Top Ten Festive Favourites

Clockwise from top right: The Snowman (1982), It's a Wonderful Life (1946), Love Actually (2003), The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993), Mean Girls (2004), Elf (2003), Meet Me in St Louis (1944) and centre The Muppet Christmas Carol (1992)

It's official! Less than one week until Christmas Day and it is finally time to watch all of our favourite festive films.

There may be lots of Christmas movies that we love, but what about those festive scenes and songs in other films that we sometimes forget about?

So with that, here are my Top Ten Festive Favourite films, scenes and songs which you will want to revisit or watch for the very first time.

Festive Films:

1. The Muppets Christmas Carol (1992)

Out of all the Muppet films, this has to be the best. It is a hilarious retelling of the classic Dickens novel with all the Muppet characters we know and love stringed together with plenty of catchy songs. Michael Caine also stars as the grumpy Scrooge. A great festive family favourite.

2. It's a Wonderful Life (1946)

This film has become a Christmas classic and an all time must-see (featuring at number 27 on IMDB's Top 250). The black and white American movie stars James Stewart, as George, who comes to learn the true value of life with the help of a guardian angel named Clarence. There has been talk of a sequel which I am certainly not happy about. When you have a cherished classic, leave the sequels alone. This movie is too precious to ruin for myself and cinema audiences.

3. Love Actually (2003)

Love Christmas? Love Richard Curtis rom-coms? Well you'll love Love Actually, actually. Starring many famous faces including: Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Keira Knightley, Martin Freeman, Rowan Atkinson, Liam Neeson...the list goes on. And, of course, Hugh Grant stars as the PM. 

I cannot believe this film came out ten years ago!

4. Elf (2003)

Another film that came out a decade ago is Elf. This is a laugh-out-loud comedy with Anchorman's Will Ferrell taking the lead role of Buddy - a human elf who comes to New York to find his true family and identity during the festive period. Zooey Deschanel and Game of Thrones actor Peter Dinklage also star in the movie which is guaranteed to have you giggling. 

5. The Snowman (1982)

A nostalgic film from my childhood for number 5. The Snowman is an animated story about a boy who makes a snowman which comes to life on Christmas Eve. The Snowman takes the boy on a great journey through the sky. The whole 26 minute film is on YouTube for your enjoyment and features the atmospheric song Walking in the Air.

Festive Scenes:

6. Mean Girls (2004)

Two Christmassy scenes which you may have forgotten about from one of the best teen movies of all time. The first, and very short scene, involves some candy canes and a chap named Glen Coco:

The second is at the high school talent show, where Cady joins 'The Plastics' for their annual version of Jingle Bell Rock:

7. When Harry Met Sally (1989)

If you read my blog regularly, you know I love When Harry Met Sally. So naturally, I had to include this moment of seeing New York all covered in snow and Christmas lights. The clip also includes Harry and Sally celebrating New Year and having their first 'moment' together.

Festive Songs:

8. What's This? The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Jack Skellington has managed to leave Halloweentown and enter Christmastown. What's This? is the song he sings as he discovers this new land of snow, presents and merriment.

9. Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas, Meet Me in St Louis (1944)

This song is played every year in December, but did you know the song debuted in Meet Me in St Louis? Judy Garland sings the classic Christmas tune in the MGM musical film.

10. Auld Lang Syne, Sex and the City (2008)

I know the movie isn't great, but I really like the version of this song. Auld Lang Syne plays over a montage with all the characters celebrating New Year's in different places, whilst Carrie runs to Miranda so she isn't alone when it hits midnight. Can I just ask how she runs in the snow in heels? HEELS? One of the many flaws in Sex and the City but I will ignore this for the fantastic version of the song.

Do you agree with my choices? Or did I miss any?

What will you be watching this season? 

Tweet your favourites @TicketStubBlog or comment below

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

Happy Birthday Tim Burton

Image: peterguber.com

Happy 55^th Birthday to Tim Burton today! 

To celebrate the director’s special day, here are my top favourite Tim Burton films that you should definitely check out...

1. Edward Scissorhands (1990)

Image: deppimpact.com

"Hold me" "I can't"

I adore this film. It was probably the first time I was conscious of Danny Elfman’s beautiful compositions – he has continued to collaborate with Burton throughout his career and is one of my favourite film composers. Speaking of collaborations, this was the beginning of the Depp-Burton partnership which has lasted for 23 years so far, with the most recent collaboration on the movie Dark Shadows (2012)

2. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1993)

Image: broadway.com

"What's this? What's this?"

  Although this is often called ‘Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas’, Burton did not direct. Henry Selick directed and since went onto direct James and the Giant Peach (1996) and Caroline (2009). Burton was in fact producer and writer on The Nightmare Before Christmas. I had only previously seen stop motion with the comical duo Wallace & Gromit but this film had a darker approach and really captured my imagination. My favourite moment has to be when Jack sings ‘What’s This’ as he arrives into Christmas Town.

3. Sleepy Hollow (1999)

Image: deppimpact.com

"No, you must believe me. It was a horseman, a dead one. Headless"

This movie definitely introduced me to the dark side of Burton’s directorial vision which I instantly fell in love with (even though the headless horseman freaked the hell out of me when I was younger).  Another thing I fell in love with? Of course, it’s Johnny Depp playing Ichabod Crane.

4. Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Image: deppimpact.com

"At last! My arm is complete again"

My final top favourite is Sweeney Todd. I’m a big fan of musicals and pairing Tim Burton with this film made perfect sense to achieve the dark and gory nature of the demon barber. The only thing I wish the film had is the prologue from the original stage show, ‘The Ballad of Sweeney Todd’. I truly think it could have worked over the top of the end credits.  However, the casting is fantastic with fabulously haunting performances by Helena Bonham Carter, Sacha Baron Cohen and Alan Rickman.