Mr. Grinch, that is. My favorite favorite favorite! - did I say it’s my fave? - Christmas movie by far is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. From the time I was little, the animated tale made me fall over in gales of laughter, watching the Grinch’s antics. The moral of Christmas being about love and brotherhood and 'blah blah blah, yadda yadda yadda' was okay, but it was the “bad guy” that made me tune - toon? - in year after year. Then the Jim Carrey version came out and I fell in love with the tale all over again. I was already a Carrey fan, so his rendition made the already-awesome story even better. Due to finances, I haven’t gotten to see this year’s version...yet. It’s definitely on my To-Do list and I’m already sure that I’ll love it, too.

I've been watching It's A Wonderful Life over 40 seasons. It's about despair, heartache, greed, tragedy, sacrifice, war, and being able to come back through all of this, after seeing what life would be like without him in it, but come back through all the trials, and find redemption, peace, happiness and feel what the spirit of the holidays is really about, close friends and love of family. George Baily (Jimmy Stewart) gave 100% of himself in this film. Clarence, the ghost (Henry Travers) gave George a glimpse of life without him in it. Mr. Potter (Lionel Barrymore) is the underhanded evil-doer that causes George to contemplate taking his life. There is Mary, George's wife (Donna Reed), who I think in many ways, her television show persona reflected off her role in this movie. What makes this film great; it was writtem directed and the screenplay done by Frank Kapra. He once said of all the films he directed, It's A Wonderful Life was his personal favorite.

____________

Then comes Charlie Brown's Christmas. I've been watching this every year since it first aired in 1965. It's gotten to the point I can say every line ... lol. "Sparky", better known as Charles M. Schulz, gifted us with his talent and gave us, I can't tell you how many hours of countless laughter. And for those of you who don't know:

The Cast

Snoopy: Bill Melendez.

Charlie Brown: Peter Robbins.

Lucy Van Pelt: Tracy Stratford.

Linus Van Pelt: Christopher Shea

Sally Brown: Cathy Steinberg.

Schroeder: Chris Doran.

Frieda: Ann Altieri.

Pig Pen: Geoffrey Ornstein

____________

Lastly; The Ten Commandments, with Charlton Heston, Yul Brynner, Edward G. Robinson (Little Ceasar and Key Largo are two of his best acting in films), Yvonne De Carlo (probably more well known for being Lily, Herman's wife on The Munsters), Debra Paget (who also starred with Elvis in Love Me Tender) who had a pretty decent career in films, and John Derek. Although Derek (had a good stint in films), he was married to Ursula Andrews, Pati Behars, and Linda Evans. He became a major news item in the 1980's when he married Bo Derek (Derek directed 9 movies, of which the last four had Bo as the leading lady). As to The Ten Commandments; not really known that well, but the baby in the film that floated along the Nile and was discovered and given the name Moses, was actually Heston's son, Fraser Heston. Fraser has been a director, producer and has written several screenplays but the only actual acting he did was in The Ten Commandments. Cecil B. DeMille had a penchant for biblical movie-making and he knew how to bring it altogether. And yeah, I know it isn't a Christmas movie, but I watch it twice a year. Christmas Day and Easter Sunday. For it's time (1959) it had the best special effects of any film made to that point.

And as they say ... that's a wrap.

During Christmas, my favorite movie to watch is How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Personally, I enjoy the classics, and this movie is as classic as it gets. I enjoy the storyline of a mean Grinch slowly evolving throughout the story to learn the true meaning of Christmas. I watch this movie every year either with family, friends, or by myself (forever alone). I wouldn't understand if someone ever told me they hated Christmas, first of all how could you hate a holiday? Second of all, how could you hate a time where everyone is going out of there way to either do or get something for someone other than themselves? For me Christmas is a time of giving and sharing with the people you love. I think this movie engulfed that meaning, thanks to Dr. Seuss of course. In the future, I hope they remake it and add on to the original story because I enjoy most of the fun animated characters found in the movie. Although I haven't seen the new movie about the Grinch, which I want to see in the future, I hope it plays off the meaning that I mentioned above. Merry Christmas to everyone!

