Twelve Films of Christmas Part II

Twelve Films of Christmas - basic croppedOh you guys! Massive fun alert! A couple days ago, my awesome author friend Hillary Manton Lodge posted Part I of our Twelve Films of Christmas two-part blog event. The goal: combine our love of Christmas and our love of movies…and also our love of other writers. We asked ten fellow authors their favorite Christmas movies, threw our own in, AND set up two giveaways with twelve books up for grabs.

Go here to check out Part I and enter the first giveaway. Part two + the second giveaway…below!

Beth Vogt and The Christmas CardBeth Vignette

The Christmas Card has joined the ranks of my classic must-watch Christmas movies. I saw the movie for the first time in December 2006. After that, I searched for the DVD – found it – and watched the delightful Christmas romance again and again! Now the movie is a holiday tradition.

What’s to love about The Christmas Card? It’s about more than coming home for Christmas; the movie tells a story of finding home. And there’s the romance where “expected love” is exchanged for lasting love. I appreciate that our country’s military is acknowledged – both their service and what that service can cost both active duty members and their families. And it’s so satisfying how a simple act of kindness – one that you or I could do – leads to happily ever after.

Cara Vignette

Cara Putman and White Christmas

White Christmas: I adore this relatively simple story set during the post WWII years. I love the theme of honoring those we admire…even at great cost to ourselves. The ending scene with the general makes me tear up every time. And hearing Bing Crosby croon White Christmas? And Danny Kaye is the perfect comedic foil. Sing with me “Sisters, Sisters….” Perfection! My family adores this movie.

Hillary Vignette

 

Hillary Manton Lodge and Arthur Christmas

Arthur Christmas released in 2011 without much fanfare, but believe me when I say it deserves a place in your holiday rotation. It’s unsurprising, considering the fact that it came from the studio who brought us Wallace & Gromit. Arthur is inventive and observant, heartwarming and irreverently funny.

After seventy Christmases, the Reigning Santa (Jim Broadbent) is expected to retire and pass the sleigh to his oldest son Steve (Hugh Laurie), who’s already operating Christmas Eve like NASA’s Mission Control. But younger brother Arthur is the one lovingly reading and responding to the stacks of mail received by Santa. When a child’s gift is missed, Arthur sneaks out with Grand-Santa (Bill Nighy), Grand Santa’s geriatric reindeer, and stowaway elf Bryony (Ashley Jensen), embarking on a globe-spanning, rule-breaking race to deliver the gift by morning. As the odd-one out himself, Arthur dedicates himself to proving that everyone matters, that no one is left out.

Part family drama, part caper, Arthur Christmas is kid-friendly but one of the rare animated movies that’s smart enough for grown-up enjoyment. Also? If you watch the special features, you can see the leads in the studio recording their lines. I highly recommend.

Katie Vignette

Katie Ganshert and Elf

Elf is a long-standing Christmas movie favorite for many reason, one of which is obvious—the hilarity. I mean, really. The first time my husband and I watched this movie, we laughed. A lot. Will Farrell is entertaining in any role, but most especially as Buddy the Elf. His classic one-liners have been quoted many a time in the Ganshert household. (Smiling’s my favorite!)

But beyond the obvious, there are other reasons we keep coming back to this one Christmas after Christmas. Buddy the Elf isn’t just funny. He’s completely, totally, 100% endearing. He’s a full-grown adult who sees the world with all the wonder of a young, highly-enthusiastic kid. In this cynical world in which we live, it’s a refreshing reminder. Add in Zooey Deschanel (love her) and the whole workaholic-father-learns-the-true-meaning-of-family plot line and we have ourselves a winner.

Susan May Warren and The Year Without a Santa Claus

Susie VignetteA year without a Santa Claus?  Egads!  Unthinkable – and yet, this is the premise of my favorite Christmas movie, aptly titled, um, The Year Without a Santa Claus.

For a northern girl who’s always lived in beautifully snowy climates, the idea of celebrating Christmas without snow feels like…well, really?  How can Santa land his sleigh on the roof if it is not superbly greased with a delicious layer of icing? Thus, when this movie came out, Elsa the Ice-Princess I was glued to the television set, sympathizing with the town of Southtown and their dream of snow.

Then came the songs.  What could be sadder to a nine-year-old than a Year Without A Santa Claus?  Or Blue Christmas?  (I’ll have a BLUUUUUUUUUUE Christmas without you…)  But the song that I sang throughout the house was the catchy, “I’m Mr. White Christmas, I’m Mr. Snow.  I’m Mr. Icicle, I’m Mister Ten-Below…” versus, “I’m Mr. Green Christmas, I’m Mr. Sun…” Who doesn’t love a little sibling rivalry!

