You'll Shoot Your Eye Out!

The Christmas comedy; a must have in any holiday season. With the stress of families, bills, gift giving, cooking, and all that extra pressure that comes with the holidays (though all is worth it in the end, right?) having a great, jolly, gut busting comedy is a must for any Christmas. As such here are my top 5. As with the last post, feel free to comment, criticize, etc!

Comedies:

1. A Christmas Story - with its 24 hour run on TBS, you can't miss it. It's memorable one-liners, outfits (I mean, c'mon, Ralphie in the pink bunny suit anyone?), and the awesome, FRAGI-LE lamp leg, this movie is one for the whole family. Laughter abounds throughout and one can't help but quote along while watching!

2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation - that squirrel!! Probably my favorite part of the movie, but there are great parts throughout. Chevy Chase at his prime, and a host of other well-known comedians pull together a Christmas movie for the ages. I mean who doesn't want to light up their house so brightly Julie-Louie Dreyfus can't see straight?!

3. Home Alone - I'm gonna give you to the count of 10... to go out and get/watch this movie if you haven't done so already! Macaulay Culkin (before he turned into night of the living dead) is the cute kid who gets left behind to thwart the burglars who would have ruined Christmas. Joe Pesci and his gold tooth, along with Daniel Stern do slap stick comedy to perfection! WIth a quest spot by the late, great John Candy, it's definitely a comedy that could easily take a higher place on this list. (The sequel is not bad, I mean NYC as a back drop is always a good time, and the Room Service bill at the end! But any others after, do not bother).

4. Scrooged - Bill Murray brings all the comedic relief one could ask for in this comedic take on the Dickens classic. As the tagline reads, "The spirits will move you in odd and hysterical ways."

5. Elf - Buddy the elf, who isn't really an elf who searches for his actual identity in the US (via the North Pole) and causes quite a deal of hilarious trouble. Check it out!


One caveat: In my previous post, after some thought, The Bishop's Wife should have definitely made the classics lists somewhere; I mean, Cary Grant, the decorating scene, it's Christmas goodness in more ways than one.

I hope these comedies make you (almost) pee your and your families pants with laughter as much as they do for me and mine! What's your take? Up next, family movies (Rudolph anyone? Or perhaps the Land of Misfit Toys? ...wait and see)

"Every time a bell rings...

...an angel gets his wings."

I thought it best to begin by laying down a foundation. As such I have two main points that need to be addressed.

First, my guilty pleasures are the ABC Family, Hallmark Holiday, and Lifetime Holiday movies. Don't lie, I know you like them too. I mean who doesn't like a whole day filled with some of their favorite childhood holiday classics sprinkled with a new premiere at the end? Therefore, a good deal of the reviews will be based on my current viewing of these channels. I know, I know; many of the movies are "cheesy" or pretty predictable, but that is what I hope to establish - which are worth the time/DVR space, and which should be sent to the Christmas Abyss.

Secondly, there are some movies that will be left of of the reviewing block, for I feel that they have already proven to be holiday hits. Some are oldies but goodies, while yet others are newer but still have, in my opinion, become movies to treasure during this winter wonderland season. This is purely subjective, however, I will rank these aforementioned treats in a top five categorically. Feel free to agree or disagree, and let me know if there are any you feel should have been on the lists or off! Especially if you think they are ones I might not have seen (I do love a new Christmas movie)!

So up until December 1st, when I will start with the Christmas movie countdown reviews, each day I will give a new category and list for those standouts.

Classics (I would deem these from the 1920s-1970s; think Turner Classic Movies style); and no better way to start:

1. It's a Wonderful Life - no explanation needed. But for those of you who would like a small blurb, here it is. Probably the ultimate Christmas movie full of laughter and tears. Pulls at the heartstrings that are so readily available during the holiday season. If you haven't seen you, it's an absolute, 100% MUST!

2.  Miracle on 34th St. (The original, starring the effervescent Natalie Wood). This movie has been redone many a time, and while Mara Wilson (of Matilda) does a nice job, no one compares to Natalie Wood as the young girl who believes in Santa. A hallmark of any Christmas movie line-up.

3. A Christmas Carol (1938) starring Reginald Owen and Gene Lockhart. The timeless Dickens tale might be the most told Christmas story to date. This classic is one of the best versions of the story of Scrooge and Tiny Tim. The 1984 version starring George C. Scott is tied for the best versions of Dickens' work. Regardless of which you watch, both are 5 stars and in the resounding hymn of Tiny Tim, "merry Christmas to us all, and God bless us, every one."

4. White Christmas - "Snow, Snow, Snow!" Let there be snow as Bing Crosby, the Christmas crooner, sings and dances his way through a great holiday film. Full of fun, romance, and great holiday cheer, this movie is sure to be an uplifting and perfect movie for the family.

5. The Shop Around the Corner - James (Jimmy) Stewart returns on the holiday list, as this classic 'rivalry/hate is unwittingly transformed to love' story centers around two shop owners and the holidays. A perfect romance that needs no mistletoe.

A close runner-up: Christmas in Connecticut. 

Well there you have it. My top five Classic Christmas movies. Do you agree? If not let me hear where you would rank the above movies, which would you take out, and what movies would be in your top 5? Regardless of whether you think these are the top five, these classics should not be missed over the holidays, and I hope everyone gets a chance to either cozy up around the fire or a bowl of popcorn and take in that old Hollywood glamour and magic of these classics.

Next up: Comedies - STAY TUNED!

On the 1st day of Christmas...

With the Thanksgiving festivities wrapping up, fridges full of leftovers for Turkey sandwiches galore, the Christmas season has kicked off in full swing. The 'most wonderful time of the year' is also a time full of decorations, eggnog, and many holiday specials and movies. I myself love this time of year and dedicate a great deal of DVR space to said specials. Over the years I have watched numerous Christmas-themed movies. As that time of year is upon us, I wondered, how many of the movies I would actually find enjoyable? 

I faithfully watch these holiday movies year in and year out, determining some to be moving, others funny, while yet some are just downright terrible. As the social networks and Internet media are ever expanding I wondered, why is there not a guide to these holiday movies? Wouldn't it save me time recording, deleting, and deciding which movies would become staples in my holiday repertoire? As a lover of these movies, be it a classic cinematic gem like It's a Wonderful Life or stop-motion Rudolph the Red-Nose Reindeer, I think what is needed is the Ultimate Holiday Movie Guide. For movie-goers of all types to come where information (no spoilers, don't worry) is provided from someone who has years under her belt. ABC family has its popular Countdown to- and 25 days of Christmas; so in similar fashion will I. As the holiday season steadily approaches the 25th of December, I will watch, report, and review as many holiday movies and specials as my mind (and DVR) can hold. Stay tuned for daily updates and show times as to when you too can catch some old, and possibly new, favorites. I'm looking forward to it, as I hope will you.