Wednesday, December 03, 2008

what's your favorite holiday movie?

...or favorite holiday song? I don't want to wait this year. I want that Christmahanakwanzica spirit quickly. So start spreading it around in the comments.

* to rush along the wintry cheer, I've updated the banner. Reader Mikadzuki, who answered a trivia question correctly last week chose the winter wear theme! refresh your screens

50 comments:

Anonymous said...

I just saw A Christmas Story, and that's definitely near the top of the list! In terms of cheesiness, White Christmas is by far my favorite.

The Pretentious Know it All said...

Probably "A Christmas Story."
I also have a soft spot for Doug Liman's "Go" with a great Sarah Polley and a passable Katie Holmes. It's "Pulp Fiction" redux, but it's still fun stuff.

Anonymous said...

Favorite Christmas movie & favorite movie - "It's Wonderful Life"....I start tearing up at the beginning when little George is working in the drug store. It's all perfect. I'll watch 3 or 4 times before Christmas.

Cheese - "White Christmas" - there is so much about this great movie to love. The sisters, the train, "let's grab the cow," gee i wish i was back in the army, the general, emma, george chikaris, the gals' christmas dresses, the horse gift he tosses in the tree, betty's gigantic silver gloves when she's on the the ed harrison show. Bing is the best! want me to continue....i've been watching it for 40 years....

Y Kant Goran Rite said...

Uh, hello - Christmas Tale all the way!

Anonymous said...

Home Alone! My childhood favorite, and I still get all giddy when it comes on tv.

Keelay! said...

I'm saying Scrooged. Seriously, when Carol Kane hits him with the toaster...it's over.

Unknown said...

My Fav is tv-movie: A Christmas Romance. Luv Olivia Newton-John

NATHANIEL R said...

ykant i put it in the banner for you ;)

keelay i love that moment too. Carol Kane was so fun. Too bad we only got her in such miniscule doses.

michael that's a lotta love. I'm an ONJ freak myself and even I can't really watch that one ;)

Billy D said...

Gone with the Wind. Something about it just says Christmas to me...is that strange?

Anonymous said...

Eyes Wide Shut. A more traditional favorite not available on DVD - The Cheaters.

Michael Parsons said...

A Christmas Story.

Hands Down....my new Christmas Eve tradition....plus The Grinch (cartoon). When his heart grows 3 sizes to big...I am gone

Anonymous said...

National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation always makes me laugh.

Anonymous said...

haven't seen Christmas Story or Christmas Tale, but the all singing, all dancing Albert Finney Christmas Carol (Scrooge) was super childhood favorite.

Mikadzuki said...

Awesome banner! Thanks. ;)

Fanny and Alexander (well, it's my favorite movie of ANY kind...), and Peter Nellhaus beat me to the punch with Eyes Wide Shut. Eight hours of holiday... um... cheer right there.

E Dot said...

"Buddy the Elf. What's your favorite color?"

Film Knower said...

BLACK CHRISTMAS - nothing beats Margot Kidder in a career best performance as an extroverted alcoholic sorority sister being stalked by a perverted murdering maniac, with John Saxon and Olivia Hussey constanyly saying HELLO? in her awesome awesome voice.

Anonymous said...

Not sure if it counts as a holiday movie, but "Millions" takes place at Christmas-time and I absolutely love the way it interweaves the saints (Nicholas and otherwise), holiday charitable giving, and naughty Christmas elves throughout Damian's journey.

Deborah said...

Nothing is better than It's a Wonderful Life. And my favorite Christmas song is surely "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas."


But my favorite Christmas anything is the "Seoul Mates" episode of Northern Exposure, in which Cicely has a Raven Pageant, Joel contemplates getting a tree, Maggie doesn't visit her family, and Chris tells the story of a talking dog. It is perfect.

Robert said...

There's a version of A Christmas Carol with George C. Scott in the Scrooge role.

It's simply divine.

Katey said...

THE APARTMENT!!

Oh, wait, but ELF!!

Shit, but what about WHITE CHRISTMAS!!

It's too hard to choose. But my pick for non-traditional Christmas movie is Titanic, which became a Christmas tradition with my family after we saw it like 4 times over Christmas break in 1997. Nothing says the holidays like watching Leonardo di Caprio freeze to death!

Anonymous said...

Tokyo Godfathers!

Anonymous said...

I've always enjoyed the George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol. I watch it nearly every year around Christmas time. Patrick Stewart's version is also pretty good. Speaking of annual Christmas traditions, I always bring out the ol' VHS copy of A Charlie Brown Christmas to watch at least once before Christmas Day.

Always loved "Carol of the Bells" as my favorite Christmas carol. Wasn't always like that. One year, it was "Sleigh Ride." Another, it was "Joy to The World" or "Winter Wonderland." I love Christmas...

Ryan said...

“The Snowman”… utterly enchanting

Runner-Ups: “Gremlins”, “Batman Returns”

Anonymous said...

Does Eastern Promises count? It takes place between Christmas and New Year's. Nothing says warm holiday cheer than slit necks and naked steam bath fights.

Actually, the story lends itself well to the season.

MKD said...

Is it too cliché to say It’s a Wonderful Life? I do have a very large soft spot for that old movie.

But it isn’t my ‘holiday special.’ At this time of year I actually prefer watching The Shop Around the Corner – which also stars Jimmy Stewart, along with Margaret Sullavan and Frank Morgan.

