Top 10 - Favorite Christmas Movies

I love Christmas, it’s my favorite holiday. Spending time with family, having dinner, play games AND watch movies. Often the same ones me and my family chooses. And I don’t always like th most traditional Christmas movies. Here is a list of my 10 favorite Christmas (or set during Christmas) movies (not necessarily the best by the way).
 

10. Krampus (2015)
A Christmas horror film. Krampus is the devil-variant of Santa Clause, taking all the bad children. A satirical, Christmas horror, I’m so in. Full review HERE
 

9. National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation (1989)
Always referred to as ‘that one with Chevy Chase’ in our household. My dad’s favorite Christmas movie of all-time. Even though we have seen this movie together a gazillion times, we (especially my dad) laugh so hard over all the things going wrong during the Griswold’s family Christmas. And everything that can go wrong, goes wrong. Somehow other people’s sorrow is fun to us….
 

8. Elf (2003)
Buddy grew up as an Elf, but really is not one. He is send to New York to find his real father and realizes that the true spirit of Christmas is disappearing. Will Ferrell as Buddy is just adorable and hilarious at the same time, such an enjoyable no-brainer of a Christmas movie.
 

7. A Muppet’s Christmas Carol (1992)
This had been my favorite before, but somehow I prefer 7 other Christmas movies now. The Muppets can not do anything wrong, they always bring joy to every family. It’s a musical, fille with all of our favorite Muppets, telling the classic Charles Dickens story.
 

6. Love Actually (2003)
The best romantic Christmas movie in my opinion. We follow several love stories in the weeks leading to Christmas. With a star-studded cast and many memorable scenes, this is such a lovely, heart-warming film.
 

5. Home Alone (1990)
It’s not Christmas without “Home Alone”. And still fun after so many rewatches. The young Kevin is accidentally left home alone right before Christmas. Two burglars have had their eye on the house, thinking no one is home. When they realize someone IS home, but it’s just a young boy, they think it’s a walk in the park. Think again. Super fun film, always a joy to watch with the family during Christmas. HERE you can read my full review. 
 

4. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang  (2005)
I believe this is one of those crime murder mysteries that people seem to forget about. And it’s set during Christmas, so, adding it to my list. High, because this one (and the three after this) are also on my 100 favorite movies of all-time list. Petty thief Harry Lockhart is on the run from the police and accidentally lands a role in a Hollywood movie. To gain some experience, he tags along with private detective Perry. They get involved in a murder mystery. A crime comedy, with a film noir style and a murder mystery going on. Full review HERE
 

3. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Macabre stop-motion animation that follows the adventures of Pumpkin King Jack Skelington who has had enough of his dark Halloweentown. He discovers Christmastown by chance and want to celebrate Christmas. The ongoing discussion whether this is a Christmas movie or a Halloween movie may never end, but that’s for me a reason to watch this film at least twice a year. A magnificent stop-motion film, that amazes me every time I watch it. Read my full review HERE
 

2. Die Hard (1988)
New York police officer John McClane travels for Christmas to a party in the Los Angeles skyscraper where his wife works. Unfortunately, a gang of terrorists led by the German Hans Gruber has planned a hostage-taking operation that very night. “Die Hard” is a classic action film, with the cynical, lone hero McClane. And even though Bruce Willis himself says that “Die Hard” isn’t a Christmas movie, it’s a top favorite for me and my family during the holiday season.
 
1. Gremlins (1984)
A film that is always my first choice when it comes to the Christmas movie I pick. It wasn’t marketed as a Christmas movie, but it’s set during this holiday and a big part of the film as well. A rock solid mix of dark humor and horror, with an ironic Christmas atmosphere. And with the cutest movie creature to be ever created: Gizmo.  Full review HERE
 
Honorable mentions: It’s a Wonderful Life, The Guardians of the Galaxy: Holiday Special, Jingle All the Way, The Shop Around the Corner, Happiest Season, Violent Night, Bad Santa, Scrooged, How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Last Christmas

Netflix Friday - Volume 6

Some Netflix film tips for the weekend! And there is something for everyone, since I picked a movie for all the different genres.

