December 2024’s newsletter: My Top 5 Favorite Christmas Movies
My family celebrates Christmas, and one of our many traditions is watching Christmas movies together.
I have a soft spot for the classic films from my childhood. Magical, heartwarming moments that remind me of sitting on the couch gazing at the Christmas tree while carols play, or rushing out far too early Christmas morning to see what Santa brought me and my sisters.
I’d love to share my 5 favorite movies with you!
5) Claymation Christmas Celebration
We’re starting this off with what I’m guessing is the most obscure film on my list.
This studio made a number of holiday stop-motion features around this time, but none of them seem to have lasted. (At least, in my family.)
None except their Christmas Celebration. This movie is a series of stop-motion animated shorts set to classic Christmas carols, and MC’d by a dinosaur pair who argue the meaning behind the Wassail Song.
Sounds goofy? It is.
If you want a short film full of your favorite carols, give this one a watch.
4) Mister Magoo’s Christmas Carol
A Christmas Carol adaptation based on an old TV show I never watched. Is it loyal to the original Christmas Carol? Could be better. Will I ever watch the original cartoon? No.
But the Magoo cast creates a heartwarming story anyway. It’s got laughs and jokes, and even tears. You can bet that on Christmas Eve, my family will be singing along to every song, especially “Ringle Ringle,” “We’re Despicable,” and “The Bright Lord’s Blessing.”
3) A Charlie Brown Christmas
One thing that sets this Charlie Brown film apart from the others: Charlie Brown gets a happy ending!
He spends the movie searching for the true meaning of Christmas in a world focused on commercialism. We follow the Peanuts Gang through their usual hilarious hijinks and classic lines my family quotes regularly. How else could it end but with Charlie Brown and his friends all learning the Christmas spirit? It’s a real feel-good movie that gets you in the holiday mood.
2) How the Grinch Stole Christmas 1967
The original Grinch.
There’s something magical about this animated film. The narration by Boris Karloff is gentle and poetic, like a grandfather reading the story out loud to his grandkids. It has the classic songs “Your a Mean One, Mr. Grinch,” and “Welcome Christmas,” and funny visuals like the Grinch playing with toys as he steals them. (He even closes a tree like an umbrella!)
And, of course, the movie’s simplicity emphasizes the Grinch’s lesson. Christmas isn’t about the gimmicks, the slapstick, or the costumes.
Christmas, perhaps, means a little bit more.
1) Muppets Christmas Carol
And here we are. The Christmas movie of all Christmas movies.
Not only is this movie hilarious with fantastic songs, fantastic acting, and detailed and dynamic sets. It’s also one of the best Christmas Carol adaptations I’ve seen.
Yes, that’s right. The Muppets have the best Christmas Carol adaptation.
Much of the narration is line by line quoted from the book. The movie doesn’t mess with scene order or many of the characters– changes are made for run time or humor.
And yet, the movie also makes the story enjoyable. I’ve seen Christmas Carols that were dry and boring. Sure, they were accurate, but did we actually want to watch them?
By sticking to the original material but also sharing it in a way that’s fun and entertaining, the Muppets are making The Christmas Carol accessible to everyone. From kids to adults, we can all enjoy Charles Dickens’ classic story.
The movie even ends with Gonzo– sorry, “Charles Dickens”– recommending we read the book.
It’s not Christmas until we’ve watched The Muppet’s Christmas Carol.
I hope that whatever holiday you celebrate this season is a happy one!
Thanks for reading!
-S. Labrecque
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