5. Santa Clause (1985)
Director: Jeannot Szwarc
Starring: Dudley Moore, John Lithgow and David Huddleston.
Running Time: 107 Minutes
This is a childhood favourite of mine and because of that has always been a Christmas classic for me. It chronicles the origins of Santa Claus and answers many of the mysteries surrounding the mythical figure. The movie begins with Claus a middle aged man who is beloved in his village where he takes toys on his sleigh through blizzards to the children. After a particularly cold night Claus gets frozen but is saved and transformed into Santa Claus and taken to the magical North Pole. For years Santa Claus and his elves make quality toys all made from wood but that is until his chief Elf, Patch (Dudley Moore), develops a more efficient way to make the toys quicker which has disastrous results. Disgraced Patch leaves the North Pole to take his talents to the big city and hooks up with corrupt toy mogul, B.Z. (John Lithgow), who uses Patch's magical dust to create the ultimate Christmas gift. However, Patch becomes concerned when he learns B.Z. wants to turn himself into the face of Christmas.
Some may think it was peculiar for the producers of the Superman movies to follow them up with a film about Santa Claus but there are actually a lot of similarities. You have the mythical super being (Santa Claus), the evil to be overcome (B.Z.) and a greater good to be saved (the magic of Christmas). The plot does have some weak points but that can be forgiven with excellent special effects and I may be biased in that respect due to the nostalgia I feel for this film as it reminds me of many childhood Christmas'.
4. Die Hard (1988)
Director: John McTiernan
Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia.
Running Time: 131 Minutes.
This film is a brilliant celebration of the B movie and takes all the cliches of Christmas movies and smashes them. However, it also celebrates the things that I love about Christmas movies; family and finding the perfect Christmas gift and juxtaposes them with monsters and bogeymen. The old saying 'a dog is not just for Christmas' holds a whole new meaning as when you give your child a new pet for Christmas be prepared for the outcome.
Starring: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia.
Running Time: 131 Minutes.
It's Christmas Eve and New York City Detective John McClane has come to Los Angeles to visit his family for Christmas. His estranged wife, Holly (Bonnie Bedelia) is the Vice President of Nakatomi Corp. and not long after John arrives at her office for the Christmas party do Terrorists take over and hold them hostage. McClane manages to get away and then spends the rest of the movie making things very difficult for the terrorists led by Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). John also has help from LA police officer Sgt. Al Powell (Reginald VelJohnson) who he makes contact with over the radio and when John begins to have doubts Al does his best to convince him he can do this. Al also does his best on the ground with his boss who seems to mess up John's plans at every opportunity via his incompetence.
It may be a random choice for a top five Christmas films but other than the obvious it being set at Christmas it also focuses on what is important at Christmas, family. John does his best to save his wife and get home to their kids for Christmas. It has fantastic action sequences and although the plot and characters has been criticised by critics such as Roger Ebert it is for me one of the ultimate action films. This film started off the solo reluctant hero saving a group of people whilst fighting against the incompetence of others in films like Speed (1994) and the more recent Lockout (2012). Another reason why this film is included on this list is I defy anyone to watch it and not be left at the end with a Christmassy feeling. I mean any film that finishes with Let It Snow by Frank Sinatra has to leave you feeling at least somewhat Christmassy.
3. Gremlins (1984)
Director: Joe Dante
Starring: Zach Galligan, Pheobe Cates and Hoyt Axton
Running Time: 106 Minutes
The classic horror-comedy movie is a must see movie at Christmas for me and I was very excited when I found out it was being re-released in the cinema this year. If you have been living under a rock and have not yet seen Gremlins it is about a young man who gets an unusual Christmas gift from his father. The present is a Mogwai, a strange new pet that comes with certain rules; never expose them to bright light, never get them wet and whatever you do don't feed them after midnight. Of course all of these three things inevitably happen and mayhem ensues. The film takes a setting out of classic Christmas films such as It's a Wonderful Life (1946) and adds the wild Gremlins to create a superb juxtaposition which works really well.
One of my favourite things about The Gremlins is how it celebrates previous popular culture movies, characters and fairy tales. From the opening scene of the mysterious magical Little Shop in china town where Billy's dad buys Gizmo the viewer instantly knows that this is not going to run smoothly. You also have the archetypal characters such as the clean-cut all American boy with his cute girlfriend, the zany inventor, the frustrated Sheriff and the annoying Old lady. The film also uses every monster trick in the book and implements with the skill. Monsters pop up and make you jump out your skin and an eerie feeling is created as they stalk their victims.
1984 was the perfect time for The Gremlins to be released as it was the era in which this type of movie mixing horror and comedy was in a trend with films such as Ghostbusters (1984) released at the same time. I have always been a big fan of 80s movies and here I get to mix my love of 80s films and Christmas movies so no wonder this makes my top five.
