Top 20 Television Shows, Part Two (Top Ten TV Series): My favorites of all time

I'm counting down my favorite television series of all time.

10. Tales from the Crypt: One of the first major HBO programs is also one of my favorite shows ever. An anthology series that follows The Crypt-Keeper, a cackling, pun-loving corpse who inhabits an ancient crypt below an old mansion. The Crypt-Keeper tells the viewers a story each episode, usually these episodes feature big-name guest stars (such as Whoopi Goldberg, Demi Moore, Treat Williams, Jeffrey Tambor, and Tim Curry) and popular directors (Robert Zemeckis, Walter Hill, and Richard Donner to name a few, all of which were also producers of the program). The episodes are packed with gore, sex, and over-the-top comic book violence. A major recurring theme in these stories is that many of the lead characters are evil or despicable and get their "just desserts", usually in a nasty and ironic way, which usually culminates in them being brutally killed off. The terrible jokes told by the Crypt-Keeper serve to ease the viewers before and after the horrific stories are told, just like in the 50's comics the series is inspired by. A fun and darkly humorous show,  it's a great show to watch around Halloween, it's the television equivalent of a fun popcorn horror film.

9. It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia and South Park (tie): I couldn't decide which series to include, but I enjoy them both a lot, so I included them both. The first series from FX chronicles the many misadventures of "The Gang" a small group of dysfunctional and narcissistic friends who can be described as unlikeable, arrogant, idiotic, and mean, but I love watching them hatch stupid schemes and continuously get themselves and others into trouble through their general incompetence and selfishness. The second series needs no introduction: Trey Parker and Matt Stone's genius animated comedy series is now concluding it's 17th season. And there's more where that came from. Their crude, offensive, dark, and satirical series is not only gross and unapologetic, it's also genius satire and lampoons everything about today's culture, from movies, to celebrities, to world politics, to video games, to the way people act in their day-to-day lives, this series is much smarter than it seems, and it takes a certain kind of comedic genius to pull that off.

8. The Walking Dead and American Horror Story (tie): Another tie, this time of horror-related series. I believe I covered these already in my top 10 horror series, so I'll try to not go over them too much again. The first, from AMC, is based on Robert Kirkman's cult comic book series, and follows a group of survivors during a zombie apocalypse in Georgia. Not only is the series unpredictable (it changes many events and characters from the comics), but it is also gory, action-packed, and gut-wrenching in it's brutal depiction of survival at any cost. The second series, from FX, is an anthology series, where each season follows a new cast of characters and a new storyline, usually reusing some of the same actors from previous seasons. Despite only having 2 and a half seasons as of this point, Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk's dark and twisted vision explores not only supernatural horrors such as witchcraft, ghosts, demons, and zombies, but also real-life horrors such as mental illness, serial killers, and shattered marriages. Both are entertaining and crazy, and are great for fans of horror or fans of great television.

7. Sherlock: In this unique BBC series, Benedict Cumberbatch and Martin Freeman portray modern day versions of Sherlock Holmes and John Watson, respectively, who must solve mysteries in London, all while trying to unravel the mystery of who is "Moriarty", and what does he want with them? This series is not only a fantastic watch because you try to solve the mysteries along with the characters, but it's unique because each season only has 3 episodes, but each episode is also an hour and a half long, so each one is like a short movie. The acting and writing are extremely good, and I'm convinced Freeman and Cumberbatch are one of the best TV duos out there today, and are together one of the best portrayals of Holmes and Watson in the visual medium.

6. Nip/Tuck: Ryan Murphy's medical drama has everything: despicable villains (including a terrifying serial rapist/killer), crazy patients, troubled and conflicted characters, dark drama, some humor, and some surprisingly medically accurate depictions of plastic surgery. Despite the last three seasons slowly decreasing in quality, the entire series is really entertaining, and it really toys with your emotions: one episode you may hate a character the next sympathize with them, the next episode you're back to hating them. The first three seasons are definitely the best, and the series has some great moments. The sad thing: none of the main cast really went anywhere after this, and that's a shame, because they're all good actors.

