Joshua's Top 5 Favorite Movies of 2010

   Well, New Years Eve is upon us once again and I guess now is a s good a time as any to look back on all the movies that came out this year. With as many good movies as there have been in 2010, it is not easy for me to choose my favorites. While there have been quite a few bad ones, the movies that were good really did stand out this year. I did manage to narrow down my top five favorite, but only after careful consideration. Now these are not movies I consider to be the best movies of 2010, only the ones that are my favorite. Before I start, I would like to mention that I did not see everything I wanted to this year, so some movies may not get any attention simply because I haven’t seen them yet.

#5. Toy Story 3

   Well, I’ll admit this is a movie that made me cry a little. The original Toy Story was one of the first movies I ever saw and remains to this day to be my favorite movie from Pixar. This movie truly has a heart to it. In the previous two installments, Andy, the boy who owns the toys is a kid. In this movie, he has graduated from high school and is going off to college. This coincidentally came out during the summer right after I graduated high school and right before I started college, so it was really special to me. In the film, Andy has to decide what to do with all his old toys that he never uses anymore. He has to decide what to take with him and what to leave behind. In some ways, the movie is about being able to move on, while at the same time remembering that the family and friends that we have grown to love along the way are still the same people and are still just as important to us, even if we don’t know it. This movie feels like a coming of age movie for me, it was emotional and Pixar manages to produce a great film with this story, mixing in humor with emotion throughout the movie. All the main characters that we have grown to love are there, and the film does not fail to maintain the personalities that have been developed for each character. This film truly does have a heart to it, and is able to be both mature and child friendly at the same time. I am proud to have this in the number five spot in my top 5 favorite movies of 2010.

#4. The Social Network

   This is a movie that surprised me with how much I liked it. I thought it looked okay when I saw the trailers, but it did not seem like the kind of movie I would enjoy. When I first heard of it I thought, come on, a movie about the creation of facebook, seriously, how interesting could this be? I thought it would end up being some boring movie, but I am proud to admit I was wrong about it. Not only was it interesting, it proved to be one of the best movies of the year. I ended up seeing one day with a group of friends and I was impressed not only with how good it was, but by how much I enjoyed it. The way it was set up, the way it was presented was done perfectly. The story is mainly about how the network Facebook was created, but it is much more than that. It is about relationships, how they change, and about how greed and jealousy can poison a friendship. The entire cast does a good job, especially Jesse Eisenburg who really shows his talent in this movie. The film has a nice mix of drama, and humor keeping the story from dragging on. This is a movie where there is always something that keeps my attention, whether it is funny, or tragic. The way David Fincher presents the characters and the way he tells the story is excellent. He shows us all the steps it took the create Facebook, and the way embarking on such an enterprise can change someone. He showed how much effect one random conversation can have, how something seemingly insignificant can spark an idea. I’m not a huge fan of dramas, but this is one managed to keep my interest for the entire time I was watching it. Personally, I think this is one of the best movies to come out this year as well as one of the most entertaining.

#3. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

   This is a film that to me, is nothing but pure fun. It is an adaptation of the Scott Pilgrim comics. What makes this movie so entertaining is that it is basically one great big tribute to geek culture. Imagine a movie that tries to take everything that a geek finds epic and cram it all into one movie. That is this movie and despite the fact that it there are so many ways this could have gone wrong, Director Edgar Wright pulls through and makes it work. There are tons of references to comics, anime, video games, movies, and music. The fight scenes themselves are intense and involve the combatants using everything from teleportation, to psychic powers, to super speed, and samurai swords. The effects only make the movie more captivating, giving the film a very unique style. The movie is meant to be a comedy about geek culture, focusing on the . The story is not the best, but then again it’s not supposed to be. The movie knows what it is and it knows exactly what demographic it is trying to reach out to, and it simply tries to give that demographic the best time that it can. The result is a hilarious movie with highflying action sequences, intense visuals, and references that are fun and nostalgic. Not only does this movie present us with an enjoyable experience, it shows that there is still untapped potential for comic book movies, that there can be more to them than the traditional superhero movie.

#2. The Town

   This was a movie that surprised me with how much I liked it. I had seen trailers for it a couple times, and thought it would be a decent movie, but it was still much better than I expected. This the second movie directed by Ben Affleck, the first movie being Gone Baby Gone which I have not seen, though I have heard some good thing about it. This movie has a fine balance between scenes that are humorous and scenes that are pure violence. Ben Affleck’s directing works well, and his acting in this movie, while not Oscar worthy is decent. The story is adapted from the book Prince of Thieves by Chuck Hogan. What I liked about the movie was how it focuses on the bonds the thieves have and how it managed to mix in some humor with the building tension allowing giving the movie a kind of unique feel to it. I really felt myself caring about the characters in the story and I felt the suspense rise as the film moved towards its climax. The movie gave you the feeling that it could go either way, that it could end with a happy ending or end in a tragedy. I won’t say what happened at the end or whether or not it ended happily, you’ll have to see it for yourself. This is definitely one of the best to come out this year, and it really shows Ben Affleck’s strengths as a director. I really hope he will direct more movies in the future because this seems to be were his strength lies in film.

#1. Inception

   You might be wondering why I would put this movie in my number one spot, especially when I have movies like The Social Network, The Town, and even Toy Story 3 on my list. While there is probably not a high chance of this movie receiving any awards this year, it was definitely one of the best and my personal favorite. This is a movie that truly amazed me. It’s so complex, yet its core idea is so simple and understandable that it’s just astounding that the final product that we see onscreen is just awesome. It’s one of those films that really make you think when you watch it. The story line is given such a depth that there’s never a moment were you feel bored watching it. The basic storyline is about a group of people who enter people’s minds to steal their secrets. I won’t give too much away; but the storyline is much more complex than it sounds. Christopher Nolan worked hard on this project and the effort really shows. In the movie, we see the main characters enter peoples’ minds several times and each time we do, it feels as though tension is building, as things become more and more interesting. The group of people is hired to enter the mind of the heir of a huge business empire, but not to take something out, but to put something in. Nothing is ever obvious in this movie, which is something I personally appreciate. While it may not be the best that has come out this year, it is definitely the most fascinating movie to me and the one that I enjoyed most.

   Well that's it for my top 5 favorite movies of 2010, but before I go, I want to point out that I still haven't seen quite a few movies that came out this year, such as Shutter Island, Black Swan, or even True Grit. I do intend to see these movies eventually, but for various reasons, I still haven't, which is part of the reason they aren't on my list. I would also like to make a few honorable mentions: Easy A, Megamind, Machete, The Losers, and TRON: Legacy. These were all great movies, and I would highly recommend them. I won't go into detail why they didn't make it onto my top 5 list, but they are each enjoyable in their own right, so do not think that just because they aren't on my list means they aren't good. Looks like this is the end fo 2010, lets hope 2011 is a good as or even better than this year.