My absolute favorite holiday movie to watch is The Nightmare Before Christmas. To me, Christmas isn't complete without watching this at least one. Danny Elfman did a fantastic job of both providing Jack Skellington's singing voice and composing the overall soundtrack. His performance adds so much soul to the movie, and really stands out. The rest of the cast, including Catherine O'Hara as Sally, and Chris Sarandon as Jack's regular voice, did a great job as well. The songs from this film are wonderful, and have stuck with me for years. I even find myself randomly humming along to them, sometimes. The stop-motion claymation that was used for it adds a very unique, charming aesthetic, too. Overall, I feel that The Nightmare Before Christmas is a movie with so much heart behind it, and one that makes the holiday season complete for my family and I.

One film (or special) that I always look forward to watching each year around Christmas time is the classic tale of Charles Dicken's A Christmas Carol. Which one? All of them! I love all versions. Each one always brings a unique take on the Dicken's classic, mainly because they all tell a story that is timeless, thoughtful, and unforgettable. With all the characters ranging from Ebenezer Scrooge to Tiny Tim, and the chilling appearances of the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present, and Yet to Come, it's hard not to enjoy this holiday story.

People seem to think that the message of the story is to be good, generous, and joyous around the holidays, but that's not true. The point each of the visits by the spirits is to ensure that Scrooge becomes a much better person that is good, generous, and joyous through every passing day until the end of his time. That's why his transformation towards the end is so phenominal.

There are many different versions to this tale. You have the 1951 version with Alastair Sim as Scrooge, the 2009 animated one with Jim Carrey, the 1999 one with Patrick Stewart, the Muppets version, the Flintstones, Mr. Magoo, Blackadder, Doctor Who, Mickey Mouse and Scrooge McDuck, and the parody film Scrooged with Bill Murray. But the one that's probably my all-time favorite would have to be the 1984 version with George C. Scott as Scrooge. It's the one that tends to come to mind whenever I think A Christmas Carol, and it captures the novel pretty well.

Live-action, animated, even with puppets, A Christmas Carol is perfect anytime for any generation. It's the timeless story that warms my heart to no end.

Which version of A Christmas Carol is your favorite?

#holidays #christmas #christmascarol #bahhumbug

1974 - Stop animation at it's best, never miss a Christmas without watching this classic special. My son, "mom, we have to watch this again this year"? Me, "YES"! So we watch it, DVR is set, ready to record so we can watch it as we put up the seasons decorations, as a family. Not much is done as a family so this Christmas tradition will not be broken. Until...my son absolutely refuses and leaves the room. Hasn't happpend yet, knock on wood, and he is 14! So yes, the tradition continues, along with watching Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (1964), Frosty the Snowman (1969) and Santa Claus is Coming to Town (1970).

I know that some people find this movie really cheesy, but in my family, it’s a tradition.

It just simply isn’t Christmas time without it. I love the way Tim Allen potrtrays Santa Clause, and find the story line to be very convincing. There is also a lot of added humor, most of it by Tim, as both Scott Calvin and Santa Clause. So far, there are three movies in the series and another one on the way (the Krampus Clause). I'm so excited to watch the films again, and recommend them to anyone who hasn't already seen them.

Ever since my earliest Christmases, I have loved the music, the kindness that seemed more prevalent during this season than at any other time of the year, the smell of pine that permeated our home, and, of course, Christmas movies. My favorite film shown at this time of year is, It’s a Wonderful Life.

As as a child, I loved that the angel received his wings at the end. Later, I loved that George sees how much better the world of those around him is because he is in it. I think it made me feel that everyone has a purpose, everyone affects others in some way that they perhaps do not perceive, but if absent, all would be different, not as good.

As an adult who has felt the hopelessness that carried George Bailey to a bridge to end his life without a thought to even the woman who gave him her life and those of their children, It’s a Wonderful Life is a reminder to take a step back from the edge. You do not know who you have affected, are affecting or will affect for good. You do not know how your absence will change the course of someone else’s life. Your presence matters, even if you do not feel it and do not care. When living for myself is a burden, it helps to remember that message from It’s a Wonderful Life.

It is a wonderful life.