Here's jadencampbell3's review: “Surprisinglyaccuratetotheoriginalstory, but ‘Muppet’ combinestheoriginalstorywithcornymusicalnumbers, jokesthatbreakthefourthwall..."
"...andMichaelCaineinpossiblythegreatestinterpretationofScroogeever. Thisfilmisgreaterthanthesumofitsparts, sobadit’s good, and a Christmastraditionintheheartsandmindsofmany. 9/10."
Andnow, let's lookat #9, "ThePolarExpress." ThismotioncaptureanimatedfilmbydirectorRobertZemeckiswas a bighitwhenitwasreleasedduringtheholidayseasonin 2004.
It’s about a youngboy's dreamjourneytotheNorthPoleonChristmasEve, onboard a magicaltrainconductedbyTomHanks.
bostonsweetie23 writes: "’PolarExpress’ is a Christmasfeastfortheeyesandoffers a heartwarmingstoryof a youngboywho's searchingforthetruespiritofChristmas."
"Whilethemovieisbeautifultolookat, itfailswith a slowplotfilledwithsillyobstaclesandsecondarycharacterswhoaddnothingtothestory. Still a greatfamilymoviethatwillsurelygetyouintothespiritofChristmas."
Inthe #8 spotis “TheSantaClause," starringTimAlleninthetitlerole. This 1994 live-actioncomedynotonlyspawnedtwosequels, italsoeffectivelylaunchedTimAllen's filmcareer.
“HowTheGrinchStoleChristmas” isthe 7thfilmonourlist, starringJimCarreyasTheGrinch. The 2000 live-actionadaptationoftheclassicDr. Seusschildren's bookisabout a greengoblinwhoattemptstorobthevillageofWhovilleduringChristmas.
InsideUniversalwrites: "A fantasticmoviethatdefinitelyrelivedthestorybookfantasyofDr. Seuss. Thereweremanychancestoshiftawayfromtheoriginalbook, butJimCarreyandRonHowardcarriedthemoviebeautifullyandwithtaste."
"Grosslyunderratedbythecritics, inmyopinion. 8/10.” Thesixth-mostpopularChristmasfilmis 1983's "A ChristmasStory," a holidayclassicusuallyseenduring 24-hourmarathonsonbasiccable.
It's a light-heartedandnostalgiclookat a 9-year-old's questtoget a toyair-rifleforChristmas. Italsocoinedtheiconicphrase, "You'llshootyoureyeout!"
PossumCuberwrites: "A classicmoviethatrelatestoalmosteveryone. Especiallygrowingupastheonlychildtoanoverprotectivemother, I knowhowitfeelstohavesomething (or, inmycase, everything) betoodangerous."
"I couldwatchthismovieoverandover. 10/10." AtnumberfiveisNationalLampoon's “ChristmasVacation,” thethirdoffive "vacation" moviesstarringthedysfunctionalGriswoldfamily.
ChevyChasestarsinperhapshismostfamousrole, as a fatherwhosefamilyChristmascelebrationquicklyturnsinto a massivenightmare. Here's TheLargeFry's review: "Without a doubt, oneofthebest."
FourthonourlististhecuriouslyChristmas-themed 1988 actionclassic, “DieHard.” A yearlytraditioninmyhousehold, BruceWillisstarsasrogueNewYorkpolicedetectiveJohnMcClane...
...whofindshimselfstuckinside a LosAngelesskyscraperrightafterGermanterroriststakeithostageandtrytorobit. Perhapsanticipatingyourconcernsthatthisisn't actually a holidayfilm...
...lawbnwrites: "ThishastobethegreatestChristmasmovieever. Don't evenargue! IttakesplaceonChristmasandhasgreatmessages, like ‘loveyourfamily’ and ‘bethankfulforwhatyouhave.’ Thenaughtygetpunished, andthegoodgetrewarded."
"BestChristmasmovieever! I'm watching ‘DieHards’ 1 and 2 onChristmas. 10/10." Inthethirdspotisthe 2003 WillFerrellcomedy, “Elf,” directedbyJonFavreau. FerrellplaysBuddy, a regularboywhoisaccidentallyraisedattheNorthPoleasanelf.
Whenherealizeshe's notliketheotherelvesaroundhim, BuddyvisitsNewYorkCitytotrytofindhisbiologicalfather. Pumpkinwifehasthisreview: "WillFerrellhasmade a careerofplayinganobnoxiousbratin a grownman's body..."
"...soitisanamazinglydelightfulsurprisetofindthechildinhabitingthissix-foot-tallelftobe a charming, wide-eyedinnocentkidwhoiswelcomedbackintothefamilybyhisdad's wifeandson."
Thereasonisbecauseit's a modernizationof ‘It's a WonderfulLife,’ butitappliestoboththemaincharacterandthesupportingcast, wherebothsideswishthatthemaincharacterneverexisted."
"Butwhentheyareapart, theyrealizetheyreallydoloveeachotherandtheywanttobetogetherforChristmas. Plus, watchingtwoadultidiotsgetoutsmartedby a kidisalwaysfun."
Andnow, thenumber-onemostpopularChristmasfilmofalltime, asvotedonbythe “MovieNight” audience, "TheNightmareBeforeChristmas"! This 1993 stop-motionfantasyfilmbydirectorTimBurtonisaboutJackSkellington...
CBK911 writes: "Anamazingmoviewithitscreativeanimation, entertainingsongs, andveryrelatablecharacters. Thismovietakes a verydifferentideatowardsChristmas, resultingin a verymemorablefilm. 10/10."
mackieflannadds: "AnamazingfilmintertwiningthefrightfulscenesofHalloweenwiththejoyfulloveofChristmas. Youcouldwatchitthreetimesin a rowandstillbeentertained. Perfectfortheholidaysandforthefamily. 10/10."
Well, thereyouhaveit, thetop-tenmostpopularChristmasfilmsofalltime. Notablyabsentfromthislist, I noticed, andjust 9 votesshyofthe #10 spot, was "It's A WonderfulLife."
Whilethemoviewasreleasedover 70 yearsago, I stronglyencourageyoutocheckoutthisJimmyStewartclassic. Ofcourse, alsocheckouttheothertop 10. Allarefantasticmovies!
Butthatdoesitfortonight's specialChristmasepisodeof "MovieNight." Now, let's take a lookatsomeofHollywood's latestreleases, withsomeTweetCritiques.
Remember, ifyou'regoingtosee a newmoviethisweekendintheaters, submityourTwitterreviewusingthe #JPMNhashtag, tohaveitfeaturedonanupcomingepisode.
Nextweek, we'llbereviewingtwonewDVDreleases, "Easy A," theEmmaStoneteencomedylooselybasedon "TheScarletLetter," and "TheAmerican", a suspensethrillerstarringGeorgeClooneyas a deadlyassassin.
Ifyou'vehavealreadyseenthesemovies, pleaseletmeknowwhatyouthinkaboutthembyvotinginthepollbeloworbyleaving a commentreviewbelow. I'llbepickingmysixfavoritestofeatureinnextweek's episode.
Untilthen, mynameisJonathanPaula. Thankyouforwatching “MovieNight," andhave a verymerryChristmas. I hopetoseeyourightbackherenextFriday!