1. A Christmas Story - Can't go wrong with Ralphie. "You shoot your eye out", "It's a Major Award!", "Fra-gee-lay. That must be Italian.", "Deck the harrs with boughs of horry, fa ra ra ra ra, ra ra ra ra.", "I TRIPLE-dog-dare ya!". Yes, the movie is on for 24 hours on TBS. But for me, the movie doesn't get old. It is Norman Rockwell gone awry and I love it.
Photo Source: http://www.movieposter.com/poster/MPW-25047/Christmas_Story.html
2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - "I don't know what to say, except it's Christmas and we're all in misery." Tons of great lines in this movie: "I'm gonna catch it in the coat... And smack it with the hammer.", "Can't see the line, can you Russ?.", "Burn some dust here. Eat my rubber." The jokes don't get old (to me at least). Is it juevenile? Yes. But family dysfunction is usually fun to watch. And this gift request takes the cake:
"Hey! If any of you are looking for any last-minute gift ideas for me, I have one. I'd like Frank Shirley, my boss, right here tonight. I want him brought from his happy holiday slumber over there on Melody Lane with all the other rich people and I want him brought right here, with a big ribbon on his head, and I want to look him straight in the eye and I want to tell him what a cheap, lying, no-good, rotten, four-flushing, low-life, snake-licking, dirt-eating, inbred, overstuffed, ignorant, blood-sucking, dog-kissing, brainless, dickless, hopeless, heartless, fat-ass, bug-eyed, stiff-legged, spotty-lipped, worm-headed sack of monkey shit he is! Hallelujah! Holy shit! Where's the Tylenol?" - Clark Griswold
Photo Source: http://www.movieposter.com/poster/MPW-38615/National_Lampoon_s_Christmas_Vacation.html
3. Love Actually - Yes, I have a soft spot. It is a pretty good movie. Just on the right side of sweet without being too sappy. Keira Knightley certainly doesn't hurt either and I obviously like seeing London during Christmas.
Photo Source: http://impawards.com/2003/love_actually_ver3.html
4. A Charlie Brown Christmas - Christmas is not about Black Friday. It is not about the huge, obnoxious Christmas tree. It is about celebrating what the holiday originally meant: the birth of Jesus Christ.
Photo Source: http://www.listal.com/viewimage/1661267
5. Home Alone - "You guys give up yet? Or are you thirsty for more?". It is fun and light. "You know, Kevin, you're what the French call les incompetents." Again the point is that Christmas isn't about the presents, but about the meaning of family.
Photo Source: http://www.movieposter.com/poster/MPW-33289/Home_Alone.html
6. Die Hard - "Yippee-ki-yay, motherfucker". Great action movie that holds up over time. Is it really about the spirit of Christmas? No. But it makes great use of both Beethoven's 9th and Let it Snow. And I learned things like not taking off my shoes and what bearer bonds are. Plus, Alan Rickman is great as Hans Gruber. Actually Alan Rickman is usually pretty good in the movies I have seen with him (Harry Potter as Snape is the most obvious, but also as Metatron in Dogma, Steven Spurrier in Bottle Shock, and Harry in the above mentioned Love Actually. And not too shabby as his first movie.
Photo Source: http://www.movie-collection.com/movie/die-hard/posters/1
7. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer - Where to Begin? Misfit toys, Hermey the Dentist, Yukon Cornelius, The Abominable Snow Man of the North (who only happens to have a nasty disposition due to a toothache). And have "A Holly Jolly Christmas". I also like Frosty the Snowman and How the Grinch Stole Christmas (60's versions) a lot too.
Photo Source: http://www.soundtrackcollector.com/title/38005/Rudolph,+The+Red-Nosed+Reindeer
8. Ernest Save Christmas - Just checking to see if you are paying attention. Hell no, it shouldn't be on this list. I haven't even seen it.
Photo Source: http://impawards.com/1988/ernest_saves_christmas.html
9. Bad Santa - The Unfeel Good Movie of the List. Billie Bob Thornton is just evil in this movie. Revolting, despicable, and crass. So of course, the movie is funny.
Photo Source: http://www.moviegoods.com/movie_poster/bad_santa_2003.htm
There are movies I'm sure some people feel I have neglected. I probably haven't seen them yet (Elf, Its a Wonderful Life, and Nightmare Before Christmas come to mind).
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