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Richard's Top 5 Favorite Movies of 2010

   As 2010 draws to a close, I look back at the films that have been released this year. There have been countless bad films, many mediocre ones, but only a few of these films were great. These are my favorite films of the year. I will not say that they are all the best films of the year, some of them may not be. Nevertheless, these are the ones that I enjoyed the most out of 2010.

First off, a few honorable mentions:

#10. The Losers

   This was not by any means a deep film; some may say that it is not even a good film. It is an enjoyable film; it does not try to be anything more than an enjoyable action film.

#9. Easy A

   This film perfectly captures the dread of all high school students, rumors. This comedy is nothing short of hilarious, it really shows Emma Stone’s potential as a leading actress.

#8. Kick Ass

   This was an enjoyable film, but I feel that it did not meet my expectations for the film.

#7. Megamind

   This film is a blast, from beginning to end. It is an entertaining parody of the superhero genre that has become so prevalent in Hollywood today. This film is hilarious, and has one of my favorite lines of the year. The line pretty much sums up the film. “Do you know what the difference between a villain and a super villain is? Showmanship!”

#6. Shutter Island

   I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and it was a brilliant adaptation of the novel. It just was not as good as the rest of director Martin Scorsese’ repertoire. Even though it is not as good as the rest of his films, it is still a brilliant film.


#5. Machete

   There are few films that I have seen that were this messy, gritty, over the top, unappealing and yet still good. Machete manages a seemingly impossible feat, if you look at the make up of the film, it seems as though it would not be an enjoyable film. Director Robert Rodriguez’ homage to the grind house and exploitation films of the 1970s and 1980s is an extremely entertaining film that never once has a lull in the action. Everything about this film is awesome, it is so over the top that it settles comfortably into the realm of parody early on in the film and never looks back.

   The cast is great, Danny Trejo holds his own against A-list actors like veteran actor Robert De Niro. The ensemble cast is so eclectic and random that it makes for some hilarious pairing that you would never expect to see. I mean, when have you ever thought that you would see Steven Segal share the screen with Don Johnson and Robert De Niro? For that matter, when was the last time that you saw a Steven Segal movie that was actually good? This movie is not a deep movie, and it does not need to be. It is pure entertainment and there is nothing wrong with that.


#4. Inception

   Do you hear that? It is the sound of countless moviegoer’s minds being blown. Inception is the latest film given to us by director Christopher Nolan, famous for such films as the Batman reboot and The Majestic. Inception impressed me; it is one of the most original films I have seen in recent years. When Nolan revealed that his newest film would “explore the architecture of the mind”, we were left wondering what he meant. Little did we know that he meant this in the most literal sense of the word.

   Everything about Inception is amazing. There is nothing that I can say about it that has not already been said. I will say this; this is an amazing film that I highly recommend to all. It is not a film that you will regret seeing.


#3. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World

   It would be an understatement for me to say that I was disappointed with the comic book movies this year. Whether it be Iron Man 2’s drunken stupor, Kick Ass getting its ass kicked, The Losers losing touch with the source material, or Megan Fox hexing Jonah Hex, disappointments abounded in this years comic book adaptations. I was disappointed in all of them, save for Scott Pilgrim vs. The World. This is probably the best comic adaptation I have seen to date. Few films manage to truly capture the heart and soul of the source material, this film succeeded is droves. I read the majority of the graphic novels that this was based on and to be honest, I had low expectations of the film. I did not think that director Edgar Wright would successfully capture the manic energy that permeated the graphic novel; I honestly did not think that it was possible for the graphic novel to be converted to film. He did more than capture it; he condensed it down to its essence.

   Wright was no alone in this of course; the cast all did an amazing job, especially Kieran Culkin and newcomer Ellen Wong. This film actually made me like Michael Cera in a role, which is odd considering that I cannot think of a film prior to this that I liked him in. Another key element of the film was its lively and energetic soundtrack. The soundtrack incorporated an original score along with classic video game scores.

   This is really is the film for the gamer generation. Nearly every scene has a pop culture reference or a reference to geek culture. It features everything from the Seinfeld music when the doors open to The Legend of Zelda song “Zelda’s Lullaby” playing at surreal or emotional moments. This movie blends a classic story with elements of geek culture, specifically anime and video games. Scott Pilgrim vs. The World is a must see for any comic, manga, anime, video game, movie, music, television fan out there.


#2. True Grit

   I am honestly surprised that this film came in second on my list. I created this list with all intentions of it being my number one pick, but I honestly felt that True Grit was not suited for the top spot on this list.

   The first thing that I will say about this film is that you must see it knowing that this is not a remake of the John Wayne classic, rather it is a reinterpretation of the novel that both films were based on. The Coen Brothers adaptation is closer to the grim and gritty tone of the novel.

   The Coens do an excellent job creating an authentic and engaging western. The western genre has been on a downward slope in recent years, with only a handful of quality films in the genre being produced this decade. This film is not even in the same league as the so-called western Jonah Hex. Unlike Jonah Hex, this film actually presents us with a likeable cast headed by the amazing Jeff Bridges, who gives an amazing performance. Newcomer Hailee Steinfeld is gripping to watch in her debut performance, hopefully more will be seen of her in the future. Matt Damon gives a strong performance as well. Jonah Hex himself, Josh Brolin also stars in this film, thankfully this film is here to show that he is still a credible actor after the career threatening Jonah Hex.

   I cannot think of a single flaw with this film, it is as near perfection as you can get. This is one film that everyone should see.


#1. The Town

   I was honestly surprised that I put this at the top of my list. I started this list will all intentions of putting True Grit in the number one spot. That is until I watched the Blu Ray of The Town, then I realized that this was truly my favorite film of the year. This movie is a work of art. This movie is a sheer joy to watch, every element of this film is perfectly executed.

   I wrote an entire review of the film earlier today, I will leave you with an excerpt of the review and a link to the actual review of the film for those interested.

   “This is without a doubt, one of the best films of the year. The Town is an action packed, engrossing film that backs up its action with a solid story."

   The premise is simple enough, after pulling a heist, the leader of a team of thieves (Affleck) checks on a former hostage (Rebecca Hall) and falls in love with her. He hides his involvement with her from his best friend and partner (Jeremy Renner) and attempts to hide his identity from his new love and the FBI agent (John Hamm) pursuing his team. What seems like a simplistic and clichéd plot is actually one of the best films I have seen in years.

   The Town is a masterful film based on the amazing novel Prince of Thieves. It is Ben Affleck’s second outing as a director, his previous film Gone Baby Gone. Gone Baby Gone is a brilliant film, I honestly thought that the film might have been a fluke, it being Affleck’s directorial debut and being a good film. The Town however, proved me wrong. It shows that Affleck may be a better director than an actor. The film is beautiful, an immaculately directed picture that shows that it is a shame that Affleck has only worked behind the lens for two pictures.”

   For more of the review click on the link here The Town.

   Well thanks for reading, I hope you enjoyed it. Be sure to check out Braeden and Josh's articles as well.

