Tuesday, December 25, 2007

Christmas Movies

Hey! I hope everyone is having a great Christmas. I am sitting here watching on of my top 5 movies ever...and I thought I would take this quiet moment to say hello. My dad is on the couch over to my left. the kids are in the basement playing their new Wii (this game could be bad for me...I have a very addictive personality...and I am feling the draw to go play the bowling game even as I type). Angela is running around all over the house...wrapping a little, picking up a little, cooking a lot. Fear not...I am not leaving all of that to her. I am just taking a few moments to chill.

OK...I hate to even say this because I know the reaction I am setting myself up for. But, as I prepare to list my favorite Christmas movies, I must make a confession. I have never seen a black and white movie in its entirety. Well, that's a lie...I saw one ("Stranger On A Train"). I saw part of "It's a Wonderful Life" about 10 years ago. And of course I have seen "The Wizard Of Oz" a thousand times, but only part of it is black and white. That's it. I have not seen any of the Christmas classics. Truthfully, U haven't seen some of the current Christmas movies either. I never saw any of those Tim Allen Santa Clause movies. I have not seen either of the "Miracle On 34th Street" versions - new or old.

There. I've confessed my Christmas cinema depravity. Now that that's over, I will tell you my favorites (in no particular order). And be forewarned...this is an uneventful, unoriginal list. I am not breaking any rules or originality records here...

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas
2. Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas (the original AND the Jim Carrey one)
3. Elf - I am currently watching on TBS...I can't tell you how much I love this movie. Will Farrell is beyond funny.
4. Rudolph, The Red-Nosed Reindeer
5. Santa Claus Is Coming To Town
6. While You Were Sleeping - Angela says this counts as a Christmas movie...so I'm counting it.
7. Does "Die Hard" count?
8. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

What's yours?

28 comments:

boomama said...

Totally agree with you and Angela. Both count. D. has seen "Die Hard" approximately 462 times. Love Elf. And sorry - but I love Home Alone. I do. Please don't judge me.

If y'all got Wii Play, go play Find Mii right now. You may not come up from the basement until Saturday, but still, you'll have fun and set records and stuff.

Merry Christmas to y'all!

Real Life Sarah said...

A Christmas Story - Hands Down!

Merry CHristmas

connorcolesmom said...

Does Die Hard count? - LOL!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS - it sounds like all of you have had a lot of fun today. I just sat down myself after doing the cooking & cleaning mess and now my little guys are sleeping (naptime) - oh the peace and quiet - pure joy!
My favorite Christmas movie as of today was the Nativity story - we just watched it last night and get some tissues b/c it is so good!
I also really like The Miracle on 34th Street - the black and white version- hehe :)

Go play some Wii and have a SUPER DAY!!
MERRY CHRISTMAS and many blessings to you and your family!
Now I must go some red velvet cake is calling my name :)
Kim

twinkle said...

I just took a break from slaving in the kitchen. These holidays are WORK!
1. Prancer
2. Little Women (with Winona Ryder)
3. One True Thing (hate the language but love the movie)
4. A Mom For Christmas (Olivia Newton John)
5. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer
6. Frosty the Snowman
7. A Charlie Brown Christmas
8. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

AbbyLane said...

we watch Christmas Vacation EVERY Christmas Eve after the service and dinner/presents at our pastors house

and While You Were Sleeping...you just went up a notch or two in my friend book :)

Holly said...

I'm an old movie fan...if it's black and white I love it on a snowy day, like today! White Christmas in Colorado!! Woohoo!
Ahem...my favs are The Bells of St. Mary's, Jingle all the Way (You must see this if you haven't! Be sure that you have the thing on your TV that blanks out language, though) Going My Way and Elf. I love Elf! In fact, smiling is my favorite, too!
Merry Christmas to you and your crew! Now for a holiday nap :)

Anonymous said...

Alrighty...
The Spring Hill Cooks are also Wii bowling tonight -- Lindsey just smoked us all!

I haven't seen a b/w all the way through either -- probably a little ADHD to stick with it! :)

Favs are:

1. Christmas Vacation -- nothing quite like the scene when Cousin Eddie shows up outside in the "in awe of the lights" line-up. (Now don't we all have a "Cousin Eddie?")

2. The Preacher's Wife with Whitney and Denzel. LOVE the soundtrack except for that strange Bobby Brown rap at the beginning of one of the songs! But, oh my goodness..."I love the Lord, He heard my cry and pitied every groan...long as I live and troubles rise I'll hasten to His call!" LOVE IT! And, oh, "I Go to the Rock?" Yikes and "Joy!" Okay -- enough is enough....

3. Charlie Brown Christmas -- Love Linus bringing The Word at the end!

4. Frosty -- still cry when he melts!

5. Rudolph -- just finished out my Christmas ornament collection this year with Yukon Cornelius and the Abominable Snowman!

