TC’s Christmas Movie List
By Madison S.
As the holidays approach, and temperatures drop, it's time to bundle up, pour a glass of wine, turn the fire on, and binge-watch these great Christmas classics. After a challenging year for us all, these movies will surely get you in the Christmas spirit and remind you what matters in life.
It's a Wonderful Life
If you haven't seen this movie, it is a must. It's A Wonderful Life is an uplifting and inspiring story. As the main character George Bailey is on the verge of taking his life, an angel comes down to save him. George says to the angel, "I wish I were never born." The angel grants his wish and takes George on a tour of what the world would look like without him. George quickly sees that his friends, family, and hometown are a lot worse off without him. He begs to go back to reality and comes back to his real-life with a grateful and humbled heart. It's A Wonderful Life shows that you don't know how big the positive impacts span other people's lives and this world.
Another thing that sticks out in this movie is how selfless George was throughout his whole life. He threw away his dreams of traveling the world for the sake of doing what was right, which is a courageous and admirable thing to do. Nowadays, we hear advice given along the lines of "don't do anything that doesn't make you happy." It's A Wonderful Life contradicts that. Sometimes doing what is right is not necessarily what will make you happy, but it's worth it. While George Bailey had to let some dreams go, by doing so, he so positively impacted those around him. He realized that he has all he needs, and he loves his wonderful life.
The original, "The Grinch Who Stole Christmas"
We all know the classic Dr. Suess story of how the Grinch stole Christmas, but in 2020, the movie's message is more relevant than ever. Whether it was a graduation, a vacation, or a job, we've all had something stolen from us this year. When the Who's in Whoville realized their Christmas presents and decorations were stolen, they focused on what they still had rather than what was lost. Rather than retaliate against the Grinch, the Whos of Whoville invited the Grinch to Christmas. As children, we all thought The Grinch was meant to teach us the non-material value of Christmas. While this message still holds, as an adult, the Grinch's central message is one of tolerance and not projecting internal pain onto others. With so many people hurting on the left and the right, and so many people lashing out at one another, the Grinch has never mattered more.
Meet Me in St. Louis
Although this movie doesn't have a Christmas scene until the last thirty minutes, I still consider it a Christmas classic. Meet Me in St. Louis is filled with so much incredible singing and dancing; it's almost more of a musical than a movie. America's darling, Judy Garland, is the movie's main star and steals the show with her timeless rendition of "Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas." Meet me in St. Louis is an innocent tale of a bygone era of American cinema that never fails to put a smile on my face.
A Christmas Story
This is a Christmas classic. It's silly, comical, and is sure to get you in the holiday spirit. A Christmas Story makes you wish you were a kid again, bringing you back to the times you eagerly awaited Santa's arrival. What separates A Christmas Story from other holiday movies is just how many iconic scenes director Bob Clark was able to pack in. From the kid getting his tongue stuck to the frozen pole, to the leg lamp award, and Ralphie's anticlimactic message from Little Orphan Annie, you can watch the movie a thousand times and still laugh out loud. Whether you spend your holidays eating a grand turkey feast, or Chinese food, it doesn't matter; the holidays are about being together with the ones you love.
Christmas Comes But Once a Year
Although this is a short film rather than a movie, I think it's worth mentioning. This 1936 cartoon has a message that we should all follow this and every holiday season. To give a brief synopsis, kids at an orphanage wake up on Christmas Day to gifts from Santa, but the gifts are poorly made, and all fall apart. An older man driving by hears the cries of the children in the orphanage, so he sneaks into the kitchen of the orphanage and builds new toys for the children out of what he can find in the kitchen. He then dresses up as Santa and gives the orphans a Christmas they'll never forget. I still tear up every time I watch it, inspired by the compassion and generosity of the elderly man who saves Christmas at an orphanage. This film shows the truth behind the saying, "It's better to give than to receive."
