While I didn't put the rest of the movies in an sort of order because I love each one for different reasons I will say, without a doubt, Christmas Vacation is my all time favorite Christmas movie.
It's Christmas time and the Griswolds are preparing for a family seasonal celebration, but things never run smoothly for Clark, his wife Ellen and their two kids. Clark's continual bad luck is worsened by his obnoxious family guests, but he manages to keep going knowing that his Christmas bonus is due soon.
And there you have it. Twelve awesome holiday movies you should be watching this year..and every year going forward. I'm sure many of you out there are raising your hands and saying, "Wait..you forgot ____!! How could you forget ____?!!" I did have to put limits! Or else I'd just be putting movie after movie and would be going on and on.
But here are a few more honorable mentions in my yearly watching queue..
I actually never watched this growing up, I believe the first time I watched it I was already in my 20's. But this movie... I'm not sure if there are words to express the feeling you take away after watching this movie.
George Bailey has spent his entire life giving of himself to the people of Bedford Falls. He has always longed to travel but never had the opportunity in order to prevent rich skinflint Mr. Potter from taking over the entire town. All that prevents him from doing so is George's modest building and loan company, which was founded by his generous father. But on Christmas Eve, George's Uncle Billy loses the business's $8,000 while intending to deposit it in the bank. Potter finds the misplaced money and hides it from Billy. When the bank examiner discovers the shortage later that night, George realizes that he will be held responsible and sent to jail and the company will collapse, finally allowing Potter to take over the town. Thinking of his wife, their young children, and others he loves will be better off with him dead, he contemplates suicide. But the prayers of his loved ones result in a gentle angel named Clarence coming to earth to help George...
Buddy was a baby in an orphanage who stowed away in Santa's sack and ended up at the North Pole. Later, as an adult human who happened to be raised by elves, Santa allows him to go to New York City to find his birth father, Walter Hobbs. Hobbs, on Santa's naughty list for being a heartless jerk, had no idea that Buddy was even born. Buddy, meanwhile, experiences the delights of New York City (and human culture) as only an elf can. When Walter's relationship with Buddy interferes with his job, he is forced to reevaluate his priorities.
A holiday classic. How you can go without watching this every year?! "You'll shoot your eye out!" I'm pretty sure I could recite the entire movie from start to finish.
Ralphie, a young boy growing up in the '40's, dreams of owning a Red Rider BB gun. He sets out to convince the world this is the perfect gift. But along the way, he runs into opposition from his parents, his teacher, and even good 'ol Santa Claus himself.
In my opinion, Billy Bob Thorton's best movie. This movie cracks me up from start to end. We own Badder Santa - I've never actually watched Bad Santa - but I'm sure there isn't too much of a difference. Badder Santa..well is probably a little more bad.
"Bad Santa" is the story of two conmen who go on a road trip to malls dressed as Santa and his elf. Rather than spreading good cheer, the duo's motive is to rob each establishment, a strategy that becomes complicated when they encounter an 8-year-old who teaches them the true meaning of Christmas.
How could I possibly make a movie list without Home Alone?! I remember when this came out, it was every kids dream to be left home alone when there parents left town.
It is Christmas time and the McAllister family is preparing for a vacation in Paris, France. But the youngest in the family named Kevin got into a scuffle with his older brother Buzz and was sent to his room which is on the third floor of his house. Then, the next morning, while the rest of the family was in a rush to make it to the airport on time, they completely forgot about Kevin who now has the house all to himself. Being home alone was fun for Kevin, having a pizza all to himself, jumping on his parents' bed, and making a mess. Then, Kevin discovers about two burglars, Harry and Marv, about to rob his house on Christmas Eve. Kevin acts quickly by wiring his own house with makeshift booby traps to stop the burglars and to bring them to justice.
There are many versions of Charles Dickens classic A Christmas Carol. But one of my favorites is the muppets take on the tale. I think because I was a child of the 80's and Jim Henson's muppets where part of my every day life. From The Muppets Show to Fraggle Rock. I loved everything muppets!
A retelling of the classic Dickens tale of Ebenezer Scrooge, miser extraordinaire. He is held accountable for his dastardly ways during night-time visitations by the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and future.
Today I share with you one of my absolute favorite movies. You should never go a holiday season without watching Emmet.
Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas (1977)
Storyline
Emmet Otter and his Ma are dirt-poor, but very happy and good singers. But as Christmas is around the corner, both of them want to get something special for each other. And the talent show prize is $50! So, Ma gets a song ready, and Emmet forms a jug-band with his friends. But the Riverbottom Gang, a bunch of rich kids with killer electric band equipment are going to be tough competition.
