• About

The Reclusive Essayist

~ Rants about the 80s, 90s, 00s, and today

The Reclusive Essayist

Tag Archives: How the Grinch Stole Christmas

My Selections for Christmas Movies

23 Monday Dec 2013

Posted by pcclsky in Uncategorized

≈ Leave a comment

Tags

A Christmas Carol, Christmas, Christmas movies, Elf, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Scrooged

Well…Christmas Eve is tomorrow. Hopefully, you’re like me…and not one of those people who doesn’t even wait until the stroke of midnight on December 25th to start taking the ornaments off the tree. I really keep the celebration going as long as possible. After all…everyone’s been hyping it so long…so why not?

And, as a result, ’tis the season for Christmas/Holiday movies. There have been a lot over the years. Some are good…some are bad…and some should be warded off with crosses and holy water (I’m looking at you, “Fred Claus” and Rule 63 version of “It’s a Wonderful Life”.). You can’t go wrong with a lot…but here’s my recommendations for some of the best you can enjoy this holiday season.

Let’s start simple. On the animated side…there’s really only one good selection.

“Dr. Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas” (1966)

Naturally…the animated film. Not that movie that stars a person whose first name is Jim and last name rhymes with “Larry”. This is great for kids. I loved it every year, even if it’s a bit on the short side. A nice runner up is “A Charlie Brown Christmas”, but it may go a bit over their heads. “Mickey’s Christmas Carol” is also a good bet if you can find a copy. This one is at least visually appealing, considering it was done by Chuck Jones. Good fun and cute with nifty little songs. I really recommend this one over the traditional “Rankin-Bass” fare that usually comes out this time of year…you know, “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer”, “Santa Claus is Coming to Town”, “Frosty the Snowman”, “The Year Without a Santa Claus”…all that. Those are just a bit too “corny” for me.

What’s Christmas without at least one version of “A Christmas Carol”? Unfortunately, the “market” is a bit glutted with this one. It’s been redone too many times to count. Again, some versions are great and some are really “lacking”. Picking just one is a bit hard, so I’ll give you two versions to choose from.

“A Christmas Carol”/”Scrooge” (1951)

To me, this version will always be the best rendition of “A Christmas Carol”. It stars Alastair Sim as one of the best Ebenezer Scrooges that I’ve ever seen, and everything about the movie just “clicks” with me. It’s rather iconic too and is frequently referenced in other movies that allude to “A Christmas Carol”. It’s also the only version I’ve seen which “adds” to the original story as opposed to taking things away, namely in going through in more explicit detail Scrooge’s transformation into a miser over the years.

“Scrooged” (1988)

There have been many “alternate versions” of “A Christmas Carol” done over the years, but this is probably the best I’ve ever seen. Genuinely funny as well as touching, with Bill Murray at his best. Only he could come off as such a royal jackass for the bulk of the film and turn around to be a heartwarming protagonist by the end. Also, it was directed by Richard Donner, infamous for the original “Superman” film and the “Lethal Weapon” movies. Carol Kane’s Ghost of Christmas Present is timeless.

(Naturally, there are many other “good” versions you can’t go wrong with, but I’ll highlight these two.)

There was a flurry of new Christmas movies over the past 14 years or so…and most of them were horrible. The far bulk of new Christmas movies are only here for a season and then gone forever. However…the occasional one stands out to become a “new classic”…and, naturally, there’s only one of those films that deserves to be on everyone’s “must watch” list…

“Elf” (2003)

“Anchorman” aside…and possibly including it…this is Will Ferrell’s best performance. The difference is that this is humor the entire family can enjoy without fear. Genuinely funny and entertaining, and starring numerous nods to classic Christmas films (such as the set design of the North Pole being identical to that of Rankin-Bass’ “Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer” and a cameo by Peter Billingsley [best known as Ralphie from “A Christmas Story”]), it’s a lot of fun. Sure…Ferrell’s relationship with Zooey Deschanel seems a bit “forced”…but it’s still a nice film.