5. Dexter: In this Showtime series, mild-mannered Dexter Morgan works within the Miami "Metro" Police Department. Dex is a blood-splatter analyst for the forensic unit, but what many of his colleagues don't know is that Mr. Morgan also moonlights as a serial killer who hunts other criminals. This darkly comic and gruesome show may have made some major faults between seasons 5 and 8, but the first four are excellent examples of great television, and won't fail to entertain and enthrall you. Michael C. Hall is excellent as the charming but disturbed main character and Jennifer Carpenter is good as his adopted sister Deborah, although her character can be a bit irritating at times.

4. Star Trek: This classic Gene Roddenberry series is not only an example of how great a show can be on a shoestring budget, but is also one of the most beloved and influential television shows of all time. I love it because of the fantastic characters and surprisingly good acting, the interesting alien designs, and the well-written storylines. The show's special effects are definitely dated, and some of the acting seems a bit cheesy now, but overall, this series is still thoroughly enjoyable even today.

3. Game of Thrones: Betrayal, war, politics, and secrecy are the name of the game in D.B. Weiss and David Benioff's acclaimed and highly addictive HBO series, based off the bestselling fantasy series by George R.R. Martin. This series not only has a fantastic all-star cast, excellent special effects, ingenius writing, and an epic musical score, but is also one of the best shows on television. While the plot can get confusing at times, as there are so many characters and storylines to keep track of, it is one of the most intriguing tales of deception and betrayal ever put to the small screen. If politics and rich history isn't your cup of tea, there's enough bloody battles, brutal fights, graphic nudity, and cool and mysterious creatures to keep your interest. It's also one of the most ballsy show on cable, as, just like the novels it's based on, it has the guts to kill not only popular characters, but countless innocents (including children and infants) in gruesome and/or disturbing ways. A  medieval fantasy story of epic proportions, Game of Thrones is one of the best HBO shows of all time, and, not only that, one of the best series ever put on television. It's the television equivalent of Tolkien's Middle-Earth.

2. The Twilight Zone: Rod Serling's classic anthology series is not only one of the most influential television series of all time, but is one of the greatest of all time, in any genre. In fact, the series tackles everything from straightforward horror, to science fiction, fantasy, drama, and some comedy, too. Another series where each episode had an all-star cast, the program is one of the eeriest shows ever put to the small screen, and was way ahead of it's time. Serling also was one of the first writers in Hollywood to really tackle issues of racism and anti-war activism in a realistic and compassionate way, something he had to fight tooth-and-nail with the producers and sponsors to do.  A scary, sometimes touching show, The Twilight Zone is a timeless classic of television, as well as a classic of sci-fi and horror fiction.

I had to draw the line at some point, here are my honorable mentions:
The Wire, Battlestar Galactica (both versions), Batman Beyond, Luther, Todd McFarlane's Spawn, Courage the Cowardly Dog, Invader Zim, Dragonball Z, One Piece, Cowboy Bebop, The Sopranos, Hemlock Grove, Modern Family, Arrested Development, Boardwalk Empire, True Blood, Eastbound and Down, The Big Bang Theory, The Outer Limits, Reaper, Dead Like Me, Star Trek: The Next Generation, The Shield, Rescue Me, How I Met Your Mother, Hawaii Five-O (both versions), House of Cards, Air Wolf, The A-Team, The Green Hornet, Batman (1966), X-Men, Orange is the New Black, Lilyhammer, All in the Family, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Seinfeld, Knight Rider, Lost in Space, Northern Exposure, Saturday Night Live, Family Guy, Beavis and Butthead, King of the Hill, Futurama, American Dad, In Living Color, Carnivale, The League, The Following, CSI, Law & Order, Friends, Monty Python's Flying Circus, Masters of Horror, Freaks and Geeks, Top Gear, Fawlty Towers, Archer, Suits, Burn Notice, The Daily Show, Psych, Monk, Murder She Wrote, Lost in Space, The Colbert Report, Lost, 24, Queer as Folk, Misfits, Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Skins, Girls, Oz, Rawhide, The Rifleman, Chappelle's Show, Black-Adder, Kids in the Hall, Whitest Kids U Know, Spaced, Mystery Science Theater 3000, Community, Chuck, The IT Crowd, Twin Peaks, Rome, Deadwood, Six Feet Under, Downton Abbey, I Love Lucy, The X-Files, Supernatural, Sons of Anarchy, Justified, Alfred Hitchcock Presents, The Bridge, Low Winter Sun, Spartacus, Avatar: The Last Airbender, Dark Shadows.