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Review: Hitting THE TOWN on Blu Ray

   I started writing this to go with my top five list, and I realized that I had far too much to say about the film to fit into a few paragraphs. This is without a doubt, one of the best films of the year. The Town is an action packed, engrossing film that backs up its action with a solid story.

   The premise is simple enough, after pulling a heist, the leader of a team of thieves (Affleck) checks on a former hostage (Rebecca Hall) and falls in love with her. He hides his involvement with her from his best friend and partner (Jeremy Renner) and attempts to hide his identity from his new love and the FBI agent (John Hamm) pursuing his team. What seems like a simplistic and clichéd plot is actually one of the best films I have seen in years.

The Town is a masterful film based on the amazing novel Prince of Thieves. It is Ben Affleck’s second outing as a director, his previous film being Gone Baby Gone. Gone Baby Gone is a brilliant film, I honestly thought that the film might have been a fluke, it being Affleck’s directorial debut and being a good film. The Town however, proved me wrong. It shows that Affleck may be a better director than an actor. The film is beautiful, an immaculately directed picture that shows that it is a shame that Affleck has only worked behind the lens for two pictures.



   The cast in this film is amazing, which is notable to me since this is a group of actors that I honestly did not care for before this film. None of these actors has impressed me before in a film, yet here they all bring such power to their performances.

Doug MacRay-Ben Affleck

   I will admit, I am not much of a Ben Affleck fan but he is excellent in this film, you never once doubt his performance, it is safe to say that this is his best role thus far. His character is complex, fleshed out and well acted. Affleck shows more skill in this role than in any of his other roles. The level of emotion that he displays is amazing, some of his best scenes are the ones where he has no dialogue or is reaction to the actions of others. He tries to keep a strong front, but in some scenes you can see his facade of strength beginning to crack.

Claire Keesey- Rebecca Hall


   Rebecca Hall is likeable as Affleck’s love interest, but I feel that the rest of the cast overshadowed her performance. Not to say that she does not do well, she does, her character is a key character in the film. The level of maturity and common sense that she shows is a stark contrast to Blake Lively's character. She does possess an odd sense of vulnerability that engages your interests. Hall does well, her performance just does not stand out as much as the other actors.

Adam Frawley- Jon Hamm


   Jon Hamm does well as the FBI agent pursuing Affleck’s group of criminals. Even though he is the antagonist of the film, he does not come off as the stereotypical cop villain. Rather he is portrayed realistically. You do not hate him simply because he is the villain, you can understand his motivations and how he justifies his actions.


James "Jem" Coughlin- Jeremy Renner


   There are two performances that surprised me in this film. The first is Jeremy Renner, who really steals the show whenever he is on screen. His character is interesting, unpredictable. He is not the smartest or calmest person, but he is loyal. Renner gives what would have been a one-dimensional brutish character a surprising sense of depth and emotion. At first, he comes across as a brutish and greedy man, willing to strike the first blow to advance his goals. As the film goes on, you begin to see that many of his actions are also for the benefit of those he cares about. He is violent because he is protective, not because he is aggressive. I can honestly see an Oscar nod for his performance.

Krista Coughlin- Blake Lively


   The second performance that surprised me was Blake Lively. Lively plays Affleck’s ex girlfriend and Renner’s sister. Like Renner, Lively takes what could have been a static character and turns her into an interesting character. This is a woman who seems to always place herself in the role to the victim; she is the one that is always being used. Her character is not the most likeable in the film, but you understand her.

Fergie the Florist- Pete Postlewaite



   Pete Postlewaite also gives a surprisingly dark and chilling performance in a minor role as Fergie the florist. Fergie is a crime boss that basically runs Charlestown. I will not delve too deeply into him, because his story has a dark surprise involved.



   The crime/heist genre has varied over the years; the films in this genre can range from serious dramatic films such as Heat to more comical takes on the genre like Oceans 11. This genre is full of clichés that many films spoof or try to avoid. Rather than avoid the classic clichés of the crime/heist genre, The Town embraces and re-imagines the clichés. The last film I saw that attempted this and succeeded was Michael Mann’s Heat. It may seem unfair to compare this film to a masterpiece like Heat; to do so is an injustice to both films. Most reviews I have seen that mention Heat in comparison to The Town use it to criticize The Town. I however am comparing The Town to Heat in a positive manner. To me The Town actually surpasses Heat’s presentation of the crime genre. To me, the most important difference between the two is that The Town does not fall to the same shortcomings as Heat. Heat attempts to be this grand presentation of the genre, while The Town is a street level, personal story.

   It is odd that in recent years a subgenre focusing on crime in Boston has begun to develop. The best example of this would have to be The Departed, another would be Affleck‘s other film Gone Baby Gone. These films endeavor to capture the Boston atmosphere and dialect to add depth to what would be another crime fill. In both The Departed and The Town, the city of Boston itself is just as essential as the actors are. Both films feature the diversity of the city, highlighting its many facets. While The Departed focuses on the differences between social classes and environments, The Town focuses more on the blue-collar workers and the poorer areas.



   Charlestown itself is an integral part of the film. According to the film, there are, “over 300 bank robberies in Boston every year. Most of these professionals live in a 1-square-mile neighborhood called Charlestown." Charlestown is where the majority of the film takes place. It is a very interesting and bleak depiction of urban America. After doing some research, I found that the film accurately reflects the atmosphere of the neighborhood of Charlestown as it was during the mid-1990s. Since then, it has improved, but Charlestown in the mid-1990s is the time period and location on which the original novel was based. According to residents of Charlestown, crime was always an element of their world, yet the criminals and thieves were liked and contributing members to the community. An important aspect of the film seemed to be showing the world that this infamous area is not full of bad people, not everyone in Charlestown are murderers and thieves. The realism of the film is what got me. These thieves are not rich and glamorous gangsters, nor are they thugs. They are simply people trying to survive and the film does a brilliant job of presenting this.

   As good as it was in theaters, the DVD and Blu Ray version of The Town is even better. It features an extended cut that is roughly twenty minutes longer than the theatrical release. The extended cut builds on Affleck and Hall’s romantic relationship and further fleshes out her character. It honestly did not feel too long or put off the pacing, if anything it actually improved the pacing of the film. There is not much in the way of special features. There are two commentaries with director Ben Affleck, one for the theatrical cut and another with the extended cut. The commentary really provide some interesting insights into how the film came to be. There is also a feature called “Ben’s Boston” it is only about thirty minutes worth of behind the scenes features. There is not that much in the way of special features, but this film is good enough that it does not need a large number of extras to make it worth a purchase.

   The Town is one of those films that only comes along once a decade. I can honestly see this film getting an Oscar nod for best picture. Jeremy Renner definitely deservers a nomination for best supporting actor, his performance was nothing less than amazing. If you have the time, I highly recommend picking up the DVD or Blu Ray for The Town. If you do not have the time, make time for it, you will not regret it.

