Alternative Movie List: Five Best Unconventional Christmas Films

Let's face it right after Halloween movies and television jump straight into Christmas mode, they don't even wait until after Thanksgiving anymore. As a result even those naturally inclined to enjoy the usual Christmas movies can find themselves burned out on them by the time Christmas Day actually rolls around. Well here's a little antidote: a list of great enjoyable films that all feature Christmas in some way but are by no means that standard holiday fare. Whether the usual holiday family films just aren't to your liking or if you just need a break from the heavy handed sappiness these will cleanse your palate while still giving you that little bit of joy of the season.

5. The Thin Man (1934)

Nothing says Christmas quite like multiple homicide, or at least that's the case in this black and white classic. In the first of what would eventually become six films Nick and Nora Charles find themselves embroiled in a mystery involving friends of theirs. Nick (William Powell) is a retired but quite renowned detective, and since marrying his wealthy wife Nora (Mirna Loy) he's content to just relax and drink his way through the holidays. Nick would just as soon not be involved but Nora pushes him into the fray, wanting very much to see him in action. With their dog Asta in tow the pair bicker their way through a growing number of bodies while Nick tries to catch the killer and not have to be sober doing so.

The chemistry between Powell and Loy is probably what is best loved about this film and the sequels that they spawned. The two enjoy an antagonistic but never the less very loving marriage. They enjoy winding each other up in a very playful way and the fun is highly infectious. In addition to the fast paced witty banter that characterized the time period there's another bygone characteristic to Nick, that he is a functional alcoholic. In today's movies if a character is a drunk they are either a tormented person or embarrassing to themselves. The notion that somebody could drink regularly yet still be a positive person and member of society is an idea that doesn't exist in todays films but Nick Charles exemplifies it beautifully. As for the Christmas aspects it recurs throughout the film since that is the time frame it is set in. Nick finds himself roped into the mystery when the family of the suspected killer crash his Christmas party in his hotel room. A particular highlight is a hung over Nora commenting that "The next person who says Merry Christmas to me I'll kill him." A Christmas with the Charles family is quite a unique and always enjoyable one.

4. Die Hard (1988)

Loud explosions would normally be more fitting for the 4th of July, but this near perfect action movie opted for Christmas when it came to holiday carnage. In what may possibly be the pinnacle of action films NYC cop John McClane (Bruce Willis) is just trying to reconnect with his estranged wife. He goes to pick her up from her office Christmas party only to find himself caught in the middle of a terrorist takeover of the building, lead by the calculating Hans Gruber (Alan Rickman). With no backup John is forced to try to take out the terrorists himself even as he constantly tells himself that what he's doing is a bad idea.

In many ways Die Hard picked up where Indiana Jones had left off in terms of its depiction of the hero. Action heroes had always had a tendency to be infinitely dashing and all but indestructible (either enduring extreme hardships without so much as a bruise or simply managing to avoid all danger). John McClane is intelligent and skilled but he takes a severe beating as the movie progresses and every hit is seen to leave lasting damage (he has a limp for the whole latter half of the film). McClane is very much a blue collar hero, he's just trying to get the job done as best he can and can't be bothered to look suave while doing it. But even in the heat of all the violent madness McClane never forgets the spirit of the season. There are nods to Christmas throughout the film but the highlight would be McClane leaving the body of a terrorist for Hans to find and writing across the body "Now I have a machine gun. Ho ho ho."

3. The Lion in Winter (1968)

If you think your family is dysfunctional then you haven't met the English royal family from the year 1183. Meet the family of Henry II (Peter O'Toole) and Eleanore of Aquitaine (Katherine Hepburn). The two have been in a constant power struggle to the point that Henry keeps Eleanore locked away, he only lets her out of jail for the holidays during with the story takes place (how's that for Christmas spirit?). The two engage in a battle of wits and wills throughout the film, with the primary point of contention being who will succeed Henry. Henry favors his younger son John while Eleanore is trying to put her older boy Richard into the seat of power.

In this fictionalized take on real life figures and events a truly amazing cast propels the intrigue forward at every turn. O'Toole and Hepburn match each other step for step, neither letting the other be the clear victor of any given scene. Backing them up are a young Anthony Hopkins as Richard and Timothy Dalton as King Philip of Spain, both in their motion picture debuts. What is most engaging about this hostile family is that underneath all the power plays and viciousness there is a sense of genuine affection between Henry and Eleanore. There is also a deep seated loathing but to watch the master actors bring both into play is wonderful. And to top it all off Henry is forced to go through royal Christmas pleasantries even as his family drives him to rage. Now your own family bickering won't seem like such a big thing during the holidays.

2. Gremlins (1984)

You'll be hard pressed to find a better story of a Christmas gift gone horribly wrong. Mr. Peltzer is wandering around China Town looking for a truly unique Christmas present for his son Billy (Zach Galligan). In a curiosity shop he comes across an adorable little furry creature called a mogwai. The little furball, name Gizmo, is loving and a great pet but there are rules of his handling. When those rules are inevitably broken the result is a small army of pint sized scaly monsters called gremlins. Billy and Gizmo (with a few others in tow) must find a way to contain the outbreak of mischievous creatures before the wreck the small town of Kingston Falls.

Though it stirred up a bit of controversy at the time of its release for some of the scarier scenes this little horror comedy has since become a family favorite for many. While there is a body count to the film (only two, and one deserved it) the titular Gremlins are ultimately more mischievous than deadly. They're really the ultimate bratty kids, finding ways to wreak havoc for their own twisted amusement. Gizmo himself is endlessly adorable and the puppet work on both him and the Gremlins still holds up well. In some ways this is almost an anti-Christmas movie as the Gremlins go about tearing down everything they find (holiday related items included) and Billy's girlfriend tells a rather disturbing (but darkly funny) story about why she hates Christmas. In the end though there is love and redemption, all in keeping with the spirit of the holidays. Just remember when you get an usual pet be sure you know how to take care of it!

1. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

You'll be hard pressed to find a more unique taken on the holidays than this Tim Burton classic. Jack Skellington is the Pumpkin King of Halloween Town, a whole town wholly devoted to creating the scariest and most disgusting Halloween every year. Jack is very good at what he does but he finds himself growing restless and needing something else. While wandering Jack encounters Christmas Town, and finds himself swept up in the holiday spirit. Jack is so taken in that he decides to run Christmas himself and get the residents of Halloween Town to help. Given that none of the characters really have any business trying to be cheery and heartening it creates the titular nightmare for those hapless souls who'll be visited by Jack's bony version Santa Claus.

In many ways The Nightmare Before Christmas is a very traditional Christmas movie, about a character discovering and embracing the holiday spirit. But unlike the standard characters in those types of films Jack embraces Christmas immediately but the problems stem from who he is and how he approaches things. The residents of Halloween Town are certainly well meaning, just completely and totally out of their depth. The hand crafted stop motion animation is stunning and the songs by Danny Elfman (who also provided Jack's singing voice) carry the movie from start to finish. Despite being a darker take on Christmas this unique film is not lacking for true Christmas spirit and has been the means for many a brooding youth to get into the swing of the holidays.