Here it is... the #1 pick

1. Breaking Bad: Is it really a surprise? Although I had to power through the first season and a half, and though for a little while "When is this gonna pick up? How can people like this boring piece of shit?" But then, as soon as I hit the finale of season two, it really picked up and has become my all-time favorite television program. This addictively good and extremely well-written and tense crime drama follows the rise and fall and transformation of Walter White from kindly and awkward high school chemistry teacher and family man into the cold-hearted and ruthless drug kingpin we know and love. It shows how the choices he makes affect his life and the lives of those around him, and it's not only a thrilling story, but ultimately a very tragic one, as his life and the lives of those he cares about gradually fall to pieces around them due to his actions. The tension between characters builds and builds towards the grand finale in the fifth and final season, and the final three episodes are some of the most suspenseful and intense ever put to television. Vince Gilligan's creation isn't just brilliant, it's a modern masterpiece of crime fiction. The greatest crime drama on television since The Wire.

What do you the readers, think of the list, and what series do you love the most?

 (Images: Wikipedia)

Top 20 Television Shows, Part One: My personal favories

Since many great television shows have ended this year (or are ending next year) (Breaking Bad, Dexter, Treme, The Mentalist, True Blood, How I Met Your Mother, Wilfred, Californiacation, and Eastbound and Down to name a few) and more are beginning next year (Game of Thrones, Sherlock, True Detective, and more), I figured I'd share my top 20 favorite television series. Now, some of these I don't necessarily consider the best ever (although some I do), these are my personal favorites.

Criteria:
Must be a television series, not a miniseries or television movie (although I could make a list of those sometime in the future)
Does not have to be a show that has run it's course, can be a still ongoing series
All networks are fair game, whether they're standard (Fox, NBC, CBS, FX, BBC, Comedy Central, TBS) or premium (HBO, Showtime, Cinemax, Encore, Starz).

Let's begin

20. Samurai Jack: This short-lived cult animated series from Genndy Tartokovsky (Dexter's Laboratory, Powerpuff Girls, Hotel Transylvania) and Cartoon Network only ran four seasons, but it deserved to run much longer. Despite having a set ending for it's epic storyline, it was cancelled due to slipping ratings. One of my childhood favorites, it has a vast range of interesting cultural influences, from old television shows to traditional Japanese art forms, to classic cinema. It had a lot of talent behind it, not only from an animation standpoint, but it had a strong cast, featuring beloved actor Mako Iwamatsu and Phil LaMarr (a voice actor also known for his live-action role as Marvin in Pulp Fiction). The animation, action sequences, story, and voice acting make Samurai Jack one of the most underrated animated series of all time.

19. Louie: This quirky FX comedy about a fictionalized version of real-life comedian and writer Louis C.K. is not only well-written, but extremely unique in how its' episodes truly have no plot, a stream-of-consciousness comedy series with a great stand-up comic to hold it all together. Not to mention the plethora of guest stars in great roles.

