The Nativity:
A little-known, but generally good adaptation of the story of the first Christmas. A few notable inaccuracies, as well as mischaracterizations, but also a tender love shown between Joseph and Mary and a good handle on Jewish cultural traditions. It is a reverent portrayal of the Divine meeting the Human, and the faith and hope brought about by the birth of a tiny infant in a drafty stable. Also, we get to meet three fictional agents of King Herod, sent to hunt for the child who ultimately come to worship him.
It's a Wonderful Life:
This classic needs little introduction. A man on the brink of despair, who has spent his life trying to better his hometown only to wind up bankrupt, is saved from suicide by his guardian angel. And as a bonus, he is given the oppurtunity to see what the world would be like without him. A glorious ode to the reality that every life, no matter how seemingly insignificant, is of inestimable worth.
A Time to Remember:
A simple production with a profound message, set in a 1950's suburbian neighborhood. Angelo Villano is an Italian-American boy who has a dream to be a great singer one day. His grandmother and parishs priest encourage him in his talent, but his father will have none of it, determined to "make a man out of him." After tragedy strikes and Angelo loses his voice, it will take a Christmas miracle to restore it and change his father's heart. This one get's me crying every time.
White Christmas:
Classic musical involving two former WWII soldiers who hit the road as entertainers and get mixed up with a singing sister act down on their luck. Trekking up to Vermont for a snow-capped Christmas, the foursome discover that there is no snow to be found. Nevertheless, they set about restoring the spirits of a retired general and his granddaughter, and making his mountain inn a center of holiday entertainment. Generally fun stuff for family viewing, except for a couple of riske dance sequences.
The Sound of Music:
Another all-time classic, not explicity Christmas, but often shown during the season! Governess Maria earns the respect of Colonel Von Trapp and the love of his rumbunctious troupe of children against the scenic backdrop of the Austrian Alps. Lots of memorable songs, a charming romance, and a touch of intrigue as WWII forces the colonel and his family to take refuge across the border rather than support the Nazi regime.
Seasons of the Heart:
A heart-breaking, heart-warming tale about a women struggling with the loss of her two golden-haired daughters to cholera on the Oregon Trail. Haunted by memories and angry at God, she becomes bitter and reclusive. When her husband insists that they adopt a recently orphaned boy named Danny, she finds herself annoyed at everything he does and unable to see how very much he needs her as a mother. But one Christmas night, she learns of the transformation that only the Chirst Child can bring.
The Christmas Box:
A couple and their small daughter move into the home of a reclusive elderly woman who eventually befriends the little girl. When the father opens a small music box in the woman's attic, he has a paranormal experience and vision of a ghostly little girl. Meanwhile, the woman tries to teach all of them the true meaning of Christmas, in the face of her own past heart-breaks. Again, another film that requires kleenex!
Christmas Eve:
A kind-hearted rich woman spends her life doing good for all those around her (human and animal). When she is diagnosed with a brain tumor, and given only a few months to live, she seeks to restore family unity by hiring a private detective to track down her grandchildren, all of whom have broken ties with their money-grubbing father. Her hope is to bring them all together of a final Christmas reunion. A bitter-sweet tale...also a tear-jerker (is this some trend...?)!
Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer:
Fasten your sleigh-belts for the "real" story of Rudolph and his mission to the infamous "Island of Misfit Toys" with his companions Hermie the Elf (who really wants to be a dentist!) and Yukon, intrepid arctic explorer. Oh, yeah, and lest we forget the Abominable Snowman...well, I just gave him special mention! For Children of All Ages...which proceeds right into adulthood! ;-)
The Legend of the Candy Cane:
A widower and a spinster find love in the Old West with the help of a mysterious candy-maker who brightens up the town with his sugary treats. He also teaches the children about the legend of the Candy Cane, harkening back to the importance of Christ's birth. Plus, we get to meet a goat who's a afraid of heights! Delightful animation, music, and storyline.
Mickey's Christmas Carol:
Meet Donald Duck with a Scottish burr as our Scrooge, and Mickey as his long-suffering clerk, Bob Cratchet! Toss in a couple whimsical ghosts from Christmas Past and Present, plus a scary one from the Future, and it's sure to be a delightful Disney event! Who knew Dickens' tale would take on so many different visages over the years?!
Frozen:
Another film that needs little introduction, thanks to the flush of fan-dom surrounding it! Meet Queen Elsa of Arendell, whose magical freezing powers get out of hand on her coronation day and accidently lays an icy curse on her kingdom. But never fear: Princess Anna, her determined younger sister, is determined to bring her back from exile and lift the curse, with the help of the faithful mountain-man Kristoff, her beloved reindeer Sven, and the irrepressible talking snowman, Olaf!
Under the Greenwood Tree:
A delightful BBC Period Piece that goes through the four seasons in a small village during the Victorian era in Dorset, England. A young woman, Fancy, becomes the school teacher, and is courted by three different men: the worldly vicar, the affable aristocrat, and the charming son of a mover. Will she follow the path to social prestige, or the longings of her own heart? A lovely Christmas section in the beginning, including traditional English Christmas Carols!
Little Women:
Louise May Alcott's classic story of the March Sisters, growing up, facing the world, and falling in love. Meet Meg, Joe, Beth, and Amy, four very different girls who live and love in the face of good times and bad, adapting to changes in different ways, but ultimately using New England sturdiness and Christian faith to help them overcome the difficulties of life. Some lovely Christmas scenes in this one, too.
The Lord of the Rings Trilogy:
Okay, so this isn't exactly my idea of a Christmas movie set, but I know some of my friends who make it something of a tradition. I will grant them that the movies came out during Christmas, and that it has been said that, in the Middle Earth calendar, Frodo supposedly set off on his quest to destroy the Ring on December 25. So, while I might not personally recommend it, if your family and friends who have come over for Christmas can agree on nothing but tales of hobbits, elves, dwarves, men, orcs, ring-wraiths, etc., I guess this is your pick! And I will admit it does have some deep theological significance, especially with regards to the corrupting influence of sin and the power of simple people displaying virtues of courage, loyalty, and especially mercy.
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| Merry Christmas from Movie-Land! |
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