Wednesday, November 19, 2008

Best Holiday Movies

In the past 6 years, I have seen 1.5 movies at the theater. The last movie the husband and I saw at a movie theater? Austin Powers Goldmember.

I will give you a minute to quit laughing and/or google the movie to find the release date.

Yeah. July 2002. Pathetic, I know.

Then there was Cole's first movie this summer. I took him to see Kung Fu Panda. We left about halfway through the movie when he became bored.


But, I do love watching movies...especially holiday movies. Here is the list of my Top 5 Favorite Holiday Movies. (See how I capitalized that to make it seem very important and official?)


5. Scrooged. This is a rude, inappropriate, sarcastic take on the original Scrooge. It's a must see, especially if you are a fan of Bill Murray, as I am.

4. Jingle All The Way. I am slightly embarrassed to admit that this is one of my favorite holiday movies. For some reason I can't watch it enough. Arnold? Not the best actor. I think the reason is probably Sinbad. I do love some Sinbad. He is hilarious in this movie about trying to get the "it" toy gift of the season.
3. A Christmas Story. This has become a tradition around here on Christmas Eve. TBS starts playing it Christmas Eve night and goes 24 hours straight. If you've never seen it..really, where have you been?

2. Home for the Holidays. This was a tough decision between movie 1 and 2. Holly Hunter is just about the best thing ever. And Robert Downey, Jr? Fan.tastic. They are super funny in this dysfunctional family movie. The gay brother, anal sister, sex-having daughter...it's got it all. If you haven't seen it, get it this weekend. Really...you won't be sorry.


1. Christmas Vacation. Not a year goes by that we don't watch this movie. It is the funniest Christmas movie. We quote it constantly. Some of my favorite quotes from the movie:
"Burn some dust here. Eat my rubber."
"Do you sleep with your brother? Do you know how sick and twisted that is?...Well, I'm sleeping with your father. Don't be so dramatic."
"Merry Christmas, kiss my ass. Kiss his ass. Kiss your ass. Happy Hanukkah."
If you have somehow missed any of these movies, check them out this weekend. You won't be sorry. What about you? Did I leave off your favorite holiday movie? Is there something I need to rent this weekend?

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23 comments:

Susie said...

My favorite lines?
Two from Scrooged...
"It's only mo-oney"
"Most of these are towels."
And the rest are Christmas Vacation...
"A whole quarter..."
"Shi**er's full!"
"I don't know Margo, Well Todd!"
And my favorite "I should say hi to everybody?"

Susie said...

Dang it!! I didn't even see your label!!!

Lindsay said...

I agree whole-heartedly, 100% with your number 1 choice! It has been a holiday tradition for as long as I can remember. Some favorite lines:

"That there is an R.V....don't you go fallin' in love with it. We're plannin' on takin' it with us when we leave next month." (insert spewed egg nog here)
"Fried pussy cat!"
"Grace! She died 30 years ago!" (don't we all have an Aunt Bethany or two?)
"She's gotta lip fungus they ain't yet identified"

Stop me now.... ;)

I would have to add: the George C. Scott version of a Christmas Carol. Not just one of my favorite Christmas movies, but one of my favorites of all time.

Finding Normal said...

I LOVE The Christmas Story! We keep it on for all 24 hours, I think. And laugh randomly throughout the whole day! I like the Charlie Brown Christmas, and look forward to watching the kiddie movies with Noah this year since he might actually enjoy them.
He told me yesterday he think he would be "impressed with the Kung Fu Panda". Um, little boy? Who talks like that? Dork much?
And our last movie in the theater? Hannibal. I don't even know the year, but I'm guessing 2000 or so. P.a.t.h.e.t.i.c. I've been thinking about taking Noah on a date to Madagascar, but I fear his restlessness and popcorn addiction.

Maternal Mirth said...

'Scrooged'? OMG, I love you for this pick ALONE and your #1??? I heart 'National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation' ... Don't get me started.

'Home for the Holidays' is about my family.

But 'Jingle all the Way'??? Seriously????? Then again, I live in California and I could do with a little less Ah-nold...

