This 2004 movie stars
Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis as a couple whose daughter won't be home for the
holidays. They usually celebrate it, but decide to take a Caribbean cruise
instead. This puts a damper in their neighborhood, who celebrates Christmas as
a community. They are harassed by their neighbors, one of which is played by
Dan Aykroyd beautifully. Their tone changes when their daughter decides at the
last minute to return home for Christmas. The Kranks and the whole community
pull together to create the best Christmas ever. The movie is a comedic
masterpiece that is actually based on a book called Skipping Christmas by John Grisham. Grisham is usually known for his suspense and legal thrillers,
so this may come as a surprise to a lot of people.
This 1983 gem is the
epitome of Christmas. The movie follows Ralphie on his quest for that (now
infamous) Red Rider BB Gun. It shows his trials and tribulations as he tries to
get the present despite his parent’s reservations. There are so many images and
lines that are memorable from the leg lamp to the line, “You’ll shoot your eye
out!" This movie is based on a book by Jean Shepherd called In God We Trust, All Others Pay Cash. Jean Shepherd also narrates the whole movie as
the voice of grown up Ralphie. Despite being a box office disappointment, the
film has gone on to become a Christmas classic thanks to heavy reruns through
national and local television providers.
This 2004 film was based
on the book written by Chris Van Allsburg. It takes you on a fantastic journey on a train
with a boy who has lost his belief in the magic of Christmas. As he travels to
the North Pole, he is met with musical interludes to make this computer
animated movie unique in its own right. Top that off with Tom Hanks voicing
multiple characters as well as a cameo by Steven Tyler and this is quickly
becoming a favorite holiday movie.
This movie stars Bill Murray in
a 1988 modernization of Charles Dickens' classic book A Christmas Carol. The story follows a selfish TV executive on
Christmas Eve as he's visited by three ghosts. This movie also has appearances
by many of the comedic geniuses of the 80s such as Bobcat Goldthwait and Carol
Kane.
Here's another version
of this Charles Dickens' classic, this time catered to children through the
excellent puppeteering of Jim Henson's Muppets. Kermit portrays Bob Cratchit
the forlorn employee who works for Ebenezer Scrooge. It sticks pretty close to
the classic story with the usual Muppet shenanigans intermixed.
A lesser known holiday
movie, this is based on the 20th novel in the British comic fantasy book series
Discworld
by Terry Pratchett. The story is about the
missing Hogfather (who is the Santa of that realm). If follows the search for
what happened to the Hogfather and brings you into this unique fantasy world.
There are two versions
of this classic Dr. Seuss book. The one most remembered is the cartoon version, which follows the classic book. Then in 2000, Ron Howard
directed a live action version which starred Jim Carrey as the Grinch. Of
course, the special effects and pitch perfect comedy provided by Carrey has now
made this just as memorable as the cartoon version.
Spencer Blohm is a freelance entertainment, culture, and lifestyle blogger. He lives and works in Chicago. When not working he can be found camped out in his apartment watching the latest films and newest television shows.
2 comments:
I saw a Christmas Story when it first came out and I HATED it but now it's my favorite holiday movie. I also love Elf.
Karen, I was the same. I actually think it's a kind of dark movie...but now there are certain parts I like and I think it's well done. I do like Elf a lot.
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