With Christmas just around the corner it would be wrong of me to not take a moment to get in the festive spirit. There are hundreds of Christmas movies out there, some are truly horrific - Jingle All the Way springs painfully to mind. However, there are a collection of films that without watching, Christmas, just isn't Christmas!
My first choice is a film I have watched at Christmas for as long as I can remember. Picture the scene; a young boy, sitting in front of the TV, candy cane in hand and chocolate money sprawled out around him, about to watch a film known as; Santa Clause: The Movie. Fast Forward fifteen years and every single time I watch this film I am that young kid, in front of the TV - only now its usually a can of beer in my hand!
This is hardly one of the greatest films ever made but there is something about Jeannot Szwarc's 1984 flick that just makes you feel very Christmassy - if that is even a word, or in fact the correct spelling?! If not, then I have invented a word for how watching this film makes you feel. Watch it and you'll know what I mean. I always remember it being shown on the afternoon of Christmas Eve and that was when the excitement really started to stir in my stomach, knowing it wasn't long until Santa would be here. Like music, film has that power of nostalgia - you can remember when and where you were and what you felt first time watching certain films. Santa Clause: The Movie is exactly one of those films for me.
Another film I remember watching over and over as a child is one I think many of you will relate to as a great Christmas film; Home Alone. I wanted to live in that house, with all the snow outside and I definitely wanted to create a series of booby traps like Kevin does. I love the scene after Kevin has been talking to Marley in the church and he realises it's 8pm and he needs to get home to get the house ready. The atmospheric Carol of the Bells accompanies this scene and is a piece of music I always associate with this film. Home Alone is exactly what a Christmas film should be, full of snow, full of fun and with a reminder that family is what Christmas is all about. Love it!
Rarely a post goes by here at The Armchair Director without some kind of mention to the genius of Tim Burton and this is the case here. Next up, simply one of my ultimate Christmas films; The Nightmare Before Christmas. I don't need to go in to the magnificence of this film because, frankly, I have already said all I need to about it. I remember sitting up until the early hours of Xmas Eve/Xmas Day just so we could watch this film on TV one year, because it wasn't Christmas until we had seen this film. When you watch a film and at the end you can't help but smile, then you know you have watched something special. Add in to the mix all the snow, scenary and songs - It's Christmas people!!
All joking aside my final choice is without doubt the ultimate Christmas movie. It is also in the list of the greatest films of all time. If I write the four words that make up the title and you have not A) heard of this film or B) seen it - hang your head in shame, get up, walk to a DVD shop and buy it. Then watch it, then tell me I'm right...
The film in question; It's A Wonderful Life.
130 minutes of utterly sublime film making. The film that the term 'you watch this film and just can't help but smile when it ends' was created for. This has everything. You mention to most people that it's a black and white film and people nowadays turn their noses up at that. Black and White movies = boring old films. Hell I was there, thought that same thing about Schindler's List (for anyone who read my first blog - thanks! - you know how that turned out). Snow in black and white movies is spellbinding. As magical as when you wake up and open the curtains to find everything covered in snow. There is scene after scene in this movie that is just brilliant. The stand out one for me has always been when George Bailey is running down the street wishing everyone Merry Christmas having finally seen his worth to the world by Clarence. I'd say that for me is the ultimate Christmas Scene.
As I get ready to travel home for Christmas not only do I have to make sure I have all my presents with me for my family I check and double check that the DVDs of these films are also in my bag because it just wouldn't be Christmas if I did not see these films.
Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good night (name the film)
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