Films To Watch Over Christmas...

Snowball fight anyone?!

"The main reason Santa is so jolly is because he knows where all the bad girls live." - George Carlin. Hey everyone and welcome back to the Blog and to a special Christmasy Post as we'll be going through good Christmas related films to watch over this festive time. As promised, I'll be going through a range of different Christmas films, which will feature films that you'll recognise and be joyful at, and others that you'll be surprised at to see, If I can put it like that. Like with what I did with my Halloween special which you can check out HERE - http://rabbittevision.blogspot.co.uk/2015/10/my-favourite-halloween-films-to-watch.html, it would be much appreciated if you guys can also share with me your favourite Christmas films to watch. It's highly likely that everyone will say the same films, but it would be interesting to see non the less. Anyway, without further delay, lets crack on with Christmas bundle snowball, of a list... (yeah I don't know what the last part was about... :\)

1. The Polar Express - (Robert Zemeckis, 2004)

To Start the list, we have Robert Zemeckis' adaptation of the Chris Van Allsburg book of the same name which rightly so, celebrates and revives the lost child in all of us who wishes to regain his or her sense of wonder. At the same time, the film is a (sometimes literal) roller coaster ride; twisting and turning through a young boy's imagination as it chugs along towards the north pole. However, the films irrepressible sense of wonder easily out-paces other recent holiday efforts not only by indulging a child-like mentality, but arguably even melting the hardest heart and placing it right alongside the legend that is Tom Hanks (who plays one of five different roles!). One of the most undoubted themes to take away from The Polar Express, is that it reminds us that believing is seeing, and that our imagination can sustain us long after our intellect has ran out...

2. Edward Scissorhands - (Tim Burton, 1990)

Granted, there 's no helping to the fact that there's going to be a few Tim Burton films that make it onto this list. I mean it makes sense, most of his more recognised films do have connotations to Christmas. But it would be a crime in it's own right to not at least put Edward Scissorhands onto this Christmasy list. While it's a completely different kettle of fish to something like The Polar Express in terms of it's themes with the Jonny Depp character, Burton really does have an affection towards Christmas and Edward Scissorhands displays this imagination and festivity in a creative manner. The sequence which for me sums up the Christmas feel to this film is when we see the character of Edward creating a large angel ice sculpture (modelled on Kim) and the shavings create an effect of falling snow which Kim herself  dances under. It's the music in that particular scene that does it for me personally and is something that is always common place with Burton's films...

3. Love Actually - (Richard Curtis, 2003)

While I could have chosen Curtis's other work of 'Bridget Jones's Diary' which does very subtly have Christmas included in it, again, it would be wrong not to mention Curtis's ever-present and modern Rom-Com classic of 'Love Actually'. One of the ways in which this film is considered a modern-day classic with the associated sub-genre of Rom-Com, is that it's a film that anyone really for one, enjoy watching it and the other, to really relate to it. Unlike Curtis's other previous Romantic works, Love Actually as a lot will know, intersects and follows the lives of eight very different couples in dealing with their love lives in various loosely interrelated tales all set during a frantic month before Christmas. While you might dismiss the idea of seeing High Grant on screen for example, it reassures you with a well-respected cast in which everyone does give somewhat believable performances. It's definitely the Rom-Com to watch over Christmas... y'know, if you're in the mood for it and all...

4. In Bruges - (Martin McDonagh, 2008)

Moving on from a light-hearted Rom-Com, to something that is well, generally darker and a lot more funnier, to me anyway with McDonagh's In Bruges. Now if you're familiar with my Blog, you'll know that I actually reviewed In Bruges roughly a couple of months ago and it is one of those films that I always enjoy going back to since the comedy never get's saturated and with that, has this nice blend of mixing emotion and poetry with the archaic comedy. Now although this theme of Christmas isn't always elaborated on in this film, I do like how it's interwoven with the context of the plot; especially since it's a "beautiful place to witness before dying". If you're looking for a British Dark comedy to fill the mind over this Christmas, look no further than McDonagh's In Bruges...

5. The Muppet Christmas Carol - (Brian Henson, 1992)

Yes, I am fully aware that again, I could have chosen other iterations of Charles Dickens's novel such as Patrick Stewart's re-imagination or indeed Jim Carrey's visually appealing animation of the story from 2009, but I think the version that pops to mind when ever I think about the Christmas Carol, has to be The Muppets take on the novel. One of the reasons why I liked this version so much is that it really does have good production design and is somewhat imaginative with how Henson intertwines the Muppet characters with when we see Scrooge (played by Michael Caine) interacting with the different ghosts. What I also think it adds that not a lot other renditions of this story lack, is that it does genuinely have this heart-warming feel about it which links well with what I briefly said about the Production Design and how it manages to really fit the moment of the scene, whether it's something that is a happy moment or a mundane sequence. Overall, The Muppets Christmas Carol essentially serves as a good introduction to the story for young viewers...

6. The Night Before Christmas - (Henry Selick, 1993)

Even though Burton didn't direct this stop-motion odyssey, there are obvious fingerprints that he has left for the audience to witness. The clear motif to see similar to what I said with Edward Scissorhands, is how there is this clear affection towards the festive season with how the character of Jack Skellington (Chris Sarandon) turns his attention from Halloween, to Christmas with disastrous effects. While much can be credited for Sarandon in giving the character of Jack Skellington this proper air of self-importance, Danny Elfman's music and lyrics really do give the characters a real voice. The music mixed with moments of archaic-silhouette backdrops, makes The Nightmare Before Christmas seem like we're watching a well orchestrated animated theatre production for the younger viewer. Not to mention, it's only one of a very few family-orientated flicks that artistically views two different holidays with Halloween and of course, Christmas...

