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The Ten Best Christmas Movies – Relay Race.

Just recently an old blogger friend and I got to chatting. We spoke of how the blogosphere has changed dramatically since we entered into it. Which, as a result, led to him coming up with the idea that it would be nice to do an old school blogothon again.

The blogger in question is Nostra who runs the site My Filmviews and you can find the original post here. So, to introduce the relay race, I’ll leave it on the simplistic terms that he has laid out…
The goal of this new relay race is to find an answer to that question. The rules are, just like the past relay races (which Nostra did ages ago), very simple: The list has 10 Christmas movies (in random order) and when the baton is handed over to a new blogger, he or she has to remove one title of the list (with an explanation why) and add one new title. Once that is done a new blogger is contacted who will take the baton and run with it, doing the same (you can reinstate a title which has been previously removed). Now on to the initial 10 movies!…

HOME ALONE

There are a number of Christmas films that I actually watch annually and Home Alone has been one of my favorites for years. This film, written by John Hughes, has all the elements to amuse and get you in the mood Christmas. And Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern are of course hilarious when the “Wet bandits” Harry and Marv.

ELF

The film is almost fifteen years old, but the timeless story of a grown man who grew up among the elves and heads to New York, looking for his father, still is very funny and entertaining. Will Ferrell is the perfect “man child” and the short animated parts are a pleasure to watch. A real Christmas classic.

A MUPPET CHRISTMAS CAROL

Although Charles Dickens story has been translated to film many times, this version is still my personal favorite. A film with a lot of atmosphere and the warmth of the Muppets.

DIE HARD

Every year people argue whether or not Die Hard can be labeled a Christmas film. Yet it is very simple: Although there is a lot of action, the story takes place around Christmas. And Bruce Willis might play his best role ever.

BAD SANTA

Almost everything that Christmas should not be and therefore wrong at the same time, but fun.

GREMLINS

Although you might not associate this horror comedy with Christmas immediately, this film is set during this period and the gremlins even sing Christmas songs. A title that can not be missed.

IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE

It’s a Wonderful Life is a movie which is watched by lots of people every year. Rightly so, because it is a beautiful film that fits the Christmas period.

MIRACLE ON 34TH STREET

Another title that I have to think about immediately during this period. Although the opinions are divided which two of the two versions is the best.

LOVE ACTUALLY

In this film eight different couples have to deal with the loves in their lives, all just before Christmas. A nice romantic movie, with a number of heart-warming moments.

ARTHUR CHRISTMAS

The clumsy son of Santa, Arthur, has to make sure that a forgotten package is delivered on time, doing this together with his grandfather. A very nice film from Aardman studios (also responsible for the Wallace & Gromit films).

My inclusion to this Top Ten would be…

EYES WIDE SHUT

I’m using the same argument here that many Die Hard fans cling to. The story is set during the festive season and, in actual fact, most if not all scenes are introduced by depicting a Christmas tree. It’s fair to say, that it’s dark psychological mystery isn’t exactly in tune with the Christmas cheer but if Die Hard can be tenuously linked to this joyful season then so can Kubrick’s masterpiece.

And the film I’m dropping?….

LOVE ACTUALLY

Simply because I’m not overly keen on romantic movies and it consists of a cast that are amongst the most irritating performers; Hugh Grant and Keira Knightley being the most notable.

• • •

So there you have it, the Christmas relay race is up and running and I pass the baton to Keith from Keith & the Movies.

This entry was posted on December 6, 2017 at 1:05 am and is filed under Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.

23 Responses to “The Ten Best Christmas Movies – Relay Race.”

  1. Three Rows Back Says:
    December 6, 2017 at 7:55 am

    Hey Mark! Hope you’re well mate. Have been out of action for a while but back in the blogging game and back to read great posts like this! Good for you dropping Love Actually; not the best Xmas movie!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  2. vinnieh Says:
    December 6, 2017 at 7:03 pm

    Nothing like a bit of old school blogging. I liked what you did here.

    Like

    Reply
  3. Nostra Says:
    December 6, 2017 at 8:19 pm

    Nice to see it up and running and also that Keith has already put up his entry as well!

    As for Eyes Wide Shut, I’ll have to admit it’s still a movie I have not seen. Will add it to my blindspot movies for next year!

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
    • Mark Walker Says:
      December 7, 2017 at 9:15 am

      Many will split hairs on Eyes Wide Shut being a Christmas movie but it’s as much a Christmas movie as Die Hard is and for that reason, I had to go with it. It’s possible that someone won’t see it that way, though, and knock it off further down the line.

      Like

      Reply
  4. theipc Says:
    December 6, 2017 at 9:30 pm

    Muckers,

    I was watching a tv show where people were wearing muckers. I truly get it now.

    Boatdrinks and Horsetits my main Muckers

    Your Amigo

    ei

    Liked by 2 people

    Reply
  5. Wendell W Ottley Says:
    December 7, 2017 at 4:11 am

    Glad you guys came up with the idea of doing another of these. It’s great fun following them. Not a big fan of Eyes Wide Shut, but I like it better than the movie you removed.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
  6. Chris Says:
    December 7, 2017 at 3:35 pm

    Eyes Wide Shut is a great movie, though I can’t say it’s one I think of in terms of Christmas, but your argument about Die Hard is sound. Good to have EWS included and I see you encouraged Nostra to watch it so that’s cool! Enjoying reading these relay posts

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
    • Mark Walker Says:
      December 11, 2017 at 8:19 am

      I ordinarily wouldn’t think of Eyes Wide Shut as a Christmas film either but I had to try and squeeze it in there based around the same argument as Die Hard. That said, I’m very open to anyone taking it back off the list further down the line.

      Thanks for dropping Chris. Appreciated, man. 🙂

      Liked by 1 person

      Reply
  7. alexraphael Says:
    December 12, 2017 at 12:48 pm

    This really is a great series 🙂 I’d have been mad if you had dropped Die Hard haha.

    Liked by 1 person

    Reply
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