I’m a sucker for older movies. I know a lot of people don’t like them. They seem to consider any film in black-and-white a signal to go to sleep and ignore. However, the two top picks for my list are classics for a reason…and you should watch them at least once to find out why.

“Miracle on 34th Street” (1947)

First off…avoid the remake like the plague. In fact, never watch a remake of anything EVER. Second…this movie may be more modern than you think. How many movies in the 40s featured a single mom who has a position of considerable authority in one of the biggest department stores in the country? Third…it’s just a great movie. I didn’t think so when I was a kid, but the whole concept just intrigues me…about how an attorney could prove in a court of law that an old man is Santa Claus. Natalie Wood’s (yes, I said Natalie Wood’s…she’s the little girl) character always kind of annoyed me, but I love Edmund Gwenn’s Kris Kringle. And, in all honesty, the dialogue is top-notch and full of wonderful quotations. (I love William Frawley’s speech to Gene Lockhart…as he points out exactly why no politician will ever say there is no Santa Claus.)

And finally…

“It’s a Wonderful Life” (1946)

Most people I know who tried to watch this fell asleep during it…which is a pity, because it’s an excellent movie. The only problem is you really have to sit through the first 70 minutes to appreciate when the plot gets “underway” for the last 30 minutes of the movie. It’s fantastic, inspirational, well-acted, full of great bits of dialogue and drama, and, in all honesty, isn’t a “real” Christmas movie. It’s just the climax is set around Christmastime. Plus, it gives a real interesting message about how even a seemingly mundane and “boring” life can make all the difference in the world to a lot of people.

Merry Christmas…or Happy Holidays…or whatever doesn’t offend you. 😛

 

Subscribe

  • Entries (RSS)
  • Comments (RSS)

Archives

  • October 2019
  • September 2019
  • August 2019
  • July 2019
  • June 2019
  • May 2019
  • April 2019
  • March 2019
  • February 2019
  • January 2019
  • December 2018
  • November 2018
  • October 2018
  • September 2018
  • August 2018
  • July 2018
  • June 2018
  • May 2018
  • April 2018
  • December 2017
  • November 2017
  • October 2017
  • September 2017
  • August 2017
  • July 2017
  • June 2017
  • May 2017
  • April 2017
  • March 2017
  • February 2017
  • January 2017
  • December 2016
  • November 2016
  • October 2016
  • September 2016
  • August 2016
  • July 2016
  • June 2016
  • May 2016
  • April 2016
  • March 2016
  • February 2016
  • January 2016
  • December 2015
  • November 2015
  • October 2015
  • September 2015
  • August 2015
  • July 2015
  • June 2015
  • May 2015
  • April 2015
  • March 2015
  • February 2015
  • January 2015
  • December 2014
  • November 2014
  • October 2014
  • September 2014
  • August 2014
  • July 2014
  • June 2014
  • May 2014
  • April 2014
  • March 2014
  • February 2014
  • January 2014
  • December 2013
  • November 2013
  • October 2013
  • September 2013

Categories

  • Cinema Sins Knockoffs
  • Final Fantasy Ramblissida
  • Honest Fake Trailers
  • My Little Devotional: Christianity is Magic
  • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic Reviews
    • My Little Pony: Fiendship is Magic
    • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ~ Equestria Girls
    • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ~ IDW Comic Friends Forever Series
    • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ~ IDW Comic Legends of Magic Series
    • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ~ IDW Comic Main Series
    • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ~ IDW Comic Micro-Series
    • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ~ Season Eight
    • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ~ Season Five
    • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ~ Season Four
    • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ~ Season One
    • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ~ Season Seven
    • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ~ Season Six
    • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ~ Season Three
    • My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic ~ Season Two
  • Nostalgia Related
  • The Reclusive Essayist's Anime Junk Bin
  • Trope Suggestions
  • Uncategorized

Meta

  • Register
  • Log in

Blog at WordPress.com.

Privacy & Cookies: This site uses cookies. By continuing to use this website, you agree to their use.
To find out more, including how to control cookies, see here: Cookie Policy