By COLLEEN ALMEIDA SMITH Staff Writer on Dec 4, 2012, at 7:00 AM Updated on 12/04 at 8:25 AM
Jimmy Stewart (center) makes us all believe that "It's a Wonderful Life."
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With all the things on your to-do list this month, I hope you will make a little time for a seasonal classic or two. Family Christmas movies are great way to get into the holiday spirit.
In my house we have quite a few that require annual viewing. Some we watch as a family, and some the girls pop in the DVD player whenever they want.
Here is my general top 10 list (and yes, some of these are TV specials, not movies, but I still think they count).
It's a Wonderful Life: What can I say? I cry every time I watch it.
National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: Clark and his family live on. Have you seen the new Old Navy commercial? It cracked me up.
Santa Claus Is Coming to Town/The Year Without a Santa Claus/Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The stop-motion movies of Rankin-Bass immediately take me back to my childhood. It's the supporting characters who make these special: Burgermeister Meisterburger, Heat Miser and Snow Miser, and Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snow Monster to name a few.
A Charlie Brown Christmas: Charlie Brown and his scrawny tree know the true meaning of Christmas. The soundtrack featuring the Vince Guaraldi Trio is also a staple in my CD player during the holidays.
Miracle on 34th Street: Edmund Gwenn, Maureen O'Hara and Natalie Wood are perfectly cast in the original 1947 version.
Elf: This movie always brings a smile to my face. The ending is predictable, but getting there is great fun.
The Muppet Christmas Carol: Michael Caine is Scrooge, Kermit is Bob Cratchit and Gonzo narrates this amusing take on the Charles Dickens classic.
Scrooged: A retelling of "A Christmas Carol," this is one of my husband's favorite holiday movies. Bill Murray is great, as is his assistant, native Tulsan Alfre Woodard.
Home Alone: This movie is better than it has a right to be. I chalk it up to filmmaker-extraordinaire John Hughes.
The Santa Clause: Tim Allen is the everyman who becomes Santa. The transformation is quite funny.
Not a fan
I know I'm in the minority here, but these holiday movies leave me cold.
A Christmas Story
The Polar Express
Frosty the Snowman
My very favorite holiday movie is not family friendly, so I didn't include it on my list. But not a Christmas goes by when my husband and I don't make time for "Love Actually."
Richard Curtis, who is wrote "Four Weddings and a Funeral" and "Notting Hill," wrote and directed this ensemble piece. The interwoven storylines are highlighted by a virtual who's who of British actors. Funny, poignant and with a great soundtrack, this movie is both naughty and nice.
What's your favorite Christmas movie? What do you love about it?
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