Ho ho ho, it’s my top five Christmas movies

Posted in: All Featured here Opinion Videos | by Johnus Maximus | — December 13, 2009 at 8:50 pm |

Look around you and it will be more than obvious what time of year it is. From the Coke ads and their incessant demonic chanting to the cacophony of cackling wenches declaring “here come the girls”. And it’s not just the adverts – television shows roll out their feature length holiday specials and the forgotten stars of yesteryear are pimping their panto performances.

I’m not a grumpy person at christmas, honestly. In fact, it’s my favourite time of year, one of the rare opportunities I have to travel “up north” and share time with some of my favourite people. As well as the company of those that I hold dearly in my heart, there is a special place for some festive films.

It’s extremely likely you have heard of these films, I’m certainly not as knowledgeable about avant garde experimental cinema as I am wholesome family entertainment, but as is the case with each and every one of us, we sometimes have our particular favourites that we like to discuss and compare with others.

Here tonight, for your viewing pleasure, are the top five christmas films that I could not live without. You’ll laugh, you’ll cry and best of all you’ll possibly appreciate just how good christmas can be, once you get beyond all that mind-numbing commercialisation.

5. Olive the other Reindeer

An enjoyable cartoon romp with some terrific voice acting. Olive is a slightly confused dog who ends up going on an adventure to help save Santa from the diablolic plans of a disgruntled mailman.

4. Scrooged

Bill Murray puts a twist on the classic role of Ebeneezer Scrooge in this hilarious retelling of A Christmas Carol. You aught to know how this story goes, so sit back and enjoy the laughs.

3. It’s a Wonderful Life

A series of unfortunate circumstances drives a good man to believing the world is better off without him. He is proved wrong in possibly the most affirming and important christmas film to revolve around the theme of suicide.

2. Elf

Will Ferrell shows us the importance of having warmth in our hearts whilst playing the most perfect role in his career (aside from Ron Burgundy), he truly is lord of the man-children.

1. Die Hard

Going home for the holidays? As much as packed motorways, delayed trains and prattling pedestrians can be a pain, never has there been a christmas quite like the one Bruce Willis endures in this film. Yippee kay aye Santa!