This month my favourite Christmas movies are going to become very clear, through various tags as well as my viewing suggestions at the end of each video, but I thought I'd cobble together my top 5 and tell you why each film has earned such a prestigious place, in no particular order. Additionally, in order to bring in a bit more varied content, I thought I'd also cover my top 5 Christmas specials. Leggo.

MOVIES

1. Love Actually
This makes the list for several reasons.
A. It is a great movie.
B. It is a great festive movie and makes me hella hella pumped for Christmas.
C. I enjoy watching it all year round and don't feel like I'm ruining the magic.
D. Most importantly, it makes me feel like I'm in a place where there is snow. I want snow. I miss snow. I need snow. Snow.

2. The Santa Clause
In my mind The Santa Clause is the ultimate childhood Christmas movie. It may not be my favourite in terms of actual movie content, but it makes me feel probably about six years old and brings back my sense of childlike wonder. Also there are a bunch of sequels to work through if you're not quite feeling done after the first one. Does the son get hot in the third one? I feel like the son gets hot in the third one. Nope. Just googled. False alarm.

Also look at the reindeer/alligator on the right.

3. Eloise At Christmastime 
I often refer to this as my favourite Christmas movie, simply because it's my go-to Christmas Eve movie, and I'm quite serious about saving it. I love it. It has a similar effect to The Santa Clause, but with more of a "CHRISTMAS IS TOMORROW" vibe.
Additionally:
1. It has Julie Andrews
2. It has Gavin Creel who is from Broadway and I did a workshop with him on my year 11 drama trip to New York when he was in Hair and our entire class fell in love with him
3. I love the Eloise books and she is pretty much me when I was that age except I had very present parents and did not live in a hotel. Mainly I was just obnoxious and smug, but in a lovable way. So basically she's still me now.

4. The Grinch

I used to have this on VHS and I would watch it on repeat so I pretty much know every word to this movie. It also features Where Are You Christmas by Faith Hill which is a fantastic song, and the Grinch's daily schedule, which is very similar to my own. Also people remind me of Whos very frequently. Like I'll see someone and be like that person looks like a Who from Whoville and I get really offended when whoever I am telling this to doesn't agree. Agree. Because I'm right.

5. Olive The Other Reindeer

This one is a bit less standard. I don't think I've spoken to anyone else who has actually seen this in the last 5+ years (apart from Patrick, but that was because I made him watch it with me last year) but YOU KNOW WHAT, IT'S GREAT. It's about a dog named Olive who hears Santa saying he's relying on "all of the other reindeer" to get his sleigh around on Christmas, and she thinks he's said "Olive, the other reindeer" and goes to the North Pole to help and she has a penguin friend and there's a dickhead postman and it's just great. Also I know it looks like a children's movie but it was produced by Matt Groening from the Simpsons so it's got a lil sumsum for all ages. Fang it a watch. I'm pretty sure we watched this in school when I was 8 or 9 so it reminds me of Boston and snow and you remember what I said about snow up there.

SPECIALS

1. The Vicar of Dibley

2. Doctor Who

Just a classic isn't it. Doctor Who is something that I didn't start properly watching until a few years ago, but that I grew up around regardless because my dad has been watching it his entire life. I vividly remember being sat down at our massive desktop computer when I was about six years old and him playing me the Dalek "exterminate" on some 4 pixel webpage. He also showed me narwhals in the same sitting. And we wonder how I ended up like this. Doctor Who in general gives me a similar feeling to Christmas, in that it's comforting and familiar, so even when it's shit I still kind of like it. Hope it's not shit though.

3. Lizzie McGuire

4. Miranda

I freaking love Miranda (if you haven't watched every episode yet, go do that), but this year I am torn. I know I'm going to love it, but I also know this is the end and that is not something for which I am prepared on any level. Please do not leave me. You remind me of me in a way that still makes me feel good about myself because I know I'm not that bad. So excited but so unprepared for the inevitable end. Such is life.

5. Gavin and Stacey

Special mention to Downton Abbey, which doesn't get its own spot because I haven't caught up on this season yet and also they always kill people on Christmas. Don't do that.

OTHER special mention to every episode of Friends involving Christmas, particularly The One With The Holiday Armadillo.


Today's #Madvent Movie: Rise of the Guardians