Kuhn,McCue,Moore,Porter1

MaddyKuhn
MattMcCue
ShannonMoore
JakePorter
Mrs.Stanford
ENG124
16December2015
TheReasonForTheSeason
Christmasisaspecialtimeofyearthateverybodylooksforwardto.Everyoneisbusy
enjoyingthewonderfultraditionsthatChristmasbrings,fromwrappingextravagantgifts,to
pickingoutthatperfecttreetosetinfrontofthefamilyroomwindowforalltosee.People
everywherearerushingaround,tryingtomakesurethattheirfamily'sChristmasisascloseto
perfectaspossible.However,moreandmorepeoplearepayingattentiontowhogetswhothe
bestgifts,andwhichhouseontheblockhasthebestlightsratherthanwhat'simportantthetrue
meaningofChristmas.Throughoutthisfilmfest,thetruemeaningofChristmaswillberevealed,
allowingonesmindtouncoverthetruthbehindChristmascheer.Eachmovieshownportraysa
differenttakeonthetruemeaningofChristmas,butyetallrelatebacktothis,nomatterwhat
strugglesoccur,nomatterwhatgoeswrong,andnomatterwhatpeoplesay,thetruemeaningof
Christmascannevertrulybedefined,foritmeanssomethingdifferenttoeachandeveryoneof
us
.
Elf
isaspecialChristmasmoviethatgivesviewersanicewarmfeeling,whilealso
givingthemamuchneededlaugh.Ithasastarstuddedcastthatissuretowarmtheheartsofany

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ofitsmanyviewers.ThecastincludesthecomedicgeniusWillFerrellwhoplaysBuddytheElf,
achildwhofoundhiswaytotheNorthPoleasayoungboy.HewasraisedbyBobNewhart,in
themovieknownasPapaElf,buthisrealfather,WalterHobbsisportrayedbyJamesCaan.
WhenBuddygrowsup,hesoonfindsoutheisnotanElfandgoestothebigcitytofindhisreal
dad.BuddyfindsthegirlofhisdreamswhileinNewYork,Jovie(ZooeyDeschanel),whohelps
himspreadChristmascheerwhenSanta(EdAsner)needshelpthemost.Buddythenbecomes
apartofthefamily,withWalterswifeEmily(MarySteenburg),andhisson,Micheal(Daniel
Tay).TheChristmascomedyisdirectedbyJonFavreau,distributedbytheNewLineCinemait
wasreleasedonNovemberseventh,2003.Thefilmisashortflickwitharuntimearoundan
hourandthirtysevenminutes.Ithashadmanygreatreviews,includingonebyMichael
RechtshaffenofTheHollywoodReportersaying,Whilethewordsinstantholidayclassic
mightbepushingit,
Elf
isatleastabreezilyentertaining,perfectlycastfamilytreat
(Rechtshaffen2003).ThisMoviewaschosenbecauseithelpstobringoutoneofthetrue
meaningsofChristmas,BuddytheElfwantingtofindhisdadandbewithhisrealfamily.Also
spreadingChristmascheerwhenSantaneedshelp,andgettingeveryonetoonceagainbelievein
Santa,allaroundthismovieshoutsthetruemeaningofChristmas.

WhiteChristmas
isanAmerican
musical

romanticcomedyfilm
directedby
Michael

Curtiz
andthatstarsactorsandactressessuchas
BingCrosby
,
DannyKaye
,
RosemaryClooney
,
and
VeraEllen
.ThisChristmasclassicislovedbymanypeopleofdifferentgenerationsandwas
releasedonJanuary1,1954.Themovieisaboutafamoussong/danceteamcomposedoftwo
friends,BobWallace(BingCrosby)andPhilDavis(DannyKaye),whowereformerallies
duringWorldWarII.TheyplantotraveltoFloridatoenjoytheweatherandtoperformagigfor