Directed by: Ben Affleck Written by: Ben Affleck, Peter Craig Starring: Ben Affleck Jon Hamm Rebecca Hall Jeremy Renner; Blake Lively Studio: Legendary Pictures Distributor: Warner Brothers Running Time: 125 Minutes Rated R

Amazing! (+) Amazing performances from entire cast (+) Gripping action (+) Fantastic dialogue (+) Gripping story (+)Stunning visuals (+) Even though it is a genre film it avoids the pratfalls of the genre (+) A sheer joy to watch (-) Why did it have to end?

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Braeden's Top 5 Favorite Movies of 2010

   The end of 2010 is upon us, and with that, a time to reflect on what the best movies of the year were. Over these next three days, you will see a list of the top five favorite films each of us have seen. Now, please bear in mind, this is not a list of technical masterpieces, but rather what films released in 2010 we enjoyed the most. Also bear in mind, being three starving college students, we cannot afford to see every movie that is released as soon as it does so (I do not believe any of us have seen Black Swan yet, as one example). This year was actually quite different for me, as I went to the theater more often than I probably have my entire life, instead of just waiting for the home video release. That being said, lets dive right into my personal top five favorite films of 2010.


#5. Shutter Island

   If you have read my bio, then you know that Martin Scorsese is my favorite director. With films like Taxi Driver, Raging Bull, Goodfellas, and The Departed, why shouldn't he be? There is a running joke amongst us that should I bring anyone new into my dorm, I will have to explain that I am not a Leonardo DiCaprio fan, but rather a Scorsese fan, due to the posters for The Departed and Shutter Island hanging on my wall. This film renewed my faith in Hollywood. During that wretched early part of the year where few good films come out, Shutter Island was the jolt I needed and actually made me realize that I was pursuing the right career when it comes to film making. The cinematography, the atmosphere created by the visuals and score, the writing that was complex, but never incoherent, and the ending which blew me away once I wrapped my head around it an hour after I left the theater. Is this Scorsese's best film? No, not by a long shot. But considering he has one career defining film a DECADE, whereas most director's want at least one in their entire CAREERS, Scorsese started this decade off great with a very sound and memorable film that I believe will be better received as time goes on, much like most of Hitchcock's work.


#4. Inception

   I absolutely love The Dark Knight. It is by no means a perfect film, but it is certainly memorable and can resonate with me even after having seen it so many times. I'm not sure if its the excellent script penned by Christopher and Jonathan Nolan, Chris Nolan's directing abilities, or perhaps just the great performances by Christian Bale, Gary Oldman, and Michael Caine, overshadowed only by the incredible performances given by Aaron Eckhardt and Heath Ledger. Inception, Nolan's first original film since Memento in 2000 (unless you argue it as an adaptation of his brother's story), has been his pet project for ten years, and the effort really shows. You think Shutter Island was a complex film? This one has probably hundreds of theories about dreamscapes and reality. It is a very complex film that never feels too convoluted. Its interesting that I said I am not a DiCaprio fan, yet the first two films on this list star him as the lead. And while I find his performance enjoyable enough, it is the work of Joseph-Gordon Levitt and Tom Hardy that really shine through. A very atmospheric film with great visual effects and a superb cast, makes this the best heist film in quite a while, and has me very excited to see what Christopher Nolan does with The Dark Knight Rises, especially now that Tom Hardy has signed on for the film.


#3. Toy Story 3

   Ah yes, the first article I wrote for this website (before I even knew I was making this site), and so far the only film to ever make me break down in tears. I have already talked about this film in depth, so I will just leave you with an excerpt of my review of the film:

   "The original film was amazing in its own right, a near perfect film I would say. Toy Story 3 too is a near perfect film, and any criticism of it could be narrowed down to severe nitpicking. Perhaps some of the jokes were predictable, but when you have characters like the Little Green Men (as called in the series Buzz Lightyear of Star Command) who only say a handful of phrases, you can kind of guess what they’re going to say next. You could argue that the themes of the film are just retread of the second film’s theme. And while they may hold a similar theme, the telling of said theme couldn't be further from that of the second one. At the end of the second film, there is a sense that even when Andy has grown up, the toys will still have one another. At the start of the third in the series, you see that this theory has been proven false, as most of the gang has been split up, by way of trash, donation, or yard sale. Even very popular or important (whether through their own actions or by their influence on other characters) characters are missing from this tale, and not because of a lack of voice actors or anything of that nature (Blake Clarke’s spot on performance as Slinky should show that a missing voice actor shouldn’t be a problem). Rather, these missing characters are missing due to the influence their absence has on the characters. Arguably, Bo Peep’s disappearance is the most shocking, but handled in a way to show that Woody, while still not over her, has tried to move on, showing real, genuine emotion that furthers his character."


To read the rest of the article, click here.


#2. The Social Network

   Sometimes a movie just does not sound that interesting when you hear its most basic description. For example, a film about two guys who make soap and fight in a club with other guys for fun does not sound interesting. Nor does a film about the creation of the popular social networking site, Facebook. While the original work both plots were adapted from deserve a lot of credit, so does David Fincher for being able to put films such as Fight Club and The Social Network on the big screen and make two of the best films of all time. For the first time I can recall, we actually see Jesse Eisenberg in a role that does not feel Michael Cera-esque and good for Fincher for seeing through his previous roles and casting the role of Mark Zuckerberg perfectly. Even Justin Timberlake does a fine job and is quite enjoyable to watch on screen, if just for the train wreck his character is. A lot of the themes in The Social Network are familiar territory, but the space they are seen in and carried out with such memorable performances makes it all seem very fresh and the favorite to win Best Picture at the Oscars from what I have heard from a lot of people.


#1. True Grit

   Martin Scorsese may be my favorite director, but Joel & Ethan Coen are perhaps my biggest influence. Its funny thinking about how underwhelming 2010 was as a whole for film, yet looking at my own personal top five list, we have films from five of the best directors in Scorsese, Nolan, Fincher, and both Coen Brothers, and another film from the geniuses at Pixar. But with all the talent, True Grit is the film I loved the most. Again, I have already talked in depth about the film, so to sum it up very quickly, Jeff Bridges, Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, and even Hailee Steinfeld are absolutely captivating. Smartly written and directed with a nice mix of violence and humor (though to a lesser extent than most Coen films, if simply because of the source material which it is very accurate to), True Grit hooked me from the very start. My only concern going into the movie was that I would not like Hailee Steinfeld as Mattie Ross and that the entire film would not meet my expectations. Not only was Miss Steinfeld very impressive and will surely have lots of lucrative and hopefully challenging roles ahead of her, but the entire film just clicked until the credits finally rolled. If you would like to read more on my thoughts on True Grit, please read my review here.

