Six of the Best Christmas Films
My intention was to write a top ten Christmas Film List but after careful consideration I couldn't in all honesty find 10 films that I would want on my list, which surprised me, but there we are. Then I thought, well I could write a top five Christmas Film List but I have six films. Dear me its all falling apart, so I may as well get the next bit over with and that is; my list does not feature 'Its a wonderful Life' because, well, I just don't like it. Yeah I said it, so damn me to hell. Films that also failed to make my list were those that claim to be Christmas Films but aren't, for instance; Die Hard, Planes Trains and Automobiles and Trading Places. A Christmas tree and cold weather do not make a Christmas Film. What I have here for you is six of the best. Christmas Films that for me embody the spirit of the season; Peace, Love and Misunderstandings.
Home Alone 1990
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The McCallister family are gathered together as they will be flying to France the next day to spend their Christmas in Paris. For eight year old Kevin (Mcauly Culkin) the evening is fraught with squabbles for which he gets told off and feeling (quite rightly) rather hard done by, he wishes his family were gone. The next morning the entire family oversleep and in the rush to get to the airport, Kevin is forgotten. Kevin wakes to find he is blissfully 'home alone' which is the start of this great Christmas family caper. Like all John Hughes films we sympathise with Kevin because he has a rubbish family who push him around and don't listen. This film appeals to the eight year old in all of us. Kevin who is far cleverer than any of the adults in the film, goes shopping, does the laundry, booby traps the whole house, then takes on and outwits a pair bungling burglars. This film is full of hilarious slapstick and also some terrific lines: 'Keep the change ya filthy animal' being my personal favourite. All the time Kevin's family are desperately trying to get back home to him. On reflection Kevin misses his annoying relatives and after preparing the house for Christmas, his wish is of course to have them back.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
The McCallister family are gathered together as they will be flying to France the next day to spend their Christmas in Paris. For eight year old Kevin (Mcauly Culkin) the evening is fraught with squabbles for which he gets told off and feeling (quite rightly) rather hard done by, he wishes his family were gone. The next morning the entire family oversleep and in the rush to get to the airport, Kevin is forgotten. Kevin wakes to find he is blissfully 'home alone' which is the start of this great Christmas family caper. Like all John Hughes films we sympathise with Kevin because he has a rubbish family who push him around and don't listen. This film appeals to the eight year old in all of us. Kevin who is far cleverer than any of the adults in the film, goes shopping, does the laundry, booby traps the whole house, then takes on and outwits a pair bungling burglars. This film is full of hilarious slapstick and also some terrific lines: 'Keep the change ya filthy animal' being my personal favourite. All the time Kevin's family are desperately trying to get back home to him. On reflection Kevin misses his annoying relatives and after preparing the house for Christmas, his wish is of course to have them back.
The Family Stone 2005
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This film divides our house, I and my younger daughter love it, my eldest daughter says it is downright depressing, there we must disagree. The laughs in this film more than balance the serious threads running through it. The film begins with members of the Stone family gradually arriving home for Christmas. Sarah Jessica Parker is great as Meredith the dreadfully rigid, mismatched girlfriend of Everett. Everett (Dermott Mulroney) brings Meredith home to meet his family and spend Christmas with them. He is intending to propose and asks his Mother (Diane Keaton) for the family heirloom ring which was promised to him as the eldest son. Unfortunately his wonderfully acerbic, straight talking Mother doesn't feel he has chosen the right woman and refuses his request saying: "I know you're disappointed but imagine how I feel"
It's excruciating to watch the incredibly uptight Meredith trying but failing to find any common ground with this large, liberal family, whose values and out spoken views are so different to her own. Needless to say the Stone clan are not going to make it easy for her. Christmas unfolds with hostilities, accusations and recriminations.
Yet throughout the film each character has a defining moment to learn something about themselves. A long held secret is gently revealed and Meredith comes to realise she cannot marry Everett (personally I much prefer his brother) Ultimately, differences are put aside and all is mended. I love the bittersweet ending of this film which finishes with the family gathering a year later, for another Christmas.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This film divides our house, I and my younger daughter love it, my eldest daughter says it is downright depressing, there we must disagree. The laughs in this film more than balance the serious threads running through it. The film begins with members of the Stone family gradually arriving home for Christmas. Sarah Jessica Parker is great as Meredith the dreadfully rigid, mismatched girlfriend of Everett. Everett (Dermott Mulroney) brings Meredith home to meet his family and spend Christmas with them. He is intending to propose and asks his Mother (Diane Keaton) for the family heirloom ring which was promised to him as the eldest son. Unfortunately his wonderfully acerbic, straight talking Mother doesn't feel he has chosen the right woman and refuses his request saying: "I know you're disappointed but imagine how I feel"
It's excruciating to watch the incredibly uptight Meredith trying but failing to find any common ground with this large, liberal family, whose values and out spoken views are so different to her own. Needless to say the Stone clan are not going to make it easy for her. Christmas unfolds with hostilities, accusations and recriminations.
Yet throughout the film each character has a defining moment to learn something about themselves. A long held secret is gently revealed and Meredith comes to realise she cannot marry Everett (personally I much prefer his brother) Ultimately, differences are put aside and all is mended. I love the bittersweet ending of this film which finishes with the family gathering a year later, for another Christmas.
