Movies that Put Us in the Christmas Spirit
Best Holiday Movies to Watch at Christmastime
Every year, when the winter holiday season approaches, most activities take a backseat to decorating the house, buying gifts and spending time with the loved ones. It’s that time of the year when people turn to traditions – singing carols, sending Christmas cards, drinking hot chocolate with the kids – in an attempt to redefine what matters the most in their lives. And what could go better with hot chocolate and marshmallows than a heartwarming Christmas movie?
From timeless classics to contemporary Christmas comedies, some holiday movies have become part of our yearly Christmas rituals.
It’s a Wonderful Life
It’s a Wonderful Life (1946) is the story of George Bailey (James Stewart), a man who has abandoned his own plans of traveling the world for the benefit of the people in his home town. Mary (Donna Reed), the girl for whom George offers to “lasso the moon,” has also played a key role in his decision to stay in Bedford Falls. On Christmas Eve, George finds himself at the end of his rope. Disappointed with his life and on the verge of losing everything he had worked for, the hero wishes he had never been born. When Clarence, a novice angel, is sent to earth to show him what the world would have looked like without George Bailey, George realizes he has touched the lives of so many people, and learns to value his life and his family.
While bordering dangerously on sentimentalism – with its guardian angel subplot and its predictably happy ending – Frank Capra’s film is sprinkled with funny moments and holiday cheer. The film also reminds us that Christmas is the time to reexamine our lives and learn what truly matters.
Miracle on 34th Street
For most people in the Western world, Christmas is about believing in something beyond yourself, whether it’s God, Santa Claus or mankind’s ability to do good things. Miracle on 34th Street explores this Christmastime frame of mind, juxtaposing the spirit of the holidays to the rampant commercialism characteristic of the twentieth century.
In the original version of Miracle (1947), Doris Walker (Maureen O’Hara), a pragmatic special events coordinator at Macy’s, hires Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn) to impersonate Santa Clause for Macy’s Thanksgiving parade. Doris soon discovers that the old man believes to be the real Santa Claus. Although taken with Mr. Kringle, who loves children and puts the true meaning of the holidays above Macy’s commercial success, Doris is skeptical about the claims of this department store Santa Claus. A no-nonsense single mother, she has raised her daughter, Susan (Natalie Wood), to resist all beliefs and fairy tales. When Mr. Kringle stands trial for claiming to be Santa Claus, the people of New York City are forced to reexamine their own beliefs and the values they have instilled in their children. So is Doris, who discovers that her skepticism was standing in the way of her own happiness.
The 1955 and 1994 remakes explore the same theme. However, it is the original that remains ingrained in our memories with an enchanting 1940s New York City dressed for the holidays and the most authentic Santa in the history of film. Edmund Gwenn’s performance is truly moving and devoid of sentimentality, and Natalie Wood brings to life the story of a little girl who learns that dreams do come true if you believe in them.
The Polar Express
The 2004 animated feature also tackles the idea of believing in something beyond the palpable. The story follows a young boy (voiced by Tom Hanks) who boards a magical train that takes him to the North Pole. On Christmas Eve, the hero of the story, who doesn’t believe in the existence of Santa Claus, is lured by the whistle of the train outside his window. He soon embarks on an extraordinary journey to Santa’s world, where all children who believe in him are rewarded with presents. Along the way, the young boy befriends other children and discovers what lies in his own heart. However, the best present that the hero receives is the ability to find the joy of Christmas and be able to share it with others.
Warner Bros’ animated feature dazzles with glacially-blue arctic landscapes, fantasy roller coaster rides and an impressive Christmas tree that reigns over Santa’s North Pole headquarters. The versatile Tom Hanks voices six different characters, capturing a wide range of emotions, from doubt and hesitation, to surprise, to the thrill of rediscovering Christmas. With a soundtrack featuring an uplifting theme song interpreted by Josh Groban, The Polar Express is a holiday gift for all ages.
The Holiday
The Holiday (2006) brings together two women who, despite living 5,000 miles apart, have one thing in common: they no longer believe in love. After messy break-ups, Amanda (Cameron Diaz), a film trailer producer from L.A., and Iris (Kate Winslet), a journalist from London, decide to swap homes at Christmastime, in an attempt to get away from the unpleasant memories that surround them. While running away from love, both protagonists encounter it on the foreign shore, when they least expect it.
Nancy Meyers’ film examines love from a fresh angle, eluding the usual rom-com clichés. It is especially refreshing to watch the two heroines find love in unfamiliar environments, at the very time they are resisting it. Kate Winslet’s enthusiastic performance and Jude Law’s intensity alone make the movie worth seeing.
The Holiday is not only a film infused with holiday spirit. It is also a tribute to the world of film. From trailer editors to soundtrack composers to life-long screenwriters, the movie revolves around creatures of the film world whose work touches other people’s lives all year round. With a powerful, atmospheric soundtrack by Hans Zimmer, The Holiday also brings a homage to great contemporary soundtrack composers, from Moriconne to Vangelis, reminding that the gift of music is as precious as the gift of love.
HOL 101
It's a Wonderful Life, Iconic Screen Shot
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