December 28, 2014

5 Holiday Season Movies to Watch This New Year's

     With less than four days to 2015, I'm most of you are making reservations for a family dinner or confirming travel plans to exotic locations to usher in the New Year with the family. So for those of you that's going to be stuck at home and practically counting the hours to midnight alone or with a bunch of exhausted colleagues and friends just like I am, here are 5 offbeat Holiday Movies to see you through the night. This is not your run-of-the-mill Home Alone or Christmas Carol so make that cooker popcorn get cozy and exploit Netflix.

  #1 Holiday in Handcuffs





    This wasn't a feature film but a Christmas movie aired on ABC Family back in 2007. Melissa Joan Hart (yes, Sabrina the Teenage Witch) who doesn't want to spend Christmas alone kidnaps Mario Lopez and that's where the handcuffs come in. Stop right there before you think this is some raunchy flick that you watch in the darkness of your bedroom. You can check out P2 if you want a more serious crime/thriller Christmas movie though. Holiday in Handcuffs was one of ABCs most watched TV movie so go for it!      



#2 Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas




      Jim Carrey owns the grinch in 'How the Grinch Stole Christmas' an adaptation of the children's story in the Dr. Seuss series. Of course a lot of parts were added to make the story into a full length future film. The end always makes you go 'awww'.  


#3 The Polar Express




      I wouldn't say that 'The Polar Express' is one of the best Holiday Season movies to be made but I will give it to the VFX team for some incredible environments and scenes. Polar Express was a very off beat movie who's lead character 'Hero Boy' was done as two parts : Tom Hanks for the motion-capture and voiced by Daryl Sabara. A lot of movie critics felt the people were plastic, sometimes bordering on scary and very unconvincing. Considering 'The Polar Express' was made in 2004 I will cut the post-production team some slack. Grab a pair of 3D glasses and just experience the ride through the snow.  


#4 Joyeux Noel




      I'm a sucker for World War movies and Joyeux Noel is by far one of the best WW films I've seen. Its not one of those Holiday Season movies that make you feel all warm and fuzzy. It's a good movie on yet another different aspect of the War. Joyeux Noel won an Oscar for being the Best Foreign Language Feature Film of 2004. Watch Joyeux Noel for mind blowing music (what can beat a Danish Soprano and a German Tenor) and some great camera work. (Subtitles highly recommended, unless you speak French of course!)


#5 Trading Places




      Okay this is 'Prince and the Pauper', 'Tail of Two Kitties' 'Tootsie' except in 1983. This film has all the stereotypes of socio-economic status and life of the lead characters. Great humor and lots of laughs thanks to Eddie Murphy who is one of personal favorites when it comes to comic actors.  The movie's tag line reads "They're not just getting rich, they're getting even." No they didn't just get Oscar nominations, they picked up two BAFTAs! 



Check out these flicks this Holiday Season. If you liked this post or have more offbeat movies you want to share leave a comment below and don't forget to +1 and share after all sharing is caring! 
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Season's Greetings!
Happy Holidays!
Feliz Navidad Feliz Navidad Prospero ano y Felicidad!!  

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