12.03.2009

A Cinematic Christmas

After cranking out ten polls in 2008, this is only our fourth of 2009. What can I say? We haven't bought any new fish that need names, and my favorite film franchises have largely been dormant. Luckily, this follow-up has been brewing ever since last year's poll about Holiday Specials.

In narrowing the plethora of holiday movies down to five choices, I'm sure I have left someone's favorite out in the cold. If this is the case, please vote "other" and write in your choice in the comments. After all, every time a reader leaves a comment, an angel gets its wings.

It's a Wonderful Life

Release Year: 1946

Heartwarming Message: Each man's life touches so many other lives. When he isn't around he leaves an awful hole, doesn't he? Remember, no man is a failure who has friends.

Gift Idea: The moon
Zuzu Bailey: Teacher says, every time a bell rings an angel gets his wings.

A Christmas Story

Release Year: 1983

Heartwarming Message: Sometimes, at the height of our revelries, when our joy is at it's zenith, when all is most right with the world, the most unthinkable disasters descend upon us.

Gift Idea: An Italian ("fraa-gee-lay") leg lamp
Ralphie: I want an Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle!
Santa Claus: You'll shoot your eye out, kid.

Christmas Vacation

Release Year: 1989

Heartwarming Message: Oh, the silent majesty of a winter's morn... the clean, cool chill of the holiday air... a redneck in his bathrobe, emptying a chemical toilet into my sewer...

Gift Idea: A set of glass moose mugs
Clark: Can I refill your eggnog for you? Get you something to eat? Drive you out to the middle of nowhere and leave you for dead?
Eddie: Naw, I'm doin' just fine, Clark.

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Release Year: 1993

Heartwarming Message: It's simple really, very clear, like music drifting in the air, invisible, but everywhere: just because I cannot see it doesn't mean I can't believe it!

Gift Idea: Nightmare-themed Travel Yahtzee
Mayor: How horrible our Christmas will be!
Jack Skellington: No. How jolly!
Mayor: Oh. How jolly our Christmas will be.

Elf

Release Year: 2003

Heartwarming Message: The best way to spread Christmas Cheer is singing loud for all to hear.

Gift Idea: Singing lessons with Zooey Deschanel


Buddy: Why don't you just say it? I'm the worst toy-maker in the world. I'm a Cotton-Headed Ninnymuggins!

9 comments:

Cheryl said...

I'll have to go with The Christmas Story. You'll shoot your eye out...

Hali said...

Christmas Vacation all of the way, but you did miss quote Clark on that one Dave, but I will forgive you. "Don't throw me down Clark." "I'll try not to Aunt Bethany."

Dave said...

Very observant, Hali. I did edit the Christmas Vacation quote for content. We try to keep things PG around here.

Krissy said...

It was a tough decision for me, but I went with Christmas Vacation. Perhaps it reminds me a little too much of my relatives. :)

Jessica said...

I had to pick elf cause it reminds me of christmas in NYC.

robmba said...

How else could you make Christmas better than by combining it with Halloween?

Dave said...

A five way tie, huh? Guess I better break that up. The Nightmare Before Christmas is easily my favorite movie out of all of these, but I am voting for the classic Christmas Story as my favorite "holiday" movie. Yes, there is a difference.

"Flick says he saw some grizzly bears near Pulaski's candy store!"

ScottBoomer said...

I'm going with "It's a Wonderful Life"
I think it's one of the finest films ever made with a greatg message.
Maybe I'm a bit of a sap but I have a lot of great friends and family who have helped get me through some rough times. I feel like I am richer for it.

Ben said...

All good choices, even though I think the inclusion of Nightmare is just so you can fit Tim Burton in there somewhere. A Christmas Story is good, but it was never a big family tradition in my house to watch it. Christmas Vacation is also good, but again, I got introduced to it through my college roommates.

So it comes down to It's a Wonderful Life and Elf. While It's a Wonderful Life is great for all the reasons mentioned above, I think for me Elf is one of the first Christmas movies that I feel is for our generation. And it's freaking hilarious. "Francisco! That's fun to say!" "Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?" SO many good quotes.