If there’s one thing you can be sure of during the festive season, it’s the amount of choice you’ll have when it comes to watching TV. With so many channels offering a weeks’ worth of viewing treasures for all the family, you can be sure of a treat no matter what time of the day. This is especially true of films, but if you can’t wait for the schedules to watch your favourites, then it’s worth stocking up on a couple of festive flicks.
For a true visual treat, fire up a digital projector to enjoy the action on a much larger scale. Turn your living room into a seasonal cinema with accompanying speakers and enjoy the show. Here are just a few of the Christmas films which never fail to stir the spirits.
White Christmas
The films of Bing Crosby have become a festive fixture with song and dance to entertain the whole family. Crosby would first perform the song ‘White Christmas’ in his film Holiday Inn, but would later make it the subject of its very own Irving Berlin musical. In this festive treat, Crosby teams with Danny Kaye to try to save their old army buddy’s ski lodge from closure, charming viewers through a delightful tale of romance and showbiz featuring many memorable songs which have captivated audiences ever since the film was released in the mid-1950s.
Home Alone
Kevin McAllister battles The Wet Bandits in this classic Christmas caper – one of the biggest box office successes of all time. It’s a family film that’s sure to put a smile on everyone’s face and a mischievous glint in the eye of every child. When eight-year old Macaulay Culkin’s character is accidentally left home alone by his vacationing family over Christmas, he learns of a plot by Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern to burgle the McAllister house and must defend it from invasion. Packed with laugh-out loud slapstick comedy and plenty of heart-warming moments, Home Alone is a must for the Christmas season.
Jingle All The Way
He’s best known for his muscular demeanour and all-action attitude, but Arnold Schwarzenegger proves he’s got a funny bone in this family film about the lengths a dad will go to in order to please the kids at Christmas. There’s still a hint of the old macho style about Arnie in Jingle All The Way, but it’s definitely got an edge of humour about it as he battles a giant Santa and a rival parent in order to secure the hottest toy in town for his son. Anyone who’s had to endure the big pre-Christmas shop will relate to this funny and touching film.
Scrooged
Another film that holds up so many years after its release is Bill Murray’s modern-day take on Charles Dickens’ classic novel A Christmas Carol. Here, Murray plays a TV executive staging a live retelling of the classic tale, when he’s thrust into a real-life version as he encounters the Three Ghosts and tries to win the heart of a former love who he spurned for power and money. Murray is at his best in this cult classic – but it might be one for after the kids have gone to bed due to its liberal use of adult humour.
Die Hard
And finally, one that’s definitely not family-friendly but still a much-loved Christmas-themed tale, Bruce Willis takes on a team of terrorists atop the Nakatomi Plaza. Where’s the seasonal spirit there? Well of course it’s the setting – a company party held on Christmas Eve. Bruce Willis has created one of Hollywood’s iconic action characters in John McClane, with snappy one-liners and plenty of fighting spirit. It may not bring the utmost seasonal cheer, but on your home cinema setup each explosion and gunshot will look and sound amazing.
