THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A CHRISTMAS CAROL: THE MUSICAL

 

Kelsey Grammer stars as miser Ebenezer Scrooge in this musical retelling of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol”.

The classic tale in which he is taught the true meaning of Christmas by three Spirits who visit him, revealing to him the truth about his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current catalogue of cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold, death or redemption.

The Spirits are played by Jane Krakowski (Past), Jesse L. Martin (Present) and Geraldine Chaplin (Future)

The other key characters and portrayed by Jason Alexander (Marley), Jennifer Love Hewitt (Emily), Edward Gower and Linzi Hateley (The Cratchit’s), Jacob Moriarty (Tiny Tim),

Brian Bedford and Claire Moore (The Fezziwig’s), Julian Ovenden (Fred) and Leah-Verity White (Fan).

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – SCROOGE (1935)

 

Seymour Hicks stars as miser Ebenezer Scrooge in this quality retelling of Charles Dickens' “A Christmas Carol”.

The classic tale in which he is taught the true meaning of Christmas by three Spirits who visit him, revealing to him the truth about his own miserable existence, what opportunities he wasted in his youth, his current catalogue of cruelties, and the dire fate that awaits him if he does not change his ways. Scrooge is faced with his own story of growing bitterness and meanness, and must decide what his own future will hold, death or redemption. The Spirits are played by Marie Ney (Past), Oscar Asche (Present) and C.V. France (Future)

The other key characters and portrayed by Claude Rains (Marley), Mary Glynne (Belle), Robert Cochran and Barbara Everest (The Cratchit’s), Philip Frost (Tiny Tim), and Robert Cochran (Fred).

 

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – CHARLIE AND THE REINDEER

 

The teenage Holton brothers live with their divorced mother, Denise (Stacy Edwards), in a rural town.

Ryan (Robert Clark) is the older brother, who hates the rural life and makes no secret of the fact and wants to go and live with their father, in Chicago.

The shy young Charlie (Gavin Fink) doesn’t understand his attitude, he is happy there even though he gets victimised by the bigger school kids'.

One day on the way home from school he finds two reindeer, one is dead who he believes to be one of Santa's team called Prancer, the other one is younger and Charlie thinks he is his son and heir, also called Prancer which he tries to hide at home and Ryan helps him which brings the brothers closer along the way.

Charlie believes that his Prancer is “the” Prancer from the towns’ legend and will take off and join Santa on Christmas Eve.

Unfortunately when Prancer gets out he bites evil vice-principal James Klock (Michael O'Keefe) and he wants the danger to the public put down.

But a rescue operation is mounted and then Charlie runs away with his protégé to the woods,

His mother Denise is unable to cope, but thankfully her ex-boyfriend, handyman Tom Sullivan (John Corbett), comes to the youngster's rescue in this engaging family film.

Watch out for the wonderful Jack Palance as Old Man Richards.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – OUR FIRST CHRISTMAS

 

Widower Tom Baer (Steven Eckholdt), a school counsellor, recently married widow, school coach Cindy Noll (Julie Warner) and their respective offspring get along fairly well, despite different parenting styles, but as their first Christmas as a family approaches, each set of step siblings is desperate to respect their own seasonal traditions, reminiscent of their late parents. Tom's father, retired preacher Joe Noll (John Ratzenberger), and Cindy's mother-in-law Evie (Dixie Carter), a businesswoman, each liked by both, hoped to bridge the gap, but when that fails, Evie returns home alone.

Which is when the holiday spirit with a touch of schmaltz gets the kids reconsidering their priorities.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A PERFECT CHRISTMAS LIST (2014)

 

Sara (Ellen Hollman) is the successful children's author of the “Mouse” books and shortly before Christmas she is touring and reading her books to children, as her new book is just about to hit the shelves. But in her hometown of Sunny Valley, California, Sara's grandmother Evie (Marion Ross), falls and is taken to the hospital. Sara's father Tim (Richard Karn) calls her and asks her to come home, which she is reluctant to do because she and her critical/ perfectionist mother Michelle (Beth Broderick) don't get along, and the moment she steps foot in the house the comments start.
When Evie leaves hospital she goes to stay with her daughter and son in law to recuperate.

Sara visits with her grandmother and learns of her “Perfect Christmas List” and Evie tasks her daughter and granddaughter Sara, with the list of festive accomplishments to do together before Christmas, hoping that the adventure of the experience will repair their strained relationship. Along the way, Sara discovers an unlisted Christmas adventure of her own in the form of Evie's young good-looking doctor Brandon (Aaron Hill).

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – GUESS WHO’S COMING TO CHRISTMAS

 

Twenty-six year old Kelly Harding (MacKenzie Porter) moved from New York City back to the home of her mother and father (Ellie Harvie and Peter LaCroix) in the small rural town of Cedar Grove, Illinois after the publishing house where she worked went out of business.

Seven months later, a few weeks before Christmas, her adoptive twelve year old brother Tim (Evan Bird) enterers her into a “Dear Santa Christmas wish” contest being held by Dax (Drew Lachey), who will fulfil the wish of the randomly drawn winner, but he did it using her name without telling her, and Kelly’s name was drawn.

So the jaded rock star with a tarnished image reluctantly agrees to spend the holidays in Cedar Grove and perform in the local holiday Christmas concert,

At first he is mortified at the prospect of staying in the home of an ordinary family but he soon realizes what is important in his life and rediscovers his holiday spirit.

THE BEST CHRISTMAS MOVIES EVER – A CHRISTMAS STAR (2015)

 

Noelle O'Hanlon (Erin Galway-Kendrick) was born under the Christmas Star, so she believes she has the gift to perform miracles, so when conniving developer Pat McKerrod (Robert James-Collier) threatens her peaceful life she and her friends determine to use this gift to thwart his plans and save their village.

Suranne Jones, Pierce Brosnan and Liam Neeson also star in this engaging Christmas story.