Last Christmas, I was perusing a list of “The 100 Best Christmas Movies of All Time” on Rotten Tomatoes, the universal hub for movie reviews, and received quite a shock. The first few offerings were expected Christmas classics. Earning top billing was Meet Me in St Louis followed by The Shop Around the Corner and Miracle on 34th Street. (The list has since been updated, pushing that adorable little Natalie Wood down to 5th place.)
Still holding strong in 4th place, however, is an outrageous entry you probably haven’t heard of called Tangerine. Brace yourself. Here’s the description:
“After hearing that her boyfriend/pimp cheated on her while she was in jail, a transgender sex worker and her best friend set out to find him and teach him and his new lover a lesson.”
I was not familiar with the transgendered prostitute seeking revenge on her cheating pimp genre of Christmas films. Mind you, according to Rotten Tomatoes this is the 4th best Christmas film OF ALL TIME, resting comfortably six spots higher than It’s a Wonderful Life.
I probably speak for a lot of concerned Christians as well as ordinary movie buffs when I say, “What in the world? That ain’t right.”
You can find that episode (#51) of CPCW HERE. In it, I offer a top pick for kids, dads, moms, date night, and the whole family. Several of the offerings are very faith-forward. Here is a brief summary of my not-so-familiar Christmas movie selections for your holiday season.
KIDS’ PICK: Journey to the Christmas Star
Synopsis: This classic Norwegian fairy tale was released in 2012, so your kids will be exposed to some northern European culture in this film. Journey to the Christmas Star is, in a word, delightful. My oldest daughter said that it is “Cinderella meets Rapunzel.”
The central character is a young, orphaned girl named Sonja who goes in search of the Christmas Star, which has gone missing. If she can find it, she will free the kingdom from a curse. On her journey, Sonja not only finds the courage to persevere in the face of overwhelming adversity, she ultimately finds her greatest desire, which is family.
Pros/Cons & Concerns: It is hard to find a good Christmas movie for kids that they haven’t seen a hundred times. This film isn’t high budget, but it fits the bill for a relatively unknown kid’s Christmas offering. It is rated PG and is quite wholesome with a strong family theme. But, like most fairy tales, there is a witch. And she does cast some spells. That is something you expect in this genre.
This movie was filmed in the Norwegian language and has been dubbed over in English, so the words don’t match up completely. But for the most part, the dubbing is successful. The English voice-over actors are wonderful.
Recommendation: I give this film one thumb up. Children who are used to bigger budgets and movies filmed in English may struggle with some elements, but my kids really enjoyed it.
Cost & Availability: Currently $3.99 on Amazon Prime.
GUY’S PICK: Joyeux Noel
Synopsis: Joyeux Noel, which means “Merry Christmas” in French, is my enthusiastic pick for the guys and all of us girls who like a good war film. Joyeux Noel is truly a great film.
This movie tells the true story of an actual cease fire that took place during World War I on Christmas Eve. The Germans were slugging it out with the English and the French, all fighting in in the name of God, no less. But on the eve of Christ’s birth, a Brit pulls out some bagpipes and plays a Christmas carol. Suddenly, the Germans in their bunkers not far away begin singing the hymn in their own language.
And all goes silent on the battlefront.
Both sides agree to lay down their arms and celebrate the birth of our Lord. A British priest leads the English and French alongside the Germans, their enemies, in a Christmas Eve Mass.
This is a remarkable story. And it really happened.
After the cease-fire, which lasted through Christmas day, leaders on all sides were castigated by their superiors for laying down their arms and not killing people in the name of Christ. The British priest who led mass for the Germans was relieved of his duties.
The questions grappled with in this film are big and worthy of our attention.
Pros/Cons & Concerns: I would watch this film with my older kids (15 and up), but it is too mature for younger children. There is one intimate scene with no nudity. (I would skip this scene if children were present.) Of course, there are war scenes. They are not full on Saving Private Ryan in terms of intensity and gore, but there is tragedy and death. And lice. Not that lice is on par with tragedy and death, but it’s in there because it happened.
Joyeux Noel is filmed in French and contains subtitles, so viewers who don’t like to read while they watch may find that frustrating.
Recommendation: I give Joyeux Noel a whopping two thumbs up, and even though it is my GUY’S PICK, I recommend it for all the girls and older kids as well.
Cost & Availability: Currently $2.99 on Amazon Prime.
GIRL’S PICK: The Christmas Candle
Synopsis: The Christmas Candle is a British period piece perfect for any Jane Austen or Downtown Abbey fans. (I’m a card-carrying member of both those clubs.) Released in 2013, this film is based off of a novel by Max Lucado, the prolific Christian author.
