re-released in 3D for years. The songs are irresistible (composed and sung by Danny Elfman) and the visuals are spectacular. Directed by Henry Selnick (Coraline).
National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
The Griswolds have a family Christmas get-together full of hilariously disastrous events. Arguably the best and funniest of the National Lampoon Vacation films, full of memorable moments like the cat and the tree, the septic explosion, and the squirrel. Also written by John Hughes, directed by Jeremiah Chechik (Benny & Joon).
A Christmas Story (1983)
A little boy wishes for a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas and spends his time dropping hints to his parents and fantasizing about the gun. No film captures the childhood holiday experience quite like A Christmas Story. It may take place in the ‘50s, but what boy hasn’t dreamed of a toy for Christmas and done everything in their power to convince their parents of getting it? This is one that stacks up there with A Christmas Carol and A Miracle on 34th Street as required Christmas viewing. Directed by Bob Clark (Porky's).
TV specials
Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas (1977)
An impoverished otter and his mother hope to buy gifts for each other for Christmas. Unfortunately, Emmet’s oddjobs and Ma’s work as a laundress doesn’t earn them enough money. Both decide to compete in a local talent contest in order to earn more money, but sacrifices will need to be made to do so. It may be a bunch of puppets with visible strings, but this is a very charming, simple tale that’s great for the family. Directed by Jim Henson, with voice work by him and Frank Oz.
A Garfield Christmas Special (1987)
Jon Arbuckle packs his pets Odie and Garfield up to spend Christmas at his grandma’s house. Garfield decides to find Grandma a present. Fans of the daily strip or the late-80’s cartoon Garfield and Friends will enjoy this as it is better than most of today’s Garfield direct-to-video features. This can be found included in the Garfield: Holiday Celebrations DVD.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)
Dr. Seuss’s classic tale comes to life in this classic cartoon. No, this isn’t the mediocre live-action Jim Carrey vehicle. This is the essential anti-consumerist classic co-directed by legendary Looney Tunes animator Chuck Jones and voiced by the Mummy himself, Boris Karloff.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Charlie Brown is depressed during the holidays by everybody around him demonstrating selfish or materialist behaviors. He’s continually frustrated when asked to direct a Christmas play that can’t seem to make it through rehearsal. Perhaps the greatest Christmas TV special in the history of dime-a-dozen holiday specials, A Charlie Brown Christmas is simple, amusing, and takes a jab at the ever-growing commercialist tendencies of Christmas.
That should help make your spirits bright and scratch that Christmas movie itch.
What movies do you like to watch during the holidays? Leave a comment below or on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter.
Movies
An updated re-imagining on A Christmas Carol with Bill Murray as a TV executive that exploits the holiday season in order to boost ratings. If you enjoy Murray’s droll performances of the ‘80s then this must not be passed up. A Christmas Carol has been retold many times in different ways, but Scrooged must be the best update; after all, there are now cable channels devoted entirely to exploiting the holiday spirit. Directed by Richard Donner (Superman, Lethal Weapon series).
A young man is given a strange creature for Christmas that, if not cared for in very specific ways, can sprout mischievous and vicious monsters capable of tearing an entire town to pieces. Guess what happens. You may have forgotten this classic ‘80s farcical creature feature takes place around Christmas. You may have also forgotten that it was produced by Steven Spielberg and co-starred a young Corey Feldman. But don’t forget to give this one a shot, especially if you have kids. Directed by Joe Dante (The ‘burbs).
It’s Christmastime in London! Here are ten separate but intertwining stories of love during the holidays. Love Actually is one of my favorite movies of 2003 – and it’s easy to see why with a cast of British actors that rivals any single Harry Potter film, including Colin Firth, Martin Freeman, Hugh Grant, Keira Knightley, Bill Nighy, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Chiwetel Ejiofor, and The Walking Dead’s Andrew Lincoln, with Elisha Cuthbert, Shannon Elisabeth, January Jones, Laura Linney, Denise Richards, and Billy Bob Thornton. Directed by Richard Curtis, screenwriter of Bridget Jones’s Diary.
Kevin McCallister (Macauley Culkin) acts out the night before a family Christmas vacation to France. The next morning, in a rush out the door, his family forgets him. Now, two bungling burglars are trying to break into the house and Kevin must defend it. While the slapstick that the movie is best remembered for may not occur until the third act, Home Alone still proves itself to be more than a pop culture nostalgia trip. It’s still a rather solid family film, which isn’t a wonder since it was directed by Chris Columbus (Mrs. Doubtfire) and written by John Hughes (The Breakfast Club).
A baby is raised in the North Pole by Santa Clause and his elves. As an adult his differences seem to become suspicious, which leads to a quest to meet his human dad in New York City. This fish-out-of-water tale is another from 2003 (which also brought us Bad Santa) and arguably the best holiday film of the year, as well as possibly Will Farrell’s best comedic performance. Directed by Jon Favreau (Iron Man).
Jack Skellington, king of Halloweentown, discovers Christmas Town and aims to usurp Santa’s role with hilariously demented results. This stop-motion musical is now a Christmas staple, having been annually re-released in 3D for years. The songs are irresistible (composed and sung by Danny Elfman) and the visuals are spectacular. Directed by Henry Selnick (Coraline).
The Griswolds have a family Christmas get-together full of hilariously disastrous events. Arguably the best and funniest of the National Lampoon Vacation films, full of memorable moments like the cat and the tree, the septic explosion, and the squirrel. Also written by John Hughes, directed by Jeremiah Chechik (Benny & Joon).
A little boy wishes for a Red Rider BB gun for Christmas and spends his time dropping hints to his parents and fantasizing about the gun. No film captures the childhood holiday experience quite like A Christmas Story. It may take place in the ‘50s, but what boy hasn’t dreamed of a toy for Christmas and done everything in their power to convince their parents of getting it? This is one that stacks up there with A Christmas Carol and A Miracle on 34th Street as required Christmas viewing. Directed by Bob Clark (Porky's).
TV specials
An impoverished otter and his mother hope to buy gifts for each other for Christmas. Unfortunately, Emmet’s oddjobs and Ma’s work as a laundress doesn’t earn them enough money. Both decide to compete in a local talent contest in order to earn more money, but sacrifices will need to be made to do so. It may be a bunch of puppets with visible strings, but this is a very charming, simple tale that’s great for the family. Directed by Jim Henson, with voice work by him and Frank Oz.
Jon Arbuckle packs his pets Odie and Garfield up to spend Christmas at his grandma’s house. Garfield decides to find Grandma a present. Fans of the daily strip or the late-80’s cartoon Garfield and Friends will enjoy this as it is better than most of today’s Garfield direct-to-video features. This can be found included in the Garfield: Holiday Celebrations DVD.
Dr. Seuss’s classic tale comes to life in this classic cartoon. No, this isn’t the mediocre live-action Jim Carrey vehicle. This is the essential anti-consumerist classic co-directed by legendary Looney Tunes animator Chuck Jones and voiced by the Mummy himself, Boris Karloff.
Charlie Brown is depressed during the holidays by everybody around him demonstrating selfish or materialist behaviors. He’s continually frustrated when asked to direct a Christmas play that can’t seem to make it through rehearsal. Perhaps the greatest Christmas TV special in the history of dime-a-dozen holiday specials, A Charlie Brown Christmas is simple, amusing, and takes a jab at the ever-growing commercialist tendencies of Christmas.
That should help make your spirits bright and scratch that Christmas movie itch.
What movies do you like to watch during the holidays? Leave a comment below or on Facebook, MySpace, or Twitter.