My Favourite Christmas Movies

Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer &
How The Grinch Stole Christmas

Original animated half hour shows. Ever since I was a kid, these are two of the cartoon/clay-mation “movies” that I enjoyed watching the most every year. That hasn’t really changed now that I’m an adult (or rather now that I pretend to be an adult). I think I partially enjoyed them, of course, because of the fear they instilled. I did find the Grinch rather frightening (though not as scary, as Jim Carey’s live-action interpretation of the character) and the Abominable Snow Creature in the Rudolph stop-action show was always rather chilling.

Christmas Vacation

Arguably the most memorable in the “National Lampoon” series of Vacation movies starring Chevy Chase. Randy Quaid’s Cousin Eddy steals many of the scenes in this movie, which has always been an inspiration for me in my own holiday illumination plans. The scene where Clark is stuck in the attic and watching old home movies is funny and cute, but also borders on touching, so this movie is not without its sense of warmth and family. Combine that with the compassion with which Clark Griswold wants his family to have a big old fashioned Christmas, and you’ve got a timeless holiday classic.

Planes, Trains & Automobiles

I know, it’s not technically a Christmas movie, but it’s a movie about American Thanksgiving, which is so darned close to Christmas and it’s made such a huge deal of as a holiday in the States that there’s no reason this can’t be considered a holiday movie. I’ve seen this one countless times, and can’t get enough of the chemistry between Steve Martin and John Candy. (And yes, that’s two John Hughes movies in a row - speaking of Thanksgiving, thanks Mr Hughes)


Die Hard

This has to be my favourite Bruce Willis movie (yes, despite the really cool eerie movies directed by M. Night Shyamalan). Set during a Christmas party at the Takanomi Corporation, this movie, to me, is evidence of what intelligent action movies can aspire to. To boot, it’s based on a wonderful novel by Roderick Thorpe called "Nothing Lasts Forever", which I managed to track down in a used book store years ago. Brilliant novel. Die Hard 2, of course, also takes place during the Christmas season, and it also ranks right up there.

Lethal Weapon

Here’s another great action movie that takes place during the holidays, and the beginning of a great series of “buddy” movies. I’m particularly fond of the psychotic yet hilarious character that Mel Gibson brings to life and the way in which, through the course of the movie, he gains a sense of purpose and of family through his reluctant partner.



Life of Brian

Although most people quote “The Holy Grail” as Monty Python’s greatest movie, IMHO, this is their best. The movie opens on the first Christmas Eve, where, just down the street from the manger where Jesus is born, young Brian is born. When the three “not so wise” men arrive in the wrong place bearing gold, francincence and murr (“what’s murr?” -- “it’s a balm” -- “you don’t give a bomb to a baby”), Brian’s mom is delighted. When they realize that she’s an opportunistic whore and not the holy mother of our savior, they grab back their gifts and beat a hasty retreat. That pretty much sets the tone for this hilarious movie about Brian who is repeatedly mistaken for the messiah (“He’s not the messiah, he’s a naughty boy”) , and is a glorious example of the Python troup setting the standard for playing multiple characters in the same movie.