Must Watch Christmas Movies & TV Shows: Drama

1. Joyeux Noel (2005)
This 2005 French film details the events of a Christmas Eve truce between the Germans,
the French, and the Scots during the winter of 1914 in this Worlmed War I story. When a
German soldier and tenor sings Silent Night in the original German in the middle of No
Man's Land, the song brings all sides together and a truce brings enemies together. But,
what are the ramifications that are spawned by this new friendship? You will have to
watch and see. Oscar nominee for Best Foreign Language Film for 2005.

2. The Christmas Shoes (2002)
This heartwarming TV movie tells the story of a young woman (Kimberly Williams) dying
of congestive heart failure who is about to leave behind a mechanic husband and a
young son who works hard to find just the right present for his mother's last Christmas.
Also, a couple (Rob Lowe, Shirley) are having marital troubles due to the husband's
overtime at work. If you are not balling your eyes out by the end of the movie, it is time
for you to get a heart transplant.

3. One Magic Christmas (1985)
A couple (Mary Steenburgen, Gary Basaraba) is going through hard times after the town's
main source of employment lays off the husband. Wife is grumpy and feeling stressed as
the family's only source of income in a job that she hates (or at least boss that she hates),
hence, not in the Christmas spirit. Husband and kids, however, are in the Christmas spirit
and each have a dream of their own. Yet, how can they bring the Christmas spirit to
mom? Enter Gideon the Christmas Angel (Harry Dean Stanton) who, with the help of the
kids, finds a way to bring the joy of Christmas to their mom.

4. Jesus of Nazareth (1977)
This TV miniseries directed by Franco Zeffirelli and starring Robert Powell in the title role,
details the life of Jesus from birth to resurrection. The all-star cast includes Anne
Bancroft, Ernest Borgnine, James Farentino (in his Emmy nominated performance as Simon
Peter), James Earl Jones, Sir Laurence Olivier, Anthony Quinn, and Olivia Hussey (as Jesus'
mother Mary) plus a whole lot more.

Must Watch Christmas Movies & TV Shows: Comedy

1. Home Alone (1990)
Macaulay Culkin stars as a young boy left behind by his family during the Christmas
holidays. Soon he finds himself defending the homestead against two thieves (Joe Pesci
and Daniel Stern) who have cased his neighborhood for Christmas goodies. A comedy
classic. Avoid its two sequels. Leaving your kid behind once is forgivable, more than
that...call social services.

2. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989)
Chevy Chase stars as the head of the Griswold family. All he wants is to provide the
perfect Christmas for his parents and his wife's family. Of course, not everything goes as
planned. Mayhem arises of course. Will the Griswold family have its perfect Chritstmas?
Well, you will just have to find out for yourself.

Must Watch Christmas Movies & TV Shows: Animated

A listing of the best must watch animated Christmas movies and TV shows or specials.

1. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965)
Charles Schulz's characters come to life in this animated TV feature where Charlie Brown ponders the true meaning of Christmas. Seems like everyone else is just interested in what they can get out of the holiday. This classic cartoon won the 1966 Emmy for Outstanding Children's Program, nominated for Special Classifications of Individual Achievements for writer Charles Schulz, and earned an 2002 Emmy nomination for the making of the feature.


2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966)
Dr. Seuss' enduring story of the Christmas hating Grinch and his plan to rid himself of the holiday once and for all. Will he be able to do it? Please avoid the live action movie of the story starring Jim Carey...not a kid-friendly movie.






3. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer (1964)
The story of a misfit reindeer born with a big red nose is a timeless classic. Who among us hasn't felt like a misfit? Featuring narration by Burl Ives who also sings the title song.

Must Watch Christmas Movies & TV Shows: Original Stories

The holiday season begets lots of holiday movie and TV watching. Everyone has their favorites and I know I certainly have mine. For the next few days, I will list them in various categories.

1. Original Stories: means just that. The stories are unique, have made an impact in
American culture, and have often been remade and retold throughout the years.

2. Animated: Best animated movies and TV shows

3. Comedies: Makes you laugh at loud.

4. Drama: Tugs at your heart and soul.



I hope you get an opportunity to watch them.


Original Stories:


1. It's A Wonderful Life (1946)
This 1946 movie was the very first movie Jimmy Stewart made after returning from World
War II. The movie received five Oscar nominations including Best Actor for Jimmy Stewart,
Best Director for Frank Capra, and Best Picture. I love this story...how one person can really
make a difference in the life of others.




2. A Christmas Carol (various versions and years)
Charles Dickens' novel of a man needing a second chance to change his life. Ebenezer
Scrooge is given an opportunity to be visited by three ghosts on Christmas Eve. His old
business partner Jacob Marley shows him what life on the other side will look for Scrooge
if he doesn't change his ways. The story has been retold many times in plays, musicals,
and of course in movies. The best movie versions of the story are:













a. 1951 version starring Alastair Sim
b. 1938 version starring Reginald Owen
c. 1984 TV version starring George C. Scott (nominated for an Emmy for Best Actor in
a Limited Series or Special).
d. 1999 TV version starring Patrick Stewart


3. A Christmas Story (1983)
During the depression, a boy named Ralphie only has one Christmas wish...a Red Ryder
BB gun. The only response he seems to get from his elders are "you will shoot your eye out!!"
Undeterred, Ralphie works out a plan to make his Christmas wish come true. Lots of
funny moments in this movie. This movie has become so popular in the past few years,
that TNT shows this movies for 24 hours on Christmas Eve. Want a leg lamp like the one
that shows up in the movie? Yes, you can get one!!