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theholidays,howevertheydecidetotakeadetourtoVermontinsteadtoseeBetty(Rosemary
Clooney)andJudyHaynes(VeraEllen)whohappentobeperformingaChristmasshow.Phil
tricksBobintothinkingthattheyareonatraintoFlorida,butBobsoonfindsoutthathehas
beenliedto.WhentheygettotheVermontInn,thetwoguysdiscoverthatthemanwhoowns
theinnistheiroldGeneralWaverlyfromthewarandthatheisstrugglingfinancially.Bob
decidestohelptheGeneraloutandinvitesalltheguysinthecompanytosurpriseandhelppay
hisbills.Withthehelpofthesetwosoldiers,theGeneralwasabletohaveaMerryChristmas!
Thefilm
WhiteChristmas
contributesthethemeofgivingtoothersinneedduringtheholidays.
Thisclassicmoviessequencecreatesanopportunityforacrowdofanoldgenerationthatcanbe
presentatthefestival.Thosewhogrewupwiththismovieandwhoenjoyeditwillcomeseeit.
BosleyCrowther,fortheNewYorkTimes,statedthat,Itisaroutineaccumulationofstandard
romanceandsentiment,blessedbyafewfunnysetups(Crowther1954).Manypeopleofmany
differentgenerationshaveenjoyedthismusical.Ifyouwanttodothesameanddiscoverthetrue
meaningofChristmasthenyoushouldcometoourChristmasFestivalandwatchthis
heartwarmingfilm.
ThePolarExpress
isaChristmasmoviethataimstowardtheactual,truemeaningof
Christmastobelieve.Ithasastronglineupofcastmembers,consistingofTomHanksasSanta
Clausandthenarrator,JoshHutchersonasHeroBoy,MichaelJeterasthewaiter,andNona
GayeasHeroGirl.ThedirectorofthishearttouchingmovieisRobertZemeckis.Themovie
takesplaceinaneighborhoodwhereayoungboylives,however,thisyoungboydoesnot
believeinSantaorChristmas.HewakesuplateinthenightonChristmasEvetofindalarge
trainoutsideofhishouse,hegrabshisrobeandgoesoutside.Withoutnoticing,aholegets

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rippedinhisropethispieceofinformationisveryimportantlateroninthemovie.Thetrain
conductoraskshimifhewouldliketoboardtheyoungboyaskswherethetrainisgoingandthe
conductorreplieswith,WhytotheNorthPoleofcourse(PolarExpress2004).Theboymakes
acleverchoicetoboardthetrain.Hethengoesonanadventurousjourneythathewillnever
forgetincludingskiingdownthetopofthetrain,ridingonthefrontofthetrain,andmaking2
newfriendsthatwillforeverholdaplaceinhisheart.EndingupattheNorthPole,thisiswhere
heunveilsthetruemeaningofChristmas.Ifoundthefilmsatisfyingandagood"G"ratedfilm
thewholefamilycanenjoy,wordsfromVinceKoehler(Rottentomatoes2015).Notonlyisita
greatmovietogetpeopleintheChristmasspirit,itisalsoamoviethewholeentirefamilycan
enjoy.Sohoponthistrain,itisachoicethatwillnotberegretted.
TheChristmasCarol
isanotherclassicChristmasmoviebasedonthebookwrittenby
CharlesDickensdirectedbyRobertZemeckis.ThemoviewasreleasedonNovember4,2009.
ThoughLondonawaitsthejoyfularrivalofChristmas,miserableEbenezerScrooge(JimCarrey)
thinksit'sallhumbug,puttingdownhisfaithfulclerkandcheerfulnephewfortheirview.Later
oninthismovie,Scroogeencounterstheghostofhislatebusinesspartner,whowarnsthatthree
spiritswillvisithimthisnighttheghostofChristmasPast,theghostofChristmasPresent,and
theghostofChristmasFuture.TheghoststakeScroogeonajourneythroughhispast,present
andfutureinthehopeoftransforminghisbitterness.Therearemanyreviewsonthiswonderful
movielikethatofChristopherSmith,What'scuriousaboutthemovieisthatyoucantartitup
allyouwant,butDickens'wordsstillresonate,hischaractersstillinfuriate,frightenandtouch,
andthere'sstillsatisfactiontobehadinhistale(Rottentomatoes2015).Althoughitisamovie
basedonabook,themeaningofthemessagedoesnotchange.ItshowstherearesomeScrooges

