Top 7 Christmas Movies of Our Time

Top 7 Christmas Movies of Our Time

So what if Christmas movies can be a bit sappy? So what if the Christmas movies can be full of Hollywood clichés? They warm our hearts, bring a smile to our faces, restore our faith in humanity and generally bring joy to the world. The season isn’t the same without them. So below is the list of top 7 big-screen Christmas flicks of our time, all the way down to No. 1. A thing to be remembered is the list below will neither have “It’s a Wonderful Life” or “A Christmas Story”. Great movies, but we’re tired of seeing them ranked and/or compared at the expense of others.

7. The Santa Clause (1994)

Director: John Pasquin

Writers: Leo Benvenuti, Steve Rudnick

Stars: Tim Allen, Judge Reinhold and Wendy Crewson

When a man unknowingly kills Santa on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place.

Tim Allen is actually, uh, jolly in this fun family tale about a guy who accidentally kills Kris Kringle — whoops! — then has to take his job, unwillingly at first but then growing to love it. This is a truly magical film that will continue to enchant children and adults for years and generations to come. The simple premise is executed well and Pasquin excels in making a film that appeal to all ages.

Tim Allen plays his part to perfection and has never been funnier. He captures all the heart that the film needs as well as having an excellent on screen rapport with young Eric Lloyd.

 

6. The Grinch (2000)

Director: Ron Howard

Writers: Dr. Seuss (book), Jeffrey Price (screenplay)

Stars: Jim Carrey, Taylor Momsen and Jeffrey Tambor

Based on the book by the famous Dr. Seuss, The Grinch also known as How the Grinch Stole Christmas is a big budget remake of the classic cartoon about a creature intent on stealing Christmas.

It’s a delightful family flick that both adults and children can enjoy (mostly with each other). Price’s screenplay is brilliant as he cleverly manages to include some adult humor. Who can not enjoy a Jim Carrey comedy? He is simply fantastic as he immerses himself entirely into the character. It’s a role that has Jim Carrey written all over it. The actor has immortalized the Grinch on screen. The world of Whoville is beautifully constructed and created, full of color, life, energy and spirit. The vivacious characters are full of positive energy and while it is over the top, it is all done within the context and none of it appears out of place. The CGI team and makeup crew deserve full credit for making the characters and settings so lifelike, bringing out a lot of detail and appearing authentic. The set designs are stunning and the cinematography is just as energetic as the characters. No wonder the movie won an Oscar in the category of Best Makeup.

 

5. ‘The Polar Express’ (2004)

Director: Robert Zemeckis

Writers: Chris Van Allsburg (book), Robert Zemeckis (screenplay)

Stars: Tom Hanks, Chris Coppola and Michael Jeter

On Christmas Eve, a doubting boy boards a magical train that’s headed to the North Pole and Santa Claus’s home.

A simple story . . . beautifully told . . . magnificently visualized. Sure, the performance-capture technology may not have been much developed then (at least it improved dramatically with ‘Beowulf’), but there’s still plenty of joy to be had in this fast-moving adaptation of the beloved children’s book starring an ensemble of Tom Hanks”es”.  While the humans are kinda creepy, the rest of the visuals are so good that it makes you forget about them.

 

4. ‘Elf’ (2003)

Director: Jon Favreau

Writer: David Berenbaum

Stars: Will Ferrell, Edward Asner and Bob Newhart

After inadvertently wreaking havoc on the elf community due to his ungainly size, a man raised as an elf at the North Pole is sent to the U.S. in search of his true identity.

Frank Richard. Ron Burgundy. Ricky Bobby. They’re all unforgettable Will Ferrell personas, but the role he might be remembered for most in 50 years is Buddy the Elf (what’s your favorite color?) from ’03’s instant holiday classic. This non-stop laugher exemplifies all-ages entertainment.

 

3. Die Hard (1988)

Director: John McTiernan

Writers: Roderick Thorp (novel), Jeb Stuart (screenplay)

Stars: Bruce Willis, Alan Rickman and Bonnie Bedelia

New York cop John McClain gives terrorists a dose of their own medicine as they hold hostages in an LA office building.

You must be wondering why this movie is even listed in the top christmas flicks. Though the movie is not the typical-family-christmassy movie, and christmas is only used as the secondary backdrop, I just couldn’t not include the movie in the list. There’s no better way to get in the Christmas spirit than watching a superhuman-kickass Bruce Willis single-handedly decimate a skyscraperful of terrorists on Christmas Eve. The well crafted story, brilliant performances, classic one liners, the genre-redefining action, the genius use of a Run-DMC holiday tune — it’s like a gift from Santa himself. It’s not a movie you will soon forget. Though there are no twists or curves thrown, you can be assured you will be treated to two hours of non-stop action from beginning to end.

 

2. Love Actually (2003)

Director: Richard Curtis

Writer: Richard Curtis

Stars: Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Kiera Knightley, Bill Nighy, Martine McCutcheon and Liam Neeson

 

Follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely and interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas in London, England.

So you love rom-coms? Try eight in one. Though some storylines (Liam Neeson helps his son woo a classmate) work better than others (horny Brit has American threesome), even the grinchiest among us will find something to heart here. The several plots(which usually turns out to be a chaos) ranging  from filming awkward sex to children being so deeply by love to prime ministers not being able to figure out their feelings for somebody they loved, is brilliantly weaved together here. It’s a valentine to love all wrapped up in a Christmas bow.

 

1. ‘Home Alone’ (1990)

Director: Chris Columbus

Writer: John Hughes

Stars: Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern

An eight year-old, who is accidentally left behind while his family flies to France for Christmas, has to defend his home against idiotic burglars.

Who can forget the cute little boy Macaulay Culkin who became the biggest child star on the planet? The movie reigned at the box office for 12 straight weeks and grossed $533 million worldwide, but the best thing about this holiday staple is watching an 8-year-old kid toss burglars Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern a good old-fashioned Christmas beat-down. It’s a Holiday classic. Another great point about Home Alone being a cult classic is the musical score provided by legendary John Williams. He gives the film the final emotional touch that allows us to forever remember Home Alone as being a classic film and never forget Macaulay’s performance. ‘Somewhere in My Memory’ has always been a favorite track of millions by Williams and it’s just a great piece of music on top of a great film.

 

So, as the Christmas is in the air, choose your favorite one either from the list or any one of your own choice and mood and watch it with your family friends, your loved ones. Have fun..Stay warm…Merry Christmas…Ho…Ho…Ho…:)