Top Five Christmas Films

Well it's that time of year once again! I therefor feel it's time to reflect on some the best films the holiday season has to offer us. Here are my top five in reverse order:

5. The Santa Clause (1994)

Just one of those feel good, family, comedy, christmas films. Starring Tim Allen, it's a story of a normal, divorced man, who accidentally kills Santa Clause, meaning he has to don the red suit and deliver the presents himself. Initially out to make a quick buck by stealing valuables from the houses he visits, he soon learns the value of Christmas with the help of his son. It's a generally feel-good film, something you would expect from a christmas film, it's a fun interesting concept on Santa Clause showing it as a job that is passed down, rather then kept forever. A film i would recommend to any family at Christmas!

4. Elf (2003)

The story of a human baby that accidentally ends up in the north pole and has to be raised by elves. Eventually told of his true nature he sets off to find his true family in New York. There he must learn how to live as a human being, while trying to inject that little bit of Christmas cheer that everyone seems to have lost. With starring roles from Will Ferrell and the Godfather's James Caan this film is a hilarious new take on Christmas and the first original christmas film for a good decade. (Also has an extremely funny cameo from Peter Dinklage)



3. The Polar Express (2004)

Ever wondered what it would be like to step inside one of those glass, christmas orbs? Well this is as close as it gets to that. While taking full advantage of 3D and motion capture this magical adventure brings the beautiful book to life. Led by the voice of Tom Hanks, the polar express is the tale of a young boy who on the night before christmas is picked up by a mysterious train. On board he finds many children as well and discovers they are on their way to meet Santa at the north pole. However its not as easy as just taking a trip on a train as it encounters all sorts of dangers. A tremendous watch, full of fun and sense of adventure. (The graphics are pretty special as well)

2. The Nightmare Before Christmas (1994)

Tim Burton does it again. The visionary director/producer who produced one of the most dark christmas films of all time. Though very creepy it is still possibly the greatest and most bizarre christmas film ever made. It tells the story of Jack Skeleton the leader of Halloween Town who decides he is bored of the usual Halloween traditions and sets off in search of new ideas. He stumbles across a portal to Christmas Town and after much deliberation decides to try and take it over, assuming Santa's role. Possibly one of the most unique takes on the holiday season and one of my favorite films regardless of the time of year.

1. Love Actually (2003)

An absolute christmas great. America have tried to match the idea of an all star class to celebrate a holiday season over the last couple of years, and to be honest the poxy efforts of Valentines Day and New Years Eve don't deserve to be mentioned alongside Love Actually. Just one of those films you can watch every christmas and still get the same feeling you did when it was first released. The idea's of different story lines makes for an emotional roller-coaster, from the hilarious story of Billy Mac (Bill Nighy) to the heart wrenching story of Daniel and Sam (Liam Neeson and Thomas Sangster). Not a single story is lost amongst others, with the down right silly stories such as the "Sex God" Colin's expedition to American and the porn-star's body doubles who are both awkward off set. There are messages to be found amongst all the stories as well, with family love being just as important as conditional love. It's a true great that you can sit along and smile, laugh, cringe, cry and above all else, enjoy christmas.

Sherlock Holmes: A Game of Shadows:

After the initial Sherlock Holmes film, this had big shoes to fill, but my did they fill them! When Guy Ritchie re-invented the much loved british detective, initial reaction was mixed, with critics and cinema-goers reaction as hesitant, unsure about how it would turn out. The reaction was stupendous, with it clearing up in the box office and receiving critical acclaim from all types of critics and audiences. So could Sherlock Holmes: a Game of Shadows keep the originality that made the first so great, and keep a story line as complex as the first, while topping it with action and adding more complex relationships? The answer: of course it could. After the success of "bad-guy" Lord Blackwood (Mark Strong) in Sherlock Holmes, Ritchie needed a villain who could top even the seeming master of death. Who better then Holmes age old nemesis, someone who has appeared in only one of the original 60 stories and yet caused such a massive stir, Professor James Moriarty. The only man ever to match Holmes in intellect and wit and the only man to come close to out-witting the great detective mind.

Jared Harris as Moriarty

When finding out the role was to be played by Jared Harris at first I was a little concerned, he didn't strike me as the suave type, judging by his other films. However he owned the role of Moriarty and now his performance will stick with me as my first impression, when thinking of the character Moriarty. The chemistry between Holmes (Robert Downey Jr.) and his assistant Dr. Watson (Jude Law) was as ever brilliant, with both actors able to bounce off each other to supply perfect comedic moments.The steady calmness of Watson, only to be worn away throughout by the irrepressible Sherlock Holmes gets funnier by the minute. Downey Jr. is fantastic, his pure surreal performance of the verging psychotic genius is perfect and gives new life to the smooth sophisticated Holmes that is portrayed in the books and so many other interpretations. It adds new life to the character, while being utterly mad he still has that perfect arrogance that strangely causes the audience to fall in love with him.

Jude Law (left) and Robert Downey Jr. as Watson and Holmes

One thing that the sequel has kept is it's originality. Possibly the best part to the first film was Holmes' summary of what he was about to do, showing the scenes in slow motion, explaining each motion before then performing them. This was a clever way of showing Holmes' intense thinking speed and playing clever jokes on the audience by explaining what he was going to do then simply opting for an easier route. I loved the fact that they kept this in the second movie and simply made the scenes longer, also adding opponents that were able to counter Holmes moves showing him having to improvise. Some of the camera shots were simply stunning. In particular the escape through the woods, (trying to to give away any spoilers) The 300 like stop-start of the slow motion was incredible to watch, slowing down bullets, showing near misses for the escaping heroes. The fight scene that follow is one of the best I've scene using the same tactic of stop-start slow motion.

Verdict: Although it was always going to be hard to top the first, Guy Ritchie went out and did it. This is not only a visual great, it is also a brilliant film that you can still relax into. 8.5/10