As a storyteller, I just love how the author took a simple premise — what if Santa wanted a year off – and turned it into a delicious plot about idealistic elves, tangled alliances, covert ops and the idea that even Santa needs bucking up sometimes.  (a lesson to every child out there to give their mother a foot massage over Christmas!)

Most of all…the moral? A little snow is good for the soul.

Want to sing?  Here’s the awesome Snow Miser/Heat Miser Video:  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_SGlPnA_iCk

Rachel Hauck and The Holiday

Rachel VignetteMy husband and I realized The Holiday was a gem of a movie a few years ago when discussing what Christmas movie we wanted to watch. “How about The Holiday?” Or in husband’s terms. “The one with whatshername where they switch houses.”

Gotcha.

I love the setting for this movie, LA and London. I love the contrast of Amanda and Iris’s lives. I love one lives in a mansion and flies first class while the other lives in a cottage and flies coach. That’s such a brilliant story telling technique.

The character journey’s are clear and fun, you can see the women face their issues and deal with them.

But for me, I love the Jude Law character, Graham, the widowed dad who’s cries so easily. Which is a great contrast to Amanda, who can’t cry at all. The romances are sweet and genuine. And the ending scene where they all spend the New Year together is fun and tender. I want to BE there with them.

Iris’s story line with the old Hollywood writer is also a great hook, tender and interesting.

(This is not my favorite Christmas movie. Just one of many!)

Twelve Films of Christmas - Part II Books

 

Giveaway Time!

Enter below for a chance to win six books from these awesome authors. Each of today’s authors are contributing a book to the giveaway! And as much fun as giveaways are, you know what’s also fun? Supporting authors! Each one of the books would make great reading for a Christmas getaway or an ideal Christmas gift. And if you missed Part I’s giveaway, enter here.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

p.s. Just FYI…my second book HERE TO STAY is only $2.99 on Amazon right now. YAY…and I’ve got a free Christmas e-short companion to that book. It’s called ONE DECEMBER NIGHT and you can download it here.

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    Comments 122

    1. I forgot about The Christmas Card! That is a sweet movie. Has anyone seen Hallmark’s The Most Wonderful Time of the Year? I like that one a lot. Still, Elf just makes me happy. <3

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        I haven’t seen The Christmas Card or the other one you mentioned. I will make a confession here: I have a natural hesitancy toward all Hallmark Christmas movies, even though many people tell me there are some really fun ones. I just love the classics so much that I’m always convinced I won’t like newer, made-for-TV ones. But Beth’s recommendation has me convinced that maybe I should give this one a chance.

        And Elf…it is hilarious. I do love it.

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    3. To tell the truth, I really don’t have a favorite Christmas movie. I rarely watch television, preferring to read instead. However, I do like A Christmas Carol, the version starring George C Scott.

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        I LOVE the George C. Scott version of Christmas Carol. It’s by far my favorite version (though the Muppets version runs a close second). It scared me as a kid (and frankly, still kinda does) but that never stopped me from watching.

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    4. I really don’t have a favorite Christmas movie, but It’s a Wonderful Life and A Christmas Carol are ones I’ve watched multiple times.

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    5. Awesome post, ladies! Love ‘The Christmas Card’ and Rachel’s pick, ‘The Holiday.’ The latter is fun because it’s modern, but combines some “classic” movie fun that makes it more entertaining. 🙂

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        I should maybe rewatch The Holiday sometime because I don’t remember having a very positive reaction to it…except I did like Jack Black’s character. I remember that. But overall, I barely remember the story. It may be one that I like more the second time.

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        I enjoy that one too. For the longest time, I’d get that and White Christmas mixed up in my head. The stories are a bit familiar…at least in that they both center around sprawling inns.

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        The thing I love most about Elf is that it never takes itself too seriously. If it had tried to shift into serious mode at some point, it would’ve ruined it for me, I think. It just stays hilarious all throughout. 🙂

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    9. I really like to watch “Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer” but my least favorite part of that movie is the song. Once you get it in your head it’s hard to get it out.

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    11. Oh, I’m a sucker for a great Christmas movie! I have a number that are must-watches each year. And you ladies just added to my “need to watch” list.

      If I could only pick one movie . . . Oh, it’s too hard. I LOVE Holiday Inn with Bing Crosby and The Christmas Child with Megan Follows. And others, but I’ll stop there. 🙂

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    13. It is super hard to pick, I LOVE Christmas movies, even ones that no one will watch with me, like “The Santa Clause”, and “Rudolph”(why do kids have to grow up?), but my favorite of all time and one we watch together every year is “It’s a Wonderful Life”.