MERRY CHRISTMAS FRIEND! Tell your lovely wife that I will see her in the alto section in a couple of weeks. I've been gone too long and I miss her!

Blessings,
Dori

jennyhope said...

i will let you guess mine you cotton headed ninny muggins! LOL
"You're not santa...you're a fake. You are a liar...you sit on a throne of lies." I have watched this movie 5 times and i cant get into the b & w movies either.

sooz said...

It simply isn't Christmas until I have watched White Christmas in its entirety. This year I even invited girlfriends over to watch it with me! C'mon! You HAVE to have seen that movie!

You've never seen Rosemary Clooney and Vera Ellen doing their famous "Sisters" number? What about Danny Kaye and Vera dancing their brains out to "The Best Things Happen While You're Dancing?"

If that isn't in the Top Ten Best Christmas Movies of All Time, then I don't know what to say...

Rosemary Clooney ROCKS!!

Ok, Travis, you ROCK, too! Merry Christmas to you and yours!

Anonymous said...

I have a friends that watching die hard is a tradition in the family for chirstmas so yes die hard counts..
strange but true..

rk

Anonymous said...

Happy post-Christmas! There’s always some B&W movie that has to be played at Christmas at our house. But like you, I’ve never seen any of the classics all the way through. Too much dialog and not enough *boom!* … like Die Hard! My kids love Polar Express, but it gives me the creeps, so it doesn’t make my list. Same with the Grinch.

Here’s my list, with quotes, as I remember them:

10. Christmas With the Kranks, from the book “Skipping Christmas,” the greatest literary piece produced by John Grisham. Not. Worth the rental just to see Tim Allen's sunburnt, Botox overloaded face. “Give us Frosty!”

9. White Christmas. Once a year is enough for me. Can’t think of a quote. Too much cheese for me.

8. Home Alone. “This house is so full of people it makes me sick. When I grow up and get married, I’m living alone.”

7. Christmas Vacation. “Clark, that there’s an R.V.”

6. Frosty the Snowman. (And this is for Dori) “Don’t cry, Karen, Frosty’s not gone for good. You see, he was made out of Christmas snow and Christmas snow can never disappear completely. It sometimes goes away for almost a year at a time and takes the form of spring and summer rain. But you can bet your boots that when a good, jolly December wind kisses it, it will turn into Christmas snow all over again.

5. Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer. Yukon: “Fog’s as thick as peanut butter.” Hermey: “You mean pea soup.” Yukon: “You eat what you like and I’ll eat what I like.”

4. The Santa Clause. “You know, you look pretty good for your age.” “Thanks, but I’m seeing someone in wrapping.”

3. Christmas Story goes year-round in our house. “You’ll shoot your eye out” is the classic quote, but there’s also masterful lines like: “I have since heard of people under extreme duress speaking in strange tongues. I became conscious that a steady torrent of obscenities and swearing of all kinds was pouring out of me as I screamed.”

2 & 1. Elf. Greatness that takes up two spots on a Top 10 list. Also goes year-round at our house. Where to even start with this one… “You stink! You smell like beef and cheese, you don’t smell like Santa.” “Have you seen these toilets? They’re giNORMOUS!” “First we'll make snow angels for two hours, then we'll go ice skating, then we’ll eat a whole roll of Tollhouse cookie dough as fast as we can, and then we’ll snuggle.” “It's just like Santa’s workshop! Except it smells like mushrooms... and everyone looks like they wanna hurt me...”

Kelly S. said...

Travis....first of all I can't believe you got a Wii-Congratulations!
As for Movies, While You Were Sleeping is a Christmas favorite. Die Hard counts, The Nativity movie and The Sound of Music are also favorites. However, our tv/dvd is torn up, and my ENTIRE family has strep/pneumonia. Very, very sick....we have been watching Waltons reruns and John Wayne movies...when were awake. Everybody is on antibiotics now so hopefully we will have Christmas with our extended family this weekend. Praise God for good doctors and medicine easily available to us. We would appreciate everybody praying for our recovery!! Thanks

Fran said...

The Elf is the best, bester, bestest movie right now in my house of all boys! They think, and I agree, that Will Ferrell is the most hilarious person ever. And, he is.

Got a new ipod and that is all i've been doing for 24 hrs straight.....so much fun! :)

Merry post-Christmas!
Fran

Anonymous said...

Merry Christmas Travis and family!
I love those Christmas shows too...and I will never be too old for Charlie Brown. :)

Praying for you and your music ministry...hey they are playing Denver and the mile high orchestra on our contemporary Christin radio station WJTL/PA, I was very happy for that...There is also a Christian Swing club opening in my area..what fun!

Anonymous said...

hey there! Had to comment ! Has no one seen A Christmas Carol - the musical version w/ Albert Finney as Scrooge!? OH my - priceless! Great music!