The Christmas Candle takes place in a quaint English Village called Gladbury in 1890 when electricity is becoming more widely used and accepted. However, that modern invention has not made it to this community yet. Everyone still uses candles. A minister comes to town wanting to modernize and meets some fierce resistance from the villagers. There is a legend in the town—the legend of the Christmas candle—which says that every 25 years an angel touches one candle made at the local shop, and whoever lights that wick receives a miracle on Christmas Eve. Of course, the minister thinks that the legend is just an old wives’ tale while the town is filled with true believers.
This film addresses some powerful questions about the supernatural, miracles, and our faith. Questions like:
Does God still perform miracles today?
Can we play a part in those miracles?
How is our faith involved?
Those are important questions to talk about in our families.
Pros/Cons and Concerns: If I were critiquing the screenplay for my advanced screenwriting class back in grad school, I would ding it up a bit. It does try to do too much. But the performances are stellar. The script has a lot of high points and deals with relevant questions concerning life and our faith. The cinematography is top notch, and the story is very sweet. It is rated PG, so it is kid-friendly, and the mister might even like it too.
Recommendations: I give The Christmas Candle two very enthusiastic thumbs up. I feel like I found a hidden gem in this movie and can’t wait to watch it again!
Cost & Availability: Currently free with Amazon Prime.
DATE NIGHT PICK: The Family Man
Synopsis: Starring Nicolas Cage and Tea Leoni, The Family Man came out in 2000, so you may have seen it before, but it is worth a second look.
Cage plays a guy named Jack, a jet-setting business man who drives a Ferrari and makes an inordinate amount of money. He passed up an opportunity to marry his college sweetheart, played by Leoni, but Jack gets an opportunity to see the road not taken. After an odd encounter with an angel-like being just before Christmas, Jack wakes up married to Leonie. They have a couple of kids, he drives a mini-van, and he works at a used car lot owned by his father-in-law, Big Ed.
This new reality is a very rude awakening.
But you see the tough exterior of this guy melt as he realizes everything he’s accomplished in the corporate world pales in comparison to a simple life filled with simple things, a life filled with love and with family.
Pros/Cons and Concerns: There are many heartwarming moments in this movie, especially for parents. The plot has been done before, almost every year on Hallmark, actually, but it is done well here. The Family Man truly values the family and parenting, reinforcing the arduous work of moms and dads—a welcome message as precious little does that these days! And it has several laugh-out-loud moments.
This movie is definitely for the grown-ups, not the kiddos. It is rated PG13, so watch at your discretion. There is a racy scene or two, but The Family Man is a great date night Christmas film with you and the mister or misses after the kids go to bed.
Recommendation: I give this film two strong thumbs up. It won’t change your life, but it will reinforce what is most valuable in life. And it will make you laugh.
Cost & Availability Currently $2.89 on Amazon. It’s a cheap date!
FAMILY PICK: The Nativity Story
The Nativity Story is my overall top pick for Christmas every year. Starring Oscar Isaac as Joseph and Keisha Castle Hughes as Mary, this 2007 film covers the familiar territory leading up to Christ’s birth in a powerful way.
For example, The Nativity Story accurately portrays the plight of Mary being pregnant before she was fully wed to Joseph. The subject matter is addressed delicately so little ears won’t even grasp that point, but older kids will understand how brave Mary was when she agreed to carry the Messiah.
And Joseph’s shock, heartache, and disappointment are palpable when Mary returns from visiting Elizabeth and is clearly with child. You really feel for the guy.
There is a bit of dramatic license as we see Mary and Joseph bond on the treacherous journey to Bethlehem, but everything is in line with the Biblical narrative.
Pros/Cons and Concerns: The Nativity Story fleshes out the events leading up to the birth of Christ is exquisite detail. The acting is top notch. The musical score perfectly complements the storyline, and the script is appropriately poignant and hilarious at all the right moments.
The storyline does, however, depart from the Biblical narrative (as do the figures in our nativity decorations) when it comes to the wise men. According to Scripture, the wise men were not present at Christ’s birth, and they are in this movie. This inaccurate detail prompted a follow-up conversation with my kids to set the record straight.
One area of caution: there is a scene in the beginning that will be scary for young viewers. In it, Herod sends soldiers to kill the young Hebrew boys. Nothing graphic is shown, but the music and intimidating soldiers are frightening for young children. You can skip this scene without missing a major plot point. Otherwise, the movie is appropriate for all ages.
Recommendation: I give The Nativity Story two huge thumbs up. My family watches this movie every year during the Christmas season. I would go so far as to say that this movie is anointed. I’ve seen it a dozen times, and it always blesses me. It is my favorite Christmas movie of all time.
Cost & Availability: Currently $2.99 on Amazon Prime.
To hear an in-depth review of each Christmas pick, tune into Episode 51 of CHRISTIAN PARENT/CRAZY WORLD. Check out other episodes of CPCW to build a rock-solid faith foundation for you and your kids.
Want More From Catherine? Listen to her recent podcast episode: "What Huge Lie Does Culture Teach Our Kids at Christmas?" Just click the play button below:
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