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    14. White Christmas is my ultimate favorite! We have to watch it every Christmas 🙂 Elf is one of those movies everyone in my family loves! We watch it all year around!

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    15. Oh, I love The Christmas Card too! But my Favorite is still White Christmas, then The Holiday (love that movie), then The Family Stone. Love, love, love these!!!

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    16. I have to agree with most that I adore White Christmas — it’s a large reason I chose that to be the title and theme of my novella in Where Treetops Glisten. Such fun to see how God can give us a White Christmas in many ways. And Bing Crosby crooning the song? Perfection!

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        There is really nothing like Bing singing. I love him. 🙂 My favorite scene in that whole movie is when Bing and Danny are in their dressing room talking and Danny is telling Bing why he should get married. The dialogue is perfection in that scene.

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    17. I really love the Hallmark movie The Christmas Card. It’s about a US soldier who travels to the small town of Nevada City, California to find the lady who sent a Christmas card that really encouraged him through his time in Afghanistan. I love this movie so much that I watch it throughout the entire year, not just Christmas! It’s one of my favorite Hallmark movies of all time.

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    20. I love The Christmas Card (I gave that one as a Christmas gift last year), and I watched Elf for the very first time recently. So cute!

      I have a lot of favorite holiday movies: It’s a Wonderful Life, White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, Christmas in Connecticut are some classic faves. A newer one I’ve seen on the Hallmark channel and love is A Holiday Engagement (sooo good I bought it). Shelly Long is fabulous as the doting, overbearing mom whose wish is to see her daughter in love. And married. 🙂

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    21. My favorite has always been It’s A Wonderful Life. Have never heard of The Christmas Card, but will definitely be checking it out. I also like the original Scrooge. Growing up I always looked forward to watching Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer and still look forward to seeing it.

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    22. My favorite Christmas movies are While You Were Sleeping, White Christmas, and A Muppet Christmas Carol. I forgot about The Holiday, love that one too!

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    23. I watched one last year that was predictable but profound. I really liked The Twelve Dates of Christmas. A woman has to relive the same day of her life until she gets it right. Her growth is amazing. She starts out grumpy, lonely, whining, self- centered and through her frustrating experience of having to redo the same day, learns to stop thinking of herself and truly notice all the people around her.

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    25. Even though it’s not necessarily a Christmas Movie it has a Christmas scene, so it counts in our house …. You’ve Got Mail is a must watch for our family.

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    29. I’d forgotten about The Holiday! That is a great one. Such good storytelling, like Rachel said. My other favorite is While You Were Sleeping. I could watch that movie any time of the year.

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    31. My favorite is probably “It’s A Wonderful Life”, but I also love “Emmet Otter’s Jug-Band Christmas”. 🙂 I don’t get to watch many these days, with our son and his family living with us (hard to find “me time” in the midst of chaos), but we have a nice-sized collection of Christmas movies/shows.

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        I haven’t heard of that second one you mentioned. Have to check it out. And yes, I understand that difficulty finding “me time.” I’m actually writing a blog post for later this month about Christmas busyness.

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    32. White Christmas is my absolute favorite. I also like Jack Frost (cartoon), How the Grinch Stole Christmas, and The Christmas Card. One my family discovered last year was It Happened on 5th Avenue, we loved it.

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    35. My favourite holiday movie is “Mame” with Rosalind Russell, it is a great story, and sooo hilarious!! Another one I like is “All That Heaven Allows” with Rock Hudson and Jane Wyman. I know they are old movies, but they are such great stories.

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    40. I don’t have a favorite Christmas movie, but we seem to watch it’s a wonderful life almost every Christmas so maybe that one. 🙂

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    42. I’m so glad I get to do this twice! My other favorite movie is “A Tree Grows In Brooklyn”. Although the entire movie is not about Christmas, they have a wonderful part with Christmas in it. Poor, no money the two children Francie and Neely want a Christmas tree and to get it without paying for it, they a have to wait until no one is buying then any more AND they have to let the tree seller throw it to them. They have to catch without it touching the ground. They do catch and take it home, through the snow, and of course a wonderful family Christmas ensues. That’s it in a nutshell, but I love those scenes in the movie.

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    43. This isn’t my favorite Christmas movie, but it’s right up there for our family as ‘must-sees’ during the holidays – Disney’s Prep and Landing and Prep and Landing: Naughty or Nice. Such cute movies!

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    45. We have a whole basket full of Christmas Movies: Classics like Holiday Inn, White Christmas, Miracle on 34th Street, It’s a Wonderful Life, Scrooge with George C. Scott. As well as kids movies: Polar Express, Rudolph, Frosty, Charlie Brown Christmas, Santa Claus is coming to town, How the Grinch stole Christmas, Annabelle’s Wish (My husband includes March of the Penguins in with the Christmas movies). We also have some Hallmark ones too: The Christmas Card, and The Most Wonderful Time of the Year, The Christmas shoes (and 1 further sequels).