18. Doctor Who: In this popular BBC sci-fi series, several actors fill the role of the eccentric hero The Doctor, a 900-year-old, basically immortal alien known as a "Time Lord", one who can travel through time and space. The Doctor, along with an endless stream of companions, uses his ship the TARDIS (which, from the outside, looks like a typical police call box) to travel through time and save the world time and time again from dangerous and sometimes frightening foes, such as the Daleks and their leader Davros, The Silence, The Master, The Great Intelligence, The Weeping Angels, and The Cyber-Men. Despite sometimes having contrived and confusing plots, DW is an entertaining, thrilling, quirky, and sometimes scary program that continues to surprise viewers with how much it can do with its' very small budget.

17. Firefly: In Joss Whedon's western sci-fi series, Captain Mal Reynolds leads his rag-tag crew across the galaxy in their starship Serenity (a "Firefly-class" spacecraft), fighting off criminals, "Reavers" (psychotic cannibals and rapists who wear the skin of those they kill), and men with blue hands who apparently work for an evil corporation. Although it only lasted one season (14 episodes) the show has reached cult status and spawned a 2005 theatrical film entitled Serenity, which functions as a conclusion to the show and features more of the Reavers than the actual show did.

16. The Office: Both the UK and US versions of this hit series are hilarious, but I prefer the US version for only one reason: Steve Carrel. Steve Carrel is one of the few comedians out there who can really perfect the idiot character. From Brick Tamland in Anchorman to Michael Scott in this series, he really nails these types of characters. Following the dysfunctional office environment in a branch of the Dunder-Mifflin Paper Company, this series (along with the original UK version) is unique because it was one of the first sitcoms to be shot in a mockumentary style. An interesting factoid is that the series features absolutely no music except for the opening title sequence. A subtly funny and sometimes bittersweet show, there's a reason this show lasted nine seasons: it's comic genius.

15. Law & Order: SVU: In Dick Wolf's spin-off of his original series Law & Order, we follow the detectives working in NYPD's Special Victims Unit, and the many disturbing and gruesome cases they must deal with. Probably the darkest of the L&W series, it also has the best writing and cast, including Christopher Meloni, Mariska Hargitay, Richard Belzer, Ice-T, B.D. Wong, Tamara Tunie, and Dann Florek. It also has a huge assortment of guest stars filling very interesting roles, some cast against type, which is a good thing.

14. House, M.D.: In Fox's popular medical drama, Dr. Gregory House (Hughe Laurie), a hard-to-work-with drug addict, medical genius, and all-around-asshole, must lead a crack team of skilled doctors and deal with the toughest cases their New Jersey hospital receives. House is a character who is extremely unrelatable, but is awesome to watch work, and is one of the best-written leads in TV history. Despite the series (like many others) going downhill towards its' final seasons, it's still one of the most entertaining medical dramas on television.

13. Mad Men: In Matthew Weiner's dark and expertly crafted drama series, we get to explore the troubled lives and psyches of 1960's ad men and their employees. We also get to focus on the especially troubled Don Draper, a creative director at his ad firm with a mysterious past, and witness his life and the lives of those around him slowly begin to crumble. A cleverly written, perfectly cast, and historically accurate period piece, I definitely would recommend giving this drama a chance. You won't be disappointed.

12. Batman, The Animated Series: In Warner Bros.' award-winning animated series, Batman and his allies defend Gotham City from common criminals, super-villains, and mobsters alike. Despite being primarily for children, this series could tackle issues such as organized crime, drugs, and murder as well as any of the adult dramas of the time, and had a fantastic visual style, mixing gothic with art deco. The episodes were sometimes dark and grim, or colorful and cartoonish, but they were always able to entertain (although I prefer the darker episodes, as they showcase how far this show could go for an animated series). The cast, featuring talented voice actors such as Mark Hamill, Kevin Conroy, Arleen Sorkin, and John Glover, all do fantastic jobs capturing the character's emotions, and Conroy and Hamill have become the iconic voices of Batman and The Joker, respectively.

