MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM CRITICAL MASS!

Tis the season, and all that, so I thought I'd present my own personal top 5 Christmas or Christmas related movies. These are the five movies that must be watched during the season, and while they don't necessarily feature Santa or the other fella who's associated with Christmas... what's his name... Jesus, they are set during the holidays and are strictly reserved for December. Well, except for one particular movie.

1. It's A Wonderful Life (1946) - Frank Capra.

Come on, was it ever going to be anything else?! The quintessential movie for restoring faith in humanity and joy to all men. If you aren't moved by this movie, you have no soul. Fact.















2. Die Hard (1988) - John McTiernan.

A bunch of hi-tech Eurotrash thieves want to steal millions in bearer bonds. But the monkey in the wrench, the fly in the ointment, John McClane is on hand to stop them. Unfortunately for McClane, he just wanted to spend Christmas patching up his marriage.













3. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993) - Henry Selick.

A twisted, wonderfully idiosyncratic Christmas movie, Burton's story of the king of Halloween wanting a piece of Christmas is unlike any other movie for the period.















4. The Snowman (1982) - Dianne Jackson.

I work in animation. I know how difficult paper animation is. The Snowman is a brilliantly written and made. A very underrated achievement. And David Bowie in a sweater.





5. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation (1989) - Jeremiah S. Chechik.

Guilty pleasure. I make no apologies for it. Hilarious in every way.