Happy Holidays Everyone! In honor of it being Christmas Eve and all, I figured I'd pay my respects to my favorite top Christmas stories from both books and movies. A couple of them are repeated as they are movies based on books. In no particular order, here are my favorite Christmas classics to curl up with on the Holidays.
A Christmas Carol
For those of you who are into classics, the obvious choice is A Christmas Carol. It goes without saying the book by Charles Dickens is one of the best Christmas stories ever told. Everyone has heard this story in one way or another. It has been told so many different ways. I'm a fan of the book, but I also love the movies that have been spawned because of it. I love the adaptation with Patrick Stewart from 1999, because, well, Patrick Stewart. You can never go wrong with a Patrick Stewart movie. The CGI film starring Jim Carrey is a good one, and of course, the animated film starring the one and only Scrooge McDuck as, well, Scrooge, and Goofy as Jacob Marley. This last one being the one I saw most often growing up.
Still hanging with A Christmas Carol, there is also the 1988 Bill Murray classic Scrooged. This one is fun entertainment in true Bill Murray fashion. I also remember being incredibly creeped out by the "Marley" ghost and the cab driver, played by Benicio Del Toro. Plus you get the joy of watching Carol Kane as the Ghost of Christmas Present.
However, I've heard more than once that some people are bored to death of A Christmas Carol because it's been done so many times. They like the story, it's just one they've heard and can probably recite the plot points backward standing on their heads. Of course, this would only happen after they've been hitting the spiked egg nog a little hard. Anyway, if you are one of these people, might I suggest a book called Marley's Ghost. Written by Mark Hazard Osmun. It is A Christmas Carol told from the perspective of Jacob Marley. It covers his early years and how he becomes the chained ghost we all know, and what he does to help Scrooge.
Elf
For those who like the antics of Will Farrell, Elf is always a safe bet for Christmas laughs. Released in 2003, it follows Buddy, a human raised by Santa's Elves, specifically Bob Newhart's Papa Elf, which is awesome because he's Bob Newhart. Buddy discovers he's....wait for it...Adopted! (Gasp). The movie follows him as he finds his biological father and tries to instill the Christmas spirit into everything and everywhere he goes.
How The Grinch Stole Christmas
Another Christmas classic is How the Grinch Stole Christmas. I'm counting first and foremost the wonderful Dr. Suess book, but like A Christmas Carol, it's had a fair share of movie adaptations. Of course, there is the animated classic from 1966, The 2000 masterpiece starring Jim Carrey, this one never fails to disappoint, and the newer 2018 The Grinch starring Benedict Cumberbatch as The Grinch. All of these are great options to get your Grinch fix.
The Ref
This one is a Christmas story that I don't hear to many people mention, but I grew up watching it, and it always makes me giggle. The Ref is a 1994 comedy starring Dennis Leary, Kevin Spacey, and Judy Davis. Leary plays a thief who takes a quarreling married couple hostage. On top of kidnapping the most dysfunctional couple ever, he also has to maneuver Christmas Dinner.
The Santa Clause
Possibly one of my favorites, The Santa Clause starring Tim Allen has to be on the list. I have watched all of them so many times, yes all of them. I mean, who doesn't appreciate Martin Short as Jack Frost. These are always classics, perfect for the holidays.
Rise of the Guardians
Speaking of Jack Frost, the 2012 animated film The Rise of the Guardians is another great option for Christmas viewing. It follows Jack Frost, voiced by Chris Pine as he causes trouble and fun. Then Pitch, voiced by Law threatens all fun, and the Guardians, featuring Santa, The Easter Bunny, The Sandman, and the Toothfairy recruit Jack to help. This is a fantastic action animated film, perfect for the holidays.
Mr. Timothy
This one is just a side note. I started reading Mr. Timothy by Louis Bayard. It is a Christmas story based in the Dickens universe of Ebenezer Scrooge. It follows a grown-up Tiny Tim. It also involves murder. For those who want something different for Christmas. I'm still reading so a review will be coming soon. But throwing it out there as another Christmas story option.
With that, I wish you all Happy Holidays!