"My Favorite Holiday Films"
My holiday-themed picks in no particular order.
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- DirectorJohn PasquinStarsTim AllenJudge ReinholdWendy CrewsonWhen a man inadvertently makes Santa fall off his roof on Christmas Eve, he finds himself magically recruited to take his place.This is one of my favorite Christmas films and Allen is great in it.
- DirectorChuck JonesBen WashamStarsBoris KarloffThurl RavenscroftJune ForayA grumpy hermit hatches a plan to steal Christmas from the Whos of Whoville.I've always liked this and the late, Karloff (Frankenstein) had a creepy voice, but did a great job narrating.
- DirectorJohn CarpenterStarsDonald PleasenceJamie Lee CurtisTony MoranFifteen years after murdering his sister on Halloween night 1963, Michael Myers escapes from a mental hospital and returns to the small town of Haddonfield, Illinois, to kill again.
This is definitely one of Carpenter's best that
changed the holiday forever, Pleasence &
Curtis are great in it and who can forget
Carpenter's chilling score. The film also paid
tribute to Alfred Hitchcock's 1960 classic,
"Psycho" where the name, Sam Loomis, the
kitchen knife and the late, Janet Leigh's
daughter, Curtis were used. - DirectorTommy Lee WallaceStarsTom AtkinsStacey NelkinDan O'HerlihyKids all over America want Silver Shamrock masks for Halloween. Doctor Daniel Challis seeks to uncover a plot by Silver Shamrock owner Conal Cochran.The film was supposed to be the first of different Halloween tales intended by John Carpenter, but failed because it had no Michael Myers. I really like it, Atkins & the late, O'Herlihy are great in it and Carpenter & Alan Howarth's score is excellent as usual.
- DirectorJohn HughesStarsSteve MartinJohn CandyLaila RobinsA Chicago advertising man must struggle to travel home from New York for Thanksgiving, with a lovable oaf of a shower-curtain-ring salesman as his only companion.This is definitely one of Martin & Candy's best and they were great together. A Thanksgiving tradition to watch every year
- DirectorBob ClarkStarsPeter BillingsleyMelinda DillonDarren McGavinIn the 1940s, a young boy named Ralphie Parker attempts to convince his parents, teacher, and Santa Claus that a Red Ryder Range 200 Shot BB gun really is the perfect Christmas gift.This is a Christmas classic I watch on TV every year and Billingsley & the cast are great in it.
- DirectorBill MelendezStarsAnn AltieriChris DoranSally DryerDepressed at the commercialism he sees around him, Charlie Brown tries to find a deeper meaning to Christmas.Like many, I watched this on tv growing up and enjoyed it since.
- DirectorJules BassArthur Rankin Jr.StarsJackie VernonBilly De WolfeJimmy DuranteA living snowman and a little girl struggle to elude a greedy magician who is after the snowman's magic hat.I grew up watching this and always loved it.
The song is a classic by Jimmy Durante whom also narrates. - DirectorJeremiah S. ChechikStarsChevy ChaseBeverly D'AngeloJuliette LewisThe Griswold family's plans for a big family Christmas predictably turn into a big disaster.This has become another Christmas classic and Chase is great as usual.
- DirectorRobert YoungStarsDiana RiggCharlotte RaeTim CurryMildred Hubble (Fairuza Balk) is one of the young girls at a prestigious witch academy. She can't seem to do anything right and is picked on by classmates and teachers. The headmistress of the school, Miss Cackle (Charlotte Rae), has an evil twin sister (Agatha) who plans to destroy the school. Can Mildred foil the plan before the Grand Wizard (Tim Curry) comes to the Academy for the Halloween celebration you'll never forget?I remember this used to be on HBO when I was a kid and liked it since. Balk is great and it's funny that she played a witch 10 years later in "The Craft."
- DirectorJohn McTiernanStarsBruce WillisAlan RickmanBonnie BedeliaA New York City police officer tries to save his estranged wife and several others taken hostage by terrorists during a Christmas party at the Nakatomi Plaza in Los Angeles.This is one of Bruce's best, Rickman is unforgettable as Hans and Michael Kamen's score is great. Some people disagree this is a Christmas film, but it is because it takes place on the Eve of the holiday.
- DirectorRichard DonnerStarsBill MurrayKaren AllenJohn ForsytheA selfish, cynical television executive is haunted by three spirits bearing lessons on Christmas Eve.Murray is great in this, he & Allen have good chemistry and Danny Elfman's score is great as usual.
- DirectorChris ColumbusStarsMacaulay CulkinJoe PesciDaniel SternAn eight-year-old troublemaker, mistakenly left home alone, must defend his home against a pair of burglars on Christmas Eve.This is a classic with a great cast & excellent score by John Williams as usual.
- DirectorJoe DanteStarsZach GalliganPhoebe CatesHoyt AxtonA young man inadvertently breaks three important rules concerning his new pet and unleashes a horde of malevolently mischievous monsters on a small town.I grew up watching this, it's not only one of Dante's best, but definitely one of the best creature features. It has a good cast, great make-up effects by Chris Walas & unforgettable score by Jerry Goldsmith.
- DirectorTerry ZwigoffStarsBilly Bob ThorntonBernie MacLauren GrahamA miserable conman and his partner pose as Santa and his Little Helper to rob department stores on Christmas Eve. But they run into problems when the conman befriends a troubled kid.Thornton & Cox are great in this and together.
A funny holiday flick with a bit of heart.