My Top 5 Christmas Movies

Continuing in the blogging spirit of the Holidays, I am presenting my own personal top 5 Christmas movies. I don't necessarily expect anyone to agree with the order or even the films but there is one thing we can all agree on: all Christmas movies suck when you watch them in April.

5 Christmas Vacation

This is kind of a default pick. Growing up, my mother would watch this film every year and while I never really liked it when I was younger, I definitely appreciate the humor now that I am older. I don't think it is as good as the original "Vacation" movie but it is still a holiday classic. Randy Quaid really makes this movie for me in his portrayal as the obnoxious cousin Eddie Johnson. I still cringe when he empties his RV's septic tank into the street. I try to catch this one at least once every year.

4. It's a Wonderful Life

This movie is not only a holiday classic but a true gem in the history of cinema. I have always been a fan of James Stewart and he truly shines in Frank Capra's story of a man who finds out what would have been if he had never existed. I also love this movie because I thoroughly enjoy annoying the crap out of people with my horrible Stewart impressions. "CLARENCE!! CLARENCE!!" This is actually one of the few movies that I don't mind watching outside of the Christmas season.

3. Bad Santa

One of the more recent holiday films, Bad Santa offers everything I want from a Christmas movie. A drunk Santa, a fat kid obese with getting a purple elephant, and a foul-mouthed midget. This movie is definitely not for anyone under the age of 18 (or anyone over the age of 30 for that matter), however, it provides plenty of laughs for the person like me who enjoys his Holidays with a shot of whiskey.

2. Home Alone

I had to think for a moment about which "Home Alone" I prefer. While "Home Alone 2" is a great movie on its own and a more than worthy sequel, I still side with the original. This is one film that I cannot go through the holiday season without watching at least once. I'm pretty sure every kid I knew growing up wanted to shoot action figures into the laundry chute with a BB gun and Kevin McCallister lived that dream. I never really knew anyone that wanted to take a blowtorch to Joe Pesci's head, though, but I didn't know a whole lot of people.

1. A Christmas Story

The Holy Grail among Christmas movies as far as I am concerned. Year after year I drive my family crazy by insisting that we leave the TNT 24 hour marathon on the television as we open gifts, eat, and be merry. For me, the holiday season cannot officially begin until I see "A Christmas story" and once the marathon is over, so is Christmas. Most people I talk to are either absolutely in love this movie or despise it as though it is the Grinch that stole Christmas. Regardless, this movie will always be a staple of my Christmas traditions.