Just Because It's Christmas (and at Christmas, you tell the truth)

Although I realize this is only my second post, I would like to keep this blog from getting repetitive. So, from time to time I'll change things up: such as today, where I want to list some of my favorite Christmas movies! Few things get me completely into the holidays like good Christmas movies do and yet few holiday things can be enjoyed throughout the year like good Christmas movies can (although you may disagree). So here are some of my favorites, please say something if I miss one. Merry Christmas!

1. It's A Wonderful Life (1946) - such a classic! although I confess that sometimes I simply skip to the last 10 minutes of the movie.
2. Love Actually (2003) - I love the way this movie appeals to just about everyone: people who love romantic comedies and people who find romantic comedies sappy, people who think happy endings are overrated and people who are optimistic.
3. White Christmas (1954) - although Christmas only shows up at the very beginning and the very end of this film, it's such a great movie that I cannot skip it. It's so funny, so quotable, so sing-along-able, and so classic.
4. Little Lord Fauntleroy (1980) - another Christmas movie where Christmas only shows up at the very end, but when I was little, we used to watch this movie every Christmas. And, like all feel-good movies, it's appropriate for the feel-good season.
5. The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe (2005) - I love this movie! It's not strictly a Christmas movie but Santa Claus does make an appearance, there is snow for a good portion of the film, so I think it counts!
6. Muppet's Christmas Carol (1992) - this movie is so funny and there are some truly great songs in it!
7. How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) - I'm so sorry Jim Carrey, but I really prefer the cartoon! I like explanations a great deal, but sometimes they simply are not necessary. And I think, in the case of this story, I don't need to know how the Grinch got to be the Grinch, I don't care why the Whos sing even after their presents are gone - that's part of the magic of it!
8. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) - while we're on the subject of classic Christmas cartoons, this one is always on the list (at least in my book).
9. Holiday Inn (1942) - although this movie has some amazing songs (my favorite version of "White Christmas") and one of my favorite actors (Fred Astaire), I'm ever so slightly hesitant to throw it in the list because I really dislike most of the characters in it. Fred Astaire's a jerk, Bing Crosby is okay, and the overall storyline is frustrating. But, it's a classic, and there are some great songs, and, again, the part where Bing Crosby sings "White Christmas" and plays the bells with his pipe is really great.
10. Harry Potter and the Sorceror's Stone (2001) and
    
11. Peter Pan (2003) - are both simply good family films that, in my opinion, go really well with the holiday season.
12. Little Women (1994) - I really do not like being sad, which is why this movie is not higher on the list. It is a really good Christmas movie, however, and it ends very well.
13. Hook (1991) - after going through some obsession phases with Peter Pan (he still is one of my favorite characters), I have a hard time with this movie. But, when I get over it (which I sometimes do) this movie is a very good Christmas film.
14. The Thin Man (1934) - not much of a Christmas movie really, because it has nothing to do with Christmas. But there's Christmas in it and it's such a good movie that I really cannot resist!

I'll end my list at 14, to give room for any I may have forgotten. Please let me know what movies help usher in the holidays at your house! Merry Christmas everybody!