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{This is a collaborative post}
When it comes to
Christmas, there's a lot to be happy about, and one of the highlights for many
of us is, of course, watching Christmas films. There's something for everyone,
whether you enjoy classics or comedies. Grab a cup of hot chocolate, a huge
warm blanket, and your Christmas spirit because these holiday films are about
to light up your life like a Christmas tree.
A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
A Charlie Brown Christmas is a
1965 animated television special that was the first to be based on Charles M.
Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. Produced by Lee Mendelson and directed by Bill
Melendez, the holiday classic was premiered on CBS. This 25-minute film begins
with Charlie Brown finding himself depressed despite the holiday season around
the corner, and Lucy, the lovely neighbourhood child psychiatrist, suggests that
he put on a neighbourhood Christmas play.
However, his best efforts are rejected when he chooses a small Christmas tree as the centrepiece. Luckily, it has a joyful ending thanks to the unstoppable combination of Linus' heartfelt message about the true meaning of Christmas and the undeniable power of catchy jazz music. If you miss the live broadcast on TV, you can still watch the movie online on Apple TV+. The message at the centre of this never grows old!
Home Alone (1990)
No Christmas movie list would be
complete without this timeless classic because it is simply that good. Home
Alone is an American comedy film written and directed by Chris Columbus and
produced by John Hughes. It is the first film in the Home Alone series, and it
stars Macaulay Culkin. The Fox holiday film centres around Kevin, a young boy
who protects his home from burglars after his family leave him behind on their
trip to Paris.
He is left at home, alone for
days, and he has a luxurious home to himself. He lounges around like it's a
huge playground, complete with loud music from the speakers along with free ice cream and pizza. When criminals try to rob the
house, things go awry, but he handles them admirably with all his young boy tactics. The
hilarious experiences that follow are sure to keep the whole family
entertained and laughing out loud.
The Santa Clause (1994)
Directed by John Pasquin and
written by Leo Benvenuti and Steve Rudnick, the Santa Clause is a 1994 American
Christmas comedy-drama film. In this first film of the Santa Clause film series,
Tim Allen plays Scott Calvin, a man who accidentally causes Santa Claus to fall
from his roof. Santa's body vanishes, leaving only the iconic red clothing. Scott
takes over the reindeer and sleigh to be the next Santa Claus.
After completing St. Nick's
journey, he and his son, Charlie, return to the North Pole, where Scott
discovers that he must become the new Santa and persuade everyone he cares
about that he is, in fact, the real Santa Claus. Charlie informs his mother and
stepfather, but they are unconvinced. Months pass and Scott transforms into
Santa, gaining pounds and growing a fluffy white beard. This makes him realise
he should have read the fine print before signing the Santa contract. In the end,
court hearings decide that he's insane and end his visitation rights, but the fun continues!
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Elf (2003)
While most of us assume that the
Christmas film canon is complete, that was not the case when an American
Christmas comedy film was released in 2003. Elf, directed by Jon Favreau and
written by David Berenbaum, stars Will Ferrell as one of the main characters.
Buddy, who crawled his way into Santa's sack of gifts as a baby, was
transported from an orphanage to the North Pole, where he was adopted by Papa
Elf and nurtured among the rest of Santa's elves.
Realising he is not like the
other elves, Buddy flies to New York in search of his biological father.
Unfortunately, Walter, the biological father, is a grumpy old man, but that
doesn't stop Buddy from reaching out to him. This Christmas classic is not only
funny, but it also has a beautiful festive message, making it an ideal film towatch during this pandemic.
Klaus (2019)
It's not often that a Christmas
film gets an Academy Award nomination, but Klaus does and for a good reason.
Klaus is a 2019 English-language Spanish animated Christmas film directed by
Sergio Pablos, produced by his animation studio, and distributed by Netflix. Jason Schwartzman as the mail carrier and J. K. Simmons as
Santa Clause star in the traditionally animated film. This animation depicts an
alternate historical version of the Santa Claus myth.
The story begins as Jesper, the
postal worker, is the worst postal academy student and is exiled to the North
Pole, where his lack of letter-delivery skills will not harm anyone. Klaus, a
quirky carpenter who lives alone and adores producing handmade toys, joins him
there. This is a film that people of all ages will appreciate and be drawn to,
so be sure to see it soon.
It won't be long before Christmas Day is upon us, so don't delay, snuggle up with your family this weekend and enjoy a great feel-good movie.