11. Wilfred and The Simpsons (tie): Although these series couldn't be more different, I couldn't decide which one to put in this spot, so I put both. The first series, from FX, follows Elijah Wood as Ryan, an awkward and troubled young man contemplating suicide. After a sweet girl moves in next door, he begins seeing her dog Wilfred as a man in a dog suit (Jason Gann). Mixing dark comedy with philosophy and psychology, Wilfred is a unique and strange comedy-drama that is definitely worth a watch. On the other hand, The Simpsons is cartoonist Matt Groening's creation, and is one of the most influential and long-running television shows of all time. A classic series which follows the misadventures of the dysfunctional Simpson family of Springfield, everything, from the opening title sequence and theme music, to the couch gags and the huge cast of characters, almost everything in this series is a staple of pop culture and can be recognized by everyone and their mother. Despite the show's recent decline in quality (what do you expect after over 20 years?), this program is funny, timeless, and sometimes heartwarming.

To be continued....

  (Images: Wikipedia)

Top 25 Holiday Movies and Specials (Holiday reviews, sorry this is a bit late)

Now that Christmas is over, I've had a chance to look over some classic holiday films, so I've decided to compile a list of the best.

Criteria:
Set during Christmas, or has something to do with the spirit of the holiday
Can be anything from movies, to TV specials, to TV episodes
That about covers it.

25. Black Christmas (also known as Silent Night, Evil Night): This 1974 film comes from director Bob Clark (who would go on to direct A Christmas Story) stars Margot Kidder, Olivia Hussey, and John Saxon and is often cited as the very first example of a "true" slasher film. In fact, some say that John Carpenter was inspired to make Halloween by this film, seeing how many things in that film are similar to this one. An innovative, creepy, mysterious, and surreal horror film, it is definitely worth a watch.

24. Silent Night, Deadly Night: Yup, another cult classic horror film, this time it was released during the huge slasher movie boom of the 1980's, particularly during the holiday-themed slasher boom, which took place between 1984-1987. Following a little boy who, after witnessing his parents' murder at the hands of a killer dressed as Santa, grows up to be a Santa Claus killer himself. Despite causing a lot of controversy when it was released in 1984 (so much so it was banned in certain theaters, something I think is extremely stupid and unjustified), the film has managed to gather a rather large cult following. It's trashy, stupid, horror movie fun for the holidays.

23. White Christmas: This slightly overlong musical, which is a loose remake of Holiday Inn, stars Bing Crosby and Danny Kaye, and was directed by Michael Curtiz (director of countless classic films). It follows two guys from WWII who form a song-and-dance duo which becomes pretty successful. They decide to team up with two sisters, who have their own musical act, to try and raise some cash to save a struggling Vermont inn owned by their former commanding officer. A hit with audiences, this classic film is worth watching around Christmastime. However, if you aren't in the mood for a musical, a two-and-a-half-hour one at that, save it for another day.

22. The Muppet Christmas Carol: This surprisingly well-done movie stars Michael Caine, and well, the Muppets in a retelling of the Charles Dickens novel. Caine does a fantastic job portraying the miserable and decrepit Scrooge. Despite a few lackluster musical numbers, the film holds up pretty well now and it's definitely worth a look if you have kids.

21. Batman Returns: In this dark, twisted, and disturbing comic book movie, Tim Burton cranks the what-the-fuck-o-meter to eleven when Warner Bros. gave him full artistic control over this movie when 1989's Batman became a groundbreaking hit (it was the highest-grossing film in North America alone, although Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade was the highest-grossing worldwide). Burton was kicked off the franchise after this film, so you can guess how well this one went over with audiences. However, if you can get past the extremely dark and morbid tone, it's a very enjoyable Batman movie, with lots of action, great performances, and an ironic Christmas setting.

