No sooner had we started glaring at the Christmas decorations being up far too early in town and mince pies in the shops, then the 1st December appeared out of nowhere - like those brussel sprouts you didn’t want on your Christmas dinner plate. So we thought a movie advent calendar would be good idea to help you count your way through the December days to Christmas.
Everyone likes Christmas at different strengths so we’ve put together a veritable selection box for you all; whether you’re a Clark W. Griswald and spend most of your December evenings stapling 1001 lights to your house, or if you prefer a less obvious Christmas movie – get watching some of these seasonal celluloid treats.
It’s a Wonderful Life: Frank Capra’s 1946 Christmas masterpiece stars James Stewart as George Bailey. Considered a flop at the time, its powerful story has since become one of the top Christmas films as well as featuring high in top ‘all time’ movies lists too.
Nightmare Before Christmas: The Tim Burton/Henry Selick wonderful stop-motion animation does the unimaginable; combines the macabre with Christmas. Jack Skeleton, head of Halloween town, is bored and fancies a change so decides gives Christmas a go.
Die Hard: Considered by some as the action movie that defined the genre. Our favourite police Detective John McClane takes on the terrorists on Christmas Eve – what better way to celebrate the season, Yippee kai yay, Santa!!!
Rare Exports: As the most recent release in our calendar, this Finnish film is nice and dark for the cold, winter nights. A burial ground to rival all others is discovered in a mountain and its occupant is less than dead. Creepy and funny, what more can you ask for?
National Lampoons Christmas Vacation: National Lampoons and Chevy Chase became staples of eighties viewing and Christmas Vacation has become a popular Christmas favourite. You can’t help but watch with glee and horror as Clark W Griswold over enthusiastically plans for the festive season to have the perfect family Christmas. I mean, what could go wrong?
Miracle on 34th Street: Kris Kringle, who is the popular Macy’s store Santa, is adamant he is the real Santa, confusing and worrying a particular co-worker. The 1947 original won several Academy Awards and spawned four remakes, including the 1994 version with Richard Attenborough as Kris Kringle.
Scrooged: Bill Murray pulls off this eighties version of A Christmas Carol, as the modern day Scrooge character in the role of a cold hearted TV executive. There are clever little touches to bring the story into the twentieth century and Murray is a natural at playing the icy, arrogant exec that slowly learns the error of his ways.
Home Alone: The 1990 Christmas comedy movie smash by the late, great John Hughes. No1 at the box office for twelve weeks straight, this classic made Macaulay Culkin a household name. Hilarious, slapstick antics as a kid fends for himself over the Xmas holidays, setting many booby traps for the nasty burglars after him.
Elf: Not many 6ft men can carry off an Elf outfit, but Will Ferrell does it with aplomb. As one of modern cinemas finest comedians, you can’t imagine anyone else would get away with playing the innocent big kid like he does in Elf. A daft and heart-felt Christmas winter warmer.
Trading Places: A personal favourite, Dan Aykroyd and Eddie Murphy are at their creative height as a rich commodities broker and a homeless guy who unknowingly switch lives in a bet. This film also turned Jamie Lee Curtis from screaming teen in Halloween to Hollywood sex symbol.
Muppets Christmas Carol: The usual Muppets mad-cap craziness with Michael Caine’s Scrooge along for the ride. All the favourites feature, with Kermit and Miss Piggy as Bob and Mrs Cratchit. This is also a great chance to get you in the mood for the latest Muppet Movie due out February 2012…
The Shop Around the Corner: Before Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan ‘got mail’, it was James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan who work together and despise each other, whilst unknowingly fall for each other through being secret letter pen pals.
The Grinch: Ron Howard’s 2000 film had mixed reviews but it does showcase Jim Carrey’s crazy ability to play larger than life characters with ease. Whilst the plot is simple and well known, it’s a fun and colourful recreation of the Dr Seuss book come to life.
We’re No Angels: It was a rarity for Humphrey Bogart to do a comedy, but here he stars as one of three escaped convicts who, after spending the night with a struggling family over Christmas, start to have a change of heart about their ways.
Love Actually: This is one of the ultimate feel good movies that is smart too; a collection of several wonderful little stories of various London folk that cross paths with each other. Richard Curtis covers all relationship scenarios; some fluffy and fun, some real and true, and all with Hugh Grant as Prime Minister; now there’s a thought!
The Disappearance of Haruhi Suzumiya: If you really really want to avoid the typical Christmas festive films, how about a Japanese anime instead? Set in the lead up to Christmas, the leaders of the SOS Brigade, Haruhi and Itsuki, suddenly disappear. Even stranger, only Kyon is aware of this and other strange occurrences and must investigate the mystery…
Santa Clause: Tim Allen is on fine, and funny, form in this clever take on the Santa movie. Accidentally killing Santa on Christmas Eve, Scott Calvin (Allen) has to finish off the deliveries. He then finds himself literally filling Santa’s shoes as he becomes Santa over the year leading up to the next Christmas Eve. A proper family film.
The Preacher’s Wife: The 1996 remake of The Preachers Wife with Whitney Houston and Denzel Washington (who is always a good reason to watch a film) sees an angel sent to help a struggling preacher. It’s a downright heart-felt, feel good Christmas movie.
Bad Santa: Coen Brother’s put a festive slant on their usual black comedy as Billy Bob Thornton plays sleazy all too easy as the Shopping Mall Santa that robs the mall on Christmas Eve. A twist on the standard feel good Christmas movies if all the peace, love and harmony is a bit too sickly sweet.
.jpg)
Lethal Weapon: Yes, it’s set at Christmas so it counts. The first of the Lethal Weapon series was the start of our love affair with the hilarious crime fighting relationship between Mel Gibson and Danny Glover. One of the coolest eighties action movies - what more of an excuse do you need to watch this over Christmas?
8 Women: Wanting something a bit different? As a family prepares for Christmas, someone is suddenly found murdered! Dur Dur Durrr!!!!! This 2002 French comedy murder mystery tries to find the culprit, as it wraps around the lives and secrets of the eight female suspects in the house.
Gremlins: Eighties horror/comedy where mischievous little Gremlins wreak havoc in a small American town at Christmastime. More comedy than horror, especially by today’s standards, the puppets still stand up pretty well. It’s utterly bonkers when the gremlins are unleashed, but lots of fun and nostalgic grins are to be had remembering why this was successful back in 1984.
Holiday Inn: The 1954 Bing Crosby and Fred Astaire classic. Although the titular hotel celebrates holidays throughout the year, it’s Christmas that features at pivotal parts of the film, giving us the famous White Christmas song.
Addams Family: Released in December 1991, an unlikely Christmas movie to start our advent calendar. It could be said that it holds the Christmas movie spirit as it’s about a loving and loyal, if not a little weird, family. A quirky film that’s most notable for the great performances from Raul Julia, Angelica Huston and Christina Ricci.
Read comments and make your own
Comments