4. Miracle on 34th Street (1947)
A story about a little girl (Natalie Wood) whose mother raised her not to believe in Santa
Claus. Then enters a sweet old man named Chris who will try everything he can to make
sure the little girl believe in Santa. However, is Chris who we think he is? Is he just a
sweet old man or is he the jolly old elf himself?





5. Holiday Inn (1942)
A fun story of two friends (Bing Crosby, Fred Astaire) who have different views on
career and life. Crosby, the singer, likes to write music and lead a more quiet life
while Astaire, a dancer, is carefree and loves attention. Crosby makes the decision
to live out in the New England countryside and decides to only work a few times a
year during major holidays. He opens up his home to people and they celebrate
each holiday with a musical based on the theme for that holiday. The two also
compete for the affection of a lovely lady. The movie was nominated for three
Oscars for original writing, music score and won the Oscar for best song,
White Christmas. The movie also inspired the hotel chain Holiday Inn.





6. Christmas in Connecticut (1942)
A columnist (Barbara Stanwyck) has gained a reputation for being the best homemaker
in the country (the Martha Stewart of her day). Well, it turns out that she isn't. A
problem arises when a navy man who survived an ordeal during the war returns home
and wishes to have a traditional Christmas dinner. Stanwyck's editor offers her services
not knowing that she isn't the homemaker everyone thinks she is. Mayhem arises when
she promises long-time beau to marry him in order to make use of his country home so
they can host the sailor and she falls for the said sailor. Please avoid the 1992 TV
version starring Dyan Cannon and directed by Arnold Schwarzenegger.




7. Meet Me in St. Louis (1944)
This classic movie features a more grown up Judy Garland transitioning from girlish
roles to a more adult role. The movie made quite an impact as it featured two great
songs, the Oscar nominated "The Trolley Song" and the Christmas classic "Have Yourself a
Merry Little Christmas." The movie was also Oscar nominated for Best Score, Best
Screenplay, and Best Cinematography. Scene stealer Margaret O'Brien and Judy Garland
work well together in this story set in 1904 just before the opening of the St. Louis
World's Fair (the fair that introduced the ice cream cone). The Smith family are all
excited about the fair. The two eldest Smith daughters, however, have boys on their
mind especially the boy next door. Lots of wonderful music, great performances, and
great laughs. The movie was directed by Vincente Minelli. He and Garland fell in love
during the making of this movie, they eventually got married and had Liza.

Star Trek

The new 2009 Star Trek movie is out on DVD. I saw the movie when it came out in late spring and it certainly bumped off X-Men Origins: Wolverine from its first place spot. This version of
Star Trek certainly satisfied the needs of Star Trek fans and also brought in some new fans who were unfamiliar with the franchise. This Star Trek is action packed, has stunning visuals and special effects, great performances, and a lot of good humor.

This new movie marks the beginning of (hopefully) more Star Trek movies with a brand new cast beginning with the original characters of James T. Kirk (Chris Pine), Spock (Zachary Quinto), Dr. McCoy (Karl Urban), Uhura (Zoe Saldana), Scotty (Simon Pegg), Chekov (Anton Yelchin), and Sulu (John Cho). Other characters appearing from the original are Spock (Leonard Nimoy), Sarek (Ben Cross), Amanda [Spock's mom (Wynona Ryder)], and Captain Christopher Pike (Bruce Greenwood). New characters added to the franchise were George and Winona Kirk as Captain Kirk's parents. The new recreated characters have more of an edge than previously.

The movie begins with an encounter with Romulans of the future meet up with the USS Kelvin where the elder Kirk is an officer and takes over as acting captain when the captain of the ship dies in the line of duty. Winona Kirk is in labor with the future captain of the Enterprise while the Kelvin is under attack. This first scene of the movie is the catalyst to the whole movie.

At the same time, we see the life experiences of James T. Kirk and Spock as children and take a peek at the people they are to become later on. We see Kirk dealing with his father's death and Spock having to deal with life as half-Vulcan and half-human. Not being fully Vulcan and not being fully human. You see both characters dealing with their own personal struggles throughout the movie.

The film is a lot more action oriented but retains its humor. If, anything, it is the humor in the film that brings people back again and again. If you are a Star Trek fan, you will find a number of references (both visual and verbal) in the film but a non-Star Trek fan would not feel lost at all. There is plenty for both types of audiences. One thing this movie seems to have been able to do is gain some new fans.

The IMAX version of this film was fantastic and was certainly made for the format. The sound and the music made the experience even better.

This movie is definitely a must see.