Merry Christmas to All, And To All A Goodnight!

This is my last blog I'm required to write, and since it's so close to Christmas I guess maybe I should just talk about how excited I am to get back home for the holidays... or at least my favorite Christmas movie guilty pleasures.

5. It's A Wonderful Life
I hadn't seen "It's A Wonderful Life" until last Christmas, which is pretty sad. I had no idea what I had been missing out on. While the film takes place on Christmas in a few scenes, it's not an over-the-top shoving tinsel and mistletoe down your throat kind of movie. This is one film you shouldn't feel guilty about, it's actually one of the greatest films of all time, with deep meanings intertwined throughout the feel-good story.

4. The Santa Clause
"The Santa Clause" is another Christmas film I grew up watching on ABC's "25 Days of Christmas" for as long as I can remember. Something about the whole stubborn father turned Santa Claus gives hope to other stubborn people, who can have a change of heart, but maybe not by literally turning into Santa Claus.

3. Elf
Although it's been a while since I've watched "Elf" in it's entirety (mainly due to the fact that I don't want to pay $10 for the DVD), I still love this hilarious Christmas comedy to pieces. It's one of the most widely known Christmas movies that's been made in my lifetime, if not, the most known. Will Ferrel brings a comedic fire to this film as Buddy the Elf, a character that is as unusual as a six foot tall elf from the north pole would probably be if he came to New York City. The amount of times the film has been quoted and referenced are innumerable, and it's definitely one of the best films to ring in the Christmas spirit.

2. Rankin/Bass Christmas Classics
This is where the tinsel and mistletoe is being shoved down your throat, yet in the cheesiest way possible, it's totally enjoyable. I grew up watching these claymation films on T.V. every year around Christmas, and I'm very proud I can say that. Whether I'm singing along to the heat miser and snow miser's opposing tunes, putting "one foot in front of the other", or watching Rudolph guide the sleigh at night, I watch these films with a smile in my heart. While they always talk about how you should believe in Santa Claus, they also make a point to discuss how it's the feeling of Christmas that he brings, so us who don't still think a fat old man magically flops down our chimney's every Christmas don't feel bad.

1. Christmas Vacation
"Christmas Vacation" starring Chevy Chase is one of the funniest Christmas films of all time. The situations he gets his family and himself into bring tears of laughter to my eyes, especially when he deals with the situations in the worst ways possible. This is arguably the best National Lampoon "Vacation" movie, or at least one of the highest ranking.