Seasons greetings everyone, and welcome back to Snowfest! Take a look right now and check outside, maybe even check in your houses. If one thing’s for certain, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas! As you all know, as of my time of writing this, Christmas is only three days away, time to get excited! Although it doesn’t seem like a White Christmas is coming our way anytime soon, the holiday we all love is right around the corner. Without further ado, let’s get right into my watched movies of week three of Snowfest.
Day 16 – The Nightmare Before Christmas
Greetings, and welcome back to October Horror Fest! Of course I am just joking with you all, but I did review this movie for October Horror Fest as well, which may bring up some questions. For starters, the community around this film regards it as both a Halloween and Christmas movie, so it does count for the challenge. Also, just to have my bases covered, I watched another Christmas short film. Without further ado, sit back, relax, turn off (on) the (Christmas tree) lights, grab some Candy (Canes) and Popcorn (necklaces), and let’s review… The Nightmare Before Christmas!
Ignoring my Horror Fest x Snowfest collaboration joke intro, this movie does really hold a special place in my heart. Of course, we know that the story of this movie follows Jack Skellington, the Pumpkin King of Halloweentown who sees the magic of Christmas, and can’t help himself from diving in. In this movie, Jack finds out what Christmas is all about, and the magic that comes with it. No matter what happened, he stayed positive, and showed his people how special Christmas truly is.
Day 17 – National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation
Ah yes, the story of one poor Clark Griswold and his Christmas of Misery. Of course, National Lampoon’s Christmas Vacation is one of the classics of the Holiday season, and encapsulates everything about it. From Clark not receiving his bonus, to trying to repair his Christmas in any way he can, this movie, as insane as it is, shows how special the holidays are. Sure, Clark almost died about 1,000 times, and his family almost left him on Christmas, but he persevered. This movie is hilarious, absolutely iconic, and amazing in every way. Clark kept pushing through, and no matter what happened, he had his Christmas.
Day 18 – Mickey’s Christmas Carol
Of course, being who I am, this had to be on here somewhere. Throughout the literal HUNDREDS of remakes of Dickens’ famous novel, besides the one from 198 that I covered in week two, this one has always been my favorite. In this movie, we see Christmas through the personification of joy and magic himself, Mickey Mouse. However, in the movie, Mickey struggles, and goes through things we would never expect. This film even features the haunting image of Mickey crying. However, Mickey succeeds in the end, and Christmas is saved for all. Perhaps the main reason this adaptation has fascinated me so much is because it takes an icon of happiness (Mickey) and places him in the Holiday of Joy (Christmas). However, we see that Christmas isn’t always sunshine and rainbows, a fact that lots of people have to go through. This film is powerful for that, and is a true classic in my eyes.
Day 19 – Miracle on 34th Street
This film was one I haven’t seen before the challenge, and wow, was I missing out. In this absolute Christmas Classic, we follow the story of a man named Kris Kringle, and his mission to find out if he truly is the real Santa Claus. This movie is pretty dark in it’s themes, especially for a film from 1947. However, above all, it shows Christmas in its purest form. Kris Kringle, disregarding if he is the real Santa or not, is able to bring joy to everyone in the only way he knows how. The holidays can be dark sometimes, but oh boy, is there so much light.
Day 20 – The Grinch (2000)
The only way to follow up a story that portrays Christmas in a dark way is one that portrays it in an annoying way to one certain fellow. That’s right, Jim Carrey’s The Grinch is also one of my favorite Holiday movies. We follow the same story as the original Grinch, but with a few slight differences. We learn that this Grinch loved Christmas, until the magic of the holiday was ripped away from him. What makes this incarnation so special, to me at least, is how the Grinch rekindles his love of the holiday he lost. He never gave up, and at last, his heart grew three sizes once more.
Day 21 – Krampus
Welp, looks like October Horror Fest really is returning about 10 months early! I promise that I did NOT plan for Week 3 to include Horror Fest Day 32 and 33. Krampus is a Horror Movie that centers around the entity of Krampus, and how he dethroned Santa Claus in this movie. And yes, just in case, I watched another short film. This movie honestly has no happy ending. It has no “Magic of Christmas” coming back to save everyone. Although I do love the happy ending, I mean almost every movie on this list has one, the dark ending fits just as well in my heart. This movie shows the bleak reminder that Christmas only comes once a year, and sometimes, it isn’t everything we asked for. We need to appreciate the time we have with this holiday, before Krampus takes it away forever.
Day 22 – Spirited
Ending on a MUCH higher note, Spirited is a joyful comedy musical with Ryan Reynolds and Will Ferrel, what’s not to love. Oh and also, this is another adaptation of A Christmas Carol, because of course it is. And like all other adaptations and reimaginings, this one deals with our Scrooge figure coming to terms with the Christmas Holiday. In this movie, it is done perfectly through song and comedy, and became one of my favorites overnight.
There we are everyone, Week 3 of Snowfest is down! We are getting closer and closer to the big day, so I would like to wish you all who celebrate a Merry Christmas, and a Happy New Year. I’ll be back next week! So, until then, may your days be merry and bright!