Friend of The Praus Movement and film critic for Sorted Magazine, Andy Godfrey gives us his tips for the best Christmas films to watch this festive season.
It was on Christmas Eve 1988 that a New York Cop became a national hero by rescuing a bunch of hostages, including his wife Holly when a bunch of thieves (All be it exceptional thieves according to their leader) broke Tree into the Skyscraper HQ of a large investment agency in Los Angeles.
The film of the events of that dramatic night has become a must-watch for many of us every Christmas. Officer John McClane, whose subsequent Christmas was equally as dramatic, is equally as well known to many of us as Scrooge. It’s a must-watch and a Christmas movie that can’t be beaten (The film version of McClane’s story is called Die Hard of course).
But for us guys, settling down after Christmas dinner with a stomach full of turkey and pudding there are other films to enjoy and other heroes to watch. James Bond for example. On Her Majesty’s Secret Service not only introduced a new 007 to the world but is a Christmas movie to savour. The bulk of the action takes place between Christmas and New Year, there’s a lovely song on the Soundtrack called “Do you know how Christmas Trees are grown”, Bond proposes for the first and only time in a barn (i.e. stable) on Christmas eve and even Blofeld, Bonds arch-enemy, has a Christmas tree! I rest my case.
Other Christmas films for men to enjoy that I would recommend include the following. Krampus – a comedy/Horror featuring the legendary German horned goat that brings chaos to home with children who don’t believe in Father Christmas. The film has a stunning ending. The Nightmare before Christmas is another. Jack Skelton, the king of Halloween kidnaps Santa in this delightful fantasy. The joy of the film is that you actually come to care for the characters. I would also include the Oscar winning, The Holdovers. Paul Giamatti plays a grumpy teacher at a boarding school in Boston given the job of looking after pupils who have to stay in the school over the holidays.
If you are looking to curl up with a loved one you can’t do much better than Love Actually. The wonderful Bill Nighy sings “Christmas is all around me” and Hugh Grant plays, arguably, the best prime minister we never had! Anna and the Apocalypse is a zombie musical set at Christmas and has some banging songs!
At this time of the year many classics get a new lease of life by being seen again in cinemas. This year we’ve had A wonderful Life, Home Alone and Love Actually but please look out for the brand new All the Small Things. Set in the mid 70’s Cillian Murphy plays a Coleman in a small Irish town who discovers bad things happening at Christmas in a local convent.
You may have noted that above I mentioned the famous Mr. Ebenezer Scrooge. For me watching, at least one version of a Christmas Carol at Christmas is a must but there are so many to choose from and just about every actor you can name has played the role. For my money the best are Albert Finney in A Christmas Carol. (A musical – thank you very much) Bill Murray in the modern-day retelling, Scrooged and Michael Cain in the wonderful The Muppets Christmas Carol. ("Even the vegetables don’t like him"!). The story of Dickens himself is told an excellent film called The Man who invented Christmas. Worth checking out.
If you go back over this article you will see that I’ve highlighted 12 films – one for each of the 12 days of Christmas. I hope that’s enough to be going on with and if I’ve not mentioned yours please forgive me.
That’s all folks – have a great Christmas and enjoy your movies.
Andy Godfrey is an evangelist with Outreach UK, the film reviewer for Sorted and author of “Faith on Film – confessions of a Christian Critic”. (Available on Amazon)
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