Christmas Movies
Our number 1 pick for Christmas movies, and our favorite all-time movie is National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation starring Chevy Chase and Bevery De-Angelo. This movie came out in 1989 and since then our family has worn out 2 VHS tapes, gone on to buy this on DVD, Blu-Ray and even got the limited edition soundtrack on CD. When we did our first computerized Christmas light display with all LED Christmas lights in 2010 we themed the light show after Clark Griswold. We watch this funny movie several times a year. The one liners from this movie are the best:
"if I woke up with my head sewn into the carpet I wouldn't be more surprised than I am right now"
Christmas Story is our next favorite and a Christmas classic. This movie was almost shelved and the antics of Ralph and Randy with the epic Battle of the Lamp with it. This movie brings the Christmas spirit of the 1950's back to life in vivid detail. The characters are well defined. We all laughed when the dad was so mad that he fell down the stairs when running down to fix the furnace. Or the mom going back to turn off the electric leg lamp to save electricity leaving on all the other lights, or Randy eating his food like a pig. And everyone can relate to Ralph as he deals with bullies, and his dream of owning a Red Ryder BB gun.
Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer with Burl Ives is the absolute Christmas classic. As a child we waited with great anticipation each year to seeing this Christmas special to appear on TV. Now we watch it every year as Rudolph has trouble fitting in and leaves the North Pole in embarrassment and then redeems himself. The snow monster still scares me a little even though he turns good in the end.
Elf is a welcome addition to our Christmas Favorites. Will Ferrill is too funny as a giant elf with an attachment disorder. We laugh through this movie watching Buddy the Elf try to make due with everything being too small at the North Pole and then his adjustment to normal life in New York City. He loves syrup on everything, and chugs an entire 2-liter of Coca-Cola and lets off a giant kid-pleasing burp and exclaims, "Did you hear that!" My favorite part is the beginning where Bob Newhart explains the background of elves. Making shoes, or baking cookies in trees, then the tree on fire with elves running away, "I want to make shoes"