Honorable Mentions: Kick-Ass, Despicable Me, The Losers, Date Night

   Now, I know what everyone is probably saying? Where is Scott Pilgrim vs. the World? The honest answer is... I never saw it. Now, before everyone swears off this website, let me explain. I planned on seeing it with my girlfriend, but after we broke up, that plan went away. Then, I was going to see it with a friend once we met up on campus at the start of the school year. Well, we both got busy, so that plan went out the window. By the time I had an opportunity to see the film... it was already out of theaters. Well, earlier today I decided to go to Walmart and get the Blu-ray so I could watch it before writing this article. Keep in mind, I live in Georgia where Walmarts abound. Not a single one had the film and I am forced to order it online and wait for them to ship it to me. I am a big fan of the source material as well as Edgar Wright's directorial skills, so it pains me that I have not seen this film yet. I do wonder though if many other people had the same issues as I have. Perhaps that is why the film underperformed at the box office.

   Over the next two days you will see Richard and Joshua's top fives of 2010, but what are your's? Be sure to comment with your own personal top five, and you will be entered to win my second favorite film of the year, The Social Network, on DVD!

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Top 30 Movies to Watch at Christmas Part 2 (#15-1)

   Here it is Cin-e-Maniacs, the second and final part to our list of the top 30 movies to watch at Christmas. If you missed Part 1, be sure to check it out here. For the rest of you, this is the cream of the crop. The top 15 movies to get you in the Christmas spirit. So, hang your stocking, put out the cookies, sit back, and enjoy Part 2 of the Top 30 Movies to Watch at Christmas!

#15. Bad Santa

   No one ever said that Santa need be a fat, jolly, old man. Billy Bob Thornton is not your ordinary Santa. His character, Willie, is a disgruntled, drunken lout, pretending to be a mall Santa, with the intention of robbing it. Willie is one of the most unlikable people alive, yet his character is fascinating to watch. Bad Santa shows all of the pitfalls of the holiday season. It takes all of the little things about Christmas that people try to avoid, and highlights them. While focusing on the worst of the holiday season the movie makes the audience appreciate the good that the season offers. This hilarious film is a must see for anyone who is tired of the same old jolly St. Nick.

-Richard Hawkins

#14. The Christmas Carol

   This is the definitive version of A Christmas Carol. George C. Scott brings Charles Dickens’ character of Ebenezer Scrooge to life like never before, or since. This television is amazing, better than many of the theatrical releases. Scrooge exemplifies the best and worst of humanity. He is hard working, dedicated and industrious, all qualities that society believes in. Scrooge shows us what will happen if someone only focused on those traits alone, forsaking all other interactions with the world. Scott shows Scott’s Scrooge is mesmerizing to watch, he adds such heart and depth to the character. The movie really highlights Scott’s prowess as an actor. Scott’s reactions to the ghosts, and the visions they present him with are wholly believable. The pain that Scrooge feels is apparent on his face, even as he denies it whole-heartedly. The spirit of Christmas redeems this hardened miser, showing him the error of his ways, allowing him to change his ways. The problem with the story of A Christmas Carol is that often times, the transformation of Scrooge often comes across as forced or false. Here though, it seems perfectly natural. Scott never makes you question the sincerity of the transformation.

-Richard Hawkins

#13. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation

   This is the Christmas that everyone sees and dreads. Once again, Clark W. Griswold Jr. is endeavoring to give his family the perfect vacation. Of course, he is failing miserably. This film does it all, and Clark faces it all. The rush of buying gifts, decorating the house, the onslaught of visiting family members, and financial woes. Clark does like most people do in this season, he grins and bares it, for the most part anyway.Clark wants what we all want at Christmas. He wants to have a nice, enjoyable Christmas with his family. Clark does his best, he just faces every possible obstacle along the way. Clark goes through countless, over the top versions of classic holiday rituals in the effort to bring his family a perfect Christmas. At times his methods may be odd, but his heart in in the right place. This film truly captures the spirit of Christmas.

-Richard Hawkins

#12. Elf

   One of the things that I have personally noticed as of late, is how anyone other than "Joe Popcorn" hates Will Ferrel. And to be honest, I'm not entirely sure why. Sure his last films have not been as good as his prior ones, but I found Talladega Nights and Step Brothers to be very enjoyable comedies. So, how would a family comedy with Will Ferrell hold up? Pretty well actually, and its a bit of a shock even to me. The story is simplistic enough (and similar to other stories before it). Will Ferrell plays Buddy the Elf, a human who sneaked into Santa's sack of gifts as a baby and winded up in the North Pole where he was raised to think he was an elf. It soon becomes apparent that he is not an elf, and he is told of who he really is, so he sets out for New York City to find his father, played by James Caan.
   Elf is a very light hearted affair and one of those movies you can't help but quote. Some clever lines even get covered up with dialogue, so its almost a treat to listen out for some of the comedic nuggets hidden within the film (the line "If you squint your eyes he looks like a pirate!" comes to mind). Its interesting that Jon Faverau went from this to the Iron Man series, but hey, if they're good, who cares? Elf is fun for the whole family, and oozes Christmas spirit, almost to a fault. Even if you do not like Will Ferrell, give this one a shot. He's so charismatic and energetic, he's bound to get at least one smile out of you.

-Braeden Orr

#11. Gremlins

   I think everyone is aware of Gremlins in some form. If not aware of the film itself, most everyone is aware of the three rules associated with the film. Keep Mogwai out of the sun, don't get them wet, and don't feed them after midnight. Gremlins is about a boy named Billy (Zach Galligan) who gets a mysterious creature called a Mogwai for Christmas, named Gizmo (voiced by Howie Mandel of Deal or No Deal fame). Being a young boy, he makes the dumb mistake of getting Gizmo wet, which causes him to sprout new Mogwai. These Mogwai are a lot meaner, and end up eating after midnight, turning into vicious, loud, Gremlins. Imagine Billy Bob Thorton in Bad Santa, but meaner and uglier. Sound like a horror film? It should, because it is a blend of horror and comedy, all set around Christmas. This is certainly a Christmas movie, do not get me wrong, but not to the extent of others on this list. That is why Gremlins (along with the next two entries) are not higher up on the list. Combining great humor with amazing puppetry and solid performances, Gremlins is a new kind of holiday classic.

-Braeden Orr

#10. Nightmare Before Christmas

   The Nightmare before Christmas is probably one of the strangest Christmas movies on this list. At first glance, this may appear to not even be a Christmas movie. But rest assured, this is a Christmas movie as much as anything else on this list. In the movie, there are separate worlds that exist for each holiday, including Halloween and Christmas. The movie starts out in the Halloween world, were its inhabitants always celebrate Halloween. The leader of Halloween town is Jack, the Pumpkin King and our main character. The overall plot of the movie focuses on Jack's discovery of Christmas and his desire to celebrate it. The movie is incredibly creative in its design of its worlds and characters. It is a stop motion animated musical and both the animation and the music is awesome. It is not easy to capture how good this movie is in words, but needless to say, this is a good movie. The music alone is great, whether it is a simple tune in the background with no words, or a complete song, sung by one of the characters. The story is simplistic, but it is well written and makes this a good holiday movie.

