Well, when I started this Holiday Traditions Series, I was hoping to have at least five posts up by Christmas Day, but it doesn't look like I'm going to make it :(. But I guess its not that big of a deal :).
Anyway, let's get this fourth installment of the Holiday Traditions Series going! :)
I don't know you feel about Holiday films at your house, but they are a HUGE part of Christmas for me! Every Yuletide there are movies I MUST watch or it just isn't Christmas! My mother has her own tradition: that Christmas films are only to be viewed between Thanksgiving and New Year's Day. To emphasize this point, she stores our Holiday films in the attic the remainder of the year. No, I'm not kidding. I've had to go out and purchase copies of my favorite ones to keep on hand year round! I mean, really! How could I survive an entire year without The Holiday?
And, with that lead in, what follows are my Top Ten Christmas Movies! :)
1. If You Believe
If you've never seen this, do not hesitate!
Hayden Panettiere stars in this hilarious story
about an uptight book editor whose inner child
appears just after Thanksgiving to save her future self from another lost Christmas.
2. Silver Bells
This movie is about a tree farmer whose son is nothing like him.
The father wishes to leave his tree farm to his son someday,
but all the son wants is to be a photographer.
He attempts to speak to his father about his dream,
but is quickly shut down.
The situation comes to a climax when the son runs away
and lives on the streets of New York City for entire year.
Eventually the family is reunited with the help of Anne Hache's character
and, of course, the Silver Bells.
3. The Holiday
Ever wanted to swap houses with someone in another time zone
and spend your Holiday in peace in quiet?
Well, that's what Cameron Diaz character thought she wanted.
Until she got it...then she was bored
until HE came along. By "he", of course, I mean Jude Law's character.
On the reverse side of things, Kate Winslet's character doesn't necessary wish for solitude
as much as she just wishes for a change.
And she gets exactly what she asked for...plus a whole lot more! :)
4. Fallen Angel
All Gary Sinise's character wants is to prove to himself and the world
that he is going to be a more successful man than his father.
After high school graduation, he leaves home and sets out to make his fortune.
He doesn't return until the sudden death of his father.
Upon returning home, many memories come back to him
including one that ends in tragedy and changes many lives forever.
He ends up taking over his father's caretaker job
and opens a lovely cottage for a prominent family for the Christmas Season.
Romance follows but then is suddenly interrupted by the old memories.
5. The Preacher's Wife
Denzel Washington plays an angel sent to help an exhausted minister and his family
during the rush of the Christmas Season.
Unfortunately, Denzel's character does a little too well at his job
and gets a little too close to the minister's wife, Whitney Houston's character.
In the end, though, things are put right
and the minister and his wife enjoy Christmas as usual
and a re-ignited passion for each other and their marriage.
6. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas
Jim Carrey gives the performance of a life time as the Grinch,
a very unfriendly neighbor of Whoville who despises all things Christmas.
In his quest to upset the Spirit of Christmas,
he raids the town of Whoville
and makes off with everyone's presents, feasts, decorations, etc.
But somehow, Christmas still comes
and the townspeople still sing.
That's when Mr. Grinch realizes that Christmas isn't something
that can be bought or sold.
7. Miracle on 34th Street
A Christmas classic that no home should be without!
Maureen O'Hara's character has been hurt
and has since centered her life around a very realistic point of view.
She has even taken to teaching this point of view to her young daughter.
It takes a new love and Santa Claus to work a Christmas miracle on 34th Street.
8. The Christmas Child
A Chicago reporter goes in search of his roots
in this fascinating Max Lucado story.
Beginning in his adopted father's safety deposit box
and ending in small town Texas,
William R. Moses' character seeks the truth about his history...
and finds it and much more!
9. George Balanchine's The Nutcracker
Macauley Culkin stars in the title roll of this film production
of the classic ballet performance.
10. The Nativity Story
A fabulous, moving re-telling of the Birth of Christ
that will be cherished by all for generations to come!
What Christmas movies are a MUST SEE at your house? I would love to hear your stories!
Thank you so much for stopping by today! I wish you the Merriest Christmas possible!