20. Home Alone: This extremely successful collaboration between writer/director John Hughes (The Breakfast Club, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles) and director Christopher Columbus (Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone, Rent, Adventures in Babysitting, Mrs. Doubtfire) not only kick-started Macaulay Culkin's child acting career, but also (unfortunately) deterred writer Hughes away from coming-of-age "dramadies" (the genre he is most known for writing in) and caused him to start writing cheap, stupid slapstick comedies featuring up-and-coming child stars. However, this film is not cheap, nor stupid, despite some over-the-top slapstick (which was the main draw for the child audience). Home Alone is in fact an uplifting, smart, and somewhat funny movie that I would definitely give another watch around the holidays, especially if you have young kids.

19. Kiss Kiss Bang Bang: In writer Shane Black's directorial debut, based on a novel by Brett Halliday, a thief posing as an actor, a real actress, and a private detective are all entangled in a murder mystery. It's a funny and well-written crime film, although it really doesn't have much to do with the holiday season besides the fact that it's set during it. Although you should watch it anyway, because it's a great movie all-around. Shane Black really knows how to write a good action screenplay, and this is one of his best.

18. Scrooged: Bill Murray stars in this darkly comic, modern-day retelling of A Christmas Carol. Frank Cross is a selfish and mean-spirited TV executive who doesn't care about anything in the world except for money and himself. Cross is visited on Christmas Eve by the spirits of not only his former boss, but of Christmas Past, Present, and Future. Murray leads an all-star cast, which includes all three of Murray's brothers, and does a great job capturing Cross' cynicism, sarcasm, and greed to a tee. The writers did a great job modernizing and poking fun at Dickens' work, as well as paying homage to it. Scrooged is not only a great dark comedy, but a great Christmas film as well.

17. Bad Santa: Billy Bob Thorton, Bernie Mac, and Lauren Graham star in this hilarious and somewhat touching movie about a drunken bum who plays Santa Claus at malls during the holidays, who must deal with a horny bartender, a corrupt mall security chief, an oversensitive mall manager, and an extremely naïve young boy, with whom he forms a strange bond. I would definitely recommend this one if you want something extremely funny to watch for Christmas.

16. "Night of the Meek" from The Twilight Zone / "And All Through the House" from Tales from the Crypt (tie): These two Christmas episodes were both featured on popular horror anthology shows. The first, from Rod Serling's iconic sci-fi/horror series, is actually a touching and uplifting episode about a miserable, lonely, drunken mall Santa who finds out that his life's purpose is to give gifts to those in need every Christmas, to become Santa Claus. The second, from the graphic and over-the-top HBO show, is a darker and more horroresque tale about a woman who kills her cruel husband for his money, only to be stalked by a psychotic serial killer dressed in a Santa suit. Both are great for the holidays: "Night of the Meek" is better if you're in the mood for something more uplifting and cheery for Christmas (which is funny, as The Twilight Zone is usually considered a generally eerie show), whereas "And All Through the House" is great if you want to watch something creepy for Christmas.

15. "A Very Sunny Christmas" from It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia / "Woodland Critter Christmas" from South Park (tie): Another tie, this time two comedy programs. The first focuses on "The Gang" celebrating Christmas in Philadelphia. But, in typical Sunny fashion, all their holiday plans are ruined, usually by their own ignorance and/or selfishness, from Dennis and Dee's plans to teach their greedy and cruel stepfather Frank a lesson using a Christmas Carol-style set up, to Mac and Charlie's plans to "get in the Christmas spirit", everything that could go wrong with these plans, does go wrong: Charlie finds out his mom might be a prostitute, then mauls a mall Santa; Dennis and Dee have trouble getting Frank to see the error of his ways; and Mac discovers something fucked-up about his childhood Christmas traditions. It's also, as far as I know, the only episode that's 40 minutes long, and it's one of the best. The second special focuses on Stan visiting the forest near the town of South Park, only to discover a group of overly cheery and sweet talking animals, who claim one of their own, a porcupine, is pregnant with the child of God: a second virgin birth. Told by a narrator, this dark and hilarious Christmas episode has some insanely funny moments, and shows how morbid South Park can go in terms of humor. The two major twists in this episode are two of the best moments in the season, and you definitely don't see them coming, especially the revelation of who the narrator is. Definitely check these two awesome TV episodes out if you're feeling like some great dark humor for the holidays.

