With two weeks of lazy days in store this Christmas, I’ve been looking forward to spending some time curled up on the sofa with my husband watching all my favourite Christmas films. The joyeous anticipation of having a ‘proper holiday’ this Christmas hasn’t worn off yet, and so while I was sat at my desk during those last few incredibly quiet days at work, I found myself day dreaming about lazy mornings in bed, working on a Christmas jigsaw, and watching these films as we pick at a tin of celebrations.
My top 5 Christmas films are:
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1. The Muppet Christmas Carol
I have always loved this film since it came out when I was a child, and have religiously watched it every Christmas morning since Mum & Dad bought it for us on VHS! Once the video was thrown out due to a lack of something to play it on, my soft Dad recorded it off the TV onto disc for me, and then a year later it was rereleased onto DVD & I went downstairs on Christmas morning to find it waiting for me! I have it all ready to watch tomorrow before I get started on Christmas dinner! “Kermit the Frog, Miss Piggy, Fozzie and the entire cast of the Muppet universe come together to re-tell Charles Dicken’s immortal classic “A Christmas Carol” This was the first time the Muppets appeared on screen since Jim Henson’s death in 1990. Michael Caine gives a magnificent performance as Ebenezer Scrooge in a world full of muppet comedy and almost scary performances from the ‘Ghosts of Christmas past, present, and yet to come’” – IMDB.com |
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2. Love Actually
I remember the first time I saw this film; I was at university & a group of girls + 1 guy took the painstakingly long trip to the closest cinema where we proceeded to sit on the rock hard seats (I went to uni in Cornwall. The modern luxuries like comfortable cinemas haven’t made it there yet). We laughed & cried our way through the film, and I’ve loved it ever since. This is one to watch every year, without fail! The soundtrack is great too. “Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely and interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.” – IMDB.com |
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3. Miracle on 34th Street
This story of a Christmas miracle is lovely – I love Mara Wilson in this film, and it always leaves me feeling warm & fuzzy! I have this one on DVD & it’s a great feel good film for Christmas. “A little girl discovers dreams do come true if you really believe. Six-year-old Susan has doubts about childhood’s most enduring miracle – Santa Claus. Her mother told her the “secret” about Santa a long time ago, so Susan doesn’t expect to receive the most important gifts on her Christmas list. But after meeting a special department store Santa who’s convinced he’s the real thing, Susan is given the most precious gift of all – something to believe in.” – IMDB.com |
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4. How the Grinch Stole Christmas
The best Dr Suess based film I’ve ever seen, this film makes me giggle like mad – Jim Carrey does a great job as the grumpy Grinch. This is a fun one if you want a few laughs! “Based on the book by the famous Dr. Seuss. Inside a snowflake exists the magical land of Whoville. In Whoville, live the Who’s, an almost mutated sort of munchkinlike people. All the Who’s love Christmas, yet just outside of their beloved Whoville lives the Grinch. The Grinch is a nasty creature that hates Christmas, and plots to steal it away from the Whos which he equally abhors. Yet a small child, Cindy Lou Who, decides to try befriend the Grinch.” – IMDB.com |
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5. Bernard & the Genie
This film has been firm favourite of mine since Mum & Dad recorded onto VHS many many moons ago. We used to watch it every Christmas until it got unwatchable due to the lack of VHS player! It is nearly impossible to get hold of on DVD, which makes me very sad. Who doesn’t love Lenny Henry acting crazy!? “Bernard Bottle, a mild mannered art buyer, is fired by his greedy boss, abandoned by his girlfriend and discovers a genie in an old bottle. The genie immediately embraces the modern world and helps Bernard on the side.” – IMDB.com |
Honourable Mentions:
Die Hard Series, The Santa Clause, Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas, The Polar Express, Jack Frost, White Christmas, While You Were Sleeping, Trading Places, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Home Alone, It’s a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie, and, of course, It’s a Wonderful Life.