That film is great. Infinitely better than its remake, You've Got Mail.

Esther said...

Home Alone is great, but as a Kevin Spacey fan, I want to put in a good word for The Ref.

Anonymous said...

The Family Stone, Its not only my favroite holiday movie, its one of my favroite films period.

Fox said...

I'm not sure what my favorite holiday movie is yet, but my favorite ENDING to a holiday movie is from Christmas Evil. I don't wanna ruin it for anyone, but it's just totally awesome.

p.s. Cute profile pic on the sidebar, Nathaniel!

Girodet said...

I would have to join the consensus and pick A Christmas Story. For a second choice, it would be Love Actually.

Anonymous said...

"Mixed Nuts" with Steve Martin, Madeleine Kahn, and Juliette Lewis. It's a Nora Ephron movie, so it's certainly got its cheesy faults, but it's outright hilarious. Madeleine Kahn's Christmas diddy with a toy microphone while trapped in an elevator make this one a keeper. Not kidding.

Nathaniel, if you do not know this movie, you should familiarize yourself now!

Dame James said...

This great TV movie called "A Diva's Christmas Carol" with Vanessa Williams as, you guessed it, the diva and Kathy Griffin as the Ghost of Christmas Present. Simply the best version of that story I've ever seen.

Best song: Without a doubt, Mariah Carey's "All I Want for Christmas Is You". It's not Christmas in my mind until I hear this song.

RJ said...

The Muppet Christmas Carol, and it isn't even close.

NATHANIEL R said...

awww, i love miss piggy in that so much

Catherine said...

I can't even think of any Christmas themed films that I particularly enjoy. I seem to watch Wait Until Dark every Christmas, so even though its so unseasonal, I'll plump for that. Oh! Actually, The Snowman adapated from the Raymond Briggs book. Beautiful.

Favourite Christmas song? It's a toss up between "Carol of the Bells", "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas" and the entire "A Charlie Brown Christmas" album.

Love the new banner, btw!

Actionman said...

Dick Donner's Scrooged with Bill Murray. Endlessly funny.

Anonymous said...

Fanny & Alexander has the best Christmas party EVER on screen!

Anonymous said...

Not your typical christmas movie, but there's snow and presents and a dinner party and the lovely Myrna Loy ... "The Thin Man".
As for songs, a tie between "Have yourself a merry little christmas" and "Mele Kalikimaka".

Adam said...

"A Christmas Story" for the memories, "Edward Scissorhands" for the magic, and "Black Christmas" for the mayhem.

Anonymous said...

Holiday Affair with Robert Mitchum. The last scene on the train is such a fabulous shot.

Anonymous said...

FAVORITE CHRISTMAS SONG...

Merry Christmas Darling, The Carpenters

Deborah said...

Chris, you and I are the only two people who adore The Family Stone (okay, I saw it with my sister and my son, and they love it too, but it's just the four of us).

Yay our good taste.

Missy said...

Love Actually.

Anonymous said...

JUST beat me to Karen Carpenter. Damn, but that woman had some pipes!

My favorite Christmas movie, and maybe in my top ten for all movies, is "Fitzwilly", with Dick Van Dyke and Barbara Feldon. Hard to explain/justify the choice, but isn't that always the case with true love?

lylee said...

"Fanny and Alexander" is my family's Christmas movie of choice. Also really love the "Little Women" with Winona Ryder - I always seem to watch that around Xmas, too.

Sadly, I kind of hate "It's a Wonderful Life." Or more accurately, I hate its message, though I love all the people in it. I do watch up through George and Mary getting together, because that part is delightful.

Beau said...

Love 'A Christmas Story', but I have to say it...

'It's a Wonderful Life'.

Playing tonight at the Bay Theatre in Seal Beach, beyond excited to bask in its beautiful glory once more. <3

The only other holiday film that I watch continuously, at least once every holiday season, is 'The Family Stone'. I don't care what anyone says, that film warms my heart to no end. I love that film.

Beau said...

Also: 'Garden State', for one reason or another... the scene with Braff and Portman at the end, in the tub, always reminds me of Christmas Eve.

Bizarre, but true.

That's another one that, in spite (or perhaps because of) its flaws, I find it incredibly endearing.

Jared said...

The Polar Express. It is the only film I have seen that captures that mystical /wondrous feeling that Christmas had when I was a child.

Anonymous said...

Ok, so for some reason I commented here and it appeared on the musical of the month entry! The wonders of internet... when it screws up there's no understanding why! :p

here's my comment:
I'm surprised no one has listed A Miracle on 34th Street! That's one of my favourites and a must see during the season along with White Christmas! Also have a blast with Holiday Inn (although it's not limited to Christmas).
And also not a Christmas movie, but among my favourites if for no other reason than a beautiful rendition of my favourite Christmas song "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas" Meet Me In Saint Louis :o)

I'm with you Nat, the holiday season can't start soon enough! December is my favourite month of the year! And in Spain we're lucky enough that Christmas doesn't finish 'till 3 Kings Day on January 6th!!! ;o)

Unknown said...

A double-bill from 1940 is pretty hard to top: the Shop Around the Corner and Remember the Night. The first half of Fanny and Alexander comes close though. Can't forget the Nightmare Before Christmas either though. Also All That Heaven Allows.

ant said...

Yay for the Apartment! Also Die Hard and Desk Set. And A Christmas Story. I love Xmas movies.