-Joshua Glasscock

#9. Die Hard

   This movie is my shame. I realize that it came out four years before I was born, yet I just now saw it for the first time in its uncensored entirety this past summer. Die Hard is the ESSENTIAL action flick, and is proof of what a star Bruce Willis really is. The action is spectacular, the twist in the plot small, but meaningful, and the performances, especially from Bruce Willis and Alan Rickman as the German "terrorist", Hans Gruber. It is hard to describe what makes Die Hard so great, except to say its a non-stop adrenaline rush of awesome that will have you at the edge of your seat, and laughing throughout at the wise-cracking wit of Willis's character, John McClane. You almost forget it is a Christmas movie until the song "Let it Snow" starts playing over the end credits, but in the end it is a Christmas film, just with a lot more explosions and shooting and death. And it's AWESOME! It's a shame Die Harder and Die Hard with a Vengence were so terrible, but at least Live Free or Die Hard was actually pretty good, even if it was not a Christmas film like the ones before it.

-Braeden Orr

#8. Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer

   Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer is another movie that started out as a popular Christmas song. It was originally aired as a TV special in 1964 and has been replayed every year at Christmas time since then. This is a movie that just goes perfectly with Christmas. The story is one that is familiar to many children, whether they have heard the song or seen the movie. Rudolph is a reindeer with a glowing red nose who becomes an outcast for being different, but eventually finds his place as the lead reindeer on Santa's sleigh. The story is a great story for children of all ages, teaching us that its okay to be differen. It involes many icons of Christmas, including Santa Clause and all his reindeer, making this a Christmas classic.

-Joshua Glasscock

#7. The Santa Clause

   The Santa Clause is a modern classic. This movie is a modern telling of the classic tale of Santa Claus. This movie is also responsible for the misspelling of the name “Santa Claus” by children who grew up with this film. I should know; I am one of them. The titular Santa Clause is not the man, but the clause in a legally binding contract. This interesting play on words sets up an equally interesting premise. Scott Calvin (Tim Allen) accidentally kills Santa Claus (seems like something from Bad Santa) and now Scott must assume the role of Santa. This film appeals to several diverse audiences. The older I get the more subtle mature references and jokes I pick up on. It is a nice, heartwarming movie, perfect for every member of the family.

-Richard Hawkins

#6. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

   Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas is another classic story that has been around for years. It was originally a book by Dr. Seuss, it became an animated movie in 1966. Boris Karloff does the narration, and Thurl Ravenscroft does the singing in an uncredited role. The story is about how a hermit named the Grinch tries to steal Christmas, but eventually realizes that the holiday is more than material goods. This short movie is a great Christmas film because it shows what part to of Christmas is really important. It has great narrtion and singing, giving it a charm that just can't be beat. It is short, simple, and sweet. This is another great movie to watch during Christmas time.

-Joshua Glasscock

#5. A Christmas Story

   This movie is a 1983 comedy about a little boy named Ralphie who wants nothing but a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. He becomes convinced that everyone is out to stop him from getting it, because they all believe that he will shoot his eye. This movie is a great Christmas movie, because it really shows what it is like to be a kid around Christmas time. The story is narrated throughout the movie by an older verision of Ralphie who tells the story through his point of view. There are plenty of humorous parts of the movie making it really entertaining. Even though the movie takes place in the 1940s, theres something really relatable about the way Ralphie acts. Sure, not all of us have wanted a BB gun, theres always been that one gift that ecah of us needed to get, to have the perfect Christmas. For Ralphie, it a BB gun, for us, it canbe anything. It shows what children are like, not just throught the way Ralphie acts in the movie, but in the way he thinks as well. It is both funny and touching, making it an unforgettable Christmas movie. It is all about a Christmas time during childhood giving it a nostalgic feel to it, that makes it timeless.

-Joshua Glasscock

#4. A Charlie Brown Christmas

   Charlie Brown is a classic cartoon that many children and adults have grown to love. It has specials for every holiday, so naturally, there is one Christmas. Personally, I think this is one of the best Christmas specials out there. It deals with the true meaning of the holiday in way that is both comedic and serious, like the rest of the Charlie Brown specials. Theres something thats really nice about this special from the simple story, to all the characters. Everyone who appears in this special is great, whether it is someone like snoopy who is comedic, or someone like Charlie Brown who is serious, they all have something to contribute to this movie. The special is about the kids putting on a Christmas pageant with Charlie Brown directing it. Things go awry, and Charlie Brown gets blamed, but the kids learn what Christmas is really about in the end. It truly brings out the spirit of the holiday in a way that anyone can enjoy, whether they are kids or adults. To me, this is one Christmas special that will be around for years to come.

-Joshua Glasscock

#3. Miracle on 34th St.

   Maybe it is my years of mock trial and being a two time national champion in such, or my favorite film being 12 Angry Men, but I'm a sucker for any film with a great courtroom scene and this is one of them. The start of the "is this average, everyday old man just crazy, or is he actually Santa?" trend, Miracle on 34th St. tells the story of Kris Kringle (Edmund Gwenn), a man who truly believes he is Santa Claus, and how he inspires such joy and hope in children. Yet due to the jealousy, or even just disbelief that someone can be so kind, he finds himself persecuted those who find his admissions of being Santa as ludicrous and "dangerous to society". There is a lot of contemporary themes to be found here, and that is the true mark of a timeless film. Ignoring it as a Christmas film, it is a great movie all around, with fantastic story telling presented by a marvelous class. Avoid the remakes though and go for the original. It will warm your heart like few other films.

-Braeden Orr

#2. The Lion in Winter

   When most people view this film, the fact that it takes place at Christmas is usually not the first thing that crosses their minds. This movie is an amazing piece of historical fiction. It tells the tale of the Christmas court of Henry II, king of England. The attendees of the court include, King Henry II (Peter OToole), his estranged wife Eleanor of Aquitaine (Katherine Hepburn). Their sons, Richard (Anthony Hopkins), Geoffrey (John Castle), and John (Nigel Terry). Along with the royal family, there is the lovely, if naïve Alais (Jane Merrow) and her brother, King Phillip of France (Timothy Dalton).Despite the amount of political plotting, conspiring and backstabbing that this movie contains, it is truly a film about family. If you look past its grandiose setting, at its heart it is about the turmoil of a dysfunctional family. A group of people, who don’t really like each other very much at all, coming together to celebrate Christmas. They love one another, yet despise each other. This family dynamic drives the plot forward.
   The film is truly a treat, amazing set pieces, breathtaking performances, and a haunting score that continually builds upon itself until the climax of the film. This film has something that everyone can relate to. The sibling rivalry, quarreling parents, even visiting in-laws. All of this is something that everyone has experienced at Christmas. It is the setting that makes the characters relatable. It is difficult to see these so very different characters come together under any normal circumstance. But, at Christmas time, it all makes sense.

