Monday, December 20, 2010

christmas movies

I've been counting down to Christmas since early November (remember Mariah Carey's new album and the Tiffany box?), and now it's a mere five days away, meaning it's officially Christmastime and therefore time for Christmas movies. Here are my favorites:

Image courtesy of Yahoo! Movies.

It's fresh on my mind because Augusta and Lynn and I kicked off finals last week with a cozy Sunday evening viewing of this contemporary classic. It's hilarious, clever, quotable, and, unexpectedly, sweetly romantic. Let's let it be known now: I cannot get enough of Will Ferrell. Like, ever.



Image courtesy of AllMoviePhoto.com

If you don't warm up to this movie the first time around, just take it right back to the beginning and watch it again. (Karina refuses to do this... but my old roommate Laura and I used to watch it on repeat. Vaguely unhealthy, but such was dorm life.) I will be the first to admit that this movie takes a bit of acclimation. But once you start to get the subtlety of Ryan Reynolds', Anna Faris', Amy Smart's and Chris Klein's hilarious delivery, you'll be laughing out loud. Just believe me. Watch it twice and laugh the second time. It's completely worth it.


Image courtesy of MamaPop.com

Do I even need to say anything? This movie has spoken for itself Christmas after Christmas after Christmas. It's so ridiculously charming that even manly men will admit to loving it. I have the hardest time choosing my favorite storyline. I love the story of unrequited love with Keira Knightley, but then there's Hugh Grant as the prime minister, and he's just so endearingly lost, I melt for that one, too. And I love Colin's (completely realistic) American girl fantasy.


Image courtesy of FilmCritic.com

It has literally nothing to do with Christmas except there's snow on the ground. But one Christmas Eve, my family snuggled in our warm house with this sweet documentary & learned about the beauty of penguin behavior. I gotta tell ya— one of the best Christmas Eves I can remember. It's aesthetically beautiful— simultaneously scientific & artistic— and at the end, it's uplifting. Plus, it's a great motivator anytime to take care of this planet.


Image courtesy of FanPop.com

I've already demonstrated my love for Jim Carrey's version of the Grinch (ridiculous and lovable), and the visuals in this movie are gorgeous— the colors are saturated, the little Whos & their little Who homes are perfectly doll-like. Ron Howard did a great job of balancing the original Dr. Seuss poetry with references to contemporary times, like when the Grinch sits in his cave, crunching glass bottles and then looks over at his dog to say, "Am I just eating because I'm bored?" My friend Amy and I always loved the flashback to the baby Grinch— so cute!!


Image courtesy of CalendarLive.com


The fabulously talented cast (which includes Sarah Jessica Parker— who you know I love, Diane Keaton, Rachel McAdams, Dermot Mulroney, Luke Wilson and Claire Danes) of this quiet little movie weave together a story that feels almost uncomfortably real without feeling even a little contrived, but even so manages to not lose that Hollywood charm. It's heartbreaking, squirm-in-your-seat real, touching, thrilling & inspiring. This cast is completely top-notch; the acting is seamless. Seriously, they should make more movies like this one.

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