The Holiday 2006
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the ultimate house swap, life swap rom com. Amanda (Cameron Diaz) an American Film Editor and Iris (Kate Winslet) a London Newspaper Journalist find themselves trying to escape their lives for the same reason; lying, cheating, men. So it is that Iris finds herself in the lap of luxury when she arrives at Amandas' Mansion in L. A. and Amanda finds herself somewhat short changed when she gets to a teeny, tiny, cottage in the middle of nowhere (Surrey) That is, until she meets Iris' brother (Jude Law) and the holiday suddenly becomes much more appealing. Don't worry Iris doesn't get left out, she meets cheeky chappie Miles (Jack Black) a composer who finds out he has a lying, cheating girlfriend. She also becomes great friends with the boy next door who in this case is 90 years old. Arthur played by the delightfully twinkly eyed Eli Walach, a Hollywood veteran who fascinates Iris with his stories of film stars and movie making.This film has warmth, comedy and charm, not to mention an unfashionably happy ending. It's a modern 'classic' in the making.
The Santa Claus 1994
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scott (Tim Allen) is a salesman, divorced from his wife and part time Father to his son Charlie. He is totally unprepared for Christmas Eve with his son and arrives home late having spent too long at the office party. I couldn't detest this character more, he then manages to accidentally kill Santa. Its strange that this event is not more traumatic but thats because we find out about the 'Santa clause'. Scott has a new job and he doesn't even know it yet. This thoroughly awful, selfish man undergoes a transformation of mind, body and character. When he finally realises who he now is, he has to convince his ex wife and her psychologist husband and risks losing access to Charlie in the process. In the end his ex wife and her husband receive the gifts that they most wanted as children and didn't get. Could it be that Scott really is . . . . .
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
This is the ultimate house swap, life swap rom com. Amanda (Cameron Diaz) an American Film Editor and Iris (Kate Winslet) a London Newspaper Journalist find themselves trying to escape their lives for the same reason; lying, cheating, men. So it is that Iris finds herself in the lap of luxury when she arrives at Amandas' Mansion in L. A. and Amanda finds herself somewhat short changed when she gets to a teeny, tiny, cottage in the middle of nowhere (Surrey) That is, until she meets Iris' brother (Jude Law) and the holiday suddenly becomes much more appealing. Don't worry Iris doesn't get left out, she meets cheeky chappie Miles (Jack Black) a composer who finds out he has a lying, cheating girlfriend. She also becomes great friends with the boy next door who in this case is 90 years old. Arthur played by the delightfully twinkly eyed Eli Walach, a Hollywood veteran who fascinates Iris with his stories of film stars and movie making.This film has warmth, comedy and charm, not to mention an unfashionably happy ending. It's a modern 'classic' in the making.
The Santa Claus 1994
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Scott (Tim Allen) is a salesman, divorced from his wife and part time Father to his son Charlie. He is totally unprepared for Christmas Eve with his son and arrives home late having spent too long at the office party. I couldn't detest this character more, he then manages to accidentally kill Santa. Its strange that this event is not more traumatic but thats because we find out about the 'Santa clause'. Scott has a new job and he doesn't even know it yet. This thoroughly awful, selfish man undergoes a transformation of mind, body and character. When he finally realises who he now is, he has to convince his ex wife and her psychologist husband and risks losing access to Charlie in the process. In the end his ex wife and her husband receive the gifts that they most wanted as children and didn't get. Could it be that Scott really is . . . . .
Muppet Christmas Carol 1992
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Of all the many films that have been made of a Christmas Carol this is by far my favourite. How could you not love Michael Caine as Scrooge, the only actor in a cast of puppets, sorry Muppets. Charles Dickens himself is featured in this re telling, played by Gonzo who narrates the story, I'm sure Dickens would approve. The film stays very close to the original book written in 1843 and the many comic touches do not reduce its message in any way. One of my favourite moments is when the clerks who work for scrooge (played by the rats) and Bob Cratchit (Kermit) ask for a shovel full of coal as they are freezing in the bitter weather. Scrooge asks them how they would like to be unemployed and they burst into song with 'Heatwave' I love it and 25 years after it was first made it has been re released.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
Of all the many films that have been made of a Christmas Carol this is by far my favourite. How could you not love Michael Caine as Scrooge, the only actor in a cast of puppets, sorry Muppets. Charles Dickens himself is featured in this re telling, played by Gonzo who narrates the story, I'm sure Dickens would approve. The film stays very close to the original book written in 1843 and the many comic touches do not reduce its message in any way. One of my favourite moments is when the clerks who work for scrooge (played by the rats) and Bob Cratchit (Kermit) ask for a shovel full of coal as they are freezing in the bitter weather. Scrooge asks them how they would like to be unemployed and they burst into song with 'Heatwave' I love it and 25 years after it was first made it has been re released.
White Christmas 1954
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A great big, blousy, rosy cheeked, musical rom com. For me, this is the Christmas dinner of Christmas films. I like to watch it every Christmas Eve. Wallace and Davis are a double act as are the Haynes sisters. The sisters are on their way to perform for the Christmas holidays in Vermont, Wallace and Davis decide to follow them and on arriving in Vermont discover the Lodge is owned by their retired army General and also rather worryingly for a ski lodge, there is no snow.
I never tire of watching Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney gaze wistfully at each other through their astonishingly violet blue eyes while the sweeping Irving Berlin score takes us for a spin round the room, its song and dance with mistletoe and bells on.
⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐
A great big, blousy, rosy cheeked, musical rom com. For me, this is the Christmas dinner of Christmas films. I like to watch it every Christmas Eve. Wallace and Davis are a double act as are the Haynes sisters. The sisters are on their way to perform for the Christmas holidays in Vermont, Wallace and Davis decide to follow them and on arriving in Vermont discover the Lodge is owned by their retired army General and also rather worryingly for a ski lodge, there is no snow.
I never tire of watching Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney gaze wistfully at each other through their astonishingly violet blue eyes while the sweeping Irving Berlin score takes us for a spin round the room, its song and dance with mistletoe and bells on.
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