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| How could anything so cute be dangerous? |
2. Family Stone (2005)
Director: Thomas Bezucha
Starring: Diane Keaton, Claire Danes, Rachel McAdams, Dermot Mulroney, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Jessica Parker, Luke Wilson, Elisabeth Reaser and Tyrone Giordano.
Running Time: 103 Minutes
The Family Stone is a film surprisingly about a family named Stone who the viewer follows through a Christmas of misadventures. The issues begin when the eldest son Everett (Dermot Mulroney) brings his uptight girlfriend, Meredith Morton (Sarah Jessica Parker), home for the holidays with the plan on proposing. However, first he has to get his Grandmother's antique ring from his mother, Sybil (Diane Keaton), who is less than happy about his choice. Adding to the drama are the siblings; Everett's sisters and brothers played by Rachel McAdams, Elizabeth Reaser, Tyrone Giordano and Luke Wilson and the arrival of Meredith's sister played by Claire Danes. There is one mishap after another with many of the characters reassessing their life choices. Rounding out the family is Craig T. Nelson as the dad who is trying to hold it all together. Although their are many funny mishaps that lead to great comedic moments there is also a sweet poignant narrative running through the film dealing with a characters illness which is very subtle.
I really loved this film when I saw it in the cinema and I have watched it every Christmas since and still enjoyed it. The cast is great led by the fantastic Diane Keaton and rounded off by favourites of mine such as Rachel McAdams and Luke Wilson. There are many reasons why this film beat out a lot of others to make the top five Christmas films but the main one for me is it represents what for me Christmas is about; family. This family may have their problems but there is never any doubt that they love each other very much and would do anything for each other. The narrative is also very believable and as crazy as some of the plot points are they hold true within the narrative structure. There is also a great mix of humour and sadness and the way it is subtly presented to the audience shows great skill on Bezucha's part here. Even the minor characters are well rounded and no matter how small their role they add to the narrative in some way.
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| Meredith puts her foot in her mouth at the family dinner. |
One of the brothers played by Tyrone Giordano, Thad, is deaf and for me it is always refreshing when people who are blind or deaf are given mainstream roles as that is the way it should be as there are a large proportion of deaf people in the world and they should see themselves represented in the media. Thad is also gay and I loved how matter of fact this was as it was never presented as an issue it was just the way it was. In fact when Meredith questions the choice of Thad and his partner adopting a child the whole family turn on her including the calm father who has held his tongue the entire time. It is just a perfect moment of a character unable to explain themselves and totally putting their foot in it. The main strength running through the film is the marriage between Sybil and Kelly who although they have been together a long time the relationship is still very loving. There are many screwball comedy moments but the poignant narrative running through the film holds it together and gives it an important emotional depth. The viewer learns that the family will look back on this Christmas with fond memories and the inevitable tear and so too will the audience who if you're anything like me will make a date with The Family Stone in every run up to Christmas.
1. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
Director: George Seaton
Starring: Maureen O'Hara, Edmund Gwenn and John Payne
Running Time: 96 Minutes
The original Miracle on 34th Street is a Christmas classic that is a must see for everyone at Christmas. It stars Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle who is shocked to discover that the man hired to play Santa in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day parade is drunk. After complaining to the event's coordinator Doris Walker (Maureen O'Hara) she convinces him to take over as the Macy's Santa Claus. After Fred Gailey (John Payne) takes Doris' daughter, Susan played by a young Natalie Wood, to see Kris at Macy's Doris asks Kris to explain to Susan that he is not Santa. After he refuses Doris begins to wonder if he is delusional and may be of harm to people but cannot fire him as R.H. Macy, the owner loves him. After Kris becomes frustrated with a psychologist, Granville Sawyer (Porter Hall), bops him on his head with an umbrella leading to Sawyer seeking for his commitment to Bellevue. Fred, an attorney, defends Kris and has to prove that he is the one and only Santa Claus.
This film is the ultimate Christmas movie and has all the ingredients for the perfect Christmas viewing experience. Edmund Gwenn is brilliant as Kris Kringle who is joined by the enigmatic Maureen O'Hara and John Payne who is the righteous attorney trying to save Santa. This is a great movie which unsurprisingly won several Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actor, Best Writing, Original Story and Best Writing, Screenplay. It was also nominated for Best Picture but missed out to Gentleman's Agreement which is a superb film as well and I highly recommend it if you have yet to see it. Miracle on 34th Street is one of those films that leaves with you feeling positive and just with a lovely feeling. It is the ultimate film to get you in the Christmas spirit and no Christmas would be complete without at least one watch.
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