My Holiday Season Top 5!

It being the holiday season, I have been watching my fair share of Christmas movies. That being said, I thought I would post my top five favorites. Now, let's get one thing straight, being the cinephile I am it is very hard to come up with a "favorite movie" list. It would be like asking a fat kid what kind of candy was his favorite... he's fat, he likes them all! So without further ado...

5. "It's a Wonderful Life" (1946)

Now, is the idea of "It's a Wonderful Life" a bit cheesy? Yes. But, who cares?! It's Jimmy Stewart in one of the most beloved Christmas movies ever. I love this movie... especially late at night when the big day is just around the corner.

4. "Black Christmas" (1974)

Yes, it is a bit weird that a bit farther down this list is yet another Bob Clark film. And yes, it is a bit weird that I have chosen to follow "It's a Wonderful Life" with a teeny/slasher horror film, but then again I am in fact a bit weird. Besides, how can you go wrong with this...

Just before Christmas a psychopath sneaks into a sorority house and hides in the attic only to begin killing the girls off one by one.

GENIUS. And lest not forget that this film paved the way for many a films and filmmakers in the slasher genre. It almost makes you want to forgive Bob Clark for "Baby Geniuses". Almost.


3. "A Christmas Story" (1983)

Oh, weird! Well, let me just say, it takes quite the filmmaker to have two movies on a top 5 Christmas movie list. But it takes quite the unforseen circumstances for said filmmaker (Bob Clark) to have two completely different movies back to back on a Christmas movie list. I mean come on, who makes "Black Christmas" and then goes on to make "A Christmas Story"? Or, wait... who puts "Black Christmas" and "A Christmas Story" back to back on a top 5 list? Nevermind.
What a wonderful movie this is... that is until TBS or TNT (whomever) plays it for 24 hours on Christmas, but then again, I still can't get mad. It's just that much fun.


2. "Bad Santa" (2003)

I know, I know... many of you will think that I'm crazy for putting this at number 2. Hell, most of you will think I'm crazy for putting it on the list, period. But nevertheless, this is one funny as hell movie! Billy Bob Thorton as a blistering drunk con-man? Come on. Oh, not to mention a blistering drunk con-man who poses as Santa Claus! Well, it's just good clean Christmas fun, isn't it?!

And now...


1. "National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation." (1989)

Hands down the winner. To me it's not even close. There are so many moments in that film that I remember on a daily basis, not to mention when the Holiday Season actually rolls around. Clark getting stuck in the attic. The Christmas lights. The squirrel in the Christmas tree. Fuck! The Christmas tree! And to top it all off, the genius of Randy Quaid as cousin Eddie and his forest green dickie with that cream colored sweater. Thank you John Hughes!

And some extras that I love...
"Scrooged"
"Nightmare Before Christmas"
"Love Actually"

Happy Holidays!
Swanny out.