What Is Your Favorite Christmas Movie?

Have you ever had a debate with your friends about your favorite Christmas movies? Is "Die Hard" a Christmas movie? We'll save that debate for another time!

Everyone has their own taste. That's being said, let's review a couple of "classics" that I left off of my list. Sorry, but "A Christmas Story" did not "make the cut" for me. (I realize this is blasphemy, for some people)... And, yes, the scene where the kid get his tongue stuck to the pole is classic, but other than that, it's just not one of my favorite "must watch" movies. Plus, I have not included any of the "The Santa Clause" series, starring Tim Allen, they're ok, but sort of "meh". Also, I've never really paid much attention to "It's a Wonderful Life" or "Miracle on 34th Street", just not my style, I guess. Maybe it's the generation gap. Speaking of which, I have to give a nod to one of my Mom's all time favorite's 1954's "White Christmas" starring Bing Crosby & Danny Kaye.

One of my family's favorite traditions is to bust out our tote of Christmas movies, claim a spot on the couch, grab a blanket, a snack, our favorite beverage and watch one of these classics!

Honorable mention: The Polar Express If you're a skeptic of Christmas, watch this surreal movie, as the conductor (a great performance by Tom Hanks) takes you back to that childhood view of Santa and finally, makes you a believer all over again.

10. A Christmas Carol I prefer the 1951 version with Alastair Sim as Scrooge, but I can watch George C. Scott's version from 1984 as well. A family tradition is to watch this one late at night on Christmas eve with all the lights turned off!

9. Home Alone I'm a sucker for any movie with pratfalls (and lots of 'em) so this one is great!

8. Scrooged I'm a HUGE Bill Murray fan. Again, lots of pratfalls in this one. Love it!

7. Dr. Seuss' How the Grinch Stole Christmas (1966) - The narration by Boris Karloff is stellar. And who doesn't love the Grinch's (cute) dog, Max?

6. Frosty the Snowman (1969) So, the little girl, Karen, is naive enough to jump on northbound train with a Snowman she just met, and she thinks her mother won't care, as long as she gets back by supper? Did you ever notice that all the kids are outside making a snowman in shorts? Plus, the magician's rabbit, Hocus Pocus, steals the show in this one.

5. Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer (1964) Rudolph is bullied for his red nose. Then, he helps defeat the Abominable Snowman, and comes back and saves Christmas. Hurray! My favorite part is when Santa comes to the "Island of Misfit Toys" and rescues the poor sap "Charlie in the Box".

4. Elf After watching it again this year, this movie actually moved up the list this year. Will Ferrell stars and doesn't disappoint in one of his better performances. One of my favorite lines from the movie, Buddy: "We elves try to stick to the four main food groups: candy, candy canes, candy corns, and syrup."

3. A Charlie Brown Christmas (1965) It starts out with Charlie checking his mailbox for Christmas cards and it's empty, "I know nobody likes me. Why do we have to have a holiday season to emphasize it?" - When they're rehearsing the play, the dance scenes are the best! Plus, when Schroeder is playing the piano for Lucy, and Snoopy starts dancing on top of the piano...I laugh out loud, every time!

2. How the Grinch Stole Christmas After being #1 on my list last year, this movie falls to #2. I caught a lot of "flack" last year because it was my #1 (over "Christmas Vacation") but being #2 doesn't lessen the brilliant special effects, great costumes and Jim Carrey's outstanding performance as the Grinch. Plus, they stayed pretty close to the original book and cartoon version from 1966, which I liked.

1. National Lampoon's Christmas Vacation Back in its rightful place this year at #1 is this classic that a lot of people consider their favorite. This might be the most quotable movie of all time. "We're gonna press on, and we're gonna have the hap, hap, happiest Christmas since Bing Crosby tap-danced with Danny (bleeping) Kaye."  Clark Griswold will always be my hero.

So, Merry Christmas to one and all...sit down tonight, watch your favorite movie, and enjoy the season, just watch out for those super cheesy ones on the Hallmark Channel!