Hannah’s favorite Christmas classics

Christmas movies are the pathway into the holiday season. Watching a Christmas movie is one of the best ways to get into the spirit of the season. Whenever the holiday season comes around to the Young household, “Christmas with the Kranks’ ‘ will be watched at least once. Personally, I think “Christmas with the Kranks” is an extremely original Christmas movie, and a great way to kick off the holiday season each year. The movie starts off with Luther (Tim Allen) and Nora Krank (Jamie Lee Curtis) dropping their daughter off at the airport,  thinking she was going to be gone for the holiday season. As the movie progresses, the couple realize how much money they “waste” each year on all of the Christmas traditions. So they tell everybody in their life they are boycotting Christmas, and instead going on a cruise. This, expectedly, caused an uproar amongst their neighbors, singing Christmas carols at the front door of Luther and Nora Kranks home. After many instances like this throughout the movie, a large twist comes about, which definitely changes the movie for the better.

 This movie is 100% a comedy, from Nora Krank chasing the ham across the parking lot to getting caught in the tanning bed in a tiny bikini by her fellow church friends. Despite it’s great comedic moments, the movie reminds us to be thankful for the holiday season. I believe the movie “Christmas with the Kranks”  has been so successful because of how crazy the idea of skipping Christmas is.This movie is one of the best to watch during the Christmas season. Though on the other hand I could see people not liking the untraditional aspect of the movie. It is a bit out of the ordinary. Many Christmas movies are cheesy love movies. Examples being almost any Christmas movie you will ever watch on hallmark. So with this being known the idea of creating a movie with the idea of skipping Christmas is quite crazy.Though if you can get past that point it is a great movie. I would give this movie a 9/10.

“The Polar Express,” is a holiday classic about a boy who gets on a magic train on Christmas Eve and rides his way up to the North Pole to meet Santa Claus. The movie had many magical aspects. Getting to see the North Pole through the lens of a child was magical. Also almost every kid dreams of a white Christmas. Even for adults watching the movie brings back childhood memories. The thought of still believing in the Santa clause along with getting to see the north pole as a real place.

I have heard people say they don’t like “The Polar Express.” I can see their point of view. To be fair the dolls were incredibly creepy. As well as the mysterious man lurking on top of the train. Though these small points of the movie do not ruin my viewing experience. For me, the Polar Express is a great movie to bring back all of my childhood memories. While “The Polar Express” does have some creepy moments, the overall feel of the movie is old-school holiday charm. This movie would get a 7/10 from me.

“Home Alone” is  another Christmas  movie with a crazy plot line. Maybe that’s the key to making a great Christmas movie. It could be the fact that with adding crazy ideas into a movie, it adds more comedy. For some people the holidays can be stressful, so the idea of adding these events brings stress off people. Anyways if you were to ask my brother around the holiday season what movie he wanted to watch he would say “Home Alone.” Starring renowned child actor Macaulay Culkin, “Home Alone” is a movie about a naughty little boy who gets left home alone while his parents went to Paris. They told Kevin that he needed to go sleep in the attic, and lo and behold they forgot him while leaving for vacation. Then the movie goes on to record the adventures of Kevin protecting the home from robbers. 

I will admit the movie itself was pretty funny. The production and plot was also incredibly smart. Lots of parts of the movie were super foreshadowing. For example the “ police officers.” Who eventually turned into the burglars. Those aspects of the movie made it much more interesting to watch.The quality of the movie, especially considering it was filmed in 1990, is amazing. Though every time I think back to watching the movie I think about my little eight year old self scared of the idea of being left home alone, or burglars sneaking into my home. Though now as I watch the movie I can appreciate the masterpiece. So personally I am not sure if this movie is the best for young children to watch. It is a great movie though, and definitely should be watched over the holiday season. This movie would get a 8/10.