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inthisworld,butiftheycanfindthetruemeaningofwhatChristmasisallabout,Christmastime
wouldbelikenoother.
HowtheGrinchStoleChristmas
isafilmbasedoffoftheDoctorSuessoriginalbook.
Whovilleisatownfullofholidaycheer.However,thereisoneparticularWho,knownasthe
GrinchwhoabsolutelydespisesChristmasandallofitsfestivities.TheGrinch,playedbyactor
JimCarrey,isacharacterwithaveryspitefulmindsettowardseverythingchristmas.However,
theGrinchisnottheonlyonefeelingdepressedaroundthisChristmasseason.CindyLouWho
playedbyactressTaylorMomsen,isnotatallintheholidayspirit.Afterhersiblingsreturned
fromclimbingMountCrumpit,CindyLougrowscuriousabouttheGrinch.Asshegoesaround
interviewingformerfriendsandfamilyoftheGrinch,sherealizesthatasachildtheGrinch
actuallylikedChristmas.Afterbeinghumiliatedinfrontofhisclassmatesattheirannual
Christmasparty,theGrinchranawaytoMountCrumpit.AfterbeingnominatedbyCindyLou
WhotobetheCheermeisterattheirannualWhobilation,thegrinchdecidestoattendthe
festivities.Atfirst,thepartyisgoingwell.TheGrinchisenjoyinghimselfandallthefestivities,
howeveraseriesofeventsledtomayhemandtheburningdownoftheirtownsChristmastree.
Afterfleeingfromthecelebration,theGrinchreturnstoMountCrumpit.
ThegrinchthendecidesthatthisyearhewillstopChristmasfromcoming.Hisplan
includedhimdressingasSanta,creatingasled,andusinghisdogMaxasareindeer.Hethen
begantostealeverythingChristmas,frompresentstolightstowreaths.Aftercollectingallthese
items,hethenplannedtodropitallovertheedgeofMountCrumpit.AfterwakingupChristmas
morning,andrealizingthatallthepresentsweregone,alltheWhosdowninWhovillewere
distraught.TheWhoshoweverrealizethatChristmasisntaboutthepresents,it'saboutbeing

Kuhn,McCue,Moore,Porter6
together.TheGrinchwondershowtheWhoscanbesocheerfulwhentherearenopresentsto
celebratewith.AshewatchestheWhosdowninWhoville,hebecomesemotional,andhisheart
growsthreesizes.Intheend,theGrinchapologizesandreturnsallthegiftsthathehadstolen,
andhehimselfgottocarvetheRoastBeastatthetownfeast.Thismovieisaperfectexampleof
whytheChristmasspirithelpstobringoutthebestineachandeveryperson.AlltheWho'sin
WhovillerealizedthatthethetruemeaningofChristmaswasn'tabouthowmanypresentsyou
received,butaboutenjoyingtheseasonwithyourfriendsandfamily.
AChristmasStory
isaclassicholidayfilmthatwasdirectedbyBobClarkin1983.This
classicchristmasfilmisabout9yearoldRalphie,playedbyPeterBillingsley,whoonlywantsa
RedRyderRange200shotBBgunforChristmas.Heknowsthathisparentswouldneveragree
tobuyinghimthisonegift,sohetriestomanipulatehisparentsbyslippingadvertisementsinto
theirmagazines,howeverheaccidentlylettheideasliptohismotheratbreakfast,whothen
immediatelyrejectedtheideawiththefamouslineyoullshootyoureyeout.Many
shenaniganshappenthroughoutthemovieincludingRalphiesclosefriend,Flickbeingdaredto
stickhistonguetoafrozenpole.Aftercominghomefromschoolthatday,whileeatingdinner,a
largeboxwasdeliveredtoRalphiesfamilyshouse.Theboxwasopenedtorevealalamp
shapedlikeawomansleg.Christmasmorning,Ralphiewasaskedbyhisfatherifhehad
receivedeverythinghehadaskedfor,ashepointstoapackagebehindtheirdesk.After
unwrappinghisgift,hewasbaffledthatheactuallyreceivedhisRedRyderBBGun.Ralphie
immediatelyranoutsidetotestouthisnewgun,andonthefirstshothefellbackwardduetothe
pelletbouncingoffthetargetandhittinghiminthecheek.Meanwhile,theneighborhooddogs
goesintoRalphieshouseandstealtheirchristmasmeal.Thewholefamilyendedupgoingtoa

