Tis The Season for Christmas Movies

So yesterday I came clean and admitted that I watch and like the Hallmark Christmas movies even though I admit they are not necessarily very good.  You have to take them for what they are and I do.

However it got me thinking about the really good Christmas movies, ones that you’ve probably watched time and time again and in some cases back to when you were a little kid.  When offering some of the best holiday movies you first have to answer the question: is Die Hard a Christmas flick?  It seems that more than ever this question is being debated this year with in some cases the same gusto as are you for Trump or Hillary.

For the sake of this argument we will throw Die Hard out (along with Lethal Weapon and Trading Places) but I’m leaving Love Actually in because it’s my segment and I want it in.

So with that taken care of here are my top ten favorites in no special order:

1. Love Actually (2003) - I just lobbied to keep it in for a reason. This has become one of my favorites and watching it Thanksgiving night with my wife and daughter got me right into the Christmas spirit.  Plus any movie with Keira Knightley in it is worth watching.
2. It’s A Wonderful Life (1946)-This classic starting Jimmy Stewart & Donna Reed has to be on everyone’s list…have not seen it yet this year though.
3. Miracle On 34^th Street (1947) - The original of course with Edmund Gwenn as Kris Kringle makes you believe there truly is a Santa Claus.
4. White Christmas (1954) - Bing Crosby, Danny Kaye, Rosemary Clooney and Vera-Ellen plus music by Irving Berlin. I love this film!
5. Elf (2003) - It’s quirky but adorable with Will Ferrell, James Caan and Bob Newhart.
6. A Christmas Story (1983) - All the kid wants is a Red Ryder Carbine Action 200-shot Range Model air rifle with a compass and sun dial.
7. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)-Chevy Chase and the Griswold family. What else is there to say?
8. The Family Stone (2005) - Great cast with Diane Keaton, Craig T. Nelson, Sarah Jessica Parker and Luke Wilson. The misadventures of the Stone family make for a terrific flick that is both funny and sad.
9. Home Alone (1990) - How cute was Macaulay Culkin as Kevin McCallister who was left behind while his family went to Paris?
10. A Charlie Brown Christmas, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman (all great and earn a spot on the list).