Sami's Picks for Favorite Flicks

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Sami's Picks for Favorite Flicks
The Top 13 Holiday Films
2005-12-08
Article Written by: Sami Jo

What would the Holiday 's be without film classics such as Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas and Miracle on 34 th Street ? This holiday season, stay warm by snuggling up on the couch and watching the films that bring the spirit of the season alive! The following is a list of Sami's top 13 Holiday Movie Favorites:

13. The Santa Claus (1994)

After Scott Calvin accidentally kills Santa Claus, his son convinces him to try on the red suit. Scott becomes Santa Claus and therefore must accept all of Santa's responsibilities. Over the next year, he even starts to look more like Santa and his co-workers and ex-wife start to think he's crazy. His son is the only one who believes in him. Director John Pasquin has a brilliant vision of Santa's shop.

Memorable line from the film: "Seeing isn't believing. Believing is seeing." Little Elf Judy (Paige Tamada)

12. Elf (2003)

Buddy, a man who was raised as an elf, get permission from Santa to go to New York City to find his real father. While in the Big Apple, Buddy gets the opportunity to mingle with other humans and enjoy human culture as he tries to win his father's love. Will Ferrell's enthusiasm in the department store is far too funny to miss.

Memorable line from the film: "Buddy the Elf! What's your favorite color?" Buddy (Will Ferrell)

11. Love Actually (2003)

Taking place in London , this festive film features multiple storylines as it follows numerous people during the weeks before Christmas. The characters are loosely connected, but their stories are all individualized. Each storyline is a tale of love, both romantic and brotherly. A British romantic comedy isn't complete without Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, and the holidays aren't complete without a genuine story of love.

Memorable line from the film: "Merry Christmas. Part of the service, now. Trying to get round to everyone by New Year's Eve." The Prime Minister (Hugh Grant)

10. Noel (2004)

Susan Sarandon, Robin Williams, Paul Walker and Penelope Cruz star in this widely unknown holiday film that brings a more painful side of the holidays to the big screen—loneliness. The film follows multiple storylines of people that are lonely for various reasons. Though is shows a darker side of the holidays, its realism has a touching element that earns its spot on this list.

Memorable line from the film: " Oh, your life matters, you've touched other people's lives in ways you don't even realize." Charlie (Robin Williams)

9. White Christmas (1954)

Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye star as Wallace and Davis, two former GI's that have become famous performers. Davis desperately seeks some spare time and feels that finding a love interest for Wallace is the only way to get it. He sees his opportunity when they meet the Haynes sisters. They follow the sisters to Vermont where they run into their old Captain, who is struggling to keep his Inn in business. The four of them come up with an act to help out an old friend. Bing Crosby and Rosemary Clooney are two of the reasons this film will stand the test of time.

Memorable line from the film: "I want to wash my hands, my face, my hair with snow." Betty Haynes (Rosemary Clooney)

8. Polar Express (2004)

A young boy who starts to question the existence of Santa Claus climbs aboard a magical train heading to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Robert Zemeckis' vision of the North Pole is amazingly spectacular.

Memorable line from the film: "There's no greater gift than friends." Santa Claus (Tom Hanks)

7. Home Alone 2: Lost in New York (1992)

This time, the McAllister family heads on a Christmas vacation to Florida . When Kevin gets separated from his family in the airport, he ends up on a plane to New York . Once in NYC, he checks himself into a very nice hotel and plans to enjoy himself until he runs into the Wet Bandits. This year, Harry and Marv plan to rob the biggest toy store in the city, and once again, Kevin does all he can to stop them.

Memorable line from the film: "You can mess with a lot of things, but you can't mess with kids on Christmas." Kevin McAllister (Macaulay Culkin)

6. Home Alone (1990)

Kevin McAllister, who was forced to sleep in the attic for bad behavior, gets left behind when his family leaves to spend Christmas in France . In addition to taking care of himself, the eleven year old must protect his home from Harry and Marv – two guys planning on robbing the home once the family has left. This film had big kids and little kids everywhere slapping both sides of their faces and screaming, "Aaaaahhhhhhhhhhh."

Memorable line from the film: "This is Christmas!! The season of perpetual hope. And I don't care if I have to get out on your runway and hitchhike. If it costs me everything I own, if I have to sell my soul to the devil himself, I am going to get home to my son." Kate McAllister (Catherine O' Hara)

5. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)

It's Christmas Eve and when George Bailey misplaces $8,000 he contemplates suicide. An angel named Clarence tries to earn his wings by showing George what the town of Bedford Falls would look like if George had never existed. Clarence opens George's eyes to all the good deeds he had done over the years and shows him that the town needs him.

Memorable line from the film: " Look, Daddy. Teacher says, every time a bell rings, an angel gets his wings." Zuzu (Karolyn Grimes)

4. Home for the Holidays (1995)

Claudia Larson has a string of bad luck: she makes out with her boss, loses her job and discovers her daughter plans to spend Thanksgiving at her boyfriend's house. To make matters worse, she has to spend the holiday with her quirky family.

Memorable line from the film: "I'm giving thanks that we don't have to go through this for another year. Except we do, because those bastards went and put Christmas right in the middle, just to punish us." Adele (Anne Bancroft)

3. Babes in Toyland (1961)

This classic film combines children's stories and Christmas to create a film everyone can enjoy. Evil Barnaby plots to cancel the wedding of Tom the Piper's Son and Mary Quite Contrary. His helpers betray him and sell Tom to Gypsy's, who eventually set him free. Meanwhile, Bo-Peep lost her sheep and all the kids enter the dark forest to find them. The family makes it through the dark forest to the house of the toy-maker just in time to help him make toys for Christmas.

Memorable line from the film: " And you'll live for the love and the happiness of, this lonely boy… And each night he will say, in a whimsical way, you're just a toy…" Mary Quite Contrary (Annette Funicello)

2. Miracle on 34 th Street (1947)

Macy's Department Store ends up in a jam when the Santa they've hired ends up being a drunk. Kris Kringle himself offers to step in and fill the position, but is put on trial for being insane. He must prove to everyone, including store manager Doris and her non-believing daughter Susan that he is the real deal. My favorite part is when Susan turns around and sees the cane in the corner.

Memorable line from the film: "If you're really Santa Claus, you can get it for me. And if you can't, you're only a nice man with a white beard like mother says." Susan Walker (Natalie Wood)

1. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas! (1966)

The miserable, mean old Grinch tries to steal Christmas from Whoville, but learns that Christmas means more to the Who's than presents and decorations. Christmas season is the time of year to let the kid in you come out. This children's classic has always been my favorite and probably always will be.

Memorable line from the film: "He puzzled and puzzled till his puzzler was sore. Then the Grinch thought of something he hadn't before! Maybe Christmas, he thought, doesn't come from a store. Maybe Christmas... perhaps... means a little bit more!" Narrator (Boris Karloff)

Other great Holiday films include The Christmas Shoes, Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman, A Charlie Brown Christmas and The Christmas Story .

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