Favorite Christmas Movies?

[Moviefan2k4]

OK, guys; here's what I'm talking about. What are your favorite films that, in addition to being set during the Christmas season, actually focus on it as a time of caring, peace, and joy? I'm not counting movies which don't emphasize this, but are simply set at this time of year, so stuff like "Lethal Weapon", "Bad Santa", or "Black Christmas" wouldn't count. Here's some of my personal favorites; what's yours, and why?

The Santa Clause

In my opinion, the original's the best of them all. There's no cheesy villain, the characters are treated seriously, and the core messages of hope, love, and family are saturated across the board. There's just something interesting, about what would happen if you discovered you'd been contracted to replace jolly ol' St. Nicholas. Seeing Tim Allen in the role, it shocked me to read that the movie was originally written for Bill Murray; I shudder to think what he'd have done with it. Also, I hadn't seen Judge Reinhold in anything other than "Beverly Hills Cop", so his portrayal of a cynical psychiatrist was both funny and compelling. The look on his face when he realizes the truth about Scott is priceless.

A Very Brady Christmas

I watched reruns of the show on TV as a kid, but I don't think I was ever a "rabid fan" of it. I don't remember when I first saw this movie, but it was a great story, and I liked the notion of all the kids having secrets, and facing the choice of whether to reveal them. Most of all, I really liked it as a movie that showed an extensive family actually embracing Christmas together, which is sadly becoming rare in the world today.

The Muppet Christmas Carol

I was a big fan of the Muppets as a kid, and this version of the classic Dickens story is one of my favorites, right up there with the TV film starring Patrick Stewart, and the Disney version with Mickey Mouse. Michael Caine makes a great Scrooge, but what really steals the show is the banter between Gonzo and Rizzo ("light the lamp, not the rat!"). My favorite moment though, is when the Cratchits sing "Bless Us All"; it almost makes me cry every time.

Ernest Saves Christmas

I loved Jim Varney's signature character, especially in this film, where he winds up helping a retiring Santa to find his next replacement. Of course, the typical gags start flying, but at the center is a lesson about some of the core values associated with Christmas: love, honesty, integrity, selflessness, and courage. My favorite line is when the new recruit shows up at the end, asking if the job is still open. Santa replies, "For the right man, it is." Perfect.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe

C.S. Lewis was unashamed of his characters being allegories for the Biblical events of the Nativity and Easter. Most of the film is set in winter, caused by an evil witch who calls herself Queen, and the central focus of the story is a prophecy concerning four children ("two sons of Adam, and two daughters of Eve") who will help the lion Aslan defeat her, and restore peace to the kingdom. The most glaring references to this are Aslan's death and resurrection, which directly parallel Jesus. He even refers to pure justice, saying "when a willing victim who has committed no treachery is killed in a traitor's stead, the Stone Table will crack, and even death itself will turn backwards".