Christmas Movies

Well, it's almost that time of year again. Come Thursday or Friday night, it's time for Christmas movies and specials. They are a great part of the American Christmas experience, and help us get into the Christmas spirit by focusing our attention on the season's intangibles.

So, I was thinking, which Christmas movies are indispensable to achieving that theme? After all, there must be dozens and dozens of them, many forgotten, others that ought to be forgotten, and perhaps some that we've just looked over. Since we've been married, Libby and I have been buying one film we think is a wonderful addition to the Christmas season. Here's what we have so far, is there anything else we should invest in?

1) A Charlie Brown Christmas - I think this is Charles Schultz's finest work. The simplest of art styles swells to incorporate an evocative gospel theme, as an unloved Christmas tree (and titular protagonist) is transformed via a society motivated by the Linus's beautiful reading of Luke's nativity story. It gives me goosebumps and good feelings every time I hear it.

2) It's a Wonderful Life - No season is more suited to the optimistic populism of Frank Capra than the one that begins this year on November 30th. And no actor was ever more suited to the role of George Bailey than James Stewart. Together they created a wonderful film that truly reveals the awesome value of a life well lived.

3) A Christmas Story - BB guns never seemed so enticing. The deepest charm of this movie, over and above its laughs, is the feeling of nostalgia it can evoke for the magical Christmases that we experienced as children.

This year we bought the Chuck Jones animated version of Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, but we're waiting to see it after Thanksgiving roles around. The one that we've crossed off our list so far is White Christmas, which was ok, but didn't really seem to contribute anything to the holiday mood. We're especially looking for a good version of Dicken's Christmas Carol, which is our favorite Christmas fiction.

Feel free to let us know if you have any traditional favorites that you think we're missing out on! We'd love to hear from you.