OUR FAVOURITE THINGS

Holiday & Winter Movies

AS THE DAYS GROW SHORTER AND WE SPEND MORE OF OUR EVENINGS AT HOME, IT'S THE PERFECT TIME TO REVISIT SOME SEASONAL FARE… FROM HOLIDAY CLASSICS TO A FEW WE ENJOY FOR THEIR MEMORABLE WINTER SCENES ALONE!

1. A Christmas Story

If you’ve seen this holiday classic before you’ll know not to be fooled when we triple-dog-dare ya to stick your tongue on that frozen flagpole or anything else metal for that matter! Some of us laughed out loud the first time we saw this movie and it has been a yearly tradition in our families ever since. Some of the movie was filmed in Canada— including the schoolyard used for the previously mentioned scene—and it was recognized with two Canadian Genie Awards in 1984… Best Director and Best Screenplay.

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas

We are going for the 1966 classic here, narrated by Boris Karloff. While it is actually an animated TV short—only 26 minutes long—it is true to the Dr. Seuss original book and the holidays would not be the same without it!

3. Christmas with the Kranks

If you’ve ever wanted to be a grinch yourself and run away from the annual holiday madness, Christmas with the Kranks is the goofy (and sometimes cringeworthy) comedy for you! Stars, Tim Allen and Jamie Lee Curtis, are empty-nesters who anger their neighbours by planning to skip Christmas in favour of a cruise. We particularly enjoy Dan Aykroyd as the neighbourhood Christmas vigilante.

4. A Charlie Brown Christmas

With help from the Peanuts Gang, Charlie Brown has been seeking the true meaning of Christmas since 1965 when the TV special was first aired. As much as we loved this show as children, it wasn’t until we discovered the score by jazz pianist Vince Guaraldi that we truly appreciated the full brilliance of this animated treasure.

5. Becoming Santa

Becoming Santa documents the journey of Jack Sanderson as he attends Santa School and eventually transforms himself into a pretty fine version of Santa Claus, if you ask us. There is a tinge of melancholy to this behind-the-scenes look at Santa culture and history, and includes interviews with men and women who work to keep the red suit legend embodied and alive for children.

6. The Holiday

The Holiday is a lovely, light and fluffy rom-com about two women (Kate Winslet and Cameron Diaz) who switch homes for the holiday in order to get away from failed romances only to find new ones abroad. And frankly nothing says Christmas like snow falling on a charming cottage in the English countryside… oh, and did we mention Jude Law is in it, too? Sigh!

7. Never Cry Wolf

From Farley Mowat’s autobiographical novel, this film follows a biologist (played by the delightful Charles Martin Smith) who sets out into the Arctic to study the lives of wolves. An adventure to say the least, and a journey into wild places both of the landscape and the human heart.

8. It's a Wonderful Life

One of the best movies ever made, Frank Capra’s It’s a Wonderful Life is a masterclass in filmmaking with a message that resonates across the decades.

9. March of the Penguins

While the filming of this documentary was a monumental challenge involving 13 months out on the Antarctic ice, this heartwarming tale resulted in the world falling in love with Emperor penguins.

10. A Christmas Carol

And then there’s A Christmas Carol, the Dickens classic re-imagined with so many versions and variations on a theme. From the black & white 1951 film starring Alastair Sim, filled with its dark and moody scenes (and some pretty good FX for the day as well) to Bill Murray’s Scrooged, and even a version with Kermit the frog and the rest of the Muppets!