-Richard Hawkins

#1. Its a Wonderful Life

   It’s a Wonderful Life is one of the few, perfect movies (Ed. Note: This is Braeden's favorite Christmas movie, and third favorite film of all time). I have never found a single fault in this film. James Stewart gives an amazing, breathtaking performance as George Bailey, a man who is at the end of his rope on Christmas Eve. George has given everything in his life to the people of his town. Now, he feels he has nothing, and he thinks he is worth nothing. Nothing, save for his life insurance policy that will cover his debts. Before he can commit suicide, his guardian angel Clarence comes to his aid and show George what the world would have been like without George Bailey. This film is a classic Christmas staple synonymous with the holidays, and with good reason. This film above all others truly exemplifies the spirit of Christmas. The life of George Bailey affected the lives of every person in town, his generosity and kindness affected them all. His caring and giving spirit is what Christmas is all about.

-Richard Hawkins

And that concludes our list of the Top 30 Movies to Watch at Christmas! We hope you enjoyed our list, and would like to hear your thoughts on it, and what movies you think should be on it. And yes, we do know we left Scrooged off, we just realized it about 24 hours late. So, we removed the entry on Holiday Inn (which was essentially the same film as White Christmas) and replaced it with Scrooged, if you would like to read the new write-up on that film here. If Deck the Halls could be on our list, then that film certainly should. On behalf of myself, Joshua Glasscock, and Richard Hawkins, we wish everyone a very merry Christmas and happy holidays!

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Top 30 Movies to Watch at Christmas Part 1 (#30-16)

   Christmas time is here, full of wonder and cheer, and with it, we bring you a special collaborative article by myself, Joshua Glasscock, and Richard Hawkins, detailing the top 30 movies to watch to get you in the Christmas spirit. From the very start, I wanted to make this an expansive list with 30 films, and dang it we were going to get 30 films. Well, we found quickly there are not actually that many good Christmas films, so excuse us as we start off with some guilty pleasures for some people. Do not expect an in depth look at each of these films, but just a brief snippet as to why these are good films to watch during Christmas. That being said, feel free to comment on what films you think should be in the top 15 for this list, or what films you think should be left off/added. The top 15 will be posted tomorrow on Christmas Eve, but until then, enjoy the first part of our top 30 list!

#30. Deck the Halls

   Let us be frank; This is NOT a good movie by any stretch of the imagination. A critical and commercial flop, starring Mathew Broderick and Danny DeVito, this film (if you can call it that) is essentially about two neighboring fathers who battle each other over their Christmas decorations. Does this sound like a riveting film? No, oh, right, because it is not. Still, that being said, there are some people who enjoy this film, and honestly, the only reason it made this list is because we could not think of a movie to put in this spot and one of my friends threatened me to put it on (love you too Avalon!). I will give credit that it does have a "Christmas feel" to it, and this list is all about getting you in the Christmas mood, so that's good, right? Right?

-Braeden Orr

#29. Jingle All The Way

   Another guilty pleasure, this time being my own. Jingle All The Way stars Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sinbad (see where I'm going here?) as they try to find a Turbo Man action figure, the hottest toy of the season based on a popular TV show, for their kids. Jake Lloyd plays Schwarzenegger's son Jamie, pre-Star Wars destruction (okay, he wasn't THAT bad, but you get the idea). I will readily admit that this film is TERRIBLE, but there's something almost innocent about it, and its so bad you can get a few laughs out of it (plus there are one or two moments that are actually humorous in their own right, the end of the radio station scene for one). Maybe its because I grew up watching this film a lot as a young child, even owning my own Turbo Man action figure, but this is one film I watch every year, if just for nostalgia.

-Braeden Orr

#28. Ernest Saves Christmas

   The last "guilty pleasure" on this list, Ernest Saves Christmas is a Christmas-driven vehicle for Jim Varney's popular Ernest character. Ernest teams up with a runaway teen girl named Harmony Starr (appropriately in name played by Noelle Parker) to give Santa Claus (Douglas Seale) his magic sack back and eventually pass on the duties of Santa to Joe Carruthers (Oliver Clark). This was another childhood favorite of mine, and while it is not "good" per say, there is something likable about the innocence and naivety of Ernest, and his willingness to help out those in need. It is an innocent, harmless flick, that you're sure to get at least one or two laughs out of.

-Braeden Orr

#27. Olive the Other Reindeer

   Based on the children's book of the same name by Vivian Walsh, this film is all about mistaken identiy (though not to the extent of North by Northwest, though that would make a humorous Christmas film for sure). Rather, a young dog named Olive (Drew Barrymore) here's on the radio one of Santa's reindeer mention that the fate of Christmas, after one reindeer is mentioned, relies on "all of the other reindeer", which she mishears to mean "Olive the Other Reindeer". At this, she sets out for the North Pole, in hopes of not only saving Christmas, but also rekindling her owner Tim's (Jay Mohr) affection for her (again, through a misinterpretation). Along the way, she meets a whole cast of characters, voiced by a very well known cast in Dan Castellaneta, Peter MacNicol, Joe Pantoliano, Ed Asner, and Billy West. Its a light hearted affair, with very nice voices and is very enjoyable, especially for the younger audience it is intended for (but with enough adult humor to keep adults entertained as well).

-Braeden Orr

#26. The Polar Express

   I do not like this film Sam, I Am, but apparently a ton of other people do, so here it is at #26 on our list. The film is essentially about a boy (Daryl Sabara) going to the North Pole on a magical train, trying to figure out if he believes in Santa Claus. It really should be a light hearted affair, but is very melodramatic. Don't get me wrong, I like when a studio is willing to take a more serious approach to a film meant for children, but it clashes with some of the more over the top moments. Not to mention that most of Tom Hanks's characters (and he plays a lot of them) are not that likeable, except for maybe Santa Claus. That being said, the film is very good looking, if the character's faces aren't as expressive as one would like, and the soundtrack is excellent, even the musical numbers composed for the more over the top moments. It looks nice, sounds nice, and has a good message, plus is based on a classic Christmas book, making it well deserved of having a spot on our list.

-Braeden Orr

#25. The Toy That Saved Christmas

"I will devour your soul..."

   Unless you are a VeggieTales fan, you may not know of this one, unless you happened to see it on TV in 1998 (with additional footage to fill in the timeslot). For those not familiar with VeggieTales, it is a video series that relates Bible stories (usually from the Old Testament) in a humorous fashion with vegetables. Obviously non-Christians probably will not enjoy these as much (though there is something that should be funny to anyone about the soliders of Jericho pelting the Israelites with Slurpees, but I digress), but I DARE you not to find this Silly Song with Larry (a filler segment to split up the two lalves of the story, usually for cliffhanging purposes) to be absolutely hysterical.

Or since this IS about Christmas movies, how about this Silly Song that is featured as part of this movie?

   The plot of this special is that the three main characters, Bob the Tomato, Larry the Cucumber, and Junior, are trying to find out the true meaning of Christmas, and make their town realize that toys like "Buzz-saw Louie" is not the reason why Christmas is celebrated. Its sort of like Jingle All the Way with its message against Christmas being all about getting presents, but with a more religious message, likable characters, and pretty clever writing.

