The holidays can be a stressful time for everyone, especially if you’re forced to spend time with relatives and engage in pointless small talk. Having to tell your Aunt Lucy for the 100th time that you do not have a boyfriend and, yes, you’re okay with it can get a bit tiresome. During the holiday season with my family, after the fifth or sixth Christmas cookie and 73rd glass of eggnog, I’m ready to to just relax and watch a nice Christmas flick. Sometimes all we want to do is just go hide in our rooms and be alone. But sometimes that’s not an option, and the closest we can get to some kind of sanity is sitting everyone down to watch a movie. No talking, no stress.

Everyone has their favorites, and I think I’ve collected some of the greats. Read More »

It’s that time of year again, when the weather is getting colder, and the semester is coming to an end, and there’s a reminder of the holiday season everywhere you turn. From Christmas carols to wrapping paper, to baked goods, the usual December suspects are all around us. But nothing truly says the holiday season quite like Christmas movie marathons. Like the rest of the world, I started the holiday season a little early this year, so I’ve been watching Christmas moves since before Thanksgiving. And I have to say after watching about six (or sixty) of them, I’m beginning to notice a few similarities.

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I can’t believe Christmas has already passed. Is this year flying by or what? New Year’s is less than a week away, which means it’s only two weeks until I’m breaking my resolutions.

So, are you happy that winter’s finally arrived, or have you added a “Days to Summer” countdown to your Myspace profile? To determine whether the glass of egg nog is half empty or half full, let’s weigh the pros and cons of winter!

Pro: We get a month off from trekking around campus just when the temperature hits below zero.

Con: The “spring” semester starts in January. Brr!

Pro: Whatever holiday you celebrate, you’re bound to get some free stuff over break.

Con: You’re bound to get some free stuff you don’t want for the holidays, especially from your Grandma, who means well, but hasn’t been in style since the Great Depression.

Pro: Homemade treats, including (but not limited to) pumpkin pie, fudge, Christmas cookies, popcorn balls, and anything with chocolate in it.

Con: The calories that come with those treats.

Pro: You can get away with layering baggy clothes after indulging in the above treats.

Con: Spring break (and bathing suit season) is still just around the corner. Read More »

Thanksgiving has passed, everything is on sale, and Christmas carols fill the air of every store you go into–yes, the holiday season is in full swing. The next few weeks will be filled with parties, goodies, family time, shopping and avoiding those frigid temps when you can. A great way to do this? Put on some cozy PJ’s, bust out the popcorn, hot cocoa, cider or egg nog, and watch some heartwarming holiday movies.

Nothing puts me into a more jolly mood than these holiday classics (in no particular order)…

1) It’s a Wonderful Life: You’d have to be a total Scrooge not to tear up at this movie about a suicidal man who is reminded of how beautiful his life is (played by the always amazing Jimmy Stewart). It will forever stand as one of the greatest Christmas movies of all time.

2) Home Alone: This movie made Macaulay Culkin the biggest child star on the planet and had audiences around the world roaring as he gave two burglars a Christmas butt whoopin’.

3) Miracle on 34th Street: This classic story about a man claiming to be Kris Kringle being put on trial for legal insanity will make anyone a believer in Old Saint Nick.

4) Love Actually: Not only does this British flick have a fantastic cast (Colin Firth, Keira Knightly, Liam Neeson and Emma Thompson), but it’s a truly lovey dovey romantic comedy that is guaranteed to make ya feel extra cozy.

5) A Christmas Story: This hilarious 80′s movie about a truly American Christmas has stemmed so many famous lines and scenes, people all over the world recognize them: “You’ll shoot your eye out!” (Get’s me every time!) You can even buy that (in)famous sexy leg lamp. Read More »

Every year around this time, our televisions are bombarded with Christmas movies. Movies that bring joy, movies cloaked in nostalgia, and movies you’d love to throw into the fire.

Got one you love? Got one that’s always pissed you off? Me too.

• Rudolph, the Red-Nosed Reindeer – (1964) – This claymation portrayal of Santa’s nonconformist reindeer chased me throughout my childhood, first scarring me with unexplained oddness, and later boring me into a deep, coma-type sleep.

As a child, the idea of claymation didn’t sit well with my young mind, and the googly eyes and erratic movement of the characters in this song filled fairy tale made me absurdly nervous…and when that freaky, furry, roaring yeti-thing came onscreen…let’s just say I found a blanket, and stayed under it, for hours.

• It’s A Wonderful Life – (1946) – Everyone’s always shocked when I describe my loathing of this film, but the really shocking thing is how many people can sit through this without falling asleep. I know its sacrilege to hate on the combination of Christmas miracles and James Stewart, but no matter how many times I force myself to attempt to sit through this entire film, I can’t ever make it to the end.

Maybe I’m a freak of nature. Maybe I have a hard, cynical heart. Whatever. It’s BORING. Read More »