Celebrate Christmas films

Written by Alejandro Montalvo

Everybody and their dog have an opinion about which of the many Christmas films is the best. Christmas films are unique in that they are only given light one month out of the entire year. The rest of the year, they are shelved and disregarded as holiday fluff. But, come Dec. 1, Christmas movies are everywhere. ABC Family starts its “25 Days of Christmas” and Turner Classic Movies. has holiday classics on constant rotation.

Even though Christmas movies are currently “in” right now, there’s always that special one that stands alone from the others; one Christmas movie that makes you feel warm ‘n’ fuzzy inside. It’s the one you call “the best.” After doing extensive research on what constitutes the “best” Christmas film, the gap has been closed down to two films: “It’s a Wonderful Life” and “A Christmas Story.”

It’s hard to believe that “It’s a Wonderful Life,” which did terribly at the box offices when it opened in 1946, is considered one of the greatest Christmas films ever. When evaluating the film, one finds that 80% of the movie doesn’t even take place during Christmas. Such themes as suicide and treachery aren’t really considered family friendly, but somehow, “It’s a Wonderful Life” pulls off such complex themes in a way only the famous director Frank Capra can do, leaving the audience satisfied in the Christmas spirit.  “A Christmas Story” on the other hand, is pure family fun. The film mixes the nostalgia for a time forgotten with that warm family feel, creating a classic. Being a staple of many family Christmas traditions, “A Christmas Story” is nearly flawless, showcasing great comedy and old-fashioned storytelling.

As for close runner-ups, “Die Hard” is a strange high-placed Christmas “classic.” But, after all, who can resist Bruce Willis single-handedly eradicating an entire terrorist team? In fact, the action and one-liners are so splendid that we forget that all this is taking place at Christmastime.  Regardless to what Tim Burton die-hards (no pun intended)  insist, “The Nightmare Before Christmas” is a Christmas movie. The stop-motion classic from the early nineties is an original film, supplied with catchy tunes and dance numbers. Those who regard it as a Halloween film must have fallen asleep for the last half of the movie.

As sappy as some of the films may be, the Hallmark and Lifetime channels have great Christmas made-for-TV movies on rotation during the Christmas season. Most of them are instantly forgettable, as they are not credited with big names or directors, but they do have heartwarming messages and happy endings, which are the minimums for a Christmas film.

As previously stated, the “best” Christmas film cannot be determined by one source, as the basis for determining the “best” is built on personal feelings toward Christmas itself. So, whatever your favorite is, make sure to enjoy it this month before it once again goes out of style come January.