Action: Deepwater Horizon (2016)
A dramatization of the disaster in April 2010, when the offshore drilling rig called the Deepwater Horizon exploded, resulting in the worst oil spill in American history.

Drama: Moonlight (2016)
A young African-American man grapples with his identity and sexuality while experiencing the everyday struggles of childhood, adolescence and burgeoning adulthood.

Comedy: Easy A (2010)
Clean-cut high school student Olive (Emma Stone) relies on the school’s rumor mill to advance her social and financial standing.

Animation: How to Train Your Dragon (2010)
A hapless young Viking (Jay Baruchel) who aspires to hunt dragons becomes the unlikely friend of a young dragon himself, and learns there may be more to the creatures than he assumed.

Romance: Clueless (1995)
Shallow, rich and socially successful Cher (Alicia Silverstone) is at the top of her Beverly Hills high school’s pecking scale. Seeing herself as a matchmaker, Cher first coaxes two teachers into dating each other.

Horror: Krampus (2015)
A boy who has a bad Christmas accidentally summons a festive demon to his family home.

Science Fiction: Pacific Rim (2013)
As a war between humankind and monstrous sea creatures wages on, a former pilot (Charlie Hunnam) and trainee are paired up to drive a seemingly obsolete special weapon in a desperate effort to save the world from the apocalypse.

Crime: Wind River (2017)
A veteran hunter (Jeremy Renner) helps an FBI-agent (Elizabeth Olsen) investigate the murder of a young woman on a Wyoming Native American reservation.

Thriller: Captain Phillips
The true story of Captain Richard Phillips (Tom Hanks) and the 2009 hijacking by Somali pirates of the US-flagged MV Maersk Alabama, the first American cargo ship to be hijacked in two hundred years.

Documentary: Jeffrey Epstein: Filthy Rich (2020)
Survivors worldwide reveal the manipulation and emotional scars suffered at the hands of wealthy convicted pedophile Jeffrey Epstein. Their stories expose a sex trafficking ring of powerful enablers leading up to his 2019 arrest.

Family: The BFG
An orphan little girl befriends a benevolent giant (Mark Rylance) who takes her to Giant Country, where they attempt to stop the man-eating giants that are invading the human world.

100 Movie Challenge 2015 - # 166: Krampus

Director: Michael Dougherty

Genre: Horror/ Comedy

Runtime: 98 minutes

Year: 2015

Starring: Adam Scott, Toni Collette, David Koechner, Allison Tolman, Conchata Ferrell

Description: A boy who has a bad Christmas ends up accidentally summoning a Christmas demon to his family home.

Review: ‘Tis the season. Getting ready for the holidays, spending time with your family, Christmas gifts. But in this film Santa isn’t coming to town. There is a myth that tells us about a creature named Krampus. He comes to punish you. Krampus is a beast with big horns and hooves. He’s not alone, because he has some little helpers. And they are no cute elves.

The film starts with the theme solidarity, or actually the lack of it. Aggressive shoppers, unthankful children and an anti-social family. There is a big contrast between the family whose house we’re visiting, and the family that is coming over for Christmas. One is very sympathetic, the other really unlikeable.

The film introduces us to the characters and then Krampus arrives and all hell breaks loose. The visual effects are very good. Only impossible shots are made with the help of a computer. There aren’t a lot of digital touches.

Director Michael Dougherty made the small Halloween film “Trick ‘r Treat”, a horror comedy. “Krampus” is in that same genre. The film has a strong fundament, is original and sometimes a bit gory. It doesn’t shy away from controversy, because even kids aren’t safe in this horror film. The movie is never scary though. I can best describe the film as “Christmas Vacation” meets “Gremlins”.

The movie is called “Krampus”, but Krampus himself isn’t in the film that much. His helpers are more present and cause more damage than Krampus. There is also one point in the movie where I thought the movie ended. That was actually the perfect ending. Sadly that’s not the issue here, because there were two more scenes. One of them was not necessary.

Overall “Krampus” was a fun horror comedy that I highly enjoyed. Maybe this will be the go to movie for the next Christmases.

Rating: 3,5/ 5