My Desert Island Christmas Movies

Christmas is my favorite time of year. Yes, there are presents and loads of family time and delicious ham and sugar cookies and twinkling lights. But I really love Christmas because it is the only holiday that has its own songs and movies. Halloween has plenty of movies, but not many theme songs. While my family is decorating our tree, we are also listening to Christmas music. My iPod is full with only Christmas songs. And I don't watch anything but Christmas movies from Dec. 1 through Dec. 24. (We usually get movies on Christmas Day so that's what we watch after we open presents)

Below is my personal list of favorite Christmas movies. These are movies you could loop on ABC Family's 25 Days of Christmas and I would not be even slightly annoyed. If I was stuck on a desert island at Christmas with only these movies, a TV and DVD player, I would choose these movies. (Of course, there are 12 for the 12 Days of Christmas)

1. "The Santa Clause" (1994)

This movie is our Christmas Eve tradition and has been for many, many years. I know everyone probably says this but, my dad really does look and act like Tim Allen in this movie. And when I was little, I would dream about my dad becoming Santa Clause because to me no man was more loving, caring, and generous then my dad. Every time I watch this movie, I am so thankful for such an awesome dad and still secretly wish he could push Santa off a roof.

2. "White Christmas" (1954)

No one makes movies like this anymore. All you need to make a movie is a velvety voice (Bing Crosby) and some really fun dance numbers that last for as long as they want to. This movie is a clear example of the music and movie magic of Christmas. The story is all about letting go for love, and what could be a better theme for Christmas? You know you can't help but sing along to all of these songs (and continue to wonder how Vera-Ellen's, who plays Judy, waist was so skinny)

3. "The Muppet Christmas Carol" (1992)

The Muppets show up a few times on my list because you really can't beat em. Christmas and the Muppets are the two things that make you feel like a kid no matter what age you are. As the Muppets do best, they take a classic tale and tell it in their own family-friendly way that still has me laughing and singing along all of these years later. P.S.- This movie needs to be re-released on DVD in its entirety. I have lamented for years that this song below was not in the DVD release, and the reason for this makes no sense. Supposedly, the story is that the theatrical release of this movie DID include the song, but when the movie was aired on TV, it was cut for time. Somebody decided it was a good idea to grab the TV version for the DVD instead of the entire theatrical version. Muppets, please fix this.

4. "Beauty and the Beast: The Enchanted Christmas" (1997)

Of course there can to be some Disney on here. "Beauty and the Beast" is still to this day one of my all-time favorite movies with my all-time favorite Disney princess. When this movie came out was right around the time I was learning about how amazing BATB was so naturally I bought the dress-up costume to go with this new movie and watched the movie over and over and over again. I still love it, even though I usually have to watch this one by myself every Christmas. Added bonus- Bernadette Peters is in it!

5. "The Polar Express" (2004)

Before Tom Hanks was cast as The Polar Express, there was a book about a little boy who had stopped believing in Santa Claus and the magical train that took him to the North Pole. Before the movie, my family would read this every year and ring the little bell that came with the book just to double check that we could still hear it. When the rumors began that a movie was going to be made about this special book, no one in my family could see how that worked. The book was no more than 20 pages and mostly consisted of pictures of a train riding through snowy scenery. But this movie was able to capture every bit of heart the book had, and then some. This movie got me through the doubting Santa years where I wasn't really sure if I was still allowed to believe anymore. Though that train may never come to my front door, I know that the bell will always ring for me, as it does for those who truly believe.

6. "Jack Frost" (1998)

Another Dad Christmas movie (someone needs to get on making a Mom Christmas movie). This one also holds very special memories for me. I remember the Christmas of 2008 I could barely watch this movie without drowning in a puddle of tears. That was the year my dad was in the hospital with cancer. For the first time, I watched Charlie fight to keep his snowman dad alive just another day longer, and I wished all I had to do was leave the door and windows open on a cold winter day to keep my dad. Now that he is well again, the movie does make me ugly cry. My dad has always made Christmas special every year. He helped my siblings and I build snowmen, he went sledding with us, he fills the Advent House with little presents for everyone every year, he eats all the burnt Christmas cookies that no one else will touch. It wouldn't be Christmas without those memories, and it wouldn't be Christmas without my dad.

