Sunday, December 16, 2007

It's beginning to look a lot like...

Hark the herald, please to share the movie your holiday season would be incomplete without. For me it’s “Christmas Vacation”. Clark Griswold is the consummate family guy, full of holiday optimism on the quest for the perfect Christmas. I always tear up a little at the scene with Clark trapped in the attic, wrapped in a ladies turban and fur coat, watching old family movies.

And bonus, it was written by John Hughes.

Joy to the world!

11 comments:

Unknown said...

The Great Escape. It's a hardy perennial of British TV at Christmas, and an old-fashioned adventure film you never tire of watching no matter how many times it's been on. There's the tragedy of Dickie Attenborough and Gordon Jackson getting it not quite just right, and the thwarted heroism of Donald Pleasance going blind, and James Garner sticking with him. Then there's the indomitable spirit of Steve McQueen, one more time failing to get his motorcycle over that fence, and finding his way back into the cooler, unbowed and ever-defiant. That film had all the role-models a boy could need.

Joe the Troll said...

Just saw it today - The Bishop's Wife.

Natsthename said...

Mine is, rather predictably, A Christmas Story. Thank heavens for the annual marathon on TBS or TNT or some such Turner network. I see the "double dog dare" several times over the course of the day!!

Joe's pick is excellent, too.

Kos said...

Mine's A Christmas Story too, Nat, predictability be damned. I admit, though, that I'm a sappy sucker for all kinds of holiday movies. We make it a tradition to watch many every year: Miracle on 34th Street, A Christmas Carol, Christmas Vacation, It's a Wonderful Life, Home Alone, Scrooged, Edward Scissorhands, and Nightmare Before Christmas to name a few, not to mention all the animated children's classics.

Oh, and SG, you've made me want to watch The Great Escape once again. They just don't make 'em like Mr. McQueen anymore, do they? I just may be the last of 'em...

Teacake said...

The George C. Scott version of A Christmas Carol.

First Runner Up: Wonderful Life. Can't help it. Total sucker.

I also - and I am prepared to be kicked out of the filminati for tihs - prefer the remake of Miracle on 34th Street. The little girl is so much cuter. There, I said it. And, whatevs peeps, Dylan McDermott.

Teacake said...

Oh lord, I forgot We're No Angels. The original with Bogey and Peter Ustinov, who is nothing short of brilliant. We watch it every year.

Jodie Kash said...

Never thought of Eddie Scissorhands as a Christmas movie, but now I must watch it (again) immediately. I saw the story performed as a ballet – no joke – this year…no dialogue, just dance and it kicked my ass.

Paticus said...

Scrooged and It's A Wonderful Life

Natsthename said...

Teacake..the one with Sebastian Cabot? That one was OK, but there was another one I hated..forget who was in it.

I love Natalie Wood in the original, though. And not just 'cuz of her name.

Teacake said...

I think the one I like is probably the one you hate - 1994 remake. Richard Attenborough plays Santa and a little girl called Mara Wilson plays Susan. She's the cutest little girl. The rest of the cast is unremarkable except for some Dylan McDermott hottie goodness.

Looney said...

Die Hard and Home Alone :-) The boys watched Home Alone with us for the first time. They thought that was a riot. I keep checking for hanging paint cans now...