My List of Must-Sees for the Christmas Season
So you've read Tim Ballisty's Christmas Song Extravaganza (oops, I forgot "Ultimate"). Now let's talk movies. You lika the Christmas movie? The Christmas movie is good, no? Okay...enough of the joking around. I love Christmas movies and specials. In addition to great holiday music, it's one of the best ways to get into the Christmas spirit. I've compiled a list of my favorites. I know some of you may not agree, but, that is why it's my list. Feel free to tell me what you think, though...I'm always up for a good debate.
In Chronological Order (with some of my favorite quotes):
- It's A Wonderful Life (1946) - "Daddy, teacher says every time a bell rings, an angel gets its wings."
- Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964) - "A toy is never truly happy until it is loved by a child."
- A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) - "Isn't there anyone out there who can tell me what Christmas is all about?"
- How the Grinch Stole Christmas! - original (1966) - "It came without ribbons! It came without tags! It came without packages, boxes, or bags!"
- Frosty the Snowman (1969) - "Happy birthday! Hey, I said my first words."
- Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978) - I don't have a quote for this, but my favorite part is when Bert and Ernie each sell their prized possessions to Mr. Hooper in order to buy a Christmas gift for the other; Ernie sells Rubber Ducky to buy Bert a cigar box for his paper clip collection. Bert sells his paper clip collection to buy a soap dish for, you guessed it, Ernie's Rubber Ducky. In the end, good ole Mr. Hooper gives back their prized possessions, for nothing in return.
- A Christmas Story (1983) - "You'll shoot your eye out." and "Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian."
- The Best Christmas Pageant Ever (1983) - "Hey! Hey!...Unto you a child is born!... And it's Jesus!...So go on...go on!"
- Scrooged (1988) - "The catch...is that you need to shower, little man. You are ripe! Wooo!"
- National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) - "Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?"
- Home Alone (1990) - "Bless this highly nutritious microwavable macaroni and cheese dinner and the people who sold it on sale. Amen." and "Is this toothbrush approved by the American Dental Association?"
- The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992) - "Light the lamp, not the rat! Light the lamp!" and "It's ok, girls. Life is made up of meetings and partings. That is the way of it. I'm sure that we shall never forget Tiny Tim, or this first parting that there was among us."
- The Santa Clause (1994) - "Charlie, stay away from those things. They're reindeer; you don't know where they've been. They all look like they've got key lime disease."
- Elf (2003) - "SANTA! OH MY GOD! SANTA'S COMING! I KNOW HIM! I KNOW HIM!" and "I just like to smile! Smiling's my favorite." and "You stink. You smell like beef and cheese! You don't smell like Santa." and "I'm singing! I'm in a store and I'm siiiiiingiiiiing!...I'm in a store and I'm siiiiiingiiiiing!"
- The Polar Express (2004) - My favorite part of this movie is when the three children-- known as Hero Boy, Hero Girl, and Lonely Boy--are standing outside the back of the train and they sing When Christmas Comes to Town.
So, there's my list. Now, if I only had time to watch all of these before Christmas...
6 comments:
Gotta watch "The Christmas Story" on tbs every Christmas Eve--24 hrs. I now have it on dvd. I've seen every movie or show except "Elf" and the "Polar Express." Guess I have to see them this year.--Alicia
Thanks, Alicia...
oh, and btw...I've been meaning to tell you. When you are making a comment, you can choose "Other" so you can put your name in. You don't have to be Anonymous!
so tom, being as he is, always on the internet, has intrigue me enough to actually read a blog. aside from tim's complex web blog, i decided its easier to respond to the less spontaneous and "normal" of the two that tom here actually visits most.
to your list:
its all so postively positive. it contains the general themes of wholesomeness portrayed by hollywood. im surprised that you dont have any religious selections in there besides its a wonderful life. christmas of course if im wrong was started from christianity. so no "the bells of st marys" or the little drummer boy and anyother religious affilated movies.
i thought its CHRISTmas! a christ thing. am i wrong here?
feel free to comment back.
i'm feelin antagonistic
i need an argument.
later
see ya
jon ;)
Jon, I appreciate your comments...I do understand where you are coming from. My explanation begins with this...the shows I listed were the ones I grew up watching on TV, so, naturally, I will always have a tendency towards them. That being said, although the majority on that list are not centered around the story of Christ's birth, I like them for the message they send when all is said and done. There is definitely something to be said for acting in the Christian spirit too. I think it is not always necessary to have a story centered around the story of Christ in order to find a message in the true Christmas spirit. I liken this to the fact that, just because a person goes to church, it doesn't make them any more "Christian" if they are not acting the part...living it.
I have nothing bad to say about the Bells of St. Mary's or The Little Drummer Boy...it's just that I'm not as familiar w/ those movies...those weren't ones I was accustomed to seeing, so, again my tendency is toward other shows.
Now, the second part of my defense is this...because of my teaching in a Catholic school for 4 years, I was more accustomed to the Christian literature, specifically children's lit., that centered on Christ. I could give you some names of wonderful books about the Christmas story, but we're not talking about Lit. here. You have to admit...there is not much in the way of Religious film for the Christmas story, other than those made for educational purposes (which I've seen a thousand times--animated and not). However, you will find much more "mainstream" Christian film centered around Lent, and the Easter Story.
So, do you see where I am going w/ this, Jon? I hope I've answered your question, long-winded as it may be!
I hope others will weigh in on this as well!!! I'm interested to hear others' opinions...
"so tom, being as he is, always on the internet, has intrigue me enough to actually read a blog. aside from tim's complex web blog, i decided its easier to respond to the less spontaneous and "normal" of the two that tom here actually visits most"
I'm hurt Jon, I really am. My will to keep on blogging has taken a beating. Time to rethink my priorities.
Tim,
I still read your blog and I will be leaving comments on it for as long as you have one. Even if that means till the end of time.
Post a Comment