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    48. I LOVE The Christmas Card! My sister and her family live near Nevada City, where this was filmed. So fun to see familiar landmarks.

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    49. My favorite Christmas movie is Muppet’s Christmas. It is a classic my husband found for me from our childhood one Christmas. I told him I loved it and we could remember everything in the movie but they no longer show it on tv. So he ordered it on line. Very special dvd. Love that man.

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    50. My favorite Christmas movie is A Muppet Christmas Carol with Michael Caine. “Wherever you find love it feels like Christmas.” 🙂

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    52. White Christmas has always been my favorite. A Christmas Carol is not a favorite. And I know I must be a grinch but It’s a Wonderful Life doesn’t thrill me either.

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    55. Sorry but I only posted 1 before It’s a Wonderful Life, But in the old I really have 3 White Christmas and Miracle on 34th street (1947) And as newer I lived were they filmed A Christmas Card I loved that <3 Sorry but there so many really good ones! Thank you and Merry Christmas

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    57. I just watched the last 30 minutes of “White Christmas” last night. My husband rolled his eyes, but I had the “control”!

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    58. PS – and my favorite Christmas movie is “Miracle on 34th Street”. Both versions. They are both great. I also love “The Shop Around the Corner”; another old film.

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    59. It is so hard to pick just one. I absolutely loved The Christmas Card, but I am a sucker for all the Hallmark movies this time of year. I just watched Christmas Under Wraps. As a child of the 80’s, I love anything with Candace Cameron (aka DJ Tanner). 🙂

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    61. My favorite christmas movie is The Muppets Christmas Carol. It just isn’t Christmas until I’ve watched it with my family. 🙂

      -Jessica P.

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    62. My favorite Christmas movie is It’s A Wonderful Life. I always looked forward to watching it with my family growing up. Now with my son we have enjoyed watching The Christmas Bunny and its also been called Just Where I Belong. It is nice seeing Florence Henderson make a connection with a little girl who is finding a forever family.

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    64. I have a lot of favorite Christmas films, but the one I love the most and could watch all year round is “The Shop Around the Corner” with James Stewart and Margaret Sullavan. It’s such a feel-good Old Hollywood romantic comedy!

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    65. It’s hard to pick a favorite. Two of my old favorites are IT’S A WONDERFUL LIFE and WHITE CHRISTMAS. Some of my newer favorites are THE CHRISTMAS CARD, CHRISTMAS IN CANAAN and THREE DAYS.

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    66. I’ve long been a bit of a boycotter of Christmas movies mainly because my mother forced them on us all year round and I’m not one to enjoy something I’m forced to do (yes I’m stubborn)! But I’ve gotten less anti-Christmas movies during the last couple years and I do enjoy some of them. My favorite is a bit of a weird one but I always like watching a Boyfriend for Christmas. It’s a bit corny but for some reason I love it!

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    67. I have more than one favorite Christmas movies. A few of my favorites are It’s a Wonderful Life, all The Santa Claus movies starring Tim Allen, A Christmas Story, and The Nativity.

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    68. I love the old Christmas movies. My all-time favorite is It’s a Wonderful Life. I look forward to watching it every year.

      I’ll have to check out some of the newer ones mentioned here!

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    69. The Year Without Santa Claus. Most definitely a favorite! Another would be The Most Wonderful Time of the Year!!! That movie is also a favorite!!! You won’t be disappointed with that one 🙂

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    72. The kid in me would pick How the Grinch Stole Christmas. The adult in me would pick A Christmas Carol.

      Thank you for sharing and for offering such a wonderful giveaway!

      Merry Christmas to you all,
      Stephanie C.

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    73. I love White Christmas and It’s a Wonderful Life. Another one of my favorites is The Toy That Saved Christmas (Veggie Tales!).

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    74. My comment seems to have gone a.w.o.l….. I hope that posting here again won’t disqualify me.
      I have too many “favorite” Christmas movies to choose just one!
      Hillary Manton Lodge ~ I also loved the relatively unknown Arthur Christmas. 🙂
      I also like Charlie Brown’s Christmas, White Christmas, It’s a Wonderful Life, The Star of Christmas (Veggie Tales), Christmas Shoes, Silent Night, The Man Who Saved Christmas, A Christmas Visitor, What I Did For Love, Borrowed Hearts, and A Hobo’s Christmas.
      I hope you ALL have a blessed Christmas!!

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