Die Hard 2 (1990)

It might be a random choice to get you in the Christmas “spirit”, but Die Harder (as I believe it was subtitled) stands out against other action movies for it’s brilliant Christmas-time setting – what’s better than Bruce Willis in his wife-beater fighting baddies? Him doing it at Christmas in an airport, that’s what!

Stars: Bruce Willis, Dennis Franz, Bonnie Bedelia and a bunch of people I haven’t heard of since…

Fun Fact: The Russian title for “Die Hard” in all of the four movies is, “A Hard Nut to Crack”.

Favourite Quote: Maclane (Willis) “Oh man, I can’t fucking believe this. Another basement, another elevator. How can the same shit happen to the same guy twice?”

Bridget Jones’s Diary (2001)

Obviously this isn’t entirely a Christmas movie alone, since it’s set over the course of an entire year – but that obviously means it’s bookended with some great Christmas action. This is another movie that’ll probably see me being accused of having rubbish taste in films, but what the hell – I’m a big feel-good fan, and this (and the sequel) has that in spades.

Stars: Renee Zellweger, Hugh Grant, Colin Firth, Jim Broadbent, Sally Philips, Celia Imrie

Fun Fact: Both leading actors’ names, Colin Firth and Hugh Grant, are mentioned in the book. The first on “Tuesday 24 October” and the second on “Wednesday 16 August”.

Favourite Quote: Bridget (Zellweger) “You once said you liked me just as I am and I just wanted to say likewise. I mean there are stupid things your mum buys you, tonight’s another… classic. You’re haughty, and you always say the wrong thing in every situation and I seriously believe that you should rethink the length of your sideburns. But, you’re a nice man and I like you. If you wanted to pop by some time that might be nice… more than nice.”

When Harry Met Sally (1989)

Not only one of my favourite movies to watch in what the Americans call “the Holiday season”, this is also a great film to watch when you want your fill of New York landscapes. As somebody who got married in New York, I can never get enough of a bit of Empire State on celluloid, making up slightly for the fact that I don’t live there. The Christmas scenes in the film, and not to mention the wonderful New Year’s Eve set-piece, really get me in the mood for cold nights surrounded by loved-ones, not forgetting copious amounts of alcohol and food :)

Stars: Billy Crystal, Meg Ryan, Carrie Fisher

Fun Fact: The orgasm scene was filmed at Katz’s Deli, an actual restaurant on New York’s E. Houston Street. The table at which the scene was filmed now has a plaque on it that reads, “Congratulations! You’re sitting where Harry met Sally.”

Favourite Quote: Harry (Crystal) “I love that you get cold when it’s 71 degrees out. I love that it takes you an hour and a half to order a sandwich. I love that you get a little crinkle above your nose when you’re looking at me like I’m nuts. I love that after I spend the day with you, I can still smell your perfume on my clothes. And I love that you are the last person I want to talk to before I go to sleep at night. And it’s not because I’m lonely, and it’s not because it’s New Year’s Eve. I came here tonight because when you realize you want to spend the rest of your life with somebody, you want the rest of your life to start as soon as possible.”

Easily my favourite film to get me in to the Christmas spirit – which is odd, because it’s actually a movie set around American Thanksgiving. But since I’m not American, I call that a Christmas movie :) One of John Candy’s finest performances, and Steve Martin is his usual comedic best in this heart-warming and hilarious movie about a hapless businessman trying to get across the country to see his family for Thanksgiving.

Stars: Steve Martin and John Candy, basically.

Fun fact: No transportation company wanted to appear inept or deficient in any way, so crews had to rent twenty miles of train track and refurbish old railroad cars, construct a set that looked like an airline terminal, design a rent-a-car company logo and uniforms, and rent 250 cars for the infamous Rent-a-Car sequence!

Favourite quote: Del (Candy) “You know I had a feeling that when we parted ways. We would somehow wind up back together again. I’ve never seen a guy get picked up by his testicles before. Lucky thing for you that cop passed by when he did. Otherwise, you’d be lifting up your schnutz to tie you shoes. I’m sorry. That’s terrible. Do you have any idea how glad I am I didn’t kill you?”

It’s a Wonderful Life (1946)

One of the all-time classics, and a great movie to warm your cockles to in the run up to Christmas. Follow the story of George Bailey (the marvelous James Stewart) as he experiences one of the most compelling rollercoaster life-stories, leading up to an ill-fated Christmas Eve where he considers ending it all – before being told the story of how life would be different by a fallen angel named Clarence.

Stars: James Stewart, Donna Reed, Lionel Barrymore, Thomas Mitchell, Henry Travers, Beulah Bondi, Frank Faylen and Ward Bond

Fun fact: Two of Sesame Street’s Muppets, Bert and Ernie, share their names with the film’s cop and cab driver, respectively, but it’s believed to be just a coincidenc

Favourite quote: George (Stewart) “I’m shakin’ the dust of this crummy little town off my feet and I’m gonna see the world. Italy, Greece, the Parthenon, the Colosseum. Then, I’m comin’ back here to go to college and see what they know. And then I’m gonna build things. I’m gonna build airfields, I’m gonna build skyscrapers a hundred stories high, I’m gonna build bridges a mile long…”

Love Actually (2003)

I know it’s cheesy to have a Richard Curtis film on the list, and I’m sure some of my more movie-snobbish friends will tell me I’m a fool, but I love a bit of Love, Actually in the run-up to Christmas. From Alan Rickman and Emma Thompson’s breaking-down marriage to Martin Freeman and Joanna Page and their porn-stand-in first meeting, I don’t think there is a single character or story in this film that I don’t love. The soundtrack is brilliant too!

Stars: Loads, including Hugh Grant, Alan Rickman, Emma Thompson, Colin Firth, Martin Freeman, Joanna Page, Bill Nighy, Liam Neeson, Kris Marshall…

Fun fact:  When David arrives at No. 10 Downing Street, his tie changes 11 times between shots when meeting Natalie. Apparently, Hugh Grant had changed his tie after a post-lunch nap and no one noticed at first. They decided to “play with it” and went all out and changed the tie 11 times just for the heck of it.

Favourite quote: Jamie (Colin Firth) – in portugese “Beautiful Aurelia, I’ve come here with a view of asking you to marriage me. I know I seems an insane person – because I hardly knows you – but sometimes things are so transparency, they don’t need evidential proof. And I will inhabit here, or you can inhabit with me in England.”

The Snowman (1982)

Probably not technically classed as a “movie” (though I’m not sure what you’d call it if it’s not?) but this has got to be a main-stay on everybody’s Christmas viewing list. I think I could count on one hand the number of Christmases where I *haven’t* watched the Snowman, and with a son of my own now, it’s definitely staying on the festive line-up. The only tiny thing I’d say slightly spoils an otherwise brilliant viewing experience is the bizarre and frankly completely odd opening scene with David Bowie…! It was only added when the film was released by PBS in the states, and it really jars with the overall feel of it.

Stars: A snowman and a little boy.

Fun fact: The little boy’s name is James!

Favourite quote:  Aside from the aforementioned Bowie intro, not a single word is spoken in this wonderful film, so this is a bit null and void really!