Justin A. Parr - Technologist

Here is a list of the best Christmas movies, IMHO

 

[TOC]

 

Muppet Christmas Carol

Jim Henson’s genius shines through, in this tribute to Charles Dickens.   The “muppet” version, a product of Disney, outshines the 2011 3D Jim Carrey version / Disney version.  A superior product in technical quality, and truer to the original script, the Carrey version is inferior by far to Michael Caine as Scrooge, and Kermit as Bob Cratchet.

 

The Nightmare Before Christmas

Jack Skellington delivers an A+ performance as he struggles to understand his role in the Christmas holiday.

 

Ernest Saves Christmas

Ernest P Worrel, the unwitting hero, finds himself in the position of having to save Santa.

 

Scrooged

“Put a little love in your heart”.  A cold TV exec gets the Dickens treatment.  With Bill Murray as the subject, this movie is funny and emotional.

 

Rudolf the Red-Nosed Reindeer

Childhood classic.  The reject becomes the hero.

 

Christmas Vacation

National Lampoon does it again, and best of the franchise.  Clark and his brood try to “make Christmas”, and find in the process that Christmas was there, all along.  “SQUIRREL!!”

 

Gremlins

Possibly the best of the worst Christmas movies, the story about Kate’s dad is the WORST CHRISTMAS STORY, EVER.

 

Planes Trains, and Automobiles

Two salesmen overcome severe difficulties trying to get home for the holiday.

 

The Year Without Santa Claus

Another classic stop-motion treasure.  The Meiser Brothers can do Christmas better than Santa.

 

The Grinch who Stole Christmas

[The animated original]  Dr. Seuss delivers a cautionary tale of an emotionally-isolated critic of the holiday spirit.

 

Die Hard 1 + 2

YOU FORGOT ABOUT THIS ONE.  Die Hard and Die Hard 2 are centered around Christmas, with the HERO, John McClain emerging triumphant against an insurmountable force.

Plus, there is Christmas rap music.  And, a HK P9S 9mm pistol.

 

Lethal Weapon 1

YOU FORGOT ABOUT THIS ONE, TOO.  Lethal Weapon finds Riggs raw after his wife’s death, ending in him finding comfort with his friend  Murtaugh, and his friend’s family.

 

The Long Kiss Goodnight

A beautiful and amnesiac teacher and homemaker, searching for her past, discovers that she is a CIA assassin in search of an enemy of the state.

 

Night Shift

Henry Winkler and Michael Keeton are coroners in the early 80’s.

 

Trading Places

Mortimer and Randolf place a small wager on the outcome of a social experiment.

 

The Santa Clause

Tim Allen delivers a tour de force performance as an unwilling participant when the “clause” is accidentally broken.

 

Home Alone 1 + 2

Kevin fights off home invaders using improvised means.  Hilarity ensues.

 

A Christmas Story

“You’ll shoot your eye out, kid!”

“Fra  Gee Lay”

 

Shrek the Halls

Shrek struggles to make the holiday special for his new family.

 

Santa / Elf

Santa:  Dudley Moore.  Nuff said

Elf:  Will Ferrel.  Nuff said.  “Santa!!! I KNOW him!!!!”