Friday, December 25, 2009

The Friday Five


Merry Christmas! This is a quiet day for us. No running here and there visiting relatives and delivering gifts. Today is a relaxing, family day. A pj day for those who wish. What could be more relaxing than watching movies while lounging in your pjs? Christmas movies to while the day away: (and not just for Christmas)

1. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The real one. The animated one. Can't get any better than Boris Karloff as The Narrator/Grinch. Not to mention the Chuck Jones' (from Bugs Bunny fame) direction.

2. It's A Wonderful Life. It's not Christmas until you've seen this film at least once during the season. Even though the film is in "dog view" (The Eldest's description for black and white) this is a true classic. Jimmy Stewart with the help of a bumbling angel learns how one's life effects others. And he gets to tell off the formidable Lionel Barrymore to boot.

3. Miracle on 34th Street, the "dog view" 1947 version with Maureen O'Hara and a little Natalie Wood. The lesson: one just has to believe

4. A Christmas Story, Ralphie tries to convince the adult world that a Red Ryder BB Gun is the ultimate Christmas gift and he won't shoot his eye out.

5. Another "dog view" movie. (Can't help it, I love the old movies) The Bishop's Wife. Dudley the angel as only Cary Grant can play him comes to answer the bishop's (David Niven) prayer for help.

I know it's supposed to be the Friday Five, but there's another movie or two to add. A Christmas Carol. I know lots of folks feel the movie with Alistair Sim as Scrooge is the definitive Carol, but I also love two other versions. The 1984 made for tv version starring Edward Woodward as the Ghost of Christmas Present and George C Scott as Scrooge. And try not to laugh, but I also love The Muppet Christmas Carol with Michael Caine as Scrooge.

A new favorite is Elf. I'm not a huge Will Farrell fan, but this movie is just too funny and sweet at the same time. No matter how out of place we feel we are with the rest of the world, we all have something important to contribute.

What's your favorite Christmas movie?

3 comments:

  1. Thank you for sharing.My favourite Christmas movie is Avatar.Have a Happy Christmas celebration day.

    Keep Smiling!
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  2. We have been watching The Nativity Story the last few years. And I agree with you about Elf. Not a WF fan either, but we enjoy that movie.

    I like It's a Wonderful Life too but the rest of my family is not into watching these kinds of movies (old, b&w, mushy).

    Merry Christmas, CJ!

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  3. Linda, c'mon over anytime for B&W movies. I'll make a batch of popcorn!

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