Kuhn,McCue,Moore,Porter7
Chineserestaurant,wheretheyhavetowitnesstheirmealsheadbeingchoppedoffinfrontof
them.Thatnight,Ralphiesleptwithhisbelovedchristmasgift.
AChristmasStory
isaperfectexampleforthetruemeaningofChristmas.Nomatterall
ofthestrugglesRalphieandhisfamilyfaced,theystillenjoyedthemselvesandwereabletohave
aniceChristmas.Nomatterwhatwentwrongthroughoutthemovie,Ralphieandhisfamilyall
wereabletolookatthebrightsideofthings,andintheendstillcreateanamazingChristmasfor
themselvesandtheirfamily.
Krampus
isnotatypicalChristmasmoviewithaloveydoveyfamily.Thisisachristmas
moviewithatwist,thatmaynotbeforeveryone.DirectedbyMichaelDoughertyanddistributed
byUniversalPictures,thisfilmhasashortruntimeofanhourandthirtyeightminutes,andit
wasreleasedthisyear,Decemberfourth,2015.ThecastofthismovieincludesAdamScottwho
playsTom,ToniCollettewhoportraysSarah,LukeHawkerwhoisKrampushimself,Emjay
AnthonythemaincharacterMax,andStafaniaLaVieOwenwhoplaysBeth.Themovieisall
aboutthelackofChristmasspirit,andwhyitisneededduringthistimeofyear,muchasdirector
MicaelDoughertyshowsinhismovie.Whenhisdysfunctionalfamilyclashesoverthe
holidays,youngMax(EmjayAnthony)isdisillusionedandturnshisbackonChristmas.Little
doesheknow,thislackoffestivespirithasunleashedthewrathofKrampus:ademonicforceof
ancientevilintentonpunishingnonbelievers(Dougherty2015).Thismoviehassomegood
reviews,includingfromFionnualaHalliganofScreenInternationalsaying,Krampus,whenhe
eventuallyshowshiscards,isadarkdelight,butthisfilmhasmoretoofferthanasinglemonster
Doughertyhasafewpuppetsideshows,includingelves,aclownwhichcomesrightoutof
PoltergeistsclosetandsomestuffedanimalswhicharethesatanicmirrorimagesofourToy

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Storyfriends.Ho,ho,ho,indeed(Halligan2015).
Krampus
waschosen,asitshowswhy
Christmasspiritisneeded,assoonasMaxloseshisChristmasspirit,theancientspiritof
Krampuspunisheshimandhisfamilyforlosingspirit.Thismoviehelpspeopletowantto
believeandhaveholidayspirit.
AChristmasFilmFestivalisagreattimetoconnectwitholdfamilyandfriendsand
enjoytheholidayseason.Whetheritbethroughcomedy,horror,orromance,thisfestivaloffers
awidevarietyofmoviesthatcanbringoutanindividual'sChristmasspiritineveryway
possible.Themoviesdisplayedwillshowallthetruemeaningsofchristmas,toloveoneanother,
toputothersbeforeyourself,tobelieveingoodoleSt.Nick,andtohaveChristmasspirit.An
individualwillnotonlybeabletoseethetruemeaningofChristmas,butexperienceitaswellas
theywillbesurroundedbythewarmthoftheirfriendsandfamily.Nottomentionthewarmthof
thedelicioushotcocoaandfreshlymadecookies,justacoupleofthefewseasonalsnacks,that
willbeservedaswell.Comedowntothefestivaltoday,andwatchsomeofeveryone'sfavorite
Christmasclassics,theviewerswontregretit.

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WorksCited
AChristmasCarol
.Dir.RobertZemeckis.Perf.JimCarreyandGaryOldman.2009.DVD.
Crowther,Bosley."WhiteChristmas(1954)TheScreeninReview'WhiteChristmas'Bowsat
theMusicHal."
Www.nytimes.com
.NewYorkTimesCompany,15Oct.1954.Web.14
Dec.2015.
Dougherty,Michael."Krampus(2015)Movie|Moviefone."
AOLMoviefone
.AOLInc.,2015.
Web.15Dec.2015.
Farveau,Jon."Elf(2003)Movie|Moviefone."
AOLMoviefone
.AOLInc.,2015.Web.15Dec.
2015.
Koehler,Vince."ThePolarExpressReviews."Rev.ofThePolarExpress.n.d.:n.pag.Web.
Smith,Christopher."DISNEY'SACHRISTMASCAROLREVIEWS."Rev.ofDisney'sA
ChristmasCarol.n.d.:n.pag.Web.
ThePolarExpress
.Dir.RobertZemeckis.Perf.TomHanksandJoshHutcherson.2004.DVD.
WhiteChristmas(1954)Movie|Moviefone."
AOLMoviefone
.Web.16Dec.2015.