Capturing the spirit of Christmas

Festive flashback

Blast this Christmas music. It’s joyful and triumphant!’ said the Grinch even as he tried to steal Christmas. But even he couldn’t withstand the festive spirit and by the end of the movie, ‘Dr Seuss’ How the Grinch Stole Christmas’, the green fur ball was dressed up as Santa! Though the movie (starring Jim Carrey) doesn’t top the TV series (of the same name), it is one of the films that ushers in the season every year with grand lines, humourous takes and colourful settings.

With Christmas almost upon us, a movie marathon is in order. There are numerous features that fit the bill, but only some are on the must-watch list and leave you feeling incomplete if you don’t watch them. Another such film is the ‘Home Alone’ series. One of the most popular ones, it finds itself universally loved. Though the character of Alex Pruitt (Alex D Linz) in the third installment is no where as good as Macaulay Culkin’s portrayal of Kevin McCallister in the first two films, it is still a box set. There is a fourth and fifth to the series but they aren’t worth the mention. What started off in 1990 has become a Christmas tradition for many. Says Akrithi, a communication professional and movie-buff, “I love ‘Home Alone’ because it’s so much fun to watch.” Anindhita, who works in a publishing house, also enjoys the film, though she says that it has nothing to do with Christmas.

Another favourite of Akrithi’s is ‘Love Actually’. The 2003 ensemble cast film has 10 entwined narratives, lives that cross path as they go about their daily routine. Showcasing different kinds of relationships and stories that come together as Christmas closes in, it’s also a beautiful romantic make. Another romantic Christmas film is ‘The Holiday’, starring Cameron Diaz, Jude Law, Kate Winslet and Jack Black. This 2006 romantic comedy has less to do with Christmas and more to do with love, but it still manages to highlight the festive spirit. The cherry topping is the chemistry between the cast members. Not overly clawing, it sees the blossoming of two romances. But it’s Winslet’s relationship with Eli Wallach (Arthur) that really does the trick.

There are also a couple of animated films that accurately capture the Christmas spirit. A 2004 release, ‘Polar Express’ is one of the two Robert Zemeckis films that feature on this list. There’s something about this movie that sends shivers down your spine. It leaves you wanting to believe as your thoughts linger on the storyline and characters. It narrates how growing up can dent one’s ability to believe, and how a train ride to the North Pole changes the lives of a few kids. It is endearing in many ways.

The other Zemeckis film is ‘A Christmas Carol’, which came out in 2009. Based on Charles Dickens’ novel of the same name, this animated film sees Jim Carrey take on multiple roles including that of Ebenezer Scrooge and the three ghosts.

   Of the many retellings of the book, this one is quite potent as it brings together the ace comedian and impressionist with Zemeckis, who brings out unique motion capture films that shouldn’t be missed. ‘Rise of the Guardians’, a 2012 release, is also based on a book — William Joyce’s ‘The Guardians of Childhood’ series.

    The story takes place 300 years after the initial setting. Jack Frost, the spirit of winter, is enlisted by Santa Claus, the Easter Bunny and Toothfairy as the new Guardian to fight against Pitch Black (or the Boogeyman). A recurring festive theme, it sees the fall and rise of festive belief.

Another movie that depends on the same formula — belief fuelling Christmas — is ‘The Santa Clause’ (No, the producers weren’t bad at spelling, it’s clause with an ‘e’). Tim Allen plays Scott Calvin, an advertising executive who watches himself turn into Santa Claus because of a contract he accidentally agreed to. It doesn’t take long for him to bloat up, grow white hair and sport a beard.

The rest is history — befriending the elves, making gifts and working hard to deliver gifts on Christmas. The trilogy sees Santa meeting Mrs Claus, watching his son grow up and fighting to save Christmas and strengthen one’s belief in the festival. 

‘Elf’, which stars Will Ferrell, is also along these lines but (for a change) narrates the story of an elf. Well, a human who is raised by elves after he sneaks into Santa’s gift bag as a toddler. It doesn’t take long for ‘Buddy’ (Ferrell) to realise that he’s different from the other elves and venture out into the human world where he takes his time to adjust. But the Christmas spirit never leaves him and the movie makes you feel warm inside by the end.

   Directed by Jon Favreau (trust him to tickle your funny bone) and written by David Berenbaum, the movie is a fun watch.

The last movie on this list is ‘Jingle All The Way’. Though not one of the greatest films, it’s worth the time for one reason — who wouldn’t want to watch Arnold Schwarzenegger in a role where he isn’t beating up people for majority of the screen time? A ‘family entertainer’, it shows Howard Langston’s (Schwarzenegger) journey to becoming a good dad. He attempts to redeem himself during Christmas by running behind an action figure. So, while the themes may vary, there are some Christmas movies that will always remain close to the heart.