As we reach the final stretch of 2019, it is hard to imagine a new decade. But what is not hard to imagine is the brightness of the holiday season. No matter what you celebrate, the time leading up to winter break is the most wonderful time of the year. Whether you have nothing to do on a Saturday night or need a reason to procrastinate the English essay that is due tomorrow, movies are the perfect way to pass the time.
Elf, starring Will Ferrell, follows the journey of a fully grown elf-man, Buddy and his journey to find his father in “a magical place called New York City”. It is not hard to believe that a six foot tall man in yellow tights and a green elf suit would stick out like a sore thumb in the city leaving the protagonist, who is completely unaccustomed to human culture, to find out where he belongs. Along the way, Buddy restores the holiday spirits in everyone around him and reminds everyone what Christmas is all about.
Home Alone is a classic that demonstrates through protagonist Kevin McCallister, played by Macaulay Culkin, how important it is to be careful what you wish for. After an argument with his mother, Kevin declares that he wished he did not have a family. The next morning, in the rush to catch their flight to Paris for the holidays, Kevin is left behind and under the impression that it was his wish that made his family disappear. The novelty of being home alone quickly fades and Kevin soon takes on the responsibilities of taking care of the house, including his brilliant plan to prevent the entry of burglars into his home.
Cheesy classics may not interest all audiences, so if that isn’t your thing, Die Hard is for you. Bruce Willis plays John McClane, a New York City policeman who plans to spend his Christmas Eve with his daughters and divorced wife. After going to his ex’s company Christmas party, the headquarters is captured by terrorists, leaving McClane to realize that he is the only one with the ability to save those held hostage. Nothing screams happy holidays quite like a California hostage rescue situation.
Finally, no list would be complete without Disney’s A Christmas Carol. In the movie, which is based off of the 1843 story, everyone in London is bustling with Christmas cheer. That is, everyone except Ebenezer Scrooge, voiced by Jim Carrey. After a day of usual humbugness, Scrooge is visited by his old business partner who warns him of the consequences of his greed in the afterlife.
He also explains that on that night he would be visited by three spirits with the hopes of changing his ways. First, he is visited by the ghost of Christmas past who sheds light on his youth and the cause of his bitterness. Then, the ghost of Christmas present shows him how he is impacting the lives of those around him. Finally, a less friendly ghost appears and helps Scrooge understand the consequences that his actions will have, leaving Scrooge to realize his wrongdoings and finally embody the giving nature of the Christmas spirit.