Must-Watch Christmas Movies:
5 Unconventional Holiday Gems
Christmas movies come in all different shapes and sizes so rather than simply putting together a single list of golden holiday standards, I thought I’d throw together a list of Christmas movies that are a little more on the unconventional side. You know…For viewers who like their yuletide cinema a little edgier.
Happy Holidays, everyone!
“DIE HARD”
It almost feels unfair to put “Die Hard” on the unconventional list because despite what some folks might say–Bruce Willis included–Yes…This is a Christmas movie! When terrorists seize a Los Angeles high rise, it’s up to New York City cop John McClane to save the day. And save the day he does, but not before taking out a shit load of windows and launching a massive body count in the process. It should also be noted that in addition to being a Christmas film, this is one of the great action movies of all time and it’s sure to get the adrenalin pumping.
“GREMLINS”
Cute. Clever. Mischievous. Intelligent. Dangerous. And so reads the tag line for Joe Dante’s hilarious live-action homage to Looney Tune cartoons. Produced by Steven Spielberg, this gem of a movie features destructive little creatures wreaking havoc on an unsuspecting town during the holidays. “Gremlins” certainly has a soft, cuddly side, but it’s the mean spirited tone underneath the surface that gives this movie its kick.
“EDWARD SCISSORHANDS”
With holiday-centric efforts like “Batman Returns” and “A Nightmare Before Christmas” under his belt, Tim Burton could have just as easily had a few titles on these lists. That said, I opted to go with “Edward Scissorhands” because, in addition to sitting alongside “Ed Wood” as my all-time favorite Burton flick, this movie answers that age-old question; “Where does snow come from?” Featuring an extremely likable Johnny Depp as the title character; A shy, isolated man with scissors for hands. This live-action fairy tale is warm, quirky, magical, and perfect viewing at Christmas time.
“WAR OF THE ROSES”
It’s “Die Hard” meets “Divorce Court” as Oliver and Barbara Rose (played by Michael Douglas and Kathleen Turner) demolish virtually everything in their path while battling it out in a bitter divorce over the course of the yuletide season. This black comedy from director Danny DeVito (who also co-stars in the film) is a reality check and cautionary tale for those who can’t resolve things amicably. For the rest of us, it’s damn hilarious–in a dark, twisted sort of way.
“LETHAL WEAPON”
As is the case with Tim Burton, Shane Black has been a driving force behind several holiday-inspired efforts including “Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang,” “Iron Man 3,” and “The Long Kiss Goodnight,” just to name a precious few but it’s his work on Richard Donner’s high octane actioneer, “Lethal Weapon” that’s most worth noting mostly because it’s the movie that put him on the map. Mel Gibson and Danny Glover prove to have pitch-perfect chemistry as a pair of mismatched cops out to bring a villainous drug ring to justice during the holidays.
HONORABLE MENTION; “The Ref,” “Bad Santa,” “Rare Exports,” “Rocky IV,” ‘Black Christmas,” “Ice Harvest,” “Krampus,” and “Trading Places.”
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