Keeping in line with the old classics of my childhood ... another week night special movie that would make me jump up and down in my nightgown in anticipation for Christmas morning...
Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer
Storyline
Sam the snowman tells us the story of a young red-nosed reindeer who, after being ousted from the reindeer games because of his beaming honker, teams up with Hermey, an elf who wants to be a dentist, and Yukon Cornelius, the prospector. They run into the Abominable Snowman and find a whole island of misfit toys. Rudolph vows to see if he can get Santa to help the toys, and he goes back to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. But Santa's sleigh is fogged in. But when Santa looks over Rudolph, he gets a very bright idea...
I always felt like I belonged with the misfit toys. I think it's a great story with a deeper meaning that I'm sure most kids don't really understand at a young age. I'll always be a misfit toy.
How could I make a Christmas movie list and not include the following?!
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Storyline
Bitter and hateful, the Grinch is irritated at the thought of the nearby village having a happy time celebrating Christmas. So disguised as Santa Claus, with his dog made to look like a reindeer, he raids the village to steal all the Christmas things. The village is sure to have a sad Christmas this year.
Every year as a child, I would flip through the tv guide searching to see when The Grinch would be on. It felt like it was officially Christmas time when the weeknight Christmas specials began. How can you go a Christmas season without watching this at least once?
My next pick was an immediate favorite. But I always get confused if I should be watching it at Halloween or at Christmas!?
Nightmare Before Christmas
Jack Skellington, the pumpkin king of Halloween Town, is bored with doing the same thing every year for Halloween. One day he stumbles into Christmas Town, and is so taken with the idea of Christmas that he tries to get the resident bats, ghouls, and goblins of Halloween town to help him put on Christmas instead of Halloween -- but alas, they can't get it quite right. This movie came out while I was in high school. One of my best friends and I went to the movies repeatedly when it hit the theaters, we also bought the figures. I now own the entire set of original figures that came out in 1993 as well as other random merchandise. Most prized though are three original figures, cast of the molds of the actual figures from the movie! All numbered and signed. Quite exciting the random things you can buy as an adult haha. If you have never seen this movie, I highly recommend you drop whatever you are doing at this moment and rent it. And if you have watched it before..watch it again this holiday season.
I hope everyone (USA folks) are having a nice Thanksgiving and day off from work!
The mister and I placed an order for a turkey with one of our local farmers this year, we didn't really calculate how much it would be until a few days before picking it up. It sort of clicked and we both just went..ummm..this is gonna be one expensive turkey! haha But hey- it was completely and totally worth it. 1. to support local farms 2. to have a pure and healthy turkey, completely fresh (was processed on Monday - we picked it up Tuesday) Never frozen. So we decided to have a mini Thanksgiving of our own last night with our $60 bird. And let me say.. it was worth every penny!
Another Thanksgiving today with my parents, brother, and aunt and uncle. It should be a nice relaxing, quiet day. I'm, of course, bringing a crazy enormous apple pie!
I hope everyone has a fantastic day!!
My brain is already on Christmas this year so I wanted to kick off .. Twelve days of Christmas movies. Over the next few weeks - from now until December 20th to be exact - I will be sharing with you 12 of my favorite Christmas movies of all time.
Every year I have a tradition which normally starts today, on Thanksgiving. I bust out all my Christmas movies and get so excited to have movie marathons. There are a few movies that have also popped into my head that didn't make this list that are definite holiday movies I watch each year as well. But I needed to make a cut off - so I cut it off at 12. Being a huge movie person, you can imagine my excitement for these classics (and not so classics) that have made my top 12 list.
They won't be in a particular order, as in X movie is better than Y movie because each of them I have chosen, I've chosen for different reasons. Some because I watched them as a child - and still have the need to watch them as an adult..and some simply because they are hilarious and simply awesome that you could even watch them 10 times before Christmas, every Christmas and still not get tired of the movie.
So.. without further ado. #12.
We'll kick this party off with:
Gremlins:
While not a specifically a Christmas movie, it does take place at Christmas. The film revolves around an inventor who brings home a unique gift. A small fuzzy creature called a Mogwai. The creature comes with some rules – Keep away from Sunlight, Don’t feed after midnight, Never get wet. When these rules are broken, a mischievous legion of Gremlins is unleashed on a small town wreaking havoc.
Growing up in the 80's, I had my own little Gizmo stuffed animal that went everywhere with me. I loved this movie and still love it as an adult. If it wasn't going to be part of your holiday movie marathons, make room and squeeze it in!
