I go a little bit ott about christmas as the wife will tell you, I drive her mad with the decorations and turning the house into santas grotto, the songs in the car, buying presents and thinking about christmas for 8 months of the year as well as fussing over buying the right thoughtful presents for people, all the while as the big day comes closer banging on about the true meaning and peace and goodwill, why cant people be nicer to each other more often etc.
You would think I would like life to be like one of those dodgy, sickly, non realistic, happy ending, predictable christmas films wouldnt you. Well to be fair thats my wifes biggest christmas irritant, me with the christmas films. Ya see all through December I watch constant christmas films and as the big day approaches I have a set play list of all my favourites on dvd and they probably are the best ones, as well as squeezing in just about every other film I can including some of those really dodgy, corny made for tv American crappy ones that can be found on channel 5, true movies and christmas 24.
As December 25th approaches I play my top favourite films in counting down order, culminating on Christmas Eve with my top 3. The finale is always Scrooged with Bill Murray, theres just something about that version that gets me and always brings a little tear to my eye. Its that last bit with Murrays speech, absolutely sublime and a lot of it was ad-libbed. Ive just finished watching it and I actually watched the ending again.
The order of favorite for some of the list may change but my top 11 pretty much stays the the same.
I dont watch any Christmas films after Christmas Eve, I cant abide that for some reason, for me they are all about the build up and dont really make sense after Dec 24th. Indeed my favourite day of the year is Dec 24th, for me its all about the build up. the atmosphere and anticipation. Apart from spending time with close family, giving out their gifts and watching the Doctor Who christmas special, it all falls a bit flat after the 24th.
Anyway, this list of films, apart from 3 I have watched them all this month and they are great, probably had too much time on my hands and its been ideal just sticking them on the telly whilst perched on my exercise bike having my daily workouts( 8 stone down and counting!) There are a few films missing which would be on many others lists, but some I dont have, might not have seen or dont neccesarily rate, notably Its a Wonderful life, whilst number one on many lists I have never managed to watch it all without falling asleep. It is a great ending, possibly one of the best, but the rest of the film is a yawnfest and they always stick it on tv on something like the 28th or 29th, which is frankly ridiculous, it just doesnt work after Christmas Eve..
Right well Im off to watch Blackadders Christmas Carol, thats on a whole other list along with a few Only Fools and Horses christmas Specials.
Heres my list, whats yours?
1. Scrooged.
2. National Lampoons Christmas Vacation.
3. Elf.
4. The Grinch.
5. Home Alone.
6. Home alone 2. (watched all 5, but 3 are rubbish)
7. Fred Claus.
8. Santa Claus the Movie.
9. The Santa Claus.
10. Gremlins.
11. Deck The Halls.
12. Trading Places. (Higher on fave comedy list)
13. Arthur Christmas.
14. The Santa Claus 2.
15. A Christmas Carol. (Jim carrey)
16. Jingle All the way.
17. Miracle On 34th Street (1994)
18. Bad Santa.
19. Santa Who?
20. Lethal Weapon. (Higher on a normal film list)
21. Die Hard.
22. The Long Kiss Goodnight.
23. Eight Crazy Nights.
24. Die hard 2.
25. The Santa Claus 3.
26. Miracle On 34th Street. (1947)
27. Love actually.
28. Petes Christmas.
29. Christmas With The Kranks.
30. Surviving Christmas.
31. White Christmas.
Yes I have watched 27 of them this month as well as quite a few cheesy, corny, crappy made for tv ones and a few not worth a mention.
Merry Christmas.
