Great Christmas Movies to Share Each Year

The holidays are just around the corner. Just think, the hustle and hassle of Christmas shopping, traffic, crowded stores, and all the stressful things that tend to bring out the worst in people are not far away. The holidays are special, but sometimes it can be overwhelming to try to accomplish everything we feel is important to make the season perfect for family and friends.
All the more reason to choose a great holiday movie, pop some popcorn, make some hot chocolate and share a relaxing evening with someone we love. You can go shopping tomorrow!

I love classic movies, and during Christmas some of the great notable classics that come to mind are "It's a Wonderful Life," with James Stewart, and "Miracle on 34th street," which also comes in more than one version, since it has been remade twice since the original 1947 version with Natalie Wood. But it's nice to see new movies about Christmas released too. You can find a list of classic and modern favorites at http://eclecticesoterica.com/christmas_movie.html . Be sure to check it out to find your favorite, and discover new favorites as well!

There are so many wonderful holiday-theme movies to choose from, it is impossible to list very many, for the sake of time. I have three favorites I love to watch every year, and each time I see them, it takes me back to the memories of watching them as a child. You can make a favorite movie as much of a holiday tradition as turkey, mashed potatoes, and pumpkin pie. And, it's something your family will look forward to each and every year.

One of my favorites has got to be the 1949 release of "Holiday Affair," starring Robert Mitchum and Janet Leigh. The remakes are very good also, but there's just something about a young Robert Mitchum that I find irresistible. A great choice for families and couples, it is a heart-warming Christmas romance story of a widowed young mother who works as a comparison shopper. She is engaged, but meets toy salesman Robert Mitchum while buying a toy train, and manages to get Mitchum fired. She finds herself falling for Mitchum, who is an instant hit with her young son, Timmy, but she faces a struggle trying to decide between Mitchum and her fiancé. Be sure to check out one of the versions of this story, if you are a sucker for a Holiday romance. There are the television movie versions from 1996 and 2001, but I like the original version the best!

Another holiday-theme movie I enjoy each year, and a little more recent is a 1994 Denis Leary/Kevin Spacey comedy called "The Ref." Funny and entertaining as it is, this one is probably best-suited for adults because there is quite a bit of foul language. But I love this movie anyway! Kevin Spacey and Judy Davis play a married couple who cannot stop bickering, even after being kid-napped by cat-burglar, Denis Leary. He soon discovers he gets more than he bargained for, and this dysfunctional family and feuding in-laws begin to drive him crazy. If you enjoy a good comedy with some Christmas flair, this one might be very enjoyable for you!

Another favorite with many families as well as mine is Rudolph, the "Red-Nosed Reindeer." For us, it just isn't Christmas without watching this one! I can remember watching it as far back as I can possibly remember, and little ones are still enjoying it just as much today. Who can resist the classic story of Rudolph, shunned at first for his "defective" red, glowing nose, who soon becomes a hero to Santa and Christmas itself! I love this one because it is just such a tradition with our family.

There are so many more holiday movies that I love, but I can't mention them all. I did save my favorite one for last, however, which is the unforgettable "A Christmas Story." Released in 1983, it is the story of Ralphie, who dreams of receiving a Red-Ryder BB gun for Christmas! He knows this will never happen, however, because his mother, teacher, and even Santa warns: "You'll shoot your eye out!" Most of us can identify with this situation during childhood when you dream so hard for something you feel you can't live without, then wonder if you will ever receive it! I never get tired of this delightful story of the misadventures of Ralphie and family, as well as the incredible, funny cast of characters! It is another great Christmas flick that has become a tradition in my home!

So, these are just a few of my favorites, and I have so many more. The wonderful thing is, there are always more heart-warming, incredible movies about the Spirit of the Holidays to check out. The Holidays are all about getting close to the ones you love as well as sharing happiness with others. A good holiday movie is a fun way to do just that, and they make perfect gifts too! So, don't get over-stressed this holiday season. Make some time for yourself and the people you love to enjoy some quality time with a favorite holiday movie!