7. Elf - (Jon Favreau, 2003)

Being that this is a Christmas themed Blog Post, I do simply have to put in films that are generally fun to watch, and Elf, directed by Jon Favreau, is the perfect example that revisits the Santa Clause story in a modernized way. I think it's fair to say that from my perspective anyway, Elf is a film that over the last few years has caught on for a lot of people. Not to say that it wasn't popular when it was first released, but it didn't exactly get that much attention back then, as it does now. What I think makes this film work is that it's a film that is written very consistently and has a bunch of memorable comedic moments that never fail to impress. I mean sure, it ends in a fashion that is questionably cheesy, but it is a kids Christmas film and as for myself, a 21 year old Mancunian renegade, this specific Christmas cheese of Elf never gets saturated. It's as enjoyable a film for adults as it is for the children of this generation...

8. The Snowman - (Dianne Jackson, 1982)

Shown pretty much every year on Christmas Eve or on Christmas day on Channel 4 since the channel launched back in 1982, 'The Snowman' is arguably the perfect accompaniment to turkey, wine and Christmas pudding. With beautiful flickering animation, memorable characters and a bit of true Christmas spirit, you can't really look no further than this 30 minute animated short. While I think everyone can agree that the sequel to this classic wasn't so good and didn't capture that subtle sparkle like the original did, The Snowman is always worth a watch. What is weird to mention about The Snowman is how really sad and dark it gets near towards the end. To spoil the ending... the snowman evidently melts which springs upon a scene in which the boy is presumably crying next to the melted snowman whilst this sad musical theme plays over, if that's not sad and dark, then I honestly don't know anything any more. Now I know it's not a 'film' like the others on this list, but The Snowman HAS to be mentioned with it's animation that to this day, really stands up against other Christmas competitors.... 

9. Batman Returns - (Tim Burton, 1992)

To vary the list even more, yet again, we have another Burton film in the form of Batman Returns, 1 of 3 Batman films that Burton has directed. I think it's hard to say which out of Burton's 'Batman' films is the better since while they typically have the same sought of expressionate and archaic yet pantomime-ish production design, each one of them tonally feel very different. I would say however, that Batman Returns definitely has the darkest look out of those Burton's 'Batman' films. One of the reasons why I say this, is because you not only have characters that are depicted in a fantastical dark manner with Michael Keaton as Batman/Bruce Wayne and Michelle Pferiffer as Catwoman/Selina Kyle, but also how it has elements of Christmas intertwined within the context of the film which really adds to Burton's work since it creates this fantastical perspective of seeing a well constructed Gotham with snow and Christmas, you can't really ask any more than that really...

10. It's A Wonderful Life - (Frank Capra, 1946)

To end on a classical high-note for you golden-oldies (and hardcore film theorists/enthusiasts), we have Frank Capra's film It's a Wonderful life which is certainly an interesting film in general to talk about. The reason why it's an interesting film to talk about is because of it's popularity and how over time, people more and more stated it as a beloved classic. At the time of it's release, it was actually a box-office flop and only achieved its classical status after its copyright protection slipped during the 1970's, putting it into public domain. What I also finding interesting about this 'Christmas' film, is how incredibly haunting it is when you plainly read it's context; It's a Wonderful Life which involves the story of a businessman George Bailey (Jimmy Stewart) who's so distraught on Christmas Eve that he's thinking about ending his own life. While it may sound sad, the film does turn to the more light-adventurous side and actually does become a very linear and watchable family classic that is certainly life-affirming...

Right, well that about wraps everything up I guess. As always everyone, thank you for joining me on this one-off Christmas Blog Post special thing that I really enjoyed doing for you guys to read and divulge in. As mentioned in the intro, if you feel like any other Christmas film should be on this list, then you are more than welcome to comment down below. There are two things I want to say before I go off into the winter wonderland. The first thing is that, yes, this will be the last Blog Post of the year which ultimately means that I won't be reviewing Star Wars Episode VII: The Force Awakens around the time of its release. If it wasn't for the essays that I have to do and focus on during this Christmas break, then I would be on that review like lightning. Unfortunately it will have to wait until I finish everything that I have to do for University. To be honest as well, I hardly think that this film will flop, I'm highly confident that everyone will go out of the cinemas having watched the film feeling as though they've watched the best ever Star Wars, which I hope it is! Being that this is the last Blog Post that i'm going to do for this year, the 2nd and most vital thing that I want to say before I go and hibernate, is to say again to everyone, thank you so very much for everything this year. You all make up what this Blog is all about and for me knowing that, I just know that I'm never going to quit this. It's truly inspiring to see how a lot of people read and enjoy what I put out, I just hope that in return, I'm providing worth while reads that you like to engross in. Looking forward to 2016 as well, I just have a good feeling overall in terms of what this Blog can produce. Anyway, enough rambling on and all. Once again, thank you to everyone who has joined me for this Blog Post and for most of this year. I hope you all have a very merry Christmas with your loved ones, and a happy new year!!! I'll see you sometime early in the new year. Have a good one!!! :)

Alex Rabbitte.

(Just to leave everyone, I'm going to put down here a song from Edward Scissorhands, that pretty much gets me into the Christmas spirit, ta ta!)