Not a Finga!

There is something special about this time of year, don't you think? There are all sorts of brushes to paint December with, but regardless of how far away I get from the magic of childhood, it seems that nostalgia attached to Christmas movies cannot be thwarted.

And so I present to you a complete waste of my precious grading time, otherwise known as:

Jacqui's Top 24 Christmas Movies...
I will save Christmas Day for you and your families, okay?
(I could have put twenty-five, but I felt like I was putting movies on there that don't deserve it just to fill the spots...I took this kinda seriously...)

I understand that this list will create violent reactions (from the three people who read it) because I failed to mention The Nightmare Before Christmas (I've never seen it!) or because Christmas Vacation is so low (I care about the others so much more...). You won't like that The Holiday is on there, I know. I understand that my undying love for certain movies is not because they are well-made or dazzling or funny; I just know that at some point in my life, these have become cherished gems that I look forward to seeing. There are some that I WILL NOT miss seeing each year and some that have since faded away, but maybe this year, I will bake some cookies, boil some water for hot chocolate, and take a trip down Holiday Lane. And if there is a movie (save the the bottom few) that you haven't seen, please do the same, will you?

24. Polar Express--I did not like this movie. I LOVE this book. Since graduating from college, it is one of my greatest joys to read this book to my friends while drinking hot chocolate and sitting around my newly decorated Christmas tree. Seriously. It only made it on the list because of the book; the movie was a grave disappointment.


23. The Christmas Shoes--Okay. It was in a moment of emotional delusion that I watched this movie in Morris Fork. Yeah. I cried. It was so sappy sweet, but it was so sappy sweet...do you get me?


22. Very Brady Christmas--You know you got a little nervous when Mike got caught in that building. YOU KNOW IT.

21. Claymation Christmas--This might be higher on the list, but I haven't seen it since elementary school. Where has it gone?


20. Twas the Night Before Christmas--Same with this one...I am pretty sure I loved it though.


19. Holiday Inn--I didn't see it until last year. It can't be any higher, you know? (I will blow that theory with White Christmas, but whatever.)


18. Mickey's Christmas Carol--At this point, I started shaving away parts of my heart because I pretty much love every movie on this list from now on...


17. A Very Merry Cricket--No one understands why I love this so much. When that little cricket quiets Times Square with his beautiful wing music...geesh, I swoon.



16. The Holiday--What can I say? I am a sucker for Jack Black in a romantic comedy. "Well, hello, big dollop."



15. The Family Stone--I LOVE this movie. I hesitated putting it on the list, but it is a beautiful (and hilarious) story about family. Around Christmas.


14. Frosty the Snowman--Well, "Happy Birthday!"


13. The Grinch--Yes, the cartoon is better than the real re-make. No questions asked.


12. The Santa Clause--Why did they have to make more? The first one was actually pretty great. Don't laugh at me.


11. White Christmas--I just saw it two years ago. I love it. I wish I had a lifetime of watching it to make it mean even more.


10. It's a Wonderful Life--The purists will say this deserves a higher seed. I went with my OWN ideas, okay?


9. Miracle on 34th Street--I love the original. I love the remake. (When does that even happen?)


8. Christmas Vacation--Amazingly quotable? Yes. Hilarious? Yes. A part of our shared culture? Yes. Kills me because of the destruction of the house every time? Yes...like, it hurts me to watch it.


7. Rudolph--Rudolph's voice alone says "It's Christmas." Picture him saying it: "I'm coming, Santa!"


6. Home Alone--This is the only movie I ever saw with my entire family in the theater. My sister packed microwave popcorn bags (pre-popped) into her over-sized coat. My dad cried because he laughed so hard.


5. Elf--Sarah Lantz stood up and clapped when this movie ended. I joined her. Talk about an instant classic. That is very hard to do.



4. Garfield's Christmas--I don't care what you think, I simply adore it. ADORE IT.


3. Charlie Brown's Christmas--One of my students told me today that her family watches this every year, and she hates it. A little part of me died inside. Linus' speech about the "Babe in the manger" brings it all together. "Lights, please."


2. This was so difficult...but I decided that Muppet's Christmas Carol lands here. Words cannot express how much I love this movie. It is magical in every way...except for the Ghost of Christmas Past; she is terrifying.


1. A Christmas Story--It wasn't going to be here at first, but I had to think about how many memories and joyful events revolve around this movie. I have watched it with family and friends so many times, and only in my older years did I learn to value the magnificent voice of the narration (not just his voice...the words) and the real magic it holds right beneath so much hilarity.



And there you have it, folks. What do you think? Let me know!
PS. I dare you to try it. A top ten was so painful.