Anonymous said...

CHRISTMAS VACATION! We watch it every year and it gets better each time, if that's possible.

Home Alone
The Grinch
All 4 Die Hards (got the set for Christmas this year - woohoo!)
Charlie Brown Christmas

Praise and Coffee said...

I love Elf and so does my three year old, hence we've seen it 38 times this season. Sadly enough, I never got tired of it!

Merry Christmas!
Sue

Dionna said...

I haven't seen too many black and white Christmas movies either. I've never seen the whole version of "It's a Wonderful Life."

On to my favorites.

Santa Clause 2. The little redhead reminds me so much of my redheaded daughter. Looks AND sparkly personality. :)

Miracle on 34th Street. The remake - not the original.

White Christmas. In color. :)

Charlie Brown Christmas. Don't catch it every year - but it's a classic and brings such fondness to my heart.

Polar Express. Saw it last year for the first time. We need it to add to our small Christmas collection - but don't have it yet.

Patty said...

Merry Christmas!

A Charlie Brown Christmas one of my favorites and I agree on the Grinch and Santa Claus is Coming to Town and I agree with Angela, While You Were Sleeping totally counts. I have seen all 3 Tim Allen Santa Claus movies. Love them!
Now, my son Jason would agree hands down that Die Hard counts as a Christmas movie. He has the trilogy. Also. Christmas Vacation is a must. :o)

As a matter of fact, I think I have watched every Christmas movie this season and I believe I am ready for something else now. We are going to watch the Bourne Trilogy this week and my sons want to go see Alien vs. Predator. Me not so much.

Darlene R. said...

My kids have been playing their new Wii too. Can you believe that I haven't even tried it yet? I need to do that, or maybe not. Nothing else would get done!

My favorite Christmas movie is probably Elf. I do like all of the Santa Clause movies too. I don't think I have ever watched a black and white movie all the way through either. My hubby said that Die Hard absolutely counts because they sing a Christmas song AND there is a Christmas party too.

Anonymous said...

I will also admit to not really ever watching a b/w movie in its entirety. How about Step Mom? Does the Sound of Music count? (it always on tv at the holidays growing up....)
Happy New Year!
ps- how about I take the time to create a blogger identity in '08? now that is a fun resolution!

Anonymous said...

How about "Meet Me In St. Louis?" The climactic scene of the movie is at Christmas, so that counts, right? Ditto on "Affair To Remember," so that counts as a Christmas movie. "Trading Places." I can't help it... I love that movie, especially when Dan Akroyd is trying to choke Eddie Murphy and Murphy is croaking, "It was the Dukes... it was the Dukes." Priceless. My favorite new Christmas movie: "The Holiday." Romantic... and one of the characters is a songwriter. Come on! And I too love "Polar Express" and "Elf." (For the record, all of the following movies have crucial scenes that take place at Christmas: Sleepless In Seattle, You've Got Mail, About A Boy, and Love Actually.)

Unknown said...

First I have to forewarn you about the Wii. My brother's kids got one this Christmas and the bowling in particular is very addicted. Stay away... stay far, far away!

Second, I am going to suggest a book/movie for you guys for next year. It's a great story- I read it to my 4th graders every year, and then we watch the movie. It's called The Best Christmas Pageant Ever and it is hillarious. It also pushes home the message that the true Christmas story is for everyone including the naughty Herdman children. By far, it's my #1 Christmas story.

Anonymous said...

So many choices! Love Miracle on 34th Street - the original. The Santa Clause movies. White Christmas with Bing Crosby and Danny Kay is great. Both Grinches are definitely in. I start the Christmas movie season with the cartoon Grinch every year. Then when all the presents are purchased, I spend an afternoon-evening wrapping them all and watching movies. Our family favorite is A Christmas Story which we watch Christmas Eve after the services and again Christmas Morning after the gifts have been opened. My oldest son watches it year-round. We watch the Nativity Story also. You are right about Elf and Will Farrell - beyond funny.
This is my first blog ever - fun! Thanks for the great time in MS! Awesome worship! Best Christmas Choir worship ever!
Loraine

laura said...

We love Elf! Adam and I have already watched it twice and constantly qoute lines from it. "You sit on a throne of lies!"

Anonymous said...

I love "Elf", too. In fact, during this time of year - I drive people crazy answering the phone "Hi, this is Buddy the Elf. What's your favorite color?"

Anonymous said...

1. Meet Me in St. Louis (has a wonderful Christmas scene, we decorate our tree while this plays every year)
2. While You Were Sleeping
3. Sleepless in Seattle
4. It's a Wonderful Life
5. A Christmas Story
6. Home Alone 1 & 2
7. The Christmas Card (Hallmark)

Anonymous said...

my husband absolutely SWEARS that Die Hard is a Christmas movie. so you are not alone on that one.