Christmas 2007 is gone, but the holiday season has a bit of time left yet and everyone has their own way to celebrate the “festive” season. I, like many people, enjoy watching movies associated with Christmas (despite intensely disliking a once-a-year holiday where you’re supposed to be nice to people you don’t like).

This is merely my own personal short list - ordered alphabetically - of either “Christmas” movies I’ve seen many times or which are on my shortlist to see.

1. A Christmas Carol. Released Dec 16, 1938. Starring Reginald Owen, Gene Lockhart, Kathleen Lockhart, Terry Kilburn. One of the classic “Ebenezeer Scrooge” movies.

2. Christmas Vacation. Released Dec 1, 1989. Starring Chevy Chase, Beverly D’Angelo, Juliette Lewis, Johnny Galecki, John Randolph, Diane Ladd, Randy Quaid, Doris Roberts. How can you not like the Griswolds and the zaniness of their family Christmas?
3. Die Hard. Released Jul 15, 1988. Starring Nicolas Cage, Bonnie Bedelia. Not released in December but an Xmas flick still the same.
4. Home Alone. Released Nov 16, 1990. Starring Macaulay Culkin, Joe Pesci, John Heard, Catherine O’Hara, John Candy. A modern classic of kookiness and fun for the holidays.
5. How the Grinch Stole Christmas. Released Dec 18, 1966 (made for TV, animated). Narrated by horrormeister Boris Karloff. This one is so much more fun for the family than the scary 2000 live-action version with Jimmy Carrey.
6. It’s a Wonderful Life. Released Jan 7, 1947. Starring James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore. This is it, the classic, and my favorite Xmas flick, as well as tops in my favorite Jimmy Stewart movies. Directed by Frank Capra, father of Frank Capra, Jr.
7. Miracle on 34th Street. Released May 4, 1947. Starring Maureen O’Hara, Gene Lockhart, Natalie Wood. Is this Santa real as he claims, and has to defend himself in court?
8. The Family Man. Released Dec 22, 2000. Starring Nicolas Cage, Tea Leoni, Don Cheadle, Jeremy Piven, Saul Rubinek. Despite being an original story, it’s strongly reminiscent of It’s a Wonderful Life.
9. The Nightmare Before Christmas. Released Oct 29, 1993 (animated). Voices by Danny Elfman, Chris Sarandon, Catherine O’Hara, Paul Reubens. It’s a bit creepy for Christmas, but hey, it’s directed by Tim Burton.
10. The Sound of Music. Released Mar 29, 1965. Starring Julie Andrews, Christopher Plummer. Not sure why it’s such a big Xmas flick as I can’t sit through a whole showing, but I’ve listed it for a dear young friend who loved it and passed away during this season many years ago.

That’s my list, love it or hate it. Maybe some of the new crop of Christmas week movie releases will have place on a “classics” list someday.

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