7. "A Muppet Family Christmas" (1987)

I told you the Muppets would be back! This home released movie finds the gang traveling the Fozzie's Ma's house for Christmas where they meet other Jim Henson characters (Sesame Street and Fraggle Rock) as well as a special moment with Jim himself. The Muppets come together for a heart-warming tale of friendship and love. P.S.- I have never seen this movie on DVD in the stores, but it is still on YouTube if you are interested.

8. "Santa Claus is Coming to Town" (1970)

I'm not a big fan of claymation films. I know that tons of work goes into making them, and sometimes they can be really beautiful, it is not a style that I love. So that means Rudolph is off the table to begin with. But "Santa Claus" has its up sides that make me want to watch this movie. First of all, it covers every Santa question a kid has and answers them logically and creatively. Reindeer fly by eating magic reindeer feed corn. Santa goes down the chimney because it was the only way he could get the children of Sombertown their toys. Secondly, every 3 minutes there is a toe-tapping song that you will never get out of your head, and you will sing along even if you don't know all the words. "Put one foot in front of the other, and soon you'll be walking 'cross the floo-oo-oor." "When you're the first toy makers to the kiiiiiing!" "If you sit on my lap today, a kiss a toy is the price you pay." Thirdly, Fred Astaire! Who doesn't want to watch a claymation of Fred Astaire?

9. "Arthur Christmas" (2011)

I have to admit that I was very wary of this movie when it first came out. Since "Jack Frost" I had yet to find a modern Christmas movie that was original and not too cheesy. There was also a previous film about the Claus family ("Fred Claus"), and it wasn't so great or reverent of the Christmas legends. But this movie takes a look at how Santa and his family are struggling to accept technology into this very traditional process. Also, the film puts the business of being Santa Claus as a family business, one that you inherent, which has never been done before. Of course there is more than one Santa. He can't live forever. Through this plot line, you can bring in another great Christmas movie trope- sibling rivalry.

10. "The Holiday" (2006)

Ok, so it's not 100% a Christmas movie. It's not about Santa or the Christmas spirit. It's about how truly hard relationships are. And how much it really, really hurts when you get burned. So much so that you need to go away for a holiday. And it's about how love bites you on the butt when you least except it, and it can be really hard to open up to it. This movie shows Kate Winslet, one of the most beautiful women in Hollywood, in her sweats cry-singing in her kitchen with her cat. The wisdom that is imparted to her by Arthur Abbott is the most brilliant advice ever. It's a movie about how the movies hold all of the keys to our love live-- AWESOME!!

P.S. Iris and I are the same person.- journalists who are truly hopeless romantics who also love movies and music. I should really just move to London.

11. "Rise of the Guardians" (2012)

Ok, again, not really a Christmas movie, but at least it has Santa Claus in it. Even if he is played by Alec Baldwin. The story is about the Guardians of the children- Santa Claus aka North, the Tooth Fairy aka Tooth, the East Bunny aka Bunny, the Sand Man aka Sandy and the newly admitted Jack Frost. The team must fight against the Boogey Man aka Pitch to protect the dreams of children, their memories, their awe of the world, and their hope. It's another original story that is heartfelt and truthful.

 12. "Scrooged" (1988)

I don't love Scrooge/Grinch movies. The whole idea about a Debbie-downer at Christmas is no fun to watch. You just want to skip to the end. But you can't help but love Bill Murray (see the Murray Effect in my previous blog). So this story of redemption with much more humor then you would ever except to see in a Scrooge/Grinch movie makes the last place on my list.

What are your desert island Christmas movies? Share them in the comments!