-Braeden Orr

#24. Mickey's Once Upon Christmas

   This Disney special is an amazing collection of three tales of holiday joy and sorrow. The story is broken up into three small segments, each focusing on classic Disney characters. Huey, Dewey and Louie are the focus of the first segment, Goofy and his son Max take the second, and the last segment is a poignant retelling of the Gift of the Magi with Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Each of these segments are well done, this probably has my favorite version of the Gift of the Magi. To me, the one segment that holds the most heart and meaning is the one focusing on Goofy. It seems odd, thinking that a Goofy cartoon has the most meaning, but the reason for this is quite simple. Goofy’s story is a simple, personal tale. His son Max has stopped believing in Santa; Goofy tries to convince his son that Santa is real. It is a simple story of a father trying to keep hope and belief in magic alive in his son. This is made all the more poignant when the tables are turned and Max must try to convince a heartbroken Goofy that Santa is real. This one segment alone is worth watching this Christmas special.

-Richard Hawkins

   As a side note, this is one per franchise, so its sequel, Mickey's Twice Upon a Christmas, is not on this list. However, I would recommend, despite being inferior to this film, it is a very good special in its own right, and one of the few Disney films with its original characters animated in CG.

-Braeden Orr

#23. Little Drummer Boy

   The Little Drummer Boy is a movie that was inspired by a song of the same name about a boy who let out his frustrations on a little drum. In the movie, which was made for TV in 1968, the boy is named Aaron and he grows to hate humanity after he sees his parents get killed. His only friends are a lamb named Baabaa, a camel named Joshua, and a donkey named Samson. He ends up being stuck in a traveling troupe of performers and his animal friend Joshua is sold to three wise men who are traveling to Bethlehem. The young boy follows them and eventually ends up playing his drum for baby Jesus the night the three wise men visit him. The movie has a lot of influence from religion, but it is a nice movie all the same. It was made with stop motion animation that may be aged now, but is still fairly decent. One nice thing about this is that is does bring Christmas back to its origins. While it may not appeal to everyone, it is certainly a touching movie that is well made and can be appreciated by many people.

-Joshua Glasscock

#22. Frosty the Snowman

   This movie is definitely geared more towards kids than it is adults. It is an animated movie based off the song "Frosty the Snowman" and is narrated by Jimmy Durante. The plot is about a snowman made by a group of kids that comes to life after they put a magic hat on it that used to belong to a failed magician. His best friend is a young girl named Karen who travels with him as they try to get to the North Pole so that Frosty has a place to stay year round. The movie has some nice animation and music to it, especially the scene where the characters walk through town singing the song the movie was based off of. Jimmy Durante does a good job with the narration making this an overall enjoyable film for kids. It’s considered a classic by many and I am sure that it is a childhood favorite of many people.

-Joshua Glasscock

#21. Santa Claus is Coming to Town

   This film is a Christmas classic. For as long as I can remember, my family has watched this special every year. It is definitely one of the best Rankin Bass specials. The stop motion is not spectacular by any length; it pales in comparison to The Nightmare Before Christmas. The things that makes this special good is Mickey Rooney’s portrayal of Santa, a role he we reprise over the years, and Fred Astaire’s wonderful narration. This film is an interesting interpretation of the classic tales of Santa Claus.

-Richard Hawkins

#20. Home Alone

   While not the best Christmas movie out there, Home Alone is definitely one of the most entertaining. It is a comedy about a kid named Kevin McCallister who is left home after his family leaves to go spend Christmas in Paris. His family is so large that his mother does not even realize that he got left behind until they get to Paris. Two thieves are also trying to break into the house while the family is gone and Kevin has to defend his house from the robbers by setting a series of traps. Most of the humor in the film involves the over the top reactions from the characters, the ridiculous traps Kevin sets, and the pratfalls the thieves go through. The movie is pretty funny, even if the humor is a little childish at times. Despite the childish feeling that parts of the film have, there are some really nice scenes involving Kevin and his family, making this movie a family friendly Christmas film that anyone can enjoy easily earning this movie a spot on our list.

-Joshua Glasscock

#19. The Muppet Christmas Carol

   Let it be known, that this is my second favorite Christmas movie of all time and I am saddened that it is only at number 19 on this list. Still, it is a great film and one that can be watched over and over. Combine the classic tale by Charles Dickens and throw in the master style, humor, wit, and musical accompaniment found in Muppets films, and you have the perfect combination for a great Christmas film that truly is timeless. The Muppets are great as always, and Michael Caine makes a terrific Scrooge that may be bested by just one other (but more on him later). If you want a class tale re-imagined in a clever, but hilarious way, this movie is the way to go. Plus, you get to see Beaker flip off Caine!

-Braeden Orr

#18. We're No Angels

   We’re No Angels is an odd movie. It is a comedy starring one of the greatest actors of all time, Humphrey Bogart. The thing that makes this festive film odd is the fact that Bogie rarely stared in comedies. This film proves that to be a shame. Bogey is one of three convicts with hearts of gold, out for a Christmas caper. These three are not the best people, but they prove that you do not need wings and a halo to be an angel. They start out as three hardened killers on the run, they take refuge at a failing store, with the intent of robbing it. The family who owns the store are kind to the convicts, even though they know the convicts are robbing them blind. The families goodwill slowly breaks down the convicts ill manner. The convicts decide to use their “unique” talents to aid the family and their store. The convicts slowly become more altruistic, yet are able to justify nearly every helpful action as being part of their plan to rob the store. We’re No Angels exemplifies the spirit of giving that ins synonymous with the holiday season.

-Richard Hawkins

#17. Scrooged


Scrooged is a fun retelling of the classic Christmas story A Christmas Carol, set in contemporary times and starring the hilarious Bill Murray in a remarkable update of the classic miser Ebenezer Scrooge. In this version of the tale, Scrooge is television network executive named Frank Cross, his personality matching his name. Cross is charged with producing a live broadcast of A Christmas Carol. Unfortunately, he finds his life beginning to mirror the story he is producing when he encounters ghosts that warn him to change his ways. A Christmas Carol has been retold countless times since the first time it was put on film. This is arguably the best version of it set in a modern time. Bill Murray plays the cynic perfectly for this, he is a perfect example of a modern Scrooge.

-Richard Hawkins

#16. White Christmas

   White Christmas is the type of movie that best exemplifies the holiday spirit. Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye both star in this hilarious romp about two ex GI’s who make a killing in show business and fall in love with a pair of singing and dancing sisters. Together the four try to save the failing inn of the boys former general from WWII. This movie is about the Christmas spirit and combines it with the post WWII patriotism that America was known for.This is a movie that most likely could not be made today, as the idealism and patriotism that went into this film does not match the hardened tastes of modern America. This film is best viewed with a sense of nostalgia of what some view as a simpler time, and certainly one of a more united America. Regardless of when you watch it, you will most certainly enjoy this timeless, Christmas classic.

-Richard Hawkins

And that's numbers 30 - 16! Join us tomorrow night as we present the other half of the list, with the 15 best movies to watch at Christmas!

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