Did you see it this morning? Smattered across the rooftops and sprinkled upon the windshields? Pretty little flakes of pure, white, happiness scattered across the lawns as far as the eye could see. I had to rub my sleepy eyes to be sure what I was seeing wasn't a wintertime mirage concocted by the sugarplum fairies of my imagination. But nope, it was true! It wasn't much, but there it was. The very first snowfall of the season!
In case you haven't gathered by now, I'm a lover of this season. A lover of wintertime and hot chocolate, of mittens and snow boots, turkey and mistletoe and all things christmas. But most of all, my favorite of all the season's traditions - christmas movies. All my life I've been a lover of christmas movies, the earliest of memories and some of my happiest. Those of huddling around the tv, brother and sister by my side. Cold nights and mugs of warm drinks, footed pajamas and claymation magic.
I'm kind-of an expert on the subject.
So, I thought I'd put together a little list. A list of my all time favorites. The same movies I drag out year after year as soon as the first nip is felt in the air. They may not be the most popular, and some may disagree with what I have chosen. (What, no Frosty the Snowman? No National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation? And really,
really, Emily... NO CHRISTMAS STORY?!?!) But most of these found their way into my heart during my childhood and I love them each for sentimental reasons. Are they all the greatest works of cinema out there? No, surely not. And if I could, in some alternate universe, view them for the first time as an adult, I'm sure I would be left scratching my head as to what the big deal really is. But, these movies are special to me because they all bring back a little hint of the happiness from my youth, of the christmas spirit only a child can posess. They are my favorites because they are mine.
10.
Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Claymation at it's best. A classic for the ages. Abominable snowmen, misfit toys, elf dentistry...come on, that one was too easy.
9.
Elf. I not usually a fan of most new(er) christmas movies, but this? This is a modern day classic. I'm not always the biggest fan of Will Ferrell, but he gets it right in this one. It makes me smile from start to finish, and smiling's my favorite.
8.
Love Actually. The only other newish christmas movie in the bunch, but I just can't help it. Combine a good love story(s), Liam Neeson and a Mariah Carey christmas song on the soundtrack and I'm done for.
7.
Home Alone. Maybe not the first movie that comes to mind when you think Christmas, but definitely makes the cut in my book. I love me some Culkins. Kevin here's brother is in
my favorite movie of all time. Resistance is futile.
6.
How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Even though the version that came out in 2000 was the first movie Josh ever took me too (he had me at christmas movies) I still prefer the original animated one to Jim Carrey's version anyday.
Also, when Wes was a baby he use to make a face I like to call the Who from Whoville face.
example:
coincidentally, the grinch is Weston's favorite christmas movie.
5.
It's a Wonderful Life. So, this really is a great, classic christmas movie that I think everyone can agree on. However, the reason it's made my top 10 is based 100% on my brother's ability to quote this movie, in character, from start to finish. Ben's rendition of George Bailey makes me laugh so hard no sound comes out and I can't see through the tears in my eyes. How many 24 year olds do you know now-a-days that do a spot on Jimmy Stewart impression? My brother kills me every year with this. Hot dog!
4.
Miracle on 34th Street. No, no, not the original for pete's sake. The one made in 1994 when I was 11 years old (duh). This movie is the reason I dream of attending the Macy's thanksgiving day parade one day.
It combines both of my favorite holidays into one and is usually the first christmas movie I watch every year, since it starts out on thanksgiving. That makes it a little more acceptable to begin watching in early September, right?
3.
All I Want for Christmas. The story about two kids trying to get their divorced parents back together for Christmas. It's like a holiday version of the parent trap. It came out in 1991, I was eight years old and it was the year after my own parents divorced. It's always stuck with me, aaaand it features an adorable Ethan Embry and Thora Birch.
(as an aside, but I really feel very strongly about this so I must proceed...both the old and new(er) verisons of the Parent Trap were greattttt movies. I'm dead serious. Lindsey Lohan was so sweet and perfect in the 1998 version, you would not believe. Where on earth did that go so terribly wrong? She could have been amazing. super sad face)
2.
A Charlie Brown Christmas. Ok, so this was
soooo hard. It was a toss up for the number one position and I really agonized over this one (busy day/tough life). And in the end, I put it at number two. But, I cannot tell you how many times I watched this movie and how hard I love it. From Sally's christmas list to Lucy's theraputic advice, Schroeder's mad piano skills and Frieda's naturally curly hair. I love every single thing about it. And Wes already quotes it too, "I never eat December snowflakes, I always wait until January." But my favorite is, "Of all the Charlie Browns in the world, you're the Charlie Browniest." Oh, Linus. No truer words were ever spoken.
aaaaaaaannnnnnnddddd..... Drum Roll Please.........
1.
A Muppet Family Christmas! This came out when I was four and I have watched it every year since. This IS christmas to me. Fraggles, the whole sesame street gang, and all the muppets! There is nothing better. Muppets + Christmas = Emily.
and that is all.
now go, watch, and be merry!
(and please be careful of the icy patch)
