Ghosts of Christmas movies past
And so it came to pass that for every holiday film that brings out one’s inner child, there’s bound to be something by Robert Zemeckis that will creep real kids out.
In 2004, the director (Back To The Future, Who Framed Roger Rabbit?) took The Polar Express, Chris Van Allsburg’s best-selling children’s book, and filtered it through motion-capture technology. This process may have given the characters a lifelike appearance, but moviegoers noticed a huge flaw: everyone in the film had dead, soulless eyes. It was as if Zemeckis signed on the cast of The Hills.
Five years later, he’s at it again. This time, he’s giving a Charles Dickens classic his trademark performance-capture twist. Starring Jim Carrey in multiple roles — including Ebenezer Scrooge and the Ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Future — Disney’s A Christmas Carol is his dark vision of the yuletide season.
If you read the book as a student, you will already know what happens, when it happens and how it happens. This updated version, however, brings Dickens’ monsters to life both figuratively and literally — with 3-D effects — and, as such, is not suitable for very young audience members. Looking like Woody Harrelson with osteoporosis or a video game avatar, Carrey’s Scrooge is sure to give five-year-olds nightmares; it’s amazing that some parents did not do their research beforehand.
Though somewhat lukewarm, Disney’s A Christmas Carol was a nice foil to the standard, cookie-cutter holiday fare we’ve come to expect this time of the year. Mashing up a traditional Christmas spirit with a somewhat unconventional streak, I got my Santa on and came up with a list of movies to enjoy during the lazy days of December.
Feel-Good Factor
The best movies to watch — and re-watch — at Christmas are sometimes not necessarily about Christmas, but they still thaw out the cynicism and take you back to your childhood.
• Jumanji (1995)
Based on another book by Chris Van Allsberg, it features computer-generated zoo creatures, a young Kirsten Dunst and classic lines like, “In the jungle / you must wait / until you roll a 5 or 8.”
• Toy Story (1995)
This Pixar smash is movie magic at its finest. Period.
• Jurassic Park (1993), The Lost World: Jurassic Park (1997) and Jurassic Park 3 (2001)
Growing up, I was mesmerized by these movies, especially the first one. Can you think of anything more awesome than dinosaurs? Apart from fighting dinosaurs? I think not.
New Faves
Combining artistry and technology with literature, these franchises have become synonymous with the holidays because of when they were first shown in theaters.
• The Fellowship of the Ring (2001), The Two Towers (2002) and The Return of the King (2003)
Peter Jackson’s Lord of the Rings trilogy is the reason why the word “epic” was invented. Try watching it late at night and all in one go. You will magically turn into a geek.
• Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005)
Six words: Tilda Swinton as the White Witch.
• Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (2007)
Harry Potter returns to Hogwarts in this fifth of the seven-part story, and — gasp — is forced to grow up. Also of note: Imelda Staunton as the deliciously evil Dolores Jane Umbridge.
Recent(Ish) Romcoms
You hate romantic comedies. You may even detest them. But sometimes, there’s something in the December air that makes the genre less torturous.
• Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)
It’s worth watching since it’s the role Renée Zellwegger fattened up for. Colin Firth rocks a reindeer pullover, his own version of the Cosby sweater, and provides sartorial inspiration.
• Love, Actually (2003)
Hugh Grant and Keira Knightley are surprisingly not annoying in this lighthearted flick. Congratulations, England!
• The Holiday (2006)
House-swapping in this age of paranoia may not be so advisable, but Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz do it anyway. Jude Law’s receding hairline becomes woefully apparent.
Hall of Famers
• Home Alone (1990)
The McAllisters are the ‘90s version of the Gosselins from the now-defunct Jon & Kate Plus 8. This is my all-time favorite holiday movie!
• Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)
Michael Caine is excellent as the grouchy Ebenezer Scrooge and Kermit the Frog, before he became a Lady GaGa costume, is totally lovable as Bob Cratchit.
• The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)
Tim Burton’s off-the-wall goth style has become an unfortunate industry cliché. Nevertheless, the years have been kind to Jack Skellington and the residents of Halloween Town.
Special shout-outs go to: Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer (1964), A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965), How The Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) and Tim Allen’s The Santa Clause series for making an entire generation believe that the Home Improvement actor was indeed Jolly Old St. Nick.
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