Merry Christmas

Online Movies

Here's a great resource that takes you directly to online versions
of 202 Christmas movies, TV specials and Sitcom episodes.

Enjoy!

101 Christmas Movies Online

101 More Christmas Movies Online

Top 20 Christmas Movies: Part III

At Last....

The Top 5 Christmas Movies of all time. First, let's review where things stand:

6. The Muppet Christmas Carol
7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon)
8. (tie) Miracle on 34th Street
8. (tie) It's a Wonderful Life
9. The Santa Clause
10. A Garfield Christmas
11. Love Actually
12. White Christmas
13. Rudolph the Red-nosed Reindeer
14. Frosty the Snowman
15. Home Alone 2
16. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (live action)
17. Polar Express
18. 'Twas the Night Before Christmas
19. Santa Claus is Coming to Town
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5. Elf (2003)

When this premiered just five years ago, it became an instant classic. Will Ferrel's portrayal of human-turned-Elf-turned-disillusioned-not-Elf is classic. There are so many classic one liners. In fact, there is an entire Facebook group devoted to answering the phone like Buddy the Elf for a day. "Buddy the Elf, what's your favorite color?" This movie weaves together the over-the-top ridiculous Ferrel is know for and the magic of Christmas lore. A great cast (James Caan, Mary Stienburgen, Zooey Deschanel, Ed Asner, and Bob Newhart) helps fill out a well balanced script that isn't dependent on any one character's performance. The duet between Buddy and the shop girl (Zooey) of "Baby, It's Cold Outside" is wonderful-slash-hysterical. And the stor manager-turned Santa fill-in...ha! This is always the first movie I watch with friends to kick off the season. "G'bye Buddy...hope you find your dad" - The Norwall.


4. Home Alone (1990)

Chances are, you either love this one with a disturbing addiction, or you don't really care for it all that much. This is by far the Christmas movie I've watched most in my life. Perhaps it's because I was about the same age as Kevin (Macaulay Culkin) when it came out. Or perhaps because it's just amazing. Again, a slew of memorable quotes and one-liners fill up the script. Another wonderful cast (Catherine O'hara, Joe Pesci, Daniel Stern and a cameo by John Candy) pulls of this less-than-believable scenario. But it is every kids dream! The soundtrack is wonderful as well (check it out!) and many of those songs bring instant images of this movie to mind. It has hi jinx, heartfelt moments, and the hopes and dreams of every child strewn about. Seriously, what eight year-old doesn't want to make his own ice cream sundae, set up booby traps, do his own shopping, use (memorably) aftershave, and cut down his own tree? So much greatness here, I'll have


3. A Christmas Story (1983)

That this movie is played for 24 hours straight on TNT every Christmas Eve-into-Day should tell you how popular and wonderful it is. It's set in Indiana, has the glean of years-gone-by, and includes more hopes and dreams of little boys at Christmas time. Again, as with all of the Top 5, there are too many memorable scenes and moments to outline them all here. That being said, remember the point were Ralphie beats the crap out of the bully? Or how about his dream sequence when he uses his Red Ryder carbine-action 200-shot range model air rifle (BB Gun) to shoot the bad guys in the backyard? Of course, the mantra 'you'll shoot your eye out' rings so true to life. And the dirty department store Santa kicking Ralphie down the slide. And the Chinese restaurant rendition of Jingle Bells (Fa ra ra ra ra, ra ra ra ra). I love the "Wonder Years"-esque voice over - it adds so much. And just like Home Alone, there is so much for little boys to relate to in this one. Who hasn't been tortured with that ridiculous present from an aunt, that your parents seem to love so much? And we all learned that you really shouldn't stick your tongue to a metal pole when it's freezing outside.


2. Christmas Vacation

A lot of people may be confused how this one can be anything but first. True, it is the quintessential Christmas movie and probably the last thing any of us saw Chevy Chase in. I know I'm repeating myself, but just like the last two movies, the reality presented is startling and reassuring all at the same time. The Griswolds represent the everyman and the ridiculousness know as family gatherings. It is comforting to see other families (fictional, though they may be) are as dysfunctional as our own. A wonderful cast, great music, and the "Hap-Hap-Happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny *** Kaye. Cousin Eddie and that awful green dickie under the shear, white turtle neck. The neighbors. "I don't know Todd." Aunt Bethany's Jello, wrapping the cat, and saying grace (who died thirty years ago). What makes a movie so wonderful, memorable, and worthy of the top spot is it's ability to make you see yourself in the movie, and to go on for YEARS quoting it. This is that movie. This is a masterpiece that must be watched, over and over and over. Of course, Clark Griswold is the inspiration for so many outdoor light displays. Someday, I'll do it....someday.


1. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)

The only reason that 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' beats out the other worthy Christmas movies is because of the scene where Linus tells the true meaning of Christmas on stage.



It is a great movie for a host of other reasons. The soundtrack is the best Christmas album, bar none. I listen to it year round. The usual Peanuts gang is doing their usual things. The themes of over-commercialization appear, seeming to be the reason Charles Schulz made the show in the first place. Lost of great lines, lots of great moments and feelings conjured up here. Watching this show is a holy experience for me - I don't want to talk, I don't want to move. I just want to sit and watch and take it in. For years, I've contemplated owning it on DVD, but the idea of being able to watch it at my leisure, over and over, seemed somehow unbecoming the nature of the story. Maybe I'll cave at some point, but for now, I'll set aside time each season to take in the true meaning of Christmas through the immortal storytelling of Charlie Brown.

