I'm tryin' something new this year and I'm going to jump on the Blogmas bandwagon and post every day from December 1st through the 25th with a different holiday post. We'll see how it works out, but I'm definitely in the planning stages right now. It should be pretty cool.
You know, this year I tried not to be one of those people who immediately skips from Pumpkin Spice to Peppermint, Jack O' Lanterns to Christmas lights, but I just couldn't help it. Halloween ended and the next day I watched Eloise at Christmastime, my favorite holiday movie....or one of them. I thought that if you were also in the Christmas spirit just a touch early this year, I would share my favorite Christmas movies (that I may...or may not have already watched so far this month).
How the Grinch Stole Christmas
While my mother loves the original, I am definitely partial to the Jim Carrey version of things. Loosely based on the original Grinch, this version relies much more on physical comedy and Carey's mastery of one-liners (who-venile delinquents, anyone?). For some reason, the version that I watch about a billion times online each year and the one ABCFamily uses for 25 Days of Christmas are a little different, so I get to enjoy both several times before the holidays are over.
Eloise at Christmastime
Oh, I absolutely love Eloise! This is, by far, one of my favorite movies, Christmas or otherwise, because I love Eloise. She's precocious and adorable and sees life as black and white (and sometimes, pink!): You love each other? Good, I'll make sure you end up together. If you're not as Disney obsessed as my family, you may not know that this premiered as part of the revival of Wonderful World of Disney over 10 years ago. Sophia Vassilieva plays Eloise and Julie Andrews plays her ever-patient Nanny in the duo of films that they produced in the Eloise series. It's such a sweet movie and I love how she plays the famous six year old.
Year Without a Santa Claus
If you don't love a good Rankin-Bass Christmas movie, you don't have a soul. These are what make Christmas in my eyes, and this particular movie is my absolute favorite of them all, probably because of Heatmiser and Snowmiser. The flamboyant duo who control the temperature of the world are what make this movie.
The Family Stone
I saw this in theaters when it came out (I was much too young to understand the movie) and liked it. Now that I watch it as an adult, there is something about this movie and this family that makes you fall in love with them. Despite their dysfunctionality and the craziness that ensues when they get together, at the end of the day, they love each other and everything turns out alright. I love it and will watch it again and again this season.
Arthur Christmas
Oh, the slippers in this movie! Written about Santa's youngest, most...well-meaning son, this movie shows what happens when three generations of Santa live under the same roof and how the meaning of Christmas is so individual. I love the animation and to be totally honest, the movie reminds me a lot of my childhood even though it came out three years ago.
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
Dear mainstream media and obnoxious parents, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is not promoting bullying. It's promoting acceptance of differences and dancing to the beat of your own drum. I can't believe that's become a topic of conversation. This is one of my Dad's favorites and I can't help but love it, too. After all, Rankin-Bass rules Christmas. Yukon Cornelius makes this movie for me. With his big, red beard and his can-do attitude, he kinda reminds me of Teddy Roosevelt. Between him and The Bumble, this movie really couldn't get any cuter.
It's a Wonderful Life
True Life: I love Jimmy Stewart. After I saw Harvey like 7 years ago, I fell in love and when I watched this movie for the first time as an adult last year, I just fell in love with him all over again. After all, who is more charming than Jimmy Stewart holding a bathrobe out to a naked woman hiding in a bush?
Santa Claus is Coming to Town
Rank-Bass, man. This movie was my absolute favorite as a kid. I loved the Winter Warlock and the Burgermeister Meisterburger. It's just such a silly, feel-good movie and I watch it at least twice every holiday season because I love the music and the story of Santa and the explanation of Mrs. Claus. Plus, Santa's a ginge. Of course I'm gonna love the movie, duh!
Rise of the Guardians
Technically, this movie takes place around Easter, but I mean with the giant, Russian Santa and the elves and yetis running around, there's no way it's an Easter movie. I just love this movie. It's one of the funniest, freshest movies that has come out for Christmas in a while. None of the characters are trite, traditional Christmas characters and the way the movie talks about belief and finding out who you are is a great message for kids and adults alike.
A Charlie Brown Christmas
I mean, the iconic, sad little tree. As a kid, I really wasn't into the Charlie Brown Holiday Specials, but as I've grown up, I've realized how good they are and how poignant and important the messages that they share with us each year are. Christmas isn't about getting a new PlayStation or finding the perfect present. It's about family and coming together to celebrate the feeling of this time of year.
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