Even outside of this season of holiday and joy, I am a consistent Christmas movie watcher who always enjoys some holiday classics. Out of all the timeless Christmas movies I have watched, here are five that I have found to be the most iconic.
“Die Hard”
Although not the typical feel-good kind of Christmas movie, “Die Hard,” directed by John Mc Tieran in 1988, is an ultimate classic.
The story follows John Mclane, played by Bruce Willis, who is a New York City police officer visiting his wife and two daughters at a Christmas party held in a large company headquarters. However, when terrorists overthrow the building, Mclane is the only one left to save the hostages.
If you are a person who yearns for an “off-duty cop saves the day” movie, then you are in for a treat. I personally devour “Hallmark happiness” movies, so this change in pace is not my personal cup of tea.
Score: 3/5
“Love Actually”
“Love Actually” is one of the best Christmas movies of all time. Released in 2003, this English movie stars many well-known actors including Hugh Grant, Emma Thomson, Liam Neesen, Thomas Brodie-Sangster, and Alan Rickman, who also appears in “Die Hard.”
The plot consists of nine different stories, all interwoven together. A majority of the stories are about love relationships during the holiday season, and their lives all tie together in a conclusive finale.
I love this movie with all of my heart. While it is a cheesy romance movie, it is insanely funny, witty and very well written. The lives of the characters are so diverse in the beginning but seem so similar toward the end of the movie, creating one of the best closures I have seen in a movie.
Score: 5/5
“Elf”
“Elf” is a very humorous movie that perfectly encapsulates the winter season. Directed by Jon Favreau in 2003, the cast consists of some very notable actors, including Will Ferrel, Zooey Deschanel, Peter Dinklage, and Mary Steenburgen.
The movie is about a human baby, Buddy the Elf, who is raised in the North Pole by elves after sneaking into Santa’s toy bag. As he grows up, he finds out he is actually human and travels to New York City on a search for his biological father. Throughout the story, he attempts to strengthen his relationship with his father and finds a girlfriend named Jovie.
The movie is just pure happiness; there is never a dull moment. From Buddy pouring liquor in coffee thinking it was maple syrup to putting poptarts on top of spaghetti, this film is simply a cinematic masterpiece. It is appropriate for young children and is a renowned film that I tend to watch all year round.
Score: 4/5
“Live Action Grinch”
This live action version of the Grinch is much better than the original cartoon version. Not only is the highly energetic Jim Carrey playing the Grinch, but this captivating film captures the complete soul of the Whoville scene. The makeup, costumes, and background set are all phenomenally done along with the fantastic actors playing the interesting characters.
Some other notable cast members are Taylor Momsen, Christine Baranski, Bill Irwin, and Molly Shannon. Directed in 2000 by Ron Howard, this movie reveals a story straight from a Dr. Suess book. I appreciated the colors of Christmas that were utilized throughout the film and the immense amount of energy in each and every character. That being said, upon my first viewing of the film when I was five, I was deathly afraid of Jim Carrey’s costume, so viewer discretion is advised.
Score: 2/5
“Home Alone”
Widely considered as one of the best Christmas movies of all time, “Home Alone” has always been extremely popular during the holiday season. With a star-studded cast of Macaualay Culkin, Catherine O’Hara, Joe Pesci, and Daniel Stern, this movie was released in 1990 and was directed by Chris Colombus.
The story follows eight-year-old protagonist, Kevin McCallister, after his entire family forgets about him and leaves him home alone while they attend their trip to Paris. As a result, he has the time of his life in the empty house until two robbers have an evil plan to rob it, leaving Kevin to protect his home.
Personally, I am not the biggest fan of this movie. While I thought it was a great movie after watching it the first few times, I realized it has been ridiculously overplayed and thus, has caused me not to like it as much. Not only is it constantly played on television during the holiday season, three other movies follow this series coupled with two more spin offs of the original film. However, if you plan to watch this movie for the first time, I definitely recommend it.
Score: 2.5/5