The Rockefeller Tree

The Rockefeller Center Christmas Tree is probably the most famous tree in the United States. Since 1931, a tree has been erected during the Christmas season. The tradition began during construction when workers decorated a twenty foot tree with "strings of cranberries, garlands of paper, and even a few tin cans." A few early years saw multiple trees, one year having as many as three. The tallest tree to date was in 1999 when a 100-foot tree was presented.

Each year, the man in charge of selecting the tree scouts for the perfect tree by helicopter. This year, a 72-foot Norway Spruce was selected from a home in New Jersey. Owner Bill Varanyak has called it the 'miracle tree', because the 77-year-old tree was planted after his parent's used it as their home Christmas tree in 1931 - the very same year Rockefeller began displaying a tree.

Some stats on this year's tree:

Height: 72 feet

Lights: Over 30,000 LED lights with 5 miles of wiring

Star: Sitting atop the tree, weighing 550 pounds and 10 feet in diameter, is a 25,000 crystal Swarovski star.

Going Green: The tree was cut with a two person saw and will be powered by 363 solar panels placed on top of the 30 Rock building. Once the season is over, the tree will be milled into boards and mulch, to be used in Habitat for Humanity projects in NYC, the Gulf Coast, India, and Brazil

Tomorrow, Wednesday, December 3 is the tree lighting ceremony.
You can watch the whole spectacle live on NBC at 8pm EST, and will feature performances by Beyonce, David Cook, Jonas Brothers, Faith Hill, Tony Bennett, Harry Connick Jr., and other stars.

Top 20 Christmas Movies: Part II

Now for numbers 10 through 6:

*There has been a clerical error and a movie was inadvertently left off of the list. It has been reinserted as a tie for where it should be. This would necessarily remove 'Jingle All the Way' from the Top 20, which is fine by me.


10. Garfield Christmas (1987)

Where Garfield falls short on the Halloween special, it hits every right note for Christmas. It includes a down-home feel, a catchy song or two, heartwarming moments, and everything else you've ever loved about Garfield. John Arbuckle is off-beat enough, and folksy, so you end up wanting to be a part of that family, even if only just for a Christmas gathering. If you haven't seen this one yet, you need to.


9. The Santa Clause (1994)

It's pretty easy to use Tim Allen as the punch-line of many a-joke. And deservedly so (see: Starship Troopers, Man of the House, and Jungle-to-Jungle). But here, the mythology of Santa Claus is richer for having Tim Allen imagine what it would be like to be forced into becoming old Kris Kringle. That guy from Beverly Hills Cop is in it, which either improves it in your mind or denegrates it, but it's a fun picture that doesn't pander to just the children in the audience. It's good one to see, but by no means should you ever see the second or third ones.


8. (tie) Miracle on 34th Street (1947)

Here is a classic, and as far as I know, the only movie on my list to be nominated for the Oscar for Best Picture. The story of a little girl who doesn't believe that Santa is real is confronted with a man who claims to be Father Christmas himself. This is a story of belief and unbelief, of family, and of the larger context of what St. Nick stands for in our culture. And a stellar ending. I prefer the original because of the overall feel. While the new movie is shot to resemble a softer, simpler time, I can't get past that little girl from Mrs. Doubtfire. Cute once, but no more. And the ending is changed - which works just fine, but feels more contrived to me. In the end, I love to see the girl's mind (and heart) changed over the course of the movie. It reminds me of the letter, 'Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus."


8. (tie) It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

Here is the movie that was accidentally left out. It took considerable time for me to be able to even start liking this movie. Once I got past the depressing tone, the Jimmy Stewart squawk, and the pulsating-talking star, I started to realize the gems below the surface. I think you can't appreciate this movie until you're at least twenty. Yes, it has lines that have been beat into our storry of what happensmemory (against our wills), but the essence of the movie is what happens when people live in community with one another, when they begin to look beyond their own needs and wants. It's a great movie that , like fine wine, is better with age.


7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (cartoon, 1966)

The genius of Dr. Seuss is brought to television in this classic cartoon Christmas special. From the Who's to the heart three sizes too small to the dog-turned reindeer, what brilliantly developed characters. The narrator weaves a tale as only told by Seuss. The adorable Cindy Lou Who warms your heart and the Grinch shrivels it. And even when the presents are stolen, the trees thrown up the chimney, and the Grinch back atop the mountain, the Whos gather to sing in the words of the Who:

Fah who for-aze! Dah who dor-aze! Welcome Christmas, Come this way! Fah who for-aze! Dah who dor-aze! Welcome Christmas, Christmas Day.


6. Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

The classic tale from Charles Dickens told in the fashion of Jim Henson and the entire of the Muppets. Narrated by Gonzo and Rizo the Rat, Kermit takes on the role of Bob Cratchet and Ebenezer Scrooge is played wonderfully by Michael Kane. It's a great, cautionary tale with the comic relief of the Muppets, wonderful musical moments, and the same pogniant moral written down so long ago. This is by far the best Muppet Christmas movie and you need to make it a part of your Christmas tradition.



Look for the Top 5 Wednesday.