14. The Polar Express: In Robert Zemeckis' first motion-capture film, a young boy boards a mysterious train for a round trip to the North Pole on Christmas Eve. Based on Chris Van Allsburg's beloved children's book, Tom Hanks stars in this well-made and interesting film, which presents the theme of believing in an intriguing manner, where the belief in Santa Claus is shown as this strange challenge of faith. Although that motif ends up making less sense the more you think about it, it is a nice concept. Although some of the mo-cap looks a bit dated (the film is almost 10 years old) and there are a few forced and very irritating musical numbers (which are mercifully short), the film still holds up pretty well, and it does a good job expanding on Allsburg's work and fleshing such a short book out into a feature film.

13. Gremlins: In this fun horror-comedy from Joe Dante and Steven Spielberg,  a boy (played by Zach Galligan) discovers a little furry creature called a mogwai, which he dubs "Gizmo" (voiced by Howie Mandel). After accidentally pouring water on it, Galligan sees it spawns several more identical creatures, including one dubbed "Stripes" (voiced by Frank Welker) who appears to be their aggressive leader. When the creatures eat after midnight, they become big, grotesque, and viscous creatures called gremlins, which begin tearing apart the town. Now Galligan, his girlfriend (played by Phoebe Cates), and Gizmo must save the town from Stripes and his small army of seemingly unstoppable little monsters. Despite some dark moments (including a very unsettling scene where Cates explains the true reason she hates Christmas and how she found out there wasn't a Santa, which literally comes out of nowhere), this movie is a fun, light-hearted monster movie perfect for watching around this time of year due to it's Christmastime setting.

12. A Christmas Carol (1984, 1951, and 2009 versions): All three of these films are very enjoyable in their own ways. George C. Scott, Alastair Sim, and Jim Carrey all do a great job portraying Ebenezer Scrooge in their own unique way, and although the 2009 film has the best production value, don't skip the 1984 or 1951 versions, either, or you'll miss some great performances.

11. Elf: This beloved Will Ferrell comedy celebrates its' tenth anniversary this year, and it definitely still holds up. Even though its' gotten a bit stale over the years, as I've seen it so many times, I still think its' an enjoyable and funny holiday film that follows a naïve and eccentric human (Ferrell) who travels to New York City to meet his biological father (played by James Caan) after being raised as an elf at the North Pole. It's an uplifting underdog story, and this is the film that rally exploits Ferrell's capacity for capturing child-like naïvet`e as well as his talent for playing strange, over-the-top, and idiotic characters.

10. Joyeux Noel: In this very sentimental and somewhat sad war film set during World War I, French, German, and Scottish troops are at each other's throats in the trenches and battlefields, however, during Christmas Eve, they call a short truce, and spend the night and following day talking, sharing family photos and stories, and playing football. However, when the truce ends, the soldiers must face the consequences from the superior officers. Not only that, but, even more horribly, must now fight and kill the men they've grown to care about from the opposing sides. A moving and beautiful movie about man's capacity for kindness as well as his capacity for violence, this is definitely something you should watch for Christmas.

9. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation: Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo star in the third Vacation movie, written by John Hughes, who adapted it from his own short story ("Christmas '59") from National Lampoon magazine. The Griswald Family, led by obnoxious family man Clark, are preparing for a big family reunion at their home during Christmas. As usual, Murphy's Law takes effect and everything goes wrong for the family, as well as for their neighbors. Definitely one of the better entries in the series, this film is beloved as not only a classic Christmas movie but also a landmark comedy film, and one of Chevy Chase's career highlights.

