Top 5 Christmas Movies of All Time

You might as well save yourself some time and text or call me complaining about how I don't know what I'm talking about. You're probably right, but in my opinion (free country), these are the best Christmas movies of all time. To save you some moments of agony and loathing for yours truly, no I did not put Christmas Vacation on the list. In its defense, I have only seen it once and it was on a channel that played commercials constantly. Even the DVR couldn't save me from the turmoil of the Kohl's annual event of opening at (yes, you are reading correctly) 3AM. Turning back to the point. Read it. I bet you think it's interesting, given my opinion on certain movies. And yes, I know it's not even Thanksgiving yet, but I needed something to keep me awake before I had another 9pm meltdown of eyelids and a wake up to coffee that smells all too familiar like another day of driving in the cold, listening to a repetitious Top 40 morning show because Howard Stern isn't on. Anyway, here it is.

5. The Family Stone (2005)
Casted brilliantly, this modern age dramedy about a family's acceptance of a newcomer brings forth the tantalizing portrayal of the ultra-liberal mother (Diane Keaton) and father (Craig T. Nelson) team that has too many children to count. Along with these two elders are a cast of misfit children who are all but grown up. Rachel McAdams portrays the sniveling college student, humble in her home, spilling cereal, and making even more messes of social dignity. Luke Wilson portrays a middle child, stuck with no girlfriend or wife, a loner of sorts who seems to still have his parents pay more attention to his laundry for him than his actions. Tyrone Giordano plays a not only deaf, but homosexual sibling with an African American partner. That partner is portrayed by Brian J. White. Elizabeth Reaser portrays the seemingly eldest of the group with a daughter and one on the way. The story revolves around this family coming together for the holiday season. Dermott Mulroney portrays the actual eldest of the bunch, bringing home his girlfriend (yucky Sarah Jessica Parker) for the very first time. She begins her stay with limited expectations. McAdams' character had already met the horse-faced Parker and warned the family of what a piece of concrete she is. Constantly glue to her cell phone and face mole, Parker finds a way to play an ice queen for the ages. It does seem unfair at times as to why the family does not give her a slimmer of a chance, but they have the trust of their youngest daughter in their heads. So the story goes: Parker realizes everyone hates her and tries extraordinarily hard to fit in. She battles constant berating and attacks, finally calling upon her sister to shed some of the light in a different direction. Said sister is portrayed by Claire Danes, creating an electric glow of unadulterated beauty and finesse as she calmly arrives and is greeting with loving, welcome arms by the family. Meanwhile, we learn that Keaton's character has relapsed with cancer, causing the family to understand that this will probably be the last Christmas spent all together. Parker's character and Mulroney's character happen to fall out of love and he falls for the sister. Parker then ends up with lowly Wilson's character where they can give birth to seemingly headless creatures with gigantic noses. The overall realistic family feel is what brought this movie to a solid #5 on my list. I agree that not many of you will like this assumption, but it's true. The sheer solitude and honesty that is brought forth by this film brings in a sense of passion and compassion for the family that we all strive for. Though this family has money and liberal views, there are many flaws that make it into a real American family story.

#4. Love Actually (2003)
I promise to not go on such a rant like previously. Of course you know the story by now. A collection of smaller stories joined together. Love stories. Did I say that already? Well it's in the title. This properly motivated super-cast comes together to bind stories of betrayal, friendship, and, of course, love. With too many actors to name, I will just say that this collection of vignettes continues along a different line showing that no matter what gender, race, or age, love with always find its way. Of course, coupled with the notion that no one should be alone during Christmastime, people are alone, and with that, this summary will end. Good movie though.

#3. Elf (2003)
Will Ferrell is given his only due by me in this timeless classic (is it already 2010? This movie was made in 2003) Jeez. Anyway, Ferrell portrays a human that had snuck into Santa's sack-o-presents one fateful Christmas while he was munching on cookies in an orphanage. Reluctant to report this to the elf-police, Santa decided to have an elf raise the baby as his own. Brilliantly displaying the hilarity and unfortunately lack of a real Santa Claus, the movie is spun into a deeper hole when Ferrell sets off on a journey of self discovery in that big place we call New York City. Searching for his birth father (played by none other than James Caan), Ferrell finds that it is difficult being an elf inside such a pressure-filled judgment zone known as New York. Until he meets a really hot girl who can sing.

#2. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)
I have to blame this one on my mother. Well, not blame. Thank her. Every year I would know it was Christmastime by hearing her tune to the commercial free viewing of this film on NBC. She would sit and watch it over, and over, and over. This is coming from a woman who hated Independence Day (and yes, we're still related). However, I never saw the allure of the film until she actually sat me down and had me watch it. I never thought that such a classic could have such a profound impact on me. Showing the truly realistic story of a man struggling with his day to day life, though seemingly perfect, is truly tremendous. It turned into my own annual viewing to see this timeless tale, even sitting in my dorm room alone a few days before the winter holidays freshman year. Don't worry, all of my friends were already gone, I wasn't that much of a loser. But getting back to things, Jimmy Stewart and Frank Capra redefined the cinematic genre of the holiday season. And to do this in 1946 was phenomenal.

#1. A Christmas Story (1983)
Finding a dream. Isn't that what every kid thinks about? So what if it's for something that in today's standards would probably be the worst possible Christmas present before a shoe bomb (too soon?). To bring up a good point, why did he want a rifle? BB gun or not, it was an unusual gift. But either way, this movie brings about the very essence of Christmas. The family aspect, dealing with friends and bullies in the cold winter of Indiana, the present aspect. People lose touch with what Christmas is really about. But, to be honest, it hasn't been about the religion in years. Christmas is a commercialized bustle of economics and finance. If you don't have money, you won't have a good Christmas. Presents are the ultimate factor in any happy (or sad) holiday season. To bring forth a movie with such a strong presence, A Christmas Story destroys competition in creating the true nature of the holiday. There is a reason that TBS and TNT show 24 hours of A Christmas Story. There are plenty of other Christmas movies out there, but this one truly defines the meaning of this commercial holiday. Bringing about the comforts of home with the struggles of school, sibling rivalry, and of course, the Bumpuss' hounds.

So there you have it. I know, you don't agree. But tell me, what are you favorites? The world is built on opinion and argument. Let me know.