John's Top 10 Christmas Movies

I love Christmas.

I know it's not exactly an original thought, but I love this time of year. I love that the weather gets noticeably cooler (though never, EVER truly cold like what my poor dad has to endure in Minnesota). I love the spirit of sharing and being kinder to those around you. I also love the gifts — giving and receiving — though I'm more of a giver (that's what she said).

I also love movies, which I'm sure comes as a huge shock to anyone who's met me. I figured this would be as good a time as any to unveil my list of favorite Christmas flicks.

A feel I should mention a few quick points. For the first 13 years of my life I lived in Puerto Rico, which means, unlike almost everyone I've met since I've moved to the States, I wasn't steeped in American Christmas culture. I don't know the words to any Christmas carols (that's me in the back of the crowd awkwardly pretending to mouth the words to "Silent Night"). However, if you're planning on organizing a parranda, count me in. I also didn't watch "It's A Wonderful Life" or "Miracle on 34th Street" every year (and I inexcusably haven't bothered to watch them in the last decade, sorry) so those and other Christmas "classics" won't be showing up on the list.

I also went ahead and decided to keep the list to feature films and exclude the numerous (and enjoyable) standard made-for-TV Christmas specials. Sorry, Frosty, Rudolph, Charlie Brown and others.

Finally, I tried to not stretch as much as possible and keep the list to movies where Christmas is a prevalent theme. Unfortunately, this excludes movies (like Edward Scissorhands) that merely depict a Christmas celebration for a minor portion of a film's running time.

Ok, I'm tired of writing this intro. Before we get to the list, let's get some quick awards out of the way.

MOVIE I KINDA ENJOY THAT EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO HATE

How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000): Yes, it's WAY over-the-top, and yes, I realize that the very nature of this excessive, big budget blockbuster goes against Dr. Seuss' message about the true Christmas spirit, but this movie just cracks me up. More specifically, Jim Carrey is a hoot (or a who-ot? Sorry) as the Grinch. Also, the Oscar-winning makeup job for Carrey's Grinch holds up remarkably well almost a decade later. Finally, Taylor Momsen as Cindy Lou Who is adorable and gave no indication she'd go on to star in "Gossip Girl."

MOVIE I KINDA HATE THAT EVERYONE ELSE SEEMS TO ENJOY

A Christmas Story: Ok, so "hate" is a strong word. I just don't get it. This movie is ok. I don't really understand why it's been elevated to "classic" status and why TBS shows it for 24 hours straight. Actually, if the alternative is watching "Frank TV" or "House of Payne", I'll take this movie.

MOVIE NO ONE SAW THAT I KINDA ENJOY

P2: Please don't let there be any confusion. This movie — starring Wes Bentley as an unstable security guard who holds a woman (Rachel Nichols) hostage in a parking garage on Christmas Eve — is not good. But as far as low-rent horror movies go, this one's pretty enjoyable, mostly due to Bentley's, um, interesting performance. It's second on this list, so I'm guessing not too many people have seen it.

Ok, enough messing around, let's get to the list, in descending order:

THE TOP 10

10. The Muppet Christmas Carol: This one isn't higher on the list because this movie is definitely more of a tradition for my girlfriend Erica and her entire family. I've only actually seen it once, but I wanted to recognize it because it's the best Muppets movie. My favorite part is how Oscar winner Michael Caine never seems to realize or care that he's acting with puppets (most stars who share the screen with the Muppets always play it a little too cutesy and self-aware) and just BRINGS it as Ebenezer Scrooge.

9. Elf: Before deciding to only make terrible sports comedies, Will Ferrell starred in this charming holiday movie about a human who was raised by elves and comes to New York to find his family. I love Ferrell's winning performance and his "Baby It's Cold Outside" duet with Zooey Deschanel. Out of every Christmas movie released in the last decade, this has the best chance of becoming a family holiday staple.

8. Bad Santa: Out of every Christmas movie released in the last decade, this one probably has the worst chance of becoming a family holiday staple. Of course, that was never the point with this cynical and hilarious story about a pair of thieves who rob malls by working as a mall Santa Claus and his elf. It's endlessly quotable and features funny work by Billy Bob Thornton, Lauren Graham, Tony Cox, Bernie Mac and John Ritter.

7. The Nightmare Before Christmas: Probably the only movie that would fit in as well on a "Best Christmas" and "Best Halloween" movie list. This Tim Burton-produced animated flick — about Halloweentown resident Jack Skellington bringing his sensibility to Christmas — has the director's trademark dark humor and gothic style, but also features a few memorable songs and impressive stop motion animation that holds up more than a decade later.

6. The Ref: Before "Bad Santa" there was "The Ref" to let us know that Christmas isn't always a time of good cheer. Denis Leary is a thief who takes a bickering married couple hostage before eventually realizing that he's the real prisoner when the couple's family shows up for a hellacious family gathering. Laugh (and cringe) at your own risk.

5. Scrooged: Bill Murray stars as a modern-day Scrooge of a TV executive in this smart update of "A Christmas Carol". I think this is his most underrated comedic performance and I think you should watch if only to remember a time when Bill Murray actually made comedies. (Seriously, Bill, I like that you're stretching as an actor, but enough with the downbeat, depressing dramas.)

4. Home Alone: This isn't hard to figure out. I was exactly Kevin McCallister's (Macaulay Culkin) age when this movie came out in 1990 and I definitely wasn't the only eight year old who fantasized about rigging his house with impossibly elaborate booby traps and outsmart a pair of bumbling burglars. This one still makes me laugh and is still sneakily touching (you go homeless guy with the shovel!) Also, Home Alone 2 isn't that bad.

3. Die Hard: Before you gripe about this not being a real Christmas movie, hear me out. It's set on Christmas Eve (which is crucial to the plot since it explains why the Nakatomi building was mostly empty), features a couple of favorites on the soundtrack, and has a memorable Christmas-related quote ("Now I have a machine gun, ho-ho-ho.") Also, our hero John McClane (Bruce Willis) even used a piece of Christmas wrapping tape to strap a gun to his back and save the day (and his wife). Now it's your turn to tell me how this ISN'T a Christmas movie. (Ok, I really do get that it's not a traditional Christmas movie, which is why it's not higher on this list.)

2. Love Actually: I get that Christmastime is supposed to be about family, but why aren't there more good Christmas romantic comedies (that aren't Lifetime movies)? Although the pickings are pretty slim, I still think "Love Actually" stands out in a fantastic way, thanks to a stellar cast (Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Liam Neeson, Bill Nighy, etc.) In fact, the cast might be a little too big. (Did we need the porn movie stand-ins?) Still, this is one of my favorite romantic comedies AND one of my favorite Christmas movies.

1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: Yes, in 2008 a Chevy Chase movie is 1 in something! It's a Christmas miracle! Seriously though, this was the first Christmas movie my family and I watched together and it's the one that we've watched (whether we're together or apart) every year since. It hits all the right notes about the trouble with Christmas decoration (that humongous tree, the obscene amount of lights) family (cousin Eddie, and the hilarious older family members) and squirrels. It's just as relevant today as it was 19 years ago, and I have a feeling that it will be just as relevant 20 years from now.

So what'd you think of this list? You got a problem with any of my selections? (If so, please be nice). Any Christmas movies you enjoy that I left out of the list or that I should check out? Let's hear 'em.