The holiday season's lesser known top holiday flicks
Three weeks is a lot of time to be away from the fast-paced life at Fanshawe, and while not too many will be missing classes there may be some time to kill during the much-anticipated break.
One of the best ways to waste two hours is by putting in one of your favourite movies, popping some popcorn and veggin' on your parents' couch. You want to stay in the holiday spirit, but are tired of It's a Wonderful Life. The solution? Throw on one of these classic Christmas movies that you might not have thought of to get you in the spirit.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Christmas isn't complete without the Griswolds. Unexpected visits from obnoxious family, mishaps with Christmas light and an overdue Christmas bonus lead to just a few of the approximately ten million funny moments in this movie. If you've already seen it, watch it again. If not, where have you been?
Tim's Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
In a cultural clash of holidays, Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, stumbles upon Christmastown and tries to impose its seasonal spirit onto the resident bats, ghosts and goblins of his city. Things undoubtedly go wrong, and lead to problems that only a rag doll named Sally can diffuse. It's Tim Burton at his animated best.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Okay, so it's not really a Christmas movie, but it takes place during Christmas time, and with Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder, you can't go wrong.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Jim Henson's signature creatures recreate the classic tale of Scrooge the bitter miser, Tiny Tim and the multitude of ghosts that we all know and love. Sure, it's the same story we've been watching for years in all forms of media, but everything is cooler when there's Muppets involved.
Saturday Night Live Christmas (1999)
Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, Chevy Chase, and all the greatest SNL cast members star in the compilation of the funniest Christmas and seasonal skits to be seen on the SNL stage. Not really a movie, but it has earned a place on the top ten list of seasonal time-killer movies.
Elf (2003)
It doesn't get more festive than Will Ferrel's shoot-chocolate-milk-out-your-nose performance in the newly released seasonal flick. A human raised as an elf, Buddy's adventures in the big city are guaranteed to make you laugh. It's still too new to be classified as one of the must-watch yearly films, but in a few years you won't be able to imagine the holidays without it. Because you like smiling. Smiling's your favourite!
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Not to be confused with the 2003 made-for-TV movie, I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown! the original tale is virtually on par with It's a Wonderful Life in regards to Christmas classicness, but it's so good that it couldn't be left off this list. The holidays just aren't complete without the images of Charlie Brown dragging the puny little tree through the snow.
Die Hard (1988) and Die Hard 2 (1990)
Bruce Willis kicking bad-guy ass might not incite memories of Christmas carols and tree decorating, but the Die Hard movies are based on attacks that happen at an office Christmas party. There, a Christmas connection for all you action fans out there.
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
For all the hopeless romantics who are craving a chick flick, Bridget Jones is the one to watch. It's not really about Christmas, but the New Year's turkey curry dinner is close enough to Christmas, and the festive sweater (or ”jumper” as the Brits call it) Mark Darcy is sporting calls to mind all the horrible presents we've all gotten over the years.
Well, the list could go on and on. Honorable mentions must go to Behind Enemy Lines and Tales from the Crypt. And to be fair, we must all remember those tried-and-true films that don't totally suck; that crazy still-motion Rudolph movie that everyone has seen, Miracle on 34th Street, Ernest Saves Christmas” well, that's pushing it, but you get the idea. So visit your local video store while you're waiting for Santa, and entertain yourself Hollywood-style.
One of the best ways to waste two hours is by putting in one of your favourite movies, popping some popcorn and veggin' on your parents' couch. You want to stay in the holiday spirit, but are tired of It's a Wonderful Life. The solution? Throw on one of these classic Christmas movies that you might not have thought of to get you in the spirit.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Christmas isn't complete without the Griswolds. Unexpected visits from obnoxious family, mishaps with Christmas light and an overdue Christmas bonus lead to just a few of the approximately ten million funny moments in this movie. If you've already seen it, watch it again. If not, where have you been?
Tim's Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
In a cultural clash of holidays, Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown, stumbles upon Christmastown and tries to impose its seasonal spirit onto the resident bats, ghosts and goblins of his city. Things undoubtedly go wrong, and lead to problems that only a rag doll named Sally can diffuse. It's Tim Burton at his animated best.
Edward Scissorhands (1990)
Okay, so it's not really a Christmas movie, but it takes place during Christmas time, and with Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder, you can't go wrong.
The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Jim Henson's signature creatures recreate the classic tale of Scrooge the bitter miser, Tiny Tim and the multitude of ghosts that we all know and love. Sure, it's the same story we've been watching for years in all forms of media, but everything is cooler when there's Muppets involved.
Saturday Night Live Christmas (1999)
Adam Sandler, Chris Farley, Chevy Chase, and all the greatest SNL cast members star in the compilation of the funniest Christmas and seasonal skits to be seen on the SNL stage. Not really a movie, but it has earned a place on the top ten list of seasonal time-killer movies.
Elf (2003)
It doesn't get more festive than Will Ferrel's shoot-chocolate-milk-out-your-nose performance in the newly released seasonal flick. A human raised as an elf, Buddy's adventures in the big city are guaranteed to make you laugh. It's still too new to be classified as one of the must-watch yearly films, but in a few years you won't be able to imagine the holidays without it. Because you like smiling. Smiling's your favourite!
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Not to be confused with the 2003 made-for-TV movie, I Want a Dog for Christmas, Charlie Brown! the original tale is virtually on par with It's a Wonderful Life in regards to Christmas classicness, but it's so good that it couldn't be left off this list. The holidays just aren't complete without the images of Charlie Brown dragging the puny little tree through the snow.
Die Hard (1988) and Die Hard 2 (1990)
Bruce Willis kicking bad-guy ass might not incite memories of Christmas carols and tree decorating, but the Die Hard movies are based on attacks that happen at an office Christmas party. There, a Christmas connection for all you action fans out there.
Bridget Jones's Diary (2001)
For all the hopeless romantics who are craving a chick flick, Bridget Jones is the one to watch. It's not really about Christmas, but the New Year's turkey curry dinner is close enough to Christmas, and the festive sweater (or ”jumper” as the Brits call it) Mark Darcy is sporting calls to mind all the horrible presents we've all gotten over the years.
Well, the list could go on and on. Honorable mentions must go to Behind Enemy Lines and Tales from the Crypt. And to be fair, we must all remember those tried-and-true films that don't totally suck; that crazy still-motion Rudolph movie that everyone has seen, Miracle on 34th Street, Ernest Saves Christmas” well, that's pushing it, but you get the idea. So visit your local video store while you're waiting for Santa, and entertain yourself Hollywood-style.