Shelle-BlokThoughts said...

You DO need to get to a movie more often--minus the kiddos! :) go see twilight...because it's going to be the BEST movie, I have a gut feeling about these things! lol!

Anyway...I love A christmas Story...that show is CLASSIC!

Anonymous said...

You had me until the Jingle all the way pick. LOVE Home for the Holidays, makes me wish my family was only that dysfunctional.
Scrooged, so funny.
Christmas Vacation- classic.
Great choices, need to buy all of them on DVD.

Gaspegirl said...

Oh I like all your choices (by National Lampoon's is my #1 there) and I also love:

- Miracle on 34th Street
- The Grinch with Jim Carrey
- Polar Express

along with many other favs!

Make it a great day

koopermom said...

We watch Christmas movies all year round. Our favorites are ELF and Polar Express.
Brody loves the "Shoot your eye out movie" aka Christmas Story and my absolute favorite is It's a Wonderful Life. I get so excited to see it every year!

Unknown said...

One of our faves that we'll start watching on Thanksgiving night (and every night thereafter) is Home Alone. Love it, but particularly for the house...

Sarah said...

Oh, I LOVE Christmas movies!! My favorite is Olive, the Other Reindeer! Too cute. We also always watch It's a Wonderful Life.

Rick said...

Oh, I've got to say that your list and mine would only match at one spot - Christmas Story. I've come to love the live action Grinch that Stole Christmas. I love it when John Kerry says, "I feel all toasty inside." Great movie.

Tristan said...

miracle on 34th street, for sure!! I've seen 3 out of your 5

Glenda, saved by grace said...

I love "its a wonderful life". I guess I'm dating myself... Also go see "Fireproof" wow its a good movie.

sassy stephanie said...

Love me some Bill. He is one of my all time faves.

Christmas Story...no Christmas would be complete without it.

Caroline said...

I've got a real painful burr on my foot and if you'll rub it, I'll give you a quarter!

Seriously - that is the funniest movie ever!

I'm giving you a membership to the Jelly of the Month Club for Christmas because I love you so much.

And I saw that someone likes the George C. Scott version of Christmas Carol. I totally second that. That is one of the best Christmas movies of all time.

But you can't forget the favorites...The Grinch, Rudolph (the Burl Ives version), and the lesser well known Christmas Eve on Sesame Street (1978 or 79). Great. Its still available from Amazon.com.

Happy Viewing!

Keys to the Magic Travel said...

I LOVE "A Christmas Story." Love, love, love it. It always makes me giggle. And I finally managed to get the girls hooked on it last year.

And Scrooged. Just classic.

The only other one - off the top of my head is "Elf." My kids still quote lines from that one. "Hi this is Buddy the elf. What's your favorite color?"

And truly. What would Christmas be without Alan Rickman. And "Love Actually" AND "Die Hard."

teachergirl said...

Scrooged. When Bill Murray does....anything.

Love Actually. Saw it on CD and nearly fell over because my older daughter saw it first and kept asking what the naked people had to do with the movie.
It was on BRAVO last night and it was edited and it was still great. As BrownBear said, it ends great if you're a girl.

Elf: One year, my teaching partner set up a "home theater" in her room (remember, we teach in the trailers) the last day of school - LCD projector, speakers, screen, windows covered - plus all her Christmas lights and decorations and we got parental permission for all of our kids to watch ELF after our party. What a rock and roll way to end the day and the semester. We had a blast.

Anonymous said...

I LOVE a Christmas Story!!!

I need to see Home for the Holidays..that sounds like one I would like.

Do you not like the old classics? A Wonderful Life?

Casey's trio said...

LOVE Christmas vacation!!! It's not Christmas unless I see that movie:)

Mamarazzi said...

i'm never ging to be able to catch up on everything i missed...but i do love the festive layout.

~aj~ said...

100% with you on Christmas vacation. One of the best movies ever!

Julia said...

I think I have you beat on the going to the movies. I have not been since the last Star Track Next Generation one... and I just canceled my Netflix. :(