8. A Charlie Brown Christmas / How the Grinch Stole Christmas (tie): Both these shorts are beloved animated television specials from the sixties, but that's not the only thing they have in common: they also both have anti-commercialism messages, something that still rings true today. They are well-written and still can be enjoyed today. Boris Karloff does an excellent job narrating over The Grinch, as well as providing the voice of the titular character. Charles M. Schultz did a good job writing the Charlie Brown special, and both specials show that Christmas is more about being good to your fellow human beings and appreciating all that life has to offer rather than just focusing on all the commercial aspects that the holiday is over-saturated with.

7. Lethal Weapon: This buddy cop film from Joel Silver, Shane Black, and Richard Donner stars Mel Gibson and Danny Glover as a pair of mismatched L.A. detectives attempting to solve the strange case of a woman's suicide that may actually be a homicide linked to the drug trade and organized crime. This fun, sometimes dark, and action-packed thrill ride is still awesome today, and Glover and Gibson make a great team, and have some fantastic on-screen chemistry.

6. The Snowman: This unique and somewhat tragic Oscar-nominated Christmas short film focuses on a young boy who spends the night playing with a living snowman which came to life in his yard. The special is pretty well-done, but it's the depressing ending that makes this one really memorable.

5. Miracle on 34th Street: Set in the 1940's, this 66-year-old classic focuses on a department store Santa who claims to actually be Santa Claus, who is then institutionalized for mental instability. However, he may not be as delusional as many think he is. This uplifting and well-acted holiday film has become a staple of the holiday season, and I would definitely recommend it to those looking for something more classic for Christmas.

4. Tim Burton's The Nightmare Before Christmas: Although not directed by Burton, it definitely has his name written all over it, probably because he not only co-wrote it, but also produced it, and it's based off his original poem/short story he wrote in high school. The animation is astounding, and it's more impressive considered the amount of time and work it takes to make a stop-motion film, and the musical numbers actually are really well done, and I don't usually like musicals. The entire movie is awesome, and I enjoy watching it not only around Christmas, but Halloween as well.

3. Die Hard: This adrenaline-fueled, innovative, and well-written action film not only inspired countless imitators, but was a huge success with audiences and critics, and is widely considered one of the best action movies ever made, as well as one of the best in the "lone wolf" sub-genre. It's great to watch around the holidays because, well, it's set at Christmas. It really has nothing to do with the spirit of the holidays or human kindness, it's just a fucking awesome movie. It also features Bruce Willis in one of his best movie performances as John McClane, one of the most bad-ass movie heroes in history.

2. A Christmas Story: In Bob Clark's beloved comedy, a young boy in 1940's Indiana wants nothing more than a Red Ryder BB gun for Christmas. Unfortunately, obstacle after obstacle gets in his way, and he must do whatever it takes to get it, all while avoiding his doting mother, vulgar father, school bullies, and dealing with a sarcastic and uncaring mall Santa. This movie still holds up, even if some of the jokes are a bit dated and have gotten old over the years, and it's definitely worth a watch.

1. It's a Wonderful Life: Was there ever any doubt? This classic film about a down-on-his-luck family man realizing how positively he's affected others in his life is a truly uplifting and inspiring story about reevaluating your life and realizing all it has to offer. Jimmy Stewart is fantastic as the very likeable George Bailey, and Lionel Barrymore does a great job as the despicable old miser Henry Potter, the main antagonist. Although a lot of the dialogue is very dated, the acting and overall story are fantastic, and make for a great watch no matter what time of year it is.

Runner-ups: Merry Christmas, Mr. Bean; Blackadder's Christmas Carol; "Time of the Doctor" from Doctor Who; The Little Match Girl; The Small One; Holiday Inn; The Nativity Story; "The Draft Dodger" from All in the Family: A Garfield Christmas Special; The Little Drummer Boy; Child's Play.

 

(Images: Wikipedia, southpark.wikia.com, itsalwayssunny.wikia.com, staystillreviews.blogspot.com, twilightzoneproject.blogspot.com)

 

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Happy Holidays!