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 StoryRelease 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 VacationRelease 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 ChristmasRelease 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.
ElfRelease 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!
I'll have to go with The Christmas Story. You'll shoot your eye out...
ReplyDeleteChristmas 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."
ReplyDeleteVery observant, Hali. I did edit the Christmas Vacation quote for content. We try to keep things PG around here.
ReplyDeleteIt was a tough decision for me, but I went with Christmas Vacation. Perhaps it reminds me a little too much of my relatives. :)
ReplyDeleteI had to pick elf cause it reminds me of christmas in NYC.
ReplyDeleteHow else could you make Christmas better than by combining it with Halloween?
ReplyDeleteA 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.
ReplyDelete"Flick says he saw some grizzly bears near Pulaski's candy store!"
I'm going with "It's a Wonderful Life"
ReplyDeleteI 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.
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.
ReplyDeleteSo 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.