A movie guide for film lovers that will spread lots of holiday cheer
Lila Weber
Holiday cheer is accompanied by a plethora of traditions, like shopping for gifts and lighting the menorah, and enjoying holiday films. As we near the holiday season, the spotlight tends to land on Christmas. However, there are a lot of films that include many types of cheer. Here are some movie recommendations that you could watch during this time of the year!
Starting off the holiday season with some oldies but goodies, you can take a trip into the past and watch It’s a Wonderful Life (1943). The movie is such a classic, warming people’s hearts with the knowledge that helping others can remind you how much your life matters. Involving both religious themes with an angel gaining its wings and holiday cheer that comes with every movie taking place on Christmas Eve.
Another film along this genre is Holiday Affair. Made in 1949, it is such a charming and heartwarming watch for romantics. A seasonal clerk and a con artist, what could go wrong? Such a classic trope is great for cozying up on a cold evening.
Cash on Demand is an alternative option that induces a thrilling fearful watch with a holiday theme, A bank robbery scheme, a family held hostage, and a man in between it all. Such an intriguing plotline with the extra nostalgia of old films set during the holiday season.
The Lion in Winter (1968) follows the family of King Henry II in medieval England. The familial struggles of royalty accompanied by the old timey costumes, beautiful set design and the winter scenery makes for a fun watch.
One more older Rom-com option could be The Apartment. It was made in 1960 and stars both Jack Lemmon and Shirley Maclaine. The movie grabs your attention with its heartwrenching twists and turns following the life of a hopeless romantic working man. He moves his way up in the ranks by lending his apartment to his higher ups so that they have a place to spend time with their mistress. This movie has a few wintery elements and includes a merry work party.
A great classic for cozying up in the winter is Die Hard (1988). No one can forget the elevator scene, and it is a great movie for those who are not as interested in the classic rom-com’s this season is known for. You may have heard of this as a holiday tradition to watch on Christmas Eve from many families. I remember watching Fuller house and seeing it for the first time.
Another favorite of that crowd is Kiss Kiss Bang Bang. Made in 2004, Robert Downey Jr’s action packed career starts with this film. It’s not super well known, but it has the same humor you find in Iron Man but with a more romantic twist. Even though this movie may not be chalk-full of holiday spirit, it is set during the season and has the undertones of festivity.
An older horror option is The Silent Partner made in 1978. Originated from a novel by Anders Bodelsen, this movie is based around a bank teller played by Elliot Gould and his prediction that a Salvation Army Santa will rob the bank. What follows is definitely not for the easily disturbed.
Frosty the Snow Man and A Charlie Brown Christmas are the childhood favorite holiday cartoons of many. Yet, as we grow up sometimes we wish for a more adult animated twist on the classic Christmas stories. Tokyo Godfathers (2003) is a new age refreshingly realistic movie that is a perfect choice for anime enjoyers. The film follows three homeless people who find an abandoned baby and go on a mission to find its parents. Following in the holiday movie trope of taking place during the holidays and bringing family back together this is a worthwhile watch. The tragic realism is evident in the beginning scenes that take place in a soup kitchen following a main character (a transgender woman named Hana) getting food for her and the two other main characters. There is a fair amount of hate speech towards her throughout the movie so even though this is a worthwhile watch, it is not an easy one.
Another classic watch is Home Alone, although the main plotpoint is concerning, we fall head over heels for the adorable, cute, and independent main character. A movie that falls under that category to watch if you are craving something new is Unaccompanied Minors (2006). A bunch of pre teens stranded in an airport on Christmas Eve is an enticingly hilarious precedent for this film.
If you want to venture out to your favorite theater this holiday season, there are a few free holiday classics that will play. Elf will be playing December 13th and 14th at 10 am at the Rialto theater on San Pablo. How the Grinch stole Christmas will also be playing at the Rialto Theater on December 20th and 21st at 10 am. If you’re wishing for a few new christmas movies to go see you could go watch Silent Night, Deadly Night at varying times from the 11th to the 18th at both the Rialto and the Emeryville AMC theater. As stranger things season five comes to a close you may wish to have a reason to rally your friends and watch it all together. AMC, Cinemark, and Regal theaters will be playing the finale of Stranger Things S5 on December 31st and January 1st.
